Oriana & Voyager

As the end of August looms and the colder months get closer so a trip to Herm on these last sunny days is called for. The bonus was the view from Herm of the Oriana and the Voyager. Oriana dropped anchor first on a British Isles cruise. St Peter Port was the first port of call with some guests making the most of their long day in Guernsey to take a trip to the smaller island. In the image Herm Trident passes the Oriana on her short trip to Herm.

The Voyager arrived mid morning coming from Ostend. She picked up the Guernsey Pilot off the Lower Heads buoy before sailing towards the anchorage, seen here passing between the Island of Jethou and St Martins Point on Guernsey. Voyager, one of the smaller liners visiting this year, carries just over 500 guests but is still well traveled, spending Christmas and New Year in the Far East.

Although the last to arrive the guests on board Voyager had a shorter tender ride into St Peter Port, and here she is coming up to anchor with the Pilot boat marking the position. She left just before the Oriana at tea time and is heading south for Vigo.

Oriana

As it stands right now the Oriana guests will be one of the last to use the crossing by the Town Church due to a change of heart in the management of traffic in this area. Reverting to two lanes of southbound traffic will mean that this area is deemed no longer safe for the large number of pedestrians crossing at this point. This should take place on Monday 9th August.

It is that time of year when summer does not stretch on endlessly. For some strange reason clothes shops want to sell you winter clothing, not what you want to wear on this Saturday, one of the hottest of the year. The guests on board the Oriana made the most of their day in Guernsey arriving early this morning and departing just on tea time. Wearing her new Colours, with the Union Jack proud on the bow, P&O's liners leave no doubt of their heritage.

It's a short cruise for the guests on board the Oriana, leaving Southampton last night, Guernsey today, Zeebrugge tomorrow and then back to Southampton on Monday. With the St Peter Port Pilot off the liner, she will set course up the Big Russell, before turning into the northbound shipping lane of the English Channel.

Oriana

An ill wind blows some people no good but not everyone loses out. For the guests on board the Oriana returning from a two week cruise to witness the Solar Eclipse, they had a extra night on board because the ship was unable to dock in Southampton, despite having two tugs assisting. As a result of the late arrival of the Oriana on its berth in Southampton P & O put the guests expecting to enjoy their cruise to Guernsey and Zeebrugge, in hotels in the area paying for the room and meals. They also have a 50% refund of the cost of their cruise, but miss out on a night on board at sea.

Despite the 24 hour delay, the guests on the Oriana arrived early this morning at the new liner pontoon in St Peter Port with its temporary signage. The weather today started off damp and misty but cleared during the day to enable all to enjoy a full day on the Island.

The last guests leaving the island had no queues to bother about as they stroll along the pontoon to board their tender for the ride to the ship on the more easterly anchorage.

The Oriana looks strange in her part painted new house colours as she waits for her late afternoon departure for Zeebrugge where she will arrive early tomorrow morning. She should be returning to Guernsey in August, hopefully to warmer weather. Good Friday tomorrow and the inter island ferries are busy with weekend guests to Sark and Herm.

Oriana

On her way south from Southampton to the north coast of Spain, as well as calling in at La Rochelle, the Oriana spent the day at St Peter Port. South of the town there is a steep winding hill where the trees grow bigger and bigger each year, the liner just about shows above them, with the north coast of Herm and the distant coast of Normandy in the background.

Just before 6.00 pm the last tenders are aboard as the liner prepares to leave. The Sark Belle is just leaving St Peter Port and will make the last return of the day from Sark to Guernsey.  In the summer months there is the opportunity to spend almost 12 hours on a day trip to the Island of Sark, 9 miles east of Guernsey.