Ruby Princess, Leopard 3

Chasing yesterday's visitor, the Celebrity Infinity, around the west coast of the British Isles is the Ruby Princess on her last visit of the year. She will leave Southampton on the 8th September heading for Norway, Iceland and then on to New York for the end of September. After rounding Cape Horn during January 2015, she will spend the summer of next year cruising from Seattle, North to Alaska. Guernsey in 2015 will see the Royal Princess as a regular visitor. The guests on board had a good view of the luxurious yacht, Leopard 3, as she left St Peter Port at midday.

The Leopard 3 stretched her legs after she cleared the south coast of Guernsey and hoisted those vast sails, maybe heading towards her record breaking 40 knots.

Ruby Princess & Arcadia

A busy day for the island today, with the Ruby Princess and the Arcadia visiting. The Ruby Princess is going around the British  Isles having left Southampton last night, with the next port of call Cobh. Tenders were in the water early from the Ruby Princess with the first guests ashore before 8.00 a.m.  The Arcadia arrived at the anchorage about 40 minutes later.

This Guernsey fishing boat must have felt a bit intimidated as he sailed under the bows of the liner.

St Peter Port harbour was a hive of activity this Saturday lunchtime with the two liners at anchor and Condor's fast ferries arriving and departing for England. In the foreground are the many chimney pots of St Peter Port which tumbles down from the high ground in the west towards the harbour. The Ruby Princess left mid-afternoon, with the Arcadia returning to Southampton early evening on her two night cruise.

Ruby Princess

The weather has got a bit cooler than the past month but still a lovely calm morning met the Ruby Princess as she arrived at the anchorage on a round Britain trip. St Peter Port is her first port of call after leaving Southampton yesterday afternoon where her guests will enjoy a half day visit. The anchor had not even dropped before the shore party were on their tender to set up at the liner pontoon for the first arrivals.

Guests on board the Ruby Princess had the opportunity to have their photo taken with a English Icon, not quite Guernsey though, more suited to the Tower of London.

The image above was taken from the ferry to Sark, where today they commemorated the 100 year anniversary of the start of World War 1 with a special church service. They also tied red sashes around the graves of Sark Men who returned from the war and later died in Sark. Those who did not die in Sark were remembered with these crosses. With no cars on the island, the full church was surrounded by cycles.

Ruby Princess

The Ruby Princess arrived before 7.00am this morning on a perfect day for tender operations. The sea is calm, the temperature is rising, what could be better for a half day on the Island. An early morning yachtsmen heads north with no wind so he motors past the liner. On August 3rd she will be back in Southampton having sailed west all around the British Isles, including Glasgow where some guests may see the Commonwealth Games.

From the liner Guernsey does not have much shape, but as the tenders get closer the town of St Peter Port rises more clearly above the harbour. In the foreground of the photo is Salarie Corner with its old harbour and small fishing boats.  There is now a nice place to sit on the restored gun battery.

Ruby Princess

Today the wind moderated and there were not quite as many showers as the Ruby Princess paid her first visit to Guernsey. Having left Fort Lauderdale on the 27th April, she has followed in the footsteps on her sister ship the Emerald Princess which recently visited. She is currently on a British Isles Cruise and after leaving St Peter Port will head for Cobh in Southern Ireland and then to the Scottish Islands. The roofs of Hauteville show in the image below, home to Victor Hugo's house.

The Ruby Princess was in St Peter Port only for a short half day visit and for her 3,000 plus guests had her tenders running as well as local ferries.

Many of her guests took the opportunity to visit Castle Cornet as well as take a walk on the Castle Breakwater for some picture opportunities with the castle and St Peter Port as a background.