I have notice the "Tourist Information" box...
has not been open for a while
Plenty of people off the Cruise Ship..today wandering along the Sea Front looking for information......................
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
it was open on saturday i believe, there was someone in there behind the tinted windows.
i cannot see anyone going there for information while it is like that.
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
There is a couple of reasonably exotic ships in today..The AIDA BLU and the Rotterdam. There cant be many big cruise liner days left now as the season is ending bigtime. Last chance to see the big ships.
The picture shows one of the Saga's having just exited yesterday evening in the late sun. i think its the Saga Rose, I should have made a note of it.
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
paulb,i think you will find thats the saga pearl.
and i do beliuve that the saga rose is now razor blades.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
think there is only about a week left now, great pity they don't operate for longer.
Guest 673- Registered: 16 Jun 2008
- Posts: 1,388
The ship departing in the photo is the Saga Ruby.
As Brian says, the Saga Rose is razor blades, she went for scrap in China some time ago.
Remaining cruise ship visits this year as below, from Port of Dover website.
Tue 21 Sep Empress
Sun 25 Sep Black Watch
Mon 26 Sep Saga Pearl II
Tue 27 Sep AidaBlu
Thu 29 Sep Braemar
Fri 30 Sep Artania
Tue 04 Oct Black Watch
Tue 04 Oct AidaBlu
Wed 12 Oct Braemar
Fri 28 Oct Braemar
Tue 01 Nov Black Watch
Tue 08 Nov Braemar
Tue 15 Nov Black Watch
We have many Canadians in town also from one of the ships there making there way to wales for a special service of remembrance for there country men killed in the mutiny.
The Kinmel Park Mutiny of 4/5 March 1919
"The mutineers were our own men, stuck in the mud of North Wales, waiting
impatiently to get back to Canada - four months after the end of the war. The 15,000
Canadian troops that concentrated at Kinmel didn't know about the strikes that had held
up the fueling of ships and which had caused food shortages. The men were on half
rations, there was no coal for the stove in the cold Grey huts, and they hadn't been paid
for over a month. Forty-two had to sleep in a hut meant for thirty, so they each took turns
sleeping on the floor, with one blanket each."
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,888
There were a lot of foreigners in the shop today, not spending very much just browsing.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
Thanks for the info there guys re The Saga Rose and Ruby. I knew all along of course..ahem cough..just testing you guys were awake at the back!!
As Capt Mainwaring says "I was wondering how long it would take you to spot that Wilson!"
Had this press release in from P&O a few days ago..thought it might be of interest to show how the emphasis is switching away from Dover for the winter months re cruising.
*****************************
TWO FOR ONE MINI CRUISE DEALS WITH P&O FERRIES
P&O Ferries is offering customers the chance to make the most of a mini cruise to Holland or Belgium this autumn with a two for one deal.
When one pays one goes free on the company's overnight mini cruise services from Hull - Rotterdam or Hull - Zeebrugge. Fares start from just £72, based on two sharing an en suite cabin - they keep the same cabin for the outward and return sailings. The price includes coach transfers to Rotterdam, Amsterdam or Bruges for a day ashore sightseeing in the city of choice. An extra night option is available from £10 per person for passengers to extend their trip to three nights and include an overnight stay at a hotel with deals on accommodation available through travel partner, Superbreak (www.superbreak.com).
The two for one offer is available for travel with P&O Ferries from 1 October until 29 December 2011. Reasons to travel across the North Sea this autumn include the annual Choco-Laté festival at the Belfry in Bruges, which takes place from 11 to 13 November. It features tastings, workshops and activities involving the sweet treat. The city also plays host to the Christmas markets from 25 November.
To book or for more information visit
www.POferries.com/minicruises or call 08716 64 64 64.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
i am sure it is good value paul, don't fancy the north sea personally in the winter months though.
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
howard,it might test your sea legs so to speak,at least you get a cabin to go to if you are feeling worce for wear.
the 11th of november is rememberance day over there,and its allways celabrated on the day,might be well worth going for that particular day as you would get a double day out.
Guest 673- Registered: 16 Jun 2008
- Posts: 1,388
"Had this press release in from P&O a few days ago..thought it might be of interest to show how the emphasis is switching away from Dover for the winter months re cruising."
These are not cruise ships. They are just big ferries with lots of cabins for night crossings from Hull to Rotterdam or Zeebrugge. They do mini breaks all year round to supplement the freight and tourist traffic that is their bread and butter.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
done the harwich/esbjerg one many years ago in november, no point in having a cabin, neither of us slept a wink.
Guest 673- Registered: 16 Jun 2008
- Posts: 1,388
North Korea has entered the cruise ship market.
Short video of their first cruise here showing some of the facilities available for discerning customers.
http://www.deredactie.be/cm/vrtnieuws/mediatheek/nieuws/buitenland/1.1101335Until Dover has an independant Mentor....Like Roger de Haan loves Folkestone.....Independant Money and Skills.......it will never go anywhere....
Richard Mahoney has no need to actually work for Dover...he is hardly ever there.....ie. the "Information Box" etc....he gets enough funding for his business to really not have to worry.....Same with the Dover Harbour Board actually having to be commercial and run a decent business...they are just putting up Rents and Fees.........so everyone is moving out.....
Dover needs something very powerful, and a very powerful commercially minded. succesful person to come in and organise something wonderful...we have too many small minded, self seeking councellors etc....dipping their egos in..............
Look at it all....promises of local jobs......laid everyone off from the Harbour Board....and sourced employment out!!! Stand at the underpass and feast your eyes on broken promises.......think of the people who live in Dover....!!!
A Motorway.....built though Dover....cutting the Town off from the Seafront....
Dover is terribly unlucky with the people who serve it and still do......
We actually need a miracle...............
The Cruise Ships have now been coming to Dover for years...and sweet fanny all have been done about it.....except for the Dover Harbour Board, and this has been allowed by the Town and its representative...allowing all this potential extra income to be shipped out and away from the Town to Canterbury etc....................
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
Hearing rumours that both Fred Olsen and Saga may go elsewhere next year.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Yep...nobody is interested......because they are not commercial....They do not rely on working for their income...it just lands in the pocket...and everything rots around them..............
The Chairman of the Harbour Board...has more interests in Thailand, and having ruined the Harbour and any chance of the Town benefitting from it...is just waiting for his payoff......this is my opinion based on knowledge...He has actually, managed to upset everyone.....and the Draconion way they manage or own the seafront is a disgrace......ask anyone who wants to open a viable business up, and wishes to make some money............
Charlie's Walkway....just sums it all up....cut off...and no-where to go......and guess what a lot of people loved that walkway...........and it could be revived as a easy way to access the town.....and so on.................
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
just a look at eds video clip,must say they look like 1st fasilatys on board.might book a cruise [not].
Guest 715- Registered: 9 Jun 2011
- Posts: 2,438
Bookings up for next year I heard.
Audere est facere.
Guest 660- Registered: 14 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,205
Charlie you are so wrong,in my day job although I work at the Station I hold some local tourist info although the railway arent keen because it is my job to get people out of Dover.I am a Councillor and as a Town Councillor tried to intoduce Tourism into the Town Council,I also work for Visit Kent giving out local Information,I am also a Greeter(unpaid) where I show people the sites of Dover with some others,I usually get the Cliffs as I am one of the fittest Greeters in fact this week I am in Sandwich with some other Local greeters to do a mass greet,I was also a Guide at the Town Hall.(unpaid)
What do you do?
If I see someone with a map I ask can I help you? We can all do something even if it small.
On the job front at the Terminal many local people are employed there,within DHB and outside some posters on here work there for G4S baggage handling or security,there are the Taxi Drivers,Tour Bus drivers,it hurts me to see Coaches from all over Kent doing Tours but do we have the Coach companies in Dover,sometimes there are 40 coaches. There are food suppliers,flower suppliers as well as other.I do not go along with 'it is alright having the cruise liners but they don't bring jobs to Dover'. Off course they do! Yes we would love having more jobs for local people.When I worked down there for G4S I was working for the minimum wage...I wasnt doing it all for the money but realised I could do some manual work,you get can fat sitting behind a computer,but people wont work for £5 an hour after tax.
We need to celebrate and encourage any job brought in by any of the Companies that work out of the Harbour,and if they dont employ local people it is because we do not always have the skills neede in the Town or people can't or won't work for little money.
Rant over!
If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!
