First of the 2012 cruise ships
- 10 July 2012 12:19182169I saw some of the cruise passengers in town today and couldn't help but feel sorry for them. The weather doesn't help but the place looked SO tatty. Closed and closing down shops, bunting hung with no apparent thought (it looks as if they had too much and someone said 'just go round again') and a general air of decay. Even the cosmetic touches for the Olympic torch (painted railings, washed pavements) have had little impact.
So, unless they were overwhelmed by their ability to buy an assortment of goods for about a £1, I can't help think that their lasting thoughts of Dover will be less than favourable.
- 11 July 2012 06:55182262Until the Town-Team appoint a Manager/Co-ordinator (no, not me) to organise progress and work on projects and initiatives, nothing will change. There's no sense of urgency anywhere.
I understand that even if they don't win any money on their second bid they still want to go ahead with the Town-Team which is great, but why not start working on the initiatives now, then they'll hit the ground running ? So much to do.
Roger - 11 July 2012 08:17182283Sadly yes indeed much accuracy about the state of things in the two posts above. The seafront however is looking good but I think the cruise tourists mostly head for the town... probably already seen enough sea to last them an age.
The Saga Sapphire has lots of fans and it's in again today...has been photgraphed previously.email: dover7@msn.com - 11 July 2012 11:23182340today's visitor taken from st martin's battery.
- 11 July 2012 17:04182384Saga has announced that the Saga Ruby is to be retired from their fleet at the start of 2014. She is the last cruise ship to be built in the UK, so will be the end of an era. The Quest for Adventure is to rejoin the mainstream Saga fleet, and return to her original name of Saga Pearl II. Rumours persist that Saga is potentially in the market for a new build ship.
- 12 July 2012 06:25182458Must be confident about their cruise business then Kevin - which is good news.
Roger - 12 July 2012 06:59182460Interesting news there Kevin as the actual Saga Ruby herself is in harbour today if anyone wants to take a look. Old fashioned to some but a classic to others..but probably could be time to let her go. Yes Saga definitely seem to have a handle on things Roger no shortage of cruise calls from them.
As I write The Braemer has also arrived.
email: dover7@msn.com - 12 July 2012 15:38182541only one left when i went up paul.
found this flotilla more interesting.
- 12 July 2012 17:23182557The Braemer seems to have started a new system where it only stays for about three hours Howard. Dont understand whats happening there, but it left sometime around mid-day heading north....perhaps to the Fjords. They are clearly going for a quick turnaround.
Yes the sail boats from the Seasports Centre always look good.
The Saga Ruby is leaving as i write but its raining so visibility no good for a picture.email: dover7@msn.com - 12 July 2012 17:41182562Braemar is currently heading up the Thames, maybe it just unloaded at Dover and is now going to pick up at Tilbury - or is mooring up for the O******s
- 12 July 2012 20:11182599According to the Fred Olsen website Braemar is close to landing at London City airport!
http://www.fredolsencruises.com/Our-Ships/Ship-Locator
Update - parked by the A117
- 13 July 2012 04:01182624Yes indeed. That is the Royal docks, from which I sailed many times in the good old days when they were lined from end to end with cargoships from all over the world, almost all British from a host of different shipping companies. Still have to pinch myself to believe that they all vanished within a decade or so after the onset of containerisation.
You can see the Braemar in the entrance lock which leads into the King George V dock and from there she has gone into the Royal Albert Dock at the top of the picture and is staying there for the duration of the Olympics as an accommodation ship for Olympics staff.
Two or three cruises from Dover have been abruptly cancelled to make this possible and the bookings refunded. There are a lot of unhappy bunnies as a result, selection on the thread below.
http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1577546 - 13 July 2012 09:18182653i trust there are no cruise ships today, it being friday the 13th.
- 13 July 2012 11:40182682Great info there re the Braemer and the Olympics guys..come to think of it I think we did mention something about it being at the Olympics one time..forgot for the moment.
No cruise liners today Howard and yes brrrrr its friday the 13th so perhaps just as well.
Will put up this picture instead...its nautical anyway with added rainbow...taken after the rainstorm late the other evening
email: dover7@msn.com - 14 July 2012 07:54182771Another slate grey damp drizzly morning...this time to greet the
Costa Voyager. Just docking this minute as we write.
Dont think I remember this one before. Its the smaller of the Costa ships. As one of the guys said previously they have shifted their fleet around to make up for the loss of the Costa Concordia so perhaps this is the reason we are seeing this one.
If she has been here before Im sure one of the guys will let us know.email: dover7@msn.com - 14 July 2012 08:19182777She was here last year as the Ibero Cruises Grand Voyager. Before that she was operated by Royal Olympic Cruises as the Olympic Voyager. This is her first arrival at Dover under the Costa flag.
What surprises me is that Costa took on such a small ship - and an old second-hand one at that ! Apparently she's not owned by Costa and was brought in to cater for specialised cruises in the Middle East, but the serious fire on the Costa Allegra forced the company to bring her into the main fleet.
- 14 July 2012 10:09182800Great info there John..you're a star for sure. Never twigged any of that..
What a difference a funnel makes...email: dover7@msn.com - 15 July 2012 16:37182990Yes, great stuff there John re Grand Voyager, had forgotton for a moment about the fire on Allegra back in February, would have been its first visit here this season and was on the DHB schedule for this year. Shure you're a wealth of information
Love the flotilla pix above Howard and Paul's rainbow pic
- 15 July 2012 17:12182994And what have we got on the menu this week
On Tuesday 17th we have the Ocean Princess TR and MV Europa PoC
On Wednesday we see the Sapphire TR, and the Costa NeoRomantica TR+PoC
On Friday we should have had the Braemar which as we know is now doing it's bit for the Olympics.
Saturday brings the wonderful Wind Surf PoC and the Ryndam TR. We end the week on Sunday 22nd with the Black Watch TR.
The following week beginning Monday 23rd we see Saga's Quest for Adventure TR.
Tuesday Nautica TR, Thursday Costa NeoRomantica TR+PoC, Friday Saga Ruby TR.
Then nothing until Thursday August 2nd. - 17 July 2012 08:04183220Yep right on schedule the Europa and the Ocean Princess already nestling by the pier. Smaller modern ones of similar design...the difference being the Europa showing flashes of orange as a change from the all white. If I can catch one leaving with the camera will do. Thanks for that info as ever ColetteB. Yes the Braemer has abandoned the previous schedule and should be currently enjoying life in London for the Olympics.
email: dover7@msn.com
