First of the 2012 cruise ships
- 9 May 2012 17:24171234lucky all the action was yesterday the fountain was not working today.
- Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
9 May 2012 18:58171259oh dear was it the wrong sort of bubbles again howard. - 9 May 2012 21:33171314Lovely to see our sailing dinghies captured in the photographs and one of the 3 coaches parked was for us at the Sea Sports Centre. So we're getting there, could just do with some warm sunshine now
Beach rental of Kayaks, Sailing dinghies and pedalos available alongside our range of RYA training courses
Having a blast while living the dream
James Salmon - 10 May 2012 06:29171329Indeed James, we all need some warm sunshine. It's hosing down again today, so not much chance - yet.
Good Luck there though James; you have the set-up right, so when the weather does shine down on you, you'll take off.
Roger - 11 May 2012 07:20171564Excellent use of the wide angle lens there John. I can see the differences in the Princess Daphne now that you point them out. Here she is again with her newly acquired big red A. Taken the other evening as the sun burst through. New owners I expect.
Last evening saw the arrival of the Black Watch. Had a tip through from ColetteB saying she was delayed but just coming in, so I grabbed the camera, she was later than scheduled...here she is
Now for today...
the fabulous schedule of ships goes on...another awesome beast in today see below, never seen her before as far as I can remember called the Brilliance of the Seas. Another very big one indeed.
And here she is this morning early doing a 180 outside my rear window....
The smaller but nicely put together Artania is also in today but not pictured.email: dover7@msn.com - 11 May 2012 09:46171615never heard of the "brilliance of the seas" before, nice photos above.
- 11 May 2012 10:54171631I believe it's a madien call at Dover for the Brilliance of the Seas. She's part of the Royal Carribean Cruise Line fleet, the second biggest US cruise line after the giant Carnival Corporation. A sister ship, Jewel of the Seas, visited Dover in 2008. Royal Carribean are one of the few major cruise lines not to use Dover. Their ships operate from both Southampton and Harwich. Celebrity Cruises is also part of Royal Carribean. The Celebrity Constellation was based at Dover for a couple of years before switching to Harwich.
- 11 May 2012 11:00171632
Another view of the Brilliance of the Seas, arriving this morning. - 11 May 2012 11:07171633Kevin's quite right about that. Artania made her debut here last year after being acquired by Phoenix Reisen, prior to which she was P&O's Artemis. The Brilliance (where do they get these names?) is scheduled to leave at 14:30 today, and the Artemis at 18:30 - so I'll probably nip out to see what I can get.
- 11 May 2012 11:41171637I had dinner last night at 8pm on The Black Watch in their Garden Restaurant and very nice it was too. During dinner there was a nice trio of musicians playing soft gentle music on piano, violin and cello
She came in late from Southampton at about 5pm having debarked there and left fully laden at 11pm last night on her way to Norway. I almost forgot to get off but just made it before the pax was lifted, shame really as I rather fancied the Fjords
Kevin, The Celebrity Constellation will be in Dover again this season on Saturday the 19th May PoC
Also, The Saga Pearl due in this Monday the 14th May TR, the first call this season, is to be renamed 'Quest for Adventure'. She will be sailing to some fantastic destinations in 2013. She will start out in the Caribbean and South America, then head across the Atlantic to the west coast of Africa and then Israel. These will be followed by a host of adventures around Europe from the Mediterranean to the far reaches of Scandinavia. As Saga's age group now starts at 50 plus, I'm sure these adventure cruises will prove to be very popular indeed - 11 May 2012 13:19171654Saga operate two shipping companies - Saga Cruises and Quest for Adventure. Since it's foundation in 2005 QofA has operated the Spirit of Adventure (ex-Berlin) with the original plan to add the Quest for Adventure (ex-Astoria).
However, with the retirement of Saga Rose the plans were changed and the old Astoria was brought into service with Saga Shipping as Saga Pearl 2.
Now .... with the introduction of the Saga Sapphire, Saga Pearl 2 will transfer to Spirit of Adventure Cruises as ( ....pause) Quest for Adventure.
I'm not sure what the future plans are for the Spirit of Adventure.
Whist Saga Cruises are aimed at the 50+ market (so that rules Colette out!
) the age limit for Quest for Adventure Cruises is 21+. - 11 May 2012 14:53171657Ah!! shure you're a great charmer John, so you are, great information there too
I was crestfallen to see I was not eligible for the current Saga Cruises but elated to hear I was in with a shot for the 'Quest for Adventure' being in the 21plus group
- 11 May 2012 23:59171779You got it Colette, m'dear ....... smooth as a bag of spanners, me!
I carried out my threat and went out to look at today's visitors. As Kevin said, Royal Caribbean hardly ever call at Dover and it's interesting to see them. Phoenix Reisen have been visiting for years with various ships such as Albatros, Amadea, Alexander Von Humboldt (before she became Minerva), the old Athena (before Classic International took her over) ....... and the most well-known of all, the turbine steamer Maxim Gorkiy.
Artania is the former P&O ship Artemis, although she started life in 1984 as the Royal Princess for Princess Cruises.
Here are a few from today.
- 12 May 2012 07:16171791Wow!! terrific stuff there John. Excellent indeed. You certainly know your way around a camera and a ship or two. Great use of the closer view with the wide angle lens.
As we say at the moment...those pix are blindin !
Caught the Artania leaving last night in the late slanting sun. Earlier completely missed the massive Brilliance of the Seas going. Only I could miss something that big. But here we are with the Artania.
Many thanks as ever to Kevin and John for the background info.email: dover7@msn.com - 12 May 2012 13:21171865Thanks Paul, I was particularly keen on taking the opportunity of seeing these two. Although Artania will make one more call in September, Royal Caribbean won't be visiting Dover again this year.
Today's visitor is the Azamara Journey which you may recognise as a former Renaissance ship. In fact she was the R Six and Renaissance Cruises was a major customer of the then-developing Dover Cruise Terminal. Unfortunately the company foundered in 2001 and most analyses agreed it was due to the backlash of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. It was a worrying time at Dover but in time the ships were sold and many started to return under different operators. - 12 May 2012 13:58171872Great information there John, I'm learning loads from you Super Duper shots too
You shudda gone to specsavers PaulB - 12 May 2012 19:09171938Great Photos John, especially the Brilliance of the Seas, its nice to see a ship from the Royal Carribean Cruise fleet visiting little ol Dover
- 13 May 2012 20:08172235Nice view of MS Ryndam this afternoon
A hazy view of France too
- 13 May 2012 20:12172237where did you take those from david, i am guessing on the hills behind aycliffe?
- 13 May 2012 20:38172240Yes Howard I live in Maxton and was on a Sunday afternoon walk on the hills behind
