Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
David we will have a small feature on the Disney event up soon...we didnt get an official invitation but ColetteB managed to snatch a few shots...this will be after the next f/p feature up which will be the official opening of the Seasports Centre last thursday. We are backlogged alas.
Today the Port is in full thriving mode with THREE cruise ships in taking up every available inch of space on the harbour wall. Ships are..Minerva, Crystal Symphony, and the MSC Opera.
Go for it Dover
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
all we need know is a couple on the eastern arm,with all the people walking round dover spending there cash.
I'm booking Sue for my next Town hall dance!!! Linda and Una move over!!
Fortunately Mickey leant me some shoes of his to wear!
I am in communication with DHB regarding a return visit!
D
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
What a positive approach for our town, David H #97. We can compete with any other town with the right positive attitude.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
Guest 673- Registered: 16 Jun 2008
- Posts: 1,388
Close-up of the funnels, showing the working one aft (on the right in the photo) with all the main engine, generator and boiler uptakes; and the dummy one forward with lattice metalwork made to represent more uptakes. Back in the days of the old three and four-funnelled liners it was common to have one dummy funnel as the shipowners felt it made the ship look more powerful and therefore faster in the eyes of prospective passengers. I think Disney have gone for the way filmgoers would expect a cruise ship to look in a cartoon and the result is very pleasing to the eye.
The small vessel in the foreground in the photo is the DHB dredger "David Church" which has been conducting an unusual amount of dredging in the outer harbour recently, possibly associated with the work commencing shortly to remove most of the blockship "Spanish Prince." I would not be surprised if mud and silt stirred up by this dredging was the source of Keith's recent observation that the water was dirty off the beach.
For more photos of "Disney Magic" alongside on the Admiralty Pier, and then departing, see collection below:
http://shipsintheportofdover.fotopic.net/c1860650.htmlhoward mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
opening of the seasports centre?
i thought that was a few months back, seem to remember all the great and the good there then.
since that event it seems to open and shut at will.
i sincerely hope that this will be a success, dover deserves a restaurant/bar with views along the front now that the churchill has gone,
Guest 697- Registered: 13 Apr 2010
- Posts: 622
Great to see three cruise ships in Dover in one day. I presume the cruise lines get a discount for the use of the marquee "terminal" on the end of the Admiralty Pier. It's shame that two out of these three have opted to drop Dover for the 2011 season. MSC are switching to Southampton, and Swan Hellenic to Portsmouth. Crystal Cruises, however, is still a big name for Dover and its ships are regarded as some of the best in the world.
Colin
I didn't need more work, but having been given the role of Deputy Mayor I believe that it is to sell Dover both to outsiders and to the population in general. At meetings with other organisations and at fetes, school visits and such as you have seen I "work the room" positively. You would be surprised at the number of people who love this town and the optimism that still exists but also that those from afar do also want to be here. And those who want to do something for the town.
I am now in contact with not only DHB marketing but also the Captain of the ship who has responded - unique in my experience - and with the result from other meetings I am certain that the role is constructive and a benefit when viewed as a job not just a jolly, as many think it might be. Linda is also doing her bit and attracts her own attention. At the end of the year we might also get to spend some time together.
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
I agree with David ,his role as Deputy Mayor and mine as Vice Chairman of DDC are very similiar .We talk the talk and walk the room .Between us I think we will be able to bring back pride in our District and especially Dover .
Its not about jollies .
On the front page you will see a couple of shots of me .My hair was wet as i travelled by bus now takes thirty minutes and walked to the sea front .I intend to meet as many people as possible .I hope the invites come rolling in so I can carry out my role as I see it .
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
Howard this was the official opening of the Building itself with the unveiling of the plaque..see frontpage feature just now gone up this morning for fuller info. The previous gathering was the Launch of Jasins Restaurant only..but alas that turned out to be like the launch of the titanic as we now know.
You look fab in the photos Sue for sure.
Yes will be very interesting to see Big Dave's role develop with Sue in a kind of goodwill tandem for the greater good of all.
Guest 690- Registered: 10 Oct 2009
- Posts: 4,150
Thank you for that David, and again it does all look positive, and what Dover needs more than anything else. Spending money out on new attractions for visitor`s to Dover, may not be the answer to draw people in, maybe like myself in either this country or some foreign land, the average tourist may wish to see the `real` town, and not some local tourist orientated, expensive white elephant added. I`ve always liked Canterbury over the years, but all that new shopping precinct in the town centre has destroyed it for me now. Too commercialised. A few more interesting shops like Canterbury though would be very welcome in Dover I`m sure. ........I mention Canterbury above by the way, as it seems to get mentioned on here quite often as an alternative destination to Dover.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
We particularly enjoyed the Disney ship's farewell: the first seven notes of "when you wish upon a star". Not every ship bothers with "goodbye".
And, to our surprise it was a very good looking ship as well.
Guest 697- Registered: 13 Apr 2010
- Posts: 622
I was wondering if anyone else had heard the special fog horn on the Disney Magic - nice touch! I'm surprised the port tugs didn't come out and give her a bit of a send off with the fire hose.
The tugs were certainly kept busy this evening with both of them required for the departure of the Saga Ruby. Having backed her out of the Western docks they turned her in the bay for a departure through the Eastern entrance.
Guest 697- Registered: 13 Apr 2010
- Posts: 622
Another job for both tugs this evening as the Norwegian Sun departed Dover via the Eastern entrance.
NCL is another cruise line that we won't be seeing next year as they are not offering any ex-UK cruises, opting instead to base their ship in Copenhagen. Seems a strange decision bearing in mind that the UK is the second largest source market for cruise holidays after the US. Let's hope they change their mind and come back to Dover in the not too distant future.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
interesting about ncl kevin, over the last couple of years we seem to have had more cruise calls, certainly more people from the ships in town, both passengers and crew.
Guest 697- Registered: 13 Apr 2010
- Posts: 622
Inevitably the number of cruise calls will fluctuate: 136 (2009), 144 (2008), 132 (2007), 136 (2006), 111 (2005). I understand this year is set to be a record at about 170 calls, but next year looks like a big reduction with several cruise lines not operating from Dover.
The cruise business has undoubtedly been a big success for Dover from relatively humble beginnings. It's certainly been worth the investment with the town benefitting too. I guess the key point for the future is that this is a competitive trade and Dover will have to work hard to compete with other ports in Europe and further afield. It does underline how important the wider regeneration agenda is for Dover, so that we can continue to build on the value of having these prestigious ships, their passengers and crew, in our town.
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
Hellooo there Kevin..you must have been somewhere close to me. I took a quite a few pictures as the light was just right last night..it hit the ship as it moved across the harbour, not exiting by the western exit this time. Just one pic to put up for now.
As I understand it yes Dover is being badly hit next year with the likes of MSC leaving and I heard somewhere too that NCL are doing likewise as mentioned by Kevin above. The Norwegian Sun here is an NCL ship so it will be very sad to lose all these glamour ships. The picture is looking a little blurred there but in reality the picture is sharp...we may be able to increase the size of these pictures soon.
Ask yourself the question, "would I prefer a day in Copenhagen or Dover prior to boarding my cruise ship"? That, I'm afraid is the reality we are up against with our closed shops, closed hotel (s), closed pubs, cheap/charity shops, gambling dens, closed tourist attractions etc.
Sad, but probably true.
Guest 693- Registered: 12 Nov 2009
- Posts: 1,266
Is that the choice then, Sid?
We boarded our cruise last year in Dover and enjoyed a day out in Copenhagen as well!
I do think that Dover lends itself particularly well to embarkation of cruises: our location on the south-eastern tip of the country means that for many, it's a half day trip by rail, coach or car to get here which means they'll arrive early afternoon which is when the ships start boarding, and for the cruise companies themselves the Baltic cruises and Fjord cruises have less distance to cover to arrive at their destinations than those departing Southampton, for instance. Certainly the passengers we spoke to on our cruise last year loved Dover as a less crowded embarkation port than many others and far more picturesque in the bargain. The issue of our poor shop and hotels never surfaced, primarily because the passengers didn't have time to go shopping before boarding began. Perhaps that's just as well...
True friends stab you in the front.
.It was mentioned to the disney crowd that parking in Dover gave you views and access to an international icon and superb view ( against which their photographer lined us up) and in Southampton all you would see and access was docks!
D
