"SPIRIT AT BRITAIN" AT SEA AND SHIP´S INTERIORS

The new PO FERRIES "SPIRIT OF BRITAIN" is seen here at sea back in April from the "SEAFRANCE MOLIERE", the new "SPIRIT OF FRANCE" will join P&O fleet end of September, they will be the largest and most luxurious ships operating on the Dover/Calais route

CRUISING ON MERSEY FERRY "ROYAL IRIS OF THE MERSEY"

The Mersey Ferry "ROYAL IRIS OF THE MERSEY" was built in 1959 by Philip & Sons Ltd of Dartmouth, she was named MOUNTWOOD, after a major refit in 2001, the vessel was renamed "ROYAL IRIS OF THE MERSEY", the name cannot be shortened because the previous ship of that name is still listed on Lloyds Register of Shipping, the cruise I was in departed from Woodside and was a round trip to Seacombe, Pier Head at Liverpool could not be used as there was a beautiful big white lady there displacing 87.000 tons under the name of "ARCADIA", also in this post some pics of the CAMMELL LAIRD built "ROYAL DAFFODIL" at the Seacombe terminal, this vessel was built in 1962, they are truly remarkable, I coudn´t recommend this experience more, photos 26th August 2011

MERSEY FERRIES TERMINAL AT WOODSIDE, BIRKINHEAD

Step back in time and do a visit to Woodside Mersey Ferries Terminal at Birkinhead, the buiding was originally built in 1864 and still retains an old Victorian atmosphere, also you can now visit the U-BOAT, U-534 which was acquired in 2007 and of course finish the day with a river cruise, the best way to see Liverpool´s famous waterfront and marvel on board one of the mersey ferries, probably the most famous ferries in the world, photos taken on the 26th August 2011

LIVERPOOL, MARVELOUS FOR SHIP´S ENTHUSIASTS

Since the building of what is known for LIVERPOOL CRUISE TERMINAL, ships enthusiasts are really privileged, the ships dock right at the city centre, the bond that creates is unique and one of a kind, Liverpool population never disappoints as well, people turn in their thousands to have a look at the cruise ships, this is just amazing to witness, also rare and in most of UK and abroad seaports a thing of the past, it is of course great for the passengers as well, they feel pampered, great great stuff, I love it, MAGIC, pictures taken yesterday during ARCADIA´s visit

"ARCADIA" A SHIP OF HER OWN

the MV "ARCADIA" was initially ordered by HAL to become their fifth VISTA CLASS ship, in 2003 it was decided that she would sail as the QUEEN VICTORIA operated by CUNARD LINE, just before her launch  in 2004 a decision was made to transfer the vessel to the P&O CRUISES fleet, as a result of all these alterations she became rather a unique ship, a vessel of her own, she sports a modified QE2 style funnel unlike the traditional P&O funnel like the ones seen on ORIANA and AURORA and her mast shows remarkable similarity with the CUNARD ships, QM2 for instance, she looks splendid, pictures taken yesterday

P & O CRUISES "ARCADIA" LOOKING BEAUTIFUL AT LIVERPOOL

ARCADIA paid her first visit to the city of Liverpool yesterday, she looked amazing and the city gave her a warm welcome, she is 86.799 GRT and has been in service since 2005, some pictures taken yesterday, the ship at berth and off New Brighton

FERRIES ARRIVING LIVERPOOL

Seen here at New Brighton, Liverpool, the ferries "STENA LAGAN" arriving from Belfast and the "MANANNAN" ending her crossing from the island of Man, photos taken yesterday

CRUISE SHIP "ARCADIA" WAS IN LIVERPOOL YESTERDAY

P&O CRUISES "ARCADIA" paid a visit to Liverpool yesterday, it has just been announced that the ship will return next year, also "ADONIA" will visit the city for the first time, photo taken at the cruise terminal

RMS "QUEEN MARY" OF 1936

The RMS "QUEEN MARY" was launched on the 26th of September 1934 and sailed on her maiden voyage on the 1st of June 1936, she was 81.237 GRT, together with sister ship "QUEEN ELIZABETH" after the end of World War II they were the ultimate in size, speed and luxury before the volume of shipborne transatlantic passenger traffic dwindled in face of air travel competition. In 1938 after two years having alternated with SS "NORMANDIE" as holder of the Blue Riband, she emerged has the undisputed holder with an average speed of 30.99 knots for a westbound crossing and 31.69 for an eastbound voyage, she hold the record until the introduction of SS "UNITED STATES" in 1952. During the second World War she and her sister operated continuously as troopships ferrying troops on the Atlantic non-stop, with the capacity of QUEEN MARY being increased to 15.000 troops, after the end of the war they reigned the north Atlantic for a decade or so, especially after 1958 the number of passengers travelling by sea diminished dramatically and the ship was eventually sold to an American company in 1967, which has berthed her at Long Beach as a museum and hotel, she is still there, please click link on post below for full details

Long Beach Hotel | The Queen Mary

Long Beach Hotel | The Queen Mary:

'via Blog this'

SS "NORMANDIE" THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PASSENGER SHIP EVER

The SS "NORMANDIE" was an ocean liner built in Saint-Nazaire, same yard of the new QUEEN MARY 2 in 1935, when she entered service she was the largest, fastest liner in service, she had lavish interiors and a design that inspired other naval architects to this day, SS "FRANCE" in the 60´s and the new "QUEEN MARY 2" are the two most noticeable examples in my opinion. The ship was operated by C G T on the Le Havre/New York service, her life was cut short, in 1942 during WWII when, the ship caught fire at her New York berth and capsized, she was at the time being converted to a troopship, she was sold to scrap in 1946, a sad ending for an incredible liner, most probably the most beautiful ever, two postcards from my collection

PORTUGUESE "DOM FERNANDO II E GLORIA" AT WORLD EXHIBITION IN LISBON

 Back in 1998 the Portuguese capital held the World Exhibition, restored to her former glory was the beautiful portuguese frigate "DOM FERNANDO II E GLORIA", here she is looking amazing, she is still in Lisbon preserved as a museum open to the public, please check in this blog for other posts and photos of this fantastic ship

SS "CANBERRA", 2012 CREW REUNION

Members of the crew of SS "CANBERRA" are organizing a get together in Southampton next year, for further details please visit sscanberra.com. One of my photos of this grand lady showing the ship in Lisbon in the eighties

THE ILL-FATED CUNARD LINER "LUSITANIA"

In May of 1915 a German torpedo sank the "LUSITANIA" with the loss of nearly 1200 people, the sinking turned world opinion against Germany and the death of 123 Americans was the first step to the USA join the first World War. Controversy has surrounded the sinking of the ship since the very beginning, why did she sink in 20 minutes, was she carrying munitions destined to Britain, conspiracies and rumours still surround this WWI tragic event, what we know for fact is that the ship has been warned not to leave New York by the German regime, nevertheless she had no guns mounted and was not an armed cruiser, so it was contrary to the "hague Convention of 1907" to sink a vessel without first visiting her to establish if she was carrying contraband and then making provisions for the safety of her passengers and crew, postcard of my private collection included

POSTCARDS PROMOTING MAIDEN VOYAGES BY "QUEEN MARY" AND "QM2"

Two postcards full of character, the first one promoting "QUEEN MARY" maiden voyage from Southampton in 1936, the second one, tribute postcard of "QM2" first transatlantic crossing, Southampton/New York, back in April 2004

THE NEW P&O FERRIES "SPIRIT OF FRANCE" IS NEARLY HERE

The new super cruise ferry "SPIRIT OF FRANCE" is nearing completion and is due to start service beginning of October, please visit P & O FERRIES website for information on sailings and prices, she will be together with "SPIRIT OF BRITAIN" which has been in service since January, the biggest cross channel ferries ever built, please check other posts about "SPIRIT OF BRITAIN" in this blog, photos taken earlier in the year