M.S. "ISABEL DEL MAR" laid-up in Barcelona

Seen here laid-up at Barcelona is the 1988 built ferry "ISABEL DEL MAR", she has been operated by ISCOMAR since 2008 and is apparently been sold for scrap, the ship can carry 900 passengers and weights 12.589 G.T., the ship is registered at Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Photos 22.11.2013

P & O ship "WILLIAM FAWCETT" of 1828

Althought never owned by P & O the "WILLIAM FAWCETT" built in 1828 was considered to be the first P & O ship, she started a service with the then known "Peninsular Steam Navigation Company" in 1835 connecting London with Spain and Portugal with turnarounds in Lisbon, this was extended on several voyages to Gibraltar as well. Photos taken on board SPIRIT OF FRANCE, 28.11.2013

Travelling "CLUB LOUNGE" with P & O FERRIES

Passengers travelling with P & O FERRIES can indulge for extra luxury and book "CLUB LOUNGE" for £14 or just £12 when booked online. These private and exclusive rooms on board the new SPIRIT Class ships on the Dover / Calais route, are really comfortable well decorated with great emphasis on the long Company's History, the rooms also have a viewing area, a complimentary glass of champagne, soft drinks tea or coffee are also served by attentive stewards, there is also an exclusive menu on offer. Photos 28.11.2013 on board "SPIRIT OF FRANCE"

Ship spotting at Portsmouth from "PONT-AVEN"

Today I was back on board "PONT-AVEN" for my trip number 21, the ship was built in 2004 by MEYER WERFT in Germany, twice I have sailed on her from Portsmouth to Saint-Malo, the other 19 trips from either Portsmouth or Plymouth to Santander, it seems like yesterday that I did the maiden on "PONT-AVEN" from Plymouth on the 23.3.2004. This ship is one of my favourites so it's always a great excitement to go back on board BRITTANY FERRIES flagship. Portsmouth is also a delightful Port to sail to or from, there is always plenty opportunities for ship spotting, today, 19.11.2013 was no exception

"NORMAN ASTURIAS" started a new service from Poole to Santander this November

LD LINES started this month on the 3.11.2013 a new service from Poole to Santander with two sailings per week, tuesdays and saturdays, the ship is the "NORMAN ASTURIAS" previously on the Saint-Nazaire to Gijon route, now that COTENTIN was withdrawn from the same service by BRITTANY FERRIES this could be another option for the growing numbers of passengers travelling to Spain, she cannot be compared with the BF Cruise Ferries but is definitely an option offering budget crossings. For other entries here about "NORMAN ASTURIAS" when she started the service between Saint-Nazaire and Gijon as the BALTIC AMBER please click here

Research Ship "POURQUOI-PAS ?" in Lisbon

Named after the French Medical Doctor and Polar Scientist Jean Baptiste Charcot's ship, the "POURQUOI-PAS ?", this new IFREMER ship was built at Saint-Nazaire in 2005, she is used as a research biological oceanography vessel. Photos taken in Lisbon, 22.9.2013

"OSTEND SPIRIT" former P & O "PRIDE OF CALAIS" on her way to the scrapyard

the 1987 built PRIDE OF CALAIS is now on her way to scrap as the "OSTEND SPIRIT". The ship served P & O for 25 years on the Dover/Calais service, she was transferred to TRANSEUROPA FERRIES in February of this year, sailed various times on the ship, last one was back in February this year, everything seemed so promising at the time, it wasn't to be and she is now on her way to Aliaga in Turkey, where she is due this tuesday, 12.11.2013, the ship as a sign of her still good qualities is sailing on her own power.