THE FORMIDABLE "QUEEN MARY 2" FUNNEL

When I sailed on the QM2 back in 2006, the ship was using the BROOKLYN PASSENGER TERMINAL for the first time, our sending off was quite spectacular, for me the most memorable moment was the exchange of whistles between the ships, an unforgettable moment was the sound of the old QUEEN MARY whistle, of course today on board QM2

COLLECTION OF SHIPS PHOTOS FROM THE 80´S

During the 80´s I was living in Lisbon, my favourite thing to do was to be close to the river Tagus, to simply contemplate the shipping activity and of course photograph what was available, we could still get close to the ships and talk to them and of course listening to their stories, nowadays, major ports like Lisbon are almost forbidden territory for ships enthusiasts, which is a shame because we do so much on their behalf and everyone benefits from that. Included in this post is a selection of photos taken in the 80´s in Lisbon and Setúbal, just 25 miles south of the portuguese capital, my best memories are made of this

TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE-TUG SALUTES MAIDEN ARRIVAL OF QUEEN VICTORIA AT SOUTHAMPTON

SVITZER SARAH salutes maiden arrival of the new CUNARDER "QUEEN VICTORIA", December 2007

WDCS AND THE "PRIDE OF BILBAO"

the WDCS used to have a permanent resident team on board PRIDE OF BILBAO, and what a work they did, special cruises were organized, every cruise was really a theme one, with the dolphin and whale spotting being of course the focus, lectures were common on every voyage and the team would keep the passengers looking for dolphin and whale dolphin spotting in the bay of Biscay, one of the world´s top feeding grounds for these amazing creatures

GOOD MEMORIES ON BOARD MV "PRIDE OF BILBAO"

I have very good memories of the PRIDE OF BILBAO, the most memorable though when my daughter Renata celebrated her 8th anniversary on the ship, 13th December 1999

M S FUNCHAL leaving Lisbon in the late 80´s for another cruise

the M S FUNCHAL is seen here departing Lisbon for another cruise in the late eighties, she has always been a very elegant ship

the MV OLAU HOLLANDIA

the MV OLAU HOLLANDIA seen here was built in 1989, from 1994 she became the PO FERRIES PRIDE OF LE HAVRE until 2005 when the route Portsmouth/Le havre was withdrawn by PO CRUISES, she was then sold to SNAV in 2005 and today is still sailing as the SARDEGNA, I have sailed on this ship when she was the OLAU HOLLANDIA once in 1993 and several times as the PRIDE OF LE HAVRE

SS CRISTOFORO COLOMBO from ITALIAN LINE

The SS CRISTOFORO COLOMBO was built by ANSALDO SHIPYARDS in Italy, the ship was launched in 1953 and left on her maiden voyage one year later, she was 29.195 GT and had a cruising speed of 23 knots, this fine ship was scrapped in 1982, I have amazing memories of this beautiful liner in the mid seventies  when she was a regular caller in Lisbon, she was at the time on the European/Argentina route and I went onboard many times

M S AUGUSTUS OF ITALIAN LINE

the MS AUGUSTUS seen above was built in Italy in 1952 by CANTIERI RIUNITI DEL ADRIATICO for the European to South American service with ITALIAN LINE, she was sold to Hong-Kong in 1976, since then she had different names and ports of registry, she was used by Manila Hotel as floating hotel and restaurant under the name PHILIPPINES, today the hotel operations have ceased but the ship is reported to sail short cruises every now and then and receive visitors. The ship has been sold to scrap and arrived Alang in Augusthttp://vmf-cruiseshipsandliners.blogspot.com

the AUGUSTUS had a sister, the GIULIO CESARE seen here, she was scrapped in 1973 in Italy, I have been aboard the AUGUSTUS a few times but never seen the GIULIO CESARE

MS VAL DE LOIRE REMEMBERED

Two photos of one of my favourite cruise ferries ever, the BRITTANY FERRIES VAL DE LOIRE, she still sails today as the KING SEAWAYS and is operated on the Newcastle/Amsterdam service with DFDS. The ship is seen here in 2002 approaching her berth at Santander and at sea in british waters

ALWAYS THE GREAT WHITE WHALE

Three images of the CANBERRA, first early 80´s in Lisbon, Southampton 1995 and a postcard of an amazing ship

MEMORIES OF SHIP SPOTTING IN THE 80´S

Photos here included are the BLACK WATCH, CREOULA, USS MISSOURI and THE AZUR, all taken in Lisbon

THE MISTRAL WITH THE OCEAN LINER SOCIETY

Back in 1999 I went to Southampton with the OCEAN LINER SOCIETY to visit the brand new MISTRAL, it was a fantastic day, even the QE2 was there and I remember it was emotional, at least for me, to hear the QE2´s whistle saluting the new ship, my memories are made of this

A DIFFERENT TRIP ON MV BRETAGNE

The occasion was Christmas 2007, I was travelling like so many times before on the BRETAGNE, the only difference was I had my family for company, nice memories and a very nice festive season in Lisbon, some pictures inside the vessel, one of my favourite ships, the BRETAGNE has a classic ambiance

IMAGES OF VESSELS AT DINGLE IN IRELAND

The year was 2006, July, the weather gorgeous and fungie the local resident dolphin was incredible, nice voyage down memory lane, for me the best way to get to the Emeral Island is of course by ship, my recommended route is Holyhead/Dublin with the amazing cruise ferry Ulysses seen here, company´s leaflet, I have sailed on this ship a couple of times and I was really impressed  by her facilities