"OSTENDE SPIRIT" in rough seas

The crossing last wednesday on board "OSTENDE SPIRIT" was far from smooth, the ship came into service too soon the passenger facilities are in need of a complete makeover, the crossing from Oostende to Ramsgate takes three hours and thirty minutes, the sea was rough with strong winds, this 25 year old lady behaved impeccably against the atrocious weather, she took a battering for the most part of the voyage with the ship showing excellent behaviour at sea, photos showing the ship ready for loading and at sea taken from the former HORIZON LOUNGE, the outside decks were closed regardless of the weather, so these were the possible photos, 6.2.1013

Market Day at Bruges

BRUGES on a Market Day, 6.2.2013

My maiden voyage on "OSTENDE SPIRIT"

Commercial Drivers Restaurant and the bar below, the only passenger facilities opened for the moment on board the "OSTENDE SPIRIT", the passenger capacity will be for 900 passengers and further facilities will reopen by the end of February.

"OSTENDE SPIRIT" was built in Germany by SCHICHAU UNTERWESSER in 1987, she was laid-up in October of 2012 by P & O FERRIES after 25 years in service on the Dover/Calais route. Soon after been withdrawn from service rumours circulated associating her as the new TRANSEUROPA ferry on the Ramsgate/Oostende service. "OSTENDE SPIRIT" entered service last friday, 1.2.2013 as the third ship on this mostly freight service, I have sailed her yesterday, 6.2.2013 from Oostende to Ramsgate, she looked great in her new livery, unfortunately when inside the ship she looked like a ghost vessel, all the passenger facilities remain the same but they were all shut down apart from the Commercial Drivers Restaurant and a Bar at the aft of the ship, the only opened toilets were in such a poor state, all the hand dryers had been removed for some odd reason, the crew assured me that new ones should be in place by next week and they were a complete washout. If you planning to travel on the ship make sure you bring a reasonable amount of money sterling or euros with you because on board there is a cash only environment. "OSTEND SPIRIT" was not due to start her new role for another 2/3 weeks but the refit on "GARDENIA" precipitated operations, "GARDENIA" will resume service next week and there are rumours that "OSTENDE SPIRIT" will be withdrawn from service to finish her much needed improvements, the capacity of the ship will be for 900 passengers, the former HORIZON LOUNGE will reopen soon as well as the former BRASSERIE, the ship is on charter for three years, the new operators will focus mainly on freight but will market the leisure passengers as well, perhaps the admission of foot passengers would be a good step forward, this new ship is a big bonus for TEF, the crew is hard working and very cooperative, the only way is truly forward. Photos yesterday 6.2.2013

BRUGES ready for "VALENTINE's DAY"

Bruges is one of my most visited places during my travellings abroad, I use the Ports of Zeebrugge, only 10 miles away, Dunkirk, Calais and even Rotterdam during business trips to Northern France and the Benelux. Bruges is a perfect destination throughout the year, now the city is ready for "Valentine's Day", there's loads of special offers at the moment so why not treat yourself and your partner to a real treat and celebrate this romantic occasion in perfect style. Photos 5.2.2013

Back on board "DUNKERQUE SEAWAYS"

3.2.2013 I was back on board "DUNKERQUE SEAWAYS" for another crossing from Dover to Dunkerque, this new cruise ferry came into service in November of 2005, I have sailed  her many times since December 2005, she was of course the first of the new trio of super ferries operated by NORFOLK LINE, the other being the DOVER and DELFT SEAWAYS, they are now operated by DFDS. Since they came into service few changes to the passenger facilities occurred, the most evident was the introduction of a BRASSERIE style Restaurant called "LA VERANDA" and a small childrens play area, photographed above. Please check the "search blog" gadget for other posts of this new trio of ships, photos above the ship leaving Dunkerque in June of 2011 and interiors of the ship, 3.2.2013