Monday, April 20, 2015 - 09:39 by ce-press
Guernsey is expecting 115 calls this year including those from Anthem of the Seas and Britannia. “We are expecting 190,000 passengers this year. That is a lot of people getting a taste of Guernsey and our mission this year is to encourage them to come back,” commented Wendy Pedder, marketing manager trade and media relations Commerce and Employment.
Despite being a tender port, the ships calling are getting bigger. To improve the situation, a pontoon is being built on the Albert pier which can take two tenders either side and can be divided for two different cruiselines. It is about the same distance from the town, 10 minutes walk, as the existing pontoon and is also a 10-minute tender ride.
Pedder commented: “It is a nicer part [of the harbour] to arrive. We will cancel the parking near the water so passengers can walk to the main road and the coaches.” There are toilets nearby.
The Sark and Herm ferries are used by some lines as tenders having higher passenger capacity and therefore speeding up the process. It has already been confirmed that these will fit on the new pontoons.
This year is the 70th anniversary of liberation with events being held throughout the Channel Islands between April 3 and May 11. P&O Cruises Oriana arrives on liberation day, May 9. Literature has been sent to the company in Southampton so that passengers have everything to hand prior to arrival and hence not waste time whilst there. The ship will remain in port until 2200 in order not to miss the firework display.
The coast and countryside bus tour is popular alongside Wartime in Guernsey and Victor Hugo’s house where he wrote Les Miserables. Island hopping is being encouraged, it being only 20 minutes to Herm and 45 minutes to Sark. Those wanting to visit independently are provided with a welcome to Guernsey brochure and are encouraged to visit the information centre.
