OCEAN POST

We continue the visit to the S.S. "GREAT BRITAIN" museum at Bristol, I hope the photos make justice to this splendid "must see" attraction, May 2015 Vitor Francisco

Life on board the S.S. "GREAT BRITAIN", second instalment, photos May 2015 Vitor Francisco

Museum ship S.S. "GREAT BRITAIN" one of Brunel's masterpieces, duly preserved today at Bristol, exactly at the same place where she was built between 1843 to 1845, the "GREAT BRITAIN" is considered to be the first true transatlantic liner, I have visited the ship several times and consider it to be one of the best attractions in the UK, a must visit not just for people with a maritime interest. Photos May 2015  Vitor Francisco

"PONT-AVEN" is a special ship to me, when she entered service in March of 2004, I was sailing almost on monthly basis from the UK to Spain on the "VAL DE LOIRE", her predecessor on this route. I was on the maiden voyage and since then dozens of times I sailed on the ship, both to Spain or Saint-Malo. She is a very smart cruise ferry, with excellent passenger facilities, she's fast as well, a delightful ship to be on. Here, she is seen at Saint-Malo in March of this year at Saint-Malo, replacing temporarily the "BRETAGNE", which entered a couple of weeks later.

Cruise Ferry "BRETAGNE" arriving Portsmouth and passing cruise ship "VOYAGER, photos Vitor Francisco , 22.5.2016

I have been a regular visitor to the Port of Barcelona, embarking my cruise ferries, mainly GRIMALDI LINES or just photographing cruise ships, seen here on the 2.11.2012, "SOVEREIGN", "NAVIGATOR OF THE SEAS", "HORIZON" and "COSTA VICTORIA"  Vitor Francisco

Tonight "OCEAN POST" is about the pleasure cruising ship, the "BALMORAL", built in 1949 by John I Thornycroft & Co. Today she is owned by the "MV Balmoral Fund" and is based at Bristol. "BALMORAL" was built as a ferry for the Southampton to Isle of Wight service. In 2018 "BALMORAL" was not in service as she required hull plating work, the ship has recently been to dry dock and everything is being done in order to guarantee the return of the ship in 2020 for public service. I have sailed on the ship in 2016 from LLandudno where the photos here included were taken   Vitor Francisco

"CRUISE OLYMPIA" departing Ancona 28.5.2016. The ship is owned by GRIMALDI LINES and operated by MINOAN LINES on their Greek to Italian route, the ports on this route are Patras to Ancona via Igoumenitsa, the transit time is 22 hours, she gets to speeds up to 27 knots. "CRUISE OLYMPIA" has 54.310 GT and was built by FINCANTIERI in 2010. Photos Vitor Francisco