SHIPPING ENTHUSIASTS

From the large open decks and observation lounges of Waverley and Balmoral, the shipping enthusiast is able to view a wide range of vessels around the ports of the UK. These vessels include Royal Navy, RFA, Oil/Gas Tankers, Container Ships, Cruise Ships, Historic Ships, Sailing Vessels and many others.

2008 is the last chance to view or escort the QE2 as she does her final voyage around the U.K. & Ireland There are cruises aboard Balmoral in October from Cork, Northern Ireland, North Wales, Liverpool, Glasgow & Greenock.
These will be extremely popular so early booking is strongly recommended.

The TALL SHIPS visit Liverpool in July and Balmoral will be offering several cruises to visit the event and a cruise to follow the parade of sail.

BRISTOL CHANNEL
Out on the Bristol Channel, view some of the large vessels at close proximity, sailing in and out of the docks at Portbury, Avon and Newport. Large oil and gas tankers are viewed on sailings from Milford Haven. On the Bristol City bus tour see the S.S. Great Britain in Bristol docks.

SOUTH COAST
Southampton Water Cruises offer a diverse range of ships to view as we sail past. Cruise ships are regular visitors, as are large oil and gas tankers, container vessels, sail training ships, ferries to the Isle of Wight and numerous pleasure craft are in abundance.

Portsmouth Harbour cruises also offer a close up view of Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels as well as the numerous large ferries to France and smaller ferries to the Isle of Wight. Historic Vessels such as Nelson's flagship, HMS Victory and Britain's first iron-hulled battleship HMS Warrior are also on view as we sail past. Vessel movements out on the Solent are numerous as we navigate the narrow shipping lanes off the Isle of Wight.

CLYDE
River Clyde and Clyde Estuary cruises offer a range of vessels to view. As we leave our berth in Glasgow, view Glasgow's historic tall ship Glenlee. Further down the river view a range of commercial vessels, ship building at BAE systems in Scotstoun and Govan, container and cruise ships berthed at Greenock and CalMac's clyde ferry fleet based at Gourock. Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessels can also be viewed on weekly cruises up Loch Long.


THAMES
Cruises on the River Thames and Thames estuary offer a diverse range of ships to view including HMS Belfast in the Pool of London and Gypsy Moth at Greenwich, large commercial vessels and cruise ships at Tilbury Docks and historic Thames Barges. Cruises to Ipswich, Harwich and from Great Yarmouth offer further opportunities to view a range of commercial vessels under way or at berth.