Alderney is getting ready to welcome its first cruise ship visitors since the Covid pandemic struck.
With five scheduled visits by small luxury cruise ships – and the possibility of more during the summer – the Island’s special brand of welcoming hospitality will once again be in full swing.
Furthermore, the France-based ferry company Manche Iles Express will bring more inter-island and French tourists with a further six day-visits during the season offering two weekend stays.
Annie Burgess, Chair of the Island’s Economic Development Committee, said: “We have missed our cruise ship visitors during the pandemic and we look forward to welcoming them back to our great restaurants, cafés and pubs, along with our wonderful wildlife, beaches, heritage sites and island walks. This is a great opportunity for businesses to showcase Alderney’s famous warm welcome and make the most of these visits.”
Sunday May 15th sees the first of five cruise ship visits to Alderney so far scheduled for this season when MS Island Sky (pictured) passengers will spend the day on the Island. The 116-passenger Noble Caledonian vessel will arrive from Portsmouth en route to Jersey the next day, while her joint flagship, Hebridean Sky, will visit three days later (May 18th).
The scheduled visits are:
- Sunday May 15 – Island Sky (all day)
- Wednesday May 18 – Hebridean Sky (afternoon)
- Thursday July 21 – Hebridean Princess (morning)
- Thursday July 28 – Island Sky (all day)
- Tuesday August 23 – Serenissima (morning)
The full schedule is available here.
Scheduled visits by Manche Iles Express (from Dielette unless otherwise stated) are: Friday July 8th, Friday August 5th (via Guernsey), Sundays August 7th & 21nd, Friday September 16th, Saturday 17th and (return only) Sunday 18th. Information available here.
Passengers from the cruise ships will arrive by ship’s tender mooring at a reserved place on the pontoon while Manche Isles Express moors at the Commercial Quay with its own gangway.
