NAVIGATION-Cruising and Maritime Themes

MAASSLUIS is today mainly a commuter for Rotterdam, historically depended on fishing for centuries, this beautiful place is also home for the National Towage Museum, follow the link here for more details of the museum, MAASLUIS is steeped in Maritime History, several ships have their permanent home port there and are opened to the public and in the best Dutch traditional way are a joy to visit. Photos Vitor Francisco, 15.7.2017

Early in 1996, HOLLAND AMERICA LINE, made the announcement that their prestigious S.S. "ROTTERDAM" of 1959 would be withdrawn from service at the end of September of 1997, the ship was already 37 years old, still very popular and much loved, but a decision was made not to rebuild her to the new SOLAS regulations, the date of her retirement would be the 30th of September of 1997. 1997 would also be the year of the introduction of the new "ROTTERDAM", already with construction under way at FINCANTIERI shipyards, the new ship was to be delivered in November of 1997 with the maiden voyage announced for the 11th of November of that year. Since the foundation of the HOLLAND AMERICA LINE in 1873, six were the ships to be named "ROTTERDAM". All photos Vitor Francisco, ROTTERDAM V dated 24.6.2017, ROTTERDAM VI, 15.7.2017

 Cruise Liverpool was ten years old on the 11.7.2017, for the event the QUEEN ELIZABETH was the guest of honour, ten years earlier, the QE2 officially opened the facility, these last ten years have seen a sustained growth on the cruise ship visits to the city of Liverpool, once again to celebrate the occasion, thousands of spectators turned up concentrating mainly at the Pier Head and at Seacombe, near the Mersey Ferries Terminal, Mersey Ferries that organized a special cruise that lasted for over two and a half hours to view the ship and contemplate the fireworks from a barge conveniently positioned between the three graces and the QUEEN ELIZABETH, the photos above document the celebrations, all Vitor Francisco, 11.7.2017

During the British Summer Time, "OLDENBURG", sails from Bideford and Ilfracombe at least four times every week to Lundy Island, documented here is the loading and sailing off from Ilfracombe yesterday, the first day of July of 2017, Ilfracombe a beautiful Holiday destination, "OLDENBURG" a rather handsome ship, she sailed yesterday with about 160 passengers, the trip to Lundy takes two hours, the return to Ilfracombe is scheduled for 16.30 allowing passengers to explore the Island for over four hours. Photos Vitor Francisco, 1.7.2017

M.S. "OLDENBURG" departing the Victorian seaside resort of Ilfracombe in North Devon, this beautiful ship was built in 1958 in Germany and named after the former Grand Duchy of Oldenburg, bought in 1985 by the LANDMARK TRUST, "OLDENBURG" is the supply and mail ship to the Island of LUNDY in the Bristol Channel, between March and October of each year, the ship offers cruising to about 200 passengers to the Island, for the complete history of the ship, for timetables and all the other information about "OLDENBURG" and the LANDMARK TRUST, follow the link here. All photos Vitor Francisco, 1.7.2017