The River Mersey - Cruise Ships

Each year several cruise ships visit the River Mersey. Some of the cruise ships berth in the Liverpool dock system while others anchor mid river. A new landing stage was built at the Liverpool Pierhead (2007) to provide improved facilities.

The Mersey has the second greatest tidal movement at its estuary in the UK and it has been considered several times for a tidal barrage to generate electricity.
Due to these strong local tidal currents captains must beware, several years ago the QE2 dragged its anchor and spun briefly out of control..

Athena (2006)
Azuka II (2007)
Black Prince (2006), Black Prince (2007), Black Prince (2008), Black Prince (2009)
Caronia (1999), Caronia (2003)
Crystal Serenity (2006)
Crystal Symphony (2005)
Deutschland (2006), Deutschland (2007)
Europa (2002)
Grand Princess (2008)
Hebridean Princess (2005)
Maasdam (2007), Maasdam (2008)
MS Astor (2008)
Nippon Maru (2003)
Princendam (2005)
Queen Elizabeth II (2004), Queen Elizabeth II (2007), Queen Elizabeth II (2008)
Saga Rose (2006), Saga Rose (2008)
Seabourn Pride (2008)
Seven Seas Voyager (2006), Seven Seas Voyager (2007)
Sundream (1998)
The World (2004)

2007

Liners that visited:
Azuka II
Black Prince
Deutchland
Maasdam
Seven Seas Voyager
Queen Elizabeth II

QE2
The QE2 berthed at the new landing stage, probably for the last time.
QE2 bridge Web cam.

Deutschland
The second liner to berth (Monday 10th September). Last time she visited the area Deutschland anchored mid river.

Seven Seas Voyager
The first liner to berth at the new Cruise ship terminal (Sunday 9th September)

Black Prince
The ship has visited the Mersey several times this year. Sorry no picture for this year yet. Last year I took several pictures.

Maasdam
I took this picture in July on the way to a barbecue.

Azuka II
I took this picture in May.

2006

Liners that visited:
Athena
Black Prince
Crystal Serenity
Deutschland
Saga Rose
Seven Seas Voyager

Liners scheduled to arrive later in the year:

20th September

Clipper Adventurer - 4364 tons carrying 122 passengers. Maiden voyage April 1998. She has an ice hardened hull so she can navigate through the polar regions.

Black Prince
The Black Prince was launched in 1996, has a tonnage of 11,209 with dimensions of 143 * 20 * 6.5 metres.
On April 9th the Black Prince was in Liverpool. As it was Sunday evening and the light was good I finally managed to get a picture of the liner as she left for Lisbon, Portugal. The ship must have been painted since the earlier picture I took in March as the rust stain below the anchor has vanished. I was glad to get back in my car after taking the pictures as it was rather chilly standing near Fort Perch.

On March 27th 2006 the Fred Olson liner was in Langton Dock. Now that the clocks have gone forward I was hoping to be able to get a better picture of the liner as she heads for Funchal on the Portugese Island of Madeira.
I arrived at New Brighton with my trusty camera and spare battreys. At around 5.30 she moved into Langton Lock. Note that the tip of the funnel is above the horizon.

At 6.30 she was noticably lower, the whole funnel was below the horizon, but still in the lock and the light was fading (again). I couldn't stay any longer as I had arranged to meet someone at the gym and I was already late. I am sure that another photo opportunity will arise.

On March 19th 2006 the Black Prince berthed in Liverpool's Langton Dock. In the early evening she headed out to sea on her way to Porto. The light was starting to fade when I took this picture.

On September 15th I spotted that the Black Prince was in Langton Dock. On October 12th I spotted the Black Prince had returned to Langton Dock.

Crystal Serenity
One of the larger liners to visit the Mersey. Specification - 68,000 tons (249.9 * 32.3 * 7.6m) built in 2003. I think that makes her a Panama Max vessel - as big as a ship can be and still get through the locks at the Panama Canal.
On the 15th July Crystal Serenity arrived in the Mersey carrying numerous passengers. The ship can carry 1080 guests.

Athena
The 16,144 ton Athena carries 550 passengers. Dimensions 160 * 16.
On August 23rd I spotted Athena was berthed in the Langton Dock. I arrived in New Brighton just in time to see her passing Seaforth Docks and heading out to sea.

Saga Rose
On 30th August the liner arrived in the River Mersey. I was out of the country at the time so a friend of mine took this picture from Woodside.
Launched in 1997, 49,000 tons, carries 600 guests

Seven Seas Voyager
On the 2nd September Seven Seas Voyager anchored in the Mersey. In the background is the Anglican cathedral (by the ships bow). In the foreground is the mersey ferry Royal Iris. When liners anchor mid river the ferries transfer passengers to the shore, note the open door at the front of the liner.
Launched 2003, carries 700 passengers.

Deutschland
I saw Deutschland on the morning of 16th September when she was anchored in the River Mersey. I saw her discharging passengers onto a Mersey Ferry. Sea Express 1 arrived, tooted her horn a few times and then reversed into her berth at the pierhead.
Deutschland - first cruise in 1998 carries 550 passengers. Decorated like a 1920's hotel.

2005

Crystal Symphony
In July 2005 the Nassau registered Crystal Symphony arrived in the River Mersey. All three of Mersey Ferries were kept busy for the day.

Hebridean Princess

The Hebridean Princess was formerly a car ferry built in 1964 weighing 2112 tons. In 1988/1989 she was converted into a luxury cruise ship carrying up to 49 passengers.
In July (2005) the Hebridean Princess visited the area. Due to its compact nature it was able to travel up the Manchester Ship canal and visit Salford Quays.

In July (2006) I heard that the Queen had chartered the vessel for her summer holiday around the Scottish Islands. She had an armed escort.

Princendam

In August (2005) the liner Princendam was moored mid-river.

2004

Queen Elizabeth II
In May 2004 the QE2 visited Liverpool. The QE2 returned in August.

Note the size of the Mersey Ferry next to the Queen Elizabeth.

The World

This liner is not used by tourists to go on cruises, instead it is the permanent home for the wealthy. The liner berthed in the Liverpool dock system

2003

Caronia
In September 2003 Caronia returned to the River Mersey, the day before the clippers arrived.

Nippon Maru
In June 2003 Nippon Maru visited the Mersey for a day.

2002

Europa
In the Summer of 2002 Europa visited the Mersey for a day. Although the Europa is a smallish liner, it apparently has more room per passenger than any other liner.

1999

Caronia
The QE2's little sister the Caronia was renamed at Liverpool in December 1999.

In the Summer of 1999 another liner visited one of the shipyards on the Mersey for a refit. The 'stepped' building to the stern is one of the vents from the Birkenhead to Liverpool road tunnel.

1998

Sundream
The cruise ship 'Sundream' visited the river towards the end of April (1998).
In August 1998 on one of the hotest days of the year the 'Splendour of the Seas' visited the region. As the passengers arrived in the morning they were greeted by a Steel band. I could imagine this confusing some of the tourists who may have expected to hear "Ferry Across the Mersey".

Related Topics
The River Mersey - Royal Navy
The River Mersey - Other Shipping
Tugs
Shipping Cross Reference
The Mersey River Festival
The Albert Dock
Queen Elizabeth II Dock
Wallasey / Birkenhead Docks
Places of Interest
Getting Places
Map Index.