Shipping report: Cruise ships set Dockyard record

Today is a record-breaking day in Dockyard as the island’s two biggest cruise ships call into Bermuda.

It will be the first time that the Norwegian Breakaway and the Explorer of the Seas have arrived at the same time.

And it will see a total of 7,430 visitors descend from the two liners in the West End within 30 minutes of each other.

Added to this will be the 2,100 passengers on the AIDAluna that arrives in Bermuda on the same day, but will be anchored in the Great Sound.

Although the AIDAluna leaves later this afternoon, the Explorer and the Breakaway will remain in port until they head back to the US on Friday afternoon.

After this duo of mega-ships leave there are no more cruise ships due into the West End until next Wednesday when the same pair are back again.

The usual suspects

Meanwhile, later this week, it’s just the usual three container vessel and a slightly late arriving tanker.

The Sea Express was due to call into the Oil Docks in St George’s over the weekend, but was forced to put back her arrival due to bad weather as well as unavailability of tug boats.

She eventually came into the East End on Monday to deliver fuel for BELCO.

The Somers Isles leaves today and will be replaced by the Bermuda Islander tomorrow morning.

And finally the Oleander is back on her normal Sunday arrival slot after last week’s storms put her a day behind schedule. n