The End for Tower Bridge

Just found out that when the Pride came into London last Sunday, she no longer came through Tower Bridge and has already started to use the new London Moorings. The tenders still run to Tower Pier but the Bridge no longer opens for the ship to tie up by the Belfast. Sorry to disappoint those of you sailing out of London this Summer but I assume all the sailings will use the new Moorings and not go under the Bridge.

I often used to go down to the Bridge to watch the ship sail in or out and the best view was always from the Bridge pier because you were almost within touching distance. Glad I didn't go last Sunday but 2am sailin was a bit early for me.

Glad I've still got my pictures of my cruise departures under the Bridge. They will never be repeated.

That's too bad; because I was thrilled watching that happen. How are the Moorings Piers different? Where are they? Will we still have to take a tender across and then schlepp by the other ship?

Jane (Although this change won't keep me from enjoying the cruises that start from London!)

Jane

What I was told , although I haven't yet seen them myself, is that these are movable moorings that stop in the middle of the River Thames within sight of Tower Bridge but on the eastern side. Instead of checking in at the Mandarin Oriental hotel, everyone now checks in at Tower Pier, the same place we used to board from, and take a tender from the pier under the Bridge to the moorings. Of course, the Bridge won't need to open for the tenders.

If I can, I may go down next Sunday when the ship is back to see people off and boarding. Don't quite understand as the pier doesn't have a lot of space for people waiting to board.

Still think it's a shame but, again, it saves Seabourn money on not having to hire a room at the hotel for checkin.

Norm,

Yes, it's a shame in a way. But of course the city wasn't thrilled with having to open the bridge for the ship every time--they don't do it for many reasons, as it is. That's why they invested in the moorings. I think Seabourn would be hard-pressed to get them to let the bridge opening continue, now that the city's taxpayers have bought the floating moorings. I always wondered what the drivers thought of us gliding serenely under the bridge like Cleopatra whilst they were late for the sitters.

bgood

bgood

I don't think it's the number of times the Bridge opens that's the problem. If you look here http://www.towerbridge.org.uk/TowerBridge/English/BridgeLifts/schedule.htm you will see that it often opens more than six times a day. But I agree the City Fathers would want it to use the moorings. I think it adds to the tourist attraction of the Bridge to see it open. There are sometimes problems though like a couple of weeks ago when the Bridge was stuck half open for about five hours. Not good if the ship has to catch the tide.

For me it was the best way to start a cruise - second best was the first time I sailed out of Venice on the Vistfjord and sailed along the main canal - I hadn't known it would do that.

Oh yes - and if drivers are in a hurry there are other very close bridges they could use instead.

Will I have to change my avatar now?

Correct me if I am wrong,but I seem to remember a recent news item that there had been an accident that prevented the bridge from being opened pending the necessary repairs.

If people are not completing their boarding procedures in the hotel,are they taking place on board ship?

Hi English

I think this what both of us were thinking of. It happened last Friday. http://news.pipex.com/Pipex/News/Story_Page/0,13319,5337_503146,00.html.

Regards

Norm

Norm~~~I remember so well last Aug. when you, J.B. and I stayed at the Tower

Thistle Hotel the night before we boarded the Pride and the next morning YOU

merely strolled the block, with your luggage, while J.B. and I perferred the Cab

(with all my luggage) down to the awaiting tender. It was the easiest boarding I've ever experienced.

I'm also sorry we won't be sailing under the Tower Bridge again~~~~some things just shouldn't end!

Martita

My wife & I will be on the 8/28 sailing across the Pond. We will be staying at the Millennium Gloucester Hotel for several days before embarking and thought we would embark at the ship since my wife uses a wheelchair when we travel and on the ship when needed. Now that the place of embarcation has changed, can we take a van (booked through Seabourn as we did recently in Barcelona) directly to the point of embarkation. We have never had the pleasure of visiting London and would like any advice offered regarding getting to the Pride.

Looking forward to a wonderful stay in London.

Martita

I treasure the memories (and the photos!) of the three of us that night at the Tower Hotel. I remember we went out to see the ship arrive but she had come in early and was already tied up against the HMS Belfast.

Originally, I had expected my first London cruise on the Pride to be later but I'm so thrilled I didn't miss out on watching the Bridge open just for us as we sailed through, glass in hand.

Leonid

Seabourn used to arrange ckeckin at a hotel in Knightsbridge. The luggage was sent on a van and the passengers were taken by coach to Tower Pier. A few people did go direct to the Pier to check in on the ship. I gather now all checkin is done by going straight to the Pier. Check the papers you get with your tickets but I guess the easiest (and probably cheapest) way will be to get your hotel concierge or belldesk to organise taxis or a van to take you to Tower Pier in Lower Thames Street. Many of London's taxis are now wheelchair-accessible. There should be porters waiting to take your luggage and help your wife down the slope, which can be quite steep depending on the tide, down to the pier.

Have a great cruise! Are you doing the 18 days or staying on the extra three for the Gilligan's Island cruise?

Regards

Norm

Norman, this is a 'lit off topic.......thought I would post it while it is still fresh on my mind. Captain Neil Broomhall (from the Radisson Diamond--now a casino in Asia) is now Mastering The Saga Rose. Captain Phillip Rentall is now on The Saga

Ruby, our old Cunard Caronia. The Saga folks spent 17 million pounds on the Caronia's "facelift"........I heard she is super beautiful!!!

Didn't you cruise on The Saga Rose a few years back? Mother and I were with Captain Broomhall a couple of times.......he is truly a most personable, very visable, "hands-on" helmsman. Much an English gentleman!

I did check on a few cruise rates.......VERY expensive!!!

Tah-tah.....

M.

Not sailed on Saga Rose since Saga took her over but sailed on her too few times when she was still Sagafjord. She was my favourite ship until she had a fire and was then sold by Cunard about 8 years ago - and before I discovered Seabourn.

It also proved the benefits of my hobby when a few months ago I started scanning onto my computer pictures of my Sagafjord cruise in 1995. I realised that the Captain was Leif Rodahl - looking a little younger but unmistakable - who I had subsequently met and got to know as Captain of the Pride. I hadn't remembered I had met him before. Aren't memories and nostalgia wonderful. :)

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Quick, M, just noticed your last post was number 666 - do another one quick!

Thanks for telling me!!

Now, hopefully the number has changed!

M

If this is a permanent arrangement on the part of Seabourn,then why don't they use the (£50 million) floating terminal at Greenwich?

Access for traffic at Tower Pier is rather poor.

I just found this link http://www.portoflondon.co.uk/display_fixedpage.cfm/id/201/site/commercial. It is the same terminal. Because it floats it can be used by Tower Bridge for the small ships and at Greenwich for the bigger ones.

Extract from link -

The floating terminal can be used at Tower Bridge Lower, 200 metres downstream from Tower Bridge, for vessels up to 180 metres in length and six metres draught. During 2004 it was also used by the ‘Minerva II’ and the ‘Silver Cloud’, amongst others. Alternatively, it can provide a turnaround facility at Greenwich Ship Tier, which is where ‘The World’ was handled.

Will be doing just the crossing from London to New York...have to get to the desert in Northern Nevada in the the States...retirement does call...thanks for the input...will see you at the Sky Bar before and after the Drill!

We too are saddened to hear of the change, but glad we had the opportunity to sail under the bridge. It was on our first Seabourn Cruise 6 years ago from London to Copenhagen via the Scandinavian Capitals and St. Petersburg. It was a terrific itinerary and we’d love to see it repeated.

But I will never forget pulling away from the dock, and the sun breaking out of the grey cloudy sky, and the rain stopping long enough for us to stand outside as we cruised under the open bridge.

We couldn’t get over the number of people taking pictures along the way, their cameras flashing from both side of the Thames, from the time we left the Tower of London until we sailed past Greenwich. It was magical and we are glad to have the memories

yes this is bad news, i too used to go down to yower bridge to see the ships by the belfast, it won't be the same atbthe new place. i was onthe new moorings last year on a ship visit on the silver cloud and they are very impressive. need to get something at greenwich think they migh6t be using these there as well. never been on a ship under the bridge apart from the waverley

dave

Seabourn's website is still referring to the Bridge being raised specially for the Pride,and the Legend.

Has anyone obtained confirmation from Seabourn that using Greenwich is a permanent arrangement?

Maybe if there is enough reaction, they may go back to sailing through the Bridge. And since I first saw the Pride in 2001, I don't think the Legend has ever been to London. I think the website is a tad out of date.

Norm

Seabourn Pride will be using the floating dock from Greenwich, but at the Tower Bridge mooring site. While it's less dramatic, it really works a lot better, they say.

bgood

>"Still think it's a shame but, again, it saves Seabourn money on not having to hire a room at the hotel for checkin."

__________________

I should think that since Seabourn recommends the MO for land packages and it's touted in their literature, the least the hotel could do is to give them a room for a few hours on a Sunday afternoon. After all, many stay there overnight or come early and eat lunch there. Now there is less of a reason to do that.

Jane

Went down to Tower Bridge today to see the new moorings and to say farewell to Laura who is returning home to look after her parents.

Took a few pictures which you can see on the new photo hosting service I am trying - http://norm.smugmug.com/gallery/603234

Some samples -

The distance between the mooring and the Bridge is about 300 yards

Another view from the other direction

Don't think I'm going to be changing my avatar just yet.

The mooring next to the ship as a tender departs

And lastly - there might be a prize if you can name all four - that is, if Seabourn can be persuaded to give one

OK one more

Found this beautiful condo building facing where the ship berths - look at the reflection in the windows - what a view

Regards

Norm

That is an absolutely marvelous photo Norm! It is obvious that you are a talented photographer. I love the ship reflection in the windows.

Thanks, Norm! They are wonderful. I recognize Laura and the good Doctor whose name I can't spell, but he's from Gdansk.

Do you mean that Laura is retiring from Seabourn or just taking leave?

Jane