By
Sean Dudley |
This article was first published in the Spring/Summer 2017 issue of International Cruise & Ferry Review. All information was correct at the time of printing, but may since have changed.
Located just 22km off France’s nearby Normandy coastline, but part of the British Isles, Jersey combines the cultures of two nations, providing its visitors with an offering that is both diverse and rich in historical interest.
This combination of location and culture is seeing more and more cruise lines realise Jersey’s potential – something Myra Shacklady, Ports of Jersey’s key account and marketing director, is delighted to see.
“To support our efforts and help realise our potential, in 2015 we revamped our tender pontoons as we are an anchor port for vessels over 130 metres,” she says. “We upgraded our facilities, creating a much larger space to welcome our visitors and provide them with helpful tourist information. We have also recently rebranded ourselves as ‘Cruise Jersey’ to better reflect our product.”
Ports of Jersey was incorporated in late 2015, meaning the organisation came out of local government control to become a limited company. This has presented the opportunity to be more agile and commercial in its approach, says Miss Shacklady.
Jersey is expecting a flurry of cruise activity in 2017, with in excess of 12 cruise calls scheduled for this summer.
“A number of visitors will be making a welcome return, including Princess Cruises, Cruise and Maritime Voyages and Hapag Lloyd,” Miss Shacklady says. “We’ve also got some ships calling for the first time, including Viking Star, which was only launched in 2014, and MS Hamburg, which we’ve not seen here before. Silversea will also be returning after a break of a few years. It’s great to have these ships visiting and returning to the island.”
With such activity on the horizon, Myra Shacklady, who has overall responsibility for the Cruise Jersey operation and is an active member of Cruise Britain and Cruise Europe, is well aware of the importance of highlighting all that Jersey has to offer.
“Jersey boasts a wealth of world-class attractions, including the Jersey War Tunnels, which is an amazing experience,” she says. “It’s quite a special offering, depicting local life during the island’s occupation by Nazi forces during the Second World War, as the Channel Islands were the only part of the British Isles occupied by enemy forces. We are also home to Durrell’s Zoo and Wildlife Centre, which has attracted renewed interest following the ITV1 television drama show about the zoo’s founder, naturalist and conservationist Gerald Durrell during his early years. A second series is due to be screened in 2017, which will no doubt attract further interest.”
Jersey’s natural beauty has always been one of its strengths, and Miss Shacklady says that cruise passengers are always keen to come ashore and explore.
“Walking tours are very popular, and we have some lovely clifftop walks around the island,” she says. “Jersey is very diverse, with a number of French and British influences – in fact many street names are in French and the island even has its own local French language. Doing a round island tour is also a ‘must do’ for visitors. With an amazing shoreline, surfing, water sports and birdwatching are also popular pastimes among residents and visitors. But there is also a fantastic array of beaches for those who simply want to relax in the sun.”
Looking forward, Ports of Jersey will be releasing its 25-year maritime masterplan in the second half of 2017, which will outline ways in which the island is planning to welcome more people to its shores and enhance its future offering.
“We are considering how we can enhance our cruise facilities going forward, including closer anchorage or possible alongside berthing,” Miss Shacklady concludes. “That’s just one thing on the agenda of our masterplan, which is very extensive as it covers all port activities and is a very exciting prospect.”