By
Rebecca Gibson |
Located around 13 miles from France’s Normandy coastline, but still very much part of the British Isles, the island of Jersey combines the culture of two nations to provide cruise visitors with a tourism offering that is both rich and diverse in historical culture.
Measuring just 45 square miles, Jersey is frequently referred to as the ‘sunniest place in the British Isles’ and often described as a ‘jewel of an island’ – somewhere familiar but a little bit different and ever so slightly exotic. It’s a place where cruise guests can experience the unique character of the land, coast, beach and sea, all within a matter of minutes. Although the island is a small destination, there are a wealth of options of places to go and things to see and do.
Jersey boasts a complex history dating back over 5,000 years, which means there is an abundance of adventures and gripping tales waiting to be discovered. From Neolithic tombs to castles and stark reminders of the island’s occupation during World War II, there are numerous sites of interest for cruise guests who want to explore the history of Jersey.
Naturally, the sea dominates Jersey’s landscape and cruise visitors will be able to enjoy picturesque views of the surrounding Atlantic Ocean from almost every vantage point. The coastline is varied, with majestic cliffs and exposed bays towards the north sloping down to wide sandy beaches and rocky coves in the south, all of which is easily accessible by road, bicycle or foot.
Jersey’s pedestrianised town centre, St Helier, is within easy walking distance of the main harbour. Cruise tourists can head to bespoke boutiques, well-known high street stores, shops selling locally produced artisan crafts and designer outlets, as well as various cafes and restaurants.
The island’s main cruise berth is located on the historic Albert Pier in St Helier Harbour, allowing modern manoeuvrable vessels of up to 62 metres in length with chartered depth of 1.8 metres to dock alongside Berth 2, while those up to 100 metres long with a chartered depth of 3.4 metres can berth alongside Albert Berth 3. Vessels longer than 170 metres or with a draft of more than 6 metres can use deep water anchorages to the north east of the island or the southern part of St Aubin’s Bay and Demie de Pas lighthouse.
Ports of Jersey, which is an active member of Cruise Britain and Cruise Europe, manages all the island’s ports, historical harbours and the airport. Operating under the Cruise Jersey banner, the organisation uses its wealth of experience and knowledge to offer both cruise ships and their passengers a range of first-class services and facilities to welcome them to the island’s shores.
Passenger services manager Maria Le Tiec has overall responsibility for managing the Cruise Jersey product. She has over 20 years’ experience in the local tourism sector, making her the perfect first point of call for cruise operators and their guests. With her proven skills, understanding and enthusiasm, Le Tiec will be delighted to provide assistance to, and share her knowledge with, cruise partners considering the island of Jersey as a future destination port.
This article was first published in the 2019 issue of Cruise & Ferry Itinerary Planning. All information was correct at the time of printing, but may since have changed.
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