Photographs & Notes © John & Jenny Williamson 2008

Little did we think when we flew over Langton Lock on Thursday morning and saw THOMSON CELEBRATION (ex NOORDAM) in the lock that this was going to be the last time that we would see her outside the Langton Dock basin.

Langton Dock has to be the worst positioned of any cruise change-over bases, being as far away from civilisation as you could possibly get in Liverpool. It has depressing views over scrap heaps, and the only life you can see is the occasional ship movement.

 We had booked a cabin with a porthole, to give us a sea view, but all we saw from the cabin all weekend was a brick wall and a pile of pallets, with the occasional passing road tanker, which appeared to have been booked to empty the toilet waste, judging by the occasional waft of sewage smells in some areas of the ship.

From the upper decks we watched the passing ships, most of which were heading to or from Ireland, and didn't seem to be suffering significant delays to their schedules. We even saw the Isle of Man fast craft VIKING heading in to Liverpool on Friday, in almost cloudless skies and calm waters (it must have been calm for that to sail, as it is severely wave-height restricted). We heard that the Dublin to Holyhead fast craft was also sailing that day, but we could not go to Dublin?

Attached are a few photos that are a reflection of our weekend.

The only way to cruise?

Your web master was also present on this cruise to nowhere.

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For an in depth report

Sea View?

More scrap!

A prophetic poster behind a bar

Sunset Behind New Brighton

NORBANK - A Dublin bound ferry departs on Friday

VIKING - the Isle of Man fast craft sails by in calm conditions on Friday.

The DUBLIN VIKING sails by - for Dublin!