MV Rotterdam cruise liner to visit Ilfracombe on Sunday 29th May 2011

MV Rotterdam, the Flagship of

the Holland America Cruise Line, will dock at Ilfracombe Harbour on 29th May 2011 at 8am.

Weighing 59,885 Gross Tonnes and 238 meters in length she is the

largest Cruise Liner ever to visit North Devon. Unfortunately her size does not

allow her to berth alongside at Ilfracombe so she will anchor off in The

Range, and transport passengers ashore by boat. 

The Liner has no vacant cabins aboard

and so has a full complement of 1384 Passengers and 630 Crew. Her previous Port

of Call is Liverpool and after she leaves Ilfracombe at 4pm she will make passage for

Cherbourg in Northern France.

The Cruise Line Headquarters

based in London have decided to use the Ilfracombe visit as an

opportunity to entertain and brief members of the Tourism Industry. Therefore,

there will be approximately 115 Travel Agents and their clients going onboard

the vessel for a tour, presentation and lunch, as well as The Mayor of

Ilfracombe, who will lead a small party

onboard to present the Captain of MV Rotterdam with a gift from the town. 

The

Pier Car Park will be temporarily closed from midnight on 28th May to 10am on

29th May to allow the Shore

Excursion coaches to park on the Pier prior to the arrival of

the Ship. A Park and Ride scheme will take place during the day which will

direct all traffic entering Ilfracombe to the Hillsborough Car Park to relieve

pressure on the Harbour car parks and reduce traffic within the town. 

Ilfracombe has prepared a wide and varied programme of entertainment, which will take place throughout the town from 10am until the ship sails. There are five areas where activities are taking place during the day; The Pier, The Landmark, The Bandstand, The High Street and The Seafront. Blazing Sounds kick off the musical performances on the Pier at 10am followed by John Brown, Chris Millington, Andy Mac and Sophie Parry from 11am until 2.30pm. Humdrum Conundrum then take centre stage for a street drumming demonstration to entertain the crowds. Andy Mac wraps up the entertainment on the Pier with a performance in the Pier Pub Beer Garden at 3pm. 

Events taking place along the seafront include a skittle alley and village fete stalls throughout the day, with entertainment provided by North Devon Pipes and Drums (11am-12noon), Junior School Country Dancers (12noon-1pm), TLC Junior Majorettes (from 1pm-2pm) and The Red Petticoats from 2pm until 3pm. The Pipes and Drums Band and Red petticoats will also perform between 12.15 and 1.45 in the High Street at the Fore Street end. 

Blazing Sounds Youth Band, Ilfracombe Male Voice Choir and The Swing Boat Jazz Band will all take to Ilfracombe Bandstand between 11.30am and 4pm, and members of the Ilfracombe Victorian Celebration will also parade around the town throughout the day.

Finally, The Landmark will play host to a "Salty Sea" art exhibition and craft stalls accompanied by Sam Dowden on acoustic guitar between 12noon and 2pm. Click on this link for a full programme of activities for the day.