The classic motor vessel Balmoral returns to the Island shortly, offering just two opportunities to view the beautiful Manx coastline between Douglas and the Calf of Man from the sea. These are on Saturday and Sunday afternoons 16th and 17th July and during these cruises you should see 6 of the Island's lighthouses.

For something completely different there will be a Jazz and Blues Cruise from Douglas on Thursday evening 14th July. This will leave Douglas at 7.00 pm and return around 10.00pm. Live music will be provided by the Vanguards, a combination of the Embassy Jazz Club and Bus Pass Blues bands, performing afloat for the first time. The band will strike up and the bar will open as soon as Balmoral leaves the harbour. Boarding will be from 6.30 pm via the Sea Terminal.

The Calf of Man Cruises will leave Douglas at 1.15 pm on both Saturday and Sunday afternoons, so please be in the Sea Terminal by 1pm. From Balmoral's decks spectacular views of Douglas Head and the Marine Drive, with its cliffs and wildlife, open up as the vessel heads south past the airport, Derbyhaven and the Langness peninsular before passing Sugar Loaf Rock, the Chasms and Spanish Head, and then crossing Calf Sound before running along the cliffs of the Calf towards Chicken Rock and hopefully views up the west side of the Island before time runs out. She returns to Douglas by 5.30pm with a short call at Port St Mary on the way at around 4pm. We are hoping to be joined on these cruises by some of the young visitors (and their host families) who have come to the Island thanks to the Friends of Chernobyl's Children. https://www.facebook.com/FOCCIsleOfMan/. 

Bookings and tickets

• Tickets for the Jazz and Blues and Calf of Man cruises can be booked on line at www.whitefunnel.co.uk or by phone 0117 325 6200. The Jazz and Blues Cruise can also be booked at Peter Norris Music, 54 Bucks Road, Douglas 01624 661794.
•  The adult fare for these cruises is ?21 with children half price. There is a ?19 Senior fare for the Jazz and Blues Cruise and a family fare (2 adults+2 children) of ?57 on the Calf of Man cruises.
• Subject to space availability, tickets may be available on board on the day.

Photo - The MV Balmoral arriving at Port St Mary.  Courtesy of Dick Clague.