Sadly we have to announce that John-ward Phillips, who has compiled the Cruise News column for the past eight weeks, died suddenly this week at his home at Kergord, Weisdale.

The Black Prince will arrive today from Bergen to Greenock.

The Island Sky arrives on Wednesday from St Kilda before departing for Stromness in Orkney.

Today sees the arrival of Prince Albert II, but not until late evening. She is due to arrive from Mousa and leave at midday tomorrow for Noss and then to Trondheim in Norway.

Her cruise itinerary started at Hamburg on 1st June, then Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Aberdeen, Fair Isle, Mousa, Lerwick, Noss, Trondheim, the Norwegian fjords, Lofoten…

The Polar Star will make her second visit on Sunday. Built in 1969 at 4,998 tons as the Swedish icebreaker Njord, she was converted into an expedition cruise ship in 2000. She has a normal capacity of 92 with 30 crew. Her route for this visit is to be from Kirkwall to Bergen, before continuing…

Apologies to those who looked for Fram arriving at 6am last Saturday – it should have read 6pm.

However, due to gale force eight south-easterly winds her landing at both Fair Isle and Mousa were abandoned and she arrived at the pilot station at 1.30pm, coming alongside at Victoria pier at 2pm. Her visit to…