12th April 2025 ~ Farewell to the Marco Polo ~ with David Trevor-Jones ~
When popular UK cruise company CMV was forced to cease trading during the global pandemic we said goodbye to their well-loved fleet. The last ship enthusiast / photographer to look around Marco Polo was David ... and he shares his stories with us ...
The Marco Polo was laid-up in Avonmouth Docks awaiting sale by auction in 2020 when she was purchased by Highseas Ltd who had hoped to give her a trading future. Before she departed UK, David was able to gain an invitation to see around this deserted ship that he knew so well from her UK cruising days … this resulted in the last know library of “access all areas” Marco Polo photographs. David reminds us of the ship’s illustrious past and gives us an insight into how she looked in her twilight days.
David Trevor-Jones is talks organiser & director at the Ocean Liner Society – and a long-standing branch member, friend and speaker at WSS Dorset. David’s shipping research and photography ranges from classic liners including the Russian “Author” class, via Swedish excursion steamers to “re-borne” cruise ships of lines such as CMV and Ambassador.
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10th May 2025 ~ Rotterdam to Amsterdam – R Class crosses centuries ~ with Steve Pink ~
Ships delivered in each century create the class of four still serving Holland America & Fred Olsen cruise lines …
Holland America Line’s successful S Class and the line’s purchase by Carnival Corporation formed firm foundations for the design and ordering of four R Class ships that were delivered between 1997 and 2000. Two went on to become flagships of the fleet before being sold for a second career and two continue to serve their original owner. Steve tells another story in his Millennial Cruise Ships series.
Steve Pink is branch secretary and events organiser at WSS Dorset and a member of the Ocean Liner Society. A Nautical Studies graduate with a background in cargo-passenger shipping, ferries and cruising - Steve also acts as editor & promoter for ~Ships~Dorset~ facebook group and website content.
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~ September 2025 to May 2026 ... NEW PROGRAMME ... provisional details below ~
Another exciting programme of nine talks currently in production for September 2025 to May 2026 … see advance billing ...
2025 ... 13th September / 11th October / 8th November / 13th December …
2026 ... 10th January / 14th February / 14th March / 11th April / 9th May ...
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13th September 2025 ~ Three Days at Terneuzen & the Ghent Canal in 2024 ~ with Des Upcraft ~
Ship spotting at Terneuzen …
Last year Des led a ship spotting group on a three day visit to key viewpoints at Terneuzen and on the canal to Ghent. With accompanying ship details and commentary Des will share photographs of the shipping they saw.
Des Upcraft is Chairman of the Thames Ship Society and a keen ship enthusiast who has been leading ship photography expeditions across Europe for a number of years including Gibraltar, Rotterdam, Bremerhaven and the Solent.
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11th October 2025 ~ Aboard “Americana” down South America way ~ with Ted Scull ~
A passenger ship that carried cargo ... or a container ship with passengers ? …
Ted’s talk highlights his voyages aboard Ivaran Lines’ handsome “Americana” and we’ll hear about the re-invention of the passenger/cargo combination liner in the new 1980s era of containerisation … our voyages with Ted “down South America way” also provides a great opportunity to see other interesting ships and ports.
Theodore W. Scull (Ted) is a New York City-based travel writer who has written several books on transatlantic crossings, including “Ocean Liner Odyssey” and “Ocean Liner Twilight.” He has been cruising since he was a teenager and has amassed a logbook of travel by sea aboard cargo and passenger ships that is probably unrivalled in longevity and variety … welcome back Ted.
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8th November 2025 ~ The story of Maersk “Triple E” Container Ships ~ with Andrew McAlpine ~
Conceived in Denmark ... Constructed in South Korea ... Connecting Europe & Asia …
When they were built, they were the largest container ships in the world at 18,000 TEUs. Whilst they were subsequently surpassed by even larger container ships, the story of Economy (of scale), Energy (efficiency) and Environmental (impact) makes a compelling talk presented with fantastic photography.
Andrew McAlpine is a maritime writer, photographer and speaker specialising in the port & shipping industry, whose photos and articles are regularly published in various international shipping magazines. Andrew can draw on his day-to-day experiences as an Operations Control Supervisor at DP World 's Port of Southampton which provides ready access to port industry news and contacts.
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13th December 2025 ~ A History of the Merchant Navy ~ with David Parsons ~
Our interest group relies on the Merchant Navy ... but do we know any of the history?
Following their service in World War I the British merchant shipping fleets were honoured by King George V with the title “merchant Navy” … today, there are around 80,000 men and women working at sea. They continue to bring in over 90% of our imports and we owe them our respect and gratitude … but do we appreciate the history … David returns to explain!
David Parsons served on a variety of ships including general cargo, tankers, passenger vessels, Royal Fleet Auxiliaries and latterly as master on cross channel ferries. He came ashore in 1993 as Chief Executive of the Merchant Navy Welfare Board until his retirement in 2017. He is currently the National Secretary of the Merchant Navy Association in a voluntary capacity.
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10th January 2026 ~ A day out aboard Cap San Diego ~ with David Trevor-Jones ~
This super preservation project delivers ... a sea-going & fully working 1960s general cargo ship ...
The last of a six ship series built by Deutsche Werft for Hamburg Sud's South American service in 1961 … Cap San Diego was saved from scrapping in 1986 by the city of Hamburg. Entirely seaworthy these days, the city’s museum operates occasional day trips … come and enjoy a day on the River Elbe with David and appreciate the apex of German-built general cargo ships.
David Trevor-Jones is talks organiser & director at the Ocean Liner Society – and a long-standing branch member, friend and speaker at WSS Dorset. David’s shipping research and photography ranges from classic liners including the Russian “Author” class, via Swedish excursion steamers to “re-borne” cruise ships of lines such as CMV and Ambassador.
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14th February 2026 ~ Black Sea, Red Sea & Red Arrows – Saga cruising 2006-2010 ~ with Bill Mayes ~
Revisit the Saga Cruises fleet of twenty years ago …
The Saga Cruises fleet in the first decade of this century included Saga Rose, Saga Ruby … and if you remember “the other” Spirit of Adventure. This fleet carried Bill around Eastern Europe and the Middle East allowing us to enjoy the ships and the experiences.
Bill Mayes is well known as the Chairman of the Ocean Liner Society, a director of The World Ship Society and a regular contributor to Sea Lines and Ships Monthly. He has amassed a huge “back catalogue” of voyages worldwide and a wealth of knowledge specialising in cruise ships and ferries. A good and longstanding friend of WSS Dorset.
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14th March 2026 ~ River Fal and Truro over the years ~ with Krispen Atkinson ~
Following a great talk on Falmouth in 2025, Krispen explores Truro shipping and laid-up tonnage on the river ...
With a long history of commercial activity handling general bulk cargoes and scrap for a ship recycling facility, the quays of Truro attract a variety of coastal and river shipping … however, the size of tonnage at Truro is dwarfed by vessels up to 190m length at a number of deep water lay up berths in the River Fal, near King Harry Ferry. Krispen has shared his talk on Falmouth … now learn what lies beyond …
Krispen Atkinson is a maritime consultant, director of The World Ship Society and regular contributor to Ship’s Monthly & Marine News with a passion for modern merchant shipping. As author of an annual “Maritime Review” series, Krispen is a WSS speaker in demand.
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11th April 2026 ~ Gateway to the World: The Great Port of New York ~ with Bill Miller ~
Ships, bridges, skyscrapers, history and a 250th birthday party ...
Called the greatest harbour anywhere, we tour the harbour & its highlights: the Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island, bridges & ferryboats, the grand liners & the great skyscrapers. 2026 is the 250th anniversary of America and a gala parade of ships in New York harbour is scheduled for July 4th. We welcome Bill back a few weeks before he narrates the parade from Queen Mary 2.
Bill Miller is an international authority on ocean liners & cruise ships - and great fan of New York. Great ships of the past, those “floating palaces,” as well as the current generation of cruise ships, the “floating resorts”. An international speaker, known as “Mr. Ocean Liner,” Bill has authored over 100 books on subjects from early steamers, immigrant ships and liners at war topassenger ships of today.
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9th May 2026 ~ Ferry Tales of the Eighties ~ with Steve Pink ~
Reliving the heyday of Townsend Thoresen Ferries with Southampton, Portsmouth and Dover episodes …
After an early career at sea, Steve spent ten years in port operations and sales & marketing with Thoresen Car Ferries and its successors. From Thoresen's Viking I and Townsend's Free Enterprise II to P&O Ferries' Pride of Dover ... via freight ferries, the end of Southampton ferry services, requisitioning ferries for the Falklands, the P&O takeover, traumatic strikes and more ... all these stories provide a backdrop as Steve takes a look at over 20 south coast ferries.
Steve Pink is branch secretary and events organiser at WSS Dorset and a member of the Ocean Liner Society. A Nautical Studies graduate with a background in cargo-passenger shipping, ferries and cruising - Steve also acts as editor & promoter for ~Ships~Dorset~ facebook group and website content.
