SeaDream Yacht Club has cancelled its second season in Northern Europe in 2012 with SeaDream II (1985/4,260gt), citing its failure to secure a charter for the London Olympics as a key factor in the decision. The vessel was scheduled to cruise the Baltic and Norwegian Fjords in the summer, which included two roundtrip voyages from Dover, but will now remain in the Mediterranean.
It is reported that berthing fees on the Thames for the London Olympics, have escalated to such an extent that it has become uncommercial for cruise lines to base ships there as originally planned. Although Azamara Club cruises had been expected to have one ship in Olympic hotel service, this has not materialised. The only cruise ship due in London is Peter Deilmann’s Deutschland (1998/22,496gt), which will berth in West India Docks, close to the Olympic Stadium, and is charging £4,336 per person for a three night stay.
Despite the lack of ships, a new cruise terminal is being built at Enderby Wharf in Greenwich, 20 miles closer to Central London than Tilbury. Although ships can moor in the river at Greenwich, the new facility will provide a berth for a ship up to 240m in length. It is the first phase of a five-year development, which will include 770 homes and a public square and garden.
