Cloud London-London-August 2010

[brimary]

This will be our first UK cruise on silversea.Any suggestions re boarding arrangements which we understand are unusual at Tower Bridge would be most welcome.

[57 varieties]

This will be our first UK cruise on silversea.Any suggestions re boarding arrangements which we understand are unusual at Tower Bridge would be most welcome.

The ship docks beside HMS Belfast on the south side of the Thames. The jetty is on the north side by the Tower of London. There is a small lounge where embarkation procedures are undertaken and then you (and your luggage) will be taken across to HMS Belfast by boat and will walk along the deck of Belfast to a short gangplank onto the cruise ship.

Have fun. My parents have embarked and disembarked at Tower Bridge on different occasions and last April we were lucky enough to watch from Tower Bridge as the Silver Cloud came in and then to join them for dinner on board. FANTASTIC!

[lord of the seas]

Yes,It's all very simple really.Go to Tower pier where you are met by Silversea Ladies who escort you to the floating pontoon for registration,then a short tender or small boat ride to HMS Belfast where you walk across to the Ship.You will ofcourse need a glass of Champagne after that ordeal.

[juli2020]

Yes,It's all very simple really.Go to Tower pier where you are met by Silversea Ladies who escort you to the floating pontoon for registration,then a short tender or small boat ride to HMS Belfast where you walk across to the Ship.You will ofcourse need a glass of Champagne after that ordeal.

 

We will be on this cruise(Aug.3). There is one member of our party of six that has trouble walking....Is there a lot of walking to get on board?

[57 varieties]

There is some walking but knowing Silversea there will be plenty of crew on hand to assist.

[lord of the seas]

We will be on this cruise(Aug.3). There is one member of our party of six that has trouble walking....Is there a lot of walking to get on board?

 

Very little walking,but assistance is at hand.

just a few steps.

[unfathomable]

The approach to the pier by road is complicated, so worth noting. A London "black cab" should know the way: you need to get to Tower Millennium Pier and there will be porters waiting at the drop-off area (no need to tip -- Silversea have already done it). If you are unlucky and your driver doesn't know the way, here are the details.

 

The drop-off area is right at the end of a dead-end part of Lower Thames Street, past the Tower of London and very close to Tower Bridge. This is on the north side of the river and just to the west of the bridge and the Tower.

 

The only way to get into the dead end by car or taxi is to turn very sharp left when heading westbound away from Tower Bridge (the turn is actually from Byward Street). The turn is the first left after the Tower of London. You can't turn right if approaching from the opposite direction (eastbound).

 

BTW be on the back of the ship for departure -- the ship has to be dragged out backwards by a tug and under the bridge and on for a mile until the river is wide enough to turn around -- so if you're at the back, you'll be at the "front". Don't miss it, especially when Tower Bridge is opening! There will be crowds on the bridge at any time of the day.

[unfathomable]

We will be on this cruise(Aug.3). There is one member of our party of six that has trouble walking....Is there a lot of walking to get on board?

Little walking: probably no more than 100 yards in total. But there are ramps to negotiate on the pier side, and on the south side (after leaving the ferry) there are one or two flights of steps and a steep ramp. If necessary, the crew will carry somebody who cannot negotiate these obstacles: they did it for me!

[NJBelle]

jgibbs, ,thanks so much for the detailed information about how to get to the Cloud in London. We are signed up for this in summer 2011, so I will just tuck this info away and be ready when the time comes!

 

Best, NJBelle

[juli2020]

The approach to the pier by road is complicated, so worth noting. A London "black cab" should know the way: you need to get to Tower Millennium Pier and there will be porters waiting at the drop-off area (no need to tip -- Silversea have already done it). If you are unlucky and your driver doesn't know the way, here are the details.

 

The drop-off area is right at the end of a dead-end part of Lower Thames Street, past the Tower of London and very close to Tower Bridge. This is on the north side of the river and just to the west of the bridge and the Tower.

 

The only way to get into the dead end by car or taxi is to turn very sharp left when heading westbound away from Tower Bridge (the turn is actually from Byward Street). The turn is the first left after the Tower of London. You can't turn right if approaching from the opposite direction (eastbound).

 

BTW be on the back of the ship for departure -- the ship has to be dragged out backwards by a tug and under the bridge and on for a mile until the river is wide enough to turn around -- so if you're at the back, you'll be at the "front". Don't miss it, especially when Tower Bridge is opening! There will be crowds on the bridge at any time of the day.

 

Thank you for the information!!

[brimary]

Many thanks jgibbs for your helpful info.