Captain Robert Siddall and the crew of MV Balmoral look forward to welcoming passengers on board the classic coastal excursion ship for the Tynwald Day Excursion to Whitehaven on Monday July 6. With three hours ashore in Cumbria, or the option of staying aboard for a coastal cruise, Balmoral will leave Douglas at 09.30 and be back around 19.30. The dining room and bar will be open throughout the trip.

Balmoral celebrated two birthdays last weekend - June 26 marked the 66th anniversary of her launch in 1949 and on Sunday Captain Siddall was able to welcome on board Mrs Daphne Main from Colby as part of her 80th Birthday Celebrations. As a teenager, then living on the Isle of Wight, she had travelled to School near Southampton on Balmoral when the ship was brand new - and she had never been on board since. Volunteer shop keeper Geoffrey Ryder was able to show Mrs Main photos of Balmoral in the intervening years.

Tickets are still available for the Tynwald Day Cruise - from Richmond Travel, on line at www.whitefunnel.co.uk or by phoning 0117 325 6200. Advance booking is recommended but if space is available tickets will be available on board on the day. Prices to Whitehaven are ?34 for adults - seniors ?32 - 5-15 year olds ?17 and a family fare (2+2) of ?89. Passengers holding tickets for the cruises last weekend which had to be cancelled may use them on this excursion at no additional cost. Passengers are asked to be in the Sea Terminal by 09.00.

Photo - Mrs Daphne Main of Colby on Balmoral for the first time in over 60 years, accompanied by her son Leonard and his wife Carolyn, with Captain Siddall and Chief Officer Rob Bassi.