Guernsey Island (St Peter Port, Channel Islands UK)

Guernsey Island (officially "Bailiwick of Guernsey") is one of the UK (British Crown) dependencies - together with Isle of Man and Jersey Island. As such, Guernsey is independently administered and is not part of either the UK or the British Overseas Territories. Like Jersey, Guernsey is located in the English Channel, off France Normandy's coast. Part of the Bailiwick is also Herm Island.

Guernsey Island covers a total area of 65 km2 (25 mi2) and has population around 63,000. The capital city is Saint Peter Port, also the territory's main seaport. Saint Peter Port is visited by over 100 cruise ships annually, bringing over 100,000 passengers to the island. Town's population is around 17,000. This relatively small town features steep and narrow streets.

Under the Bailiwick of Guernsey jurisdiction are the island's 10 parishes also the smaller-sized Channel Islands Jethou, Lihou, Herm, plus many islets and rocks.

Guernsey is treated as part of the European Community for free trade in goods only. Together with the separate jurisdictions of Sark and Alderney, it forms Bailiwick of Guernsey. Jersey and Guernsey together form the geographical grouping commonly known as "Channel Islands". These two bailiwicks are not a political or constitutional unit.

Guernsey is a self-governing parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy. It has its own legal, judicial and financial systems. Guernsey's Lieutenant Governor is the Queen's personal representative. Most foreign relations and defense are handled by the UK Government. However, the whole jurisdiction lies within the British Isles' Common Travel Area. This means Guernsey is not a member (part) of the European Union but has a particular relationship with it. The UK is constitutionally responsible for Guernsey's defense.

Ports and safe harbors exist at St Sampson and St Peter Port. Guernsey, with its cliff walks, seascapes, offshore islands and sandy beaches, has been a tourist destination since the Victorian days. Guernsey Island's military history has left a number of fortifications, such as Castle Cornet and Fort Grey. The island's scenery is marked by loophole towers and several German fortifications.

On October 1, 2020, started operations the joint venture company VCGL-Viking Crew Guernsey Ltd (Oceanskies plus Viking Maritime Group). This is Viking Cruises' global employment and payroll office.

In May 2021 was announced that at Longue Hougue could be created a new commercial port as part of a GBP 360 million (~EUR 419M / ~USD 506M) plan to revamp the island's harbors.

• According to the plan, all heavy industry at St Sampsons Harbour and St Peter Port will be moved to the new Port, which would make space at St Peter Port for a new ferry terminal, a new multi-storey car park, more leisure space.
• Regularly scheduled ferries (RoPax ships by CONDOR FERRIES) link Guernsey with England's ports Poole and Portsmouth, as well as with France (Saint-Malo).

Following the 2+ years pause in cruise shipping operations due to the COVID crisis, for season 2022 (April 15-October 25, St Peter Port had scheduled a total of 84 ship visits.

For season 2023 (April thru October), Guernsey had booked 95 cruise ship berthings (including 12 maiden visits) with expected ~147000 tourists.

Guernsey Island cruise terminal