Latest Travel Updates

Change to Gry Maritha Schedule Friday 22nd May 2020

Customer Notice 11th May 2020 Freight Deliveries on Penzance Quay

After new government guidelines issued this week, more suppliers are opening each day. Please continue to follow the procedure below when ordering freight for Penzance quay.

• All freight must be booked in with Penzance freight office prior to delivery.
• Once freight is booked and confirmed, we request that suppliers fax / email shipping notes to the freight office, this will minimise the amount of contact our staff have with delivery drivers.
• Once confirmed, deliveries will be given a specific date and time slot. If these delivery slots are not adhered to, we may refuse delivery. Please phone the freight office if you have any queries.

We thank you for your cooperation during this difficult time and for your assistance in providing a lifeline link to the islands. These measures are being kept in place to help with social distancing and to continue to help protect our front-line staff. Please keep these conditions in mind when placing all orders. freightadmin@islesofscilly-travel.co.uk Phone:           01736 334249 Fax:                01736 332917  

Freight Deliveries during the COVID-19 Pandemic – Penzance Quay

WEDNESDAY 1st APRIL 2020 During this time we are asking all our freight customers to order and ship essential items only. These measures have been put in place to protect our employees by minimising the amount of contact they have with delivery drivers and allows us to maintain the essential life-line link. With this in mind we have put in temporary restrictions to the way we accept freight on Penzance quay: Freight is strictly essential only. Please consider when ordering freight if your item is essential before contacting the freight office. Food, fertilisers, animal feed, essential household equipment (eg replacement fridge or freezer), essential farming equipment are all examples of essential freight We will still be receiving courier pallets as they sometimes contain medical supplies, Non-essential items may be refused, so please phone the freight office if you are unsure. All freight must be booked in with Penzance freight office prior to delivery. Once freight is booked and confirmed, we request that suppliers fax/email shipping notes to the freight office. All regular suppliers have received this information and are already following these rules. If you have any questions then please contact our freight office where we will be happy to discuss your requirements. We will continue to keep this guidance under review to ensure that supplies continues to reach the Islands. These measures are temporary and have been introduced to reduce the number of delivery interactions on Penzance Quay to protect our employees who are critical in maintaining the life-line link. We thank you for your understanding.  

Coronavirus Update

We are taking every precaution and implementing additional safety measures as a result of Coronavirus. For all the latest information please visit our dedicated page here: https://www.islesofscilly-travel.co.uk/coronavirus/

Isles of Scilly Steamship Group World Pilot Gig Championships- Update

Following the decision made by the World Pilot Gig Championship Committee, we are aware that the World Pilot Gig Championships 2020 has been cancelled as a result of COVID-19. Due to the volume of bookings for this event, Isles of Scilly Travel will be calling all passengers systematically to discuss booking options. PLEASE DO NOT call our travel centres or Skybus operations at this time if your booking relates to travel for the Gig Championships. We will aim to make contact with all those travelling to the event by 24^th March 2020. The freight office will be contacting Gig clubs to arrange for the return and collection of all gigs. As you can appreciate, we have many passengers to contact and ask kindly that you follow the above instructions. We will be updating our website and social media feeds as further information becomes available, please keep an eye on islesofscilly-travel.co.uk or @IOSTravelUpdates

Freight calls – March 11th 2020

We are experiencing a high volume of freight deliveries and calls through our freight office at present. We understand that customers are trying to stock up before the Gry Maritha goes off for her maintenance period, but we would like to remind all customers that we will still be receiving freight over the next two weeks while the Scillonian continues this service.  We have warned that this may be a slightly reduced service but will endeavour to ship as much freight as possible, with as little disruption as we can. Unfortunately, our freight administrator team have been short-staffed this week. We apologise if there have been delays in returning calls. We should be back up to full staffing by Monday 16^th March. Thank you for your understanding.

Customer Notice: Gry Maritha, Thursday 12th March 2020

Due to the predicted swell on St Marys, the harbour authority has decided to close St. Mary's quay between 04:30 & 08:30 on Thursday 12^th March. Due to this closure, the Gry Maritha will be docking at a later time of 08:30 which will delay the discharge of freight. Our teams will do their utmost to unload and turn the ship around as quickly as possible. We aim to leave St. Mary's quay at approximately 14:30 with an estimated arrival time back into  Penzance at 19:00 on Thursday. For all your freight needs and enquiries please call: St. Mary’s Quay: 01720 424230 OR Penzance Freight Office: 01736 334249 / 334236.  

Skybus Weather Advisory – Tuesday 10th March 2020

The weather forecast for Tuesday the 10^th of March 2020 is indicating the likelihood of low cloud and reduced visibility at Land’s End, Newquay and St Mary’s, which may cause disruption to Skybus flights. At this time, no flights have been cancelled. For passengers booked to travel on Tuesday, you may transfer to a flight on a different date, without paying an amendment fee and where space allows. Passengers are advised to contact Skybus Operations on 01736 785233 to discuss their options. If you have any other queries please call the Travel Centre on 01736 334220 Please keep an eye out for updates via email, our text alerts and on our Twitter travel updates page and website.

Skybus Weather Advisory – Afternoon of 7th March 2020

The weather forecast for Saturday 7^th March 2020 is indicating the likelihood of strong, gusty, south-westerly winds at Land’s End, Newquay and St Mary’s, which may cause disruption to Skybus flights in the afternoon. At this time, no flights have been cancelled.  For those passengers booked to travel on Saturday afternoon you may transfer to a flight earlier in the day or to a different date, without paying an amendment fee and where space allows. Passengers are advised to contact Skybus Operations on 01736 785233 to discuss their options. If you have any other queries please call the Travel Centre on 01736 334220 Please keep an eye out for updates via email, our text alerts and on our Twitter travel updates page and website.

Skybus Weather Advisory – Saturday 29th February

The weather forecast for Saturday the 29^th of February 2020 is indicating the likelihood of a strong to gale force wind at St Mary’s, Land’s End and Newquay Airports, which may cause disruption to Skybus flights. At this time no flights have been cancelled. For passengers booked to travel on Saturday you may transfer to a flight on a different date, without paying an amendment fee and where space allows. Seats are available on flights operating on Monday the 2^nd of March 2020. You are advised to contact Skybus Operations on 01736 785233 to discuss your options. If you have any other enquiries please call the Travel Centre on 01736 334220. Please keep an eye out for updates via email, our text alerts and on our Twitter travel updates page and website.

Skybus Weather Advisory – 28th February 2020

The weather forecast for Friday the 28^th of February 2020 is indicating the likelihood of strong crosswind at St Mary’s Airport as well as low cloud and reduced visibility at Land’s End and Newquay Airports; which may cause disruption to Skybus flights. At this time, no flights have been cancelled. For passengers that are booked to travel on Friday 28^th February, you may transfer to a flight on a different date without paying an amendment fee, where space allows. For further information or to make changes to your booking, please contact Skybus Operations on 01736 785233 to discuss your options. If you have any other queries please call the Travel Centre on 01736 334220 Please keep an eye out for updates via email, our text alerts and on our Twitter travel updates page and website.

Customer Notice – Gry Maritha scheduled sailing Friday 28th February 2020

Due to the current weather forecast, the scheduled Gry Maritha sailing for Friday 28^th February will now leave Penzance at the earlier time of 08:30. The Gry will arrive at St. Mary’s at approximately 13:30 and will discharge freight on arrival to return to Penzance as soon as possible. Aiming to be back in Penzance around 20:00 Friday evening. We ask all suppliers with perishable freight booked for Fridays sailing to deliver your freight items to Penzance quay on Thursday 27^th February to be processed and loaded before 14:30. Due to the short notice, we will have limited time to check freight in, so please make sure all freight is booked in with our freight office. We are sorry for any inconvenience caused. For all your freight needs and enquiries please call: St. Mary’s Quay: 01720 424230 OR Penzance Freight Office: 01736 334249 / 334236.

Skybus Weather Advisory – Friday 21st February

The weather forecast for Friday the 21^st of February 2020 is indicating the likelihood of a very strong to gale force crosswind at St Mary’s, which may cause disruption to Skybus flights. At this time, no flights have been cancelled. For Skybus passengers booked to travel on Friday, you may transfer to a flight on a different date, without paying an amendment fee and where space allows. Passengers are advised to contact Skybus Operations on 01736 785233 to discuss their options. If you have any other queries please call the Travel Centre on 01736 334220.

Gry Maritha – MONDAY 17TH FEBRUARY 2020

Based on the current weather forecasts for next week, the Gry Maritha will load as normal on Monday 17^th February. However, we do not expect to depart Penzance Harbour until Tuesday 18^th at the earliest. At this time we cannot commit to a time. Updates will follow on Monday 17^th February. For all your freight needs and enquiries please call: St. Mary’s Quay: 01720 424230 OR Penzance Freight Office: 01736 334249 / 334236.

Skybus Weather Advisory – Friday 14th & Saturday 15th February

The weather forecast for Friday 14^th and Saturday 15^th February 2020 is indicating the likelihood of strong cross winds, heavy rain and reduced visibility at Land’s End, Newquay and St Mary’s, which may cause disruption to Skybus flights. Although no flights have been cancelled at this time, any passengers booked to travel with Skybus on Friday or Saturday may transfer to a flight on a different date, without paying an amendment fee, where space allows. Passengers are advised to contact Skybus Operations on 01736 785233 to discuss their options. If you have any other queries please call the Travel Centre on 01736 334220

Gry Maritha Update: Friday 14th February 2020

Due to the current weather forecast, Gry Maritha is planning to sail at the earlier time of 9 am on Friday 14th February 2020. This will allow the ship to get to St. Mary’s, discharge freight and return to Penzance before the forecasted storm arrives. We are advising customers and suppliers to bring forward any perishable freight booked for Fridays sailing and deliver your freight items to Penzance quay between 10 am and 1 pm on Thursday 13th February. Gry Maritha is aiming to arrive to St. Mary’s at approximately 2 pm on Friday and will return to Penzance later that day (14th). For all your freight needs and enquiries please call: St. Mary’s Quay: 01720 424230 OR Penzance Freight Office: 01736 334249 / 334236.

Skybus Weather Advisory – Thursday 13th February

The weather forecast for Thursday 13^th February 2020 indicates the likelihood of strong, gusty winds at Land’s End, Newquay and St Mary’s, which may cause disruption to Skybus flights, particularly in the morning. Although no flights have been cancelled at this time, any passengers booked to travel with Skybus on Thursday may transfer to a flight on a different date without the need to pay an amendment fee, where space allows. Passengers are advised to contact Skybus Operations on 01736 785233 to discuss their options. We are also monitoring the weather for Friday 14^th February and Saturday 15^th February 2020. If you have any other queries please call the Travel Centre on 01736 334220

Skybus weather disruption update

The weather forecast from Thursday 13^th February onwards is indicating the likelihood of continuing, strong to gale force winds which may cause disruption to Skybus flights. We will continue to monitor the weather forecast on a daily basis and will issue weather advisories. For passenger bookings please ring our travel centre  01736 334220 or Skybus Operations for weather enquiries on 01736 785233.

Gry Maritha Update – Tuesday 11th February

After reviewing the weather forecast we are unfortunately unable to sail as previously planned on Tuesday 11^th February due to poor weather conditions. The Gry Maritha will now aim to depart Penzance on Wednesday (12^th) at approximately 7am, arriving into St. Mary’s around midday. We will continue to load freight as normal today and will be able to accept more freight tomorrow, Tuesday 11^th February. This must be booked in with Penzance freight office. Unfortunately, the scheduled freight sailing for Wednesday 12^th February has now been cancelled. We will continue to monitor the weather forecast for the rest of the week and if possible we will run an additional sailing later this week. For all your freight needs and enquiries please call: St. Mary’s Quay: 01720 424230 OR Penzance Freight Office: 01736 334249 / 334236

Gry Maritha Update – Monday 10th February

Due to the current weather forecast of storm force winds, the Gry Maritha scheduled sailing for Monday 10^th February has been delayed. We will aim to depart Penzance on Tuesday (11^th) morning at 6am. The Gry will be loaded as normal on Monday (10^th). It is anticipated she will arrive into St Mary’s at 2pm on Tuesday (11^th); upon arrival all freight will be discharged and loaded for a quick turnaround. Arriving back in Penzance around 7am on Wednesday (12^th). We will continue to monitor the forecast for the rest of the week and will update you if other changes to the schedule are needed. For all your freight needs and enquiries please call: St. Mary’s Quay: 01720 424230 OR Penzance Freight Office: 01736 334249 / 334236

Skybus Weather Advisory – 10th February 2020

The weather forecast for Monday the 10^th of February 2020 is indicating the likelihood of very strong to gale force wind at Land’s End, Newquay and St Mary’s, which may cause disruption to Skybus flights. Although no flights have been cancelled at this time, any passengers booked to travel with Skybus on Monday may transfer to a flight on a different date free of charge where space allows. Passengers are advised to contact Skybus Operations on 01736 785233 to discuss their options. If you have any other queries please call the Travel Centre on 01736 334220 Please keep an eye out for updates via email, our text alerts and on our Twitter travel updates page and website

Gry Maritha Customer Notice – potential disruption for week commencing 10/02/2020

The current weather forecast for the week commencing 10/02/2020  is showing the likelihood of disruption to the Gry Maritha sailing schedule. With this in mind, we are advising customers to bring forward any freight supplies to this week’s sailings, where possible. The forecast is constantly changing and whilst it’s too early to say at this stage, please expect some delays from Monday onwards. We will continue to monitor the forecast and will advise as appropriate later this week. For all your freight needs and enquiries please call: St. Mary’s Quay: 01720 424230 OR Penzance Freight Office: 01736 334249 / 334236

Reminder: Schedule maintenance programme for Gry Maritha & Lyonesse Lady 2020

The Gry Maritha and the Lyonesse Lady will be coming out of service on Sunday 15th March for their routine maintenance program.  We wanted to give you as much notice as possible, so that you can prepare for the 14 days that both vessels will be out of scheduled service. We do not anticipate any major problems as both vessels have undergone regular routine maintenance throughout the season. During this time the Scillonian III will be carrying all freight to and from the Islands and the Swift Lady will be providing the service to the Off-Islands. Please keep this in mind when placing orders during this period as we will have some restrictions on freight. The Swift Lady will only carry small items and minimum quantities during this time. Please note that bulk orders and large items cannot be carried. No single item can be in excess of 25kg. If you have any emergency requests for freight during this time or have any questions, please contact St Mary’s Quay on 01720 424230 We are planning for both vessels to return to scheduled service around the 30th March. We appreciate your patience during this time and should you have any questions, please contact us at Penzance Quay on 01736 334236 or St Mary’s Quay on 01720 424230.

Customer Notice: 2020 Schedule maintenance programme for Gry Maritha and Lyonesse Lady

The Gry Maritha and the Lyonesse Lady will be coming out of service on Sunday 15th March for their routine maintenance program.  We wanted to give you as much notice as possible, so that you can prepare for the 14 days that both vessels will be out of scheduled service. We do not anticipate any major problems as both vessels have undergone regular routine maintenance throughout the season. During this time the Scillonian III will be carrying all freight to and from the Islands and the Swift Lady will be providing the service to the Off-Islands. Please keep this in mind when placing orders during this period as we will have some restrictions on freight. The Swift Lady will only carry small items and minimum quantities during this time. Please note that bulk orders and large items cannot be carried. No single item can be in excess of 25kg. If you have any emergency requests for freight during this time or have any questions, please contact St Mary’s Quay on 01720 424230. We are planning for both vessels to return to scheduled service around the 30th March. We appreciate your patience during this time and should you have any questions, please contact us at Penzance Quay on 01736 334236 or St Mary’s Quay on 01720 424230.  

St. Mary’s Travel Centre: New Opening Times

From 18^th March 2019 our St. Mary’s Travel Centre will close just before check-in opens for Scillonian III.  For 16:30 sailings the office will be open from 8am to 3pm. Opening times will vary on dates where we have special sailings, where the office will close 90 minutes before the Scillonian’s scheduled departure time. You can make bookings and find answers to the most frequently asked questions on our website at: www.islesofscilly-travel.co.uk