A cruise ship that had docked at the Port of Tyne was accompanied into open waters by a playful marine guard of honour.
When the 'Balmoral' sailed out of the Tyne on May 2 it did so surrounded by a pod of dolphins, enjoying the waves created by the large vessel.
These fantastic images showing them 'bow riding' at the front of the ship were captured by dolphin-spotter Vicki Sinclair. The perfectly-timed pictures were captured from the pier at South Shields and show the ship as it heads out into the ocean.
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Vicki said: "We tracked them in our group Newbiggin-by-the-Sea Dolphin Watch from Roker and I headed to the Tyne piers and got there just as they were swimming towards the piers. They timed it perfectly to bow ride back out with the ship."
The keen wildlife watcher and photographer, from Killingworth, said the group identified one of the dolphins, the largest of those pictured, as 'Flipper'. This dolphin is known to local dolphin spotters and can be identified through marks on the fin.
A young calf was also part of the group which accompanied the ship on its journey out to sea.
The Fred Olsen Cruise Liner, which is named after the Scottish residence of the British Royal Family, was berthed at the Port of Tyne for around a week before it set sail for Spain at 6pm on May 2. It will now make its way to La Coruna in Spain.
Capable of carrying 1,325 passengers, the Balmoral is small compared to other cruise ships, such as the Cunard Queen Victoria, which visited the port last month. However, it certainly made for a striking display as it sailed down the Tyne accompanied by a tug water cannon display.
Passengers gathered on the deck to wave at those who turned out to watch it sail away in North Shields and South Shields - and perhaps some of them noticed the cetacean well-wishers who swam alongside the boat to see them on their way.
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