Thursday 10th January saw Southampton Docks' first busy day for 2013 with five cruise ships docked in the port. Cunard's "Queen Mary 2" was docked at the 'QEII' Terminal with "Queen Victoria" at the 'Mayflower' Terminal; Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines' "Black Watch" was at the 'City' Terminal; P&O Cruises' "Azura" at the 'Ocean' Terminal and Holland-America Line's MS "Rotterdam" moored at Berth 102. A sixth cruise ship: Saga Cruises' "Saga Ruby" was also still in Southampton following her crankshaft breakdown on Monday 7th. She was docked at Berth 40 having been moved from Berth 101 (the 'City' Terminal) on Tuesday. We start the video at around 07:00 in the morning at Hythe Marina where we see the arrival of "Azura" from her short cruise to Amsterdam. She was followed at around 08:00 by the Grimaldi Agencies' Ro/Ro ship "Grande Anversa" which docked at Berth 104 with MS "Rotterdam" arriving from Rotterdam after 09:00. Later in the afternoon we move to Southampton itself and to Mayflower Park where we see "Grande Anversa" departing from Berth 104 at 15:51 for Flushing. Moving around to the Town Quay, the first cruise ship to depart was "Azura" at 16:49 to begin a series of winter fly-cruises in the Caribbean. Her first Port-of-Call will be Ponta Delgada in the Azores. She was followed by "Black Watch" at 17:05 (originally booked to depart at 16:30) heading for Tenerife and a long cruise to the Indian Ocean returning at the end of March. Finally, "Queen Mary 2" pulled away at 18:03 and received a fireworks send-off as she was starting her 2013 World Cruise - first stop: Barcelona. MS "Rotterdam" departed at 18:05 and had to turn around whilst at the same time "Queen Victoria" departed at 18:08 and went to turn in the Upper Swinging Ground. She too had a fireworks send-off for her own 2013 World Cruise, but wet weather made ruined the effects of the display. MS "Rotterdam" was heading off on a long winter cruise to the Far East, first stop being Lisbon; and "Queen Victoria's" first World Cruise port of call will be New York. It is not currently known when "Saga Ruby's" repairs will be completed.

Be the first to comment