5 Cruise Ships Leaving Southampton Yesterday

[Madweasel]

It's a very busy weekend at the Southampton (UK) docks this weekend. Yesterday 5 large cruise ships departed, and today there will be 4 more leaving. Weather forecasts far preferred Saturday, so I chose that day. I picked a spot different from those I've used before, down by Calshot Castle on the very end of the spit of land at the end of the estuary. I thought if they came out close enough together, from there I'd have a long perspective back up the river, to hopefully get more than one in the shot.

First, not one of the cruise ships, but a heritage ship, "Shieldhall", the largest steam-powered vessel in the UK, which offers short cruises out of Southampton. This time it was actually doing a tour around the large vessels leaving that day. I think it's a very attractive shape, unlike some of the very large ones below.

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i192/garlicpickle/Canon/lr1small-8969.jpg

2. First of the cruisers to leave was "Oceana", seen here heading out to sea.

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i192/garlicpickle/Canon/lr1small-8998.jpg

3. The next two were the real biggies, "Queen Mary 2" and "Independence of the Seas", 150,000 tons and 160,000 tons respectively. This was the only combination close enough together for my perspective plan to work.

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i192/garlicpickle/Canon/lr1small-9016.jpg

4. QM2

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i192/garlicpickle/Canon/lr1small-9027.jpg

5. IotS

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i192/garlicpickle/Canon/lr1small-9040.jpg

6. Whoever said these new ones are just like floating blocks of flats would see evidence in this shot.

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i192/garlicpickle/Canon/lr1small-9050.jpg

7. Smallest of the five, "Black Watch" - a very attractive ship I think.

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i192/garlicpickle/Canon/lr1small-9064.jpg

8. And the last to leave, "Grand Princess", with a very peculiar construction at the rear, which I heard was a disco bar.

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i192/garlicpickle/Canon/lr1small-9084.jpg

All five left in the space of 30-40 minutes and I was among a couple of hundred other spectators who chose the same vantage point as me. I even saw at least another three 100-400s in addition to mine.

[artyman]

Nice set of shots Mark, aand the light looked reasonable. My brother and his wife went on the Grand Princess a few weeks back, huge thing, I'm still waiting to see the shots he took in Norway and Iceland.

[Vulcan58]

Great pics Mark. They are very impressive ships - but those balconies, yurghh!

[neil_r]

Thanks for the pictures, if I ever weaken and even think of going on a cruse, I will look at these images and and my resolve to resist will be strengthened.

[Jon Foster]

Wow. Those things are huge. I honestly don't think I'd want to go on one. The biggest ocean going vessel I've been on was the Enterprise. It was crazy big in it's day. I'll stay on land thank you.

Jon.

[vtecsilver]

Nice set of photos and interesting viewing, but the modern cruise ship does look rather top heavy and nowhere near as graceful as the older ships.

[Cole_Schmitt]

The Queen Mary 2 is huge! Nice shots.

[KenVP]

Realy like 5 & 6 nice work

[kingsown]

man you have had a great time the queen mary look great as does all the shots

[mathogre]

Great shots, impressive vessels. :D

[restyles]

Excellent shots. QM2 looks great.

[ForumForker]

Great pics all. Very impressive vessels indeed. Oh, Jon. The Enterprise is still the longest of all the super carriers. My all time fav warship.

[scamptrus]

Smallest of the five, "Black Watch" - a very attractive ship I think


yes she still looks like a ship, not like an apartment block

ken

[say_cheese]

If you consider the draught on QM2 is 30 feet, it seems (and looks) very top heavy. Very nice pictures by the way.

[Ripskin]

Good shots, I have actually sailed on the Grand princess, and it is indeed a disco bar, good view but boring place to hang out unless you like disco O_O.

Love the Queen Mary 2 and the Independence.

And balconies are overrated, can just go on deck. I like staying near the water line with the port holes. Cheaper and very nice.

Busy day to have that many ships going at once. Makes me want to go again.