THE SCOTTISH ADVENTURES OF A CRUISE SHIP ADDICT

Arriving in Barcelona, there was a lot of tonnage in port. From Grimaldi Lines ferries, to cargo ships, and, of course, cruise ships. There was us, Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas, and MSC Meraviglia Many years ago, I met Brilliance when she was a young whipper-snapper. Campbell and I had just arrived at St Lucia on the old Victoria (ex-Kungsholm, Sea Princess), and we were playing the game of ‘see who can get their photo taken next to the life preservers on visiting ships’. Brilliance came in,   pirouetted and slotted into the quayside. We were aghast. We’d never seen a ship do that. Victoria had to be pulled unceremoniously in by tugs as she wasn’t fitted with bow thrusters or azipods. We also thought she was enormous sitting next to the little Victoria and Holland America Line’s Noordam. (A funny story about Noordam… playing our game, I was getting my photo taken next to Noordam’s life preserver, when this lady from the ship calls Campbell over and says ‘hey you...

Three giants have appeared in Southampton! Firstly, there is Cunard's QE2. Not a giant in size but a giant in reputation. The modern's world's most famous ocean liner is embarking her passengers today for her final double transatlantic voyage - from Southampton to New York and back to Southampton. Cunard have been famous for their transatlantic voyages for over 160 years, since their first scheduled sailing by Britannia in 1840. This will be a particularly poignant voyage as this will be the last time she visits her second home, New York. Rumour has it that New York will not let her leave without a massive celebration. Accompanying her on this double transatlantic is her sister, Queen Mary 2 - a giant in size at almost 160,000 gross registered tonnes. This is a real treat for ocean liner lovers everywhere. Finally, in port at the same time is P and O's Ventura, She is the newest and largest addition to the P and O fleet at over 100,000 gross registered tonnes. Ventura i...