Queen Victoria Arrival, Boudicca & Aurora
The 7th December 2007 heralded the beginning of three brand new cruise ships to be based in Southampton over the next five months, beginning with Carnival's latest Vista, Queen Victoria, for Cunard.  Similar with a few alterations to her Holland America and P&O sisters, she is heavier, coming in at 90,000grt.  She left the shipyard on the 30th November and boy did the weather ever change!  Rain and gales.  In fact the day of her arrival was also forecast to be like that.  Rain I can put up with.  Gales even I can put up with.  But fighting the umbrella during both while trying to take photos is another matter entirely!  We got down to the marina about 7.15am and it was still dry, the sun coming up and cold with quite a bit of wind.  There were already several people waiting.  Boudicca and Aurora were already in.  Boudicca arrived at 12.15am while I saw Aurora pass the window at 5.50am and she docked for 6.30am.  As we waited and got colder I overheard someone say to people Queen Victoria was like Arcadia.  They had absolutely no idea, as do a lot of people.  In the months leading up to today, many around here were expecting a mini QM2 and were sorely disappointed when you pointed out exactly what she is.  The Shieldhall set sail to meet this new ship.
At 8.05am she came into view at Calshot.  This is where you can tell the fairweather ship stalkers from the regulars.  Fairweather ones have absolutely no consideration for their fellow spotters, crowd around in one area blocking views and constantly get in the way when you're trying to take photos.  I had one go right in front of me which made me as mad as hell.  Regulars know how ships work when they come in or go out so there is no need for them to do that.  Anyway the sun created a gorgeous golden sky behind the ship as she passed Fawley and made her way towards Netley where three tugs were waiting.
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			(C) Copyright Patricia Dempsey 7th December 2007 Not to be reproduced without permission