Balmoral & Astoria
On the 18th September 2008, the 18,000grt German ship Astoria was due to call at Southampton.  She debuted in 1981 as Astor (I) for Hadag Cruise Line but was not successful so she was sold to Safmarine.  As they planned a new Astor, she was sold again in 1985 and became Arkona for Deutfracht Seereederi.  After several charters, including to Seetours, she was sold to Sovcomflot in 2001 who owned Astor (II).  A rename to Astoria and subsequent charter to Transocean Tours followed in 2002 where she sailed in a fleet alongside her sister.  In July 2008 Saga Cruises had intended to bu her and from April 2009 she was supposed to become Quest For Adventure as part of their Spirit of Adventure offshoot for the under 50s.  However their intentions changed and she was marketed as Saga Pearl (II), her maiden voyage the 30th October 2009, sailing mostly in tandem with Saga Rose who would be on her farewell cruise.  But when Club Cruise collapsed she was arrested and Saga pulled the cruises from the site.  She arrived in Southampton this day for 7am and was due to sail at 6.30pm.  The annual Boat Show was blocking the view of this gorgeous little ship.  However the departure wouldn't be our only trip out today.  Fred Olsen's Balmoral has propulsion problems so would be coming here instead of Dover to end the current cruise and begin the next.  Whoopeee!!!  She's back!  I don't know why we shouldn't see her anyway apart from when she's got mechanical woes.  Well she was due for 11.30am and to sail at 10pm so we went to Town Quay.  It was a glorious day despite the haze and as we sat on the ferry waiting to cross, I just about saw her coming around Calshot and head towards Fawley.
She took us by surprise coming around the QEII Terminal as she was somewhat early.  It was also really difficult to see.  I wish ABP would sort Town Quay out once and for all.  It's a nightmare as it is taking photos through that fence at the end without doing it one-handed while you shield your eyes with the other.  It's been like that two years now with no sign of any repair work.
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		(C) Copyright Patricia Dempsey 18th September 2008 Not to be reproduced without permission                        Updated 16th June 2009