A Christmas Cruise - Torbay - 12th December 2020
On the 12th December 2020 I took the opportunity of a rare weather window to have another go at capturing the current Devon Cruise ships at anchor in Torbay and Babbacombe bay. I managed to book with Paignton Pleasure Cruises and as there were only 7 people on board, I had the whole bottom deck to myself. The sea was flat and calm, and the sun was wonderfully warm. The weather was forecast sunshine and showers which provided some wonderful contrast and lighting conditions during the two-hour trip. Currently, Torbay is playing host to Holland America Line vessels 'Zaandam' and 'Volendam' as well as TUI 'Marella Explorer' (with Marella Explorer 2 was due to arrive from Portland later tonight). Babbacombe was playing host to P&O's 'Azura' and 'Acadia' along with Cunard 'Queen Elizabeth'. In addition to the cruise ships several container ships were also anchored in deeper water 'MOL Gratitude' and 'NYK Rumina' were also visible. Holland America Line 'Zaandam' was also one of the first cruise ships at the centre of the Coronavirus outbreak in March, where sadly four people on board passed away (one of then British). The ship was turned away from docking in Argentina and Chile before being given passage through the Panama Canal with sister ship 'Rotterdam' to Florida where after a long period the pair were allowed to dock in Florida on April 2nd by which point there were 107 passengers and 143 crew with flu-like symptoms. Since then over 1000 passengers on board have filed a class-action lawsuit against Holland American Line.
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'Zaandam'
MS Zaandam is a cruise ship owned and operated by Holland America Line, named for the city of Zaandam, Netherlands near Amsterdam. She was built by Fincantieri in Marghera, Italy and delivered in 2000. Zaandam is part of the Rotterdam class and a sister ship to Volendam, Rotterdam, and Amsterdam Flag: Netherlands Gross Tonnage: 61,396t Length x Breadth: 237m x 32.28m Built: 2000 Home Port: Rottterdam |
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'Volendam'
MS Volendam is a Rotterdam-class cruise ship belonging to Holland America Line. It was built in 1999 as the third of four Rotterdam-class vessels which she has ten decks, with passenger cabins spread across six of them Flag: Netherlands Gross Tonnage: 61,214t Length x Breadth: 237.91m x 32.28m Built: 1999 Home Port: Rottterdam |
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'Marella Explorer'
Marella Explorer is a Century-class cruise ship owned and operated by Marella Cruises. Before joining TUI she cruised as MV Galaxy with Celebrity Cruises, and later as Mein Schiff with TUI Cruises. Flag: Malta Gross Tonnage: 76,998 tLength, Breadth: 263m x 32m Built: 1996 Home Port: Valletta |
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'Azura'
MS Azura is a cruise ship operated by P&O Cruises and owned by Carnival plc. The ship was built by Fincantieri at their shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy. She officially entered service with the company in April 2010 and was named by Darcey Bussell Flag: Burmuda Gross Tonnage: 115,055t Length x Breadth: 289m x 36.5m Built: 2010 Home Port: Hamilton |
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'Queen Elizabeth'
MS Queen Elizabeth is a cruise ship of the Vista class operated by the Cunard Line. The design is modified from that of previous ships of that class, and slightly larger than Queen Victoria, at 92,000 GT, largely due to a more vertical stern. The ship is able to carry up to 2092 passengers. Name: Queen Elizabeth Flag: Bermuda Gross Tonnage: 90,901t Length, Breadth: 294m x 36m Built: 2010 Home Port: - |
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'Arcadia'
MS Arcadia is a cruise ship in the P&O Cruises fleet. The ship was built by Fincantieri at their shipyard in Marghera, Italy. At over 84,000 gross tonnage, Arcadia is the fourth largest of seven ships currently in service with P&O Cruises. Name: Arcadia Flag: Bermuda Gross Tonnage: 84,342t Length, Breadth: 285.1m x 35.54m Built: 2005 Home Port: Hamilton |
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From a different viewpoint:
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