The COVID Queens - Weymouth - June 2021
It was 8 months ago when I first ventured to Weymouth for a trip to see my first Cruise Ships up close. Another lockdown later and with restrictions on travel slowly lifting most cruise ships look like spending the Summer of 2021 anchored on the south coast of the UK. While P&O will be operating some domestic cruises, European and International cruises remain on hold. Ships are regually being rotated between Dover, Southampton, Weymouth and Torbay, and some new visitors have arrived to anchor in the sheltered waters.
I took advantage of an evening weather window on the 4th June 2021 to visit Weymouth and travel out into the bay onboard Supernova II with Skipper Lyle Stantiford. On the evening of my visit the Weymouth Bay contained:
P&O: Aurora and Brittannia (sadly the new P&O Flagship 'Iona' had just departed for Southampton).
Norwegian Cruise Lines: Norwegian Escape and Norwegian Bliss.
Cunard: Queen Elizabeth
In addition to the cruise liners. HMS Middleton had also arrived, and Navy Patrol vessels HMS Ranger & HMS Exploit were also berthed at the Weymouth Quayside.
I took advantage of an evening weather window on the 4th June 2021 to visit Weymouth and travel out into the bay onboard Supernova II with Skipper Lyle Stantiford. On the evening of my visit the Weymouth Bay contained:
P&O: Aurora and Brittannia (sadly the new P&O Flagship 'Iona' had just departed for Southampton).
Norwegian Cruise Lines: Norwegian Escape and Norwegian Bliss.
Cunard: Queen Elizabeth
In addition to the cruise liners. HMS Middleton had also arrived, and Navy Patrol vessels HMS Ranger & HMS Exploit were also berthed at the Weymouth Quayside.
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'HMS Middleton'
HMS Middleton uses high-powered sonar, remote underwater vehicles and a crew of divers to deal with sea-bed threats. Her role in providing safety at sea is vital to protecting the UK economy and clearing the way for military operations. Flag: United Kingdom Gross Tonnage: 685t Length x Breadth: 60m x 12m Built: 1983 Home Port: Portsmouth |
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'HMS Ranger' & 'HMS Exploit'
HMS Ranger (P293) is an Archer-class patrol and training vessel of the British Royal Navy, based in HMNB Portsmouth. She is affiliated to Sussex and Brighton Universities' University Royal Naval Unit, which has its offices at the University of Sussex, Brighton. HMS Exploit (P167) HMS Exploit is an Archer-class patrol and training vessel of the British Royal Navy, built in Woolston by Vosper Thornycroft and commissioned in 1988. Flag: United Kingdom Gross Tonnage: 685t Length x Breadth: 21m x 6m Built: 1986 Home Port: Portsmouth |
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'Norwegian Escape'
Norwegian Escape is a cruise ship for Norwegian Cruise Line, in service since October 2015. She was built by Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany, in just 17 months at a cost of 700 million euros. The Norwegian class also carry different marine artwork on the bow of each vessel. Flag: Bahamas Gross Tonnage: 164998t Length x Breadth: 325.9m x 46.5m Built: 2015 Home Port: Nassau |
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'Norwegian Bliss'
Norwegian Bliss is a cruise ship for Norwegian Cruise Line, which entered service on 21 April 2018. The ship was built by Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany. It has a capacity for 4002 passengers. Captian: Staffan Bengtsson Flag: Bahamas Gross Tonnage: 168028t Length x Breadth: 333m x 48.1m Built: 2018 Home Port: - |
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'Britannia'
MV Britannia is a cruise ship of the P&O Cruises fleet. She was built by Fincantieri at its shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy. At 143,000 GT, Britannia is no longer the P&O 'flagship' this has been transfered to the latest ship to be delivered 'IONA'. Britannia had previously taken the flagship honour from Oriana. Flag: United Kingdom Gross Tonnage: 143,730t Length, Breadth: 329m x 45m Built: 2015 Home Port: - |
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'Aurora'
MV Aurora is a cruise ship of the P&O Cruises fleet. The ship was built by Meyer Werft at their shipyard in Papenburg, Germany. At over 76,000 tonnes, Aurora is the smallest and oldest of six ships currently in service with P&O Cruises. Her build cost was $375 million. Flag: Bermuda Gross Tonnage: 76152t Length, Breadth: 270m x 33.6m Built: 2010 Home Port: Hamilton |
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The Osmington White Horse is a hill figure cut into the limestone of Osmington Hill just north of Weymouth in Dorset in 1808. It is in the South Dorset Downs in the parish of Osmington.
P&O Cruise Ships 'Aurora' (Left) and 'Britannia' (Right) are pictured in front of the Dorset coastline at Osmington.
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