Preparing for Oasis of the Seas' SECOND visit to Britain

Oasis of the Seas in The Solent, on her first visit to the UK in 2009

There’s much anticipation over the arrival in the UK next week of Oasis of the Seas, one of the two biggest cruise ships in the world.

Oasis will spend next Wednesday alongside at Southampton’s City Terminal, after a short season of cruises in the Mediterranean and an even shorter visit to dry dock in Rotterdam for her scheduled 5-year check-up.

Royal Caribbean’s  1,181-ft long ship, which can carry a maximum of  6,360 passengers and 2,164 crew is at least 40 per cent bigger than any passenger ship to have ever visited the port.

But it’s not the first time the ship has been in British waters. On November 2, 2009, I watched from the shore at Lee-on-the-Solent as the 222,900-ton vessel paid a brief visit en route from the Finnish shipyard where she was built to her future homeport in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

A number of workmen who stayed on board when Oasis left Turku had to be disembarked before the ship began her Transatlantic crossing. Dusk was falling as the vessel came to a halt in The Solent and the men were transferred to tenders for the journey ashore..

Bringing Oasis further up Southampton Water presents its own challenges. Its crew are used to operating in the Caribbean, where tides do not reach the 15-ft range it may experience next week. Instead of using the air bridges from the terminal building, or entering the ship at its breathtaking Royal Promenade level, passengers are likely to embark low down on Deck 2.

It’s a busy day in Southampton with a total of four cruise ships in port as well as container and other cargo traffic. Oasis will wait until almost midnight before casting off and making a three-point turn at the port’s Upper Swinging Ground.

Even to get guests on board – some simply as day guests, others to make the 12-night crossing to Fort Lauderdal via Vigo in Spain – will stretch Southampton’s passenger-handling capabilities.

Extra check-in desks and security screening will be available – all good practice for when 4,200-passenger sister ship Quantum of the Seas arrives for a short stay at the end of the month, and its twin, Anthem of the Seas, begins regular cruises from Southampton next year. Royal Caribbean claim that by expecting Anthem’s  passengers to check-in online, and with the use of mobile phone apps to track luggage, they will get guests from kerbside to cabin in 15 minutes.

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Cunard's Three Queens Jubilee Celebration

It is now just four days to this summer's BIG cruise event, taking place in Southampton as Cunard stage a special Diamond Jubilee ship parade in the famous south coast port.

The above graphic highlights exactly what will be going on, and when, and should make for a magnificent spectator event on the special Bank Holiday day.

All three Cunard vessels - the flagship Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth - will arrive in The Solent together, for a processional cruise to mark Her Majesty The Queen's 75th anniversary on the throne.

The day's events will continue with a special fly-over by the Red Arrows and conclude with a grand fireworks display and sail-out of the three vessels.

Be sure to look in detail at the graphic to see the best viewing points  as the ships sail in between 3.25am and 6am.

For more information on the Cunard cruise style, and bookings, follow this link to The Cruise Line Ltd, the UK's luxury cruising specialists.

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Cunard's Diamond Event

Cunard Line will celebrate The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee with a unique Three Queens event in Southampton on June 5, the final day of the extended bank holiday Jubilee celebration. 

Her Majesty has long been associated with Cunard, being the only person to have attended the naming of all three Cunard Elizabeths, beginning in 1938 and this will be the first time the fleet's three ships – the largest Cunarders ever built – will have been seen arriving and departing together in formation at their home port. 

Queen Elizabeth, Queen Victoria and Queen Mary 2 will approach the port soon after first light on Tuesday June 5, sailing in single file up the Solent, with a flotilla of small boats expected to welcome them in.

As Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria tie up at their berths, Queen Mary 2 will follow on, turning in the upper swinging ground and then passing each ship in turn, with crew lining the foredeck of all three vessels, and the ships’ whistles sounding in salute of Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee. Events will be happening throughout the day, to create both an outstanding passenger experience and a fitting commemoration of The Queen's 60-year reign. 

The celebrations will culminate in an evening spectacular where all three ships will be brought within close proximity and a fusillade of fireworks and special effects will light up the evening sky. Queen Mary 2 will then lead her sisters in single file down the Solent as all three set out on celebratory Diamond Jubilee voyages. Further details of the day’s events will be released in due course.

For booking details on any Cunard voyage, be sure to check out this link with the UK's luxury cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

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Star Flyer's Big Southampton Date in 2012

In 2012, as part of a maiden summer season of Baltic tall-ship cruises, Star Clippers will offer a sailing from Southampton on the 170-passenger, full-rigged tall ship Star Flyer, the first time one of the Star Clippers’ tall ships has been in British waters since the ship’s launch in 1991.

To celebrate the occasion, the line is offering a voyage that includes five nights’ full board on the ship; five nights’ parking at Southampton; port transfers to Hamburg airport; a return flight to Heathrow; and a private taxi transfer back to Southampton to collect parked vehicles. Prices start from just £999 per person.

Star Flyer will depart from Southampton on May 5 on this epic one-off voyage between two of northern Europe’s greatest maritime cities, Southampton and Hamburg, sailing via Amsterdam, which has a great sailing heritage of its own, prior to cruising Baltic waters in Summer 2012. The ship will be the most head-turning in port and is guaranteed to draw much attention when she arrives in the Solent from a transatlantic crossing earlier in the day on May 5.

The five-day sailing offers plenty of time at sea to learn about sailing a tall ship, navigation and operating the sails or simply relaxing on the teak decks or in the al fresco Tropical Bar.

For more info, see www.starclippers.co.uk or contact the adventure-cruise specialists of The Cruise Line Ltd on 0800 008 6677.

Time Spent at Sea has moved and can now be found at World of Cruising. You can follow World of Cruising on Twitter and Facebook for the very latest in cruise news.

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