The view from the balcony

[Harters]

OK, not a cruise ship balcony. The balcony in question was the apartment we'd rented last week in Paignton.

 

When we got there, we were surprised to see P & O's Arcadia and Cunard's Queen Victoria moored in Torbay. Obviously  they have to be somewhere while they are not cruising. But after a couple of days, Arcadia left. But came back a couple of days later and was still there when we left on Saturday. We've no idea where it had been. Towards the end of the week, Victoria also left. Google revealed it was going to Southampton but is not due to cruise until next spring. So, I'm curious. What might it have been going to do in Southampton? And might Arcadia have gone to do the same thing. Is there some legal issue that means they have to move periodically. Any speculations?

 

And, linked to that, any ideas as to how many crew would be staying on board. Presumably if both ships were going to under way periodically at least,  then there must have been a pretty full complement of navigation, engine room, etc.

 

By the by, the bay was also visited by one of the Marella ships which was tendering into Torquay.

[Ray66]

Queen Victoria and other cruise ships have been back and forth to Southampton  from Torbay and other nearby spots in the Channel for over a year now. They will have been getting supplies in Southampton.

 

This photo was taken in June 2020 from Weymouth beach

 

 

And the following article from the BBC is from August 2020.  They have about 100 crew on board.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-53720419

Edited September 8, 2021 by Ray66

[Harters]

Thanks.

 

 

 

 

[Bgcruising]

I believe they so have to go refresh their water tanks.