Live from the Solent for Queen Anne’s arrival

[Solent Richard]

A weather check across the Sooent from our balcony lifter our hearts for a good day…..

 

 

…so lunchtime finds us meeting up with old friends at Southampton’s Harbour Hotel’s 6th floor HarBar  waiting for our Sunseeker taxi service….

 

[Solent Richard]

Cunard have the goody bags….

[Solent Richard]

@Bell Boy and myself are on the Champagne before the lines are cast…

Edited April 30 by Solent Richard

[Solent Richard]

Just parked up in Cowes for tea before heading to Bembridge for our first sight 

 

[buchanan101]

5 hours ago, exlondoner said:

Surely some of that is easily verifiable? Either QV is or is not longer than Arcadia?

QV - 293m, Arcadia - 285m. the length of a bowsprit. If cruise ships had bowsprits

[buchanan101]

4 minutes ago, buchanan101 said:

QV - 293m, Arcadia - 285m. the length of a bowsprit. If cruise ships had bowsprits

And QA - 323m, Nieuw Statendam - 297m. 

[exlondoner]

3 minutes ago, buchanan101 said:

And QA - 323m, Nieuw Statendam - 297m. 

Hmm. I didn’t realise that.

[buchanan101]

Just now, exlondoner said:

Hmm. I didn’t realise that.

Sister ships supposedly, but QA is longer than the 3 Holland America ones (and will probably look better for it). More passengers obviously -  2996 v 2666 nominal (or 3353 v 3214)

 

 

[D&N]

Is that Bellarina?

[Cruise Puss]

4 hours ago, Solent Richard said:

A weather check across the Sooent from our balcony lifter our hearts for a good day…..

 

 

…so lunchtime finds us meeting up with old friends at Southampton’s Harbour Hotel’s 6th floor HarBar  waiting for our Sunseeker taxi service….

 

Wonderful hotel with a great view!!

[Solent Richard]

Just parked up in Cowes for tea before heading to Bembridge for our first sight 

 

[Solent Richard]

Here she is….

[Solent Richard]

[Solent Richard]

[Solent Richard]

[Solent Richard]

Spot the police escort…

 

[Poole Boy]

7 minutes ago, Solent Richard said:

Well from the outside, she looks like a Cunard ship

 

[exlondoner]

Just now, Poole Boy said:

Well from the outside, she looks like a Cunard ship

 

It’s amazing how that black hull improves the look of a ship.

[Solent Richard]

Fire boat welcome…

[Solent Richard]

passing Calshot….

 

[Solent Richard]

And a meeting with Ventura…

[Solent Richard]

14 hours ago, D&N said:

Is that Bellarina?

Good morning @D&N. Yes it was.

 

Here's @Bell Boy posing with my wife before boarding 😂

 

 

[Solent Richard]

In case anyone was wondering what was in those Cunard 'Goody' Bags.....

 

 

....there were some nice pieces of memorabilia...

 

 

including a Cunard Champagne stopper and the Queen Anne Commemorative Coin.

 

Plus the real bonus, a new Cunard pen attached to the note book.😁

[Solent Richard]

14 hours ago, Cruise Puss said:

Wonderful hotel with a great view!!

 

Certainly is. We've had many a Cunard pre or post cruise get together there.

[exlondoner]

I assume the experience has even more enhanced your hopeful anticipation of the maiden voyage.