Departure Viewing Southampton

[BESCHER99]

Hi

 

Can anyone tell me if there is a place/viewing area loved ones can wave you off when you set sail on the QM2 from Southampton?

 

My parents saw my brother off on his cruise on the Oriana from some building on the dock side albeit from behind glass and I was wondering if Cunard have such a facility.

 

Thanks

[pepperrn]

Hi

 

Can anyone tell me if there is a place/viewing area loved ones can wave you off when you set sail on the QM2 from Southampton?

 

My parents saw my brother off on his cruise on the Oriana from some building on the dock side albeit from behind glass and I was wondering if Cunard have such a facility.

 

Thanks

 

There is an area at the southern end of the Queen Elizabeth II terminal (which normally would be by the bow of QM2 if she is moored port side) for the general public. There is no protection from the weather and you are behind a fence. However my family saw me "off" and loved it. By time the stern comes past this point she is far out from from the quay and they may have trouble picking you out from the sea of faces so you might consider moving forward on deck 7 port side so they can wave to you (and you to them!). If you look at

 

http://community.webshots.com/user/pepperrn

 

you will see the view they will get of the ship.

 

Hope this helps, enjoy your voyage.

[BESCHER99]

Thanks for that

[sandikin]

http://www.netleyabbey.info/Country%20Park.htm

 

This is the website for the Royal Victoria Country Park which is situated on the East side of Southampton Water and from which you get a fantastic view of ships as they pass. If you look at the website you will also see that there is a section which shows you which ships are due to pass. I have often watched the QE2 from this venue after dropping off passengers. I don't know if the passengers can see you well if you are here instead of the dock, but if you take eg a flag or something to wave they should be able to pick you out, especially if they have binoculars (always well worth taking on a cruise).

[trams]

You could drive round to Hythe pier where you can get a good view of QM2 heading down the Solent.

[HeinBloed]

I was told to go on the Hythe ferry or to use the harbour cruise.

 

But we will stay in a Hythe hotel the night before we cruise. Just to be crazy enough for 5 am when she arrives in Southampton... But the hotel told us: just 2 min. away from the best place to watch the cruise ships coming in.

 

Regards,

HeinBloed

[Norfolk Brit]

You could drive round to Hythe pier where you can get a good view of QM2 heading down the Solent.

 

This is where we watched her from last year. You can walk about half a mile (or get the little train) to the end of the pier and will have an excellent view from across the Solent of the ship turning round and then heading down the river.

 

Mary

[tandemtourer]

But we will stay in a Hythe hotel the night before we cruise. Just to be crazy enough for 5 am when she arrives in Southampton... But the hotel told us: just 2 min. away from the best place to watch the cruise ships coming in.

 

HeinBloed, you won't be alone in January of 2008. We have made it a tradition to be in Hythe to greet our ship as she sails up Southampton Water in the early hours of the morning. Then, of course, there is the added treat of taking the ferry later in the day to board the ship. One is afforded a most incredible views.

 

A few details which might be of interest - the Hythe Pier is free for those having a ticket on the ferry, otherwise the admission is around 80p. (I don't know if they enforce this though.) The ships usually arrive before or around the time the Pier opens for the day so we have located alternate viewing locations.

 

There is a new viewing area on the waterside behind the shops of the pedestrian street. We prefer to go to the Hythe Marina which is more nearly opposite the Queen Elizabeth II Terminal and not that much farther from the Pier. From that vantage point one can watch the terminal slowly coming to life and, when you see the tugboats head out toward the Solent, you can rest assured that your ship is about to be escorted in to dock.

 

Of course, it all depends which terminal the Queen Victoria will be using that day. If she is to be at the Mayflower Terminal you won't be able to witness her doing her turn as clearly since it is farther up Southampton Water.

 

It sounds as if you have wisely arranged to be at your viewing spot well in advance of her time of docking. Sometimes the ships arrive much earlier than sheduled due to the tides. (In the summer of 2003 QE2 was already in her berth with her engines idling at 5:15.)

 

If you should spot some very excited (but chilled - after all it will be January) Tandem Crossers I hope you'll introduce yourselves. We'll be looking out for you also. :)

[HeinBloed]

Great!!!

 

Are you on QV or QE2 on the Tandem-TA???

 

I'll be already in October the second time in Southampton in preparation of the big meeting in January.

 

When I was in Southampton with NORWEGIAN PEARL they told us at the recption desk a later departure time of our airport shuttle. So when they announced to come to the bus we had no time anymore to check the fascilities around the pier as we had to pack and leave the ship very quickly...

 

5.15 am in October is o.k..

 

But January - maybe icecold outside...

 

Can I make a good suggestion?

 

I will give you my camera the night before and buy you a drink in New York... so I can stay in my warm bed and hope to get the best pictures on my camera with your help when QV is arriving the morning of 06.01.2008 in Southampton.

 

Looking forward to make the acquaintance of you and QE2 and QV...

 

Regards,

HeinBloed

 

 

If you are on QV-Tandem: send me your stateroom no. to

 

CRUISECRITIC(at)nickname-onboard.de

 

Please replace nickname by my nickname here in this forum

and (at) by @ (just to avoid too much spams...)

 

I'll tell you mine by return of e-mail. There are so many days without shore excursions: it would be nice to meet other tandemtourer from this forum and share opinions.

[tandemtourer]

Great!!!

 

Are you on QV or QE2 on the Tandem-TA???

 

QE2 for us!

 

 

I will give you my camera the night before and buy you a drink in New York... so I can stay in my warm bed and hope to get the best pictures on my camera with your help when QV is arriving the morning of 06.01.2008 in Southampton.

That's tempting! However, I don't want to deprive you of all the fun. :p We've been at the Hythe Marina twice in January. The first hour or so isn't too bad...

 

We'll be in Hythe in April if there is anything you would like us to research for you.

[GAV BOY]

QE2 for us!

 

 

 

That's tempting! However, I don't want to deprive you of all the fun. :p We've been at the Hythe Marina twice in January. The first hour or so isn't too bad...

 

We'll be in Hythe in April if there is anything you would like us to research for you.

 

Im also on the QE2 for the Tandem crossing, i will of just disembarked the Qv Christmas and New Year cruise ! :D

 

Hope to see you ! :)

 

regards,

 

Gavin :cool:

[tandemtourer]

Im also on the QE2 for the Tandem crossing, i will of just disembarked the Qv Christmas and New Year cruise !

 

Looking forward to meeting you, GAV BOY, and to hearing all about the Victoria. From what I understand you are a fan of QE2 therefore your review of her "replacement" will be of great interest.

[squirrelgardens]

I was looking for some info and registered on this board.

 

I am traveling on the May 18th QM2 crossing. Been on it before, as that I do not fly. We are eastbound on April 13th on Celebrity Constellation.

 

The Celebrity ships are also nice to cross over the pond on.

[GAV BOY]

Looking forward to meeting you, GAV BOY, and to hearing all about the Victoria. From what I understand you are a fan of QE2 therefore your review of her "replacement" will be of great interest.

 

Yes i love the QE2, i hope she is around a bit longer, but i also like the QM2 so im sure i will also like the QV ! :D

 

Its not only the ships but the entire Cunard experience which makes it unique and in my opinion the best cruise line ! :)

 

 

regards,

 

Gavin :cool:

[cruisebritannia]

Of course, it all depends which terminal the Queen Victoria will be using that day. If she is to be at the Mayflower Terminal you won't be able to witness her doing her turn as clearly since it is farther up Southampton Water.

 

 

Hi there, I'm kinda new to these message boards but hopefully my Cunard fanaticsm will fit me right in :)

A very useful website for Southampton ship movements is

http://www.southamptonvts.co.uk/cruise_ship.asp

 

This is the Southampton VTS cruise ship schedule so you can see which terminal ships are due to dock in. Changes to schedule are very rare.

 

Cunard ships will nearly always use the Queen Elizabeth 2 terminal at Dock Gate 4. On the odd occasion two Cunard ships are in the QE2 has priority and Queen Mary 2 or Queen Victoria will use the Mayflower Terminal (it's only fair!)

Mayflower has the special glass "wave-off" area and is generally better for ship-spotting as they have to travel further up Southampton Water.

 

Hope this helps!