Cruise Ships - Dawlish Devon

Hi All,

If anyone wondered where the cruise ships are layed up at anchor? we were in Devon last weekend and took this not great photo of 4 ships, the nearest one being the Cunard Queen Mary 2, the others belonged to P&O I believe. Quite a sheltered spot from the south westerlies?

Regards Ray

The P&O cruise liners are Arcadia, Ventura and Azura. P&O have announced today a further extension of their cruise ‘pause’ to January 2021 with some long cruises cancelled through to April 2021.

Cunard intend to bring their 3 ships, QM2, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria back into service at monthly intervals starting around Easter 2021.

Iona, P&O’s new ship was due for delivery in early May this year, but they are taking delivery this month although it has nowhere to go or passengers to go on it.

These ships are anchored here in ‘cold’ lay-up with minimal crews to keep essential machinery working and bridge watches etc. This is somewhat cheaper than being alongside in port doing nothing and of course the chances of infection are low as effectively the crews are in permanent isolation.

Most cruise lines are also taking the opportunity to have some of their ships dry-docked and refreshed during this enforced stoppage and some are disposing of their older ships either by sale or scrapping.

All of Cruise and Maritime’s cruise ships including Marco Polo are being sold, hopefully, at auction as that company is now in administration.

Most keen ‘cruisers’ such as myself and my wife, do not expect any degree of normality to return until mid-2021 at the earliest.

Paul Freshney

Hi Paul,

Thanks for that update, just such an unusual sight !! Your cruising and our Spanish holiday all put back to next year God willing ! Glad they have future plans to get up and running 👍

The West Country is really busy at the moment with everybody staying at home for holidays, another project on the horizon is the MV Oldenburg the ship which runs trips to Lundy Island from Ilfracombe, many photos taken so I can produce a drawing to build from 😀⚓⚓⚓

Verity in the background the 25t bronze statue by Damien Hirst

Regards Ray

Edited By Ray Wood 2 on 18/09/2020 06:53:42

Edited By Ray Wood 2 on 18/09/2020 06:59:02

That would make a nice model Ray. There don't seem to be any drawings online except a couple of deck plans in the Lundy visit notes. There will be some drawings aboard the ship, maybe you could get a sight of them?

Colin

Hi Colin,

Yes I'm sure they would have a set of builders drawings on board, but I didn't have the nerve to ask the crew, but I may contact the owners to ask the question? And take it from there, I'm sure there will be some similar designs by Jim Pottinger in Model Shipwright from the hull lines 😀

Regards Ray

I wonder how many ships are at anchor in the world due to COVID.

nice place to take a break Ray

Bri.

Hi Ray

Your slightly misaligned photo of the idle cruise ships parked up on a gloomy day puts the situation truly in perspective

Bob

Hi Bob,

Your right, let's hope the photo is not indicative !!

How I miss the view finder & 35mm, at least in those days you had to wait and see how bad your photos were! And the eager anticipation of maybe 1 or 2 shots from the 24 or 36 exposure film ! never worth the wait 😀

Regards Ray

Misaligned photo? Maybe just strong tides that day - ships going downhill? Or....do they sell cider i Devon?

George

This website tells you where they are worldwide.

https://www.cruisemapper.com

The ships move around a bit on an intermittent basis .

All you have to do is to keep enlarging the world map but concentrating on the South of England for example and their today current positions become clear.

Paul.