Fog and the three Cunard Queens
On 10 May three Cunard liners returned to Southampton from round-the-world voyages and set off again that afternoon on shorter cruises. I took my camera to Calshot Castle, at the far end of Southampton Water, to watch them sail past.
First up, however, was the Celebrity Eclipse:
Celebrity Eclipse steaming down Southampton Water past Calshot Castle.
Quite a crowd gathered, as you can see:
Then, to my consternation, a bank of fog rolled in just as the Queen Elizabeth approached:
Queen Elizabeth steaming down Southampton Water past Calshot Castle in fog.
In fact, the fog intensified the atmosphere. Next came Queen Victoria looming out of the mist:
Queen Elizabeth steaming down Southampton Water past Calshot Castle in fog.
In fact, the fog intensified the atmosphere:
Bystanders at Calshot Castle watching three Cunard Liners set saail
Next came Queen Victoria looming out of the mist resembling the alien spaceship taking up position over New York in Independence Day:
Queen Elizabeth steaming down Southampton Water past Calshot Castle in fog.
There were some tantalising bursts of sunshine:
Bystanders at Calshot Castle watch as Queen Victoria disappears into sea fog on Southampton Water.
Finally, Queen Mary 2 emerged through the mist:
Queen Mary 2 emerges from fog on Southampton Water as she passes Calshot Castle.
And this time, the fog parted:
Queen Mary 2 passes the Red Jet Isle of Wight fast ferry on Southampton Water, near Calshot Castle.
As a parting shot, here’s she is with Queen Victoria in the distance, just about to disappear behind her bows:
Queen Mary 2 trails her sister ship Queen Victoria out of Southampton Water.
It was quite a show. The Cunard cruise fleet might not be the largest , either in number or size of vessel, yet it remains the most aristocratic.