Tuesday 24th September 2013 saw a series of lasts & firsts for Southampton Docks with four cruise ships in the port - two making their final visits for the 2013 season, one making its final visit for the foreseeable future and one making its debut call. The departure times for the four ships were also spaced out rather than the usual sailing one after another. The first ship to sail was Royal Caribbean International's "Vision of the Seas". She was originally launched in Southampton in April 1998 and has made very few calls since then. Today was to be her last for the foreseeable future as she was being relocated to the Caribbean following a refit in Cadiz which she was heading for. She'd just finished her final pre-refit cruise from Copenhagen (which had begun on September 14th) and departed from the 'City' Terminal at 13:35 (originally supposed to depart at 13:00 but was delayed due to bunkering). The second ship to sail was MSC Cruises' "MSC Opera" from the 'Mayflower' Terminal at 15:55 heading for Ijmuiden, Holland before heading off down to Genoa, Italy where her latest cruise will end. "MSC Opera" has been a regular caller to Southampton once again, but this was to be her last for the 2013 season. She will return on May 17th 2014. The third ship to get underway was AIDA's "AIDAsol" from the 'Ocean' Terminal. Making her visit to Southampton (taking over from her newest sister "AIDAstella"), "AIDAsol" was supposed to depart at 19:00, but some late-returning passengers meant that she didn't leave until 19:50 heading for Zeebrugge, Belgium. She will be making repeating week-long cruises from Hamburg right up until December 17th and will be visiting Southampton every Tuesday until then. As she sailed, she saluted with the fourth and final ship in port - TUI Cruises' "Mein Schiff 1". "Mein Schiff 1" was moored at the 'QEII' Terminal and due to depart at 20:00 hours. The delayed departure of "AIDAsol" however did not effect her timings as she got underway at 19:57 heading for La Corunna. Like "MSC Opera", she too was making her final visit to Southampton for 2013 and was heading off on a relocating cruise from Hamburg to Palma De Mallorca, Spain. She will return to Southampton on April 20th 2014. This video also features the cargo ship "Sand Harrier" & Trinity House Vessel "Patricia" arriving into Southampton. Viewed from Hythe Marina & Town Quay.

• published: 25 Sep 2013
• views: 418