via Devon LiveTimes have changed in my home in Devon. Where the bay was mostly quiet with occasional sailing competitions, fishing boats, and the ferry which crosses back and forth, it's now a 'parking lot' for gigantic cruise ships with nowhere to go!
They have become a big attraction since their arrival last year - many huge cruise ships coming and going through the English Channel - anchoring, sailing off, then returning off the Devon coastline. At one time the three Cunard Line Queens, Mary, Elizabeth and Victoria, were there together, quite a sight. I've only seen that once when all were in port at Southampton and leaving on the Queen Victoria for a Baltic cruise several years ago. Those were the days.
"Ships are expected to take an extended stay in Torbay this Summer as some cruise companies cancel holiday bookings until late August. People all over Devon have become captivated with the daily movements of the laid-up cruise liners and the daily lives of the skeleton crews on board since their arrival. Ships have been anchoring across Babbacombe Bay and Tor Bay for the past 12 months due to the pandemic forcing cruise voyages to shut down - and leaving them with no where to go." Devon Live March 4, 2021
THE "DOLDRUMS" IS A NAUTICAL TERM THAT REFERS TO THE BELT AROUND THE EARTH NEAR THE EQUATOR WHERE SAILING SHIPS SOMETIMES GET STUCK ON WINDLESS WATERS.
In both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, sailors noticed that there was an area near the Equator where there was little or no wind. Without the wind to move their sail-powered boats, they would sometimes be stuck for days or weeks. They started calling these areas the doldrums.
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Next year should be so different! xo
ReplyDeleteHope so - it's all getting OLD and so are we!!!!!
DeleteDearest Mary,
ReplyDeleteIt is devastating for the entire tourism industry, be it over land, by air or by sea... We have been in a deadly economical grip by the WHO!
Hugs,
Mariette
I feel exhausted from NOT being able to go anywhere!
DeleteWe have cruise ships in the Falmouth creeks. It's sad, but there is hope for 2022, I think.
ReplyDelete2022 is such a long way off Barbara!
DeleteI'm told that there are many people who are booked for cruises just as soon as they are allowed to go.
ReplyDeleteWe haven't booked any cruises John, but we do have reservations in place for a UK visit in May - if possible!
DeleteDear Mary,
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking that flying across the pond might be possible late Fall. Is that a possibility for you?
Yes Gina, we're thinking along the same lines - perhaps will have to plan October for our UK visit.
DeleteDarling Mary,
ReplyDeleteWell, here at least is a part answer to our question to each other of where have all the cruise ships gone? On busy days, flotillas of cruise ships sailed down the Danube, often staying overnight in Budapest. There they would be anchored, sometimes two abreast so to get to shore passengers had to climb over another ship. needless to stay, the river has been quiet for some time.
We think that a revival of cruising may take some time since the thought of being at very close quarters with several hundred people holds no appeal for us at least at present. And, we sincerely hope that the gigantic cruise ships which enter the Venetian lagoon may be banned completely as they do so much damage to that fragile ecosystem.
I so recall those Danube, and other rivers, riverboat trips over the past several years. I can imagine the river front quiet in Budapest - it must be a lovely change in some ways, large beautiful cities without scores of noisy tourists - like us!!!!!
DeleteI’m not very keen on cruise ships ...... they are MASSIVE ( why do they have to be so HUGE .... money I guess ) and seem to do a lot of damage when coming into some harbours. When in Venice, the cruise ships really spoilt the whole ambience of such a beautiful place, towering above the wonderful old buildings and causing damage. Sorry Mary ... rant over !!!! XXXX
ReplyDeleteI do prefer smaller expedition type ships Jackie, but have to say the three Cunard Queens are much smaller than some of the massive 'party type' cruise ships which we would never sail on! Yes, as you, and the Hattatts say, Venice does not need cruise ships, they are causing so much irreparable damage to the already delicate waterfront. I believe there are plans for the future where those ships will be banned from using Venice as a port. At least it's getting a bit of a break since the pandemic started!
DeleteWhat a great photo, dear Mary. I must show it to a friend who has sailed on the Cunard Queens. It is interesting to know where all the ships have been during the pandemic. Some of them are cruising round and round Australia. I do hope you get to go cruising again one day soon. xxx
ReplyDeleteI would like to think I could take at least one more cruise in the near future - perhaps a more extended 'world cruise' on a medium sized ship. There are still many places we'd love to see and such a cruise does enable at least a glimpse at a lot of places on just one trip without having to keep packing and unpacking, getting on many planes etc. It is the most restful way to travel by far.
DeleteHope to come 'down under' again of course on such a trip!
Fascinating to see the ships just sitting there. Sad for the cruise lines and people that want to go cruising. Hoping by next year things will return to some form of normalcy. We have only taken one cruise and I would love to do so again.
ReplyDelete