Photo essay - Cruise ships in Southampton; cruise ship size and crowding

Southampton in southern England is a great place for cruise ship enthusiasts. Not only do quite a few ships call there during the warmer months but there are several places around the harbor from which you can get a good view or photograph the ships. There always seem to be a few people around taking photos as the time for the ships to sail draws near.

This week, we have a series of pictorials of ships that were in Southampton when I visited there in May. The ships covered include: Oriana and Oceana of P&O Cruises; three sister ships - - Ventura, Azura and Crown Princess; and Queen Mary 2, Celebrity Eclipse and MSC Opera. I have also tried to give bits of information about each of the ships. The pictorials begin at http://www.beyondships2.com/seen-in-soton-oceana.html

We also have a new FAQ. I often find that people are under the impression that the larger the ship is, the more people it will have onboard and thus there will be more lines and crowding. However, the fact is that there is no absolute correlation between size and number of passengers. There are very large ships that have much fewer passengers than smaller ships. In addition, the fact that one ships has more people than another does not necessarily mean more lines and more crowding. This topic is discussed at http://www.beyondships2.com/faq-ship-size-and-crowding.html

Cruise destination Gibraltar; cruise ship shore excursions

 Gibraltar is a legendary place. The Ancients believed that it was created by Hercules. In more reason times, its reputation was such that people said things like “Singapore is the Gibraltar of the East” and “Brimstone Hill (St. Kitts) is the Gibraltar of the Caribbean” when they wanted to describe a place as an impregnable stronghold. Even today, seeing that amazing rock projecting up from the sea is a mystical experience.

Located at the southern tip of Europe where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean, Gibraltar was for centuries a strategic military location. Its military significance has diminished in the 21^st Century but its location makes it a popular port of call for cruise ships, particularly for ships sailing from the U.K. to the Mediterranean.

There are several things that make Gibraltar an interesting port of call. First, it is a tiny place. You can easy walk across the entire town. And all of the tourist sites are a short taxi ride away.

Second, there is the culture. Spain ceded Gibraltar to Great Britain in 1713 - - the British had captured it in 1704 so the treaty only confirmed what had already taken place. As a result, it resembles a small British city. At the same time, there is a Spanish influence. So you might see a typical English Bobby dressed as in London chatting with a passerby in fluent Spanish.

Third, there is the history. As already mentioned, Gibraltar was a key stronghold for centuries and so played a significant role in many of the major European conflicts.

And then there is that rock. It is a natural wonder, impressive to look at and offering impressive views, not only of Gibraltar but of Spain and Africa. In addition, parts of it are now a nature reserve, home to Europe's only bands of free-roaming monkeys. Furthermore, several of the historic military installations on the Rock are now open to the public.

Beyondships' Gibraltar profile page is at http://www.beyondships3.com/cruise-destination-gibraltar.html

We also have posted two going ashore experiences. The first talks about visiting Gibraltar's famous Barbary Apes. http://www.beyondships3.com/gibraltar-apes.html

The second is about visiting Gibraltar's World War 2 tunnels. Concern that the Nazis would attempt to seize Gibraltar led the British to construct 30 miles of tunnels within the Rock. A portion of this incredible engineering feat is now open to view. http://www.beyondships3.com/gibraltar-world-war-2-tunnels.html

In addition to the items about Gibraltar, we have added a new FAQ. This one discusses the pros and cons of booking a shore excursion through the cruise line. It is at http://www.beyondships2.com/faq-shore-excursions.html

Photos of Disney Dream; Cruise Ship Miles Per Gallon

This week our primary focus is the Disney Dream of Disney Cruise Lines. The Dream was the third ship built for Disney. But while she maintained the traditional ocean liner look of Disney's two earlier ships, she is a much larger ship. In addition, she was built at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany, which is known for its quality.

The Disney Dream sails from Port Canaveral to the Bahamas on three, four and five day Bahamas cruises. As a result, I have run across her several times during Bahamas cruises on other ships.

These meets have afforded me the opportunity to take quite a few exterior pictures of Disney on Disney Dream. Inasmuch as she has the lines of a traditional ocean liner, she is quite photogenic.

Thus, we have a photo essay showing Disney Dream in Port Canaveral. http://www.beyondships2.com/disney-dream-port-canaveral-photo-essay.html

We also have a photo essay showing the ship maneuvering in Nassau harbor. http://www.beyondships2.com/disney-dream-nassau-photo-essay.html

To go along with this photo essay, we have a video of the ship underway in Nassau. http://www.beyondships2.com/disney-dream-nassau-video.html

In addition to the material on Disney Dream, we have a new FAQ. This one answers the question how many miles to the gallon does a cruise ship get? The answer discusses cruise ship fuel consumption and some of the techniques that cruise lines are using to reduce fuel consumption. http://www.beyondships2.com/faq-cruise-ship-fuel-mileage.html

Visiting the Alhambra, Cruise port Malaga, Spain

When I was growing up, I remember hearing of the Alhambra. It was most likely in connection with Washington Irving's writings, as his house was not far from ours. However, the image stayed in mind of this beautiful castle in Spain. This image was only reenforced as I grew older and read countless travel articles discussing the romance of the Alhambra.

Consequently, when a shore excursion going to the Alhambra appeared on the list of shore excursions offered on a recent cruise, I jumped at the opportunity despite the fact that it was significantly more expensive than the other excursions offered for that port. The warning that the excursion would involve a two hour coach trip each way did not give me pause.

As it turned out, the coach trip was entirely pleasant. It took us through the coastal mountains and then through the verdant valleys of Andalusia. There were snow-capped peaks, olive groves, vineyards, and a number of towns and villages. As it was all motorway, we zipped along without traffic delays. Indeed, there even was a ring road that skirted Granada so that we did not have to go through that city in order to get to its most famous attraction, which is perched on a hill overlooking the city.

When we arrived, it quickly became apparent that we were not going to be the only people viewing the Alhambra that day. In the grounds adjoining the castle, there are parking lots for buses and cars as well as a modern visitor center. Even though it was a weekday afternoon, the area was alive with activity. The coach only stayed a few minutes near the entrance to the visitor center before going off to look for the closest place to park, probably in Madrid.

Those in charge of the Alhambra have apparently given much thought as to how the monument's popularity could affect the experience of visiting it. The number of visitors allowed each day is limited. In addition, all of the infrastructure for the visitors is placed some distance from the historic buildings so as not to intrude upon the experience.

Still, having other people around is something that you have to deal with. It requires a good deal of patience to get photos that include only a few of your fellow visitors. More importantly, in the courtyards and gardens that were designed for quiet contemplation, you just have to tune out your fellow visitors.

Nonetheless, the Alhambra is a must see. It has impressive architecture, beautiful gardens and spectacular views of the city below and the surrounding mountains. On top of it has centuries of history as well as a haunting romantic aura of times past.

Beyondships' feature article about visiting the Alhambra, complete with photos, is at http://www.beyondships2.com/visiting-the-alhambra.html

In addition, we have added a profile of Malaga, Spain. It is the cruise port that is the jumping off point for visits to The Alhambra. Indeed, it is Spain's second busiest cruise port. The profile begins at http://www.beyondships2.com/cruise-destination-malaga.html

Queen Mary 2 - Stargazing, the Environment and Europe without Flying

This week we add to our collection of articles and interviews about Queen Mary 2 of Cunard Line. (see index of QM2 articles at http://www.beyondships2.com/queen-mary-2-articles-interviews-reviews.html) QM2 is one the most extensively-covered ships on Beyondships. I have sailed on her more times than any other ship currently in service. In part, this is due to the fact that she sails between Europe and America and thus facilitates getting to and from the ships based on either side of the Atlantic. But it is also because I like the atmosphere onboard, particularly the enrichment program.

One aspect of the enrichment program that I like is that it goes beyond what you normally find on ships. QM2 has the normal sea-going activities such as trivia contests, Bingo, and arts and crafts. Like several other cruise lines, she also has a good lecture series. However, QM2 also has activities such as: acting classes with the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts; jazz workshops with professors and/or students from Julliard; and a song writing program in which guests are guided by professional musicians. Some of these activities are regular features on QM2's daily program, others are presented on some but not all voyages, while still others may only occur once. However, the point is that QM2 consistently provides high quality programs that are beyond what you would normally expect at sea.

QM2's astronomy program is an example of this kind of programming. The ship was built with the only planetarium at sea. In this facility guests journey through space via programs developed in conjunction with the American Museum of Natural History's Hayden Planetarium. This alone would be enough to place the ship's astronomy program beyond the norm. However, Cunard also has a relationship with the Royal Astronomical Society in which noted astronomers not only give talks but interact with guests in other ways. Our article about the astronomy program, including an interview with Dr. Chris Crowe of the University of Cambridge, is at http://www.beyondships2.com/queen-mary-2-astronomy.html

A question that is frequently posed by guests is what happens to the leftover food, garbage and waste that is generated during a cruise? In the old days, the solution was just to toss it over the side. However, in these more environmentally conscious days, we know that such an approach has adverse consequences for the planet.

I asked Ariadna Mayoral, Environmental Compliance Officer on Queen Mary 2, about what happens to the garbage and waste on her ship. During the course of our conversation, I learned that there are environmental considerations in nearly every aspect of the ship's operation. The interview is posted at: http://www.beyondships2.com/queen-mary-2-environmental.html

During the course of my travels, I have met many frequent cruisers in North America who say that they would like to visit Europe but that they do not want to fly. Flying is no longer the glamorous means of transportation that it once was and it is very understandable that people do not want to spoil their vacation by flying.

However, this does not mean that you have to miss out on the experience of going to Europe. While it is more time-consuming than flying, many people sail both to and from Europe. Queen Mary 2 sails both ways. In addition, it is possible to sail at least one way on a cruise ship. In a new FAQ item, we discuss how this is done and some of the considerations involved. It is at http://www.beyondships2.com/faq-europe-without-flying.html