While I have been relaxing at home over Christmas, eating and drinking almost as much as if I had been on a cruise, others have been somewhat busier.
In Southampton, for example, port workers are preparing for a hectic couple of weeks during which 13 ships – most of them setting out on world voyages – will bring about £32.5 million of business to the city.
Five ships from P&O, three from Fred Olsen and two each from Cunard and Saga, not to mention a regular turnaround for Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas, will see more than 40,000 passengers passing through the terminal buildings during the next 12 days.
Back at the office, two cruise line bosses have found time to write about their hopes and plans for 2012.
Disappointingly, Royal Caribbean’s Adam Goldstein reveals nothing about the new Project Sunshine vessels his company has ordered from the Meyer-Werft shipyard, with construction work beginning this year. However, he does reveal that he expects to increase his own ambitious running schedule with the help of personal trainer Armando Cruz.
Cunard’s Peter Shanks’ sporting activities look like being restricted to spectating at the Olympics – he’s got tickets for the men’s hockey final, and the cycle road race goes almost past his house. But he plans to climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge for the third year running when Queen Mary 2 is in port during a 23-night circumnavigation of Australia.
He is also looking forward to being in San Francisco when Queen Elizabeth sails under the Golden Gate Bridge on February 4, and of course in Southampton on June 5 when all his three ships will be in port together as a carefully stage-managed tribute to Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee.
Good luck to both of them. And a Happy New Year to you all.
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