"Queen Victoria, the newest addition to the rapidly growing fleet of ships based in Southampton "

That IS the WOW factor that the Council are so desperately seeking. Exploit it to the max, the new development in Woolston should include a viewing area to welcome some of the worlds luxury ships into the city.
If you speak to people from other parts of the country, and all over the world, they have heard of the Port of Southampton.

The whole waterfront should reflect this and we should have a maritime museum to be proud of to match out heritage, rather than the half hearted effort we have at the moment. Passengers are arriving from all around the world, lets try to and tempt them into the City to visit a world reknowned exhibition to our Maritime and Aviation history.

i work in southampton docks and have just seen her come in. shes huge!

Nick wrote:
"Queen Victoria, the newest addition to the rapidly growing fleet of ships based in Southampton " That IS the WOW factor that the Council are so desperately seeking. Exploit it to the max, the new development in Woolston should include a viewing area to welcome some of the worlds luxury ships into the city. If you speak to people from other parts of the country, and all over the world, they have heard of the Port of Southampton. The whole waterfront should reflect this and we should have a maritime museum to be proud of to match out heritage, rather than the half hearted effort we have at the moment. Passengers are arriving from all around the world, lets try to and tempt them into the City to visit a world reknowned exhibition to our Maritime and Aviation history.

Dont forget the ICE RINK :)

Home ? Home implies birthplace - this was made by Johnny foreigner and is just a big eyesore !

Just what Southampton needs is another ocean going rest home. I suppose we'll have to endure bloody fireworks all weekend ?

martin wrote:

Nick wrote: "Queen Victoria, the newest addition to the rapidly growing fleet of ships based in Southampton " That IS the WOW factor that the Council are so desperately seeking. Exploit it to the max, the new development in Woolston should include a viewing area to welcome some of the worlds luxury ships into the city. If you speak to people from other parts of the country, and all over the world, they have heard of the Port of Southampton. The whole waterfront should reflect this and we should have a maritime museum to be proud of to match out heritage, rather than the half hearted effort we have at the moment. Passengers are arriving from all around the world, lets try to and tempt them into the City to visit a world reknowned exhibition to our Maritime and Aviation history.

Dont forget the ICE RINK :)

Yes.... remember the ice rink, that will be built and torn down because it wasn't a commercially viable business, but the public wanted it, got it and didn't use it!!!

Anony-moose says - Yes.... remember the ice rink, that will be built and torn down because it wasn't a commercially viable business, but the public wanted it, got it and didn't use it!!!

Read the Southampton Vikings website for the truth about our previous ice rink and how it got closed!

skater wrote:
Anony-moose says - Yes.... remember the ice rink, that will be built and torn down because it wasn't a commercially viable business, but the public wanted it, got it and didn't use it!!! Read the Southampton Vikings website for the truth about our previous ice rink and how it got closed!

Read the story yourself.

"Who wanted an ice rink where all you could do was skate round in a circle?"

I think that line says alot.

Plus, you sent me to Southampton Vikings website - ICE HOCKEY TEAM. Of course they want an ice rink, they're biased.

The only reason I can think of as a reason for an ice rink is to bring back ice hockey, because theres an ice rink in Gosport. But ice hockey isn't a major sport in the UK.....

anony-moose - this is the only southampton ice rink site and there is far more to it than going round in cirlces... but that seems to be all anyone is good at on this message borad!

1 The victiria cannot be comming home as it has never been here before.

2 Having seen the othership QM2 do other people seee that it looks like a container ship with windows.

3 as for the ice rink the vikings web site says...old Banister rink closed its doors to the paying public in controversial circumstances in 1988.... but does not give details as I remember it was the machinery was pre war and the ice surface could not be main tained, the client were causing problems and numbers were declining. So notihng has changed if the people were actually keen to get another rink then they would have stated fund raisning over the last 20 years to build one.

skater wrote:
anony-moose - this is the only southampton ice rink site and there is far more to it than going round in cirlces... but that seems to be all anyone is good at on this message borad!

Whats a 'Borad'?

Hmm suppose it could be useful for keeping all the hoodies and chavs in one place. :)

How can southampton have an ice rink site when it hasn't even got one. Unless there's an invisible one!!! Hey you should put money towards the ice rink if you so despo for one. And if people don't skate round in circles in the oval shape rink what do the do!!

Nick wrote:
\"Queen Victoria, the newest addition to the rapidly growing fleet of ships based in Southampton \"

That IS the WOW factor that the Council are so desperately seeking. Exploit it to the max, the new development in Woolston should include a viewing area to welcome some of the worlds luxury ships into the city.
If you speak to people from other parts of the country, and all over the world, they have heard of the Port of Southampton.

The whole waterfront should reflect this and we should have a maritime museum to be proud of to match out heritage, rather than the half hearted effort we have at the moment. Passengers are arriving from all around the world, lets try to and tempt them into the City to visit a world reknowned exhibition to our Maritime and Aviation history.

Nick, you are right. The council should be making more of the liners than they do at present. I go to Mayflower Park often to see them leave. I must admit that I like the idea of a viewing platform at Woolston. Sounds a good idea.

live local wrote:
1 The victiria cannot be comming home as it has never been here before.

2 Having seen the othership QM2 do other people seee that it looks like a container ship with windows.

3 as for the ice rink the vikings web site says...old Banister rink closed its doors to the paying public in controversial circumstances in 1988.... but does not give details as I remember it was the machinery was pre war and the ice surface could not be main tained, the client were causing problems and numbers were declining. So notihng has changed if the people were actually keen to get another rink then they would have stated fund raisning over the last 20 years to build one.

Presumably educated locally too...
Try reading what you have written before posting it.

Lee wrote:

Nick wrote:
\"Queen Victoria, the newest addition to the rapidly growing fleet of ships based in Southampton \"

That IS the WOW factor that the Council are so desperately seeking. Exploit it to the max, the new development in Woolston should include a viewing area to welcome some of the worlds luxury ships into the city.
If you speak to people from other parts of the country, and all over the world, they have heard of the Port of Southampton.

The whole waterfront should reflect this and we should have a maritime museum to be proud of to match out heritage, rather than the half hearted effort we have at the moment. Passengers are arriving from all around the world, lets try to and tempt them into the City to visit a world reknowned exhibition to our Maritime and Aviation history.

Nick, you are right. The council should be making more of the liners than they do at present. I go to Mayflower Park often to see them leave. I must admit that I like the idea of a viewing platform at Woolston. Sounds a good idea.

You're absolutely right that the council needs to do much more to promote the docks and provide facilities for the public to enjoy the sights... but Woolston? It's tucked round the corner out of sight - you may as well put it in Eastleigh.

Keith Oftegrass wrote:
Home ? Home implies birthplace - this was made by Johnny foreigner and is just a big eyesore ! Just what Southampton needs is another ocean going rest home. I suppose we'll have to endure bloody fireworks all weekend ?

Sounds like sour grapes too me.

Saw the Victoria up close today while working in the docks.This is one reason to be proud of this country.Even though the docks is falling apart,the fleet of ships that are now arriving on a regular basis is wonderful & profitable for the city.Perhaps ABP should start to update & regenerate some of the land that they own,instead of knocking down buildings & filling it with containers.

The comments on here are really very tame. I suspect the posts have been expurgated lest the lady who demands a brand new lavatory starts to moan.

The waterfront at Southampton is ghastly - god knows what visitors think when they arrive by ship. Liverpool presents a far more impressive vista. The planners at Southampton City Council should be ashamed of themselves for not making much more of the waterfront. It is a disgrace.

You say that the ship cannot be coming home as it has never been here before. I agreed, then I thought:
When parents bring their newborn baby home from the maternity ward, it has never been home before either, but we accept that it is coming home!
I guess that as Soton will be the ship's home port, then it's OK to say that.

Ritchie,

You should know that the reason so many containers are filling the port is because Southampton is so successful bringing in containers from all over the world to ensure you can have your cheap clothes and plasma TV's. Most goods are shipped in containers nowadays. It may not look good but it helps pay the bills for the 1,000+ workers in the container industry.
Cruise and cars are more glamorous but containers are the future

Container Port Worker wrote:
Ritchie, You should know that the reason so many containers are filling the port is because Southampton is so successful bringing in containers from all over the world to ensure you can have your cheap clothes and plasma TV\'s. Most goods are shipped in containers nowadays. It may not look good but it helps pay the bills for the 1,000+ workers in the container industry. Cruise and cars are more glamorous but containers are the future

but they are sending ships out with empty containers now. Apparently a great number of the 5 high stacks of containers are empty

Lee wrote:

Nick wrote: \"Queen Victoria, the newest addition to the rapidly growing fleet of ships based in Southampton \" That IS the WOW factor that the Council are so desperately seeking. Exploit it to the max, the new development in Woolston should include a viewing area to welcome some of the worlds luxury ships into the city. If you speak to people from other parts of the country, and all over the world, they have heard of the Port of Southampton. The whole waterfront should reflect this and we should have a maritime museum to be proud of to match out heritage, rather than the half hearted effort we have at the moment. Passengers are arriving from all around the world, lets try to and tempt them into the City to visit a world reknowned exhibition to our Maritime and Aviation history.

Nick, you are right. The council should be making more of the liners than they do at present. I go to Mayflower Park often to see them leave. I must admit that I like the idea of a viewing platform at Woolston. Sounds a good idea.

sounds good but not Woolston not central enough , would not attract enough people. the city really does need to maximise on the growing cruise trade.
cruises are much more affordable now and prices should only become more competative as more ships arre brought into the port. We are the buisiest cruise port in Europe now ,we have overtaken Barcelona.

I have to report the sad passing of Denzil, He must have popped his clogs because he has not posted blog tonight on this page, We will miss you Denzil RIP

i was there in the carnival on friday at the front with the lanterns the lanterns were best

Get it right wrote:

live local wrote: 1 The victiria cannot be comming home as it has never been here before. 2 Having seen the othership QM2 do other people seee that it looks like a container ship with windows. 3 as for the ice rink the vikings web site says...old Banister rink closed its doors to the paying public in controversial circumstances in 1988.... but does not give details as I remember it was the machinery was pre war and the ice surface could not be main tained, the client were causing problems and numbers were declining. So notihng has changed if the people were actually keen to get another rink then they would have stated fund raisning over the last 20 years to build one.

Presumably educated locally too... Try reading what you have written before posting it.

I am glad to have brightened your day, it is nice to have personal insults from someone you have not met.
yes I was educated locally and else where and have acheived two degrees despite a then unidentified severe learning disabilty. Perhaps rather than sitting on you high horse you would like to actually contribute to the debate, as your comments are offense and pointless

Yes, this should be great for British shipbuilding, with repairs, and refits in Southampton, and around the country. But wait, where's the dock gate for the KGV dry dock. Has it been taken away for repairs, and the dry dock increased in size, and improved. No a&p have done a bunk, and I should think these ships will go to Europe for refits.

A big British market for cruising, and the ships are being built in Euro yards that enjoyed huge subsidies, which we paid for, but we'll celebrate a foriegn built ship we should be building.

Have any of you heard of Swan Hunters, or Cammell Laird, and Harland & Wolf.

There's nothing to celebrate or be proud of.
While Europe's building ships, our shipyards are probably being eyeied by land portfolio owning parasites. Not for investing in them, but eager to build houses, call centre's tesco's, leasure centre's, and other cruddy type jobs, which could be built elsewhere.

Investment should be in British shipbuilding. Let's see southampton with a healthy list of ships for dry docking, and refit. Rule Britannia !

A&P have left Soton to concentrate on their facility in Falmouth which is very busy. Problem is that most European Shipyards get some degree of Govt subsidy for build & repair. However lets not forget that a number of local businesses, Trimline, for example do lots of work on cruise ships interiors. Most of the Carnival ships are designed in Soton. Also note that the Port of Soton is one of the most successful in the country and, arguably Europe, but that is good news no one is interested in. It could have doubled in size but where was the support for the Didben Bay development?

Darren Riche-Webber wrote:
Yes, this should be great for British shipbuilding, with repairs, and refits in Southampton, and around the country. But wait, where's the dock gate for the KGV dry dock. Has it been taken away for repairs, and the dry dock increased in size, and improved. No a&p have done a bunk, and I should think these ships will go to Europe for refits. A big British market for cruising, and the ships are being built in Euro yards that enjoyed huge subsidies, which we paid for, but we'll celebrate a foriegn built ship we should be building. Have any of you heard of Swan Hunters, or Cammell Laird, and Harland & Wolf. There's nothing to celebrate or be proud of. While Europe's building ships, our shipyards are probably being eyeied by land portfolio owning parasites. Not for investing in them, but eager to build houses, call centre's tesco's, leasure centre's, and other cruddy type jobs, which could be built elsewhere. Investment should be in British shipbuilding. Let's see southampton with a healthy list of ships for dry docking, and refit. Rule Britannia !

Hear Hear

So its an ok looking ship, from what I have heard its mostly retired civil servants and the like with their index linked pensions who go on these cruises as for joe public with gordon (grabber) browns taxes he,ll have to stick to sun £10 holiday camp stays.

People call that a wow factor?? in terms of size, yes. But so has some extra large ugly office building. Its another floating glasshouse, totally out of proportion, like every other modern cruise ship. But then to say styling has now well and truly flown the coop is an understatement. Its gonna be real bad when the last bastions of cruise ships with style, like QEII, go.

Container Port worker wrote:
A&P have left Soton to concentrate on their facility in Falmouth which is very busy. Problem is that most European Shipyards get some degree of Govt subsidy for build & repair. However lets not forget that a number of local businesses, Trimline, for example do lots of work on cruise ships interiors. Most of the Carnival ships are designed in Soton. Also note that the Port of Soton is one of the most successful in the country and, arguably Europe, but that is good news no one is interested in. It could have doubled in size but where was the support for the Didben Bay development?

Don't disagree with any of what you said. When you say Carnival Cruise ships are designed in Southampton, is that the University, or a design house here in Southampton?