Cruise Ships Covid19…Now 6 Take Up Free Parking

Weymouth Bay in Dorset has turned into what amounts to a free boat park for some of the UK’s leading cruise lines during the Covid19 outbreak.

Social distancing two paddle boarders approached Queen Victoria which anchored in Weymouth Bay Dorset.

Currently anchored nearby is the RMS Queen Victoria a Cunard transatlantic ocean liner.

Where To See The Best Views Of  The Covid19 Cruise Ships

She was joined by the P&O ships Arcadia, Azura and the very latest is the Britannia all in the bay just off the Jurassic Coast.

Constant cruise ships shuffling in and out  in of  Weymouth Bay, Dorset.

The current Covid19 regulations in the UK has forced these and in fact many cruise liners all over the world to find refuge in ports or safely at anchor; until they can be brought back into passenger service.

Cruise Ships Covid19 Lockdown

Choosing Weymouth Bay which over the years has been used by the Royal Navy and in more recent times. Many large bulk and oil carriers used the free anchorage during the recent financial recessions too. Although Arcadia was looking rather drab when she also came in to the anchorage off the Dorset coast.

Azura joined the P&O fleet in Weymouth Bay, Dorset because of the Covid19 lockdown.

The shipping lines in this current time do move their ships from busy ports like that of Southampton about 50 miles east, to undertake some sea operations. However, they were at least moored at more than the regulation Covid19 2metres social distancing!

The cruise ship draw lots of attention for people on cliff walks.

Carnival Cruise Line currently has several ships in the port of Dover too.

The Queen Mary 2 can take more than 2,500 guests and would have around 1,000 crew members to take care of them all.

Queen Mary 2 was in Weymouth Bay, Dorset.

Known as the Three Queens in the world of cruising her sister ships include the Queen Victoria, which now also docked off England’s south coast.

Cunard’s Queen Victoria in Weymouth Bay Dorset.

 With the third one from the Cunard fleet the Queen Elizabeth somewhere off the Philippines.

All three ships are no longer in service after Southampton-based cruise line Cunard, which is part of the Carnival group, cancelled its cruises back on March 16.

Cruise Ship Social Distancing!

The ships have created quite a stir in the area and where people can under the current Coronavirus regulations try to find vantage points to see the spectacle. The only palm trees these ship are likely to see are the ones growing on the seafront in Weymouth!

P&O’s Arcadia in  Weymouth Bay Dorset.

Although, the cruise ships would not have to anchor out at sea at all. But could have an alternative port less than 3 miles away to tie up in, at the former Royal Navy dockyard at Portland.

A Cunard ship at either end of the ships in Weymouth. .

Now a thriving commercial port called Portland Port. However, it seems that the free anchorage in the bay could be down to a commercial decision by the cruise lines in these cash struck times ?