Welcome to ~SHIPS~DORSET~ where those interested in ships, shipping, and wider maritime matters from Dorset and the surrounding region meet to share, learn & enjoy.
Join our ~Ships~Dorset~ group on FaceBook ... ... see what's "going on" around our shores ...
EVENTS 2024 ~~ online & local venue ~~ see EVENTS for details and to join.
Our 2024 events are "hybrid" ~ enjoy online or at our Dorset venue ~ see & hear about Mega Smeralda, Rochester Castle, Pride of Bilbao and many more ships - brought to you by our enthusiastic speakers.
Talks & Meetings on Ocean Liners, Cargo Ships, Ferries, Mariner's Memoirs, Paddle Steamers, Cruise Ships, Naval History, Ship Design, Maritime Memories and much more ~ enjoyed by ships & shipping enthusiasts ~ a community with common interests
JOIN US ... Ask for a guest invitation to join your first event ... info@shipsdorset.org
~SHIPS~DORSET~ Images of the Month for October 2024 ~ 1of2 ~ ~ Sun Princess - alongside at Portland - September 2024
Princess Cruises’ new Sun Princess arrived at Portland Port 24th September - a maiden arrival - after spending two days in Southampton on a Press and Travel Trade visit. She departed in the evening for Vigo, Maderia, Tenerife and Fort Lauderdale - a repositioning cruise to take up her first Caribbean season. Maritime Photographer, Steve Belasco was on hand to capture the occasion.
The 2024 Sun Princess is the third ship to sail for Princess Cruises under this name. The ship is the first of the company’s “Sphere class” and powered by LNG.
It’s big … but is it the “biggest” cruise ship to call at Portland Port UK?
~SHIPS~DORSET~ Images of the Month for October 2024 ~ 2of2 ~ ~ Sun Princess - departing Portland - September 2024
Sun Princess is the longest cruise ship to berth at Portland Port UK … 345 metres (gross tonnage 177,882)
MSC Virtuosa is the highest gross tonnage of any cruise ship to berth at Portland … 181,541 (length 331m) … the ship called at Portland again a few days after Sun Princess on 27th September.
If we stray beyond berthing alongside and widen our search to Weymouth Bay … the biggest cruise ship to enter (and anchor in) the bay was Iona … length 344m … gross tonnage 184,089.
The “all time record” for Dorset waters (unless of course I’m corrected?) was the September 2020 visit by Allure of the Seas anchored in Poole Bay … gross tonnage 235,282 (length 363m).
Key Dimensions for Sun Princess … Gross Tonnage = 177,882 …Length = 345m … Beam = 47m … Maximum Speed = 22 knots … Lower Berth Capacity for 4,300 passengers in 2,157 cabins … Crew = 1,600 ... in service since February 2024.
To view previous "Images of the Month" click our Image Archive link ...
