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Police are advising visitors to Hythe and the Waterside area from Friday, December 7 to expect some traffic congestion as sightseers converge on the area to see Cunards newest cruise liner, Queen Victoria.
The 90,000 ton super liner is due to enter Southampton Water at around 8am before arriving in its home port of Southampton at around 9.30am, where it will tie up alongside the City Cruise Terminal.
The ship will remain in port over the weekend and is likely to attract a large number of visitors on both sides of Southampton Water, especially for its naming ceremony by HRH The Duchess of Cornwall at 4.30pm on Monday, December 10.
The largest number of visitors is expected to the shoreline prior to the ship leaving port on its Maiden Voyage on Tuesday, when a firework spectacular will take place at 5pm.
Visitors are encouraged to park outside Hythe village centre and walk, or use public transport to reach Hythe Marina to relieve the anticipated traffic congestion.
Other vantage points along the Waterside are also expected to be busy when the ship arrives and leaves port.
From the Cunard Web Site:
Members of the public will be able to view the ship as she makes her way up Southampton Water from the following vantage points at the following times:
Ryde and Gosport 0725 hours
Lee on Solent 0735 hours
Cowes 0750 hours
Calshot 0805 hours
Hamble 0815 hours
Royal Victoria Country Park & Weston Shore 0825 hours
Hythe 0835 hours
Mayflower Park 0915 hours
City Cruise Terminal 0930 hours
Carol Marlow, Cunard’s President and Managing Director, says:
“Queen Victoria is a spectacular addition to a spectacular fleet, and we would love as many people as possible to take the opportunity to come out and share with us the excitement of welcoming Southampton’s newest resident”.
Queen Victoria will be named in the afternoon of Monday 10 December by Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall in the presence of His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. This will be viewable by members of the public on large screens built in Mayflower Park from 1530 hours until 1630 hours.
She will depart on her Maiden Voyage, to a splendid firework display, at 1700 hours, on Tuesday 11 December. Again, Queen Victoria’s departure and fireworks will be best viewed from Mayflower Park. |
