Drivers are being warned to brace for busy roads as Southampton prepares to welcome a fleet of cruise liners this weekend—including the UK’s largest ship, MSC Virtuosa.
As the summer cruise season winds down, the city’s bustling port will see six ships dock over the course of Saturday and Sunday, promising a spectacle for ship-spotters and a likely headache for motorists.
Saturday’s star attraction is MSC Virtuosa, the biggest ship in the UK, which is due to glide into port at 6am. It will be joined by Ventura and Celebrity Apex at 6:15am, with all three giants preparing for a day of embarkations and disembarkations.
Sunday brings more nautical excitement, with P&O’s Iona and Arcadia, plus Cunard’s Queen Anne, all scheduled to arrive. Queen Anne leads the pack at 6am, followed by Iona at 6:30am and Arcadia at 6:45am. All ships are expected to depart between 5pm and 6pm.
MSC Virtuosa is well known to many, having starred in Channel 5’s “Cruising with Susan Calman.” The show follows Calman as she explores sun-soaked islands like St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Barbados, Grenada, and St. Lucia—all while enjoying the ship’s many luxuries.
Onboard, guests can sample ten restaurants—five complimentary and five speciality. The Butcher’s Cut steakhouse is a highlight, but there’s plenty to tempt every palate, from Indochine’s elegant French-Vietnamese cuisine to the new Hola! Tacos, serving Latin American and Mexican-inspired street food (and mezcal tastings for the adventurous).
For those seeking exclusivity, the MSC Yacht Club on deck 18 offers a private enclave with 24/7 butler service, a pool, and a lavish restaurant with sweeping ocean views.
When it comes to bars, none are quite as memorable as the Starship Club, home to Rob—the world’s first humanoid robotic bartender. Rob not only mixes and serves cocktails, but also chats with guests, adding a futuristic twist to an already unique cruise experience.
With thousands of passengers expected to embark and disembark across the weekend, local authorities are urging drivers to plan their journeys and expect congestion around the port.
