UK Cruising restarts with "MSC Virtuosa's" Maiden Voyage from Southampton - 20/05/2021

After an absence of well over a year, a passenger-carrying UK cruise got underway with the first of a large number of what have become known as 'Staycation' voyages along the coastline of the UK on Thursday 20th May 2021. The ship to carry this honour was the brand-new MSC Cruises' "MSC Virtuosa" who was also undertaking her maiden voyage so it was double the occasion - although unfortunately the high winds prevented a Fire Tug display sending her off. She departed from the City Cruise Terminal in Southampton shortly after 7pm before heading down to the Solent and then out into the English Channel for her first port of call - down the coast at Portland! Viewed from Hythe Marina and Calshot Spit.