MSC Magnifica & Boudicca

After the two day preview, MSC Magnifica was due to leave Southampton at 8.30am on the 28th February 2010.  Her destination would be Saint Nazaire, where she was due to arrive for 10pm.  After that she would sail on the 1st March at 5pm to Hamburg for her naming by Sophia Loren on the 6th, calling at several places en route.  the night before, the departure time was changed to 9am.  Boudicca was also in, unusually docked in Mayflower Terminal, even though QEII was unoccupied and was often used by Fred Olsen ships.  The weather was foul.  Still windy but around a force 7 on average.  I had a lift down from Steve Read, who was filming for Sky Travel.  Sadly the wind was blowing the rain in the direction we wanted so the first lot of photos of her sailing FINALLY at 10.20am were taken from as far back in the car as I could get without getting wet (and failing miserably!).

She turned around in double slow time which was good in one way - the rain stopped!  Pity the same couldn't be said for the wind!  If she blasted we didn't know it.

So that was her gone.  You wait for one MSC and three come along (Poesia later this year then in 2011 Opera moves from Dover).  To see photos of Magnifica's arrival two days earlier, click here.

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© Patricia Dempsey 28th February 2010
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