A new ship for me on the 8th September 2014 in the shape of the 85,619grt Costa Mediterranea. I'd got her sister, Costa Atlantica here and in Naples, but this one had eluded me. She debuted in 2003 and she got her in the end. The arrival times for all were ridiculous. Ruby was for 4.30am, so bugger that. Mary was 6am but worth making the effort for despite it being dark. The Costa was 6.15am, so just getting light while the AIDA rocked up for 8.45am! High time these ships were educated about cooperating. We took Barbara walkies around the marina as the sun came up to try and stop her being bored and as we returned to the front, we saw the Giraffe (floating crane, HVL Canute) being moved. Despite the Costa being a newbie to Southampton, we remained the only people barring the street cleaner, joggers and dog walkers until AIDAsol, which made her first call in September 2013 and was in a mere week prior, making her hardly a stranger. We left as the AIDA was tying up. |