2025 Programme              (Updated 31st October 2024) 

The programme of events for 2025 is shown below.

Please note that all events in the 2025 programme are subject to change.

Saturday 26th April 2025 - Solent Cruise (11:45 - 18:00)

This year our first Solent Cruise will be on board the Blue Funnel vessel Ocean Scene. A complimentary finger buffet will be served on board.

Ocean Scene has been hired for six hours to cruise around Southampton Docks, down Southampton Water, taking in Fawley and across the Solent to Portsmouth Harbour. As usual, the bar will be open for the purchase of drinks and light refreshments at cost throughout.

Our cruise will start from the Hythe Ferry Pier, Town Quay in Southampton at 11:45 prompt as is now the norm, returning at around 18:00.

The cruise will provide the opportunity to see all types of vessels from the largest container ships, vehicle carriers, cargo ships and cruise ships in Southampton, a variety of tankers at Fawley and Hamble and naval vessels and ferries in Portsmouth Harbour. The route of the cruise will depend upon the tides and weather on the day, the discretion of the Captain and Port Control instructions on the day.

Confirmed date - bookings being taken.

Photos from our 2024 Solent Cruise.

Hapag-Lloyd's AL ZUBARA at the container terminal.

NORDIC HAMBURG departing from the container terminal.

P&O's VENTURA departing Southampton...

...followed by her fleetmate IONA.

Photos by Chris Brooks

Photos from our May 2024 Rotterdam and Europoort Cruise.

Bitumen tanker IVER BLESSING inbound on the New Waterway.

Korean LNG Carrier SM ALBATROSS at the Gate Terminal.

Heavy load carrier SEAWAY ALFA LIFT in the Maasvlakte.

Ore carrier SAO OASIS also in the Mississippihaven.

Feeder ship X-PPRESS ELBE in the Caland Canal.

VLCC BALTIC LOYALTY in the Caland Canal.

Shuttle tanker ALTERA WAVE in the Caland Canal.

Photos by Des Upcraft

Saturday 17th May 2025 - Rotterdam and Europoort Cruise (10:00 - 20:00) / Sunday 18th May 2025 - Terneuzen Coach Trip.

Following our cruise in 2024 on board the Rotterdam based vessel Nehalennia, we will be organising a similar 10 hour trip around the Port of Rotterdam and out to Europoort. A buffet lunch will be served during the cruise.

In order to try to cover as many harbours as possible, we have booked the vessel for 10 hours and she will depart from the Boompjeskade at 10:00 CEST and return at around 20:00.

Please come and join us for a relaxing day cruising around Europe’s largest port. Bring your partner, as this is a very pleasant way to spend a Saturday on the water looking and photographing some of the largest ships in the world at close quarters.

Depending on the circumstances on the day, this trip will cover the same areas as the previous boat trips, ie - Europoort, Caland Canal, Maasvlakte, Botlek and the upper Rotterdam dock system, subject to timing, weather, tides and the Captain’s instructions.

Nehalennia was built in 1908 and was recently overhauled. She is licensed to carry 170 persons and similar to the Diane, the public area is spread over two decks. The toilets and kitchen are located on the lower deck, however, there is no disabled toilet or access for wheelchair users. The stairs between the decks are reasonably steep but easily negotiable.

On the main deck, there are two inside saloon areas with a catering / drinks service area between. There is a small open area forward, a large open deck to the stern, with side access, although with a handrail rather than plating. The top deck has another bar area, a comfortable saloon, and more open deck space. There is ample seating and tables, but with more than enough open space for photography on the upper deck. The wheelhouse area is located on a higher level, so there are unrestricted 360 degree views for photography from the upper deck.

We are also investigating the possibility of hiring a coach/minibus for a day trip to Terneuzen on Sunday 18th May, departing from Vlaardingen. Until we know how many members would be interested we are unable to give a cost indication or other details.

Confirmed date - bookings being taken.

Following on from the successful 2024 Solent Cruise held in conjunction with the World Ship Society Southampton Branch, we will again organize a similar cruise.

This trip will have something for everyone with the prospect of seeing almost all types of ships ranging from the largest container vessels, tankers, cruise ships, down to tugs, coasters and ferries. Bring your partner, even if they are not particularly interested in ships, as this is a very pleasant way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

The cruise will depart from Town Quay in Southampton, on board a Solent and Wightline Cruises "Cat" type vessel as used previously. This cruise will cover Southampton, the Solent including St. Helen's Anchorage and possibly part of the Nab Anchorage(vessel, weather and tides permitting) and possibly Portsmouth Harbour. The trip will last for seven hours.

The "Cat" vessels have an open deck area as well as a large enclosed saloon with toilets, and are an excellent platform for photography. The bar will be open for the purchase of drinks and light refreshments at cost.

Confirmed date.

Photos from our July 2024 Solent Cruise.

DATTILO M in the Nab Anchorage.

Chinese owned tanker XT PEACE in St. Helen's Anchorage.

Vehicle carrier THRUXTON outbound from Southampton.

MEIN SCHIFF 3 in the Western Docks, Southampton.

Photos by Chris Brooks

Photos from our September 2024 Solent Cruise.

EUROCARGO VALENCIA in the Western Docks.

Japanese naval training ship SHIMAKAZE in the Eastern Docks.

GAS ELIXIR in St. Helen's Anchorage.

CELEBRITY APEX outward bound in Southampton Water.

Photos by Chris Brooks

We will be organizing a third Solent Cruise, which will have something for everyone with the prospect of seeing almost all types of ships ranging from the largest container vessels, tankers, cruise ships, down to tugs, coasters and ferries. Bring your partner, even if they are not particularly interested in ships, as this is a very pleasant way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

The cruise will depart from Town Quay in Southampton, on board a Solent and Wightline Cruises "Cat" type vessel as used previously. This cruise will cover Southampton, the Solent including St. Helen's Anchorage and possibly part of the Nab Anchorage(vessel, weather and tides permitting) and possibly Portsmouth Harbour. The trip will last for six hours.

The "Cat" vessels have an open deck area as well as a large enclosed saloon with toilets, and are an excellent platform for photography. The bar will be open for the purchase of drinks and light refreshments at cost.

Date to be advised.

18th to 23rd September - A Rock, Apes and Ships - Gibraltar Tour

We are investigating a 5-night visit to Gibraltar, one of the world’s busiest shipping areas lying at the meeting point of the Atlantic and Mediterranean.

Gibraltar lies at the eastern entrance of a large bay in which the ports of Algeciras and La Linea, plus Gibraltar port and Western Anchorage and other anchorages are located. Ships of all shapes and sizes up to VLCCs can be seen in the bay, either berthed in the ports, or at the various anchorages.

Gibraltar also has a variety of shops, restaurants and bars, plus historic sites in and around the Rock, so bring your partner.

In order to keep costs down members will be required to book their own hotels and flights to Gibraltar.

Two boat trips will be arranged nearer the time on separate days at cost once we know the number of participants. They will take in the various anchorages, depending on the weather conditions at the time. Vessels at the anchorages change virtually every day. For example, the 12 bunker slots at Gibraltar’s Western Anchorage have a time limit per ship of around 8-10 hours. One of the boat trips will try to cover the Eastern Anchorage but this very much depends on the weather.

As well as the anchorages, the large container and ferry port of Algeciras can be seen, but not visited, as well as the CEPSA refinery at the head of the bay, which has a single point mooring buoy for large crude tankers and berths for other tankers and gas carriers (LPG) of up to around Aframax/LR2 size (120,000 dwt). At any one time, including ferries, it should be possible to see up to 40-50 ships in the bay. Regular ferry services connect Algeciras with Tangier and Ceuta.

From Europa Point it should be possible to view through traffic, which outbound from the Mediterranean passes around 4-5 miles away.

Proposed date - further details to be advised.