July 26th, 2024

We always enjoy Southampton and 1600 people were getting off the cruise and that many were getting back on. We did not have to do anything since we are coming from a British port to another British port so no need to go through immigration. We slept in a little bit and then got off the boat and took a taxi into town. Last time we were here on a change over day they had a shuttle for us but this time the shuttle was only for the crew. The taxi dropped us off in the center of town where we wandered around the big mall and then around town some. Every time we are in Southampton they usually have the town decorated with colorful statues of some sort and the object is to find as many as you can. One year it was cows and then zebras and this time was apparently lighthouses.

Here are a couple and we saw at least 6 more. Not sure how many there were.

What we love about Southampton is having the old gates and walls of the medieval city mixed in with all the new buildings.

One of the old city gates

They had some chairs and several food trucks set up on the old wall so people could watch the Olympics.

In the center of one of their pedestrian streets they had a beach scene set up for the kids with beach sand and chairs and things to play with.

We stayed out for a few hours and had lunch and then attempted to get a taxi back to the boat. We had a little trouble finding one so we ended up walking back and it was not that bad of a walk. Plus all on board was 3pm.

We had a few more people celebrating our sailaway now that the weather is a little warmer. Also the Princess mascot, Stanley the bear was out and about having his picture taken with guests.

We sailed right at 4 and there were 4 cruise ships in port and we pulled out the same time as the Regal Princess.

Silver Seas and Royal Caribbean (on its ultimate world cruise) were also in port.

A view of an old wharf in Southampton that used to be a hub of activity in the early 1900s.

Southampton is the port the Titanic sailed out of on its maiden voyage and also where the Mayflower sailed out of. They have a replica of the Mayflower in town and it is surprisingly small to cross the Atlantic ocean in.

Another thing that has been fun on this trip is how the deck attendants have been arranging the pool towels. Since it has been so cool there has been very little activity around the pools which means no need for pool towels so we got some really cool designs.

On all cruises we have never seen this before so it has been very entertaining.

We have been thanking the deck crew for their inventiveness and several days we went up to the pool deck just to see what they have created. Since we are now going to be getting warmer we assume they won’t be able to keep the displays for too long without people taking the towels.

Also we told you about one of our new friends that binges on TV shows and then maps out their houses in a CAD program and puts down where all the furniture is etc. I asked him to send me some pictures so I could post them so you could see what his hobby is all about.

Here is the Gilmore house

Here is the map of the Gilligans Island

We have a sea day on Saturday and then we are in a new port for us which is Bilbao, Spain where it is supposed to be in the high 80s.