P&O’s Southampton Spectacular

If you’re going to be in Southampton, England next Tuesday (July 3^rd), bring your camera. Heck, if you’re scheduled to be anywhere within easy driving or flying distance of the famous English port city by the River Test, head on over because P&O Cruises is putting on an event you won’t want to miss!

P&O’s Ventura sails from Southampton, England on May 19, 2012. Photo © 2012 Aaron Saunders

To celebrate the line’s 175^th anniversary, all seven ships in the P&O fleet will be berthed in Southampton at once – a momentous occasion in its own right. But for roughly 15,000 embarking guests, and countless spectators ashore, next Tuesday promises to be one for the books, with daytime pyrotechnic displays and a modern, eco-friendly version of the confetti-style sendoff traditionally afforded to departing ships.

At 5:50pm local time, the ships will start to make their out to sea, with accompanying pyrotechnics every ten minutes until all seven ships have left their berths. Around 7:20pm, as the ships are nearing Calshot, the Red Arrows will begin a spectacular flyover that is scheduled to last approximately 25 minutes. Ships will pass near the Isle of Wight and the mainland, with final sightings from Ryde and Stokes Bay around 8:05pm.

Traditional P&O colors on Ventura’s funnel. Photo © 2012 Aaron Saunders

If you are headed down, keep in mind: it’s going to be busy! P&O Cruises also notes that from Mayflower Park, located right at the water’s edge, you will only be able to see four of the seven ships berthed – but they have a handy map in PDF format of locations from which to catch a glimpse of the entire fleet in a single day.

So what ships make up the P&O fleet? Here’s what you can see next Tuesday:

Oriana (1995, 853 feet long)

P&O’s attractive Oriana at sea. Photo courtesy of P&O Cruises.

Aurora (2000, 885 feet long)

P&O’s Aurora sails out of Southampton, England on the evening of May 19, 2012. Photo © 2012 Aaron Saunders

Oceana (2000, 857 feet long; ex “Ocean Princess”)

P&O’s Oceana, formerly Princess Cruises’ Ocean Princess, in the Caribbean. Photo courtesy of P&O Cruises.

Adonia (2001, 592 feet long; ex “R-Class”)

P&O’s Adonia joined the fleet in 2011 after a career as Renaissance’s R Eight and Princess Cruises’ Royal Princess. Photo courtesy of P&O Cruises.

Arcadia (2005, 951 feet long; Vista-class derivative)

P&O’s adults-only Arcadia calls on Vancouver for the first time May 23, 2011. Photo © 2011 Aaron Saunders

Ventura (2008, 951 feet long; Grand-class derivative)

Sailing Away: Ventura departs Las Palmas, Canary Islands. Photo © 2012 Aaron Saunders

Azura (2010, 951 feet long; Grand-class derivative)

P&O’s Azura docked in Bridgetown, Barbados in December, 2010. Photo © Aaron Saunders

With the entire fleet of a single cruise line set to depart one port on a very special day, it’s enough to make the most die-hard shipspotters count their frequent-flier points!

Full details on commemorative events for P&O’s 175^th anniversary can be found on their special micro-site.