Stately Queen Victoria joins other Cunard liners off Devon coast

LUXURY cruise ship Queen Victoria has arrived off the coast of Devon.

The 964ft Cunard vessel steamed into Babbacombe Bay yesterday, taking up station next to sister liners Queen Mary 2 and Arcadia.

Other large cruise ships the Marella Explorer 2 and Ventura are also moored up nearby.

It means there are currently five of the massive vessels moored up in Babbacombe Bay, where they have become a feature of the area since the coronavirus outbreak. In nearby Tor Bay, passenger ships Oosterdam and Zaandam are also at anchor.

The two-deck Queen Victoria is owned by Cunard Line and specialises in holiday trips around northern and western Europe.

She can carry 2,061 guests and normally has a crew of 981 – although this is likely to be significantly lower due to the skeleton crews managing the vessels during the pandemic.

Queen Victoria can carry 3,000 tons of heavy fuel and 150 tons of marine gas oil, consuming 12 tons per hour for maximum output.

Queen Victoria, after whom the vessel is named, reigned from 1837 to 1901 and some elements of her interior decoration are loosely based on Victorian-era design styles.

Combined with Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary 2, they form a trio known as the ‘Three Queens’.

The 13-deck ship Queen Mary 2 is described as Cunard’s ‘flagship’ due to her legendary style and elegance. The passenger ship which was built in 2003 can accommodate for up to 2,691 guests, as well as 1,292 crew members.

Marella Explorer 2 was built in 1995 and is sailing under the flag of Malta.