Ventura, Arcadia (IV), Celebrity Equinox & Crown Princess (II)
The 31st July 2009 was going to be an interesting day.  Ventura would be in with her elder sister Crown Princess.  Arcadia would join them.  Then, due to Celebrity Equinox being early and them bringing the maiden voyage forward, we ended up with four.  Celebrity say the following cruise on the 8th August is the official maiden, while this is a 'soft launch'.  She had been named two days before, the bottle smashing on the X of her funnel.  Disappointingly they kept the two Grand class Princesses apart, with Ventura hidden in the new Ocean Terminal while Crown was starboard in Mayflower.  Arcadia and Ventura was down to leave at 4.30pm, Crown at 4.45pm and Equinox on the hour.  After the dismal weather over the previous couple of weeks it was glorious for once and the marina was packed!
Arcadia was taking her flags down as we got there at 3.30pm, Ventura following suit not long afterwards.  Ten minutes later a car carrier was pulled out from beside Ventura.  Both have flat backsides so you had to do a double take since they blended into one.
As usual nothing goes to plan at sailaways!  Arcadia began muster at 4.15pm with three blasts then you just heard the bells.  No way she'd go on time.  A little while later we heard some blasting up the other end and presumed it was the Princess.  I checked the VTS and sure enough the timings had been changed.  Ventura was now 4.45pm with Arcadia on the hour.  Hmm.  Not good when you wanted the Princess twins in shot together!  Just before 4.40pm Ventura threw the first of her ropes then just sat there.
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		(C) Copyright Patricia Dempsey 31st July 2009 Not to be reproduced without permission