11 July 2008
Almost everyone will know by now that the magnificent Carnival Splendor was launched here in Dover on Thursday night, and during the launch ceremony much praised was heaped upon Dover and its suitability as a destination and base. A number of other Cruise Companies have said similar in recent times too. They see a great market coming on tap here in the UK. Great and encouraging news indeed and with the continued growth in the Cruise Industry, the town is well placed to capitalise in the years ahead. The ship itself at 113,000 tonnes was the biggest vessel ever to sail from this port of Dover and did so in fine style. Thousands gathered to see her go and with the hardworking tugboats spraying jets into the air it was most definitely a special evening here in Dover.
Earlier in the day as Myleene Klass played a classical version of Sailing on the piano, to an enraptured audience, a navy diver in co-ordinated harmony with proceedings, climbed from the deep to break a bottle of English Sparkling Wine on the bow of the mighty ship...witnessed by all on a large screen.
And speaking of Myleene Klass, that's the lady herself featured in the pictures here. Myleene of course is a classical musician but onetime was a singer in that chart topping girl/boyband Hearsay...she is currently seen nowadays in those highly successful 'lighthouse' TV commercials for M&S and fronts a number of TV arts programmes, but sometimes best remembered when her fantastic figure came to our screens in the I'm a Celebrity Jungle series. She never looked back after that one...and who says we are not all looks obsessed!
The Pictures: Well top left we have Myleene sitting in the captains chair next to the very complicated control panel, and wearing the captains hat too, so no doubt would find running the ship easy enough considering her multi-array of talents. Not seriously of course, but it makes for a nice shot though, and one had to endure the might of the Fleet St scrum to get these pictures..not easy! One gets the occasional Nikon around the ear in the process!
Next picture top right shows Myleene seated next to local churchman Rev David Ridley. Myleene made a very good Launch Speech and the Rev Ridley blessed the ship very well and in the traditional manner.
Next shot shows one of the oh so nice cabins. Put yours truly down for one of these one time soon. Very nice too! Ah to lie back there and just think of England far behind you..if just for a while!
Myleene poses here with the delightful CJ's Dance Troupe from Dover. All very colourful girls and all thrilled to meet the superstar and godmother of the ship.Very pretty girls all.
As you roll down in the glass bubble elevator from the 13th floor, or should that be 13th deck, to see the bar like this spread out before your feet is quite an alarming sight for some. Not recommended for those with vertigo problems!
Last shot on the right shows Myleene playing her piano to co-incide with the Launch spectacular and it all finished with a theatrical explosion of some power.
All pictures and info by Colette Boland and yours truly PaulB.
EXTRA BELOW: Earlier article transferred over from Open Comment Page.
Is This the Most Beautiful Ship Afloat today? The Carnival Splendor begins its move out of Dover Harbour last thursday night approx 7.30pm. Thousands came to see her off, every single carparking space along the seafront was taken up, as people enjoyed this magnificent ship and magnificent spectacle. A party held by the Lions Club rocked away on the beach, a party specially held to mark the launch of this huge and wonderful vessel. Doverforum were onboard earlier and will have pictures of Myleene Klass, the ships godmother(now above).
There are more excellent pictures in the Letters Club from Paul Scotchie Wells and Ed Connell.
Pauls link is in the Carnival Splendor Arriving thread..
Eds link is in the Seafront Carnival thread
