Bomb Scares Forces Cruise Guests To Evacuate Ship And Terminal

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Thousands of cruise guests embarking on P&O Cruises’ Ventura in Southampton on 9th August 2025 faced an alarming start to their holiday after a bomb threat prompted an evacuation of the ship and its terminal.

P&O Ventura

The incident unfolded at the Mayflower Cruise Ferry Terminal just as embarkation was underway for Ventura’s 14-night voyage to Spain, Portugal, and the Canary Islands.

At approximately 11:46 am, Hampshire Constabulary officers responded after an unidentified man claimed to be in possession of an explosive device.

Swift Police Response

With heightened summer security already in place at the UK’s busiest cruise homeport, additional police were on hand to secure the area quickly.

A 200-metre (656-foot) cordon was established while bomb disposal experts searched a motor truck belonging to the suspect, as well as the surrounding area.

Ventura and the terminal building were evacuated “out of an abundance of caution” after being identified within the potential blast zone.

“The captain made an announcement that we were in the bomb zone and we had to get out,” one 28-year-old passenger told The Daily Echo.

By early afternoon, police confirmed there was no credible threat and the cordon was lifted.

“We are satisfied that there is no risk to the public,” a Hampshire Constabulary spokesperson said.

Statement from P&O Cruises

P&O Cruises later issued an official statement confirming the evacuation and thanking guests for their cooperation.

“Due to an earlier police incident and in an abundance of caution, we made the decision to evacuate Ventura and the passenger terminal. This incident has now been resolved and normal embarkation operations have resumed. The safety of our guests, crew and port staff is our highest priority and we are grateful for the co-operation of the authorities,”

P&O Cruises Statement

Impact on Other Ships in Port

Southampton was particularly busy during the incident, with Princess Cruises’ Sky Princess, P&O Cruises’ Iona, and MSC Cruises’ MSC Virtuosa also docked.

However, those ships were far enough from the Mayflower terminal to avoid direct disruption.

Only one cruise ship can berth at the Mayflower at a time, meaning Ventura was the sole vessel affected.

Departure Delay but No Itinerary Change

With embarkation temporarily halted, Ventura’s departure was pushed back several hours. Guests reported an expected sailing time of 6:15 pm, and by 6:30 pm cruise tracking data confirmed the 116,017-gross-ton vessel was making her way out of the harbour.

Southampton

The delay is not expected to impact Ventura’s itinerary, with the ship still on track to reach her first scheduled port of call, Funchal, Madeira, on 13th August.

A related road closure at Dock 10 also caused temporary congestion within the port but has since reopened.

Suspect Taken into Custody

Guests watching from Ventura’s decks witnessed the arrest of the suspect, who was seen being detained by armed officers in the terminal car park.

Passenger Andy Palmer told The Mirror:

“I was enjoying an early lunch when I saw a guy being dragged out of his car by six armed policemen.”

The man was taken into custody, and depending on the charges, could face anything from a substantial fine to several years in prison if found guilty.

UK law treats bomb hoaxes as a serious criminal offence, citing the misuse of emergency resources and the potential panic such threats cause.

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