Royalty and Celebrity Meet for One Night Only

 Voyager of the Seas prepares for her Celebrity-filled arrival into Sydney.
Image: Royal Caribbean International

The countdown is well and truly on for Voyager of the Seas’ arrival into Sydney Harbour next week with the ship receiving a red carpet welcome by a special Celebrity.

Celebrity Millennium will be on hand to rendezvous with the 137,720-tonne vessel mid-Harbour accompanied by a water cannon tugboat and a flotilla of local pleasure craft when she arrives at approximately 7:00pm on 22 November.

The event marks not only the maiden visit of Voyager of the Seas but also the first time that sister cruise lines Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises have met in Sydney.

Together the ships will be carrying approximately 5,000 passengers and 2,000 crew.

The meeting is slated to take place to the west of Fort Denison with optimal vantage points including; the Sydney Opera House; Mrs Macquarie’s Chair; Taronga Zoo Wharf; Bradley’s Head, Mosman and Cremorne Reserve.

Cruise Season Meet and Greet Service - Sydney Cruise Ship Season!

Tens of thousands of holidaymakers will be welcomed to Sydney by a fleet of friendly volunteer ambassadors during Sydney's busiest ever cruise ship season between now and April 2013.

The City of Sydney's welcoming committee, organised in partnership with Destination NSW, includes volunteers who set the benchmark for greeting international tourists during the Sydney Olympics and Paralympics.

The ambassadors will provide expert advice about the city's highlights and ensure first impressions of Sydney are memorable for the cruise ship visitors who inject around $1.1 billion into the local economy.

Volunteers are trained by the City of Sydney, Destination NSW and the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority to provide tips to help cruise passengers explore the sights and secrets of Australia's most famous city.

William and Kate Touch Down in Brisbane

Prince William and wife Kate have touched down at Brisbane Airport for a brief stop on their way to the UK after their royal tour. 

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were expected to spend about 90 minutes at the airport.
The couple flew out of the Pacific island of Tuvalu on Wednesday morning, wrapping up their nine-day tour of Southeast Asia and the Pacific on behalf of the Queen.

The trip was overshadowed by a media row over topless photos taken of Kate during a holiday at a private estate in southern France.

The Duchess looked relaxed in a light, floral-patterned, summer dress and beige patent heels as she strolled along the tarmac beside the Duke.

A tanned Prince William was equally casual in a jacket and white shirt, which was unbuttoned at the neck.

The smiling couple were escorted from their jet to the terminal by airport staff.

Their arrival in the building caused a stir among passengers waiting for flights, who rushed to get a glimpse and take photos of the young royals as they were whisked to a private lounge.

After coming up an escalator into the departure area, the couple waved to travellers as well as members of the public standing behind glass on a viewing platform on the next floor.

A Brisbane resident, who would not give her name, said the Duchess looked beautiful.
"It's such a shame about the photos in France," she told AAP.

"People should just leave them alone - they're only human."

Japanese national Yoko Asano said she'd just arrived from the Solomon Islands and had seen the royal couple there during their recent visit.

"I'm kind of following them," she joked.

"I didn't really expect to see them here but it was good because it was less crowded here.
"I could get a good look at them."

New Zealand man Tim Bott said the brief royal visit was totally unexpected.

"I didn't even know what was going on until I saw all these guys (cameramen)," he told AAP.
"I went and had a look and saw them coming down the steps and up the escalator.

"I wasn't going to go over but I did - you kind of have to, don't you?"

The Duke and Duchess were understood to be relaxing in a private lounge while they awaited a Singapore Airlines flight scheduled to depart at 2.30pm (AEST).

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Sydney's Garden Island to Host Cruise Ships: PM

THE NSW government and cruise line operators finally got what they wanted with the announcement that Sydney's naval base will be shared with cruise ships.

But they've both indicated that this is just a start, and they're hoping for a more extensive and permanent proposal for what a tourism head described as a "fully fledged berthing facility".

Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced to delegates at the NSW Labor conference on Sunday that the federal government would guarantee three cruise ships a berth each at Garden Island over the next two cruise seasons.

Ships have previously berthed at the facility, but only on a limited and ad hoc basis.
Ms Gillard said the Queen Mary 2, which docked at Garden Island in March, brought 2,500 visitors to Sydney.

Expanded capacity could see a visit of that kind every month in summer, she said.
"That's why we're expanding the number of guaranteed berths for the biggest visiting cruise vessels, ensuring three visits this coming cruise season and another three the next."

NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell said it was a sensible decision.

But he sided with the tourism and cruising industries in saying the current offer will have to be expanded in the future.

Mr O'Farrell said about 260 ships were expected to visit Sydney this financial year.

"The cruise ship industry is the strongest area of growth in tourism in NSW," he said.

"The way to meet the growing needs of the cruise ship industry is to share space at Garden Island.
"With the sort of growth we're seeing three won't be enough, but it's a good start."

Earlier, Tourism and Transport Forum chief executive officer John Lee also said three berths was a good start.

"But what we need is a permanent solution with customs and with a fully fledged professional berthing facility.

"Cruise ships are getting larger and taller and that means fewer of them, especially superliners ... are able to fit underneath the Harbour Bridge.

"Therefore we need more berthing capacity east of the bridge and, with the Overseas Passenger Terminal fully utilised in the peak season, we need other opportunities."

The announcement comes less than four months after a review by former defence department secretary Dr Allan Hawke found the Garden Island proposal was "essentially incompatible" with the future needs of the navy.

Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said while national security was important a continued naval presence at Garden Island could be balanced with access for tourists and residents.

"The news means more tourists providing a boost to our local economy," Ms Moore said in a statement, adding the cruise ship industry contributed about $3 billion to the Australian economy.

The only commercial berth now available for large liners east of the Harbour Bridge is at the Overseas Passenger Terminal.

Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal Visits Queen Elizabeth

Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal visited Cunard Line’s Queen Elizabeth in Southampton on Wednesday May 23, 2012.

Princess Anne attended in her capacity as Patron of Sea Vision UK and launched the Skills, Education and Awareness (SEA) programme, connecting young people with the maritime sector and the career opportunities it offers. This Secondary School initiative is accompanied by a STEM Passport (Marine), recording ‘world of work’ activity undertaken.  STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths.



Also attending were the First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope, and Shipping Minister, The Hon Mike Penning.

Peter Shanks, Managing Director and President of Cunard Line and Captain Julian Burgess  welcomed Her Royal Highness aboard.  She was greeted by enthusiastic crew members in the Grand Lobby before touring the ship, including the bridge, and signing the visitor's book. She then unveiled a plaque to commemorate her presence on board. 

(Source: etravelblackboard.com)

Queensland Secures Influential Cruise Event for 2013

Tourism Queensland will have exclusive access to sell Queensland to influential cruise industry VIPs at the world’s largest cruise shipping trade show in Miami next year. After years of bidding to host the Cruise Planners Luncheon at the Cruise Shipping Miami Exhibition, Tourism Queensland will have the honour in 2013. 

Cruise Shipping Miami is the world’s leading cruise industry exhibition, for the past few decades it has been the meeting place for cruise industry leaders looking for new products, services and destinations to visit. 

A highlight of the exhibition is the invitation-only Cruise Planners Luncheon, annually attended by 45 VIP cruise itinerary planners and cruise line owners. Queensland welcomed 328, 863 cruise passengers and crew to its ports during last year’s season.

(Source: Tourism on Q)

Cruise Ships Too Big for Sydney?

New giant-size cruise ships may be unable to dock in Sydney because they are too large to get under the famed Harbour Bridge, Australian officials said.

An alternative plan had been to allow them to dock at the naval base on Garden Island, the Sydney Morning Herald reported. But a review by Allen Hawke, a former Defense Department secretary, concluded that would interfere with naval operations.

Hawke suggested other options, including providing a mooring space near the Overseas Passenger Terminal or allowing cruise ships to use the cargo port at Botany Bay.

Ann Sherry, chief executive of Carnival Australia, said neither would work because passengers prefer ships to be at a dock and not moored offshore -- and because Botany Bay is unappealing. Bringing passengers in from a moored ship is also time-consuming and expensive, she said.
Industry executives said one-third of the cruise ships that are likely to visit Sydney will be too big for the Harbour Bridge by 2015. Sherry said she sees no reason why the industry and the navy could not co-exist.

''It's nonsense to say you can't have the two together,'' she said.

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Now That's Impressive Parking - Queen Mary II's Royal Arrival in Brisbane

THE world's most famous cruise ship arrived in Brisbane yesterday and it was up to Ipswich's Captain Chris Gallagher to ensure the ship's safe arrival into port.

Captain Gallagher of Karalee took control of the Queen Mary 2 at 3.30am yesterday as it floated off the coast at Mooloolaba.

He was one of two pilots guiding in the Queen Mary 2 for the final three hours of its trip before docking in the Brisbane River.

Despite its impressive size, Captain Gallagher said the Queen Mary 2 was easy to direct.

"The ship is very manoeuvrable. Despite its size it is very powerful and has an amazing propulsion system," he said.

"It's very much a team effort. It's not down to one person. There was a second commander who is like the captain and 10 other people on the bridge."

Preparations for the ship's arrival began over a year ago, and included a trip to Sydney for Captain Gallagher to meet the ship's crew.

"We actually spent a bit of time on a ship simulator at the Brisbane Airport and had a number of scenarios. We put in high winds and currents before the ship arrives so we know how it will perform once we get on board."

It was a happy moment once the ship had docked safely.

"It was exhausting. Once we got along side the dock there was a lot of relief. A high profile ship like that we don't want to it to go wrong."

He described taking control of the ship as one of his career highlights.

"It has to be. She's a very special ship and it would have to be up there when I look back on my career."

In 2009 Captain Gallagher piloted his first international vessel, the USS Ronald Reagan down the Brisbane River and into port.

Royal arrival

The Queen Mary 2 cost $1 billion to construct and is three times the size of the Titanic.

It is 345m long, 41m wide and travels at a top speed of 30 knots.

The ship has over 300 original art works, valued at over $5 million.

Romantic Proposal on Queen Mary II

THE enormous black and white sign hung over the side of the Queen Mary II as it sailed into Sydney Harbour on Valentines Day read "Marry me, Jess".

The 4 metre high banner strapped to the starboard side near the ship's funnel started a frantic search by breakfast television programs to find Jess.

Jess was said to be at Mrs Macquarie’s chair with her potential fiance Stefan. But television cameras struggled to find her there.

By 7.40am it emerged that the proposal was real, but it was also a carefully orchestrated PR campaign, done in conjunction with a morning television show and run by MG media.

Just after 8am ABC morning television reported that Jess had said yes. They then cut to news on Syria.

At 8.40am the Today show mysteriously found the couple, named Jess McGarrity and Stefan Libon and just happened to film them as the groom-to-be got down on one knee.

Romantic Proposal on Queen Mary II