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 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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Sydney Prepares for Royal Rendezvous with the New Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary 2

Sydney will host a tandem Royal arrival of two Queens for the first time when Cunard's latest ocean liner, Queen Elizabeth, makes her maiden visit to the city accompanied by her larger sister Queen Mary 2.

Midway through her inaugural 103-night world voyage, the 90,900-tonne Queen Elizabeth will meet Queen Mary 2 outside Sydney Heads before 5.30am Tuesday morning before following her sister into Sydney Harbour and berthing at the Overseas Passenger Terminal around 7am.

On her way to Garden Island Queen Mary 2 will round Fort Denison, sounding her whistle as she passes Queen Elizabeth around 6.30am.

Sydney will be the first of Queen Elizabeth's three Australian calls as she arrives from New Zealand on her inaugural world voyage.

The visits by the two ships are expected to deliver close to $3 million into the Sydney economy, with both ships carrying more than 6000 guests and crew between them.

Cunard Line's President and Managing Director Peter Shanks said the cruise line was anticipating a warm welcome from the city.

"Sydneysiders and visitors always enthusiastically welcome our liners when they visit and we hope it will continue for this historic Royal Rendezvous when our latest, Queen Elizabeth, arrives for the first time, chaperoned by her sister Queen Mary 2," Mr Shanks said.

The two liners' historic meeting in Sydney will recall an earlier Royal Rendezvous when the original Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth - both then World War II troopships - passed each other at Sydney Heads on April 9, 1941.

A special remembrance service, conducted with the assistance of the NSW branch of the RSL and the Australian military, and a lunch in tribute to 'Australia's Finest Generation', many of whom sailed to war on the original Cunard Queens, will be held onboard Queen Mary 2 on Wednesday.

Both ships will spend the night of February 22 in Sydney Harbour with Queen Elizabeth set to farewell her magnificent larger sister with a whistle salute at around midday the next day as she sails past her bound for Melbourne.

Having already called at Fremantle and Adelaide, Queen Mary 2 will depart for Christchurch at 5pm on February 23.

Launched in the United Kingdom by Her Majesty The Queen in October last year, Queen Elizabeth pays homage to Cunard's original Queen Elizabeth, offering famous Cunard hallmarks plus some new additions.

Her many features include more than 700 private balcony cabins, more than 10 restaurants and cafes, a two-storey library complete with leaded glass ceiling and a Games Deck including paddle tennis, croquet and bowls.

Media information:
Libby Moffet/Hannah le Coic
MG Media Communications
02 9904 0011

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Images of the Cruise Ships in Sydney Harbour - February 22, 2011

Images of the Cruise Ships in Sydney Harbour - February 22, 2011

Queen's Breakfast Cruise for Royal Rendezvous on Sydney Harbour

Captain Cook Cruises is running a special 'Queen's Breakfast' cruise on Tuesday 22 February, 2011 to see the arrival of Queen Mary 2 for her Royal rendezvous with her new sister ship Queen Elizabeth.

Passengers on The Queen's Breakfast cruise will not only have prime seats to see this Royal arrival but also enjoy a delicious hot and cold buffet breakfast including a welcome glass of sparkling wine, seasonal fresh fruit, cereals, yoghurt, bacon, scrambled eggs, grilled tomatoes, sautéed mushrooms, baked beans, chipolatas, croissants, rolls, fruit juice, tea and coffee.

The cruise departs No 1 King Street Wharf Darling Harbour at 5.30am, and returns at approximately 8.30am on Tuesday 22 February.

Early bird fares are available now from $69.00 per person, normally $75.00 per person.

Due to possible amendments to Queen Mary 2 or Queen Elizabeth's schedule, all passengers are required to check the captain cook cruises website http://www.captaincook.com.au/ for final details 24 hours prior to departure.

For reservations and enquiries please contact Captain Cook Cruises on (02) 9206 1111, E-mail sydney@captaincook.com.au

(Source: TraveMedia 27th January 2011)

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