Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria to Meet in Sydney for Cunard Line Anniversary

Two Queens - Cunard's flagship Queen Mary 2 and her younger sister Queen Victoria - will for the first time on Thursday spend the day together in Sydney.

A fireworks display will mark the occasion at 9.15pm, as Queen Mary 2 leaves Circular Quay and sails past Queen Victoria anchored at Athol Buoy near Taronga Zoo.

To celebrate the rendezvous and its 175th anniversary year, Cunard is also launching a photographic exhibition on the boardwalk at the Opera House.

Captured by Sydney photographer James Morgan, who has snapped Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth around the globe, the OneSevenFive exhibition will provide an insight into life onboard.

Featuring 71 images displayed on two-metre-high panels, the collection's final two images - from Thursday's rendezvous - will be installed on Friday morning. The exhibition will remain in place for 175 hours, until Thursday, March 19.

"I think everyone in this city would remember the three very special royal rendezvous of other Cunard ships on our harbour over recent years," said Ann Sherry, chief executive of Carnival Australia, which represents Cunard in Australia. "This Thursday will be no different as Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria make history with their first ever joint visit to Sydney."

The 2000-guest Queen Victoria will berth in Sydney about 5.30am on Wednesday, spending the day at the Overseas Passenger Terminal. At about 3.30am the following morning, the 90,000-tonne ship will move from Circular Quay to Athol Buoy to make way for her "big sister", Queen Mary 2, which is scheduled to sail through the heads at 3.45am on Thursday morning.

Still the largest ship to visit Australia, the 151,400-tonne Queen Mary 2 is expected to berth at the Overseas Passenger Terminal about 4.45am on Thursday.

The Sydney visit of the 2600-guest ship comes two months into her 113-night world voyage.

Wednesday March 11

· 4.30am – Queen Victoria sails into Sydney Harbour.

· 5.30am – Queen Victoria berths at Overseas Passenger Terminal, Circular Quay.

Thursday March 12

· 3.30am – Queen Victoria sails from the Overseas Passenger Terminal to berth at Athol Buoy.

· 3.45am – Queen Mary 2 enters Sydney Harbour.

· 4.45am – Queen Mary 2 berths at the Overseas Passenger Terminal.

· Noon – OneSevenFive photo exhibition of Cunard's Three Queens on Sydney Opera House's Western Boardwalk opens to public.

· 9pm – Queen Mary 2 departs Overseas Passenger Terminal en route to Milford Sound, New Zealand.

· 9.15pm – Fireworks as Queen Mary 2 sails past Queen Victoria at Athol Buoy.

· 11pm – Queen Victoria sails from Athol Buoy en route to Akaroa, New Zealand.

Previous Cunard Royal Rendezvous in Sydney

· February 20, 2007 – Sydney was brought to a standstill for the city's first official Cunard Royal Rendezvous when Queen Mary 2 made her maiden visit to Australia, meeting with QE2 in Sydney Harbour.

· February 24, 2008 – The newly launched Queen Victoria made her first visit to Sydney for a Royal Rendezvous with QE2, which was making her final call to the city before she retired from the Cunard fleet.

· February 22-23, 2011 – Queen Mary 2 and the newly launched Queen Elizabeth visited Sydney for the city's third Royal Rendezvous.

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Session to help Gladstone city get ready for cruises

GET the party started when Carnival Australia comes to town with an information session on the future of cruise liners in Gladstone.

Gladstone Area Promotion and Development Ltd and Carnival Australia will present on the P&O Cruise Liners as part of a business leaders' luncheon.

P&O Cruises announced in August that Gladstone would be a port of call for up to 10,000 passengers a year from 2016, with ships to dock at Auckland Point.

The luncheon is presented by GAPDL in partnership with Gladstone Regional Council and Gladstone Ports Corporation.

GAPDL chief executive Glenn Churchill will give an insight on destination tourism development and regional development priority projects, while product manager Sarah Budd and director Michael Mihajlov will talk for Carnival Australia.

The luncheon will be followed by an information session with a question and answer session, giving people an opportunity to expand further on individual and business opportunities/ learnings, and any other creative discussion points to ensure we are "Region Ready".

The luncheon will be held at the Oaks Grand Gladstone on Tuesday, October 21, from 11.30am-2pm.

Source: http://www.gladstoneobserver.com.au/news/liners-on-the-horizon/2413873/

Cruise Season Begins

For the first time Australian’s who chose to spend their holidays cruising has surpassed North America taking Australian to No 1 in the world for cruises per capita.

A record 833,348 Australians took a cruise last year and it is predicted to rise to one million by 2016 as more cruising ships enter Australian waters.*

As Sydney is a key departure point for many cruises, why worry about trains being delayed, traffic jams, problem of where to park the car, feeling stressed to the max before even arriving at the ship when you can stay in central Sydney in luxury apartments.

Metro Apartments Darling Harbour will be offering passengers pre and post cruise stays with a ten per cent discount on all packages and best available rates for the length of their stay. This includes a bottle of sparkling Australian wine and chocolates on arrival.

With cruises departing from the International Passenger Terminal in Circular Quay and from the White Bay terminal in Rozelle, both are just a short taxi trip from the Apartments to the terminals.

Situated in the heart of Sydney directly across from Darling Harbour, Metro Apartments Darling Harbour is an ideal location to explore some of the city before cruising.

Nearby is King Street Wharf and Cockle Bay where you can enjoy a cocktail in one of the many boutique bars, a meal in one of many harbourside restaurants to suit everyone’s budget or stroll across the footbridge to try your luck at The Star Casino.

Metro Apartments Darling Harbour are priced to be affordable for mid-week and weekend getaways starting from $199.00.

A selection of 32 recently renovated loft-style one-bedroom apartments, each with a queen sized bed and sofa bed, offer all the comforts of a ‘home away from home’ with the convenience of a perfect city location. Each apartment is appointed with a fully-equipped kitchen, washing machine, dryer and ironing facilities, air conditioning and heating.

To make a reservation, visit www.metrohotels.com and enter the code CRUISE to be entitled to the 10% discount or call the toll free reservations on 1800 114 321.

View details of Cruise Sydney Accommodation Package at Metro Apartments on Darling Harbour

* Source news.com.au

Baby Prince George Turns One

The future king of England takes his first steps to mark his first birthday.

Prince George tried to grab a blue morpho butterfly during a pre-birthday trip to the Natural History Museum.

Mum and dad have asked the public not to send any gifts as the little prince has already received 4,000 presents since he was born.

The too-cute toddler plays with a variety of toys while on a play date during the royals visit to a New Zealand daycare centre.

Source: http://www.9news.com.au/

Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Prince William, Kate and baby George arrive in Sydney - April 2014

Duke and Duchess of Cambridge - Prince William, Kate Middleton and baby Prince George arrive in Sydney Australia for a ten day tour.

Hundreds of eager fans waited hours to get a glimpse of the royal family, as they posed in front of the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Kate wowed the crowd in a stunning Roksanda Ilincic canary yellow dress. William wore a blue suit and claret tie.

Carried off an Air Force jet by his mother, a line-up of dignitaries, including the country's Prime Minister Tony Abbott, couldn't wait to coo over the third in line to the throne.

WANTED: Nanny for Prince George for Tour Down Under

THE Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are on the lookout for a nanny to look after baby George on their trip to New Zealand and Australia in April, Britain's Daily Mail newspaper has reported.

Proud mum and dad William and Kate, with their baby Prince George

The royal couple's current nanny, Jessie Webb - who looked after Prince William when he was a child and came out of retirement to tend George - has reached the end of her contract.

Mrs Webb, 71, took the job on the condition that she would work only for three months, the newspaper reported. "Mrs Webb is still at Kensington Palace and William and Kate are keen to retain her services, but they are discreetly looking for extra help for the month-long trip this spring," the paper said.


The Duke and Duchess did not hire a maternity nurse after George's birth last July. Instead the couple moved into the Middleton family home in Berkshire so that Kate's mother, Carole, could help out.

When they moved to Kensington Palace last September, they persuaded Mrs Webb to join their household.

It had been rumoured that Carole Middleton could join the tour Downunder to help look after George. However, aides insist that will not be the case and the couple will instead hire a new nanny.

Prospective candidates would need to be experienced, discreet, trained in paediatric first aid and demonstrate an ability to cope in stressful situations, Janine Bayley of nanny recruitment agency Rock mybaby.co.nz said.

"We have placed nannies and babysitters for some high profile families including Hollywood actors while visiting in New Zealand," Mrs Bayley said. "We find their expectations just the same as other families, although we do encourage the nannies not to become star struck.

"At the end of the day, parents want someone who is responsive to their child's needs, able to provide a quality, educational environment and someone who knows how to have fun. Regardless of where we are in society, we just want the very best for our children."

The royal entourage may include a housekeeper and Kate's personal hairdresser, Amanda Cook Tucker.

Royal Nannying: Five keys to success

• Mum is the word. Discretion will be vital as the ravenous media look to exploit any means to find fresh angles on the visit. The nanny should be occasionally seen, but certainly never heard.
• Sleep is over-rated. With near constant travel and a packed diary of obligations to fulfil, the royal couple will be constantly on the move. The nanny can expect to be on call 24/7.
• Say cheese. Photo ops for baby George will be par for the course and there's every chance the nanny will get caught in the lens at some point. A constant smile would be a good idea.
• Keep calm and carry on. George soils his nappy while meeting John Key? No drama. It's just another day at the office. Hand me the wipes.
• A way with children. It may seem obvious, but if wee George isn't taken with his nanny that is going to be one long trip from Kensington Palace and back.

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Royal couple, WILLIAM AND CATHERINE TOUCH DOWN IN SYDNEY for the first time

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrive just in time to experience an Australian Christmas with Her Majesty, the Queen

Sydney, Thursday 19 December: Today, Madame Tussauds Sydney experienced a truly noble event. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, William and Catherine wax figures touched down in Sydney for the first time as husband and wife. William and Catherine are now alongside Her Majesty, the Queen in a Christmas-theme surrounding at Madame Tussauds Sydney where they will spend their first Australian Christmas together.

Dressed to perfection, Catherine is wearing one of her most iconic gowns – a replica of her gorgeous floor-length lace Alice Temperley evening dress. Catherine is elegantly accessorised with a black velvet clutch featuring an oversized bow by Mascaró that she donned for the London premier of “War Horse”. Not to be outdone, William is dressed in a beautiful custom-made tuxedo by his tailor Gieves & Hawkes, with matching gold cufflinks, black Oxford brogues  and a replica Omega Seamaster watch.

“We are absolutely thrilled to be bestowed this Royal visit. We have followed the Royal family very closely in the past, from their spectacular wedding in 2011 to the recent birth of Prince George so we welcome with joy the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge wax figures to the Sydney attraction. They are one of the best-loved couples in the world and visitors now have the incredible opportunity to experience a truly royal visit,” commented Quinn Clarke, General Manager, Madame Tussauds Sydney.

The expertly crafted wax figures were created with extensive involvement and support from the Royal couple. Every stage of the creation process was shared with William and Catherine, reflecting the close, longstanding relationship between Madame Tussauds and the British Royal family. Each wax figure took over 800 hours and 60 Madame Tussauds artists to complete. Catherine’s trade mark loose-waves hairstyle took over six weeks alone to create as each hair was individually inserted by hand.

The William and Catherine wax figures will be in Sydney until 13 March 2014, where visitors will have the once-in-a-life-time chance to get up close to one of the most famous Royal couples before they continue on their world tour to Prague.