Queens encore in Sydney in 2008
With the spectacular rendezvous of the massive Cunard liners Queen Mary 2 and Queen Elizabeth 2 in Sydney Harbour still fresh in our minds, Cunard announced that the event will repeated next year with QE2 this time to be joined by the youngest cruise liner ever to visit Australia, the brand new Cunard superliner Queen Victoria.
The Queen Victoria [Pictured recently floating out of her construction dock] will be launched in the UK in December. The 90,000-ton Victoria will meet the classic 70,327-ton QE2 in Sydney Harbour on February 24, 2008, creating a similar spectacle to the recent meeting of QE2 and Queen Mary 2.
Launched 40 years ago this year, the world’s most famous liner, QE2, docked at Circular Quay on February 20 after greeting her big sister berthed at the Garden Island naval base with a spectacular fireworks display accompanying the royal rendezvous before Queen Mary 2 sailed for Hong Kong at 11pm.
QE2 [Pictured below on Sydney harbour this week] will depart Sydney for Brisbane at 6.30pm today after a special two-night stay as part of her 25th Silver Jubilee world cruise.
A long-standing icon of ocean travel, QE2 showed her true high speed pedigree as the world’s fastest merchant ship, ‘sprinting’ from Melbourne to Sydney in just 25 hours to make her important date with Queen Mary 2 on February 20.
Known by enthusiasts as the ‘greyhound of the seas’, QE2 averaged 28 knots or
52 km/h (FYI- the speed of fast speedboat!) for her overnight dash to Sydney, with most ships taking two nights to sail the distance.
Cunard Line President Carol Marlow, picture right visiting Sydney from the UK for the meeting of the Queens, confirmed Cunard would stage a new royal rendezvous on Sydney Harbour in 2008 starring the line’s oldest and youngest Queens, adding, “At Cunard, we like to create grand spectacles for our grand liners and what better stage than Sydney Harbour for a meeting of the world’s most famous ocean liners.”
“Queen Victoria [Pictured left in an artists impression] will be just two months old when she greets QE2 here in Sydney next February, and the success of yesterday’s events tell us that next year’s meeting of the Queens will be just as spectacular.”
The launch of Queen Victoria this December will also mark the first time three Cunard Queens will be in service simultaneously in the line’s 168-year history. She is also named after the longest serving monarch in British history, who reigned when Cunard was formed in 1839, with Queen Victoria also visiting Melbourne on February 21, 2008, Brisbane on February 26 and Port Douglas on February 29 next year.
Report by The Mole
John Alwyn-Jones
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Airbnb eyes a loyalty program but details remain under wraps
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Major rail disruptions around and in Berlin until early 2026