Sydney parties with the Queens

Sydney partied like only Sydney knows how to last night and it was not even New Year’s Eve, with the arrival in the world’s most famous harbour of the two famous nautical Queen’s, giving residents and visitors alike the hardly required excuse to don their finery, get out the picnic kits and champagne, securing a seat on the stunning harbour.

The masses of spectators were there be part of the historic welcome to Sydney of Cunard’s iconic world’s largest ocean liner Queen Mary 2 and her little sister, the stately Queen Elizabeth 2. This was the only time the two ocean liners have met in Sydney since 1941, when their predecessors were serving as troop ships during World War 2.

Thousands lined harbour foreshore vantage points to witness the historic meeting, with the massive QM2 safely secured in Garden Island earlier in the day (The Mole went on board and will provide a report on this fabulous vessel later this week) and after entering the Heads in the early evening in brilliant Sydney sunshine the QE2 seeming to peep around the corner, practically straining in her anticipation of meeting her big, very new sister again and in such a stunning setting and with a welcoming curtain of water fired from cannons on Sydney’s fire tugs!

As they did for the QM2 earlier in the day, masses of small craft formed a welcoming flotilla for the QE2, traditionally a very large vessel in Sydney Harbour now dwarfed by the QM2, as she navigated her way through the welcoming fleet accompanied by Police, Waterways and military vessels, buzzing around moving small boats out of her way.

Both massive vessels seemed to be constrained, wanting to be closer in their greeting each other, with the QM2 tied to the wharf at Garden Island and the QE2, appearing to have her hands firmly held by tugs manoeuvring her safely into her berth at Circular Quay.

Privileged to be watching this historic event from the harbour grandstand location of Cunard’s celebration party on Fort Dennison, in the middle of the harbour, the Mole felt that you could practically touch the QE2 as she slowly greeted her sister, announcing her arrival with a blast from her massive 2.1 metre long signalling horn, audible for 16 kilometres – right across Sydney, to be joined by her sister QM2 also blasting a deafening welcome!

[Pictured left: Sydney Four Seasons GM Stephen Lewis enjoys the party and greets the QE2]

With the QE2 safely tied up at Circular Quay and night approaching, Cunard did Sydney very proud indeed, with a fantastic fireworks display lighting up the harbour, illuminating the flotilla of smaller vessel, dwarfed by the massive ocean liners that were temporary guests in their Sydney home.

The QM2, the largest ship to ever visit Australia, arrived early yesterday morning, docking at Garden Island as she is too big for any other wharf, her 3000 passengers disembarking to explore Sydney and also going on a wide range of other tours, including to the Blue Mountains, before departing Sydney last night at 11:00pm – [after a very early start to see the QM2 arrive through the Heads and a very good party, the Mole was safely tucked up in bed by then – sorry!]

The QE2’s arrival in Sydney, brought a further 2000 high spending passengers to Sydney and she will not be departing until Thursday, with her passengers being offered similar tour programmes to the QM2, with the combined passengers estimated to contribute more than $3 million to the Sydney and NSW economy and Sydney becoming an increasingly popular world port of call for international cruise ships, with thirty eight visits planned for this 2007 season, eight more than last season, with the big sisters joined in port yesterday by the fabulous Silver Cloud and the Van Gogh.

Unfortunate side effects of the arrival of the massive vessels included a full day and evening of total city gridlock with even the media party taking an hour and half to crawl by coach from Circular Quay to Garden Island and taxi drivers complaining that the day had been a financial disaster for them with traffic so bad it was taking massive time to get from point to point across the city.  

Other more general complaints were being levelled at the RTA at apparently not having anticipated the potential traffic situation.

In addition, as one would imagine and as it should be for the arrival of two such globally significant vessels, security to get on board was very tight indeed, but The Mole also noticed diver air pump units located on the wharf at Garden Island with air pipes snaking under the QM2 for divers underneath continuously checking the hull.

The military were also out in force in boats on the harbour and during the evening several blacked out military “Black Hawk” style helicopters circled the city at regular intervals, skimming the vessels, the celebration party, the Harbour Bridge, the Opera House and city buildings– very spooky indeed.

TV helicopters also took over the sky with the Mole counting thirteen helicopters hovering over the harbour presumably chartered by newspapers in addition to the TV helicopters we see normally.

In the meantime, well done indeed to Cunard and also well done Sydney for putting on what can only be described as the best global party and welcome to two great Queens – something we do so well and are part of what makes Sydney one of the most desired destinations to visit and most popular cities to live in…..in the world.

Now, where is that strong black coffee and perhaps a big greasy breakfast, yes that will do it………I am never drinking again……….well, not until later perhaps!!

A special Cunard and Queen Celebration and Party report by The Mole.