Ajani
Charter Member
Number of posts : 173
Age : 36
Location : PRIOR LAKE, MN 55372
Reputation : 4
Points : 10
Registration date : 2007-08-07
 | Subject: Cunard News  Wed Feb 27, 2008 8:23 pm | |
| Thought you guys might enjoy this:   | Spectacular Historic Cunard Royal Rendezvous in Sydney | | | 
Valencia, CA - February 24, 2008 -
Thousands of "Sydneysiders" turned out to view the much-anticipated,
historic meeting of two of the world's most glamorous ocean liners in
Sydney Harbour - Cunard Line's new Queen Victoria and legendary QE2 -
as they met during their respective World Cruises. The historic Royal
RendezvousTM marked the only time that the two ocean liners will ever
meet in Sydney as this is QE2's 29th and final visit to the city,
arriving 30 years to the day since her 1978 maiden visit to Sydney.
QE2's
call to Sydney is part of her final world voyage, while Queen Victoria
is making her first visit as part of her maiden world voyage.
QE2
sailed past Queen Victoria in a history-making Royal Rendezvous off
Fort Denison. The passing of the two ships occurred in the early
evening - Sydney time - with the ships sounding their whistles as they
sailed by each other off Fort Denison. Queen Victoria then headed to
Brisbane, while QE2 berthed at Circular Quay.
The longest serving
Cunard liner in history, QE2 will leave the Cunard fleet in November
this year to become a first-class tourist destination in Dubai.
Visiting
Sydney for the Rendezvous, Cunard President and Managing Director Carol
Marlow described QE2 as one of the icons of the 20th century. "She's an
amazing liner that has captured the world's imagination and truly
symbolized the romance and glamour of ocean travel for more than four
decades," Ms Marlow said.
"Sydney has been her most frequent
port of call in Australia over the years so we're thrilled that it's
the setting for this magnificent Royal Rendezvous on her final visit
today. It's a fantastic way to celebrate three great milestones - Queen
Victoria's maiden world voyage and maiden call to Sydney and QE2's
final world voyage - and to pay tribute to one of the most wonderful
ways to travel," added Marlow.
Only two months old, the
luxurious 90,000-ton Queen Victoria debuted in Sydney yesterday, with
her guests enjoying an overnight stay in preparation for the evening
spectacular. The new Cunard Queen was named in Southampton on December
10, 2007 by Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall in the Presence
of His Royal Highness Prince Charles, The Prince of Wales.
The
Royal Rendezvous of the two Queens comes almost a year to the day since
QE2 met her sister Queen Mary 2 in Sydney Harbour in an event that drew
tens of thousands of spectators to the foreshore.
Next year,
Sydney will be visited by Queen Victoria (Feb 19-20, 2009) and her
magnificent sister, Cunard's flagship Queen Mary 2 (Feb 26, 2009), both
sailing on their second world voyages. | | | | Date Posted: 2/25/2008 |
| |
|
