Queen Mary 2 adds to Sydney's cruise tally

by Jeni Bone on 8 Mar 2010 Sydney and thousands of onlookers welcomed the 151,400-tonne Queen Mary 2 ocean liner, adding to a tally of 19 cruise ships that have come to the Harbour City, bringing with them more than 40,000 visitors to the tune of AUD$30m.

In 2009-10, 118 ships will visit Sydney and Sydney Ports harbourmaster, Steven Young, must ensure terminal space and berthing go as smoothly as possible.

'We book the cruise ships in up to two years ahead,' he said. 'We'll allocate a terminal and the planning starts from there. The arrival of the Queen Mary 2 is a little bit special because she's a very famous vessel.'

Peter Shanks, the president and managing director of Cunard Line, the owner and operator of Queen Mary 2, said Sydney was one of the most in-demand ports for cruise ships.

'For the customers on the ship, the experience of being in Sydney Harbour can't be beaten anywhere in the world,' he said, mentioning that the Harbour Bridge, Opera House and inner city location are the main drawcards.

The cruise industry is the fastest-growing segment of the tourism industry and recorded steady growth over the past two years, despite global economic ructions.

The Queen Mary 2, which is in Sydney on its maiden 101-day world voyage, features the only planetarium and the largest library at sea. It offers entertainment options such as fashion parades and a lecture by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who joined the vessel for its Durban to Cape Town leg.

An around-the-world ticket costs between $25,029 and $385,369.

Too big to berth at Darling Harbour or Circular Quay, the ship docked at Garden Island at 7pm yesterday and will leave for Adelaide at midnight.