Spectacular
Historic Cunard Royal Rendezvous
Between Queen Victoria and QE2
Marks
Queen Victoria's Maiden Call and QE2's Final Visit to 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 Rendezvous™ 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.
About Cunard Line
Cunard Line, operator of the luxury ocean liners Queen
Mary 2, QE2 and Queen Victoria,
has long been synonymous with the quest for new discoveries
and the epitome of British refinement since the company's first
paddle-wheeled steamer, Britannia, crossed the Atlantic in 1840.
Cunard voyages bring together like-minded travelers who relish
the Cunard hallmarks of impeccable White Star Service™,
fine dining, sophisticated adventure, the legacy of historic
voyages and transatlantic travel.
Cunard
Line is a proud member of World's Leading Cruise Lines. The
exclusive alliance also includes Carnival Cruise Lines,
Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Costa Cruises and
The Yachts of Seabourn. Sharing a passion to please
each guest, and a commitment to quality and value, member lines
appeal to a wide range of lifestyles and budgets. Together they
offer exciting and enriching cruise vacations to the world's
most desirable destinations.
http://www.cunard.com/