Friday, February 22, 2008

Down Under: Another Cunard Royal Rendevous

Cunard could bring Sydney to a standstill this weekend when its ocean liners Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth 2 call at the city. The Royal Rendezvous follows just one year after a meeeting of QE2 and Queen Mary 2 enthralled the city in February 2007. Queen Victoria will make her maiden call at the city on Saturday, Feb 23. Her famous sister, QE2, arrives the next day. Currently on her farewell World Cruise, QE2 will be making her 29th and final call at the port exactly 30 years after she made her first call there on February 24, 1978.

The highlight of these historic visits will occur at 6:00pm (local time) on Sunday, Feb 24 when both ships will leave their berths (Queen Victoria from Circular Quay and QE2 from Garden Island) and head for a historic sail past at approximately 6:30pm. Each will pass on either side of Fort Denison and will greet each other with a "Whistle Salute," which will be heard over 10 miles away. This sail past will acknowledge the first and last time these two Cunard Queens will meet in Australian waters. QE2 will then make her way to Circular Quay where she will remain until her final departure from Sydney on Monday, Feb 25.

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