Sydney To Make History As Two Cruise Ships Dock At Circular Quay At The Same Time.

Sydney is the gateway to cruising to some of the world’s most popular destinations. You can be a part of a World cruise from this wonderful city of ours. It still goes to show that it is voted as the number one port for visitors and even crew on board the cruise ships and Ocean Liners that visit our stunning harbour with the harbour bridge and the Opera house as the background.

It is history in the making to have two ships berthed at Circular Quay at the same time, the Azamara Quest at 180 metres long and Ponant’s Le Soleal at 142 metres long. Both of these ships will be berthed bow to stern while at the pier. Then there is one more to be berthed at White Bay 4 Seabourn Odessey and one at White Bay cruise terminal Silver Whisper.

While some calling it a historic moment, there are others who say that it shows the peak – season down fall of Sydney harbour. To me having these four boutique cruise ships from four different cruise lines represents the major growth of the Australian Cruise Industry and its popularity which is here to stay.

Sydney’s great harbour will be on display, but Sydney in general as a popular destination will be on full display.

Yes, the reason why it is possible due to the much smaller sizes of the two ships compared to many which dock there, but I still believe that it is a great way to showcase Sydney. Both ships will be bringing a combined total of just over 1,000 people onshore for the day.

Le Soleal is one of the youngest ships in the world and will be making her maiden visit to Sydney, her maiden voyage was on the 1^st of July 2013 making her 2 years 7 months old. While the 180-metre long Azamara Quest is making her second call to the city as part of her inaugural season in Australia.  

Cruise Lines International Association Commercial Director Brett Jardine said the visit by four luxury ships on the one day was a first for Sydney and reflected Australia’s growing popularity as a cruise destination.

“Between them these four beautiful ships will bring thousands of high-end visitors to our city – visitors who will be busy exploring Sydney and enjoying plenty of shopping and touring as they take in the sights, which is great news for the local economy,” Mr Jardine said.

The visits come during Sydney’s busiest ever cruise month, with 27 different ships making an extraordinary 45 calls to Sydney during February. The wave of activity will continue into March, when 17 ships will make 33 calls to the harbour city in just 30 days.

Mr Jardine said the historic dual berthing at the Overseas Passenger Terminal followed the recent upgrade of cruise facilities at Circular Quay by the Port Authority of NSW including the refurbishment of the terminal and the installation of a new mooring dolphin at the northern end of the wharf

Sydneysiders will be able to watch Le Soleal berth beside Azamara Quest on Saturday morning (Feb 13), with the boutique ship scheduled to arrive into the Harbour about 9.30am, docking at the OPT by 10am.

Le Soleal’s visit comes at the end of a five-day cruise from Auckland. Most of the 200 guests onboard will disembark in the morning, making way for new guests who will board during the day to sail on a nine-night sell-out cruise to Cairns from Sydney.

Meanwhile Azamara Quest will berth at the OPT at 8pm on Friday, the final night of her 13-night New Zealand cruise from Auckland. She will overnight at the terminal, before departing at 5.30pm on Saturday on a 17-night East Coast Australia and Bali cruise.

Mr Jardine said more than one million Australians now take a cruise every year, making the nation the fourth largest passenger source market in the world. In total, 38 ships from CLIA member cruise lines will sail in Australian waters this summer, the biggest summer season for the nation yet.

Information supplied by: Cruise Lines International Association Of Australasia. [ CLIA ]

Cruise The Seas Travel And Media, Cruising Australia The HOME Of Australian Cruising!