Auckland Welcomes Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 Today

The largest ship ever to visit New Zealand, Cunard’s magnificent Queen Mary 2, is expected to turn heads today when she call at Auckland as part of her third world voyage.

In a first, New Zealand designer Trelise Cooper will parade a selection from her upcoming 2011 Summer Collections poolside on the decks of the grand ocean liner, while she is in port.

Ann Sherry, CEO of Carnival Australia, which operates Cunard in New Zealand, said the world’s grandest ocean liner would be the perfect backdrop for one of NZ’s most celebrated designers.

“Cunard loves to create history-making moments so we were thrilled to support NZ talent by offering a remarkable international stage to exhibit Trelise’s collection,” Ms Sherry said.

Trelise Cooper said it was an honour to be asked to show her range onboard the ocean liner.

“What a privilege to be the first designer to present such a show in New Zealand waters,” Ms Cooper said.

Now halfway through her 101-day world voyage, Queen Mary 2 berthed at Jellicoe Wharf this morning and will depart at 8pm for her first visit to the Bay of Islands tomorrow.

Reaching 62 metres high and measuring 345m long, the 151,400-tonne Queen Mary 2 is too large to dock at Princes Wharf.

The stately ocean liner can carry up to 2620 guests, with tomorrow’s visit set to pour more than $500,000 into Auckland’s economy through passenger and crew spending and port charges.

The magnificent Queen Mary 2 will return to Auckland on her fourth world voyage next year, with her brand new sister, the elegant Queen Elizabeth, also to visit Auckland on her maiden world voyage in February 2011.

Fares on Queen Mary 2’s 2011 world voyage start from $5629 for an 18-night sailing from Auckland to Hong Kong.

Launched in 2004 and renowned for her elegance and refinement, Queen Mary 2 has created a new golden age of ocean liner travel. She boasts 10 restaurants, five pools, the biggest ballroom at sea, the largest library at sea and the world’s first floating planetarium.

More than 16,000 meals are consumed each day aboard Queen Mary 2 including 73kg of lobster and 3.3kg of Russian caviar along with 344 bottles of champagne and 6000 cups of tea. Annual tea consumption aboard Queen Mary 2 would fill an Olympic-size swimming pool.

The ship’s huge 2.1 metre-long whistles – one an original whistle from the first Queen Mary – can be heard 16 kilometres away.

ENDS

© Scoop Media