World’s Most Famous Liner Makes Final Visit to NZ
Tuesday, 19 February 2008, 11:07 am
Press Release: Cunard Line
MEDIA RELEASE
February 19, 2008
World’s Most Famous Liner Makes Final Visit to New Zealand This Week
The world’s most famous ocean liner, Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth 2, will
make her last ever visit to New Zealand on Thursday (February 21) when
she calls at Auckland as part of her final world voyage.
The legendary QE2 will berth at Princes Wharf around 8am and depart
at 10pm, bound for Sydney.
Her history-making final visit comes 30 years after her inaugural
call to Auckland on February 14, 1978, and will be her 22nd call to the
city since her launch in 1967.
The arrival falls midway through the liner’s 103-night voyage - South
America, Pacific and Orient odyssey.
From Auckland, QE2 will sail to Sydney, arriving on Sunday February
24 for a history-making Royal Rendezvous in Sydney Harbour with her
younger sister, the new Queen Victoria, which visited Auckland last
Friday.
Since her launch 41 years ago, QE2 has pampered 2.5 million guests
and hundreds of famous faces. Celebrities who have travelled on this
celebrated liner include Nelson Mandela, Bob Hawke, George W. Bush, Rod
Stewart, David Bowie, George Harrison, Buzz Aldrin, and of course, Queen
Elizabeth II.
In her history, QE2 has sailed 5.6 million nautical miles – more than
any ship in history. This is equivalent to circumnavigating the earth
more than 258 times.
The 70,327-tonne liner is still the fastest ocean liner in the world,
capable of a top speed of 32.5 knots or 60km/h and can also sail
backwards faster than most ships sail forward (19 knots or 35km/h).
Celebrated for her gracious features and attentive white-gloved
service, QE2 carries up to 1778 guests and 1016 crew and boasts seven
restaurants, an indoor and outdoor pool, the world’s only seagoing
synagogue and a Harrods boutique.
QE2 will leave the Cunard fleet in November this year to become a
first-class tourist attraction in Dubai.
Images are available for downloading at www.cunardimages.com login –
press password - guyonda
ENDS |
