As Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth sailed into Sydney today to mark the start of her 125-day homeport season Down Under, it was a moment tinged with irony and coincidence.
It was the day Cunard’s bosses decided to celebrate a century of sailings down under. It was the day King Charles flew into Sydney for the start of his first royal tour as King. It was also the day the cruise industry celebrated a record season, contributing over $8 billion to the Australian economy.
For the Queen Elizabeth, however, it was also the start of her last homeported Australian season. She’s off to America and the Caribbean, like a number of ships next year. She’ll earn more money for Carnival, which owns the brand, from free spending Americans and avoid the high port fees of Australia.
“This will be the last season Queen Elizabeth will spend in Australia and Japan. Unfortunately, she will not be returning here for the next cruise season,” a Cunard official told Cruise Passenger.
But that did not stop the line from celebrating. “This year marks 100 years since Cunard first sailed into Australia waters,” said Matt Gleaves, commercial vice president of North America & Australasia.
Cunard arrived in Australia with the Albania II in December 1924.
The line will continue to visit.
Next year, Cunard’s newest flagship Queen Anne will arrive in Sydney on her inaugural World Voyage in February 2025. Together with Queen Elizabeth, the two Queens will make 65 calls to Australian ports.
And during her season here, Queen Elizabeth will host Cunard’s inaugural Australian Literature Festival at Sea and the Great Australian Culinary Voyage.
But it is the closing of a chapter – along with the end of P&O Australia after 92 years.
The good news is that a number of new lines are now dominating Australia. Cruise Lines International Association Australasia issued their new record figures today, and cited new lines and port calls as being a highlight of the season ahead.
For more information click here.
