One of the world’s largest moving objects, the luxury megaliner Sapphire Princess, arrived in Melbourne today, sailing straight into the history books as the biggest and newest cruise ship ever to visit the city.
More than 2½ times bigger than the Titanic, 120m longer than the MCG oval and as big as 300 jumbo jets, the 116,000-ton Sapphire Princess docked at Port Melbourne’s Station Pier about 7am for a special Christmas Day visit and will sail for Hobart at 6pm.
Today’s visit by the six-month-old ship follows the arrival in November last year of Sapphire’s ‘smaller’ sister, the 109,000-ton Star Princess which drew huge crowds to Port Melbourne and caused traffic chaos.
Sapphire Princess’ visit is the first of six to Melbourne this summer as part of a sell-out three month season of cruises between Australia and New Zealand that will see 22,000 passengers, including 4500 Australians, sail on the vessel in Australasian waters. The 18-storey ship will visit Melbourne again on January 16 and 20, February 9 and 13 and March 5.
Each visit to Melbourne will generate more than $500,000 for the local economy through passenger and crew spending, stores and port fees.
Operated by P&O Cruises’ US-based sister line, Princess Cruises, Sapphire Princess carries 3800 passengers and crew and took three million hours, 281,000 litres of paint and 3000km of wiring to build.
Sporting a Star Trek-like bridge and jet-engine-style pods on her funnel, Sapphire Princess is dubbed the ‘clean machine’ because of the revolutionary dual diesel and gas propulsion system that makes her one of the world’s most environmentally friendly liners.
P&O Cruises Australia Managing Director Gavin Smith said the record-breaking visit by Sapphire Princess underlined the rapid growth of cruising worldwide.
“Cruising is booming. In fact it’s growing three times faster than the general travel industry with a record 11 million people around the globe taking a cruise this year,” said Mr Smith.
“Cruising is now a huge $40 billion industry and, as the size of Sapphire Princess shows, it’s clearly getting bigger. Here in Australia we doubled the size of the local cruise market this year with the introduction of a second year-round cruise ship on the east coast. Cruising is exciting, romantic, safe, hassle-free and with all main meals and entertainment included, it represents excellent value for money. Fares on Sapphire Princess’ 12-night voyages between Sydney and Auckland were available from A$2395 per person or just $200 a day ”
Sapphire Princess boasts five pools, eight jacuzzis, nine restaurants and cafes, a wedding chapel with a live webcam, a mini golf course, 13 bars and lounges, the biggest internet centre at sea, two nightclubs including one overhanging the ship, a luxury spa sanctuary and 1337 cabins – 750 of them with their private balcony.
Mr Smith announced that Sapphire Princess’ twin sister, Diamond Princess, would visit Australia for a season of cruises from January-April, 2006. Bookings are available via travel agents and P&O Cruises Australia on 132 469.