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A huge fireworks display over Sydney Harbour on December 23 will welcome to Australia the biggest and youngest cruise liner ever to sail Down Under – Sapphire Princess.
More than 2½ times bigger than the Titanic and towering four metres higher than the road deck of the Harbour Bridge, the 116,000-ton Sapphire Princess will sail on her first cruise from Australia at 9pm on December 23 accompanied by a 10-minute fireworks show over her berth at Circular Quay.
The spectacular display, hosted by P&O Cruises and Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority, is expected to draw thousands of spectators and Christmas shoppers. Huge crowds turned out in November last year to witness the first departure of Sapphire Princess’ smaller sister, the 109,000-ton Star Princess.
Just six months old, Sapphire Princess will dock at Sydney’s Circular Quay by 6am on December 23 at the start of a sell-out three-month season of cruises between Australia and New Zealand.
The 2700-passenger Sapphire Princess will carry 22,000 passengers, including 4600 Australians, during her eight cruises here.
Sporting jet-engine-style pods on her funnel and a Star Trek-like navigation bridge, the 18-storey megaliner is one of the largest moving objects ever built and is also one of the world’s most environmentally-friendly liners with a new high-tech diesel and gas pod propulsion system.
Part of the US-based Princess Cruises’ fleet, a sister line to P&O Cruises Australia, Sapphire Princess will dock in Sydney four times during her season here and make six visits to both Melbourne (first call on Christmas Day) and Hobart (first on December 27). She will also visit Brisbane (March 9), the Whitsundays (March 11), Cairns (March 12) and Darwin (March 15).
Sapphire Princess boasts five pools, nine restaurants and cafes, two nightclubs including one overhanging the ship, a wedding chapel, eight jacuzzis, a mini golf course, luxury spa sanctuary, 13 bars and lounges, the biggest internet café at sea and 750 cabins with private balconies.
While Sapphire’s program in Australia has sold out, bookings have opened for the 2005/06 summer season here of Sapphire Princess’ twin sister, Diamond Princess. Call P&O Cruises Australia on 132 469, or see a travel agent.