The countdown to the Christmas arrival of the biggest and newest cruise ship ever to sail to Australia has begun, with the US christening of the megaliner Sapphire Princess today.
One of the first ‘passengers’ aboard the sparkling new ship was the world’s largest carved sapphire, the 13kg, football-sized ‘Millennium Sapphire’. Worth hundreds of millions of dollars and adorned with images celebrating human achievements, the rare 61,500 carat treasure was on display aboard Sapphire Princess as she was christened in the ‘Emerald City’ of Seattle today.
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The first lady of Alaska, Nancy Murkowski – wife of Alaskan Governor Frank Murkowski – became Sapphire Princess’ godmother when she formally launched the huge ship ahead of her debut Alaska season starting on June 13.
The 116,000-ton Sapphire Princess will rewrite the history books when she arrives in Sydney on December 23 this year as the largest and youngest liner ever to sail to Australia.
Seven thousand tons bigger than the Star Princess, which drew huge crowds around Australia when she spent last summer here, the 2700-passenger Sapphire Princess will offer a series of cruises between Australia and New Zealand until March 2005 when she will sail back to her home port of Seattle via Asia.
During her season here, Sapphire Princess will dock in Sydney four times and make six visits to both Melbourne (first call this 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 is operated by US-based Princess Cruises – a sister line to P&O Cruises.
“Cruising is booming around the world,” said P&O Cruises Australia Managing Director Gavin Smith. “It’s the fastest growing sector of the travel industry and the increasing size of ships visiting Australia shows that our own cruise industry just keeps getting bigger.
“If Australians thought Star Princess was an amazing sight last summer, then wait till they see Sapphire Princess this summer. She is bigger, wider, taller, younger and more spacious and technologically advanced than Star Princess and is certain to attract even more attention.”
Sapphire Princess boasts five pools, nine restaurants and cafes, eight jacuzzis, a mini golf course, wedding chapel, luxury spa sanctuary, two nightclubs, 13 bars and lounges including a unique wake-view bar at the rear of the ship and the biggest internet café at sea. She will also feature a new environmentally friendly gas turbine in her funnel and 750 cabins with their own private balcony.
Cruises on Sapphire Princess are already heavily booked but cabins on selected cruises are still available including a 12-night voyage from Auckland to Sydney on January 30, 2005, which is available from A$2587 per person including main meals and entertainment. *Subject to availability/conditions apply. Bookings are available via travel agents, P&O Cruises on 132 469 or visit www.pocruises.com.au.