Final call to Sydney (2008)

[Chris]

After nearly a year I recently stumbled upon these images of QE2 docking at Garden Island in Sydney - they make for interesting viewing.

Note: link to images broken

[Andy F]

A great collection & thanks for sharing them with us Chris

[Chris]

No worries, I find it quite odd that anyone could be swimming when QE2 was there to look at / photograph / admire 

[hollihedge]

Would have loved to have sailed to Sydney on her.  I gather the welcome there was spectacular.

[Chris]

This image from the Cunard US Website says it all:


Sydney loved QE2... Sydney loves QM2 and QV too but there was a real special feeling between the city and QE2. The same is for all Australian cities. Australians love the Cunard ships - QE2 was so very at home in Sydney - the Harbour Bridge, the Opera House and QE2 - what could be more magnificent?

[hollihedge]

Absolutely stunning photos

[Pia]

Thanks for posting these beautiful photos, Chris! 

Great to see how popular she was in Australia. When we were on board in September most of the sailaways were final farewells and I thought it was very sad that some cities made no effort to show her how much they appreciated her.

[Chris]

Hi Pia - the same happened to me in September - Mediterranean Sojourn -  we had a few Farewell ports and there wasn't much fuss.

However, in Australia / New Zealand it was amazing.

Auckland (I am told) was abuzz with thousands of well wishers in the city to say a final goodbye.
Sydney came to a standstill.
Melbourne had hundreds standing along the banks at midnight.
Adelaide had people on the banks all day reserving their ideal spot. They cheered as the Queen made her departure.
Albany was a maiden call - the whole town was there ... there were signs in the town saying "Albany welcomes QE2 passengers"!
Fremantle was so amazingly busy (last ever Australian port) that they had signage telling people to "expect long delays due to QE2's final departure" - it was amazing.

It was very touching.

[Pia]

Even reading this now is very touching. All of it was what she deserves in my opinion!

[Chris]

Hey Pia - I notice your tag line about Futility

Check out the Wikipedia article about it here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Futility,_or_the_Wreck_of_the_Titan

Some amazing similarities!!

[Pia]

Thanks for the link, Chris, that was interesting reading!

I hadn't heard of the novel until only a few days ago when it turned up in a calendar I was given for Christmas which is about the kind of information you don't normally find, such as Miss Piggy's measurements ( ) or the fact that all U.S. presidents have been only children (though whether that is correct about Obama as well I don't know)...

[Chris]

or the fact that all U.S. presidents have been only children (though whether that is correct about Obama as well I don't know)...

Isn't George W. Bush brother of Jeb Bush?

[Twynkle]

 Pia  (today  "...all US presidents have been only children..."

  John F Kennedy's siblings were Robert F, Edward M and Eunice...

[Andy F]

Hmm, I think what Pia's calendar really meant was that all US Presidents ARE children (can be applied equally to all politicians lol!)

[Andy F]

Have to say that sailing into/out of Sydney is an experience I would like to do someday. An amazing city for sure.  I did the harbour cruise when there last but somehow it wasn't quite the same lol! 

Great shots btw Chris and thanks for posting