In a world-first, more than 120 crew aboard Cunard Line’s flagship Queen Mary 2 gathered together on the ship’s bow in Sydney today for a dramatic portrait marking the legendary liner’s 10th birthday.
The history-making photo captured crew from every one of the liner’s myriad staff roles – from gentlemen dance hosts and housekeepers to the kennel master and florist – to create an iconic image of Queen Mary 2’s luxury life at sea.
Props featured in the shoot ranged from two dogs for the on board kennel, to a double bass and a harp for the liner’s musicians, and a large ice carving for the resident ice carver.
Months in the making, the historic image was organized in Australia to symbolize the strong link between Queen Mary 2 and Australia while commemorating the liner’s 10th birthday.
Since her memorable first visit to Sydney in February 2007, when eager spectators gridlocked the city and brought traffic to a halt, Queen Mary 2 has become a firm favorite with Australians, turning heads wherever she sails. Her visit to Sydney today comes at the start of her second circumnavigation of the country from the city, a 23-night round trip voyage which will see her visit seven different ports around the nation.
“This historic photo shoot was a grand way to celebrate Queen Mary 2’s 10th birthday and to honour the unsung heroes who make the world’s most famous ocean liner tick,” said Captain Kevin Oprey, master of Queen Mary 2.“Australia has become Queen Mary 2’s home away from home and I can’t think of anywhere more special than Sydney to celebrate her tenth birthday and in such spectacular fashion.”
“Australia has embraced Queen Mary 2, with Australians now ranking as the fourth largest source of guests for the cruise line,” noted Angus Struthers, marketing director for Cunard Line, who was in Sydney for the historic event. “Queen Mary 2 is an amazing liner with a lot of wonderful features and Australians really know how to enjoy them all – from our ballroom and planetarium, through to our fine-dining restaurants and Veuve Cliquot Champagne bar.”
Queen Mary 2 has visited Australia seven times. Today’s visit to Sydney is her ninth visit to the city, having called there twice in 2012 during her maiden circumnavigation of the country, and twice in 2013 at the beginning and end of her first circumnavigation of New Zealand.
At 151,400 tonnes with 1310 staterooms, a soaring six-storey Grand Lobby, the largest ballroom and library at sea, the three-story 1,347-seat Britannia Restaurant and Illuminations, the first planetarium at sea, Queen Mary 2 remains unchallenged as the world’s most famous passenger ship in operation today.
In her ten years at sea, Queen Mary 2 has:
- Sailed the equivalent of three times to the moon and back
- Served more than 58 million meals, enough to feed the combined population of Sydney, Hong Kong, Cape Town, Rio and Dubai for an entire weekend
- Looked after tea lovers with 21.9 million cups of tea, enough to fill three Olympic swimming pools
- Baked 2.7 million scones, which if stacked on top of each other would reach a soaring 80km in height.
VIDEO: The making of Queen Mary 2’s 10th Birthday Portrait in Sydney
For more information about Queen Mary 2 and to book a voyage, contact your Travel Agent, call Cunard toll-free at 1-800-728-6273, or visit www.cunard.com
