Queen Mary 2 arriving at Station Pier. Photo submitted by website reader Chris Bozikas. Source: News Corp Australia
ONE of the largest cruise ships ever to visit Melbourne, the Queen Mary 2, has caused a stir as locals tried to wrangle their way aboard without buying a ticket.
The phones at the Port of Melbourne have been running hot, as many people ask whether they can have a stickybeak aboard, even though they haven’t paid for the privilege.
Queen Mary II leaves Melbourne, Station Pier 6:30pm Source: News Corp Australia
A 23-night return trip around Australia from Melbourne was priced at $6799 per person while a 58-night voyage from Melbourne to Southampton, England, in a Princess Suite costs $43,029 per person.
“A vessel like the Queen Mary 2 always captures the public imagination,” Port of Melbourne spokesman Peter Harry said of the ship, due to set sail for Sydney at 6pm this evening.
“There have been lots of queries today about people wanting to go on, but pretty much the only way to get on is to buy a ticket.”
HOW THE QUEEN MARY 2 MEASURES UP
Mr Harry himself had taken 20 calls from those inquiring about the 151,400-tonne ship.
The $800 million, 294m long ocean liner arrived in Melbourne this morning and was departing in the evening, with 400 passengers disembarking and another 400 getting on.
For those who couldn’t make it down to the port, the ship will return to Melbourne on March 12 as it continues to cruise around Australia.
The Queen Mary 2, one of the largest ships to arrive at Station Pier, last visited in March 2012.
“Station Pier is the busiest it’s ever been in over 150 years of operation,” Mr Harry said.
“We’ve seen rapid growth in the cruise tourism industry, with around 200,000 jumping on ships this season.”
Queen Mary 2. Picture submitted by Herald Sun web reader Chris Bozikas. Source: News Corp Australia
Queen Mary 2 before docking at Station Pier. Picture: Nicole Garmston Source: News Corp Australia
Queen Mary 2 was designed by British naval architects but built in France. Picture: Nicole Garmston Source: News Corp Australia
Queen Mary 2 is 345m long. The pitch at the MCG is 171m by 146m. Picture: Nicole Garmston Source: News Corp Australia
Queen Mary 2 has 15 restaurants and bars — and five swimming pools. Picture: Nicole Garmston Source: News Corp Australia
It also has a casino, a ballroom and the first planetarium at sea. Picture: Nicole Garmston Source: News Corp Australia
Spectators get up close to the Queen Mary 2 — which stretches 60m above the waterline — as it arrives in Melbourne. Pic. Nicole Garmston Source: News Corp Australia
Passengers give a salute to Australia as they arrive in Melbourne. Picture: Nicole Garmston Source: News Corp Australia
The morning sun catches the Queen Mary 2 and its luxury accommodation suites. It can carry 2620 passengers. Pic. Nicole Garmston Source: News Corp Australia
Queen Mary 2 arrives has 17 decks. Picture: Nicole Garmston Source: News Corp Australia
Queen Mary 2 is the largest ocean liner in the world, as opposed to cruise ship. Picture: Nicole Garmston Source: News Corp Australia
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