Sydney Harbour Hosts Two Big Queens

an aerial shot showing the ships' grand size
the Queen Mary 2 steams past Bradley's Point before docking in Sydney
Queen Elizabeth 2 meets Queen Mary 2 - a sight not seen since the ships' predecessors greeted each other in the Harbour as troop carriers in 1941
A flotilla of boats surround the world's largest ocean liner as she rests near Sydney's CBD

The world's largest ocean liner Queen Mary 2 has sailed into Sydney Harbour for the first time for a rendezvous with her sister ship Queen Elizabeth 2, attracting hundreds of spectators in a dawn flotilla.

Sixty-six years ago the original Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth cruise ships both sailed on Sydney Harbour. But in 1941 they carried troops to World War 2, not passengers paying up to $185,000 per person for an 81-day round-the-world voyage.

As the 23-storey Queen Mary 2 entered the harbour it heralded its arrival with three blasts from its horn, awaking many harbourside residents before dawn.

"Pre-dawn all we could see were the lights of the boats at the heads there to welcome us," said Queen Mary's captain Christopher Rynd, after docking the ship which can accommodate up to 2620 passengers and about 1250 crew.

The 345 metre long ship was too large to fit under the Sydney Harbour Bridge and was forced to dock at the Garden Island Naval Base in the harbour.

As it manoeuvred into position, spectators keen for a glimpse at the floating luxury hotel caused traffic jams on nearby roads. Packed harbour ferries jostled with a flotilla of small craft, including kayaks, and hundreds of people dotted the foreshore.

The Queen Elizabeth 2 was to arrive in Sydney Harbour at dusk and had planned to sail past its sister ship to berth opposite the Sydney Opera House.

A 10-minute fireworks display will celebrate the rendezvous between the two ships, but the encounter will be short-lived, with the Queen Mary 2 leaving before midnight for Hong Kong and the Queen Elizabeth 2 leaving on Thursday.