Oracle of Delphi
KC Hill
Paladin
Craig HillQEII and QMII together in Sydney Harbour
February 20th 2007 02:46
I personally don't get too excited about cruise ships, whether they are on the other side of the world or in Sydney Harbour, but it seems the same can't be said for Sydney folk in general, who are going mad for the two ships.
The two ships are of course the QEII and the even larger QMII. The QMII actually arrived in Sydney Harbour today, to reportedly, large crowds of well wishers. It can't make it under the harbour bridge nor into circular quay, so it docks at Garden Island. Later this evening the smaller QEII will enter Sydney Harbour, making it the first time the two ships will be in Sydney at the same time.
Apparently, the Queen Mary II is 23 storeys high and almost the length of four football fields. I do get the idea it is a big ship, but the use of football fields to describe length is a strange thing to me. For one, football fields vary in length depending on the code and even the ground a particular game is being played on. It is also strange in that I don't understand why they can't describe it in metres. If they say 350 metres, I know that it is is 350 metres, and therefore very long. It also means I don't have to understand football (though I do) to know how long the ship is. I am sure not all lovers of cruise ships are football fans.
Anyway, it is big. I am informed they are built this big because they can pack on more passengers without having to have many more crew, therefore saving some money in wages. Personally, I wouldn't want to be on a boat with 5000 people and pay $35 000 for the opportunity. Maybe that's just me?
The two ships are of course the QEII and the even larger QMII. The QMII actually arrived in Sydney Harbour today, to reportedly, large crowds of well wishers. It can't make it under the harbour bridge nor into circular quay, so it docks at Garden Island. Later this evening the smaller QEII will enter Sydney Harbour, making it the first time the two ships will be in Sydney at the same time.
Apparently, the Queen Mary II is 23 storeys high and almost the length of four football fields. I do get the idea it is a big ship, but the use of football fields to describe length is a strange thing to me. For one, football fields vary in length depending on the code and even the ground a particular game is being played on. It is also strange in that I don't understand why they can't describe it in metres. If they say 350 metres, I know that it is is 350 metres, and therefore very long. It also means I don't have to understand football (though I do) to know how long the ship is. I am sure not all lovers of cruise ships are football fans.
Anyway, it is big. I am informed they are built this big because they can pack on more passengers without having to have many more crew, therefore saving some money in wages. Personally, I wouldn't want to be on a boat with 5000 people and pay $35 000 for the opportunity. Maybe that's just me?
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Comment by BOP!
Comment by Glen
Reggae
Comment by JaneD
Yellow Brick Road
Or even make the reference more local - 24 cricket pitches?
Sydney loves their big boats. I can remember when the globe (I think) docked at east circular quay about 3 years ago and the quay was flat chat all night with people looking at it. I blame the movie Titanic. Everyone wants to see the boat in case it sinks.