Spotting a Diamond...

I had the good fortune to witness both, the arrival and departure of the Diamond Princess on one of her routine visits to Sydney during this cruise season. A couple of days later, while travelling in Tasmania I came across her again, docked in Hobart at the new cruise terminal. Below are a few photos of our recent encounter.

The Diamond Princess and her sister, Sapphire Princess, were the first cruise ships built in Japan since the Orient Venus was launched in 1990. Diamond Princess was originally slated to be called Sapphire Princess but was damaged by a fire while still under construction, due to the delays caused by the resulting repairs, the names were swapped and the second ship was completed as the Sapphire Princess.

Diamond Princess entered service in 2004 and first visited Australian shores during the 2005-06 cruises season and has been coming ever since, occasionally alternating with her sister ship.

Diamond Princess passing the Sydney Opera House and about to round the Quay to dock at the Overseas Passenger Terminal.

An evening departure from Sydney, Diamond Princess is slowly nursed away from her berth.

Free of tugs and in the deep water channel, the Diamond Princess is ready to swing out towards the Heads.

A few days later, Diamond Princess is docked in Hobart and basking under the Tasman sun.

An otter and a Princess. A reflective final look at Diamond Princess.

Australia Day harbour scenes

Australia Day is, as you would expect for Australians, a day to celebrate everything that is awesome about this country. On Sydney Harbour, after the Tall Ship parade and ferry race there was the obligatory fireworks display and a great deal of activity...of the ship variety. Below is a selection of the vessels seen that evening:

Fishburn turning to depart Darling Harbour as the sun sets behind.

Fishburn unloading passengers in the foreground while the Pacific Pearl maneuvres to dock in the distance.  The bunting is suitably patriotic....

Pacific Pearl nudging towards her berth.

A Parramatta Rivercat speeds past while the Pacific Pearl slowly docks.

Almost there....

A flotilla of craft in Darling Harbour, the black hulled vessel in the foreground is the historic steam tug Waratah.

Flags flying, the steam tug Waratah joins in the festivities on the harbour. In the background from left to right are Young Endeavour, James Craig and the steam launch Lady Hopetoun. 

Celebrity Solstice sailing Down Under

In 2009 I had the pleasure of cruising aboard the Celebrity Solstice and published a cruise review here: http://monoships.blogspot.com.au/2010/01/cruise-ship-review-celebrity-solstice.html

For the 2012-13 cruise season the Celebrity Solstice has been sent down under to join the Celebrity Millennium in a bid to lure Australian cruisers from the Carnival controlled cruise companies that frequent the antipodes during the southern summer. It's part of a larger strategy that acknowledges the growth of the Australian market and showcasing some of the larger ships that are normally stationed either in the Caribbean or the Mediterranean. The Solstice joins other big ships including Voyager of the Seas, Carnival Spirit, Costa Deliziosa and Queen Mary 2 who will all make an appearance this season.

Below are several photos of the Solstice in her temporary home berth in Sydney. Enjoy!!!

A sunny summers day for the Solstice.

Ready to depart on another cruise...

Docked at the Overseas Passenger Terminal for the first time.

A spotless ship departing on a spotless harbour.

With a little help from the side thrusters, the Celebrity Solstice pulls away from the  dock.