Investor Relations

Queen Elizabeth Makes Maiden Visit to Adelaide

Cunard’s youngest liner Queen Elizabeth has made her first ever visit to Adelaide, arriving this morning as part of her 121-night world voyage.

Carrying around 2000 guests, the 90,900-tonne Queen Elizabeth has berthed at Outer Harbour, with her guests enjoying an extended stay exploring the city and its surrounds including tours to the Barossa and Adelaide Zoo before sailing for Melbourne at 11.30pm.

While 2016 marks Queen Elizabeth’s fifth visit to Australia, this is her first South Australian call. The Adelaide visit is expected to generate around $500,000 for the local economy.

Queen Elizabeth’s maiden Adelaide call is the first of two historic Cunard visits to South Australia this season, with Queen Victoria set to make the cruise line’s first call to Kangaroo Island next month (March 4). Cunard flagship Queen Mary 2 is scheduled to make her first visit to Kangaroo Island in 2017.

Ann Sherry, Executive Chairman of Carnival Australia which represents Cunard, said the visits were evidence that South Australia was well and truly on the global cruise map.

"With its quintessential Australian landscapes, wildlife, seafood and famed wine-making regions, South Australia has fantastic tourism credentials. The arrival of two Cunard Queens this summer is part of a wave of valuable cruise tourists and underlines the important role cruising plays in profiling South Australia to the world," Ms Sherry said.

During their voyage, guests have been enjoying wines from five South Australian vineyards including d’Arenberg, Penfolds, The Lane, Wynns, and Devlin’s Mount from Byrne Vineyards, in the ship’s Britannia restaurant. The Lane Vineyard’s brand ambassador Christian Burvill-Holmes has also been onboard offering masterclasses in the State’s wines.

"Given the diversity of South Australian wines, it is not surprising that Cunard offers such an extensive selection across their fleet including Queen Elizabeth. During today’s visit, Queen Elizabeth’s guests are just half an hour or so away from five world class wine regions from the Adelaide Hills to the Barossa Valley," Mr Burvill-Holmes said.

South Australian wines make up almost half the onboard offering of Australian wines while Penfolds’ 2011 St Henri Shiraz is the only Australian wine featured on Cunard’s exceptional wine list, as selected by wine merchants Corney and Barrow who also hold Royal Warrants to supply wine to Queen Elizabeth and the Princes of Wales.

Launched by Her Majesty The Queen in 2010, Queen Elizabeth pays homage to Cunard’s original Queen Elizabeth, offering famous Cunard hallmarks plus some new features. Stretching 294 metres in length, she has more than 10 restaurants and cafes as well as a Games Deck including paddle tennis, croquet and bowls. Queen Elizabeth also offers a two-storey library, complete with leaded glass ceiling and around 6000 books, and a three-deck Royal Court Theatre seating 800 people. The second largest liner in the Cunard fleet, Queen Elizabeth has more than 1000 staterooms, with more than 70 per cent offering balconies.