As the song says, You can't beat Wellington on a good day. And although both the Hurricanes and the Wellington Phoenix were downed overnight, there's good news for Wellington today as the sun rises - the Dom-Post reports:
The Queen Elizabeth, one of the world's newest cruise ships, made an early entrance to Wellington this morning when it arrived an hour ahead of schedule.
It glided into Wellington harbour as the sun was rising about 6.45am, catching those who were planning to greet it at 7.45am by surprise.
Carrying more than 2000 passengers on its maiden trip to the Pacific, it will bring an expected cash injection to the city's economy of $1 million during its few hours here.
The new Queen Elizabeth is the second-largest ship to be built by Cunard, the company that built the Titanic.
The largest was the Queen Mary 2, launched in 2004, which held the record for the world's largest passenger ship for several years. At 294 metres long, the Queen Elizabeth is 50 metres shorter than the Queen Mary 2.
We took ourselves on a cruise a few years ago, and we're keen to repeat the experience sometime over the next year or two. We doubt that we'll ever get to sail on something as opulent as the Queen Elizabeth, but who knows?
But Wellington will certainly benefit from having 2000 extra folk patronising its cafes and shops today, and availing themselves of tourism options. The cruise industry is an ever-growing component of our tourism trade, worth as the Dom-Post story says later on, in excess of $300 million per annum.
That's not to be sniffed at. And so we hope that visitors to Wellington have a memorable day after a spectacular entrance to the harbour this morning, and we hope that the tills ring merrily for the duration of the Queen Elizabeth's stay; just don't mention rugby or football!
6 comments:
I'd like to mention the rugby but since one game does not a season make I know it's far, far, too early to be cocky.
HP, I'm not so backward in comming forward about about the Highlanders. But one hurricane does not a s15 make.
The Queen Elizabeth is a marvelous sight. She beats some of the other ones that call at auckland hands down. It's star quality, I suppose.
My consultant was telling me about an aquaintance of his, who is on board for a year (he's able to come and go as he pleases) and has butler service. My consultant availed himself of the friends hospitality when he was in Auckland and came away suitably impressed.
Wish I had friends like that!
So do I Alex; the ship we cruised on was impressive, but decidedly down-market compared with the Queen Elizabeth. Ah well; we might win Lotto tonight (if I get around to buying a ticket)...
And yet..... the highlanders just did :-)
They did indeed XChequer, and a big Fitzy "full credit" to them too; they wanted it more. It's not the start that Mark Hammett would have wanted, but at least he will feel more secure about his future prospects that Ricki Herbert and his players do this morning, given Terry's "issues".
Sorry Iv2 but blood still simmering. Halberg awards "coach of the year".
All whites no wins at WC.
All whites scrape in to finals when so many teams ere denied by far stiffer pool opportunities.
Phoenix scrape into play offs by beating cellar dwellers in last round robin game.
Phoenix exit playoffs at first hurdle.
Phoenix away game record a touch disappointing.
Coach of the year my arse.
Gordon Tjitchens the real COACH OF THE LAST TEN YEARS.
ps heard Herbert on newstalk this morning claiming they were winning at the 70 minute mark at nil all, bloody muppet doesn't even know that the 90 minute mark is where it matters and nil all may be enough for emotive fellow muppets to say world class but not where I went to school it wern't and we got our arse kicked regularly.
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