How to plan a trip to cruise Australia on the Queen Mary 2

How to plan a trip to cruise Australia on the Queen Mary 2How to plan a trip to cruise Australia on the Queen Mary 2Sensational SydneyIf you want to explore Australia and experience both the cultural and natural wonders of this enormous country, the Queen Mary 2 is the way to do it. During this years World Voyage the QM2 cruised into eight ports from Sydney to Perth, including Melburne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Margaret River, Whitsunday Island, and Kangaroo Island. Whats exciting about the Queens annual adventure is that, with just a little planning, you can join the ship almost anywzu siche in the world and binnensee your choice of countries and cities. We chose a ten-day, roundtrip, Sydney to Sydney cruise.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreRoyalty, VIPs movie starsThe Queen Mary 2 is the flagship of the Cunard Line and she is, without exception, the most luxurious passenger ship ev er built. In 2004, Queen Elizabeth II christened this floating palace named after her grandmother. The queen proclaimed, I name this ship Queen Mary 2. May God bless her and all who sail on her. Countless VIPs have been welcomed onboard during the QM2s 14 years at sea, including Presidents Donald Trump and George H. W. Bush, French President Jacques Chirac, Prime Minister Tony Blair, and Hollywood luminaries Uma Thurman, George Lucas, Lenny Kravitz, Ed Sheeran, and Helen Mirren. The latter won an Oscar for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II in the movie The Queen and inscribed a painting of Her Majesty in the ships casino, From one Queen to another. Last year, Aussie star Hugh Jackman, Rebecca Ferguson, Zac Efron, and Zendaya celebrated the premiere of their movie, The Greatest Showman, with a dinner dance on the ship in New York City and everyone onboard joined the party.Majesty of the high seasCunard launched the original Queen Mary in 1934, and it welches considered the grand kn igin of ships, carrying Hollywood royalty such as Marlene Dietrich, Fred Astaire, Audrey Hepburn, Greta Garbo, and Clark Gable during the heyday of transatlantic ocean travel. The glamour and allure of cruising in true luxury lives on in her successor. In fact, today this bastion of seagoing extravagance is glossier than ever, after recently undergoing an extensive $132 million stem-to-stern refurbishment. The ship famously allows pets on board, employing a kennel master to mind dogs and cats, and they didnt forget Fido and Fifi in the QM2 renovation, adding more kennels as well as a kennel lounge where owners can hang out with their furry friends.Book a posh grill suiteThe QM2 has multiple sailing options, with a category for everyone. That said, the two top choices are the Queens Grill and Princess Grill Suites. These staterooms are the ultimate in luxury - with both seating and dining areas, walk-in closets, and spacious private balconies with chaises longues for lounging. Queen s Grill guests have their own personal butler, too. The service is unparalleled we had an attentive butler, tour director, and concierge that finessed our every wish. Everything is so impeccable, you might want to consider staying on forever. Some lucky guests come close, signing on for the World Voyage from New York to New York for a total of 133 days.Down underIts a loooong flight to Sydney, a total of 22 hours in the air, with a stop in L.A. Do yourself a favor and splurge for first class seats with a flatbed. We stayed at the Park Hyatt because of its location on Sydney Harbour. Be sure to reserve a room with a terrace overlooking the Sydney Opera House, the citys major contribution to international architecture and art. This is the citys top hotel, where all the stars stay, among them Lady Gaga, Madonna, and Kate Hudson. Elton John stays so frequently he keeps his own piano there.The Hyatts bar and restaurant also have terrific views of the harbor, naturally. The chef is Etienn e Karner, who trained in Michelin-starred kitchens in France before landing in Sydney. reservierung the sumptuous tasting dinner which includes the signature dish kangaroo tartar with quail egg, truffle mayo, radish, and sesame crisps. This goes beautifully with a 2016 Hans Herzog Pinot Gris or a glass of Champagne.www.hyatt.comSpend a day or two seeing Sydney before boarding the QM2. Our cruise started and ended in Sydney, so we had plenty of time to see the top attractions. Here are the best.The Sydney Opera HouseOur Hyatt balcony overlooked the Opera House, which is arguably the eighth wonder of the world. We got up early to see the dawn break over the landmark, an unforgettable moment, and we promptly had Jonathan, the hotels prize-winning concierge, book a tour to see the inside.A UNESCO World Heritage siteJrn Utzon, an unknown Danish architect, designed the building in 1955, winning an international design competition. Weirdly, Utzons world-famous sculptural design was initial ly rejected by the judges, but finally the renowned architect Eero Saarinen convinced the panel to choose it. Construction began in 1959, but wasnt completed until 1973, thanks to a string of snafus, including cost overruns the final construction costs totaled $79 million. In 1966, payment problems forced Utzon to resign from the project, and he left Australia and never saw his completed masterpiece. He passed away in 2008, a year after it was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007.Despite its name, the Opera House has multiple purposes and presents many types of performances in addition to opera, including symphonic and popular music, and classic and experimental theater. We took the 430 pm tour, the last of the day, and simply stayed, had some Champagne, and saw Limbo, a sexy cabaret act.Mr. WongAfter the show, we had a late dinner at the Cantonese hot spot Mr. Wong where the food and the people watching are excellent. Tucked away down an alley, its very popular and reservatio ns are a must. We had a delicious dim sum, Peking duck with all the trimmings, and for dessert a decadent fried vanilla ice cream with butterscotch. Divine.www.merivale.comSydney Harbour BridgeIn the morning, we hired a speedboat to take us around Sydney Harbour, which is the center of life in Australias biggest city. We kept an eye out for native daughter Cate Blanchett, who has been known to pilot a small skiff around the harbor. Alas, we didnt see her. The Sydney Harbour Bridge, affectionately known as The Coat Hanger thanks to its arched design, is another memorable icon of the city. Opened in 1932, the bridge took eight years to complete. High-wire artist Philippe Petit crossed the bridge on a tightrope in 1973, but you can legally cross it on foot via a pedestrian walkway. Its an easy stroll of about 30 minutes, with magnificent views. You can also ride a bicycle across. Those more adventurous - and not afraid of heights - can scale the top of the bridge on a guided bridge climb.www.bridgeclimb.comBondi Beach, Icebergs ClubBondi Beach is one of Sydneys top sights and the most popular of the many stretches of golden sand rimming this sunny city. Its only a few miles from the center of town, and easily accessible. Here you might see Justin Bieber, Liev Schreiber, or Naomi Watts body surfing.Our driver dropped us off at the end of the clifftop coastal walk, a spectacularly scenic route that we strolled until we found Icebergs, Bondis top beach club. The place has killer views of the crescent-shaped beach and endless blue water. You can check into the club to use the facilities, including the Olympic size saltwater pool. The restaurant is usually totally booked, but we snagged a table in the bar we didnt have a white tablecloth as do tables in the main dining room, but the hamburger was juicy, and the views were just as fabulous.Boarding the QM2 - timing countsThe QM2 had dramatically moored in front of our balcony at the hotel looking out at the ship an d the Opera House together was a rare privilege. Time to pack and boardThe QM2 runs like a Swiss clock so we were able to check-in effortlessly and seamlessly. Be smart and check ahead to find out when guests will finish disembarking and boarding from early flights. This is usually between 930 am and 2 pm. Presto smooth boarding at 3 pm allowed plenty of time to explore the ship before she sailed at 930 pm. Uniformed porters brought the luggage to our stateroom, which had another perfect view of the Opera House. It doesnt get old.Exploring the QM2The staff unpacked our cases while we explored the ship, which has a Canyon Ranch Spa, a gigantic movie theater that plays current blockbusters, the only planetarium at sea, a Vegas-styled showroom that features elaborate musicals, multiple verwhnter gaumen restaurants, tea rooms, a Champagne bar, a ballroom with a 12-piece orchestra, a disco, a gym with a killer view of the horizon, five outdoor and indoor swimming pools, and seven Jacuzzi s. There are also games galore, including shuffleboard, ping pong, paddle tennis, backgammon, bingo, bridge, and way too many other activities to list. Additionally, the QM2 boasts the largest library at sea, with breathtaking ocean panoramas an hourly schedule of things to do, including lectures by famous authors, actors, and scientists classical concerts piano and harp recitals a long list of fitness classes, including yoga, stretch, and circuit training and gambling in a fully equipped casino. Daily laps around the deck (three times equals one mile), leisurely naps in a deckchair under a colorful plaid wool blanket from Scotland, and a nightcap in the Commodore Club were just a few of the things to look forward to.The sail awayWe ordered Champagne on our balcony, so we could watch the changing light and the sunset over the famous roofline sails of the Opera House. Sailing out of Sydney Harbor past the Opera House on the QM2 is one of the most memorable visual experiences you will ever have, akin to watching the mist lift to reveal the Taj Mahal from the presidential suite at the Oberoi Amarvillas in Agra or seeing the Pyramids for the first time. With the stars and moon lighting the way, tiny tugboats guided us out of the harbor. As the ship rounded the Opera House, the sails seemed to blow in the wind, and with lights ablaze it was a sight to behold and treasure forever. Its Australias Eiffel Tower, Londons Big Ben, and New Yorks Empire State Building. You need to experience this.At seaOn our first night at sea, Captain Peter Philpott invited us to a cocktail party to meet the ships officers. This was also the first of four formal nights, so dont forget to bring your jewels as this black-tie ritual is very much alive on the QM2. We quizzed the captain about what we could expect to see in New Zealand, our ultimate destination. I cant wait to tell you all about it next.This article originally appeared on TravelSquire.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reve als 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people