Five years ago when the C. Symphony sailed into Sydney there were many boats that came out to greet us in the harbor. A few Aussi's showed us their bottom's as they flew by.

Marcie...sailing into Sydney Harbor is one of the most memorable events - it is so beautiful.

We arrived on the eve of the 2000 Olympics - just before dawn. The harbor was alight, the Opera House glowing - the Harbor Bridge ahead and a full moon setting as the sun was rising - I still have goosebumps remembering it. We had 300 Aussie aboard and they starting singing. We were all in tears.

They will probably send fire boats out to greet you. No matter what time of day you arrive, you will feel welcomed. It is a marvelous city.

Here is a nice controllable real time Sydney Harbor webcam. Scroll down a bit and click on the "view Sydney harbor live" button.

This picture below will change each time you reload the page, depending on the person who is controlling the cam and what they have the cam pointed at.

[img]http://203.220.16.174/-wvhttp-01-/GetStillImage[/img]

Karen, I think I read on another post that they had to park the ship somewhere else because of all the changes.

Chip, I was assuming they would still have to sail through the harbor at some point?

From the other message...

Now it's very warm, calm and smooth seas. We'll be arriving in Sydney in 4 hours. We'll dock in a different site: Darling Harbor #3 since we're arriving 1 1/2 days early.

Where is that? Does anyone know?

Sydney Harbor Map

Found a map ....you can see the location of Darling Harbor in relationship to Circular Quay. It's more convenient to be at Circular, but Darling is a nice location also.

I looked for a link but this is not one of my stronger points web wise...Ms. Karen can you help?

R....I found one...the image was so large I changed it to a link so the screen wouldn't get too big.

I thought they didn't park ships on the other side of the bridge but I'm wrong. That's a nice spot. Thanks Margo.

When we were there during the Olympics they docked our ship (Seabourn Sun) in Darling Harbor. We felt a bit left out - Crystal was at Circular Quay along with one of the Silver Seas ships (I think). There were lots of cruise ships there being used in much the same way the Navigator is in Jacksonville.

Because Voyager arrived early they probably had to take any dock space that was available.

I'm sure one of our onboard reporters will give us the lowdown!

I know that Crystal parked the Symphony during the Olympics there. I was there in 99 and they were advertising the ship as a hotel to stay at during the games.

At Circular Quay the ships dock directly across from the Opera House. That is where we were docked for our Navigator Cruise. The ship also stayed overnight in Sydney, so we had great views of the Opera House from our balcony. That was one of my favorite parts of our cruise. The night we overnighted, there were fireworks behind the Opera House. Quite spectacular. We did not arrive in Sydney, but left it after dark. So Margo, I have to agree that the sights coming or going are amazing.

Gooday Mates...one of the Voyager reporters reporting in! Margo is correct. Since we arrived 1 1/2 days early there was no room at the inn so we're docked at Miller's Point in dock #3 (not that far away). Sydney is magnificent sailing in. I just couldn't believe how large the harbor is. We had such a beautiful, warm, sunny day. We deserved it after all the topsy turvy we encountered 2 days ago. We will be here in Sydney for 3 nights which works out great. We roamed the streets all afternoon...what a great city. It is the "cleanest" large city I think I've ever seen.

Shhhhhhhh....if everything goes as planned we're going to go to the Marriott tomorrow morning at around 7:30 and surprise Joanna and Tony when they get out of the taxi from the airport.
Tom (with his "now" beard wearing his new Crocodile Dundee hat) is going to act like a bell hop taking their luggage. If anyone can pull this off, he can. Hopefully this will work and I'll report back soon.

We really love Sydney! It's so nice. I know you're probably getting sick of me raving about each port but EACH REALLY IS GREAT!

More good gossip going on with various passengers...a hot romance going on between 2 passengers that met on board. One is getting off here in Sydney but is secretly planning to rejoin the ship in Rome....as a big surprise! Of course I'm part of the planning committee. Tom calls me the "Hedda Hopper" of the Voyager! This whole cruise would make a great "soap" :D

I'll post more soon!
hugs to all!

Marcie,
Thanks for sharing the "scoop". I love reading your reports. And, I'm not tired of hearing you rave about each port. Just tells me you're having a wonderful cruise. Report back on the Joanna/Tony trick. I'd love to see their surprised faces.

Marcie,

Your reports make me smile. :) I love your plans to meet Joanna & Tony. What fun!!! Keep having fun and keep posting about it, please!!

Betty

Keep us updated on both the surprize for Joanna and Tony, as well as the shipboard romance, its better than anything on TV, which I don't watch anyway! haha!
Sounds like you are really having a wonderful time.

Were you orignally scheduled to dock in the harbor at Circular Quay, near the Opera house? I have a bet with someone who said they never dock ships there. But I was there for 3 weeks during the Olympics and there were plenty of ships in that harbor. I figured that's where you's go. If I remember correctly, it is about a 1 mile walk from Cirgular quay to Darling harbor, a nice walk, did it MANY times. There is also a small boat shuttle thingy, a water taxi maybe, to get from one to the other. During the Olympics, the line for that was longer than the walk.

Darling Harbor is closer to Chinatown and they had the best deals for souvenirs.

Colleen, if you need proof for your bet, my avatar is at Circular Quay, with the Navigator behind us and the Opera House in front of us (which you can't see, of course). The full size picture shows the Navigator clearly in the harbor. Do I get a cut in the winnings? <img border="0" alt="[vhappy]" title="" src="graemlins/icon_vhappy.gif" />

Cyndi, I don't think we actually bet anything. These were people we met on the Voyager holiday cruise and they are back in England. We promised each other to keep in touch (so far so good) and to look each other up should they visit Texas or should we visit Great Britain. But I know his wife lurks here following the current Voyager trip.

All the above brought tears to my eyes! What a fabulous wrap up!

Welcome to Sydney Marcie and Tom (and everyone on the Voyager) - can't believe the Navigator snuck in early without me knowing it!

It's now 8.00am Saturday morning, so can only presume the surprise meeting with Joanna and Tony is about to or has happened.

The weather here is great - not as hot as it has been but very pleasant.

Hope everyone on board has a fabulous time here.

Lee

Oh, poor Tony is FINALLY off that long flight, and should have had a cigarette by now. I've thought about him since last night.

I can't wait to hear if Tom pulled off his bellman routine.

Marcie,

Great to hear from you. Sydney sounds so wonderful. I can't wait for you and Tom to surprise Joanna and Tony. Enjoy the rest of your time in Sydney and can't wait for your pictures.

Nancy

I've dont it again! Got my ships wrong - I meant to say the Voyager!

That welcome naturally included Joanna and Tony!

Well, Marcie and Tom, did you pull off the bellhop caper? I bet Joanna and Tony loved it, if you did!

Yep, we pulled it off this morning with J & T. It was great! We 4 had a fabulous day in Sydney with a Capt. Cook boat cruise and the hop 0n and off bus. They weren't even tired and being up all day will aclimate them to the new time quicker.

We're running out the door to meet them for dinner off the ship with Olivia coming too. We 5 will have a great evening. Colleen gets to collect on her bet too!

Gotta run!

Marcie, Maybe Radisson will give and Tom a permanent position as the official host and hostess. People have fun whereever you are. You both make sure of that. Either that or you should have your own TV show. What a hoot! Love to read your reports.