Cunard Line said the Queen Mary 2 will be based in Australia in 2012 for a circumnavigation of the continent. The circumnavigation of Australia is a first for Cunard.
The 3,056-passenger QM2 will call at eight Australian ports: Sydney, Fremantle, Adelaide, the Whitsunday Islands, Cairns (Yorkeys Knob), Darwin, Melbourne and Brisbane. Also, the circumnavigation will include a call at Bali.
There will be three cruise options: a 20-night voyage departing Fremantle on Feb. 8, a 21-night voyage departing Adelaide on Feb. 11 and a 22-night voyage departing Sydney on Feb. 14.
Cunard President Peter Shanks said there is an “enduring appeal and increased demand from Australians for the unique Cunard Line experience."
The Australia cruises will go on sale this spring as part of Cunard's announcement of its 2012 World Voyage program.
Holland America Line will operate its first circumnavigation of Australia this month. The 1,432-passenger Volendam departs on a 34-day circumnavigation from Sydney on March 14.