Vic: Huge cruise ship docks in Melbourne

AAP General News (Australia)
12-25-2004
Vic: Huge cruise ship docks in Melbourne

One of the largest cruise ships to ever visit Melbourne has docked at Port Melbourne
this morning.

The Sapphire Princess is as big as 300 jumbo jets and is two and a half times bigger
than the Titanic.

It is also 120 metres longer than the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

The 160,000 tonne vessel arrived at Port Melbourne's Station Pier about 7am (AEDT)
and will sail to Hobart at 6pm.

It will carry 22,000 passengers, including 4,500 Australians, on eight cruises between
Australia and New Zealand over three months.

The 18-storey vessel can carry 3,800 passengers and crew each journey and has a mini
golf course, 13 bars and a wedding chapel.

P&O Cruises' United States sister company, Princess Cruises, operates the ship.

The company says that each time the Sapphire Princess visits Melbourne it will generate
$500,000 for the local economy through passenger spending and port fees.

The ship will dock in Melbourne again on January 16th.

AAP RTV mj/jo\

KEYWORD: SAPPHIRE (MELBOURNE)

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