Luxury liner a big boost

Luxurious cruise ship Queen Elizabeth will visit Albany for the first time next year.

The Queen Elizabeth is the second largest ship in Cunard’s luxury fleet and it will be based in Australia for an unprecedented 101 days over the 2019 summer period.

It will dock in for its inaugural visit in Albany in December, 2019.

The 90,900-tonne ship will sail on a six-round trip journey from Melbourne and Sydney, before making its inaugural stop in Albany in December, 2019.

The ship can carry up to 2080 passengers and it features a paddle tennis, croquet and bowls court, 10 restaurants, a two-storey library and a ballroom.

Albany Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Caroline Hayes said she welcomed the visit.

“This cruise will put Albany on the map as a tourism destination and gives our local businesses an opportunity to showcase local products and services,” she said.

“Each and every passenger that disembarks will experience Albany, shop in our local stores, and ultimately, we want them to put Albany on their agenda for their next holiday as the return visit, where they bring their families and friends and stay locally, all adds to our local tourism and benefits businesses across our region.”