14 Night World Cruise sector sailing from Sydney to Melbourne aboard Queen Mary 2.

Queen Mary 2's World Voyage of 106 nights will take guests to the opposite side of the globe and back embracing 34 ports in 18 countries. Markedly six of these ports will be maiden calls for Queen Mary 2; Abu Dhabi, Colombo, Langkawi, Ko Samui, Lyttleton (for Christchurch) and Port Elizabeth. Queen Mary 2's World Voyage will feature overnight calls in Dubai, Hong Kong and Cape Town.

Highlights of this cruise sector:

Sydney
Australia's oldest and largest city was born in 1788 with the arrival of the "First Fleet" that transported 760 British convicts. Gold and sheep breeding propelled Sydney's development; today it is the largest port in the entire South Pacific. Mark Twain called it "the wonder of the world". James Michener wrote, "It is a thing of beauty, a fairy-tale body of water". With an area that sprawls 670 square miles, Sydney is one of the largest cities in the world. But it's the exquisite Sydney Harbour that draws world-wide acclaim - that, along with its magnificent Opera House.

Wellington
Perched in the hills surrounding a sparkling bay, Wellington has the beautiful setting (and crispy weather) of San Francisco. White sails mingle with cargo ships in the Harbour. Charming Edwardian architecture blends into a contemporary skyline of concrete and glass. Culturally the city even surpasses Auckland.

Auckland
In a nation where stunning scenery is taken for granted, this water wonderland sparkles like a freshly polished jewel. Over 48 extinct volcanoes cloaked in wild mountainous scenery encircle the "City of Sails". An undulating succession of bays and inlets stretch along its endless shores. Even the downtown area with its expansive, farm-like parks exudes a sense of spacious beauty.

Melbourne
Originally part of New South Wales, Victoria became a colony in its own right in 1851. The discovery of gold and the development of agriculture propelled Melbourne's rise to prominence and prosperity. Flower gardens and graceful, tree-lined boulevards add a refined air to Melbourne, regarded as the hub of Australia's cultural, intellectual and financial life - at least by Melbournians! Modern skyscrapers mingle comfortably with Victorian homes, and an aura of upper-class elegance pervades. If you find country pleasures more appealing, ride the historic steam train "Puffing Billy" past forests and farms, before having lunch at a Yarra Glen vineyard.