Good sports

Think sporting activities on board a luxury cruise ship and you’d be forgiven if your first thoughts were shuffleboard or deck quoits. But as part of a special sailing of Cunard’s flagship Queen Elizabeth early in 2024, passengers will have the opportunity to rub shoulders with Australian sporting royalty, and learn what makes some of the country’s greatest champions tick.

The first themed voyage of its type, the aptly named Voyage of Sporting Greats will see Australian cricket legend Brett Lee, joined on board by Australia’s most successful ever female golfer Karrie Webb, AFL great Adam Goodes, veteran Australian sports presenter Mark Beretta and Amanda McLaren, daughter of New Zealand Formula 1 ace, Bruce McLaren.

Setting off from Sydney in February 2024, the seven-night cruise will sail down the coast of Australia to the Apple Isle, visiting Hobart and Port Arthur before returning to Sydney via Melbourne.

The presence of these celebrated sporting stars onboard offers sports fans a rare opportunity to interact with and hear from their heroes, with a series of talks and activities planned, including sports-themed shore excursions, to help guests engage with these sporting greats.

For the sporting stars themselves, the concept allows them the opportunity to interact with enthusiasts over the course of the journey, sharing highlights and stories from careers that have seen them reach the top in their respective fields.

“What a wonderful opportunity for Cunard guests to hear from such an incredible lineup of leading Australian athletes,” says Karrie Webb, the greatest female golfer Australia has ever produced and one of the 10 best women golfers of all time.

“I am very much looking forward to sharing with guests my favourite tips and golf stories, as well as having a swing with them onboard.”

Likewise, former Australian international cricketer and fast bowler, Brett Lee, says that the coming cruise will be a highlight for him in the new year and that he ‘can’t wait to have a yarn with guests on board’ what he calls ‘a voyage for the ages’.

The concept of ‘The Voyage of Sporting Greats’ is just one of the themed voyages that will be on offer to Queen Elizabeth’s guests in the 2024.

In a similar vein is the second sailing of the Great Australian culinary Voyage, which will see the likes of celebrated indigenous chef Mark Olive and pastry chef Darren Purchese returning to the Queen Elizabeth as part of a culinary extravaganza on the high seas, complete with special dining experiences, expert talks and cooking demonstrations. 

These special themed voyages add another compelling dimension to the sumptuous Queen Elizabeth experience. The 90,900 tonne ship is the second largest ever to sail in Cunard’s lauded fleet and offers its 2000 guests a luxurious experience, with 10 restaurants, a ballroom, Royal Court Theatre, Spa, two-storey library and extensive gym facilities.

“I am looking forward to sharing stories about my career, what drives and inspires me and what projects I am currently working on,” says former AFL great and Australian of the Year, Adam Goodes.

“I am specifically keen to talk to fans onboard and create great memories of the sailing for them,” he says.

And that, in a nutshell, sums up the concept behind The Voyage of Sporting Greats. Creating unique sporting memories that will live long after the Queen Elizabeth docks. Certainly a far cry from the time honoured game of deck quoits.