A Surprise New Year’s Eve Cruise on Sydney Harbour

Popular New Year’s Eve celebrations are usually cruises or parties or a combination of both in Sydney. Senior citizens that we are, my husband and I haven’t really kept pace with trending party scenes. Loud music and lights may not be our scene right now, but you definitely can’t club us in the same bracket as those who live in assisted care homes. We don’t use walkers to move about precariously nor do we take forever to walk from the living room to the dining room. The athletes that we were in our youth, I’m pretty sure we can give the current digital generation a run for their money!

For some time now, there’s been nothing extraordinary about our New Year’s Eve celebrations.Like any other day, we end up in bed by 10,calling it a night. It’s not that we’ve lost our zest for life, it’s just that after a certain age you begin to debunk the ‘variety is the spice of life’ routine.

This New Year’s Eve, I was in the garden pruning the rose bushes, when my phone started buzzing. Thinking it would be one of those annoying marketing calls, I ignored it. When the phone buzzed again I thought this must be a persistent soul, someone who probably didn’t achieve their monthly sales numbers and might lose their holiday bonus pay. Yes, sometimes I do overthink trivial things. But, that was no sales person, it was my friend Darla asking me to get over to her place right away. My mind first conjured images of her being hurt or caught in the midst of an unfortunate incident, but the hint of excitement in her voice made me recant those thoughts!

She lived right down the road, so I pulled off my gardening gloves and quickly (as fast as my aging legs would carry me) made my way to her place. Darla was waiting for me at the door and as soon as I got in the house, thrust an envelope into my hands. Seeing my perturbed expression, she smiled and said the envelope contained the tickets to a Sydney NYE Fireworks cruise. I remember her telling me that she had gotten tickets for a New Year’s Eve cruise on Sydney Harbour a while back.

Puzzled as to why she would gift me such prized tickets, Darla explained that her daughter Debbie had gone into labour and before the night was done, she would be a grandmother!And however much she was looking forward to it, a New Year’s Eve Fireworks Cruise was the last place she wanted to be when her grandchild was making her way into this world! That baby couldn’t have picked a better day to than the start of a New Year to make an appearance!

True, Darla and her husband would miss out on a New Year’s Eve dinner cruise and the midnight fireworks of Sydney Harbour, but that could be experienced next year as well. It definitely pales in comparison when you know your first grandchild is born only once!

Clutching the envelope in hand, I walked back home wondering whether going for a Sydney NYE cruise will be my cup of tea. I called Bill and told him of the new developments. He was surprisingly very gung-ho about the whole thing. He didn’t want the tickets to go to waste as they were pricey and insisted we go. As the cruise leaves the wharf by 7pm, there wasn’t much time left to dawdle around and we got ready for it.

My perceptions of a cruise party on a boat where shattered when I saw our vessel which would be the venue for the evening. It was a stylish glass boat with elegant interiors that resembled a premium star hotel. There was dancing, there was good food, wine and spectacular harbour views. The beauty of night time Sydney and the spectacular fireworks display almost took our breath away.



The New Year’s Eve cruise on Sydney Harbour was a pleasant wakeup call for the both of us. We needed this badly to shake our life from its mundaneness. As for Darla who accidentally set all this in motion, I am gifting her a cruise for the coming New Year’s Eve as a big thank you!

There’s no magic like Sydney New Year’s Eve magic

The countdown is on to the biggest night of the year as the world prepares to bid farewell to 2015 and welcome the New Year with hearts full of hope and resolutions galore.

From Sydney’s legendary NYE fireworks in the East to New York’s iconic ball drop in the West, New Year’s Eve 2015 is the day to lay your worries aside, let your hair down and party like you’ve never partied before!

Past trends reveal that Sydney is the world’s most preferred New Year’s Eve destination, primarily because it’s summer Down Under, unlike other party cities in the world. And, Sydney does not disappoint… with a creative ambassador in charge of the theme, ideas on how to best execute it are chalked up well in advance to gift New Year revellers a celebration that’s an absolute showstopper!

Sydney Harbour takes centre stage on New Year’s Eve, and that’s definitely the place to be! The Sydney skyline, lined with the magnificent Opera House and the Harbour Bridge sets the stage for all the harbour events, the mind-blowing midnight fireworks and pyrotechnics that kick off the New Year with a big bang!

The best vantage point is Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair at the tip of the Royal Botanical Gardens, but chances are you’ll find people who’ve camped overnight to grab the best seats in the house! The other go-to spots that attract large crowds are Sydney Heads, the inner harbor and the Parramatta River.

But, not to worry, vantage points to view the Sydney Harbour New Year’s Eve events are dime a dozen – some are family friendly, some have food and alcohol on sale, some allow you to bring your own, some are ticketed while many others are free.

Just remember, with New Year’s Eve in Sydney, the entire city is looking to celebrate a great evening out; so making last-minute plans will only set you and your family up for a big disappointment. You have to do the spadework well in advance, narrow down your choices and decide on one venue based on parameters that suit you best.

Here’s another thought… if 2015 has been particularly good for you and you really want to live it up with a party to top all parties, you should consider booking an exclusive Sydney Harbour New Year’s Eve Fireworks Cruise. It’s an experience that is worth paying top dollar for!

You’ll be absolutely spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing a luxury Sydney Harbour New Year’s Eve party cruise, with numerous cruise operators offering packages with tempting inclusions. Prices vary based on the cruising vessel, its luxury parameters, type of food and beverage inclusions, entertainment options that could include DJ or a live band etc.  

But, the common denominator is a prime position in the harbour exclusion zone that gives cruising guests ring-side seats to all the mesmerizing harbour events that set the tone for the evening, including the 9pm family fireworks and the world-renowned midnight fireworks.

Great views and great parties aside, the other obvious advantage of a Sydney Harbour NYE cruise is the certainty of a seat aboard a cruising vessel and the surety that there will be no elbowing or jostling for space to see the fireworks as they light up the Sydney sky. If you’re ready to pay for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, choosing a NYE harbour cruise is quite a no-brainer!

There are some NYE harbour events that hosted every year, but the wonder of it all is that they never cease to amaze locals or repeat visitors. The special aircraft that execute stunning air displays with fantastic dips and dives, twists and turns, the beautiful projections on the ethereal pylons of the Harbour Bridge, the Sydney Harbour Bridge Effect and the Harbour of Light Parade are visual treats like no other leaving you at a complete loss for words.

That’s Sydney New Year Magic for you!

Celebrate New Year’s Eve on Sydney Harbour

There’s something about bringing in the New Year that gets the whole world excited and rearing to go! The importance we attach to this one moment, when the clock hand strikes 12 heralding the dawn of a new year, has grown in magnitude over the years. And, celebrations on Sydney Harbour are no different – with every passing year they become bigger, brighter and amazingly better!
As a local or a visitor, you’re definitely spoilt for choice with the multitude of NYE activities available on Sydney Harbour. And, if you’re really looking to bring in the New Year with all pomp and gaiety – the Magistic Sail it is! It definitely is the cruise that hosts a rocking New Year’s Eve party and gives its guests the best views of all the must-see events on Sydney Harbour!
The Magistic Sail is a luxury catamaran with a 100ft mast, laced with contemporary décor in keeping with the times. The exclusive Sydney Harbour New Year’s Eve cruise package includes a 5.5 hour party cruise, with a roving service of canapés and a mini buffet, the silver beverage package of Australian beer, wines, sparkling and soft drinks. You can really enjoy a great party aboard a luxury cruiser with no worries about overcrowding or elbowing into other guests.

As the sun goes down on Sydney Harbour, you’ll find yourself cruising the harbour waters aboard the Magistic Sail in eager anticipation of what the evening has in store for you. And, before you know it, the festivities begin with a fire tug blasting tonnes of water into the sky creating a fantastic spray that glistens against the warm glow of the setting sun.

Fast on its heels comes the stunning air displays with special aircraft performing fantastic dips and dives, twists and turns all the way from the Opera House to Clark Island.
And then, the ethereal pylons of the Sydney Harbour Bridge come alive with striking images projected on to its broad surfaces! What follows is the spectacular Bridge Effect, the centrepiece of the evening, displaying the NYE theme-inspired images that go on till sunrise in the New Year – a visual treat like no other!
The dramatic red flares that you see being fired from fireworks barges are an ‘Acknowledgement of Country’ to honour the Aboriginal and Torres Strait culture and heritage, another NYE special.
The 9pm family fireworks are fantastic indeed, but are just a harbinger of what is to come. If you’re on board the Magistic Sail, you will also get to be part of the New Year’s Eve Harbour of Light Parade that showcases an illuminated fleet of over 40 vessels, trimmed with orange-coloured light, lighting up the harbour waters with its unique choreography! 
Your evening continues with great food and wine, DJ and dancing till the countdown to the New Year begins.
And, in no time, it’s the moment you’ve been waiting for… the moment that sets in motion reflections and resolutions that take you into the New Year… the moment that all the events of the evening have been leading to! When the clock strikes twelve, Sydney out does itself with the most spectacular fireworks display that explodes into the night sky leaving spectators amazed at the brilliant work of art that covers the sky at large!
What a way to bring in the New Year – Sydney and the Magistic Sail together give you an experience of a lifetime!