Words cannot describe how wonderful and amazing NYE was.
We selected to book with the Australian Cruise Group. We would have been happy with any of them; however, in the end we chose the Clearview Blue Room.
The boat can hold up to 400; however, they limited it to 160 for New Years Eve. They also limited it to adults – you had to be at least 18 years old. It was dressed with white tablecloths, linen napkins, and New Years Eve decorations. It was a formal dress code. Jackets were required. Women were encouraged to wear nice dresses. Jeans were not allowed.
When we got on the boat there were drinks and hor d’oeuvres. There was also music on the top deck. Dinner was a 5-course sit-down menu, and we sat at a shared table that seated 10 people. We were pleasantly surprised that the courses were spread out throughout the night. It wasn’t something where you were served your main dish right after you finished the first course.
We were on the boat for the 9pm show and the main show at Midnight. In addition, it was part of the Harbour of Lights parade, and was in the exclusion zone. This meant that the boat was closer to the bridge and didn’t need to drop anchor. It traveled around the zone allowing for different viewpoints.
The 9:00pm show:
The Harbour of Lights Parade
Ringing in 2018
I have seen fireworks in Washington, DC many times. I have spent NYE in New York City’s Times Square and seen the fireworks right after the ball drop. I have always thought they were wonderful. They don’t even come close to the ones in Sydney.
Yes, it was very expensive, but we already knew it would be. We could have chosen a different option that would have been cheaper, but this is the one that appealed to us. I would choose it again in a heartbeat.