Parking no breeze for mega-liner

IF YOU think parallel parking is a pain, imagine being at the wheel of this 137,000-tonne, 311m floating metropolis.

Voyager of the Seas

IF YOU think parallel parking is a pain, imagine being at the wheel of this 137,000-tonne, 311m floating metropolis.

For some, like Melbourne's Dianne and David White, who decided to stay on board, the Top End heat was a bit much.

"I don't know how you locals handle it," Dianne said, taking a quick break from one of three pools to try out the top deck mini-golf course.

The ship set sail from Singapore eight days ago and left for Brisbane yesterday.

Its final stop is Sydney in a week's time.

The the man in charge is Norway's Captain Charles Tiege, a third generation ship master who has been sailing since he was five.

His bridge looks like something from the Starship Enterprise - a mash of levers, screens and buttons.

To dock, Captain Tiege stands at separate control panels on the starboard or port side and gently glides the $800 million monster into place - it is the most challenging part of his job.

"You have a car that is five metres long, I have a ship that is 311 metres. You need to have the feeling," he says.

On board is anything passengers could possibly need or want - and some.

A theatre, a wedding chapel, rock climbing wall, ice rink, running track and a three-level grand dining room are just some of the attractions.

If a guest feels like a spot of shopping, there is a not-so mini mall at the ready, complete with bars, jewellery outlets and a general store, which just happens to display $1000 Scotch.

But it's not all for the rich and glamorous. Rooms begin at about $100 per night and rise to about $600 for penthouse suites.

Voyager of the Seas