Royal rendezvous: Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary 2 cruise ships arrive in Sydney Harbour

Two of the world’s most famous cruise ships have arrived in Sydney Harbour, to mark 10 years since the Queen Mary 2 visited the city for the first time.

The Queen Mary 2 and Queen Elizabeth met in the harbor today, a decade since the former first visited on February 10, 2007. 

It is the Queen Mary 2’s first Sydney visit since it underwent a $145 million upgrade last year – including new rooms, restaurants and more space added for pets.

The 90,900-tonne Queen Elizabeth arrived first today as the sun rose, followed by the 149,215-tonne Queen Mary 2 at 5.30am.

The ships were met by two families who were the first to greet the Queen Mary 2 in 2007.

Former water taxi driver Simon Nadjarian, his sons Stephen and Shane, along with his best mate Brian Lammare and his son Jackson, were up bright and early to recreate their experience from just over a decade ago.

The Queen Mary 2 was one of the most luxurious ships to ever hit the sea when she was christened in 2004.

The ship still boasts the largest ballroom as well as the first and largest planetarium on the sea.

The Queen Mary 2 will head for Tasmania late tonight, while the Queen Elizabeth will set off for Circular Quay before leaving Sydney tomorrow night.