The singer Kylie Minogue joined Carnival Spirit  and made an onboard video explaining her 'embrace' theme while the ship was in Circular Quay, Sidney on Thursday.

Kylie said "Embrace is all about acceptance, tolerance, diversity and above all, love."

"In a city of great diversity we come together at New Year's Eve to embrace the future and celebrate all that we are, and the potential that tomorrow holds.

"It's also about that magical moment at midnight when we throw our arms around the people we love and express our happiness."

This year she is event's creative ambassador and announced the plan for one million Sydneysiders to get in on the action on New Years eve.

People who will download a Telstra smartphone app and join this event can hold their phones up by the harbor side as the clock ticks closer to midnight.
The app will have flashing signs and is meant to create sea of phones lighting the Sidney’s harbor  in sync in magenta, yellow, purple and blue.

Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the interactive light show would be a world-first - as befits the world's "New Year's Eve capital", and the event's $6.6 million price tag.

"This event is not just for Sydneysiders, it's for visitors both from around Australia and from abroad," she said on Thursday.

"We draw larger crowds than celebrations in London, Paris, Berlin or New York."

Fireworks director Fortunato Foti announced the pyrotechnic display might not be bigger than in previous years, but he said it will be unforgettable and unique experience.

"Hopefully people will go away saying, 'I haven't seen that before”