They arrive for another bumper season in OZ :-)

[floatie]

http://www.smh.com.au/travel/record-...012-27i8v.html

Here they come... the more the merrier
Some interesting figures mentioned in that article..

While our $$'s are worth lining up for it is a shame these cruise lines don't go too far out of their way to accomodate Australians, ie us currency onboard, us power outlets, us style menu items, no access to us fare rates and conditons, etc ...

[MMDown Under]

Originally Posted by floatie

http://www.smh.com.au/travel/record-...012-27i8v.html

Here they come... the more the merrier
Some interesting figures mentioned in that article..

While our $$'s are worth lining up for it is a shame these cruise lines don't go too far out of their way to accomodate Australians, ie us currency onboard, us power outlets, us style menu items, no access to us fare rates and conditons, etc ...

A peak of 40 ships in just 29 days in ''Super February'' will help this year overtake the record of 198 total ship visits to Sydney, set last season, by 30 per cent.

The Radiance of the Seas' passenger manifest reveals 90 per cent of the 2100 people disembarking yesterday, after a 17-night voyage from Hawaii, were Australian.

Mr Smith, who is also the chairman of the International Cruise Council of Australasia, said the industry is following the strength of the Australian dollar. It has found the local market receptive to the idea of a holiday at sea.

''The stronger economy is providing a better return, and the better return is attracting a better quality of ship,'' he said.


This season will also be marked by the opening of the $57 million cruise passenger terminal at White Bay in March. However, the new terminal will remain inaccessible to mega-liners too tall to pass under the Harbour Bridge, fuelling ongoing debate about the need for access to Garden Island despite a planned $30 million upgrade of the Overseas Passenger Terminal.

The chief executive of Carnival Australia, Ann Sherry, said access to Garden Island for three ships during the next two cruise seasons was a ''step forward''.

But Ms Sherry said the developments would not go far enough to support long-term growth, and access to Garden Island for ship overflow during the peak season should be part of the permanent three-berth solution for the harbour.

Some interesting points in this article.

90% of passengers on Radiance were Australian reaffirms my belief that more Australians would like to cruise to or from Hawaii, one way. The inaugural Australian cruise on Rhapsody in 2007 demonstrated the demand.

I question the comment that "the stronger economy is providing a better return, and the better return is attracting a better quality of ship". I believe it is more to do with the American economy and the American market. When I watched the cruise ships sailaway from Fort Lauderdale, the latest "flavour of the month" cruise megaships were packed, whilst Voyager of the Seas was empty. It was time to find a new destination.

I feel the relatively short peak season in February doesn't warrant the long term spoiling of the beautiful Sydney Harbour, with development of port infrastructure, nor massive expenditure by the NSW or Australian Governments.

[fnqboatie]

Originally Posted by floatie

While our $$'s are worth lining up for it is a shame these cruise lines don't go too far out of their way to accomodate Australians, ie us currency onboard, us power outlets, us style menu items, no access to us fare rates and conditons, etc ...

Whilst that may be true for some hit and run liners, Carnival Spirit will be staying here for a while and is atleast making an effort.

She is changing to Australian currency. She will have 220 volt Australian power outlets. Modified menus to reflect Australian tastes (and includes a new BBQ food station topside near pool). Local beers including VB, Tooheys New, Carlton Draught and XXXX on tap, as well as Pure Blonde and Crown Lager bottles. Australian and NZ sourced wines.

You can debate that fares don't seem comparitve to what US cruisers pay for their cruises from USA. But they are competitive to other cruise lines that are currently based here in Aus. And yes, conditions/policy seem to be less favourable to us :/

[babyz]

Url3ss the ship ifs positioned here permanently however and they still get sellouts nowhere trips they won't change over to accommodate us, why would they spend money when we just jump on board anyway. Would be nice to see some odd the changes however, it was part of the turn off for us going on her Christmas cruise this year was the US dollars etc,next year maybe. But the people I'm travelling withered hard enough to convince to come on an Australian liner let alone once they won't understand.

[6andy6]

Originally Posted by floatie

http://www.smh.com.au/travel/record-...012-27i8v.html

Here they come... the more the merrier
Some interesting figures mentioned in that article..

While our $$'s are worth lining up for it is a shame these cruise lines don't go too far out of their way to accomodate Australians, ie us currency onboard, us power outlets, us style menu items, no access to us fare rates and conditons, etc ...

100% disagree. I wouldn't cruise them if they 'Aussiefied' the ships I've sailed upon. I could think of nothing more repulsive....if I want that I would cruise the dumbed down P&O.

As we have seen with Carnival, aussiefying a ship means dumbing it down, charging for things that don't get charged for on US ships and treating us like children. If you think that's a great holiday I can save the money and fly up to the Gold Coast.

And given our dollar is stronger than the US dollar then purchases dollar for dollar should be either cost neutral or in our favor.

As for food....I can go to Coles or an AFL match if I want typical Aussie tucker....which I can eat for the other 50 weeks a year.

The attitude reminds me of Aussies that fly all the way to London but spend their time in bars with other Aussies, drinking aussienbeer and moaning they can't get Vegemite and about the weather. If that's the case why bother leaving....

[badgerbill]

Well said 6andy6 totally agree with everything you have said especially your last comment cheers Shiona

[babyz]

Originally Posted by 6andy6

100% disagree. I wouldn't cruise them if they 'Aussiefied' the ships I've sailed upon. I could think of nothing more repulsive....if I want that I would cruise the dumbed down P&O.

As we have seen with Carnival, aussiefying a ship means dumbing it down, charging for things that don't get charged for on US ships and treating us like children. If you think that's a great holiday I can save the money and fly up to the Gold Coast.

And given our dollar is stronger than the US dollar then purchases dollar for dollar should be either cost neutral or in our favor.

As for food....I can go to Coles or an AFL match if I want typical Aussie tucker....which I can eat for the other 50 weeks a year.

The attitude reminds me of Aussies that fly all the way to London but spend their time in bars with other Aussies, drinking aussienbeer and moaning they can't get Vegemite and about the weather. If that's the case why bother leaving....

i totally understand your point of veiw, its hard for me to book trips with certain people on cruise ships because they are very much aussie only type people, they refuse to travel overseas when they can,
and only because i pushed and pushed for them to let me pick the trip this year we are cruising, my hope is for them to fall in love with the dumbed down cruise as you say,
that they will want to branch out to something bigger and better, im hoping to go on a trip next year on one of the big american liners, but for now unless i want to travel alone i need to go with my friends. im not sure im ready to be going on my own just yet.
im a bit down over the fact we didnt get to do the christmas cruise on the american liner, i think it would have been fantasitc, ill just have to stick to the p&o new years one instead.
my theory at the moment any cruise is better then no cruise,
its exciting mroe and mroe ships are coming downunder at least there will be more options for me in the future.

[m4yb]

And please, we need more to come to Western Australia.... we have "lost" Pacific Sun which was based off Fremantle part of the year, and now things are looking bad for Athena which was here in our summer as well.

[ceejay3377]

Hello all,

I also want throw in a vote against "Aussiefying" ships. P&O have a well established and dedicated market with plenty of people who love to sail with them, but I am not one of them. I have found my preferred cruising style, and it is on the "American" style ships.

I don't have an issue with using a different currency, I have plenty of electrical adapters for all my tech gear I take , I LOVE the food choices on HAL, and I like that I can have 24 hour room service at no extra cost (except the customary tip for the steward). I don't have a problem with tipping situation as I understand how and why it is in place and choose not to force my Aussie values into a US values experience.

In the past cruises on these ships did cost a little more. Our first cruise on HAL was $3000pp for 14 nights in an outside cabin. A similar cruise this summer would be half that (YAY for us!!). In fact, I have chosen a suite on our January HAL cruise that comes in well under that original fare. I am cruising both HAL and Celebrity this January for a similar price to one cruise just a few years ago, and IMHO not only are they competitively priced, many of the things that are extras on P&O and 'Aussie' Princess' are included in the price. The only extra cost is the HSC if it hasn't been prepaid, which I figure is something I add on to my cruise fare (as P&O and Princess have done to theirs).

Isn't variety a wonderful choice for us Aussies? Bring it on, I say, and I hope it continues for a few more years, at least.

[Mum81]

I agree with all of you above who don't want another "Australianised Ship".

It cost me $10 to buy a European adapter (so I don't need a voltage convertor) to cruise on the Radiance of the Seas. You can go to any Post Office in Australia right now and buy US dollars, dollar for dollar.

I have also been able to pre purchase: soft drink packages, juice & water packages for our stateroom, book and pre pay speciality dining venues (in Aussie dollars), pre reserve our Anytime Dining times and table, pre book and pay my spa treatments and not be treated like a child regarding alcohol policies. None of which I can do with P & O or Carnival Spirit.

I sure hope they don't make all ships coming to Australia like P & O, I like having a choice.

[Bella cruiser]

Originally Posted by Mum81

agree with all of you above who don't want another "Australianised Ship".......not be treated like a child regarding alcohol policies. None of which I can do with P & O or Carnival Spirit.

I sure hope they don't make all ships coming to Australia like P & O, I like having a choice.

You can't bring a bottle of booze for personal consumption on Radiance or Rhapsody either, so seems like they are treating you like kids too, then. Wonder why you didn't mention that?

Apart from Princess, does anyone know which other lines allow passengers to bring on their own wine for sail away drinks.

[Mum81]

Originally Posted by Bella cruiser

You can't bring a bottle of booze for personal consumption on Radiance or Rhapsody either, so seems like they are treating you like kids too, then. Wonder why you didn't mention that?

Apart from Princess, does anyone know which other lines allow passengers to bring on their own wine for sail away drinks.

I didn't mention that simply because neither my husband or myself drink wine, so we wouldn't carry any onboard anyway.

I was more referring to the fact that Royal Caribbean have mini bars in the staterooms, and don't practice a "no alcohol in stateroom policy" like P & O and Carnival, allowing us to enjoy a beverage other than a soft drink on our balcony.

I am not sure of any other lines that allow you to bring your own.

[cjm66]

Originally Posted by Bella cruiser

You can't bring a bottle of booze for personal consumption on Radiance or Rhapsody either, so seems like they are treating you like kids too, then. Wonder why you didn't mention that?

Apart from Princess, does anyone know which other lines allow passengers to bring on their own wine for sail away drinks.

Of the lines sailing our waters, HAL is all the wine you can manage (within reason) - cartons of a dozen bottles are not uncommon and you can book it through as cabin baggage , Princess still allows one per port per passenger. Coincidently just deleted an email from CC with this info about BYOB.

http://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=1455

Cheers - is there an emoticon for hiccup!

[6andy6]

Celebrity Cruises not only retain their in cabin mini bar, you can order a bar set up (for cost off course) in our cabin, bring on board a bottle of wine on embarkation, AND have retained all their beverage packages. In fact all their Bon Voyage packages have been retained.

But I am assuming Celebrity is pitching their cruises at a different market than say a P&O or Carnival.

Plus on Celebrity under 21's can only drink alcohol if a parent or guardian traveling with them signs a waiver....and this is for Australia ( I take it that such a policy maybe being used to eliminate the booze and cruise 18-21 market that P&O attracts and that Carnival has a problem with...

I did cheekily try to get Celebrity to drop my fare or give or OBC due to the prices drops but they claimed it was against policy....que sera sera.

[Sutho]

I would prefer the foreign style of cruising over ours any day. I have never had a problem with the British style and Americal style. P&O UK world cruising offeres a wide variety of entertainment geared to nationalities through their cruises. Changing Carnival Spirity to Australian style does not sit well with me. Its like changing the identity of the line compared to what you would get overseas. For me cruising is something different. I dont want to go away just to do things and get things I can easily do at home.

[Sandielle]

P&O do allow wine in their staterooms now. You just can't bring it on board.

[fnqboatie]

Originally Posted by Mum81

I was more referring to the fact that Royal Caribbean have mini bars in the staterooms, and don't practice a "no alcohol in stateroom policy" like P & O and Carnival, allowing us to enjoy a beverage other than a soft drink on our balcony.

Carnival has done a bit of a backflip with their policy regards alcohol in rooms. First they said no alcohol and minibars would be emptied! Now they have changed back to full minibars plus you can order drinks to your room, albeit in limited orders (couple beers or 1 wine bottle per adult). Still no alcohol carryon on embarkation though. Hope they will review that too.

[Mum81]

Originally Posted by fnqboatie

Carnival has done a bit of a backflip with their policy regards alcohol in rooms. First they said no alcohol and minibars would be emptied! Now they have changed back to full minibars plus you can order drinks to your room, albeit in limited orders (couple beers or 1 wine bottle per adult). Still no alcohol carryon on embarkation though. Hope they will review that too.

That's great news about the mini-bars (for those of us who prefer a drink on our own balcony). Can I ask where you found this info?

[pwkmpjm]

Originally Posted by Mum81

That's great news about the mini-bars (for those of us who prefer a drink on our own balcony). Can I ask where you found this info?

Carnival announced over 2 weeks ago on an official Carnival site that Mini Bars would be available on the Spirit in Australia. It's not hard to find if you go to the trouble to look.

[Mum81]

Originally Posted by pwkmpjm

Carnival announced over 2 weeks ago on an official Carnival site that Mini Bars would be available on the Spirit in Australia. It's not hard to find if you go to the trouble to look.

I've done more than look, I've been in touch with the customer relations department at Carnival Australia (less than 2 weeks ago), who have informed me that the mini bars will now become "refreshment bars" containing soft drinks and snacks (no alcohol of any kind).

When I complained that they were still advertising mini bars in their brochures and on their website, they agreed to compensate me by way of OBC. That's why I was curious where you got the information about the mini bars. I still am, if you don't mind telling me