Christmas day in Melbourne

Just wondering what (if anything) will be open. We are scheduled to be in Melbourne on the Celebrity Solstice, that day. Thanks for your help.:)

You dock at Station Pier, in Port Melbourne. There are a few restaurants at the end of the pier that may be open, if you were looking for Xmas lunch, but they would have that on the ship anyway.

Walk along the waterfront towards St. Kilda. Very pleasant walk.

Take a tram (situated at the end of the pier) into the City (10-15 minute ride). Crown Casino (restaurants, theatres, movies, gambling) will be open.

Not too sure if the big department stores (Myer, David Jones etc) will be open with their super Xmas sales will be open then or not.

But just walking around the city and along the Yarra would be pleasant as well.

Melbourne Zoo is open and offers a catered picnic lunch. You need to book well ahead for the lunch we discovered too late a few years ago. Try this link to the Zoo.

http://www.zoo.org.au/melbourne

The shops will not open until Boxing Day when it is a feeding frenzy! Lots of restaurants offer Christmas lunch (just Google Melbourne Restaurants open on Christmas Day) but you should get the full deal on board at dinner and possibly lunch as well so I would opt for the Zoo.

Try Christmas lunch at the conservatory at Crown.... Yummmm

Just a thought - why would anyone go looking to book an Xmas lunch - paying over the odds - when you're already paying over the odds for your cruise because it is the festive season - and your Xmas lunch & dinner would be fantastic on board - take that walk and zoo trip after lunch - no shops or malls open on Christmas Day anywhere in Aus, so walk them calories off :eek:- and go enjoy Christmas dinner at night on board ;)

It is sad that the Solstice is doing Christmas Day as a shore day - especially for those who have never been to Melbourne before and they won't see it at it's best. Fabulous City

Thanks so much for all of the replies. I'm thinking the zoo trip is probably what we will do. I will let the other people in our group know what your suggestions were. Thanks again.:D

Do yourself a favour and make it the werribee zoo! A little longer to get there but well worth it.