Article: "Boozed-up Australians driving boom in cruise liner holidays"

A short Celebrity Cruise article published in the 4/9 Daily Telegraph website (giving a slightly different spin on the increase in Australian sailings next season): "Boozed-up Australians driving boom in cruise liner holidays"

The article mentions two sailings in 2015 that the Solstice is stopping in Adelaide but when I go to the Celebrity website it doesn't show anything for 2015! (And I was logged in!!!)

Just found my own answer:

2014 – 2015 Deployment Opening Schedule

Bermuda, Canada

& New England

March 7, 2013

Alaska

March 12, 2013

Northern Europe

March 21, 2013

Europe

March 27, 2013

South America

& Panama Canal

April 3, 2013

Caribbean

April 11, 2013

Asia, Australia

& Hawaii

April 30, 2013

So why are we still being ripped off on fares compAred to America if we are such big spenders??.?

A short Celebrity Cruise article published in the 4/9 Daily Telegraph website (giving a slightly different spin on the increase in Australian sailings next season) "Boozed-up Australians driving boom in cruise liner holidays"[/url]

Interesting article and reasoning for this business approach. I just shared a posting from late yesterday on the Australia-NZ board by woodscruise that might be somewhat related.

They have this headline: "Royal Caribbean to deploy Celebrity Century and Celebrity Solstice in Australia" with these highlights: "Royal Caribbean md Gavin Smith has just announced that two Celebrity Cruises vessels will be deployed in Australia for the 2014-15 season. Celebrity Century will join Celebrity Solstice in local waters, with Solstice also returning for its third consecutive season in 2014-15. The move follows a highly successful inaugural season for Solstice this year, with the vessel departing Sydney today for Alaska. Smith said that Celebrity had carried 35,000 passengers during its first down under deployment, about 60% of whom were from overseas. Century was built in 1995 and is smaller than the 2850-pax Solstice, carrying around 1800 passengers. It's a more "classic" vessel, Smith said, but incorporates a range of Celebrity's contemporary features including about 50% balcony cabins, an ice bar and a 9000 square foot spa area. The Century season will see the ship operate 11 Australian based voyages over a three month period before redeploying to Singapore in Jan 2015. New Celebrity destinations for the smaller ship will include Port Lincoln in South Australia, Burnie in Tasmania and Cairns in Queensland. Solstice will also return for an extended 2014-15 season of 16 voyages."

I checked and have not seen any other media reports, so far, confirming this report out of Australia. Interesting development!! Lots of comments and views expressed on this thread by others from that area. Any other experts know more?

We are looking forward to our first “down under” visit, Jan. 20-Feb. 3, 2014, Celebrity Solstice sailing, departing Sydney, going from Australia to Auckland/NZ doing 14 days on this ship we loved in the Med in June 2011. Plus, doing some pre-cruise options for Cairns/Port Douglas, the Rainforest and Great Barrier Reef, then Kangaroo Island near Adelaide before departing from Sidney’s scenic harbor. And, doing the mid-cruise ship over-night trip to and in Queenstown and then stopping in Hawaii on the way home to break up that long, long flight back. We have a nice and super active roll call going at:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1614754

Welcome to any who want to join us for this trip and/or travel along via the web as we get prepared for that "adventure".

See more details at:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1823462

THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio

Did a June 7-19, 2011, Celebrity Solstice cruise from Barcelona that had stops in Villefranche, ports near Pisa and Rome, Naples, Kotor, Venice and Dubrovnik. Enjoyed great weather and a wonderful trip. Dozens of wonderful visuals with key highlights, tips, comments, etc., on these postings. We are now at 126,616 views for this live/blog re-cap on our first sailing with Celebrity and much on wonderful Barcelona. Check these postings and added info at:

http://www.boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1426474

A short Celebrity Cruise article published in the 4/9 Daily Telegraph website (giving a slightly different spin on the increase in Australian sailings next season): "Boozed-up Australians driving boom in cruise liner holidays"

Strange claim to be honest.

On Solstice I saw no drunks......nor would I say there was any excessive drinking any more than I have seen on other cruises.

Strange claim to be honest.

 

On Solstice I saw no drunks......nor would I say there was any excessive drinking any more than I have seen on other cruises.

We saw some on Solstice but saw more on Rhapsody than we have ever seen in any of our previous 50+ cruises.

A short Celebrity Cruise article published in the 4/9 Daily Telegraph website (giving a slightly different spin on the increase in Australian sailings next season): "Boozed-up Australians driving boom in cruise liner holidays"

Actually the title of the article was 'Australians driving boom in cruise liner holidays'. While the article did indicate Australians tend to spend more money on higher class accommodation, they also tend to have a few more drinks than other passengers and more likely to take cruisers in Europe than perhaps travellers from other countries in the current economic climate. We recently sailed on the Solstice in AU/NZ waters and would have to say we never saw anyone (from any country) that we would consider 'drunk'.

So why are we still being ripped off on fares compAred to America if we are such big spenders??.?

Royal Caribbean's goal is to make as much money as possible.

High fares are only because the market can take it.

Cruises out of Singapore aren't cheap either. Even the cruises out of mainland China are rather expensive.

Actually the title of the article was 'Australians driving boom in cruise liner holidays'.

The title was altered later to the present one you see now.......

In Western Australia it included the wording of 'boozed up Australians' which I found totally offensive.

Beryl

In Western Australia it included the wording of 'boozed up Australians' which I found totally offensive.

 

Beryl

I agree. We cruise every year in the Med and Europe and have never seen any Nationality "Boozed up". I don't drink but my husband does and he is never"Boozed Up".

In Western Australia it included the wording of 'boozed up Australians' which I found totally offensive.

 

Beryl

Totally agree with you:eek: unfortunately headlines make people read articles.

Totally agree with you:eek: unfortunately headlines make people read articles.

Murdoch press. Expect no better from that mob of hacks..

Check out the news section of Cruise Critic:

http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=5310

Strange claim to be honest.

 

On Solstice I saw no drunks......nor would I say there was any excessive drinking any more than I have seen on other cruises.

You should know the Tele - and the rest of News Limited - specialise in sensationalism.

It's not news - unless it's going to provoke a reaction.

Strange claim to be honest.

 

On Solstice I saw no drunks......nor would I say there was any excessive drinking any more than I have seen on other cruises.

We were just on Solstice, the 15 Feb Top End cruise and did not notice excessive drinking on the part of any particular group of people. Of course, one evening, DW and I had a martini before dinner and then split a bottle of wine. After dinner we were done and couldn't make the show. We are usually quite good about managing our alcohol, but sometime we push it.

So why are we still being ripped off on fares compAred to America if we are such big spenders??.?

As the bumper sticker around these parts goes:

"Is that a true story? Or did you read it in The Telegraph?"

In reference to the argument that prices are high because the market will support that. I would argue that this is only sustainable in the short term, as Australian retail has found to its cost. It only takes a trickle of customers to use technology to find overseas "bargain" prices and before you know it, enough people will follow suit to hurt.

NOBODY likes feeling like they're being ripped off and in time there will surely be a backlash.