Where do you see the Future of Cruising in Australia ?

Now that we have our own new board, lets all look to the exciting future we have coming up with cruising Down Under.

What would you like to see?

What itineraries would you like?

What length of cruise would you like?

Where would you like to board the cruise?

Would you want a pre/post cruise stay?

plus anything you want to chat about re the new ships coming our way..

For me , I would like to see cruising in our Winter up the Queensland Coast.

Sydney, Brisbane, Cruising GBR, Whitsundays, Townsville Port Douglas and Cairns, perhaps even up to Darwin through the Top End, and return.

I would like to see it operating all season with segments available...

eg Sydney to Cairns, Brisbane to Darwin, Darwin to Port Douglas, etc etc.

The only daw back I can see is that the ports can not handle the bigger ships that are coming.

So what can we do?

Where can new ports or docking facilities be built to handle it all?

Good thread David. I would definately like to see more cruises to Tahiti and some new destinations would be nice.

We cruised up the Queensland coast in October and it was fantastic, no visas, no people trying to sell you 3 piece suits in 40 degree heat or dodgy watches or offering you taxi rides every 20 seconds.

Living in Perth as we do we would love to see more cruises up the west Australian coast from Freo to Darwin. (On ships that would make the journey that is! P&O?).

With the WA government now allowing the casinos to open in WA waters this is more than possible.

Broome, Coral Bay, Kalbarri, Lake Argyle, Albany too maybe and Bussleton, tours into the Kimberley and Pilbara regions, Darwin, Kakadu. It would be fantastic.

Speaking as someone who has driven up the coast it is a once in a lifetime trip in every sense of the word, NEVER AGAIN. Unless that is you like looking at rock.

There is just too much space in between the good bits. You must see some of these before you fall off the perch as some of the scenery around the good bits is stunning and it belongs to us.

Anyway here's hoping

What would you like to see?

Perhaps some smaller ships to get into some more out of the way places.

What itineraries would you like?

There are some itineraries that interest me already coming out especially the ones involving Hawaii and sailing home through Tahitii. Also some going to NG and Borneo and perhaps involving a longer stay in Bali and Darwin. A decent price for fly/cruises out of the west.

What length of cruise would you like?

Personally the longer the better! However realistically that makes it too hard for workers and families so I guess around 14 days..that's when I am just settling in and I have to get off.:mad:

Where would you like to board the cruise?

I don't mind...anywhere is good but for overseas tourists to have more starting in the North and West combined with a few land days would be attractive. Mind you its hard to go past sailing out of Sydney on a brilliant day...wow what a harbour.

Would you want a pre/post cruise stay?

Depends but I always go a day early anyway..who needs stress on sailing day.

One Cruise line I would like to see down here,

and I believe would do very well indeed is MSC.

Reason why?

They have one of the most modern fleet of ships in the world.

They are family orientated.

Australia has an Italian connection.

They could do a repositioning cruise from Italy, through Suez,

cruise here for the season ,

then return to the Med.

One Cruise line I would like to see down here,

and I believe would do very well indeed is MSC.

 

Reason why?

 

They have one of the most modern fleet of ships in the world.

They are family orientated.

Australia has an Italian connection.

 

They could do a repositioning cruise from Italy, through Suez,

cruise here for the season ,

then return to the Med.

 

 

 

I was told that is the plan, David. However they were going to SE Asia first.

I agree MSC would do well here. Just imagine the publicity they would receive if they brought Sophia Loren down here to publicise their cruise line.

Hope they come well before the advertised Gallipoli 150th Anniversary cruise.