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More cruising in SE Asia?

SinbadThePorter
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SinbadThePorter

SinbadThePorter

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Does anyone think that the cruise lines could make more use of the islands of Indonesia and the Philippines?

 

I was just musing a bit on how the East Caribbean cruises operate and how that might relate to Australia.

 

In the US you can get cheap flights to Fort Lauderdale or Port Canaveral and jump on a ship for a 7 day cruise hitting a port nearly every night.

 

It occurred to me that Darwin might do the same job for Oz cruisers.

 

There are some ports in the region being visited such as Benoa, Lombok, Komodo and Puerto Princessa, but these seem to be infrequent and only on repositioning trips. Dili, Makassar and Balikpapan come to mind as potentially interesting ports.

 

Would it make sense to expand in the region from Darwin rather than trying to service everyone from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane? Which when you consider it, are a long way from anywhere.

 

It might also improve the cruise choices available in the winter months.

Edited by SinbadThePorter
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Kiwi Kruzer

Kiwi Kruzer

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The possibilities are mind boggling. It could easily be done. Think of the boom for Darwin. They could arrange charter planes to fly passengers in and out on the same day or offer pre/post cruise stays.

I have always thought that area is ideal for cruising.

Imagine a triangle .

Darwin the home port. .....then up through the Indonesian Islands to Singapore.....choice of flying home or carrying on to Philippines .....then down through Guam, Saipan perhaps Raboul ,PNG and back to Darwin.

Choice...:):)

 

 

.

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Opua Kiwi

Opua Kiwi

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I think they would - just to try something different. SE Asia is bursting with beautiful islands.

Agree.

Kiwis for example regularly fly to SYD and BNE and occasionally to PER for cruises.

Would certainly consider DWN.

 

Especially, as you say, for places in Indonesia, Philippines, and Micronesia.

 

Now, if only they hadn't gone and sold the lovely little Ocean on us, she would have been perfect for the role.

 

Sigh.

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gaechann

gaechann

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Great idea!

 

I'd be more than happy to fly to Darwin (again) to jump on a cruise ship.

The Legend next year is going to Hong Kong via the Philippines but before that we have to cruise the usual East Coast route from Sydney which we've done several times now!

 

A FB post to the various companies perhaps to stir them up?

 

Gae

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SinbadThePorter

SinbadThePorter

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If they offer a few cruises like that and see how they sell, they will soon know. I think it may also be a case of build it and they will come.:D

 

I think if they bundled the cruise from Darwin with return flights it would be a winner.

 

It seems to me that you could design a nice little one week cruise from Darwin that would beat the Sydney one week cruises. Seven days from Sydney barely gets you to Noumea and back. From Darwin you could touch four or five interesting ports in the trip. In a fortnight you could get to Singapore or Manilla and back easily.

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MMDown Under Holiday Sharing Rare

MMDown Under

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Expensive cruiselines, such as Silversea, are already doing it. So hopefully, smaller mass market ships, at a more affordable cost, will follow.

 

I'm amazed that the cruiselines say there is no demand. Australians fly all over the world to join cruises overseas, why wouldn't they fly to Darwin to cruise, especially in winter? Maybe they need to do some research into where Australians like to travel in winter - north!

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GandM-nq

GandM-nq

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How about from Cairns? So destination is not Indonesia, but still could be interesting.

 

P & O bought 2 smaller ships (from Holland America) recently. They are basing one of them in Cairns for a few months in 2016 - The Pacific Eden (formerly MS Ryndam ).

 

Pacific Eden’s Cairns season from September to November 2016 will feature eight roundtrip cruises including:

• Four x seven-night cruises to the islands of Papua New Guinea visiting the beautiful ports of Alotau, Kitava Island, Kiriwina Island, Doini Island, and Kawanasausau Strait and Milne Bay (scenic cruising)

• Two x 10-night cruises to the islands of Papua New Guinea visiting Alotau, Kitava Island, Rabaul, Gizo Island and Honiara in the Solomon Islands

• An 11-night Pacific cruise to Vanuatu

• A three-night comedy-themed P&OSeaBreak cruise ideal for first time cruisers.

 

Not sure how long term this is. Guess if P & O fill the ship, it could continue on.

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Esilef

Esilef

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We are on the rhapsody repositioning cruise going sydney, Brisbane, Airlie beach Darwin Bali & Singapore p. Really love how different this itinerary is. There has been quiet a few really good repositioning cruise itineraries which would be great to do during the cruise season.

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cassamanda

cassamanda

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We would normally never consider P&O but have looked at the cruises on the new acquisition sailing out of Cairns and are seriously thinking about it, those ports in PNG are very tempting.

 

Agree with you on that one. One of our sons live in Townsville, might be able to entice him as a new cruiser:)

 

Agree also with the OP but winter months only as summer is too hot and wet.

Hugh

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Kiwi_cruiser

Kiwi_cruiser

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Christmas and Cocos Islands out from W.A. would be great to be included in cruise too. Never seen a cruise ship stop there unless it was a medical evac!

 

I have been to Christmas Island on a cruise ship :)

 

We did a cruise from W.A on P&O Australia's Pacific Sun and we where the first cruise ship to dock there (We did not know if we could dock there!!).

 

The Pacific Sun only went there twice and on the 2nd time she got an escort from the Australia navy from the area.

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MicCanberra Holiday Sharing Rare

MicCanberra

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I have been to Christmas Island on a cruise ship :)

 

We did a cruise from W.A on P&O Australia's Pacific Sun and we where the first cruise ship to dock there (We did not know if we could dock there!!).

 

The Pacific Sun only went there twice and on the 2nd time she got an escort from the Australia navy from the area.

 

Turning back the boats:eek:

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joybook

joybook

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Yes, we need something other than New Zealand and/or the Pacific Islands. You can do these just so many times - we need a change. I see that we are now getting occasional cruises that include Rabaul and a couple of ther PNG stops. By beef though is that as I spent some years in PNG why can't they include Port Moresby and Lae on their itineraries. While I am not completely familiar with Lae I know from first hand experience that Port Moresby has a deep-sea harbour and certainly used to have adequate docking facilities. They would both be great places to visit with spots around for great tours.:)

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