White Bay Terminal, Sydney Shuttle Query

[prescottbob]

Ahoy!

 

I was interested to see if HAL provided any sort of shuttle service to recent cruisers from the White Bay Terminal (we'll be doing an overnight docking in October) to the Circular Quay & return.

 

I've researched the daytime Captain Cook ferries for cruise ships, water taxis, the nearby bus schedule(s) and various taxi fares via the internet.

 

I thought I read somewhere that the WC folks had a shuttle service available (as well they should) but I wasn't sure if the other HAL cruises overnighting in Sydney docking in White Bay had the same 'perk'.

 

Thanks so much for any current information.

 

Bon Voyage & Good Health!

Bob:)

[GUT2407]

I was going to suggest Capt Cook, but seems you have looked at those.

 

Most shuttle buses go either to Central Station or The CBD and then you can get a bus or train to the Quay.

 

Probably not much help I'm sorry, but HAL doesn't overnight there very often.

[take us away]

The past few WC's have offered a free shuttle to circular quay but not sure if the Australian cruises do the same.

[erewhon]

Have you contacted HAL to ask if a shuttle bus will be available?

[dillpickle48]

I have just emailed Captain Cook Cruises about their availability on the 20th and 21st October. Their reply is below.

 

Thank you for inquiry and attached below is the link to White Bay ferry

page.

Sydney Ports updates their berths bookings every 14 days so Ships and berths can change.

 

Timetables are usually uploaded around 14 -21 days before departure.

 

https://www.captaincook.com.au/sydney-harbour-cruises/ferries/white-bay-cruise-terminal-city-ferry/

 

Bookings are open at this stage.

 

Kind regards

 

The Customer Service team

Websites: http://www.captaincook.com.au http://www.sealink.com.au

 

[erewhon]

I have just emailed Captain Cook Cruises about their availability on the 20th and 21st October. Their reply is below.

 

Thank you for inquiry and attached below is the link to White Bay ferry

page.

Sydney Ports updates their berths bookings every 14 days so Ships and berths can change.

 

Timetables are usually uploaded around 14 -21 days before departure.

 

https://www.captaincook.com.au/sydney-harbour-cruises/ferries/white-bay-cruise-terminal-city-ferry/

 

Bookings are open at this stage.

 

Kind regards

;

The Customer Service team

Websites: www.captaincook.com.au www.sealink.com.au

 

 

Thanks for this information.

[prescottbob]

A 6/8 reply from Capt. Cook. (I looked into the water taxis and they don't appear to be for the 'budget savy' cruiser.) :)

 

Thank you for your email enquiry.

Please find attached a sample timetable for our White Bay service.

 

Our earliest service from White Bay is at 8.10am* and the latest departure back from Circular Quay is at 2.05pm* (*subject to change)

 

For water taxi services you can try the below companies:

 

- Yellow Water Taxis 1300138840

 

- Water Taxis Combined (02)95558888

 

Should you require further assistance please do not hesitate to contact us.

 

Kind regards,

 

Victoria

 

Sydney Harbour Reservations Consultant

 

Captain Cook Cruises

Postal: No 6 Jetty Circular Quay Sydney NSW 2000

Reservation Phone: +61 2 9206 1111

 

Fax: +61 2 9251 4725

 

Email: reservations@captaincook.com.au

 

Website: http://www.captaincook.com.au

[bcummin]

Have you contacted HAL to ask if a shuttle bus will be available?

Our experience has been that even HAL does not seem to really know until the day's program is out the evening before, whether there will be a shuttle or not. They might guess, but we have seen surprises.

 

Barbara

Edited June 10, 2016 by bcummin

[Copper10-8]

Back in February of this year, the Sydney Port Authority offered a complimentary shuttle from White Bay Cruise Terminal to George Street near Circular Quay. The ride was approx. 20-30 min each way depending on traffic, went over the ANZAC bridge, an ran from 0900-2330 hrs. on the first day and from 0900-1700 hrs. on the second day.

 

A Captain Cook's ferry, docked behind White Bay (an approx. ten min walk due to fencing), cost $10 AUS, went underneath the Sydney Harbor bridge, and took ten minutes to get to Circular Quay

[erewhon]

Back in February of this year, the Sydney Port Authority offered a complimentary shuttle from White Bay Cruise Terminal to George Street near Circular Quay. The ride was approx. 20-30 min each way depending on traffic, went over the ANZAC bridge, an ran from 0900-2330 hrs. on the first day and from 0900-1700 hrs. on the second day.

 

A Captain Cook's ferry, docked behind White Bay (an approx. ten min walk due to fencing), cost $10 AUS, went underneath the Sydney Harbor bridge, and took ten minutes to get to Circular Quay

 

Thank you for this information.

[Copper10-8]

Thank you for this information.

 

Anytime Phil ; Kia Ora! :)

[prescottbob]

Back in February of this year, the Sydney Port Authority offered a complimentary shuttle from White Bay Cruise Terminal to George Street near Circular Quay. The ride was approx. 20-30 min each way depending on traffic, went over the ANZAC bridge, an ran from 0900-2330 hrs. on the first day and from 0900-1700 hrs. on the second day.

 

A Captain Cook's ferry, docked behind White Bay (an approx. ten min walk due to fencing), cost $10 AUS, went underneath the Sydney Harbor bridge, and took ten minutes to get to Circular Quay

 

Gracias mi amigo.

 

Roberto

[bcummin]

Hopefully HAL will want to make you happy with shuttle service, Bob. More services might have been offered for the Grand World Voyage than your Circumnavigation of Australia might receive. Even with the shuttle service in February, it was not perfection, as posted in blogs:

 

Bill & Mary Ann: “. . . we had to go to the White Bay Terminal instead. Bummer. Don't get us wrong, we are thrilled to be here in this fabulous city, but being docked so far away from downtown will cut into the actual time we really spend here.

The local Port Authority did provide complimentary shuttles that began running at 9am to 11:30pm. The first three buses filled up quickly, then took off into the early morning traffic jam. Then there was a wait, as the guests lined up. Local fellows handed out bus tickets, 28 at a time. By the time we walked to the line, we were given bus three tickets. That could be an hour at this rate. Thanks to a number of folks that did not wish to wait, and pay $10 each for a one way ferry ride to Circular Quay, we moved up to group two. Finally a bus came back, and we were able to get on bus one. By the way, there was no cutting in line, because without that ticket, you were turned away. A few did try, and were politely told to go back to the terminal and get a number.

The 30 minute ride took us over the modern Anzac Bridge, past the Fish Market, Darling Harbour, and eventually to The Rocks at Circular Quay. . .”

 

The Inside Cabin: “. . . The shuttle busses to Circular Quay wouldn’t start until 9AM. We left the ship about 9:30 and learned that the terminal is a ghost town, there is nothing inside, no shops no snack bars, no WiFi. We were a little puzzled when we saw many passengers sitting in chairs staring at their phones, usually a sure sign of a WiFi hotspot, but learned that they were waiting for the next shuttle bus. HAL passed out numbers to organize the queue for people to wait for the next shuttle bus. Once we saw “tender tickets” were involved, we shared a cab with another couple and headed to Circular Quay on our own. We normally take UBER, but the cab was right there so we jumped in with the other couple. This ride provided another reason to avoid taxis and take UBER as the cab driver got confused, or lost, and we were well past the Circular Quay freeway exit by time we got turned around. The taxi dropped us off at the southwest corner of Circular Quay which happened to be the same spot used by the HAL shuttle busses. . .“

 

I think that your Maasdam will have more passengers than the Amsterdam, so patience could really be tested.

I have not succeeded in finding blogs about other HAL cruises docking at White Bay.

You will surely enjoy your Circumnavigation of Australia, but White Bay might be a challenge. With cruises, anything can change.

 

Barbara

[Copper10-8]

Gracias mi amigo.

 

Roberto

De nada, compadre ;)

[prescottbob]

Just an update for those interested in the topic.

 

An email from HAL:

 

"Thank you for your correspondence with Holland America Line regarding transfers in Sydney on October 20, 2016. We apologize that an unexpected increase in email inquiries resulted in a delayed response time.

 

There will be transportation, or transfers, provided for guests to travel from the White Bay Cruise Terminal to the Circular Quay. More details will be provided once you are onboard.

 

Thank you for contacting Holland America Line. Please feel free to contact us if we may be of additional assistance or visit us online. We look forward to welcoming you onboard in the near future!"

 

Bon Voyage & Be Well!

Bob

[bcummin]

Good news.

Thank you, Bob.

 

Barbara

[erewhon]

Thank you for the information, Bob.

Guess the transport will also be available on the 21st.

[The-Inside-Cabin]

As mentioned earlier, we took an Uber to the Rocks. Distance 4.71 miles. time 20 minutes during rush hour. Fare 21.81 Australian.

 

The shuttle bus stop was at the rocks. The red star marks the shuttle bus stop.

 

 

Here is a LINK to my Sydney Posts. http://www.theinsidecabin.com

 

You can use the map on the first page to find and port of interest and open up that post.

[boards]

Thank you for the map. It brings back wonderful memories of past cruises where we have then stayed in Sydney before returning home to Canada. We ate breakfast right near that shuttle stop every morning for five days the last time there in 2014. We stayed in the Four Seasons, wow, it was great. Thank you.