Cruise Passenger readers always have plenty to say about what’s going on in Australian cruise, and in the broader cruise community. In Your Say, Cruise Passenger looks at the issues our readers are writing to us about on our blogs, posts and newsletters.
Cruisers also have had plenty to say on Melbourne’s declining number of cruise calls.
Cruise Passenger reader Jeanette has shared her frustration, and the cost effect of Melbourne no longer homeporting large cruise ships.
She wrote: “We recently took our 10 grandkids on a cruise, the cost to just fly us to and from Brisbane was over $8000, we could have lived without that, plus the hotel fees on top of it. We need to get tourism in Melbourne back on its feet.”
Avice Dabaco said: “It would be wonderful to have the cruise ships leaving from Melbourne again. I wish they would spend money doing up the terminal. Lower the fees and imagine how much revenue that would bring into Melbourne. And also people from South Australia would visit Victoria”
Kym Chierego said: “Hope the Victorian government can get it sorted. We love cruising out of Melbourne. And will support any cruise company that does. But not holding our breath with this government.”
Donna Kennedy said: “You could fix everything about Station Pier, move a cruise terminal to deep water Westernport, fix the price of port fees, but none of those can guarantee decent weather heading out of the Heads into Bass Straight. No one wants to start a holiday with cold weather and sea sickness.
“That said, I have taken the risk and booked a Carnival cruise out of Melbourne for 2027 for a change from Sydney!
Cruisers also shared some nostalgic takes on the closing of P&O Cruises.
Tanya Wood said: “P&O were much more family oriented. Cheaper prices so the whole family could go without busting the bank balance. I prefer them over Carnival”
Adam Bryan said: “We went on the Pacific Adventure’s second last P&O cruise and loved it. We always went for P&O due to the laid-back vibe and affordability. For all our cruises between 2016 and 2025, they were exclusively with P&O.”
Jonathan Bannister said: “I miss Pacific Explorer from Melbourne. It was a great ship and gave Melbourne an affordable option. Right now the flights to Sydney cost more than the actual cruise.”
Please keep those comments coming!
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In Your Say, we look at the issues our readers are writing to us about on our blogs, posts and newsletters.
When Elegant Lady was in Australia Virgin Voyages wanted to base all their cruising from Melbourne.. The answer to this was increased Docking charges. Virgin left Australia. Melbourne Docks are by an authority that’s cares nothing for Melbournites, for the businesses that cruise ships support. Ignorance is destructive.
Melbourne should Never have lost Cruise ships from operating here.
Lower the port charges, freshen up Station Pier, and (if possible) add long term parking.
Melbourne needs Cruise ships back, for at least 6-8 months a year.
Build Victoria’s economy again
The remedy is very simple.
Governor General sacks the Current State Government…. for their incompetent and secretive attitude toward the voting people, (well they managed to sack the Federal Labour Government circa 1975 didn’t they) and hope to say good riddance to them and maybe future Governments may learn to respect the people that vote them in, work for the population not themselves. We used to cruise out of station pier as well but stopped when the cruise companies stopped and refuse to make the greedy airlines richer.
Adelaide is also in a similar situation.
Carnival is more expensive than P&O was, P&O had a great atmosphere. We haven’t been on Carnival as yet but have booked Adventure for 2027 out of Sydney.
We loved cruising out of our homeport, even though we only did a couple of cruises from Adelaide, both post covid. First one on the explorer was furst cruise out of Adelaide post covid. Boarding was relatively smooth.
Our other cruises were out of Sydney on Pacific Jewel.
Please bring back Adelaide and Melbourne as homeports.
That’s Insane.I am one person and it was just over half that including 2 nights in Malaysia on the way home plus an overnight in Hong Kong,insurance and flights and a few extras for a Japan cruise.If they think they can keep giving people the same old boring usual south pacific or new zealand cruises all the time they have another thing coming.I urge all who want a change try Asia cruises or European river cruises.
I think it is crazy that a city as large as Melbourne with almost the same population as Sydney, now has such a poor cruise timetable. I know increased port fees has been mentioned but that cannot be true. Port fees are about $40.00/person. How much difference would it make if it was dropped by $10.00/person? Next to nothing. If cruise companies want to charge an extra $50/person to travel out of Melbourne, it is pretty obvious Melbournians would rather pay that then travel to Sydney. The state government needs to wake up and get the cruise industry going again in Melbourne
Try flying a family from north Qld to Bne or Syd for a cruise holiday. You just gotta get used to having to pay and factor it in.
So thank you Royal Caribbean’s for a wonderful cruise from 28th December to 8th January which Irene & John from room 3/222 and Peter & Vicki from room 3/158 would like to congratulate Nayan & Johnedel our waiters in the Grande Dining Hall for their excellent service in meeting all our needs but not only in service but very their caring and friendly nature. We would definitely put their names forward for a reward of some kind. Also thank you to Hiren our room attendant from 3/222 who always greeted us with a smile and met all our needs. Thanks again Royal Caribbean for a wonderful time we had.
None of our state pollies cruise, so they don’t care. And they don’t take holidays in Victoria either.
100% agree! We need cruises from Melbourne!
Anyone making a machete reference is basically admitting they are gullible mainstream media tragics.
Please explain to me how Melbourne benifits from local cruise ships.
Doesnt really benifit Restaurants as the cruise ship provides meals, Doesnt help Accomodation providers , cruise ship provides, Doesnt Benifit Taxis because ships provide shuttle buses, doesnt help bus companies much because low margines lucky to use 12 buses and for half day maybe a bit more. Bus drivers and commentary drivers rarely get tips, Provides little revenue for souveniers operators also provided on board, they crowd our attractions, smash our public toilets, crowd Port Melbourne and Stkilda, take alot of the free maps.
Lets be honest most people on cruise ships are tight a.ses! Privilaged spoiled baby boomers and some have started to loose there manors after dealing with very poor phillapeno SLAVES working long hours for next to nothing!
Keep your passengers, we dont need them.
Carnival destroyed the goodwill of their P&O brand. They abandoned ports and now want big ships in big ports and longer cruises to ….where?
Melbourne used to be a port of call and now SA, Tassie and Vic, Kangaroo Is, Eden etc are ….gone.
Its time Carnival takes its ships and leaves. Allow a real brand to fill it.
We have just booked a six nights Carnival cruise from Melbourne in 2027 taking our grandchildren and parents, ten all up. Unfortunately there are so few cruises departing from Melbourne now the choices are very limited. We don’t have a problem with the terminal at Station Pier as the location is very accessible via public transport. Admittedly it is dated and could almost pass as a hertage building with some modifications.
However it serves the purpose for us as far as shipboarding is concerned.
With berthing fees lower than those at Circular Quay in Sydney why are Princess, Carnival. etc avoiding homeporting a ship in Melbourne over the summer season?
Every single person who likes to cruise in Victoria needs to vote out this labour government so that we can get boats back in Victoria
the defunct Allan government is too busy giving our money away to protesters and youth who run riot through the streets. hopefully a change of government in November sees some sense and cruise ships return to the state.
Hi, I agree with you, as we live in South Australia it is very rare that we have any Cruise lines departing from Adelaide, so it was great leaving from Melbourne, as it was cheaper in airfares and accommodation. But obviously I would love cruise lines to depart and finish at Adelaide
The cost is too high for the machete protection Jackets and helmets.