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.
This week, Cruise Passenger readers discussed the possibility of winter cruising and why it’s needed in Australia.
After it was revealed that Royal Caribbean is having “discussions” regarding the idea of year-round sailing in Australia, cruisers got to debating what this could look like.
Cruiser Sylvia Calderbank made the strong point that Western Australia remains a largely untapped market for year-round cruising.
“There is a place in WA called Perth and not far from Perth there is a place called Fremantle. Fremantle has a port.
“If cruise companies looked at the number of cruises leaving from Fremantle (scarce as hens’ teeth) they would see they are booked out years ahead. A ready made market just waiting for more cruise ships!”
Other cruisers seemed more fed up with the years of speculation and simply want more solid news on year-round cruising from Royal.
Geoff King wrote: “Come on Royal, less talk, more walk. This has been a revolving door conversation for so so long.”
Adam Nichles added: “The only thing that will trigger RC to start year round cruising will be the opening of Lelepa. Until then it’s rumours.”
Cruiser Bel Jade said she’d happily cruise in the winter if Royal became an option.
Another option Carnival would be great. As it is we don’t want to cruise during the off months because we don’t like carnival, if Anthem of the Seas stayed we would love to do the hotter regions during the cooler weather.
Other cruisers are just simply hoping things move along and they can have more winter options.
Helen Lennon said: “This would be fantastic – I’ve always said why can’t we cruise into the pacific in winter- good warm climate – nice to get away from winter in Victoria. Come on Royal Caribbean – we love your ships!”
Sandra Burrows said: “Hopefully these ‘discussions’ will finally bear fruit at last!”
Janet Bridge said: “About time! Winter cruising in Australia is prime time cruising! We only get hit with cyclone/wet suiting season because it suits the Alaska season.
Jane Bennett said: “It would be great to have year-round cruising. Let us southern states get away from the cold.”
Robert Jaworski said: “How awseome would it be to have the ability to cruise Royal all year around. Hope it would be ported out of Sydney.”
Kelly Hughes added: “It would be brilliant. Let’s face it, the current offerings out of Australia are pretty meh.”
Rosalind Turner added: “With Carnival dropping the ball in Australia, I would gladly jump on a Caribbean cruise instead if they come through with the goods.”
Lorraine Julie added: “If ships would leave from Melbourne up the East Coast or the South Pacific, they would be full!”
It’s clear that the support is there for winter cruising, with plenty of Aussies getting behind the idea, particularly if Royal Caribbean were to join the party and start offering winter sailings.
It is likely that Royal Caribbean will only seriously consider this once the destination at Lelepa opens. The destination was previously slated for a late 2027 release, and while there have been no indications of a delay, there have also been few indications that work is on track to meet this timeline.
Please keep those comments coming!
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We definitely need winter cruising from Australia. A few short months over Christmas is not enough choice. We could cruise twice as much without the expensive long flights to the northern hemisphere to cruise. Bring on winter cruising ️⛴️
I’m from Adelaide the forgotten city as far as cruising goes. P& O used to cruise regularly from Adelaide and Princess Cruises had just started their cruises from Adelaide. Now the only option is to fly to Sydney and it cost an extra $1350 to get there then the cruise. It’s a huge market in Australia and we are treated disgracefully by all the cruise lines with ships that would not be tolerated overseas. Our options are very limited. Flying to Europe with the long haul flights to enjoy the new ships with cheaper prices for cruises and excursions. I don’t know what needs to be done so we feel like we are valued customers and not cash cows for cruise lines.
More cruises are also required for the Great Barrier Reef. Once you’ve criused the South Pacific Islands it’s done. But Australia’s east coast is amazing especially in our winter, well out of cyclone season. Plus being a blood donor, if I sail to the islands, I’m not allowed to donate for an extended period of time & my blood type ( O Rh negative) is on the rare-ish side & often low in supply yet highly sought after. Also, more circumnavigation of Australia, so so many Ports.., I’m a senior now & I’ve already cruised Panama Canal & Mexican Riviera twice & South East Asia but sadly can longer afford to travel overseas to sail Europe or Caribbean. So please, cruising in Australian waters would be magic. Thanks for listening to this cruise crazy gal. Bye for now from Gayle aka Breezy.
Carnival took the p&o brand and killed it. They took the identity and dumped a couple of stale old ships with their aweful and expensive ‘new’ product. Sydney, brisbane and melbourne once enjoyed year round p&o cruises to southern destinations, qld coastal, png and pacific destinations plus nz with some themed local short breaks with melbourne cup, comedy etc all regular options.
A real cruise line like Royal carribean would be a welcome.
Would love to see winter cruising with one-way itineraries from Brisbane to Darwin and also in the reverse and Darwin to Fremantle and visa versa. Weather would be perfect. Cruising out of Melbourne and Sydney is too cold in the winter months. It takes 2-3 sea days heading north before the weather is suitable to get out by the pool.