Cruise Passenger readers always have plenty to say about what’s going on in Australian cruise, and in the broader cruise community. This week a call from the cruise industry for the government to take a serious look at reducing regulatory barriers for cruise lines has sparked discussion about cruising overseas. Cruisers have shared what they feel has been to happening to cruise in Australia, and why many of them are now looking overseas. In Your Say, Cruise Passenger looks at the issues our readers are writing to us about on our blogs, posts and newsletters.Â
Aussies are looking at cruising overseas as cruise lines say local itineraries are on the brink of a crisis. We’ve seen lines like Virgin Voyages, Cunard and Disney leave Australia entirely, and the merger of P&O Australia and Carnival.
Other lines such as Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Line and Princess continue to sail here, but each of these lines has also scaled down their presence in Australia over recent seasons.
What we keep hearing from the industry and directly from cruise lines themselves is that high taxes, port fees and regulatory costs, as well as a generally complex regulatory environment, are making life tough for cruise lines in Australia.
Here’s our editor-in-chief on the subject on Channel Seven’s Sunrise here.
The effect of this is seen in cruise lines and ships leaving Australia, but it has also seen by Aussie cruise passengers in steadily rising prices for cruises with less supply to go around, older ships being deployed in Australia and more streamlined and repeated itineraries as cruise lines aim to maximise profits through shorter and repeated itineraries.
Many cruisers report that they’ve been looking elsewhere for sailings due to capacity issues here.
Adam Nichles said: “Itineraries are a bigger problem tbh.
“There are only so many times you can visit the South Pacific, QLD and NZ.
“Cruising has become about the ship rather than the itinerary and the ships are generally old with the exception of Royal Caribbean.”
Paula Cope added: “We’ve done the Quantum and Ovation twice. Done all the itineraries offered. Now we’re traveling to America just to get the bigger/better cruises and different itineraries.”
Tracey Williams felt similarly: “I still cruise Australia every now and then, but I mainly travel overseas to cruise now. Better ships and better itineraries.”
Vicky Murphy said she would rather look towards Europe and Asia now.
“So far, Europe twice and Singapore around Asia. I would like to do an Australian cruise, but there are very few and super expensive compared to other destinations.”
Helen Penberthy was another calling for more sailings in Australia.
“We have done all the Aussie cruises so heading out from Singapore with 3 back to backs in January. Our next cruise in August is from Ravenna Italy. Loyal to Royal but they need to change the itinerary. I would love a cruise around Australia or to different islands.”
Other cruisers rather felt that it simply comes done to government regulation and decisions.
Rob Mills said: “I have no doubt that Australia will mess this up. Cruise ships have all but abandoned Melbourne due to excessive port fees and as a result, cruise lines now avoid Melbourne.
“Same thing will happen in NSW. Not only is red tape and fees damaging the industry, now, we have Unions trying to advise the cruise lines how to pay the staff on board an international ship.”
Sandra Juniel said: “When you have a State and Federal Government trying their best to shut the industry down-it’s only a matter of time the Cruise Lines take the hint and stop coming here.”
Mark Weare added: “We’ve not long arrived back in Australia after sailing out of Brisbane doing 2 cruises and we love cruising. We have a circus running Australia into the ground rather than embracing the cruise industry and growing it.”
Please keep those comments coming!
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Need more round Australia Cruising more cruiser from East to West and we need newer ships they bring there old worn ships here – and they charge way more than here than cruising out of the USA.
How about a nice big Mega Cruise ship based here that can be the destination for your holiday rather than the same old places they cruise to in Australia.