Royal Caribbean’s Ultimate World Cruise arrived in Sydney today. It has dominated social media and gained a following of hundreds of millions across the planet.
But she couldn’t find a berth at Overseas Passenger Terminal when she arrived today.
Due to scheduling errors, Serenade of the Seas couldn’t sail straight into the Overseas Passenger Terminal. Instead, she is currently sitting at anchor at Athol Bay.
Virgin Voyages Resilient Lady is occupying the Overseas Passenger Terminal, which can only accommodate one ship at a time. Resilient Lady was unable to enter the terminal previously due to Celebrity Edge occupying the space.
With Sydney’s lack of cruise capacity up for debate, the need for more space could not be more relevant than when a cruise with 340 million eyes on it cannot take up the berth with Opera House and Harbour Bridge views.
Serenade of the Seas will be berthed at Circular Quay – but not until she has waited seven hours and passengers have been tendered into the city.
Many business owners and cruise industry leaders have been calling for a summit on the issue, proposing that cruises could dock at Garden Island, currently a naval base.
Sydney’s lack of preparedness for cruise ships was similarly exposed at the end of last year when hurricanes forced Quantum of the Seas and Carnival Luminosa into Sydney Harbour, but the Overseas Passenger Terminal was unable to accommodate the ships.
Rising port taxes in Melbourne are also shaping to be a deterrent for cruise ships, leaving Australia’s facilitation for cruise ships with a lot to be desired.
More drama: A dramatic journey across the Tasman
Tiktok user Dr Jenny Travels posted a video explaining the strenuous journey it’s been just to reach Australian shores, describing the journey from New Zealand across the Tasman Sea as “worse than the Drake Passage”.
Many eyes were on Serenade of the Seas when she crossed the Drake Passage earlier this year. The eyes of the internet were interested to see how the ship could withstand the notoriously rough sea, especially when the ship had already suffered flooding in an earlier leg of the cruise.
However, maybe more talk should’ve been on the trip across the Tasman.
Dr Jenny Travels said: “I have spent the idea day in bed. Fortunately, I haven’t been too nauseous, but I’ve been so incredibly sleepy. I have just been wiped.
“Here are a couple of videos I took last night just so you can hear how crazily the ship was rocking and creaking.”
The video then shows Serenade of the Seas on the Ultimate World Cruise battling with the Tasman Sea, surrounded by whitewash as the ship rocks back and forth
Many commenters shared their own experiences of dealing with the harsh Tasman swell.
One user wrote: “Tasman is the worst! Have fun walking sideways.”
Another user wrote: “My last cruise was to New Zealand and back. We were on the Lido deck at the front, above the bridge, it was rock and roll!”
Otherwise spirits have been high. Last week a Thursday became a Saturday as the ship crossed the international dateline, with the party spirit aplenty.
If they did not get port they booked. Cruise liners should be giving passengers back there Port fees, and for the inconvenience giving free shuttles.
I have been across Bass Straight more than 10 times..flat.
Singapore to Australia..both coasts…flat.
Queensland in February….flat
I’d like some rougher sea to feel it rock from my cabin!
Who cares? If you don’t like boats the fly.
I love rough seas.
Ah Australia. My home. One of the most expensive countries on earth to live and yet we continue to have sub standard transport infrastructure for which there is no excuse, only bad management to blame. Only space for one ship to dock in Sydney is just an embarrassment. It’s not like cruising is a new concept for Australia (Fairstar anyone)? Our airport links are sub standard, our cruise terminals are sub standard, our rail system is beyond substandard and our air traffic control system is the absolute joke of the industry. One air traffic controller goes sick and they have to closed actual air space over major cities. I apologise to the passengers on this ship for the pathetic services we have here in Australia.
There is a very simple solution…SEND SOME OF THESE SHIPS TO BRISBANE.
Plenty of capacity…closer to the world…cheaper fees.
Yep. And where did Sydney build a second dock? Behind the bridge. Great if it’s a ‘small’ ship. Get to go under the bridge! But ships are NOT getting smaller . . . .
In one French port, the normal dock was the city with a ‘Choo Choo train’ at the wharf! Pax on one lucky ship got that. NCL went with anchoring in the bay and tendering. Princess got the naval base and then wanted $USD20pp for bus to the city! We stayed on board and won another quiz instead!