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.
One topic dominated Aussie cruise discourse this week, with over 200 Cruise Passenger readers chiming in on what they think of Wollongong or Newcastle as locations for a third Sydney cruise terminal.
Cruisers are completely split on what the best option is. Some feels Wollongong can work great, others think Newcastle is the best option, and others feel both are way too far away from Sydney to count as a new Sydney port.
Bob Shaw is on the side of Wollongong/Port Kembla: “Port Kembla is already used for cruise ships. Would be easy to add a terminal. Smaller ships can be docked west of the bridge in Sydney and suit Australia better anyway for most ports around the country and through islands like the Kimberley.”
Suzanne Holmes is on the same team: “Lots of interesting stuff to do in Wollongong. think it will happen, there’s a big push and lots of support for Wollongong.”
Billy Lea thinks a Port Kembla port could attract bigger ships: “If Wollongong can take the bigger ships, like Icon and Oasis class, then that would be great. since they can’t dock in Sydney”.
Martin Pressman said: “Wollongong, Shellharbour airport has flights to Melbourne and Brisbane and return, also has a train line to Port Kembla, plus amazing tours to Jervis Bay Kiama and Kangaroo Valley, plus will take all the big ships, no brainer.”
Peter Waugh points out that Wollongong is much closer to Sydney. “Wollongong because it closer to Sydney & Sydney airport. You would have to look at South Port Kembla close to the railway station.
“I cruised this year from Southampton in the UK. It’s a 2 hours bus ride from London, not ideal.
“If it is Port Kembla you would have to run special trains from Central with only 2 or 3 stops to Port Kembla. Each ship can take thousands of passengers so you may need several trains. make it like football matches in Sydney, each cruise ticket includes FREE train travel, just include an extra $30 in the cruise fare.”
Others like Robyn Condon are more on team Newcastle. “Newcastle has an airport that connects with the majority of Australian population that don’t live in Sydney.
“A cruise terminal was promised years ago.”
John Cook said: “If you don’t live in Sydney then the obvious choice is Newcastle. It has an international airport and plenty of flights from Gold Coast Brisbane and Melbourne Adelaide Canberra and Perth and now NZ and Bali
“It can take unlimited size ships as witnessed by the massive coal carriers. Cruise ships already call here. We just need processing facilities for disembarking and embarking passengers.”
However, other cruisers like Peter Solas, aren’t quite so sure on either option, and feel that neither can be called a Sydney port.
“So, cruising from Sydney will actually be cruising from the Gong or Newcastle? That’s like telling people that landing at Toowoomba airport is the same as flying to Brisbane.”
Others are still desperate for Sydney to find a way to get more ships into the city centre.
Paul Turner says: “here has to be a way of making the space/creating a port in Sydney Harbour for a another permanent cruise terminal!! We have to think outside of the box!! Create something that will be a destination in its own right!!! People come to Sydney to see the harbour!!
“Let’s reshuffle circular quay- relocate some ferries – let’s get our priorities right – how much money do the ferries make NSW compared to the cruise industry???? We can extend the dock towards the bridge and make two ships fit!!”
Christie Joy said: “Except neither location is in Sydney. imagine being an international tourist and finding out that your cruise ship is nowhere near Sydney. Maybe the navy should go to these other locations and use Garden Island for cruise ships.”
In other cruise news, some Aussies are fed up with paying premiums for cruise, compared to fares in the USA.
Randel Stephens said: “All the cruise lines are making record profits and they are overcharging Australian customers by hundreds each cruise. On top of that they are overcharging for drinks as well.”
John Cook said: “I have virtually stopped cruising out of Australia when fares escalated. Now I fly cruise around Asia. All the Australian based cruiselines reduced their available berths but demand hasn’t dropped so they can now charge higher prices.”
Other cruisers chimed in on whether medical marijuana should be allowed on cruise in Australia, it’s currently banned even for those with prescriptions.
Sharon Summerhayes said: “My opinion – it should be treated just like any other prescription, and allowed. A few years ago, I struggled horrendously with anxiety and CBD oil helped immensely.”
Tash Currie said: “Of course it should be allowed. Anything you have a prescription for should be.”
Rick Van de Velde said: “It also depends on which countries you are visiting in your itinerary. If it’s illegal in those countries, then regardless of whether you take it off the ship or not, it’s illegal and the cruise line can be held complicit to its ‘importation’.”
Please keep those comments coming!
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