Australia/NZ Cruising News

[Chili]

2 hours ago, smokeybandit said:

Meanwhile

The New South Wales (NSW) Government in Australia has granted planning approval for modifications to the existing Eden Breakwater Wharf Extension. These modifications will allow larger cruise ships and more frequent visits to Eden Cruise Wharf along the continent’s Sapphire Coast.

 

https://www.cruisehive.com/australian-government-approves-ports-expansion-for-larger-cruise-ships/140398

All we need is a ship to go there, 25-26 season I don’t think any RCG ships are scheduled to call in .

[ScottishRobbie]

3 hours ago, Chili said:

All we need is a ship to go there, 25-26 season I don’t think any RCG ships are scheduled to call in .

Nor the upcoming 24-25 season. Only Brilliance called there last summer, all Ovation calls were cancelled.

[Chili]

https://cruiseweekly.com.au/news/coastal-trading-act-exemption-extended/79601

[twangster]

13 hours ago, Chili said:

https://cruiseweekly.com.au/news/coastal-trading-act-exemption-extended/79601

No wonder cruise lines are pulling out.  

The lack of a meaningful or longer extension makes it very difficult to plan and sell cruises which tend to have a long selling cycle, often two plus years.

These little one year extensions at the last minute appear to be Australia's way of killing the cruise industry.

[MindiLou]

Just curious.   My Celebrity Cruise in Australia, only docks in Sydney.  Tendered at all other ports.  
with this government change, would this mean a chance for my ship to dock at these other ports instead of tendering??

[Chili]

5 hours ago, twangster said:

No wonder cruise lines are pulling out.  

The lack of a meaningful or longer extension makes it very difficult to plan and sell cruises which tend to have a long selling cycle, often two plus years.

These little one year extensions at the last minute appear to be Australia's way of killing the cruise industry.

And you thought your government was incompetent.

[Chili]

2 hours ago, MindiLou said:

Just curious.   My Celebrity Cruise in Australia, only docks in Sydney.  Tendered at all other ports.  
with this government change, would this mean a chance for my ship to dock at these other ports instead of tendering??

That must be a Queensland cruise,a lot of the ports are under developed. Cairns,Airle beach are tender ports for Celebrity Edge.

That legal change wouldn’t make any difference.

[MindiLou]

Well keep me posted.  Who knows maybe by the time I leave next March something will change.

[Chili]

Vicki Freed has Navigator in Brisbane  ?

I remember she had Ovation in Hawaii / west coast when it was supposed to go to china but didn’t.

 

[twangster]

12 hours ago, Chili said:

Vicki Freed has Navigator in Brisbane  ?

I remember she had Ovation in Hawaii / west coast when it was supposed to go to china but didn’t.

 

Those graphics are from the deployment team.  Vicki is in sales.  Vicki doesn't direct the deployment team.  

[smokeybandit]

I'd like to see the PDF that screenshot was taken from. They haven't publicly released it yet and the URL pattern from last year's doesn't work for this year.

[twangster]

25 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

I'd like to see the PDF that screenshot was taken from. They haven't publicly released it yet and the URL pattern from last year's doesn't work for this year.

https://creative.rccl.com/Sales/Royal/Deployment/2025_2026/2025-2026_Deployment_Summary_Destination.pdf

[smokeybandit]

2 minutes ago, twangster said:

https://creative.rccl.com/Sales/Royal/Deployment/2025_2026/2025-2026_Deployment_Summary_Destination.pdf

Yes, that's the current one. I want the 2026-2027 one.

[twangster]

3 minutes ago, smokeybandit said:

Yes, that's the current one. I want the 2026-2027 one.

The 2025-2026 version is where the screenshot was taken from which likely has a typo for Navigator.   

The 2026-2027 version is not released yet and likely won't be until the season has been opened for booking.  

[smokeybandit]

13 minutes ago, twangster said:

The 2025-2026 version is where the screenshot was taken from which likely has a typo for Navigator.   

The 2026-2027 version is not released yet and likely won't be until the season has been opened for booking.  

Ah, I've got it now. I was assuming that screenshot was from the new one that just wasn't public yet. And I do now have the requisite amount of coffee to see the difference.

[Chili]

7 hours ago, twangster said:

The 2025-2026 version is where the screenshot was taken from which likely has a typo for Navigator.   

The 2026-2027 version is not released yet and likely won't be until the season has been opened for booking.  

There’s definitely a mistake as it this coming season and Quantum has to go for a dry dock on the way to Brisbane.They wouldn’t have two ships in Brisbane as they can’t fill one .

I thought the site was Vicki Freed’s but it’s strange they have Navigator deployed in Brisbane ,they can’t be that incompetent.

[twangster]

22 minutes ago, Chili said:

There’s definitely a mistake as it this coming season and Quantum has to go for a dry dock on the way to Brisbane.They wouldn’t have two ships in Brisbane as they can’t fill one .

I thought the site was Vicki Freed’s but it’s strange they have Navigator deployed in Brisbane ,they can’t be that incompetent.

The site is targeted to travel agents and Vicki exists to support travel agents but the content is driven by different teams such as marketing and deployment.  

[CruisingOz]

2 minutes ago, twangster said:

The site is targeted to travel agents and Vicki exists to support travel agents but the content is driven by different teams such as marketing and deployment.  

It is only wishful thinking. Australia won’t be that lucky. There is an Australian movie, The Castle m, where the main character’s line is “tell them they are dreaming”

[Chili]

2 hours ago, CruisingOz said:

It is only wishful thinking. Australia won’t be that lucky. There is an Australian movie, The Castle m, where the main character’s line is “tell them they are dreaming”

Yeah,they must be smoking some pretty good stuff .

[Jamesszy94]

Could it be possible they just got Navigator mixed up with Voyager?

[Chili]

Tahiti port bookings have both Anthem and Ovation doing the transpacific to Australia for the 26-27 season.

Voyager has regular port bookings in Brisbane for the season and I suppose 2 Quantum in Sydney.

We might have 3 ships back for the season.

 

 

https://www.portdepapeete.pf/fr/previsions-navires

[KWofPerth]

19 hours ago, Chili said:

Tahiti port bookings have both Anthem and Ovation doing the transpacific to Australia for the 26-27 season.

Voyager has regular port bookings in Brisbane for the season and I suppose 2 Quantum in Sydney.

We might have 3 ships back for the season.

 

 

https://www.portdepapeete.pf/fr/previsions-navires

1 Quantum, 1 Voyager and 1 Radiance class would've been ideal.

[Westii]

It's annoying that no Oasis or Icon ships will never come to Australia considering how many there are already and more scheduled to be built. 

[Southern Dan]

11 hours ago, Westii said:

It's annoying that no Oasis or Icon ships will never come to Australia considering how many there are already and more scheduled to be built. 

Never say never!

[Jamesszy94]

Alas, if only our government would pump money into the cruise industry and build more ports that are capable of berthing an Oasis-class... afaik, the largest cruise ship we've gotten in Australia is Ovation (Anthem when she arrives next year).

So far we've only got White Bay Cruise Terminal, the Overseas Passenger Terminal and Brisbane Terminal. 

[Mick]

1 hour ago, Jamesszy94 said:

Alas, if only our government would pump money into the cruise industry and build more ports

Until the greenies stop complaining about it there won't be any change unfortunately which is a shame for people who unable to go overseas for a cruise.  The lack of investment is why I prefer to spend my dollars overseas and support countries who want ships rather than ones who don't.

[Jamesszy94]

21 hours ago, Mick said:

Until the greenies stop complaining about it there won't be any change unfortunately which is a shame for people who unable to go overseas for a cruise.  The lack of investment is why I prefer to spend my dollars overseas and support countries who want ships rather than ones who don't.

Yet they still drive their petrol guzzler BMW's, Mercedes-Benz and Jaguars. Double standards are through the roof . I find myself having to look at Singapore and Brisbane for cruises now, just because they're so much cheaper there and their destinations are well.... more exotic (Singapore at least) and frankly cruising out of Brisbane is just cheaper... I guess because people don't want to travel to Brisbane from interstate. 

Australian cruises: 
- South Pacific

- New Zealand

- Hobart/Adelaide

 

But also it's not that the government doesn't have money to spend, it's that they just spend it on useless stuff (Not gonna get into what or get into politics cause this isn't a political forum but iykyk)

[Chili]

On 11/30/2024 at 8:17 PM, Jamesszy94 said:

Alas, if only our government would pump money into the cruise industry and build more ports that are capable of berthing an Oasis-class... afaik, the largest cruise ship we've gotten in Australia is Ovation (Anthem when she arrives next year).

So far we've only got White Bay Cruise Terminal, the Overseas Passenger Terminal and Brisbane Terminal. 

N.S.W government is expected to decide on a third Sydney terminal early next year.

Port Kembla looks like the favourite with Ship L.N.G soon to come. A train line to the new airport and the locals want it .

 

[Jamesszy94]

17 hours ago, Chili said:

N.S.W government is expected to decide on a third Sydney terminal early next year.

Port Kembla looks like the favourite with Ship L.N.G soon to come. A train line to the new airport and the locals want it .

 

It's all just empty words at this point.... until we see something concrete come out from the NSW Government, I'm not holding out hope for anything. 

[smokeybandit]

Big earthquake on Vanuatu

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9wlylr4nrdo

[ScottishRobbie]

9 hours ago, smokeybandit said:

Big earthquake on Vanuatu

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9wlylr4nrdo

There was another one this morning. Quantum was supposed to be in Port Vila today but they're doing Mystery Island 2 days in a row (she was there yesterday too).

[Chili]

I doubt the wharf in Vila will be open this season. There’s some big rocks hanging over the area and I think there’s more important things to fix after the earthquake.

Ovation and Quantum tender to the main wharf and I don’t think there’s anywhere else .

They might be able to use the little wharf near the casino but it isn’t really suitable for the traffic of buses and taxis.

 

 

[Chili]

This Beach club in Vanuatu is supposed to be open next year and it’s really got me baffled.

Where in Vanuatu is it supposed to be ??

Theres a big Marina that’s going to be built across the bay from Lelepa ,the biggest in the South Pacific.

Im thinking Royal might tender to there and ferry paying customers across to Lelepa.

Its only half hour to the town of Vila and maybe a shuttle or tour might be offered.

 

https://www.dailypost.vu/news/north-efate-to-welcome-south-pacific-s-biggest-marina-major-boost-for-vanuatu-s-economy/article_f1595648-a205-5cd5-b900-e62a925ebc05.html

 

[Wine Man]

Looking to book my first cruise do Royal give you discount if you go party of 15 people plus? Also when will be cheapest time to book for next year are there still cruises to be added for 2026? Also any chance oasis or Icon ships come to Australia they look amazing? 

[steverk]

7 hours ago, Wine Man said:

Looking to book my first cruise do Royal give you discount if you go party of 15 people plus? Also when will be cheapest time to book for next year are there still cruises to be added for 2026? Also any chance oasis or Icon ships come to Australia they look amazing? 

Let me try to answer these.

Discount for 15 people? Yes! Contact a travel agent about a group booking. They'll get a better rate and the organizers get a credit towards his/her travel starting at 8 cabins 

When is cheapest time to book? Hard to say. Some countries allow repricing if the price drops. (In which case the answer is now) some do not. Your travel agent should be able to help with this.

Any chance of Oasis or Icon ships coming to Australia? This has been widely discussed on this website with no real resolution.  FWIW I seriously doubt it. Most of the ports aren't set up for ships that large. I don't see anyone making that investment anytime soon.

[Chili]

10 hours ago, Wine Man said:

Looking to book my first cruise do Royal give you discount if you go party of 15 people plus? Also when will be cheapest time to book for next year are there still cruises to be added for 2026? Also any chance oasis or Icon ships come to Australia they look amazing? 

I would suggest you ask a cruise specialist agent.

The best time to book is as soon as possible as prices seem to be stable but go up as the cruise sells out.

I doubt we will see a big ship in Australia for a long time as we don’t have the population.

[Jamesszy94]

On 1/7/2025 at 8:51 PM, Wine Man said:

Looking to book my first cruise do Royal give you discount if you go party of 15 people plus? Also when will be cheapest time to book for next year are there still cruises to be added for 2026? Also any chance oasis or Icon ships come to Australia they look amazing? 

Afaik, no, there's no chance Oasis or Icon ships will ever come to Australia. We seem to be the country where cruise lines send their unwanted/unpopular ships.... or we get 15 year old ships. We're stuck with having to travel to the United States (ugh) or Europe to sail on Icon/Oasis class.

Afaik. Brisbane Terminal can accommodate an Oasis-class but alas, Royal will never send us one. Like Chili said, we just don't have the population for it, and I don't think any of the ports that Royal sails to from Australia can dock an Oasis or Icon class. 

[Chili]

56 minutes ago, Jamesszy94 said:

Afaik, no, there's no chance Oasis or Icon ships will ever come to Australia. We seem to be the country where cruise lines send their unwanted/unpopular ships.... or we get 15 year old ships. We're stuck with having to travel to the United States (ugh) or Europe to sail on Icon/Oasis class.

Afaik. Brisbane Terminal can accommodate an Oasis-class but alas, Royal will never send us one. Like Chili said, we just don't have the population for it, and I don't think any of the ports that Royal sails to from Australia can dock an Oasis or Icon class. 

Yeah , all their rubbish like Voyager.

 

Woolongong council is pushing for Kembla to be our new cruise terminal.

Its got L.N.G that could be used in cruise ships ,we might get some newer ships.

https://regionillawarra.com.au/no-brainer-for-port-kembla-to-become-nsws-next-cruise-terminal/48604/

[Jamesszy94]

The release date for Royal Caribbean's 2026-2027 season for Australia has now been put on hold and is "TBD"

Why do cruise lines keep treating Australia like crap. They're probably deciding which 25 year old leftover ship we're gonna get after Anthem and Voyager are done here. Who knows? Maybe they'll send us Rhapsody... would be a nice change I guess, or maybe they'll give Enchantment back to us. 

It's a bit of a kick in the guts knowing that cruise lines basically don't care about Australian's.

I really do hope the delay is them working on new itineraries instead of the same:

South Pacific

Adelaide/Hobart/Cairns

New Zealand

But I'm highly doubtful at this point. 

[ScottishRobbie]

Australia release date been updated to the week of 2nd June