PRICE $8.25 (INCL GST) OCTOBER 2012 ISSUE 79 15TH YEAR OF PUBLICATION ESTABLISHED 1998 1 MONTH 2012 Featuring a comprehensive coverage of Global Cruising for Cruise Passengers, the Trade and the Industry www.cruisingnews.com Editor’s Say THIS As Australian, New Zealand and South Pacific ports prepare for the busiest cruise ISSUE season on record a recent report states Front Cover that the number of people around the Images from world who took a cruise holiday grew by 10 SeaDream Yacht Club, per cent last year – an increase of almost The Chief Executive Officer of Sydney Ports Celebrity Cruises, two million people – to top 20 million Corporation, Grant Gilfillan said recently that Meyer-Werft and global ocean cruise passengers for the first Princess Cruises large ships would become regular visitors to the time. The 2011 figures were compiled from OPT, following the historic berthing of the Queen industry associations including the Cruise Lines Mary 2 at the terminal in March this year, made International Association (CLIA), the European possible by a Sydney Ports decision to install a HIGHLIGHTS Cruise Council, Passenger Shipping Association, new mooring point to the north of the terminal. Coming Cruise Season ...................... P 4 International Cruise Council Australasia (ICCA) In addition, three cruise ships have also been and industry analysts G P Wild (International) 3 Queens to Visit. ............................... P 5 offered berthing at the Garden Island naval facility Limited. CDU Conference ............................... P5/6 in the coming season. Sydney Ports is working Commenting on the release of the numbers, Pacific Pearl Update ........................... P 10 with the industry, the Navy and Government ICCA General Manager Brett Jardine said the to meet the infrastructure challenges presented Pride of America Revamp .................P14 global figures were a powerful reminder of the by this remarkable growth. Governments and Skjolden Walkway ............................... P 14 size of the cruise industry and the widespread authorities have to understand that a broad cross Celebrity Reflection........................... P 16 appeal of cruise holidays. Australian cruise section of the community and business benefit Royal Princess ..................................... P 16 passengers increased by 30 per cent in the past when a cruise ship visits. Ports bear the brunt Voyage Back in Time .......................... P 28 year to exceed more than half a million for the of costs associated with new infrastructure and 3 first time. should receive financial assistance. As mentioned above the 2012/13 cruise season MSC Group owner will be the busiest ever for the South Pacific area and President Gianluigi with summer regulars returning plus the arrival of Aponte has received the big ships – Carnival Spirit, Oosterdam, Voyager the highly prestigious of the Seas and Celebrity Solstice coming for the Cruise International first time. I’m certain their presence will not go Lifetime Achievement unnoticed and will provide a huge economic Award. Mr Aponte impact to founded MSC Cruises the local in the late 1980s. In just communities over two decades he visited. has seen his company Visiting Geraldton P24 Adam Armstrong grow from modest of Royal Caribbean beginnings to become the world’s fourth-largest Sydney office meets Captain Charles cruise operator, boasting an ultra-modern fleet 2012 OCTOBER Teige on the bridge of 12 ships - a thirteenth, MSC Preziosa, will of Voyager of the be christened next March. The success of MSC Seas in Hong Kong. Cruises is only part of a remarkable career that Carnival Australia has welcomed the strong has spanned over 40 years and seen Mr Aponte support for cruising shown by the NSW Visitor build up a global empire that dominates in not Economy Taskforce in its recent report and its just one shipping sector but several. In 1970 recognition of the economic value the cruising Mr Aponte set up the Mediterranean Shipping industry brings. According to the comprehensive Company (MSC).Under his leadership, MSC is Tasmania P36 report, the double digit growth of the cruise now the second-largest container ship operator industry over the past six years means Sydney in the world, employing more than 40,000 people and NSW will be unable to reap the economic and operating a fleet of 441 cargo vessels serving benefits if infrastructure fails to keep up with 306 ports across five demands. Carnival Australia CEO, Ann Sherry, continents. welcomed the three priority issues to expand It would be remiss of cruise berthing capacity, address economic loss me not to mention from provedoring constraints and a 10-year the recent death of Cruise Development Plan identified in the report. Rama Rebbapragada, The cruise sector is already forecast to bring a a 29 year veteran total economic contribution of more than $1.1 at Royal Caribbean. billion to NSW by 2020. Over the years Rama At the recent Cruise Down Under and Cruise was responsible Macquarie Harbour & Gordon River P36/37 New Zealand conferences international speakers for the growth and clearly stated it is critical for Sydney and other development in many Plus the latest news and ports in Australia and New Zealand to improve markets including Asia and Australia. Rama information on Global their infrastructure in order for the cruise industry will be remembered as a real “Gentleman” Passenger Cruising to grow in the region. Work is well underway at who made long lasting friendships with the the new $57 million Cruise Passenger Terminal people he met and worked with and will be Proudly Published in Australia by at White Bay in Sydney which is due to take sadly missed. its first ship in March next year. We await the In closing a reminder of an exhibition not to launch of a new Master Plan for the Overseas be missed! The Australian National Maritime Passenger Terminal, with at least $30 million in Museum in Sydney’s Darling Harbour is improvements. Also there is the conversion of holding an exhibition to mark P&O’s 175th the heritage-listed Shed 10 on Auckland’s Queens anniversary. It opens on 17 October and Wharf into a world- runs to 3 March next year. class multi-use cruise and events facility and ground ABN 71 083 652 019 Happy Cruising! Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the publisher. Every work for the new effort is made to ensure the information published is correct facility in Townsville John Treacy ISSN 1447 - 2112 is underway. Cruise Season Underway The 2012/13 cruise season will be the busiest ever for the South Pacific area with summer regulars Radiance of the Seas, Sea Princess and Rhapsody of the Seas returning to Sydney on 12, 14 and 18 October respectively. Carnival Spirit, 85,920 GRT arrives on 20 October for full time cruising and Oosterdam sails into Sydney on 24 October for a season of voyages. Oosterdam at 81,769 GRT is one of the new generation Holland America “Vista” class ships designed to appeal to younger, more vibrant, multi generation, family oriented holiday makers. Launched in August 2003 Oosterdam has a lower berth capacity of 1,918 passengers. Volendam arrives on 21 October for a circumnavigation of Australia before on 1 December at Darwin reaching Sydney on 10 December via stops at relocating to Asia. Amsterdam passes through Sydney coming from Alaska Cairns and Brisbane. The ship will then cruise to Melbourne and start two and Asia before returning to North America via the Pacific and Celebrity cruises from there around Australian and New Zealand ports until mid Millennium arrives on way to Asia. These ships join our local regulars, January. Also returning on 13 December is the 115,875 GRT Diamond Pacific Jewel, Pacific Pearl, Dawn Princess and Sun Princess from Sydney Princess for another cruise season. Schedules reveal Sapphire Princess and Pacific Dawn from Brisbane. Likewise these ships will be visiting most will be “down under” in 2013/14. ports in New Zealand, some on their way to Australia. Following the Christmas/New Year period there will be an influx of ships John Heald, Senior Cruise Director at Carnival Cruise Lines on his on world cruises. Coming this way are Crystal Symphony, Silver Shadow, 4 blog reports the “Aussification” of the bonza Carnival Spirit has been Seabourn Odyssey, Seven Seas Voyager, Asuka II, Silver Whisper, Columbus completed as the ship is on its way to Sydney. The makeover will see 2, Artania, Seabourn Quest, Amsterdam, Europa, Aurora, Queen Victoria, Angus Beef Sausages added to Fat Jimmy’s Seaside BBQ with menus Balmoral, Arcadia, Costa Deliziosa, Pacific Princess, Ocean Princess, Queen changing to reflect local tastes – lamb, more Indian and Asian dishes and Mary 2, Saga Ruby, Caledonian Sky and MS Marina. Crystal Symphony, meat pies. There will be grilled barramundi fillets fresh from the Sydney Silver Shadow, Seabourn Odyssey and Queen Mary 2 will spend extended Fish Markets, Soy and Ginger Marinated, broiled Salmon Fillets, Spice time in the area. A ship or multiple ships can be sighted in Sydney Harbour wrapped grilled 200grams Rump Steak, pan seared Chicken Schnitzel and during December 2012 and January, February and March 2013. There are Cantonese Sweet and Sour Prawns. The Lido is now known as the Pies only 5 days in December, one in January and 5 days in March that will be and Snag Shop offering Aussie Steak and Kidney Pies, Tasmanian Chicken without a ship. Pies, Sausage Rolls, BBQ Lamb and a Beerstick in a Bun. Auckland and some other New Zealand ports will also see Pacific Of course Aussie Beer is being added with a total of 16 draught beers on Venus, Queen Elizabeth, Bremen plus small ships Orion and Oceanic tap and new Coffee machines with fully trained baristas. Carnival Spirit Discoverer. will have all charges in Australian Dollars and there will be ATM’s on board.