Open for Business

P&O Australia resumed cruising from Sydney today for the first time in more than two years. Shown below is Pacific Explorer arriving at Sydney this morning. The banner says it all. 

The complete story appeared in the May 31 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Courtesy of P&O Australia Cruises. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission.

Golf Was Never Even This Cool on the Ship

Carnival Cruise Line is bringing the fun back to Sydney early. They don't return to Australia until October, but through mid-June, visitors to the Sydney Zoo's GLOW Light Festival can play miniature golf Carnival-style around a friendly frog, a happy hippo, a chirpy crocodile - and of course, a glowing Carnival funnel. 

The complete story appeared in the May 20 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Photo courtesy of Carnival Australia. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission.

Australia Day!

It's Australia Day. Even though there are no cruises, the ships are nearby awaiting their time to return. Here you can see what the crews of P&O's Pacific Explorer and Carnival Spirt did to mark the occasion.

Photos courtesy of P&O Cruises and Carnival Cruise Line. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission. 

Other Things You'll Want to Know - January 20, 2020

CND subscribers also read about:

• Sun Princess becoming the first ship to resume calls at Australia's Kangaroo Island following the bushfire disaster.
• Carnival's Mardi Gras has been topped off with its funnel at Meyer Turku
• The US Coast Guard performed another expert medevac from Carnival Pride off the coast of Puerto Rico. Video

What People Are Saying

Yesterday we showed you the maiden arrival of Ruby Princess in Sydney today (which was yesterday in the US). Today we want you to hear what people are saying about it. But these aren't just any people. The sound bites on the b-roll are from Princess' SVP of Asia and the Pacific, Chef Curtis Stone (who has a restaurant on the ship), the NSW Minister of Tourism, and Ruby Princess' Captain. We put this video up because these people all actually had something interesting to say, as opposed to just something about it going to be a wonderful cruise season.

Ruby Princess will be homeported at Sydney until May 8.

A (Ruby) Red-Letter Day

It must be summer Down Under. There's a steady stream of cruise ships arriving in Australia for the peak (austral) summer cruise season.

This morning (actually early tomorrow morning Sydney time) Ruby Princess arrived in Sydney for its maiden arrival there.

Details appeared in the October 22 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

A Majestic Arrival

Majestic Princess arrived in Sydney Tuesday morning (Australian time) just before dawn to kick off the 2019-2020 summer cruise season.

Majestic Princess, Princess Cruises' newest ship (until next month), has spent the northern summer months in China and Asia and is returning to Australia for their summer season for the second time.

Details appeared in the September 16 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Sprucing up the Kiwis' Home

Princess Cruises' Australian branch launched a new program to support local community interest in the destinations they visit and give passengers an opportunity to connect with them.

The first beneficiaries of the new “Princess Local Partnerships” will be New Zealand's Kiwis (the birds, not the fruit) around the Bay of Islands.

The complete story appeared in the August 22 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Voyager Is Next

Royal Caribbean announced plans to “Amplify” Voyager of the Seas similar to what they have done with other Voyager-class ships, adding new and updated features while at the same time doing a general refreshment of the ship. What's significant about the $97 million project in this case is that upon completion in November, the ship will be going to the Australian market, a market into which a lot of companies are pouring resources.

The complete story appeared in the June 27 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Record-Breaker Down Under

While much of the industry discussion has been focused on China, and its growth (or declining rate of growth), there's a market that's been steadily growing and continues to do so: Australia.

The complete story appeared in the April 23 issue of Cruise News Daily. 

One of a Kind Barrel

Last week we told you about the record-setting stay in Australian waters this year of Cunard's liner Queen Elizabeth. To commemorate that Cunard commissioned special uniforms for their iconic bellboys from Australian clothier R.M. Williams, and the Australian look was completed with Akubra hats.

But there's another tastier Australian partnership aboard Queen Elizabeth that has been three years in the making and is now “maturing.” We told you about the final year last year at this time.

Details appeared in the February 19 edition of Cruise News Daily

“Sliding” into Sydney

When Carnival Splendor arrives in her new home port of Sydney in December, she will have a somewhat different profile than when she wraps up her Mexican Riviera cruises in October and sets sail from Long Beach for Singapore.

It has become almost a Carnival Australia trademark that whenever a ship moves to Australia, they add the biggest, baddest waterslide they can, and they have plans to do the same for Carnival Splendor.

The complete story appeared in the February 11 issue of Cruise News Daily. 

Renderings courtesy of Carnival Cruise Line. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission. 

Properly Attired for Australia

When you say “Cunard bell boy,” an almost iconic image comes to mind. If not, think of the classic uniformed hotel bell boy from old movies. There, you have it.

To launch their two-month-long Australian season aboard Queen Elizabeth (a record), Cunard decided to bring their bell boys into the 21st Century - at least for the time they are in Australia - by dressing them in uniforms designed by the classic Australian brand R.M. Williams

The complete story appeared in the February 11 edition of Cruise News Daily.

The Classic Cunard Bell Boy 

Today's Cunard Bell Boy - at least in Australia

Photos courtesy of Cunard Line. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission.

Other Things You'll Want to Know - November 20, 2018

CND subscribers also read about:

• Regal Princess going to Sydney
• Genting Dream certified to serve Halal cuisine

Details appeared in the November 20 issue of Cruise News Daily. 

Another Reason for Choosing Princess for Your Cruise to New Zealand

Princess Cruises has expanded their program in New Zealand for the Austral 2018/2019 summer season that will take customers to places off the beaten track with the launch of two industry-first overland excursions in New Zealand's North Island and more than twenty exclusive shore tours. As part of the Local Connections Program, passengers will be able to experience the destination through the eyes of our local expert partner visiting their favorite local food, beverage and art establishments in every New Zealand port.

The complete story appeared in the August 24 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

The Grinch Drops In

It was Christmas in July today aboard Carnival Spirit in Sydney Harbor, and in a surprise move, the Grinch “dropped in” to the ship from a helicopter in an attempt to steal the Christmas fun from Carnival Spirit.

He swooped in past the Opera House and across the Harbor and onto Carnival Spirit yesterday.

Details appeared in the July 24 edition of Cruise News Daily.

Such a Nice Day, the Crew Thought They'd Get Some Sun

Majestic Princess celebrated a milestone of its 100th voyage, and 300 of the crew members came up to the Pool Deck to mark the occasion with a photo.

The milestone voyage is a round trip from Shanghai to Japan.

Of course that means it's also less than two months (September 15) until the start of Majestic Princess' Summer (there) Cruise Season in Australia. Majestic will be the largest ship Princess has ever operated in Australia.

During the Australian season, the 16 cruises will take Majestic Princess to Fiji, New Zealand and Tasmania as well as two Asia voyages between Shanghai and Sydney, and Sydney and Hong Kong.

This story appeared in the July 24 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Photo courtesy of Princess Cruises. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission. 

Other Things You'll Want to Know - May 25, 2018

CND subscribers also read about:

• Norwegian Cruise Line returning to Kona
• Royal Caribbean brands committing to buy chicken from processors that guarantee more humane treatment of the birds. 
• Carnival Spirit getting a new duty-free store

Details appeared in the May 25 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Princess Sets Record Australian Deployment

The recognition of the growth of the Australian market by North American lines continued as Princess announces their largest deployment for the 2019/2020 season.

The complete story appeared in the March 26 edition of Cruise News Daily.

Cunard Expands Down Under

Australians have a love affair with Cunard. Each year when the ships go Down Under, the market gets stronger and it seems the Australians can't get enough. And each year in response, Cunard comes up with new itineraries to give Australians more reasons to sail again. Australia is one of the luxury brand's strongest traffic generators.

The line is expanding their Australian season but next year and again the following.

The complete story appeared in the February 28 edition of Cruise News Daily.