Tag Archives: brisbane

Two thousand cane toads invade Sydney for the first origin cruise

Posted: June 1, 2022

June 1, 2022Australia, Onboard Features, Press Releasebrisbane, Holden State of Origin, Pacific Dawn, Paul Sironen, Petero Civoniceva, queensland, Queenslanders Steve Price, Steve Roach, sydney, the MaroonsRobert De Pasquale

Sydney today will be invaded by a ship load of rugby league supporters and ex-players from Brisbane for the first ever Holden State of Origin cruise.

Pacific Dawn

P&O Cruises’ Pacific Dawn is scheduled to arrive in Sydney approximately 6:30am, cruising past the Opera House about 6:45am and docking at White Bay about 7:30am for a special overnight visit.

With 2000 primarily Queensland guests onboard, the ship is carrying a substantial number of the Maroons fans who have received entry and transfers to the Origin opener as part of the cruise fare at ANZ Stadium on Wednesday night.

[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””] “Whether or not the Maroons take home the Origin trophy in 2016, this cruise is a big win for Queensland footy fans. As well as transport, accommodation, food and entertainment, guests on the inaugural State of Origin cruise are getting some of the hottest tickets in town included as part of their cruise fare - it’s seriously great value,” Mr Myrmell said. [/pullquote]

The seven-night roundtrip cruise departed Brisbane on Saturday, calling at Moreton Island on Sunday where past players including Queenslanders Steve Price and Petero Civoniceva and Blues legends Steve Menzies, Paul Harragon, Steve Roach and Paul Sironen went head to head with guests in a game of beach touch football. Pacific Dawn called into Newcastle yesterday and provided a great opportunity for fans to explore the city and parade their colours.

So far on the cruise, fans have revelled in a assortment of league-themed activities from Origin trivia hosted by Foxtel presenter Steve Hart plus photo opportunities and Q&A sessions with the former players.

On her way back to Brisbane, a Holden State of Origin post game wrap-up featuring Steve Roach, Paul Sironen, Petero Civoniceva and Steve Price which will be broadcast live on Facebook.

[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”The only thing some of our Queensland guests love more than cruising is the Maroons, so look out Sydney - Pacific Dawn and her ship load of Queenslanders are coming!”[/pullquote]

The cruise season is over in Australia – and Royal Caribbean are rejoicing

Posted: May 1, 2022

May 1, 2022Australia, Press ReleaseAustralia, Azamara Club Cruises., brisbane, Celebrity Cruises, Explorer of the Seas, Royal Caribbean, Royal Caribbean International, sydney, Sydney Harbour, Voyager of the SeasRobert De Pasquale

Royal Caribbean’s 138,194 tonne voyager-class cruise ship Explorer of the Seas bidding Sydney adieu in April, closing the curtain on the end of the summer cruise season for Australia.

Royal Caribbean and sister brands Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises, carried in excess of 250,000 guests during the season from October 2015 to April 2016, a growth in passengers of 27 per cent year-on-year and injecting over $140 million in passenger expenditure into the Australian economy.

Two Royal Caribbean ships braced their presences in the county in the 2015/2016 cruise season: Explorer of the Seas to Sydney and Legend of the Seas to Brisbane.

Explorer of the Seas made a histrionic entrance in Sydney for her maiden season, reuniting with Voyager of the Seas as history was made on Sydney Harbour. Collectively, the ships carried 10,000 passengers and crew and injected almost $1.6 million into the Sydney economy in passenger spend in one single day.

History was made on Sydney Harbour

With Radiance of the Seas and Legend of the Seas, calling Brisbane home for their inaugural season down under, the four locally-based ships in the Royal Caribbean International fleet sailed 72 itineraries, making 371 port calls in Australia, New Zealand, the South Pacific and Asia.

Long live the legend!

[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””] “With our three brands and their six locally based ships in Australia, this was our biggest and most varied season to date. The substantial growth demonstrates the success of our strategy in delivering the newest, most feature-packed and the most technologically advanced ships to our doorstep,” said Adam Armstrong, managing director, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd Australasia. [/pullquote]

New Cruise Terminal in Brisbane Welcomed By Carnival Australia

Posted: February 18, 2022

February 18, 2022Australia, Press ReleaseAnn Sherry, Australia, brisbane, Brisbane River, cruise ships, cruise terminalRobert De Pasquale

The decision to allow further examination of a new dedicated cruise terminal for Brisbane was today welcomed by Carnival Australia.

Carnival Australia Executive Chairman Ann Sherry said Brisbane was one of Australia’s main cruise hubs.

[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”Today’s announcement means we are moving one step closer to a solution that meets the long-term needs of the industry for a modern terminal that can accommodate large ships in Brisbane,” Ms Sherry said.[/pullquote]

[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””] “Some of the world’s most prestigious ships - such as Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth which visits Brisbane later this month - currently have to berth at a grain terminal. Brisbane is a wonderful city that deserves a cruise facility that can cater for the growing number of larger vessels in the region.” [/pullquote]

Subject to the mandatory ecological and technical investigations, Ms Sherry said Luggage Point was a suitable location for a facility.

[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”Luggage Point is close to the mouth of the Brisbane River and its location means it can accommodate larger cruise ships, which currently can’t get down the river. It is also a gateway for South East Queensland and regional Queensland,” she said.[/pullquote]

Queensland Behold the Legend

Posted: December 8, 2022

December 8, 2022Australia, Onboard Features, Press Releasebrisbane, Brisbane River, cruise lines, cruise ship, Legend of the Seas, queensland, Royal Caribbean InternationalRobert De Pasquale

Royal Caribbean International’s first ever cruise ship based in Queensland, Legend of the Seas, has arrived to her new home of Brisbane. The new local legend will sail from the sunny state until April 2016 and is forecasted to inject more than $24 million into the Queensland economy in passenger spending alone.

[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””] “We are thrilled to welcome Legend of the Seas to her brand new home. We have been working towards basing a ship in Brisbane since opening our Australia office in 2009 – so it’s a great pleasure to finally deliver Queenslanders with an international style of cruising, right on their doorstep,” said Adam Armstrong, Regional Commercial Director, Royal Caribbean International. [/pullquote]

[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””] “Queensland is one of the fastest growing markets in the country and has been a major source market for our Sydney-based ships over the last decade. Positioning Legend of the Seas to Brisbane offers greater convenience for Queenslanders, who now have an exciting new choice in cruise lines.” [/pullquote]

At 70,000 tons, Legend of the Seas is one of the biggest ships in Royal Caribbean’s armada that can explore the Brisbane River and dock at Portside Wharf, Hamilton. After her US$50 million revitalisation in 2013, the ship gloats unprecedented facilities that visitors won’t discover onboard some other cruise ship cruising from Brisbane, for example, the Central Atrium where high flying trapeze artists put on a mind blowing elevated demonstrate, an outside rock climbing wall for dynamic travellers to test their aptitude, a mini golf course, indoor adults only swimming pool for all the more restful interests, and in addition a children nursery.

Legend of the Seas’ onboard eating offering will thrill Queenslanders with six choices including three specialty restaurants – a Japanese restaurant called Izumi, Royal Caribbean’s signature steakhouse Chops Grille and the 12-seat Chef’s Table private dining room. She additionally includes a dazzling two-deck amazing dining room, a pool-side wide screen showing motion pictures and sports, a 800-seat theater with Broadway style shows, the Vitality Spa and Fitness centre, a beauty salon and a shopping arcade.

Legend of the Seas arrived early Tuesday at around 6am, finishing up a 18-night re-positioning cruise from Hong Kong. The ship leaves tonight at 6pm on a two-night Sampler – the first nearby cruise of her maiden season.

Amid her five month season, Legend of the Seas will set out on 15 itineraries in Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific going from two to 18 nights. The ship will come back to Brisbane for a broadened summer season October 2016.

Legend of the Seas is Royal Caribbean International’s extraordinary fourth ship cruising in Australia for the 2015/16 summer season; joining Explorer of the Seas, Voyager of the Seas and Radiance of the Seas cruising out of Sydney; adding to limit development of almost 50% this summer.