Royal Caribbean announces yet another ship for down under

[Australian family]

Royal Caribbean md Australia Gavin Smith has just announced that Celebrity Solstice will be based in Australia for the 2012/13 summer season.

 

The additional deployment is the first time the ship has operated in the southern hemisphere, with the 122,000 tonne vessel the largest vessel to ever be based in Australia.

 

It's also the youngest, with Solstice launching just three years ago with a range of innovative features such as the exclusive Aqua suites and the top deck Lawn Club which includes an acre of real grass.

 

Smith said the ship would mainly operate a series of 12-13 trans-Tasman itineraries, but the program would also include a circumnavigation of Australia.

 

He emphasised that this would not be a one-off Australian deployment for Solstice, saying "she will be bringing travellers and cruisers from around the world over the hot Australian summer months for many years ahead".

 

Full details of itineraries and fares will be released towards the end of the month, Smith said.

 

Source Cruise Weekly.

I don't think Carnival will be happy about this, lets hope they base a ship here all year round.

[MMDown Under]

Further information from Celebrity thread -

 

Solstice to Australia for Winter 2012/2013

Australia/New Zealand cruising continues to grow, now the Solstice is heading over that way! Here's the article:

 

 

"Get ready for some company, Sydney Opera House. Another thing of beauty will share Sydney Harbour when premium cruise brand Celebrity Cruises sends its award-winning Celebrity Solstice to Australia and New Zealandfor the winter of 2012-13.

 

“Celebrity Solsticehas satisfied guests around the world since we introduced her in 2008, and the obvious next step is to send her to Australia,” said Dan Hanrahan, President and CEO, Celebrity Cruises. “With this move, we are delivering another way for people to have the best vacation experience possible, in one of the most stunning geographic regions of the world.”

 

Australians will enjoy the return of the Celebrity Cruises brand to the region this coming winter with the deployment of the 1,814-guest Celebrity Century. Her subsequent replacement by the 2,850-guest Celebrity Solstice is a symbol of the premium cruise brand’s ever-expanding global presence and the popularity of the service, activities, cuisine, and stylish design exemplified on its Solstice Class ships, which are frequentlyrated as the best by consumer- and travel agent-focused publications around the globe.

 

“Travelers around the world value their vacation time, and we want to give them more opportunitiesto enjoy Celebrity’s signature attributes, including the first Lawn Club and Hot Glass show at sea, more spacious staterooms, our AquaClass stateroomsgeared toward the spa enthusiast lifestyle, multiple specialty restaurants, the Celebrity iLounge and state-of-the-art entertainment, in more places. The culture and way of life in Australia and New Zealand are an idealbackdrop for our Solstice Class style and the overall onboard experience.”

 

Celebrity Solsticewill transition from a 2012 summer in the Mediterraneanto Australia/New Zealand via the Suez Canal and through Southeast Asia before arriving in Sydney, Australia in early December. The repositioning sailings will include multiple overnights in ports including Dubai, United Arab Emirates and Cochin, India.

 

Upon arriving in Australia, Celebrity Solstice will present a series of 12- and 13-night open-jaw sailings between Sydney and Auckland, New Zealand. The season also will include a circumnavigation of Australia, consisting of two open-jaw sailings between Sydney and Perth (Fremantle). Many of the itineraries include overnight stays in Sydney.

 

Celebrity Solsticewill continue a series of destination-immersive onboard activitiesthat will debut during Celebrity Century’s upcoming Australia/New Zealand season; activities include local vineyard and wine shore excursions, onboard talks by local cultural entertainers and speakers, and destination-focused food and drink menus. Some activities will be complimentary.

 

Celebrity will continue to offer its popular Australia/New Zealand cruisetourprogram geared toward guests who wish to combine a land-based vacation with a cruise. Premium concierge-style service is the hallmark of Celebrity’s four- and five-night pre- and post-cruise escorted land tour packages in Australia, which will visit destinations including Port Douglas (Great Barrier Reef), Ayers Rock (Uluru) and Sydney. A six-night pre-cruise New Zealand package will visit Auckland, Rotorua, Queenstown and Sydney. Highlights include a full-day tour over the Great Barrier Reef and a gourmet barbecue dinner under the outback sky in Ayers Rock. All of Celebrity’s cruisetours are escorted by local tour directors, and include hotel accommodations, transportation, select activities, breakfast and some additional meals."

__________________

[Kiwi Kruzer]

WOW ...We are cooking with gas now...

 

Lets just hope and trust our ports can accommodate them:eek:

 

It carries more passengers than QM2:eek:

 

Facts

Occupancy: 2850

Tonnage: 122000

Length: 1041 FT

Beam: 121 FT

Draught: 27 FT

Cruise Speed: 24 KTS

Inaugural Date: Nov 23, 2008

 

 

 

[thied]

This great news the more cruise ships we get based in Australia the better,

 

We will get more chioce and must better prices. as I did say last year about P&O putting more ships into the major ports to try and corner the market even though most of the cruise ships being based here in Australia owned by the same company and now we are see other brands starting base there cruise ships here.

[bazzaw]

It's one thing to say that the ship will be "based" in Australia - but just where?? - and more specifically, if it is doing 12 day turnarounds, exactly which wharf will it use?? It won't fit under the bridge in Sydney, wont go up the river in Brisbane - and I am sure that regular use of Sydney OPT will upset some contractual arrangements with the restaurants there.

 

I wonder if Celebrity has really thought this out???

 

Barry

[Kiwi Kruzer]

It's one thing to say that the ship will be "based" in Australia - but just where?? - and more specifically, if it is doing 12 day turnarounds, exactly which wharf will it use?? It won't fit under the bridge in Sydney, wont go up the river in Brisbane - and I am sure that regular use of Sydney OPT will upset some contractual arrangements with the restaurants there.

 

I wonder if Celebrity has really thought this out???Barry

 

Yes indeed Barry....

The the race will be on for bookings at Circular Quay.

The ports they can call at will also be limited. I shudder at the nightmare of tendering 2,800 passengers ashore.

Its also interesting to note in one of the statements ,

it said there would be more overnight calls.

I wonder if that means Sydney and Auckland,

as they would need an overnight to service the ship, with the local facilities that are available.

[Melb06]

Hey us people in melbourne will love to host a ship this size as it would dock with ease in our port.

[bazzaw]

What is the largest ship that has docked in Melbourne? I understand that the problem there is not the dock - but the depth/width channel into the port.

 

Barry

[thied]

It's one thing to say that the ship will be "based" in Australia - but just where?? - and more specifically, if it is doing 12 day turnarounds, exactly which wharf will it use?? It won't fit under the bridge in Sydney, wont go up the river in Brisbane - and I am sure that regular use of Sydney OPT will upset some contractual arrangements with the restaurants there.

 

I wonder if Celebrity has really thought this out???

 

Barry

Brisbane just may have to build a new cruise terminal as that question has been around and chated about for a very long time by the QLD goverment people and port of Brisbane.

 

I would say if it based in Sydney they would use the OPT as there are about 60 cruise ships booked to use the opt this year and adding another 30 bookings based on a 12 day turn around would be great for the locals

 

2012 season there about 107 cruise ships booked for the OPT.

[Kiwi Kruzer]

Brisbane just may have to build a new cruise terminal as that question has been around and chated about for a very long time by the QLD goverment people and port of Brisbane.

 

I would say if it based in Sydney they would use the OPT as there are about 60 cruise ships booked to use the opt this year and adding another 30 bookings based on a 12 day turn around would be great for the locals

 

2012 season there about 107 cruise ships booked for the OPT.

 

 

The new Brisbane terminal at Fishermans Island could handle a call with ease, and it would save the ship a lot of time not having to sail up the river. There is heaps of room there for busses and taxis, as long as the port organises not to have cars or containers there on the day.

They just need to organise an efficient shuttle service into Brisbane.

[MMDown Under]

Hey us people in melbourne will love to host a ship this size as it would dock with ease in our port.

 

That was what I was thinking, in addition to Brisbane.

 

The news release said overnights in Sydney, so bookings for OPT will be popular. Pity so many ships come down in the northern winter, which is not prime time for travelling in Australia for their land content cruise tour programmes.

[Melb06]

Barry with melboune port they have had the channel deeepen a few years back to handle larger ships to come to port. as for the largest ship to dock in melbourne is the princess ship diamond princess. next year we will have the QM2 at station pier.

[bazzaw]

David

 

The new Brisbane terminal at Fishermans Island could handle a call with ease,

 

That is true - and it seems that even QM2 will be there next year . BUT - that wharf is a multi-purpose wharf, it's primary purpose being wheat loading. I am not sure that it could/would be used for regular passenger turnarounds. The facilities are ample for occasional visiting ships and smallish loadings of passengers (say around 300) - but 2500 would be another matter!!!:eek:

 

Barry

[Billy and Charlie's Mum]

Well if Anna Blight would get off her proverbial and organise something we would love to be able to sail on her out of Brisbane instead of having to go to Sydney all the time. Can't see it happening though! :(:mad:

[Bella cruiser]

Thanks for posting Australian Family, that's interesting news. We are going to be spoilt for choice, competition is good for the industry.:D It looks like we are going to have lots of options now after being largely ignored for years.

 

Only issue I see is a huge ship with this number of pax may have limited port access as tendering would be a logistical nightmare.:eek: It will be interesting to see what kind of itineraries they come up with.

 

Jenny

[Kiwi Kruzer]

David

The new Brisbane terminal at Fishermans Island could handle a call with ease,That is true - and it seems that even QM2 will be there next year . BUT - that wharf is a multi-purpose wharf, it's primary purpose being wheat loading. I am not sure that it could/would be used for regular passenger turnarounds. The facilities are ample for occasional visiting ships and smallish loadings of passengers (say around 300) - but 2500 would be another matter!!!:eek:Barry

 

 

Very true Barry, But I dont see Brisbane as a full turnaround point.

 

However I could see something like Star Cruises did a few years ago on Superstar Gemini. They ran cruises from Singapore to Phuket and return, visiting different ports on the way back, and you had the choice of boarding/disembarking at either Singapore or Phuket.

Something like that could work with Brisbane and Melbourne.

 

Another port that we overlook sometimes is Hobart.

They have heaps of room there to service the ships.

Why not ship all the containers of supplies down there and re provision the ship with ease, rather than trying to have trucks force their way through to the OPT at Sydney.

I noted at Auckland, when disembarking QM2, there were 7 large containers of supplies waiting for them at the end of Jellicoe Wharf, and it was all loaded with ease ,well away from the passengers.

[thied]

The new Brisbane terminal at Fishermans Island could handle a call with ease, and it would save the ship a lot of time not having to sail up the river. There is heaps of room there for busses and taxis, as long as the port organises not to have cars or containers there on the day.

They just need to organise an efficient shuttle service into Brisbane.

yes the fishermans island/ grain terminal is ok for the amount of ships that dock there at moment and it is a grain/ coal / wood ship terminal, it would be better to have cruise terminal just for cruise ships on the eastern side of the gateway bridge. then may the cruise ships industry may tripple in Brisbane.

 

There is nearly no public transport out there even the city cats do not go out there and it is along way to the city and has easy access to the gateway motor ways. re Gold Coast and sun shine coast.

 

what they need is the city cats to service the terminal.

have more trains and bus services to the port.

 

 

.

[Australian family]

Well if Anna Blight would get off her proverbial and organise something we would love to be able to sail on her out of Brisbane instead of having to go to Sydney all the time. Can't see it happening though! :(:mad:

 

Maybe she could organise another photo shot with the Womens Weekly onboard a lovely ship in Brisbane at a new purpose built terminal.:(:(

[Murrumbeena]

Well if Anna Blight would get off her proverbial and organise something we would love to be able to sail on her out of Brisbane instead of having to go to Sydney all the time. Can't see it happening though! :(:mad:

 

D'not hold your breathe,:(

[Rasa Sayang]

Well I'll probably get shot down in flames here - but that is one Fugly ship.:(

 

 

Only something designed for the jaded American market could look as ugly as that.

 

Don't get me wrong, I think P&O Aust needs a big fire lit underneath them by the opposition - but that thing????? :eek::eek:

 

Reminds me of one of those bulk live sheep carriers that operate between here and the Middle East.

 

If thats our cruising future according to the American marketers well it looks like I'll be switching to Cunard and P&O world cruises form my future sea travel.

 

Just my opinion - which by the way is as good as anybody's :p

[Australian family]

RCCA welcomes largest, newest superliner Celebrity Solstice to Australia

 

 

Wednesday, 2 March 2011

}

Gavin Smith, managing director Celebrity Cruises Australia, has announced the Sydney home-porting of luxury superliner Celebrity Solstice from December 2012 in a media conference this morning.

Built for $750 million less than three years ago, the largest and youngest superliner to “call Australia home” will service ports around Australia, the South Pacific and New Zealand in approximately 10 voyages over summer.

Offering her 2850 passengers between 12-13 night cruises, mainly between Sydney and Auckland, Celebrity Solstice will also feature a circumnavigation of Australia and cruise to New Zealand.

With fares and itineraries set for release later this month, the 122,000 tonne, 317 metre vessel offers groundbreaking innovations in both design and amenities including the 1-acre fresh grass lawn club and the world’s first ice top Martini Bar at sea.

 

Designated to replace Celebrity Century, currently set for home-porting in Sydney later this year, the deployment of Celebrity Solstice is a move supported by the high level of advanced bookings.

Expecting to attract an equal share of local and overseas guests, Celebrity Cruises aims to maximize the number of Australians on board, however is aware that the Celebrity global brand will attract guests from around the world.

“We’re bringing one of the world’s best ships to a destination that much of the world wants to see and they’re seeing it in a great way,” Mr Smith stated.

With Solstice unable to sail beneath the Harbour Bridge, Celebrity Cruises will be working closely with Sydney Ports to negotiate itineraries based on other ships requiring berthing at OPT, including Carnival Spirit currently set for Sydney-porting in October 2012.

Mr Smith was very clear in his support of the new Passenger Terminal at White Bay amidst the controversy that the development has created.

“I don’t believe having a cruise terminal in Barangaroo where you’re going to have mixed residential, retail and commercial is the place for a cruise terminal. I don’t agree that it should be at Barangaroo so we fundamentally support it going to White Bay.”

In an announcement that follows one of the largest months of cruise ship visits to Sydney, the deployment of a superliner of such a standard bodes well for the ever growing cruising industry in Australia.

 

 

source Etravel blackboard

[bazzaw]

Dennis

 

Since, voyaging on Oriana, Arcadia and QM2, I now have a new personal policy.

 

I won't sail on any "cruiseship" that does not allow continuous external access of the ship from the Promenade Deck right up to Sun Deck. No more catching lifts or internal staircases to get from one outside deck to another outside deck for me!!!! I really like to go to sea on ships - not floating blocks of apartments.

 

Unfortunately this new policy excludes many cruise ships - including all the Vista class ships , even Cunard's QE and QV.

 

 

Barry

[Kiwi Kruzer]

If thats our cruising future according to the American marketers well it looks like I'll be switching to Cunard and P&O world cruises form my future sea travel.

 

Sorry to say.......

Cunard have followed suit as well....

Mind you , they are smart looking condos:D

 

 

[Rasa Sayang]

Sorry to say.......

Cunard have followed suit as well....

Mind you , they are smart looking condos:D

 

Yeah, a bit Fugly as well David.

 

It's terrible being a "traditionalist" when it comes to cruising:o

 

I endorse Barry's philosophy of a couple of posts back.

 

Maybe I'll have to just stick to Oriana for as long as I can - a lovely ship.

 

Beautiful promenade deck to doze away the day on. :p

[The_Big_M]

Agreed, I saw a picture of the Cunard Queen Elizabeth the other day, as per above, and thought that was a shocker!

 

I find the lines of Solstice to be quite good, but everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

 

Loving this news though. Overseas bookings have been great for Radiance so it's a sensible decision. Assuming no other issues (e.g. economic downturn again), it should be successful!