Difference between cruises from Aust and other countries??

[Chenin]

As a newbie crusher, don't understand difference between cruise lines/countries, where some lines allow wine to be brought on board yet others don't?

Is it a cruise line co, country or specific cruise thing??

 

We going with P & O may 2016, can't take wine onboard yet other cruise lines you can.

 

Also, have heard cruises from one aust city to another, the casino can't open and no duty free, is this right?

 

We going Fremantle -Broome -Fremantle on Pacific Eden next May.

Thanks

[Adidas4fun]

Taking wine on board is a cruise line by cruise line specific rule.

 

Casino and duty free is a rule of the country they are cruising around.

 

There is no point in trying to learn all the different rules and understand the differences. The only thing that matters is deciding what is important to you and finding a cruise that meets your needs.

[Kinkacruiser]

I know Princess allow a bottle of wine per person on embarkation.I think it's cruise line specific. You need to be outside Australian waters for the casino to open and the line cannot sell duty free goods while in Aus waters either. That's why Bali is included in that cruise you're taking. No idea why P&O don't include it. Even on a Queensland coastal cruise, a trip out to Willis Is. satisfies that duty free and casino requirement.

Edited December 12, 2015 by Kinkacruiser

[Chenin]

Thanks.

I don't intend to know all the rule, but I thought this forum was so I could ask questions. My apologies if I've caused any inconvenience to anyone.

 

My cruise does not go to Bali - it is Fremantle - Broome - Fremantle. Which us sort of why I'm asking - we don't go to an international port.

 

When I spoke with P &O, they couldn't answer my question re the casino opening. And it was sheer curiosity as to why some people talk about taking wine onboard - even P & O UK, which is why I asked also if it was country specific.

[rkmw]

Thanks.

I don't intend to know all the rule, but I thought this forum was so I could ask questions. My apologies if I've caused any inconvenience to anyone.

 

My cruise does not go to Bali - it is Fremantle - Broome - Fremantle. Which us sort of why I'm asking - we don't go to an international port.

 

When I spoke with P &O, they couldn't answer my question re the casino opening. And it was sheer curiosity as to why some people talk about taking wine onboard - even P & O UK, which is why I asked also if it was country specific.

 

i did a cruise around Australia a couple of years ago and i'm sure they had the casino open on our princess cruise coming down the west coast to Freo, its a state goverment thing if the rule has been changed

 

if you cruise on a princess ship from Fremantle you are allowed 1 bottle of wine pp to be carried on but nothing with p&o or Carnival

[GUT2407]

On Perth to Brooke return I wouldn't expect the Casino to be open.

[GUT2407]

I know my Sydney to Burnie it wasn't on Jewel.

[stingau]

Australia has always been yrs behind overseas. If you go to Carnival cruise lines main USA webpage it offers all these great deals allowances and packages..with the rider..."not available for Australia cruises"

 

Slowly we are catching up, until recently Australian cruises didn't have drink packages. In the states we were able to prepurchase a duty free bottle of spirits delivered to our cabin on embarkation day...not here you can't.

 

The internet packages are better, a lot more things are included such as free room service menu.

 

I think it's a matter of being a geographically isolated area we don't know any better, until recently we were limited for choice with limited cruise ships available.

 

This will change as more ships head down under but we don't have the cruising numbers to enforce changes and competition. Prior to low overseas flights we knew no different.

 

This is not only restricted to cruising, DVDs,clothing and booze is so much cheaper overseas. Try buying a litre bottle of vodka here in Aust. For $10 like I did recently in Florida.

[GUT2407]

Australia has always been yrs behind overseas. If you go to Carnival cruise lines main USA webpage it offers all these great deals allowances and packages..with the rider..."not available for Australia cruises"

 

Slowly we are catching up, until recently Australian cruises didn't have drink packages. In the states we were able to prepurchase a duty free bottle of spirits delivered to our cabin on embarkation day...not here you can't.

 

The internet packages are better, a lot more things are included such as free room service menu.

 

I think it's a matter of being a geographically isolated area we don't know any better, until recently we were limited for choice with limited cruise ships available.

 

This will change as more ships head down under but we don't have the cruising numbers to enforce changes and competition. Prior to low overseas flights we knew no different.

 

This is not only restricted to cruising, DVDs,clothing and booze is so much cheaper overseas. Try buying a litre bottle of vodka here in Aust. For $10 like I did recently in Florida.

 

 

Or it might be a few other factors.

 

Mainly we are a small company, I be they sell a lot more of that Vodka in the USA than they do in Aus, so just like Woolies can get a better deal than the corner store, the USA distributors can get a better deal than the Aus distributors (years ago I worked in a small business) Woolworths sold some items for less than w could buy them from the distributor (Coke was a good example, w were paying 35c a can, Woolies were selling it for 25c in cartons of 24). Supermarkets in the USA were selling it for 10c.

 

Another issue is that our workers get a wage, currently minimum wage around $17 in Aus in the USA around $8 (substantially less in industries were tips are common).

 

So the $10 Vidka takes around an hour 20 to pay for in the USA here that's about $23

[madnsneaky]

On a 5 night QLD sampler cruise on RCL in 2013 the casino did open when we were out of ports and a certain distance from Australia.

[Stuartm]

On our recent Golden Princess cruise from Sydney to Melbourne the casino was open the first night albeit several hours after sailing but I assume they have to travel 12 nautical miles out to do so. The duty free shops were open as well. The casino was open for our day at see but closed in the late afternoon as we were about to enter Australian waters.

 

cheers

 

Stu

[goodycruising]

Obviously you are doing research so that you can find the cruise that suits you, or maybe for your next cruise. I think your questions were spot on, and you have obviously done some research already. Good on you! Don't stop asking questions.

 

I have seen before that there are different rules for the casino when sailing in waters near WA. I am not sure either what that is about, but I found this article which said that was about to end. So why your cruise would not have the casino open may be more to do with the cruise line itself. On Royal Caribbean they have said that Aussies do not gamble on board as much as other nations. We drink and do more shore excursions was what we were told at one of those "Captain's Corner" talks that they have on board. So maybe they do not feel that it is worth the costs to open the casino for your short trip, and as others here have said, on their trips.

http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/cruise-ships-cleared-to-gamble-off-wa/story-e6frg13u-1226014615537

 

As far as wine, that certainly seems to get down to passenger pressure on cruise companies. If they had their way they would just sell you everything they could at the highest rate they could get away with. That is a business objective.

 

Duty free is certainly related to laws of the country. There must be a legal international stop, and that QLD one of Willis Island, they must stay there for a certain amount of time, and it must have a certain passenger education or benefit (or some wording like that). Also with the Bali stop on many of the cruises that head around the north of WA. On Royal Caribbean, the shops are open on cruises that don't go overseas, but the alcohol and possibly smokes (?) are not available. The other stuff is for sale at times though.

 

As far as the cruise lines help people not being able to answer questions. They are unbelievable in their lack of knowledge about just about anything you would want to know. They can barely help you with the right price some days! If they do give you a definite answer, be aware they may still not have a clue. Then when you ask here, people can give you their experiences, but each ship on each cruise line is just as likely to do something different, and even the same ship from one cruise to the next. That is my experience anyhow! :)

Edited December 12, 2015 by goodycruising

[Royalty X]

Blame Crown (Burswood) Casino for the casino not opening, not P&O. They own the gambling rights in WA, hence why there aren't pokies in pubs in WA. The only way the casino can open is if you go into international waters.

[Aus Traveller]

Blame Crown (Burswood) Casino for the casino not opening, not P&O. They own the gambling rights in WA, hence why there aren't pokies in pubs in WA. The only way the casino can open is if you go into international waters.

Exactly. The Western Australian government stipulates that cruise ship casinos cannot open while the ship is within their waters. The other States do not have this rule. Queensland is very relaxed about it and does not regard a ship the same way it does premises on land, so the government doesn't care if the casino is open.

 

Customs Duty is an Australian Federal government responsibility so duty free and can only apply if the ship goes into international waters.

 

Whether or not you can take alcohol or soft drinks on board is a rule of each particular cruise line.:)

Edited December 12, 2015 by Aus Traveller

[Vader1111]

i did a cruise around Australia a couple of years ago and i'm sure they had the casino open on our princess cruise coming down the west coast to Freo, its a state goverment thing if the rule has been changed

 

if you cruise on a princess ship from Fremantle you are allowed 1 bottle of wine pp to be carried on but nothing with p&o or Carnival

This is correct. The ability to open the Casino within Australian waters is dictated by the local State Government legislation. They're completely free to open when in International Waters, but that's not the case for this cruise.

 

Duty Free is only available when you actually leave the country. That's the whole point of it. Therefore, there's no duty free on a purely domestic cruise.

[Kiwi Kruzer]

Whether or not you can take alcohol or soft drinks on board is a rule of each particular cruise line.:)

 

I tend to look at it as if I were going to a local bar or restaurant.......

every bar, restaurant, cafe , etc has its own policy . You may have 2 restaurants side by side, both governed by the same liquor laws, but each one could have their own policy.

 

 

[Adidas4fun]

I tend to look at it as if I were going to a local bar or restaurant.......

every bar, restaurant, cafe , etc has its own policy . You may have 2 restaurants side by side, both governed by the same liquor laws, but each one could have their own policy.

 

 

so in other words learn the rules of the one you hve chosen to go to/on and worry about the rules for others another time! sheesh

[Aus Traveller]

so in other words learn the rules of the one you hve chosen to go to/on and worry about the rules for others another time! sheesh

That is right. The exception is where government laws or regulations play a part - casino opening and duty free.

 

On all ships you will notice that the on-board shops are never open while the ship is in port. We were told this is really a courtesy to local businesses, but on Australian cruises it also means that passengers are not charged GST.:) Less cost for us and less paperwork and bother for the cruise line.

[MicCanberra]

What you can expect for your P&O cruise would be:

• No wine to be taken aboard. This is a P&O Australia rule.
  
• The casino will likely open when more than the 12 nautical miles off shore but not when closer or in port. This is Australian Regulations.
  
• There will be no duty free alcohol or cigarettes but you can still get all the other types of duty free while aboard. Clothing, bags, perfume, etc. This is Australian regulation.
  

Enjoy your cruise.:D

Edited December 13, 2015 by MicCanberra

[Aus Traveller]

What you can expect for your P&O cruise would be:

• No wine to be taken aboard. This is a P&O Australia rule.
  
• The casino will likely open when more than the 12 nautical miles off shore but not when closer or in port. This is Australian Regulations.
  
• There will be no duty free alcohol or cigarettes but you can still get all the other types of duty free while aboard. Clothing, bags, perfume, etc. This is Australian regulation.
  

Enjoy your cruise.:D

As I and Vader1111 said, gambling is a State responsibility not Federal. Unless the WA government has changed their rules recently, they do not allow the casino to open on ships that are within Western Australian waters.:D

[MicCanberra]

As I and Vader1111 said, gambling is a State responsibility not Federal. Unless the WA government has changed their rules recently, they do not allow the casino to open on ships that are within Western Australian waters.:D

 

Fair enough, although it didn't affect my cruise out of Freo, as long as we went into international waters, the casino was open.:D

[Haoie]

You think you get stiffed on prices in OZ? Try living here, ha.

[joandian]

I think Australia Territorial waters are 12 nautical miles and since cruises are about the revenue, I would have thought they would head out and cruise in International waters.

[MicCanberra]

I think Australia Territorial waters are 12 nautical miles and since cruises are about the revenue, I would have thought they would head out and cruise in International waters.

 

Apparently it is different for some cruises out of WA.

[joandian]

Apparently it is different for some cruises out of WA.

 

Ok then.