Earlier than usual sailaway from OPT Sydney

[dandtgeddes]

Gidday all!

 

Usually when we sail from the OPT in March the ship sails around 6pm.

 

For our trip in March 2020 I notice we sail at 4pm.

 

What would be the latest one needs to be on the ship by and when would the muster drill be?

 

Thank you.

 

TraceyG😀

[GUT2407]

Final boarding is normally about two hours prior to sailaway, muster drill about 1/2 hour prior

[Russell21]

4 o'clock is not unusual, I think all 8 of ours have been that time.

[OzKiwiJJ]

Ships at the OPT either leave around 4pm, or from 6:30pm onwards. They aren't allowed to leave during the peak evening ferry period. 

[MicCanberra]

Check in will likely be closed at 2 -2.30 with all aboard by 3pm at the latest, Muster at 3.30pm for the 4pm sailaway.

[The_Big_M]

Depends on the line.

 

Princess usually leave earlier, e.g. around 4. Whereas RCL/Celebrity group leave later 

[gbenjo]

Radiance leaves at 4pm   The larger ships obviously take longer to embark.

[lyndarra]

I recall, a few years ago, an after dark sailaway from OPT during Vivid. That was spectacular and memorable.

[GUT2407]

We sailed pretty early the day of the Martin Place Siege and another cruise about 8:30, I recall sitting looking at the opera house as we dined 

[NSWP]

12 Feb on Majestic Princess, scheduled to depart @ 6.45pm.

[dandtgeddes]

Thank you all for your contributions.

 

I must have just managed to book later departures as our family tends to cruise on the bigger ships.

 

TraceyG😃

 

[MicCanberra]

2 hours ago, lyndarra said:

I recall, a few years ago, an after dark sailaway from OPT during Vivid. That was spectacular and memorable.

We did that on the P&Os Comedy Festival cruise last June, left White Bay and anchored at Athol Bouy and then left the harbour at 11.30pm.

[MicCanberra]

1 hour ago, GUT2407 said:

We sailed pretty early the day of the Martin Place Siege and another cruise about 8:30, I recall sitting looking at the opera house as we dined 

That was Celebrity's Infinity, for Rosie's birthday cruise. The ship is a bit smaller that the Solstice, so may explain the earlier departure, great times were had anyway.

[gbenjo]

The 4pm departures only started ( at least for Royal /Celebrity ) last season  although I believe there may be other ships leaving earlier, if possible, this season. I guess with the new " super fast" gangways at the OPT boarding may be quicker ha ha.😜 Or so they claim.

[MicCanberra]

Time will tell

[gbenjo]

3 minutes ago, MicCanberra said:

Time will tell

Won't make an ounce of difference ( IMHO)

[GUT2407]

9 minutes ago, gbenjo said:

Won't make an ounce of difference ( IMHO)

Unless they can get more staffing at the bottlenecks, and as that seems to be customs etc I don’t see that happening any time soon.

[NSWP]

1 hour ago, MicCanberra said:

We did that on the P&Os Comedy Festival cruise last June, left White Bay and anchored at Athol Bouy and then left the harbour at 11.30pm.

The Pando Party People would be just getting a glow on @ 11.30pm.    I would be in Noddy Land.🤩

Edited August 9, 2019 by NSWP

[NSWP]

1 hour ago, gbenjo said:

The 4pm departures only started ( at least for Royal /Celebrity ) last season  although I believe there may be other ships leaving earlier, if possible, this season. I guess with the new " super fast" gangways at the OPT boarding may be quicker ha ha.😜 Or so they claim.

Super Fast gangways? Will us oldies have to do the sprint along them then ?    Holy Moly, that is a worry.🤩

 

Thou art the expert young Graham, as you sayeth, time will tell.

Edited August 9, 2019 by NSWP

[MicCanberra]

31 minutes ago, gbenjo said:

Won't make an ounce of difference ( IMHO)

Not unless they open up a few more immigration booths and 2 more security stations.

[MicCanberra]

18 minutes ago, NSWP said:

The Pando Party People would be just getting a glow on @ 11.30pm.    I would be in Noddy Land.🤩

We normally go to our cabin by that time but often stay up a bit longer anyway.

[gbenjo]

23 minutes ago, NSWP said:

Super Fast gangways? Will us oldies have to do the sprint along them then ?    Holy Moly, that is a worry.🤩

 

Thou art the expert young Graham, as you sayeth, time will tell.

No rush, take your time, only difference is instead of one perfectly good gangway there will be two expensive new ones with the same amount of people using them.

Catch 22 is IF they get all the pax on quicker the ships can leave earlier they will lose money on the port fees. Two hours  per ship ( eg leave at 4pm instead of 6pm) over a season   would be  a substantial  amount and those new gangways would not be cheap.

[MicCanberra]

That may true but then if a ship is out by 4pm they could possibly get another ship (smaller) in and out for the evening.

[The_Big_M]

2 hours ago, gbenjo said:

The 4pm departures only started ( at least for Royal /Celebrity ) last season  although I believe there may be other ships leaving earlier, if possible, this season.

 

Saving fuel (and port costs) is the new black.

Edited August 9, 2019 by The_Big_M

[MicCanberra]

Yeah, there are many possible ways of finding efficiencies without affecting the cruise experience for the passengers.