Impossible trip?

[AndyHolt]

I want to visit family in Brisbane and want a no fly trip to arrive around October. Want to stay in Oz about 3 weeks then return to UK. 

Is this an impossible trip? Bearing in mind we are very flexible but insist we don't get to Oz in hot season.

[Harters]

I'm sure it's do-able. But it will be multi-staged and, no doubt, very expensive. I think it'd be a modern day equivalent of "Around the World in 80 Days", where Fogg uses a variety of transport. I think you'd need to work backwards from  October to identify the final stage of the trip arriving in Oz. Then find another that preceeds the final stage, etc.

 

I have a friend in Melbourne who did do it in reverse, using cruise ship to Hong Kong, then train north to Vladivostok. Then train right acorss Russia, before train further south to some ferry port in Western Europe. Took them about three weks each  way. That route obviously isnt possible right now because of the situation with Russia.

[AndyHolt]

Thank you for your thoughts and experience. Obviously Russia is out! 

I was rather hoping to take in both Panama and Suez canals. Which points to a world cruise and possibly jump ship at Brisbane then catch up with a flight to Singapore, that would give us a fortnight with family. I know this involves a flight, it's  not a problem, apart from the timing. All the world cruises I can find arrive in Oz at the hot time of year. I think, in the end we might have to compromise on timings, but haven't given up yet.

[Aulanis]

|Everything is doable if you have enough time and money

ideas here 

https://www.seat61.com/europe-to-australia-without-flying.htm

echoes  @Harters reply plus other ideas

 

Cunard do a 30-40 day cruise  Soton to Perth  but maybe not when you want to go.

 

There are cruises from west coast US  to oZ   so if you can find one at the right time

you can get a cunard Soton to NY    cross us by train .

See if similar to return.

 

Alternate way to West coast US  several   trans atlantic repositioning to miami or Fort Lauderdale   then get a cruise from there through the  Panama  canal.

[AndyHolt]

Thanks Aulanis, some good links there to keep me busy for a while. 👍Freighters could be a possible.

[Aulanis]

If heat is a problem,  May to Sept are the cooler months in Brisbane.

It starts to warm up in October.

[AndyHolt]

Thanks Aulanis, we were there in October once before and it was great but I take on board what you say and plan our visit for maybe September.

[MBP&O2/O]

I think you might struggle to get Panama and Suez on the same trip 🙂or at least on the same ship. Even then you might struggle.

I managed it once ... but have been through both canals many many times.

I am of course talking cargo ships not world cruises 🙂

 

Edited April 16, 2023 by MBP&O2/O

[babs135]

Have a look at cruisetimetables.com    There would appear to be cruises that would get you to Brisbane in October but you'd have to get to the States first!  However, getting home may be more of a problem.  Perhaps a word with a travel agent might help?

[sleepingcat]

is going in the Aussie autumn rather than spring any good?  If so, as you ll have seen, almost all ex UK RWCs get to Sydney around the end of February so there would be a choice.  You might be fortunate to find that two different companies could give you enough time in Oz.  

 

There are a few specialist TAs in the UK which deal with passenger travel on freighters and are very knowledgeable.  I investigated a bit when we went to Cape  Town, thinking we could maybe come back by sea, but dates didn't work. We ve certainly met people at sea who have come from Aus to Europe on a freighter and had a great time. 

[AndyHolt]

Thanks mate for this. Feb in Brisbane is still very hot,  so April or October  would suit us better.

Will check out going by freighter though. I think there is a  cruiser that leaves UK in July but haven't done anything about it yet. 

[Sarnia 432]

Princess do the world cruises from Brisbane in the middle of the year.

 

This one leaves London on 30th July and arrives in Brisbane on Sept 28th. It is for 2025, but the run it every year

https://www.princess.com/cruise-search/details/?voyageCode=3514A&fareType=BESTFARE 

[Aulanis]

Wow!    I like the sound of that it even goes to Easter Island   wonder if that is a sail by or a 

a proper stop?  The map is way out in a few places  EI  is far from the s american coast  nearer to  adamstown /Pitcairn and I dont know of any cruise ships that go ashore there , last time we were there

the villagers came on the ship to sell their stuff.   They also have Isafjord in N Norway and it is in Iceland??     hope the captain has a better map! 

Edited April 19, 2023 by Aulanis
change EI to before Pitcairn

[MBP&O2/O]

Crystal (Old Variety) once published an itinerary that was from Norway to Dover UK  .... via the Florida Straits ...all in 24 hrs! 😁

 

[AndyHolt]

On 4/19/2023 at 6:23 PM, Sarnia 432 said:

Princess do the world cruises from Brisbane in the middle of the year.

 

This one leaves London on 30th July and arrives in Brisbane on Sept 28th. It is for 2025, but the run it every year

https://www.princess.com/cruise-search/details/?voyageCode=3514A&fareType=BESTFARE 

Thank you, this looks interesting, perhaps just what we are looking for. I will check it out.