Townsville is featuring in new itineraries

[arxcards]

Townsville is upgrading their cruise terminal to cater for larger ships. There is no mention of the wharf capacity, which I believed to be too small for most of our homeported ships. Townsville is showing in some P&O and Princess itineraries, with no mention of a water shuttle.

 

Great news, especially for those QLD coastal itineraries that are full of tender stops.

https://www.townsville-port.com.au/quayside-terminal-transformation/

[SinbadThePorter]

1 minute ago, arxcards said:

Townsville is showing in some P&O and Princess itineraries

 

Also some Norwegian Sun winter cruises between Cairns and Fiji.

[arxcards]

Here is the other piece of the puzzle. Larger ships have been unable to dock, restricted by the size of the shipping channel. This is already in hand, as they are doubling the width of the channel.

https://www.dts.qld.gov.au/news/latest/2023/tourism-boost-as-cruise-line-giant-adds-townsville-to-itinerary-for-2025

Edited May 26 by arxcards

[arxcards]

7 minutes ago, SinbadThePorter said:

 

Also some Norwegian Sun winter cruises between Cairns and Fiji.

I do like their 1 night cruise on 23rd April 2025. It has been a while since we have done a 1 nighter.

 

These are nice looking itineraries, and for those seeking variety ....

If not for our Crown WC, it would be tempting. I am surprised they are not dual porting it with Brisbane to get their numbers up.

[SinbadThePorter]

12 minutes ago, arxcards said:

for those seeking variety

 

I don't know if Norwegian is trying to market Sun as an expedition ship or what, but she is also doing stops in Cooktown. Which is not something I thought I'd see from a ship that size again.

[MicCanberra]

It would be nice to have another option along the coast

[Sparky74]

2 hours ago, arxcards said:

I do like their 1 night cruise on 23rd April 2025. It has been a while since we have done a 1 nighter.

 

These are nice looking itineraries, and for those seeking variety ....

If not for our Crown WC, it would be tempting. I am surprised they are not dual porting it with Brisbane to get their numbers up.

Took me a moment to realise that WC means World Cruise rather than Water Closet. 🤣

[CountessCookie]

I wouldn't mind stopping in there on a cryise, but I wouldn't be in a rush to be yhe first on these new iteneries. I'll let the work out all the kinks before I go.

[MicCanberra]

Is there much to do or see there  or is it more of a gateway to elsewhere

[aussielozzie18]

Could you do a day trip to Magnetic Island from a cruise ship stopped at Townsville?

[arxcards]

1 hour ago, Sparky74 said:

Took me a moment to realise that WC means World Cruise rather than Water Closet. 🤣

Depends. If it is a bad cruise, it may have a dual meaning.

[arxcards]

7 minutes ago, aussielozzie18 said:

Could you do a day trip to Magnetic Island from a cruise ship stopped at Townsville?

Should be able. The ferry runs regularly enough from an adjacent wharf. As to what is readily accessible to do when you get to Maggie Island, I don't know.

[SinbadThePorter]

36 minutes ago, arxcards said:

As to what is readily accessible to do when you get to Maggie Island, I don't know.

 

I have fond memories from there in the 80s. I think there is still a Koala cuddling place on the island. Lots of beaches and toad races at the pub.

[austromyrtus]

cooktown would be of interest to me..

[arxcards]

3 hours ago, SinbadThePorter said:

 

I have fond memories from there in the 80s. I think there is still a Koala cuddling place on the island. Lots of beaches and toad races at the pub.

One of the wags on one of the Townsville news social pages offered suggestions for shore tours. One was that the local teens could make some money by stealing cars and taking you for a joyride. Don't you just love a local bias of civic pride! 🤣

[MicCanberra]

I hear magnetic Island might have some attraction.

[cruiser3775]

Magnetic Island is certainly possible as a day trip from Townsville. The Sealink ferry runs regularly all day, takes 30 minutes, no need to book in advance.  Once there, you can hire a car right at the ferry terminal (booked in advance) and drive around the island. Or there is a good bus service which will get you over to the seaward side of the island, to magic Horseshoe Bay.

It is the most beautiful tropical island, lovely beaches, great places to eat, good walking tracks, wild animals etc. - well worth a visit.

[Mycruiseobsession]

I don't find Townsville all that interesting. It seems dry, and spread out. I wouldn't book a cruise for the port like I would for say Eden or Cairns.

 

I haven't been there for many years, maybe it's  changed? I just found it mostly a uni student and defence force town with a mix of country.

 

I have frequented Cairns though, but I have family there so there's incentives.

[arxcards]

On 6/15/2024 at 2:00 PM, Mycruiseobsession said:

I don't find Townsville all that interesting. It seems dry, and spread out. I wouldn't book a cruise for the port like I would for say Eden or Cairns.

 

I haven't been there for many years, maybe it's  changed? I just found it mostly a uni student and defence force town with a mix of country.

 

I have frequented Cairns though, but I have family there so there's incentives.

For the past 15 years, it seems that nearly all cruises along the QLD coast have been represented by Brisbane, Airlie Beach, Cairns, Port Douglas & a cruise by Willis Island. I am all for these ports, but some added variety has to be a good thing, and passengers can choose accordingly. I recall that years ago, some ships used to tender to Hamilton Island instead of Airlie beach. That would be another variant I would like to see come back.

 

Some of my outlaws live in and around Townsville, but that isn't necessarily an incentive 😉

It also means we have done a fair bit there over the years, but we have pretty much done Airlie Beach and the neighbouring islands to death over the past 40 years.

[reeves35]

If the Federal Government don't renew the waiver for foreign flagged ships doing coastal cruises, all of these cruises will disappear which will be sad for these cities and a further death knell for the Australian cruise industry.  I can only assume it is union pressure on Catherine King that has meant she is delaying what seems like an easy question.

 

[arxcards]

7 minutes ago, reeves35 said:

If the Federal Government don't renew the waiver for foreign flagged ships doing coastal cruises, all of these cruises will disappear which will be sad for these cities and a further death knell for the Australian cruise industry.  I can only assume it is union pressure on Catherine King that has meant she is delaying what seems like an easy question.

 

As I understand it, I see no affect. It is the Sydney to Brisbane; Sydney to Melbourne etc "line" voyages that are under contention if/when the exemption is removed. An existing 7 night coastal from Brisbane would be unaffected, as long as you are returning to Brisbane.

 

Beyond that, if it requires a foreign port such as Conflict Islands or Honiara, I am all for it - although those without a passport won't be aboard.

[Mycruiseobsession]

3 hours ago, arxcards said:

. I recall that years ago, some ships used to tender to Hamilton Island

 

Yes I have been to Hamilton Island via P&O tenders in the past too. And they have done a Townsville stop before.

 

Also, on a side note, years ago they did an over nighter in Vila!

 

So we just wait and see.

 

Perhaps homeporting in smaller cities is a potential if their fees are cheaper?

 

Townsville does have some nice places to visit depending on your interests, I am just being biased.

 

At this stage I would be fine taking a 7 dayer from Townsville to no where just to enjoy the ocean, no kids and departing tomorrow! 😁

 

 

 

 

 

 

[arxcards]

9 hours ago, reeves35 said:

If the Federal Government don't renew the waiver for foreign flagged ships doing coastal cruises, all of these cruises will disappear which will be sad for these cities and a further death knell for the Australian cruise industry.  I can only assume it is union pressure on Catherine King that has meant she is delaying what seems like an easy question.

 

I have just revisited this and been doing a bit of extra reading. I hate reading parliamentary documents, as they read like politicians sound. The main gist of the Coastal Trading Act is a potential cash grab. Sure, there are things intended in the interest of the country, by trying to establish Australian staff (and taxes) on foreign flagged vessels. The allocation of Coastal Trading licenses is based on the payroll, not the ships registry. 

 

Even when the exemption is no longer in play, while there is no Australian licensed ship, there is no protection to be granted and permits can be rubber stamped.

An unlicensed ship may be granted a permit to trade on the Australian coast in the carriage of either cargo or passengers where: 

there is no suitable licensed ship available for the shipping task

the service carried out by licensed ships is inadequate for the required task and

it is considered to be desirable in the public interest that an unlicensed ship be allowed to undertake that shipping task.

 

The key is how much these permits will cost, and if that becomes onerous the the cruise lines. Additionally, if someone ever bobs up with an NCL like "Pride of Australia" to claim to be a suitable licensed ship, they can be protected by their license. Even then, we can all claim "desirable in the public interest".

 

Pride of Australia - how good. Arrive at OPT all keen for a holiday, but the crew have just called a 48hr strike. 🤣

[reeves35]

20 hours ago, arxcards said:

For the past 15 years, it seems that nearly all cruises along the QLD coast have been represented by Brisbane, Airlie Beach, Cairns, Port Douglas & a cruise by Willis Island. I am all for these ports, but some added variety has to be a good thing, and passengers can choose accordingly. I recall that years ago, some ships used to tender to Hamilton Island instead of Airlie beach. That would be another variant I would like to see come back.

 

Some of my outlaws live in and around Townsville, but that isn't necessarily an incentive 😉

It also means we have done a fair bit there over the years, but we have pretty much done Airlie Beach and the neighbouring islands to death over the past 40 years.

Back in 1987, I had a holiday at the now defunct South Molle Island Resort in The Whitsundays and Fairstar came in and moored off the island for 2 days.  Passengers and guests got to share island activities but cruise passengers tendered back to the ship for meals and the ship went for a sunset cruise around the Whitsundays during its overnight stop at South Molle.  Island guests weren't allowed onto the ship but it was cool parasailing beside the ship and looking down onto its decks.

[arxcards]

32 minutes ago, reeves35 said:

Back in 1987, I had a holiday at the now defunct South Molle Island Resort in The Whitsundays and Fairstar came in and moored off the island for 2 days.  Passengers and guests got to share island activities but cruise passengers tendered back to the ship for meals and the ship went for a sunset cruise around the Whitsundays during its overnight stop at South Molle.  Island guests weren't allowed onto the ship but it was cool parasailing beside the ship and looking down onto its decks.

That is somewhat how it currently works with Tangalooma. It would be nice to book a tandem parasail while we are anchored there in a couple of weeks, but I believe that is restricted to resort guests.