Celebrity Millennium and
Radiance of the Seas have been
approved to dock at Sydney’s
naval base this season.
AUSTRALIA’S cruise industry is abuzz with
the Prime Minister’s announcement on Sunday
that the Royal Australian Navy base at Garden
Island will open to three cruise ships in the
2012/13 and the 2013/14 seasons.
Along with Cunard’s Queen Mary 2, which
has used the island on an ad hoc basis since
2007, Cruise Weekly can reveal today that the
two superliners newly granted access are
Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Millennium and
Royal Caribbean’s Radiance of the Seas.
Royal Caribbean International, which
operates both vessels, said: “We understand
that Garden Island will be made available on
More cruise access to Garden Island
the two occasions when our ships would
otherwise have needed to spend the second
day of their two days in Sydney at anchor at
Athol Buoy.
“The two ships, Celebrity Millennium and
Radiance of the Seas, will turn around at
Circular Quay before moving to Garden Island
because other ships have bookings at the OPT
[Overseas Passenger Terminal].”
The company emphasised the need to keep
working with state and federal governments
on the longer-term needs of the cruise
industry in the greater Sydney region.
“While the opportunity to use Garden Island
on a guaranteed basis will provide more
certainty for our itinerary planning in the short
term, the Prime Minister’s announcement only
underscores the need for a permanent
solution in the form of a new berth for larger
ships in Sydney,” a spokesperson said.
“Such a permanent berthing solution for
Sydney, either in the Harbour or within Botany
Bay, will ensure that larger, more modern ships
like Voyager of the Seas and Celebrity Solstice,
both of which carry over 3,000 passengers, will
continue to cruise from Sydney, the home of
Australian cruising.”
Carnival Australia, the nation’s largest
operator of cruise ships, also welcomed the
news after years of lobbying for a ‘“threeberth
solution” for Sydney.
Ann Sherry, CEO of Carnival Australia, said
the immediate arrangement was “sufficient”
for the industry’s current operational needs.
“It is a positive step that will help ensure
Sydney continues to fulfil its role as an
attractive international cruise destination,”
Sherry said.
“The alternative, where cruise ships would
be forced to moor mid-harbour before ferrying
passengers to shore in tender boats, would not
only give international visitors a poor
introduction to Sydney but also act as a brake
on cruise industry growth.”
A spokesperson for Carnival Australia also
told Cruise Weekly that new arrangements for
Garden Island would include Customs’ facilities
for passenger operations.
