Cruise chiefs in port charge talks

Cruise chiefs in port charge talks
By admin


The heads of Australia's largest cruise companies will deliver a report to the New South Wales government in the new year as they look to stave off a hike in berthing charges at Sydney Harbour.

Carnival Australia chief executive Ann Sherry and Royal Caribbean Australia managing director Gavin Smith met with the NSW premier, Barry O'Farrell and minister for roads and ports, Duncan Gay, to outline their fears over the $18 per passenger charge that comes into effect on July 1.

Sherry said she urged ministers to look at cost cutting at the port, rather than imposing a cost to cruise lines.

"They asked us to come up with a better proposition," she told Travel Today.

Sherry said will return with a financial plan "first thing in the new year" to address the issue.

The introduction of a new pricing system will see a per passenger charge replace the hourly rate.

The fee will rise to $18 from July 1, before increasing to $25 per passenger in 2014 and $30 in 2015.

Sherry and Smith stressed to O'Farrell and Gay that destinations that have hiked charges in the past – most notably Alaska – have suffered.

"Other places where charges have gone up have seen a dramatic decline in the number of ships coming in," Sherry said.

With fuel in Sydney "twice as expensive" as many other ports, and with the significant hike in port charges "the economies of cruising come into question", she explained.

Sydney also needs to understand that ports such as Singapore and Shanghai have lower costs and are actively campaigning to attract cruise ships.

"Sydney is a lovely harbour but being pretty isn't enough. It can't afford to be complacent," she said.

Latest News

  • Destinations
  • News

APT Launches 2025 Asia Adventures

APT has launched its Asia Adventures for 2025, including new luxury holidays in India, Sri Lanka and Japan. Five new tours lead guests to the highlights of India, including a seven-night cruise along the rarely travelled Lower Ganges aboard the Ganges Voyager. Further south, Sri Lanka’s greatest destinations are revealed on a new 15-day Land […]

  • Cruise
  • Luxury
  • News

Seabourn announces Western Kimberley Traditional Owners as Godparents of Seabourn Pursuit

Seabourn has named Western Kimberley Traditional Owners, the Wunambal Gaambera, as Godparents of the ultra-luxury purpose-built Seabourn Pursuit. It is the first cruise line to appoint Traditional Owners as godparents of a ship. Seabourn Pursuit embarks on its inaugural season in the Kimberley region this June. The naming ceremony will take place on Seabourn Pursuit’s […]

  • Luxury

Malolo Island Resort opens brand new Spa

Fiji’s Malolo Island has added another string to its bow – opening its $1.3 million day spa on Thursday, 18th April 2024. (Lead Image: matriarch Rosie Whitton with spa staff) Located at the edge of the resort’s luscious patch of tropical rainforest, the new “Leilani’s Spa” adds another level of elevated experiences to Malolo’s already […]