Cruise Talk: Golden Princess to come to Australia

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»	Cruise Talk » Cruise Ships » Golden Princess to come to Australia

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Topic: Golden Princess to come to Australia

Sutho
First Class Passenger
Member # 6234

posted 10-31-2006 12:17 AM

Good news for Australians. Just noticed on Sydney Ports website that Golden Princess is scheduled to come to Australia in 2009.

Sapphire Princess will be back in 2007 and 2008. Then in 2009 it is Golden Princess's turn.

Doesnt look like we will be seeing Diamond Princess again.

Posts: 1055 | From: Newcastle, Australia | Registered: Feb 2006 | IP: Logged

phil_a
First Class Passenger
Member # 3679

posted 10-31-2006 05:11 AM

nice to see a change... the return of the trolley handle to sydney harbour!

i dont think it really matters whether its diamond/sapphire, star/golden.... i guess the major difference is age. sorry for being slack, but what is the capacity difference between the two? maybe with increased competition in the aus/nz market they are deciding to downsize slightly in future years?

Posts: 850 | From: W. Australia | Registered: Feb 2003 | IP: Logged

Sutho
First Class Passenger
Member # 6234

posted 10-31-2006 11:52 PM

Diamond/Sapphire advertise 2670 passengers and Golden 2600 passengers. Diamond/Sapphire 116,000tons and Golden 109,000tons.

It doesnt matter what they send - I have not been on the original Grand class and would love to go on it. Personally I dont mind the spoiler type night club.

I just cant wait to it gets to Sydney to see it and get more photos of all the different ships at circular quay.

Posts: 1055 | From: Newcastle, Australia | Registered: Feb 2006 | IP: Logged

phil_a
First Class Passenger
Member # 3679

posted 11-01-2006 05:22 AM

sutho - i decided to do a quick comparison also and noticed the pax numbers are the same/similar. So there goes that theory of downsizing! anyway i agree with you that it will be a nice to see a change in sydney harbour.

If competition stays strong and we continue to see representation from Celebrity, RCI, HAL etc i hope they send some different class ships instead of the same ones each year. I would esp like to see a RCI giant visit downunder (i would even be tempted to book another Aus/Nz cruise just to experience the ship!)

Posts: 850 | From: W. Australia | Registered: Feb 2003 | IP: Logged

annnthony
First Class Passenger
Member # 3733

posted 11-01-2006 09:54 AM

Sutho, actually the best news for Australians is that OCEANIA is coming in 2008.

We're booked b-2-b Singapore to Sydney, 12/22/07, 18 days, then 15 days Sydney to Auckland, ending 1/24/08.

Oceania, then reverses with Auckland to Sydney, followed by Sydney to Bangkok.

Posts: 315 | From: westwood,n.j.,USA | Registered: Mar 2003 | IP: Logged

Sutho
First Class Passenger
Member # 6234

posted 11-01-2006 03:04 PM

Yes all the ships coming are very exciting and will be great to see. If I dont go on them I certainly love to get to Sydney just to see them. The one I am most looking forward to at the moment is QM2. I will be in Sydney next Friday to get photos of the Statendam and add to my albums on this site.

Posts: 1055 | From: Newcastle, Australia | Registered: Feb 2006 | IP: Logged

pungpui
First Class Passenger
Member # 1218

posted 11-02-2006 01:31 AM

Excellent to see another original grand class coming to Sydney. I do miss seeing the original funnel (without the jet engines and the squarish bird cage) and the shoppping handle, which may cast a big shadow over the aft pool, but is a great position for taking photos, particularly at Fjordland (when its raining and foggy).

I too would also like to see a Radiance or Voyager class come to this side of the world, and who knows, maybe if the Rhapsody mini-season goes well RCI might open up their eyes a little wider. If they have like...7 or 8 Voyager + style ships on the Atlantic side of the world, I think it wouldnt do harm if they put just 1 on the Pacific side...Oct to April in the South Pacific/Asia, and May-Sep Alaska.

But there goes Princess bragging rights of 'the largest ship ever to come to Australia' or something of that sort, but I guess that would be irrelevant when QM2 arrives.

[ 11-02-2006: Message edited by: pungpui ]

Posts: 419 | From: Sydney, NSW, Australia | Registered: Apr 2000 | IP: Logged

phil_a
First Class Passenger
Member # 3679

posted 11-02-2006 05:52 AM

quote:
I am most looking forward to at the moment is QM2

Im also going to be in sydney in february with a group of friends... so a trip down to the Mrs Macquaries point maybe in order!

can anyone confirm whether qe2 will also arrive at 7am? or has it reverted back to the 9pm arrival? has anyone heard whether Sydney Ports or Cunard have celebrations planned? fireworks? etc

[ 11-02-2006: Message edited by: phil_a ]

Posts: 850 | From: W. Australia | Registered: Feb 2003 | IP: Logged

Sutho
First Class Passenger
Member # 6234

posted 11-05-2006 03:53 AM

I think both ships will arrive in the morning still.

I am thinking of chartering a helicopter to get photo shots of QM2. Sydney HeliTours have a half hour rate of $550 and the ability to fly with the doors off. Over the water they are limited to 300ft and 200m horizontaly from the harbour shoreline.

Posts: 1055 | From: Newcastle, Australia | Registered: Feb 2006 | IP: Logged

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