Post COVID cruise catchup

I'm not sure where the last 6 years went. We finally took the plunge to cruise again last year on the Pacific Encounter from Brisbane. It was just a 7 day GBR cruise, the first for us actually making it into Airlie Beach. It helps to travel outside cyclone season. This was our first cruise without my son now we aren't at the mercy of school holidays.

Cruise Australia and New Zealand December 2018

Finally, we're packed and ready for our next cruise. We leave tomorrow, flying to Sydney to meet the Majestic Princess for a 12 night cruise. Out first port of call will be Hobart, followed by Melbourne. We then cross the ditch for a scenic cruise through the Fiordland. Port Chalmers, Akaroa, Tauranga and Auckland round off the New Zealand ports. We disembark in Auckland and have 5 nights catching some LOTR sights on the north island, then fly back to Brisbane.

Brisbane cruise ships October - December 2018

The Sea Princess has returned from it's 2018 world cruise. Thanks to all the bloggers keeping us posted. Some are still updating and we all appreciate it as it's such a daunting task keeping up with photos, slow internet, etc.

This wave season I've decided to only put a single post about the ships into Brisbane this year. The port of Brisbane has split the schedule into Portside and Multi-Use (Fisherman Island). Having a look at the Portside schedule, the regular ships will be docked there with only a couple of overseas ships in December. The Fisherman Island schedule is also sparse.
PORTSIDE
So...regular ships to Brisbane are

• Pacific Dawn
• Pacific Aria
• Pacific Jewel
• Sea Princess
• Sun Princess

The Portside schedule can be viewed at their website.

The only two overseas ships at Portside are

• Oceania Regatta on the 11th December 2018
• Viking Orion on the 13th December 2018

FISHERMAN ISLAND

Overseas or occasional visits to Fisherman Island for the remainder of 2018 are

• Celebrity Solstice Tuesday 06 November 2018
• Norwegian Jewel Wednesday 28 November 2018
• MS Regatta Saturday 15 December 2018
• Noordam Thursday 20 December 2018
• Silver Muse Friday 04 January 2019
• Norwegian Jewel Wednesday 16 January 2019
• Seven Seas Mariner Tuesday 22 January 2019

The Multi-use terminal (Fisherman Island grain terminal) schedule can be checked at their website. 

BICT

The new Brisbane International cruise terminal (BICT) is under construction and their latest newsletter are available here.

The Carnival Spirit is the first confirmed ship to home port at the BICT from 2020.

In other news, we are booked on a Majestic Princess cruise. More details to follow.

World Cruise Blogs - 2018 Sea Princess

Well it looks like the Sea Princess is off again on it's world cruise. It left Auckland and is on it's way to Sydney to pickup more passengers and then to Brisbane to embark the final travellers.

There are quite a few blogs kicking off this cruise. The list so far....

gaznjoworldadventure2018

mainlyatsea

kiwihdrider

David and Lyn's travels

Ken and Joys worldcruise 2018

Winterlesses

Col and Jude's half world cruise 2018

Marg and John's travels 2018

winterescape 2018

There have been a few changes to the itinerary since first published but the dates above will give a rough indication where they are.

Brisbane cruise ships 9th April - 15th April 2018

There are 3 cruise ships for Brisbane this week. Two at Portside and one at Fisherman Island.

UPDATE 14/4/2018

PORTSIDE

Friday 13th April 2018: Pacific Aria
Sunday 15th April 2018: Pacific Dawn

FISHERMAN ISLAND

Monday 9th April 2018: Celebrity Solstice

From my photo archives

Brisbane cruise ships 2nd April - 8th April 2018

There are only 2 cruise ships for Brisbane this week. Both at Portside. I hope everyone has had a great Easter

PORTSIDE

Friday 6th April 2018: Pacific Aria
Saturday 7th April 2018: Pacific Dawn

From my photo archives

Sea Princess Easter 2017

More cruise blogs to follow

I've really been spoilt this season for cruise blogs to follow. I can't thank everyone enough as I know how time consuming doing a blog on the fly while travelling, with limited internet is.
So this is a few more and a list of the current cruises in progress. Some of these blogs are from my previous posts. An interesting side note, look at how many Rick or Ricki's are cruising and blogging.

Cunard Queen Elizabeth

• Ricki and David until May 2018
• Our world adventure - land and sea

Viking Ocean cruises, Viking Sun

• Rick and Bev until May 2018

Reagent Seven Seas Navagator

• Navigating the world until May 2018

Reagent Seven Seas Explorer followed by the Navigator

• Rick and Rebecca

Crystal Symphony

• Roy's grand voyages

Pacific Princess

• Round the world writer until April 2018

Fred Olsen Cruise Line, Black Watch

• Cruise Miss until April 2018

Holland America Line, Amsterdam

• Captain Jonathan

• The inside cabin

• Around the world again

• World adventures

• Voyages at sea

• Following the equator

• Treasures of cruising the world

• Postcards from the transition

Brisbane cruise ships 26th March - 1st April 2018

There are 5 cruise ships for Brisbane this week. Two at Portside and 3 for the Multi-use terminal at Fisherman Island.

Portside viewing is easy.The Fisherman Island viewing is limited as the new BICT construction is in progress and the site closed to the public. Port of Brisbane suggests Shorncliffe pier or Nudgee beach for sightseers.Through the week the port visitor centre is open and the roof top cafe has great views of the port.

PORTSIDE

Friday 30th March 2018: Pacific Aria
Saturday 31st March 2018: Pacific Dawn

FISHERMAN ISLAND

Tuesday 27th March 2018: Carnival Spirit

Wednesday 28th March 2018: Ovation of the Seas

Saturday 31st March 2018: Radiance of the Seas

PRINCESS

Princess have released their sailings list for 2019-2020. Cruises are on sail from the middle of April. The Brisbane list is as follows:

Cruising to/from Brisbane

26 Aug 19 Majestic 8944A 20 Asia & Australia

15 Sep 19 Majestic 8944B 2 Australia Getaway

26 Sep 19 Sun S939A 17 Asia & Australia

03 Oct 19 Sea C916A 2 Australia Getaway

05 Oct 19 Sea C916B 29 Round Australia

13 Oct 19 Sun S939B 4 Australia Getaway

13 Oct 19 Sun S939C 2 Australia Getaway

15 Oct 19 Sun S940A 2 Australia Getaway

17 Oct 19 Sun S940B 15 Northern Explorer

31 Oct 19 Sea C917 3 Australia Getaway

03 Nov 19 Sea C918 14 New Zealand

17 Nov 19 Sea C919 7 Queensland

24 Nov 19 Sea C920 14 New Zealand

08 Dec 19 Sea C921 11 Papua New Guinea

19 Dec 19 Sea C922 10 New Caledonia & Vanuatu

29 Dec 19 Sea C001 14 New Zealand

12 Jan 20 Sea C002 11 Papua New Guinea

23 Jan 20 Sea C003 10 Tasmania

02 Feb 20 Sea C004 14 New Zealand

16 Feb 20 Sea C005 7 Queensland

23 Feb 20 Sea C006 14 New Zealand

08 Mar 20 Sea C007 2 Australia Getaway

08 Mar 20 Sea C007A 28 Round Australia

05 Apr 20 Sea C008A 4 Australia Getaway

08 Apr 20 Golden 5011A 2 Australia Getaway

09 Apr 20 Sea C009B 35 Hawaii, Tahiti & South Pacific

10 Apr 20 Golden 5011B 15 Northern Explorer

25 Apr 20 Golden 5012A 15 Northern Explorer

10 May 20 Golden 5012B 2 Australia Getaway

From my photo archives

Port of Brisbane visitor centre

Brisbane cruise ships 19th March to 25th March 2018

Only 2 cruise ships for Brisbane this week. Both calling at Portside.

PORTSIDE

Thursday 22nd March 2018: Sea Princess
Saturday 24th March 2018: Pacific Dawn

Majestic Princess

I've just noticed that Princess have released a small number of cabins for the Brisbane to Sydney leg of the repositioning cruise of the Majestic Princess to Australia. If only is was a week later in September we possibly could have made it....

From my photo archives

Pacific Dawn in Rabaul, PNG, 2014

Brisbane cruise ships 12th March - 18th March 2018

Only 4 cruise ships for Brisbane this week. All calling at Portside.

PORTSIDE

Monday 12th March 2018: Sea Princess
Tuesday 13th March 2018: Seven Seas Voyager
Friday 16th March 2018: Pacific Aria
Saturday 17th March 2018: Pacific Dawn

From my photo archives

Sea Princess, Portside Brisbane 2016

Another blog to follow...Transatlantic

Not quite a world cruise, but Rick and Rebecca have an upcoming 2 cruise blog covering about 4 weeks. They are cruising with Regent. Firstly on the Reagent Explorer followed by the Reagent Mariner.
Keep up to date with them.

• Rick and Rebecca 2018

Also, Annette and Greg are on a South America cruise on the Island Princess.

• Retired Nomads

And finally, Flying Pig Tales from the 2017 HAL world cruise was on again for a partial world cruise and you can catch up with her as she departs the cruise.

• Flying Pig Tales

Reagent Seven Seas Voyager in Brisbane, Australia 2018

Brisbane cruise ships 5th March - 11th March 2018

Cruise ships in Brisbane over the next week. 

Scheduled for Portside
Tuesday 6th March 2018: Pacific Dawn
Thursday 8th March 2018: Sea Princess
Friday 9th March 2018: Pacific Aria
Saturday 10th March 2018: Pacific Dawn

Scheduled for Fisherman Island (Grain terminal)
Tuesday 6th March 2018: Costa Luminosa
Friday 9th March 2018: Azamara Journey
Sunday 11th March 2018: Queen Mary 2

The port visitor centre is open Monday to Friday and you can glimpse the cruise ships from their rooftop cafe.
Advice from Port of Brisbane about viewing ships at Fisherman Island.

Brisbane International Cruise terminal
The new Brisbane International Cruise terminal (BICT) was in the news again this week with the ACCC handing down it's draft determination on Carnivals agreement with the Port. You can read more about it here on the ACCC website.

Further info from the Brisbane Ports is here

 From my photo archives

Voyager of the Seas in Brisbane, April 2017. Photo taken from the Port of Brisbane visitor centre.

Brisbane cruise ships 26th February - 4th March 2018

There are 6 visits from cruise ships this week. Three each for Portside and Fisherman Island. 

It's a shame the overseas ships didn't plan their itineraries so that there wasn't a double up in Brisbane. I'm sure Arcadia and Black Watch could have both used Portside if they arrived a day earlier or later.

Scheduled for Portside
Monday 26th February 2018, Pacific Aria

Friday 2nd March 2018, Pacific Aria

Saturday 3rd March 2018, Pacific Dawn

Scheduled for Multi-use terminal at Fisherman Island

Monday 26th February 2018, Arcadia
Friday 2nd March 2018, Black Watch
Saturday 3rd March 2018, Queen Elizabeth

From my photo archives

Seven Seas Voyager, Brisbane 2018

Brisbane cruise ships 19th February to 25th February 2018

There are 6 visits from cruise ships this week. Five for Portside and one at Fisherman Island. 

Scheduled for Portside

Monday 19th February 2018, Artania
Thursday 22nd February 2018, Silver Whisper

Friday 23rd February 2018, Pacific Aria
Saturday 24th February 2018, Pacific Dawn

Sunday 25th February 2018, Sea Princess

Scheduled for Multi-use terminal at Fisherman Island

Friday 23rd February 2018, Norwegian Jewel

From my photo archives

Pacific Aria on the Brisbane river 2017

Brisbane cruise ships 12th February to 18th February 2018

There are 6 visits from cruise ships this week. Three each for Portside and Fisherman Island. 

Scheduled for Portside

Tuesday 13th February 2018, Pacific Dawn

Saturday 17th February 2018, Pacific Dawn

Sunday 18th February 2018, Seven Seas Voyager

Scheduled for Multi-use terminal at Fisherman Island

Tuesday 13th February 2018, Viking Sun

Thursday 15th February 2018, Radiance of the Seas

Saturday 17th February 2018, MS Regatta

From my photo archives

Radiance of the Seas, Sydney 2012

Brisbane cruise ships 5th February - 11th February 2018

Only 3 visits from cruise ships this week. All are at Portside. 

Updated 10 Feb 2018. 

Scheduled for Portside

Friday 9th February 2018, Pacific Aria

Saturday 10th February 2018, Pacific Dawn

Sunday 11th February 2018, Sea Princess

From my photo archives

Brisbane river sunrise 2017

Brisbane cruise ships - 29th January to 4th February 2018

Only 4 visits from cruise ships this week. All are at Portside

Scheduled for Portside

Monday 29th January 2018 Pacific Aria

Friday 2nd February 2018 Pacific Aria

Saturday 3rd February 2018 Pacific Dawn

Sunday 4th February 2018 Sea Princess

From my photo archives

Pacific Aria at Mare Island, New Caledonia 2017

Friday 5th January 2018 - Home again

Well, we managed to clear our cabin before 6.30am and grabbed some breakfast in the Pantry before leaving. Portside parking met us with their bus and we picked up the car and were home by 8am with the washing machine in full gear.

So that's a wrap. We had a really great time. It was relaxing. Nine nights with only 3 ports gave us plenty of time to put our feet up, unwind, read a book or 5. The enjoyable things this cruise was that there was no rush. No itinerary changes due to weather or medical evacuations/diversions. The majority of fellow cruisers were first timers with nothing to compare against, so there was no grumbles, just happy smiling cruisers everywhere. The only disappointment was that we didn't get to try the Angelos restaurant as it was fully booked. We'll have to get in earlier next time.

Cruise summary

Cruise Line: P&O Australia
Ship: Pacific Aria
Voyage: A801N
Cabin: 9194 balcony, cat BC, deck 9.
Nights: 9
Destination: New Caledonia; Noumea, Mare and Lifou
Captain: Nick Boon
Cruise director: Pablo

I have booked this week our next cruise. I've been following the prices for the last 4 months or so and I suddenly got a huge price dip so stay tuned for details.

Thursday 4th January 2018 - Sea day

Today is our last sea day. We attended some shows around the ship and in-between packed up our suitcases for debark tomorrow. We need to be out of the cabins by 6.30am so will have to be organised.

Entertainment today

• The physical comedy of James Lamont
• Cruise director's farewell show.
• Sitdown comedy club with Matt Elsburry
• Production show: Sideshow alley. Another we were sure we'd seen before so gave it a miss.

Dinner tonight

Waterfront again and we all decided to shout ourselves the paid options; surf and turf for G and me; steak for H.

Surf and turf: $25

Wednesday 3rd January 2018 -Sea day

Yesterday afternoon the captain informed us of current weather events. There are a number of lows moving from Queensland crossing through to New Zealand. As such on leaving Lifou we altered course to return to Brisbane via the north of the main island of New Caledonia to try to miss the rough sea to the south. I suspect there was also a chance it could have developed into a cyclone. Over night we cruised at top speed and it looks like we will make it back to Brisbane on time.

Today we participated in a few events around the ship, I read some more books, generally relaxed and had a great holiday.

Mechanical Bull

 Deck 12, portside, Pacific Aria

 Mechanical bull.

Pablo the cruise director showing us how it's done.

Animal Towel Parade

Our cabin stewards, James and Jordan, both participated in the animal towel parade new year's special. We were there to cheer them on.

Tonight's Dinner

Waterfront restaurant -Aussie theme tonight

Menu

 Lamb shank

Pavlova

Tonight's Entertainment

Production show: Velvet rope. I had seen this twice before so we didn't go.

Gatsby theme night and party in the Dome.

Tomorrow - last sea day before home...