Sydney in for change
Sydney’s cruise industry needs to “change the way we do business” to work through the current challenges of capacity, John Mckenna General Manager of Cruise at Port Authority of New South Wales told delegates at the 2016 Australian Cruise Association Conference in Sydney. “We need to do things a little bit harder and smarter in the coming period because there is no short term build here, it’s going to take time,” Mckenna said, referring to the potential for another terminal east of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Admitting there is currently no infrastructure solution “staring us in the face”, Mckenna encouraged the industry to address the present situation. “The current reality means changing the way we do business and the way we do business is based around providing opportunity for all segments of the market, not just the homeport markets.” Mckenna suggested the solution to Sydney’s challenges will mean a shift in behaviour of homeported cruise lines. “If it creates capacity in the current market and allows more international visitation, then we believe that’s a positive,” he said. One option thrown around was the plan to introduce two time slots at the Overseas Passenger Terminal within a 24 hour period. Introducing the concept at the conference, Philip Holliday, Chief Operating Officer and Harbour Master of the Port Authority of NSW said that due to limited infrastructure there’s a need to try and get more out of the existing facilities. “Traditionally, a cruise ship will arrive around 6am and sail at 6pm, we’re looking at the potential at moving that arrival time slightly earlier which then means it departs slightly earlier and gives us the opportunity to get another ship in immediately afterwards,” Holliday explains. Admitting there are “whole heap of challenges” associated with the plan and noting the exact timing and viability of the plan would depend on the size of the ship, Holliday says there’s a possibility the first double turnaround will happen early in the New Year. Reluctant to name cruise lines, he hinted “The ones that are most positive are the smaller ships because it’s not as time-critical for them and they have more flexibility”. Edie Rodriguez, president and CEO of Crystal Cruises reinforced the need to have “the right infrastructure” to grow the market. “You have to set up the right infrastructure to promise a lot and deliver more and surprise and delight those guests who come here from around the world,” she says. Rodriguez singled out New Zealand as one country which does a “wonderful job” with their infrastructure. “Australia already do a great job, but it’s about perpetual evolution, we always want to better our game,” she says. James Coughlan, Shore Excursions Manager at Intercruises Shoreside and Port Services said the industry needs to also focus on, what is to him, the most important thing - the guest experience. “Port infrastructure is very important, we need that space to get the ships in, but we have to develop the best experience for all the passengers coming off these ships because from that, we will all benefit,” he said.
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