New Central to White Bay shuttle

[Sandielle]

From Cruise Weekly today:

 

New Central to White Bay shuttle

 

P&O is set to introduce a passenger transfer service from Sydney’s Central Station to the White Bay Cruise Terminal.

After months of complaints about the lack of public transportation options to Sydney’s new cruise facility, P&O has confirmed that coach transfers will commence 25 November. The cruise line has emailed upcoming passengers about the new service, which is now available for booking through its call centre and travel agents.

Four departure times for the service are offered: 12pm, 12.30pm, 1pm and1.30pm. But not everybody is happy, as some consumers on P&O’s Facebook page claim that the cost – $15 per person one-way – would be more expensive than a taxi for two people.

A spokesperson told Cruise Weekly: “P&O Cruises is always on the look-out for ways to make transfers even better. “As part of our ongoing commitment to

delivering a seamless and enjoyable cruise holiday experience, we’ve introduced coach services from Central Station to White Bay”.

“The move recognises that a number of our passengers find trains the easiest way to access the city, with the new coach service providing them with an easy link to White Bay.” Post-cruise, passengers can continue to purchase the existing transfer from White Bay back to Central only when onboard the ship.

A ferry service to and from the line’s terminal at White Bay also remains on the radar for cruise companies and the local Leichhardt Council, who have stepped up pressure on the State Government to open a wharf to service the precinct.

According to the spokesperson, P&O “strongly supports Sydney Ports’ review of

other transport options including ferries from Circular Quay to White Bay.”

 

[Bizziecruzer]

All cruise lines and the government need to reassess access for White bay - we were there on Saturday and stayed on the ship all day and didn't spend a cent in Sydney as it was too far and costly to go into the city itself. We would have like to have gone in, but it just wasn't worth the additional $$. Previously when we have docked at either the old cruise terminal or the OPT we have left the ship and spent the day in town and spent $$ - all in all - Sydney misses out. It's not rocket science to work out what's best for the economy.

We spent a day in Burnie on the cruise and there was a shuttle provided free of charge to get us from the port into the town. We spent money there!

[icat2000]

Depends what it costs. Maybe still cheaper to get the shuttle to the airport with the cruiseline or a taxi if there is more than one.

[Pushka]

Adelaide's Port is a long way from the CBD so the city puts on a free shuttle. Otherwise people will be stuck at a rather unattractive port area. I think Brisbane has the same issues when the large ships berth.

 

$15 per person is just way too much. A taxi would be cheaper for any but the solo traveller.

 

Who thinks of these new port locations without putting on the infrastructure to cope with it?

[bazzaw]

Adelaide's Port is a long way from the CBD so the city puts on a free shuttle. Otherwise people will be stuck at a rather unattractive port area. I think Brisbane has the same issues when the large ships berth.

 

$15 per person is just way too much. A taxi would be cheaper for any but the solo traveller.

 

Who thinks of these new port locations without putting on the infrastructure to cope with it?

 

Yes -- last week, 4 of us got a taxi from the airport to OPT for $52 -- AND it was a BAD day traffic-wise as there was a protest going on in the city which caused delays for us on the way.

 

BTW -- most of the taxis pulling up to the airport were large station wagons - so 4 people with luggage each was no problem.

 

 

Barry

[The_Big_M]

Adelaide's Port is a long way from the CBD so the city puts on a free shuttle. Otherwise people will be stuck at a rather unattractive port area. I think Brisbane has the same issues when the large ships berth.

 

$15 per person is just way too much. A taxi would be cheaper for any but the solo traveller.

 

Who thinks of these new port locations without putting on the infrastructure to cope with it?

 

Yes, Brisbane's even worse with the Grain Wharf. You don't even have a public transport option nearby, or anything else. It's take a taxi, or the shuttle, or stay on the ship.

 

The shipboard shuttles have been about $25 into town.

[bazzaw]

 

The shipboard shuttles have been about $25 into town.

 

Yes -- ours was $24 return pp on Radiance last week.

 

Barry

[Pushka]

Thanks for the Brisbane shuttle info. I think that when having to port so far from anywhere other than a port then they should be provided for nix.

[rkmw]

we stopped at the grain terminal 12 months ago on a princess cruise and the shuttles were free into Brisbane

[MicCanberra]

we stopped at the grain terminal 12 months ago on a princess cruise and the shuttles were free into Brisbane

On the Solstice last Easter they were $22 return from the grain terminal. :D

[greaticeman58]

The Sun Princess will be departing from there on December 30th cruise wonder if the cruise line will put on a bus from the Airport to White Bay.

Not sure how to get there otherwise?

[Kiwi Kruzer]

Thanks for the Brisbane shuttle info. I think that when having to port so far from anywhere other than a port then they should be provided for nix.

 

we stopped at the grain terminal 12 months ago on a princess cruise and the shuttles were free into Brisbane

 

On the Solstice last Easter they were $22 return from the grain terminal

 

Each cruise and cruise ship call to a port seems to be different . We have done the same cruise again the following year at the same time and found that some of the shuttle and port arrangements were quite different from the year before.

 

 

 

[windsor26]

The Sun Princess will be departing from there on December 30th cruise wonder if the cruise line will put on a bus from the Airport to White Bay.

Not sure how to get there otherwise?

 

We are going to White Bay 17th Dec and will use a taxi from Central as we have in the past We used to walk from Wynyard station to Wharf 8 but cannot do that with White Bay The cost is just under $20 we give that which includes a small tip

[MicCanberra]

We are going to White Bay 17th Dec and will use a taxi from Central as we have in the past We used to walk from Wynyard station to Wharf 8 but cannot do that with White Bay The cost is just under $20 we give that which includes a small tip

 

Getting a cab there is not too bad, but getting one from there is another matter altogether.:D

[windsor26]

Getting a cab there is not too bad, but getting one from there is another matter altogether.:D

 

Not so much these days We were on the first ship to dock back to White Bay and we were one of the first off the ship. We waited with the staffer for a taxi and none came. Then a taxi arrived bringing a member of staff for the next cruise.

The taxi staffer grabbed the driver and said he could not leave until he had contacted his own company and requested all their taxi's to come to white Bay and also asked that this company contact other taxi companies as well. We then took the cab to Central and heard that the taxi's started to come although a lot of them needed directions.

 

Now Central waiting taxi's know where it is and of course their companies know when a ship returns.

[MicCanberra]

Not so much these days We were on the first ship to dock back to White Bay and we were one of the first off the ship. We waited with the staffer for a taxi and none came. Then a taxi arrived bringing a member of staff for the next cruise.

The taxi staffer grabbed the driver and said he could not leave until he had contacted his own company and requested all their taxi's to come to white Bay and also asked that this company contact other taxi companies as well. We then took the cab to Central and heard that the taxi's started to come although a lot of them needed directions.

 

Now Central waiting taxi's know where it is and of course their companies know when a ship returns.

 

That is good that the problem is being remedied.:D