Difference between cruises from Aust and other countries??

[Aus Traveller]

I think Australia Territorial waters are 12 nautical miles and since cruises are about the revenue, I would have thought they would head out and cruise in International waters.

The ship has to go to an international port (or around Willis Island in Queensland) for the cruise to be classified as international.:)

[MicCanberra]

The ship has to go to an international port (or around Willis Island in Queensland) for the cruise to be classified as international.:)

 

True but that only allows them to sell the duty free alcohol and cigs as well. The casino can open when out past the 12 mile mark (sampler cruises and Syd-Bris, Syd-Mel cruises, etc) at least that is the case for east coast cruises.:D

Edited December 14, 2015 by MicCanberra

[Aus Traveller]

True but that only allows them to sell the duty free alcohol and cigs as well. The casino can open when out past the 12 mile mark (sampler cruises and Syd-Bris, Syd-Mel cruises, etc) at least that is the case for east coast cruises.:D

Yes - but not in Western Australia. Sorry to put this in bold, but this was the topic under discussion.:D

[lyndarra]

Does anyone really worry whether the casino is open or not? Are people that desperate to throw their money at the cruise lines? In my experience they seem to be mostly deserted. A few people playing slots, sorry, pokies (been on a cdouple of US cruises this year). Have never seen anyone using the craps or black jack tables. If they were closed I wouldn't miss them.

But then maybe I would because if the cruise lines weren't getting any income from the casinos then they would have to put fares up, right? PLAY ON! You gamblers all.

[Stuartm]

Does anyone really worry whether the casino is open or not? Are people that desperate to throw their money at the cruise lines? In my experience they seem to be mostly deserted. A few people playing slots, sorry, pokies (been on a cdouple of US cruises this year). Have never seen anyone using the craps or black jack tables. If they were closed I wouldn't miss them.

But then maybe I would because if the cruise lines weren't getting any income from the casinos then they would have to put fares up, right? PLAY ON! You gamblers all.

 

Don't think anyone is worried, just curious.

 

My cruise experience has been that the casinos are very popular.

 

cheer

 

Stu

[mr walker]

Yes - but not in Western Australia. Sorry to put this in bold, but this was the topic under discussion.:D

 

I just had to look this up:

 

http://www.rgl.wa.gov.au/docs/default-source/gaming/casino_gaming_on_cruise_ships.pdf?sfvrsn=0

 

If I am reading correctly, it looks like the machines are a twirling and the chips are a being played, even off WA :D And I don't even gamble in the casinos.

 

So pretty much as MicCanberra had posted.

Edited December 14, 2015 by mr walker

[Aus Traveller]

I just had to look this up:

 

http://www.rgl.wa.gov.au/docs/default-source/gaming/casino_gaming_on_cruise_ships.pdf?sfvrsn=0

 

If I am reading correctly, it looks like the machines are a twirling and the chips are a being played, even off WA :D And I don't even gamble in the casinos.

 

So pretty much as MicCanberra had posted.

I made the comment in an earlier post that the WA government could have changed their rules fairly recently to come in line with the rest of the country on this matter. :)

 

I know on round-Australia cruises a couple of years ago, it was announced that the casino would be closed while we were in WA waters. Other people comment that on their cruise, as soon as they crossed into WA waters the casino was not allowed to open. We don't care, we don't gamble - not even bingo.

Edited December 14, 2015 by Aus Traveller

[MicCanberra]

I just had to look this up:

 

http://www.rgl.wa.gov.au/docs/default-source/gaming/casino_gaming_on_cruise_ships.pdf?sfvrsn=0

 

If I am reading correctly, it looks like the machines are a twirling and the chips are a being played, even off WA :D And I don't even gamble in the casinos.

 

So pretty much as MicCanberra had posted.

 

Thanks Mr Walker.:D

[AussieVisi2r]

As a newbie crusher, don't understand difference between cruise lines/countries, where some lines allow wine to be brought on board yet others don't?

Is it a cruise line co, country or specific cruise thing??

 

We going with P & O may 2016, can't take wine onboard yet other cruise lines you can.

 

Also, have heard cruises from one aust city to another, the casino can't open and no duty free, is this right?

 

We going Fremantle -Broome -Fremantle on Pacific Eden next May.

Thanks

 

Hi Chenin,

 

As you said some allow wine, some don't. I know RCCI and Celebrity do. Cannot help with others sorry.

 

Duty free is only available if the ship leaves Aussie waters. That's why many trips include Bali or New Zealand, or Queensland trips go out to and around Willis Island, as it is international waters.

If the ship only does Aussie ports and not any of the three above...there will be no duty free alcohol sold. But the other shops will be open as normal.

 

Casinos cannot be open in port - when they are 12 (?) nautical miles out they can open....so casinos will be open at night or on sea days.

 

Hope this helps.

R

[joandian]

Apparently it is different for some cruises out of WA.

 

Not so different after all :D

[Anthonysyne]

Never been on a P&O cruise. I just can't bring myself to go on one. Their ships are small and look a bit tired. Just my opinion.

[Anthonysyne]

Australia has always been yrs behind overseas. If you go to Carnival cruise lines main USA webpage it offers all these great deals allowances and packages..with the rider..."not available for Australia cruises"

 

Slowly we are catching up, until recently Australian cruises didn't have drink packages. In the states we were able to prepurchase a duty free bottle of spirits delivered to our cabin on embarkation day...not here you can't.

 

The internet packages are better, a lot more things are included such as free room service menu.

 

I think it's a matter of being a geographically isolated area we don't know any better, until recently we were limited for choice with limited cruise ships available.

 

This will change as more ships head down under but we don't have the cruising numbers to enforce changes and competition. Prior to low overseas flights we knew no different.

 

This is not only restricted to cruising, DVDs,clothing and booze is so much cheaper overseas. Try buying a litre bottle of vodka here in Aust. For $10 like I did recently in Florida.

 

I'm sure this will change soon as Australia is the fastest growing cruise market in the world as I've seen on a tv documentary. More and more ships are coming down as its a very lucrative market.

[MicCanberra]

Never been on a P&O cruise. I just can't bring myself to go on one. Their ships are small and look a bit tired. Just my opinion.

 

They are certainly not X or Princess but they still offer a good cruise if you have the right itinerary and price.:D

[Anthonysyne]

Perhaps MicCanberra but once you've been on the other cruise lines first it's like taking a step backwards.

[Cabansail]

Just off Radiance a short time ago.

 

RCI allow 2 botles of wine per cabin to be brought aboard. They can be used at the restaurants with no corkage.

 

Only passed through the casino to transit but I think it was open as soon as we were out of ports, even in WA. The difference is that they do not allow smoking in the casino here. The casino never seemed to have many in it. I did see an American couple leaving one night and he was going through slips and muttering. His wife did not seem at all amused. I overheard one comment she made along the lines that they could have booked two cruises for that amount. I did see him in the casino again a few days later subsidising my holiday :D

 

They had Duty Free but the prices on the spirits were only attractive before you realised the conversion from US$ to AU$ so I did not bother.

 

The only extra money they got from us was the mandatory visa and my expensive trip to the ships doctor. That was limited to AU$100 with travel insurance or else the 5 minute consultation and some generic antibiotics would have cost over AU$250

[mr walker]

This is not only restricted to cruising, DVDs,clothing and booze is so much cheaper overseas. Try buying a litre bottle of vodka here in Aust. For $10 like I did recently in Florida.

 

Whilst it is true that there is 'regional' pricing & we do pay more for many things, for your Vodka example I suggest that the pricing here has a lot to do with the taxes imposed on alcohol, both as revenue stream and also nanny state policy.

 

I don't know what the 'cost' of a bottle of Vodka is, but Vodka is notionally 40% alcohol. At the current excise rate of $80.41 per litre of alcohol content (not per litre of vodka), my calculations would put the excise on a 750ml bottle at .75 x .4 x 80.41 = $24.12. Maybe I am doing something wrong, but I can't see that someone could sell a bottle of vodka in Australia for anything like $10 if there is $24 tax!!

[Kiwi Kruzer]

Whilst it is true that there is 'regional' pricing & we do pay more for many things, for your Vodka example I suggest that the pricing here has a lot to do with the taxes imposed on alcohol, both as revenue stream and also nanny state policy.

 

I don't know what the 'cost' of a bottle of Vodka is, but Vodka is notionally 40% alcohol. At the current excise rate of $80.41 per litre of alcohol content (not per litre of vodka), my calculations would put the excise on a 750ml bottle at .75 x .4 x 80.41 = $24.12. Maybe I am doing something wrong, but I can't see that someone could sell a bottle of vodka in Australia for anything like $10 if there is $24 tax!!

 

Who wants to buy Vodka at $10 a bottle , and then get charged thousands for a Doctor or hospital visit.

Id rather pay the $24 and know that if needed a hospital it is free.....or at least a lot less than in the States.

[MicCanberra]

Never been on a P&O cruise. I just can't bring myself to go on one. Their ships are small and look a bit tired. Just my opinion.

 

Perhaps MicCanberra but once you've been on the other cruise lines first it's like taking a step backwards.

 

But you can only go off hear say and other's reports. Their ships may be smaller and may look old and tired compare to some others but unless you try them you will never know about all the other things that make up the cruise experience.

[lyndarra]

As the title of the thread is about differences between Oz and other countries cruises I can add that on our recent Radiance cruise we heard, on more than one occasion from American cruisers, that this cruise was a "nickel and dime" operation. And, compared to our two Celebrity cruises earlier this year, we somewhat agree.

[GUT2407]

As the title of the thread is about differences between Oz and other countries cruises I can add that on our recent Radiance cruise we heard, on more than one occasion from American cruisers, that this cruise was a "nickel and dime" operation. And, compared to our two Celebrity cruises earlier this year, we somewhat agree.

 

 

But that's probably more about the line than the Country.

[The_Big_M]

Who wants to buy Vodka at $10 a bottle , and then get charged thousands for a Doctor or hospital visit.

Id rather pay the $24 and know that if needed a hospital it is free.....or at least a lot less than in the States.

 

True. You can't look at things in isolation - though people do!

[Russell21]

As the title of the thread is about differences between Oz and other countries cruises I can add that on our recent Radiance cruise we heard, on more than one occasion from American cruisers, that this cruise was a "nickel and dime" operation. And, compared to our two Celebrity cruises earlier this year, we somewhat agree.

 

From my experience of living and working with the Yanks my opinion is that, with the usual exceptions, they are a one eyed self centred group when it comes to comparing other countries to their own.

Oh how wrong most of them are.

[Cabansail]

Maybe I am doing something wrong, but I can't see that someone could sell a bottle of vodka in Australia for anything like $10 if there is $24 tax!!

 

Of course you can! :D

 

Meet me and Jimmy out the back of the Top Pub later tonight. ;)

[MicCanberra]

Don't do it Mr Walker, doesn't sound like it is a credible shopping outlet:eek:

[Cabansail]

Hey! Jimmy is VERY credible. In fact he has all sorts of Credit Cards in lots of different names. Can't get more credible than that.