Aus the fourth-largest cruise market

[colourbird]

2 minutes ago, cruiser3775 said:

Undoubtedly not. Having a sense of entitlement because you paid more than the peasants in steerage is unlikely to be the criteria used in evacuating people in a major emergency.

 

Actually the way classes are segregated nowadays, it is quite likely suite guests will be ushered into to lifeboats first, whilst others have to wait in their respective lounges / muster stations till they are called.

[LittleFish1976]

23 hours ago, woodscruise said:

From todays Cruise Weekly  18April 2024

 

Australia was the world’s fourth-largest cruise market last year, with 1.25 million passengers embarking in 2023. The Land Down Under finished behind the United States (16.9 million), Germany (2.5 million), and the United Kingdom (2.2 million) in terms of total pax, according to data released by Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) (CW 16 Apr). The rise in short-break cruises being offered by lines is reflected in CLIA’s data, with the average duration of an ocean voyage taken by Australians last year being 8.1 days, down from 9 days pre-pandemic. The most popular region for Aussies to sail in, outside of Australia and the South Pacific, is still the Mediterranean, with 5.3% of passengers embarking on a cruise there last year, followed by Asia (2.5%), Alaska (1.9%), Northern Europe (1%), and the Caribbean (1%). Growing segments of the Australian cruise industry include trans-Atlantic and world cruises; Hawaii & and the West Coast of the US; and expedition cruises, which captured 0.8%, 0.7%, and 0.7% of the market respectively. “Australians have not just returned to cruising, they’ve come back with enormous enthusiasm and at a faster pace than in other markets worldwide,” said Managing Director Joel Katz (pictured). “Australia has long been one of the world’s most passionate cruise source markets, and these figures confirm an enduring love for cruising among Australian travellers,” he said. Katz said although demand for cruising is strong, close collaboration from Australian governments and ports is needed to support the sustainability of cruise tourism in the future. “To maintain our position as a leading destination and meet demand, it’s crucial that regulatory frameworks and port charges remain internationally competitive,” he said. “Balanced regulation and reasonable costs are fundamental to fostering a thriving cruise sector capable of contributing significantly to the Australian economy,” Katz added. MS

So per capita we must be almost top? I won't do the maths but I'm sure someone would be happy to. On a quick look we are higher per capita than the UK with their 68? million people.

[arxcards]

For those looking forward to sliding down a chute into a raft, it would only be in a dire emergency mostly when not all the life boats could be used.

 

Correct, there isn't enough life boats for everyone aboard, but on most ships there are enough for every passenger plus assigned crew manning each lifeboat. Most of the crew get to practice drills getting into life rafts, as that is where most of them will be huddled if the ship has to be abandoned.

 

For the newer ships, you will see a letter like this in your cabin:

 

You would think bigger ships would need to provide more lifeboats, but it becomes an issue of how quickly you can get passengers into all of them. The life raft system allows for a more rapid evacuation of the ship.

 

In the event of an evacuation at sea, I would be following this bloke to find the quickest way off the ship.

Edited April 19 by arxcards

[OzKiwiJJ]

1 hour ago, colourbird said:

 

Actually the way classes are segregated nowadays, it is quite likely suite guests will be ushered into to lifeboats first, whilst others have to wait in their respective lounges / muster stations till they are called.

All passengers, regardless of what type of cabin they are in, have to report to their assigned muster stations. The muster stations are allocated by location within the ship, not by cabin class, so midships cabins have a midships muster station and so on. However those midships cabins can be anything from inside cabins to suites. Once in the muster station there is nothing to indicate cabin class.

[MicCanberra]

2 hours ago, cruiser3775 said:

Undoubtedly not. Having a sense of entitlement because you paid more than the peasants in steerage is unlikely to be the criteria used in evacuating people in a major emergency.

WCF is a fallacy.

[LittleFish1976]

I don't fancy my chances of a safe landing if I'm hurtling down a chute onto a raft! For one, I'd either bounce off into the drink or, if the raft isn't inflatable, hurt myself. What an awful option.

 

If I have to evacuate the ship I want it to be on a Japan cruise with lots of co-operative Japanese passengers who are used to calmly following instructions and working to the benefit of the group as per their amazing evacuation from that burning aircraft not too long ago.

[ceeceeDee]

I'm surprised they don't advertise the chute as an adventure activity! 😂

[MicCanberra]

I would use it, especially if the ship was sinking.

[arxcards]

1 hour ago, ceeceeDee said:

I'm surprised they don't advertise the chute as an adventure activity! 😂

For P&O Edge, it would be a $50pp charge.

[SinbadThePorter]

On 4/18/2024 at 8:44 PM, OzKiwiJJ said:

I think the original quote is "lies, damn lies and statistics". Attributed to Mark Twain. 

 

It was said by Mark Twain, but he himself attributed it to Benjamin Disraeli.

 

But Disraeli is not known to have ever said it.

 

It seems to one of those sayings that appear out of nowhere that everyone thinks was said by someone famous.

[MicCanberra]

"Don't believe everything you read on the internet" Abraham Lincoln 

[Bubbeh]

On 4/19/2024 at 5:38 AM, Jean C said:

Not forgetting:  "People use statistics as a drunk uses a lamppost — for support rather than illumination"

Oh, very clever. A million years ago when I was making career choices (limited at time by society and my parents to teaching or nursing) I thought I'd like to be a statistician. My Dad said that I could do Law but he also said that smart girls don't get married so it was better not to get ahead of myself???????? 

[colourbird]

I hated maths at school, but ended up studying statistics at university as part of a major. I couldn't see why I'd ever need statistics in real life and thought it was a waste of time, but I ended up collecting, compiling, analysing, comparing and reporting on statistics at work for over 30 years.

[Bubbeh]

52 minutes ago, colourbird said:

I ended up collecting, compiling, analysing, comparing and reporting on statistics at work for over 30 years.

and the nerd in me just died of jealousy.

[Bubbeh]

On 4/19/2024 at 2:59 PM, OzKiwiJJ said:

Once in the muster station there is nothing to indicate cabin class.

Nor should there ever be!

[MicCanberra]

38 minutes ago, Bubbeh said:

Nor should there ever be!

How can you tell if someone is in a suite, don't worry, they will tell you.

[ceeceeDee]

2 hours ago, MicCanberra said:

How can you tell if someone is in a suite, don't worry, they will tell you.

Never a truer word, Mic! We were at breakfast on a cruise once and the couple at the next table were chatting to us. Wasn't long before they mentioned they were in a suite and to rub salt into the wound, they got it for free (!!) because of players' club or some such. Mind you, we didn't really care, they probably paid for it with their losses to the house in the Casino over time.🙂

[MicCanberra]

They certainly don't invite the big winners back.

[OzKiwiJJ]

12 minutes ago, ceeceeDee said:

Never a truer word, Mic! We were at breakfast on a cruise once and the couple at the next table were chatting to us. Wasn't long before they mentioned they were in a suite and to rub salt into the wound, they got it for free (!!) because of players' club or some such. Mind you, we didn't really care, they probably paid for it with their losses to the house in the Casino over time.🙂

But that sort of person would big-note themselves any way they could regardless. Luckily not everyone is like that. 

 

Even when we were trying out suites and club class minisuites on Coral during the restart nobody that we chatted to in Club Class ever mentioned what type of cabin they were in. Obviously some would have been suites but there was no sense of entitlement that we noticed. 

[ceeceeDee]

3 minutes ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

But that sort of person would big-note themselves any way they could regardless. Luckily not everyone is like that. 

 

Even when we were trying out suites and club class minisuites on Coral during the restart nobody that we chatted to in Club Class ever mentioned what type of cabin they were in. Obviously some would have been suites but there was no sense of entitlement that we noticed. 

What really tickled us (ok boasting about the free suite may have irked us just a little), was they also said that they nearly were denied boarding because the wife mislaid her proof of Covid vaccination and they had to contact their doctor and get another copy emailed post haste. Wouldn't that just make you rip your nightie when you were getting a 'freebie' cruise?!😂

[arxcards]

In the main, those cruising in suites or with elevated tier status are very discrete. At the breakfast table, over time I have found it is those with 10 to 15 cruises or those in a balcony for the first time are most prone to talk up their importance. If you have cruised long enough they will identify themselves at breakfast, with an opening line - Is this your first cruise? Usually fun to play along.

 

We really don't care, having cruised inside, outside, upside down - and a few nice suites to boot. Suites are not allocated on merit to those most deserving, but those who paid a premium for some extra real estate and a few perks.

[MicCanberra]

I know what you mean about the ones that state they have done??? Cruises. When asked we just say we have cruised a bit.

[OzKiwiJJ]

26 minutes ago, arxcards said:

In the main, those cruising in suites or with elevated tier status are very discrete. At the breakfast table, over time I have found it is those with 10 to 15 cruises or those in a balcony for the first time are most prone to talk up their importance. If you have cruised long enough they will identify themselves at breakfast, with an opening line - Is this your first cruise? Usually fun to play along.

 

 

And that is exactly why I want a table for two for breakfast! I am not civilized until I've had a pot of strong tea. Even Rolf knows not to ask me anything serious before I've had some food and my tea!

[colourbird]

7 minutes ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

And that is exactly why I want a table for two for breakfast! I am not civilized until I've had a pot of strong tea. Even Rolf knows not to ask me anything serious before I've had some food and my tea!

 

See you on the Diamond, I'll keep away till after breakfast though. We'll have to have a meet and greet.

[arxcards]

38 minutes ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

And that is exactly why I want a table for two for breakfast! I am not civilized until I've had a pot of strong tea. Even Rolf knows not to ask me anything serious before I've had some food and my tea!

Yep. I would agree .... and it is much more civil in Sabatini's for breakfast 🤣🤣🤣