Seabourn Quest docking location, Sydney, Australia

[MaggyCan1]

We are booked on the Seabourn Quest in February 2025 and are wondering if anyone here knows where she docks in Sydney, Australia.    There are tons and tons of hotels to choose from in The Rocks area of Sydney and we would like to choose one that is as close as possible to the docking location.   Many thanks, cruisers!

[BasandSyb]

Currently 14 Feb is for Whites Bay which means you travel under the bridge and pass the opera house on the way out. It’s a lovely sail away.

Larger ships get precedence at Circular Quay (overseas passenger terminal) and Pacific Venture is booked in.

 
Keep an eye on the schedule as things can and do change. Google Port Authority of New South Wales - cruise terminal schedule.

 

If you stay at The Rocks it’s a 10 minute taxi ride.

Edited August 2 by BasandSyb
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[where-to-next]

Larger vessels are unable to pass under the harbour bridge so dock at Circular Quay, meaning smaller vessels end up at White Bay. Which is unfortunate because White Bay is a wasteland, no hotels, no shops and no public transport.

 

We sailed out of White Bay on the Quest last December. One frustrated passenger complained that he could see the ship from his city hotel room but it took 40 minutes in a taxi to reach it.

 

The Rocks is a great area to stay in, enjoy all that area has to offer and catch a taxi to the ship.

[Fred321]

We were in White's Bay earlier this year on a HAL ship. Have been to Sydney a number of times so tried something different. We walked into the Balmain section just above the port. It's a bit of a hike uphill but it was definitely worth it. Very nice little suburb with cafes for a breakfast. Friendly people. We even went to a local lawn bowling club on Sunday for a Sunday Roast. It was fantastic! You can continue to walk to the end of Darling Street and get a ferry to Circular Quay.

 

Maybe not for your first time in Sydney but definitely something to look into if you've been there. There may be a local bus that stops near the cruise terminal and then goes into Balmain.

[sfvoyage]

9 hours ago, where-to-next said:

... smaller vessels end up at White Bay. Which is unfortunate because White Bay is a wasteland, no hotels, no shops and no public transport.

Also no free wifi at the White Bay cruise terminal (as of last Dec), so you cannot order an Uber.

Edited August 5 by sfvoyage

[DC Traveler244]

I echo comment #2 above: watch for updates re the ship's docking location.  We were scheduled to embark from White's Bay 2+ years ago, but looked out the window of our hotel and saw our ship docked at Circular Quay.  

 

It was happenstance that we could see the ship at Circular Quay:  neither Seabourn nor our then-TA advised us of the change (when we were aboard, we learned that TAs for some fellow guests had contacted them re the change).  

 

This experience taught us that final berthing assignments are sometimes changed at the last minute by port officials, and it's worthwhile to go online to confirm where the ship actually docks.

[jollyjones]

I have the MarineTraffic app which I find invaluable when cruising.

Not only do I always check where my ship is docked before heading for embarkation, there are many ports where there could be several possible docking positions and it is so useful to see where one actually is before heading out.

[BasandSyb]

Absolutely - alway check before getting in the taxi. It’s paid off several times for us.

[MaggyCan1]

Many thanks, fellow Seabourn cruisers!    Good advice about checking the Port Authority website, and I shall look into the Marine Traffic app.

 

Cheers!

 

 

Maggy