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Grey Nomads of the Ocean

Posted on September 23, 2011

By ALAN ERSKINE

MATURE-AGE Mildura people are taking to the high seas for the holiday of a life-time, taking advantage of some spectacular off-peak bargains to set sail on some of the most luxurious cruise ships in the world.

And the reasons are obvious – no driving, being waited on hand and foot, and having almost all expenses covered while living in pampered luxury for up to a month on what are now virtually floating cities – with the very best of food and entertainment.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that Mildura people are flocking in their hundreds each year to catch the cruise of a lifetime out of either Melbourne, Brisbane or Sydney, depending on the price.

And speaking of prices, would you believe less than $1000 per person in some cases for almost two weeks of luxury on some of the most popular cruises in the world?

Of course, that’s the bargain basement option…in the bowels of the ship, no port-hole views, and having to share a four-berth cabin (they call it the bat-cave), but according to people who have ‘been there, done that,’ it’s a small price to pay – literally – for a dream trip.

Even on the bigger ocean liners, the ones that can aptly be described as floating palaces, the prices aren’t prohibitive…say, $3000 or so for a week of luxury…the only problem being that you have to fly to the United States before you set sail.

For the rich and famous of America, it’s not a problem…just slip down to Fort Lauderdale in Florida and book a luxury apartment on one of the latest giant liners for a relaxing Caribbean cruise – the price could escalate to around $22,000.

But you’re talking about the new wonders of the world, the sister ships built for Royal Caribbean International, Oasis of the Seas, and Allure of the Seas, launched in 2009 and 2010 respectively.

Built at a cost of around $1 billion each, these giants are 360 metres long, have a gross tonnage of 225,282 tonnes, are 47 metres across, 72 metres high and can carry 6296 passengers, who are looked after by 2165 crew members. They are the biggest of the 10 ships in the Royal Caribbean International fleet, with the smallest in the fleet a ‘mere’ 137,000 tonnes, and carrying ‘just’ 3840 passengers.

There are at least 47 ships over the 100,000 tonne mark cruising international waters, with dozens of others coming in around 75,000 tonnes and servicing countries such as Australia and New Zealand, and outlying islands.

Apart from Royal Caribbean International, cruise liners are operated by Norwegian Cruise Line, The Cunard Line, and Carnival, Disney, Celebrity, Princess and Costa Cruises, AIDA, Utopia and MSC.

It’s big business, a multi-billion-dollar industry world-wide annually, and according to Mildura travel expert Peter Haenan, there’s no end in sight.

“We have a huge percentage of cruise people out of Mildura,” he said. “I have another tour booked in February, taking 53 people around the islands for two weeks on a ship called the Dawn Princess. That ship can accommodate 1900 passengers.”

Peter said people from the Mildura region were often shopping for cruise bargains, and there are usually plenty on offer, especially outside peak periods.

He said the ships that normally do the Pacific Islands and New Zealand, the Pacific Sun, Jewel, Dawn and Pearl, were all popular, especially now that everything on board is done in Australian dollars.

“Some of the concessions being offered are very tempting,” Peter said. “For example, a recent 13-day cruise to the island and New Zealand was being offered for around $1200…the normal price for that trip is just under $2000. Usually it’s a case of the earlier you book, the cheaper the price.

One Mildura couple who are cruise regulars told the Mildura Weekly that if people shopped around, and were prepared to wait for super-specials, they might get lucky and pick up a bargain for just under $1000 a head. And that includes everything bar getting to Melbourne or Sydney, personal expenses, and tips.

Just back from their fourth cruise, they said they met a few passengers who had been on more than 100 cruises…these are the ones who are usually invited to the Captain’s cocktail parties or formal dinner parties.

And while there’s no shortage of ships, there’s no shortage of places to see either…with holiday options including Alaska, the Red Sea, Canary Islands and Morocco, Scandinavia and The Baltic, lots of destinations in Europe, the Canary Islands, United Kingdom and Ireland, Africa, the Americas…the list is almost endless.

Peter Haenan said cruise ships have come a long way since the days of the Fairstar…back in the 70’s… everyone thought she was big at 35,000 tonnes!

The latest ships are up to seven times the size of the old Fairstar. Take the Oasis of the Seas, for example. Featuring 16 separate decks, it has its own shopping mall, huge swimming pools, dozens of bars and restaurants, rock climbing walls, a central park, flower gardens, scuba diving facilities, a chess garden and an outdoor aquatheatre and ampitheatre.

At night, the rear deck is flood-lit for spectacular ‘floor’ shows, including high-tower diving and trampoline and trapeze acts. The dive pool is almost six metres deep. Indoor entertainment is almost continuous, and night-time cabarets, stage shows and musicals are world-class, some of them straight off Broadway and other world-famous venues.

As Peter says, it’s a different world.

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