Norwegian Star’s decision to still visit Wollongong on Thursday after having urgent engine repairs it needed done in Melbourne is being seen as another great sign for the city.
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Destination Wollongong general manager Mark Sleigh said Norwegian Cruise Line’s could have decided not to come now and expects the local community will reward its decision.
NCL’s first ship to berth in Port Kembla will arrive between 7am and 8am on Thursday. Mr Sleigh said it will be a colourful sight because of the way the ship is painted. The maiden visit is part of a voyage that started in Auckland, took in the Bay Of Islands, then visited Sydney and will conclude in Singapore.
Passengers and crew were given a sample of that on Wednesday afternoon when eight volunteer ambassadors and two IRT representatives traveled to Circular Quay to hand out information as they hopped back on board the Norwegian Star as she prepared to sail for Wollongong.
They were joined Parliamentary Secretary for the Illawarra Gareth Ward.
Mr Sleigh said Mr Ward was in Parliament and still made time to join the ambassadors who had all volunteered before and were planning to back up in Wollongong on Thursday.
“They were so excited when we put them on the bus to Sydney,” he said.
“It was so good to take locals up there to sell Wollongong in Sydney Harbour to international tourists. They have all volunteered two days of their time. What a fantastic thing for them to do. It is just incredible. You don’t get that kind of commitment and passion everywhere. The whole program has been an absolute success story for the region.”
Mr Ward and Mr Sleigh both know how important it is to have a second cruise line arriving in Wollongong’s first summer as a cruising destination.
“It puts us two years ahead of where we thought we would be at this stage of the game,” Mr Sleigh said.
Destination Wollongong chair Tania Brown said it showed the city has demonstrated the capacity to provide a fantastic visitor experience and provide all the cruise industry’s needs.
Mr Brown said one of the real success stories of this cruise season has been the ambassador program run with the help of IRT.
“In just three visits by Royal Caribbean, we proved ourselves as a welcoming, engaged and beautiful destination. Now we are proving ourselves to be agile and multi-skilled as well,” she said.
Mrs Gray did a question and answer session that went so long it had to be cut short for a show scheduled in the theatre. As she concluded she was given a standing ovation for being so helpful.
Mr Sleigh said there was a lot for Wollongong to feel good about presently as residents showcase the city’s potential and capability. He said members of the community can do that early on Thursday by finding vantage points along the foreshore to watch Norwegian Star come in.
“Visually this ship will be very appealing. This one is painted quite extravagantly so it will be quite stunning to see,” he said.
Mr Sleigh thinks people will because “Wollongong has demonstrated a great pride in becoming a cruise ship destination. With cruise ships and Elton John coming to town is has been an exciting three months for Wollongong. We are certainly getting on the world stage in so many different ways. Having such major international investors and acts coming to town is only going to build recognition that Wollongong is capable of hosting these kinds of things and it is only going to grow. We are seeing that with a second cruise line coming to town this week. This is game changing for the region”.
Wollongong City councillor Leigh Colacino said Norwegian Star’s arrival on Thursday morning is an indication of a bright future for cruise ship tourism in the region.
Cr Colacino plans to watch it sail in from his balcony with his wife Jennie by his side.
A pilot boat took him out to meet Voyager of the Seas during the last cruise ship visit in January and he stood on The Bridge as it sailed in.
Royal Caribbean’s Radiance of the Seas and Explorer of the Seas are both scheduled to visit in early 2018.
“It is very exciting to see that another cruise line has recognised what Port Kembla and Wollongong offers. We knew that once we showed companies what Wollongong was all about, they would come,” Cr Colacino said.
Norwegian Star facts:
- Built: 2001
- Refurbished: 2015
- Guests: 2348
- Crew: 1031
- Length: 965ft
- Beam: 125ft
- Dining: 15 options
- Bars and lounges: 11
- Spa
- Casino
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