It might have been the last ship to visit Wollongong this cruise season, but the arrival of Royal Carribean’s Explorer of the Seas on Sunday also marked a first for the city.
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The vessel – with its 4300 passengers and 1450-strong crew – was guided by tug boats as it made its maiden voyage into Port Kembla harbour just before 7.30am.
By 10am, 2000 of them were off the ship and in the city, some enjoying the festivities in the arts precinct.
“The Explorer ... is the largest ship that we’ve had come in [to Port Kembla] and the captain was very, very happy with the way the port accommodated the ship,” Cruise Wollongong chairman, and Wollongong City Councillor, Leigh Colacino said.
“That’s really important from where I sit, because I’ve got to go out and sell the port.
“It’s not only a matter of the passengers coming in and enjoying themselves, but the captains of those ships have to be happy with the port they’re going into.”
Cr Colacino said Sunday’s visit by Explorer – the sister ship to Voyager of the Seas, which called into Port Kembla last year – stamped Wollongong’s place on the “cruise ship market”.
“We’ve only been up and running as a destination for 18 months and we’re already recognised as one of the friendliest ports of call in the world,” he said.
Andrew Pearson
Andrew grew up in the western Riverina town of Hay and has strong ties to the region. He is a former DA journo who has a passion for breaking news and has covered everything from council and politics to crime and court.
Andrew grew up in the western Riverina town of Hay and has strong ties to the region. He is a former DA journo who has a passion for breaking news and has covered everything from council and politics to crime and court.
