The cruise business in Australia is booming and things could get even better if the Royal Australian Navy goes ahead with plans to leave Sydney's Garden Island.
Doing so would increase the berthing capacity for the city, which is characterized as "desperately needed". Among those calling for the Navy to leave is Royal Caribbean's Regional Vice President for Australia, Gavin Smith.
"None of our ships will fit under the Harbour Bridge," said the line's regional vice president Gavin Smith.
“Modern cruise ships are too big to do so. To continue to grow we need certainty, in particular berthing certainty. Asian ports have provided this in Singapore, Hong Kong and Shanghai with brand new dedicated cruise terminals. More and more cruise ships are visiting these ports as a consequence.
“Sydney, as the gateway to the Australian cruise industry, needs to respond to this competition within our region. This will ensure that the other cruise destinations in Australia and New Zealand can share in the economic growth of the local industry.”
Sydney's current cruise terminal is over 50 years old.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced on Tuesday that a taskforce would be set up to consider moving some or all of the navy fleet to Queensland.
