Carnival UK ceo David Dingle told journalists in Sydney today that the plan to pull down Wharf 8 at Darling Harbour is ‘bizarre’ and that ‘it defies belief.’
Dingle, who is responsible for P&O Cruises Australia as chairman of the Carnival plc Management Committee, said the NSW State Government should include Wharf 8 in the proposed development of the East Darling Harbour precinct that has been named Barangaroo.

He said the controversial plan to build a new cruise ship terminal at White Bay to replace Wharf 8 is ‘financially irresponsible’ and would be ‘a waste of taxpayers’ money.’ He hopes that ‘good common sense’ will prevail.

Dingle is also behind the campaign by Carnival Australia ceo Ann Sherry to get a cruise ship facility at the Royal Australian Navy base at Garden Island to supplement the single-berth Overseas Passenger Terminal which, as reported here, has not been able to cope during the current wave season with the number of visiting ships too big to sail under the Sydney Harbour Bridge. He said Portsmouth is an example of how a navy base and cruise ships coexist.

He warned that ‘the economic loss to Sydney will be enormous’ unless there is infrastructure for even bigger ships in the future.

Dingle, who is leaving for Auckland tonight to be there for Aurora’s visit, said Australia is a robust and growing market and that travel agents will play a key role in the company’s bid to attract more and more holiday makers who have never cruised.

He said travel agents are ‘experts at retaining their customers’ and that P&O Cruises Australia’s online academy will be launched soon.
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Interesting. Considering that at least a few mass market cruiselines have Australian cruises, the cruiseline big shots and city officials should be working together to make sure there are available berths. And from the growing membership here of Australians, there seems to be a local interest in cruising.

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