The Return of the Azamara Quest & Other Cruise News

It’s been six weeks without a cruise ship in the harbour – but this morning at 08.00, Azamara Quest sailed into the early morning sun and tied up at Fremantle’s Inner Harbour.

Her last Fremantle visit was between 19 and 22 December 2022. We did a feature article on her then.

Her last port of call before Fremantle this time was Albany and her current passengers will disembark today at Fremantle.

Azamara Quest then departs at 17.00, Sunday 19 on a 16-night Western Australia to Asia Cruise. She’ll be visiting Geraldton, Benoa (Bali) and Singapore. Then onto Ho Chi Ming City and Hue (Danang) in Vietnam and ending up in Hong Kong.

Here’s a gallery of the Azamara Quest’s arrival this morning.

Head on down to the Port or South Mole (North Mole is still closed) on Sunday at 17.00 to see her sail away.

By the way, more cruise ships are on their way to Freo.

* Tuesday 21 February 06.30 Zuiderdam arrives. She is on a 129 Night Grand World Voyage, which commenced in Fort Lauderdale on 3 January. The cruise ends on 12 May. Wednesday 22 February 17.00, Zuiderdam departs.

* Wednesday 1 March 06.30, Coral Adventurer arrives. Thursday 2 March 09.00, Coral Adventurer departs

* Also on Wednesday 1 March, at 05.30, Coral Princess arrives and then departs the same day at 16.00.

And of course it’s getting closer to that time of the year for Kimberley Cruising. Small cruise ships are now preparing for cruising the Kimberley coast. There is an increased demand for Kimberley expeditions post-COVID, with people wanting small expeditionary ships and voyages close to home.

Several small boats cruises are departing from Fremantle towards the end of February and through March to explore Western Australia’s wild and largely untouched coast of red sands and turquoise seas. And salties too, of course!

A big wet season means beautiful country and big waterfalls. The heavy rainfall from recent tropical cyclone Ellie has resulted in majestic waterfalls in the Kimberley and a promise of a late flow season.

It’s an area abounding in marine wonders and fascinating maritime history.

Behind the scenes, boats are being refitted. True North II was launched in 1999, and operated in the Kimberley under True North’s former branding, North Star Cruises until 2005. She then moved to Indonesia and was renamed Ratu Motu. She is currently at Rous Head being refitted before her maiden voyage in March as True North II, and will join True North for Luxury Lodges of Australia portfolio and True North Adventure Cruises.

Lots happening as the weather warms up again and the Dry Season in the north west gets closer.

* STORY and photographs by our Shipping Correspondent, Jean Hudson @jeansodyssey. Jean is also a regular feature writer and photographer here on the Shipping News. You may like to follow up her informative Places I Love stories, as well as other feature stories and Freo Today photographs, right here.

WHILE YOU’RE HERE –