Cruise Ships Calling At Samui

[robsamui]

Hi - anyone know if the various cruise ships that stop here put their passengers ashore here anywhere OTHER than Nathon?

I know Star Cruises drop off at Nathon, but is there anywhere else? The only other place I can think of is Bang Rak Pier but there's nothing much for short-time visitors to do there. (Not that Nathon is particularly lovely!)

AND - how many times a week does Star Cruises call in here?

Thanks in advance,

Rob

[Rooo]

The total amount of ships per month is around 4. Don't know if they are all Star Cruises. But around Feb / March Queen Mary 2 should make an appearance. Will confirm dates.

[robsamui]

The total amount of ships per month is around 4. Don't know if they are all Star Cruises. But around Feb / March Queen Mary 2 should make an appearance. Will confirm dates.

GASP! That's impressive!

There are actually 5 or 6 big international cruise lines that call here now and then (the rest of the time they're on different world circuits). But nobody seems to know much about them or their schedules (Time for a trip to Asia Travel, I think!)

Thanks for the info,

R

[Rooo]

Here you are Rob, gets you started :

http://www.starcruises.com/newweb/main/ebrochures.aspx

[Tropicalevo]

As far as I know, they only drop off at Nathon. They used to drop off at Bang Rak a few years ago, but not since the new pier was built. (Coincidence I am sure.)

Just remembered. When they used to berth off Bang Rak one could buy a one way ticket to Bangkok using the empty cabins for 1,500 baht per person (or something like that!)

Edited January 27, 2011 by Tropicalevo

[robsamui]

Here you are Rob, gets you started :

http://www.starcruises.com/newweb/main/ebrochures.aspx

Thanks.

But having examined all the info here microscopically the mystery deepens ... there is no mention of Samui. The only Thai stop-offs are Phuket and BKK!

R

[Rooo]

Here you are Rob, gets you started :

http://www.starcruis...ebrochures.aspx

Thanks.

But having examined all the info here microscopically the mystery deepens ... there is no mention of Samui. The only Thai stop-offs are Phuket and BKK!

R

Of what I understand Rob, BKK is destination & stop off. Samui is a visit, I think it's not mentioned as destination. I hope that makes sense.

[SilentReader]

At least one of the cruise ships that visits Nathon is from AIDA a German ship with loads of Germans. Their =0&tx_aidadyncatalog_catalog[after]=0&tx_aidadyncatalog_catalog[before]=0&tx_aidadyncatalog_catalog[region_or_ship]=region&tx_aidadyncatalog_catalog[searchRegionShipCode]=VRAS&tx_aidadyncatalog_catalog[searchEarlyBird]=&tx_aidadyncatalog_catalog[searchStartDate]=&tx_aidadyncatalog_catalog[searchEndDate]=&tx_aidadyncatalog_catalog[harbour_or_poc]=harbour&tx_aidadyncatalog_catalog[searchPortCode]=*1&SearchButton=Reisen+suchen&tx_aidadyncatalog_catalog[searchState]="]website is in German(surprisingly) but you can see that they make regular 2 weekly stops here for several months.

[Rooo]

Here you are Rob, gets you started :

http://www.starcruis...ebrochures.aspx

Thanks.

But having examined all the info here microscopically the mystery deepens ... there is no mention of Samui. The only Thai stop-offs are Phuket and BKK!

R

Of what I understand Rob, BKK is destination & stop off. Samui is a visit, I think it's not mentioned as destination. I hope that makes sense.

http://www.starcruises.com/newweb/destinations/thailand.aspx

[itishothere]

The latest/newest ship from Cunard is the Queen Elizabeth (replaces the old QE2). This is due to visit Samui on 17 March of this year - and with up to 2,068 passengers on board (according to the website) could be an impresive sight!

[H2oDunc]

The ships drop anchor at Nathon as it is the only place around the island where the draft is deep enough for the size of ships that visit. The pier at Bangrak is very shallow with a draft of only around the 7-9 metres. I look forward to seeing the new QE 11 replacement. Where I live I can see the ships at anchor. Some of them do make an impressive sight to wake up to.

[Rooo]

The latest/newest ship from Cunard is the Queen Elizabeth (replaces the old QE2). This is due to visit Samui on 17 March of this year - and with up to 2,068 passengers on board (according to the website) could be an impresive sight!

Funny you got the details too. I just received this from my daughter who works with cruises, I asked her as I had my ships mixed up:

Ok, so the NEW Queen Elizabeth will come to Samui on the 17th March, she's due in at 09:00 and will depart at 17:00 (5pm) She may dock, or they may drop anchor off shore and tender passengers? I'm not too sure. But take your binoculars. She's brand spaking new and on her current maiden world voyage which departs from Los Angeles tomorrow, 29th Jan.

Queen Mary 2 will be stopping in Laem Chabang port (Bangkok) and visit Phuket instead on her world voyage this year - that's a shame, as that's who you'd really want to see.

Both ships are sisters and belong to the Cunard fleet. They are Ocean liners as opposed to 'cruie ships/floating hotels'.

[Birdman]

wonder why this cruise ships don't organise excursions through local agencies with packages incl p/u from the hotel, inspection, guide, drinks or lunch....while the passengers are on tour on land.

There would be many, tourists and locals, interested, I guess, if proper advertised timely. These tourists, who would make such a cruise ship excursion, could be potential future costumers as well.

[Mook]

http://www.cruisetimetables.com/cruises-to-ko-samui-thailand.html

[Rooo]

http://www.cruisetim...i-thailand.html

Thank you Mook.

[robsamui]

Here you are Rob, gets you started :

http://www.starcruis...ebrochures.aspx

Thanks.

But having examined all the info here microscopically the mystery deepens ... there is no mention of Samui. The only Thai stop-offs are Phuket and BKK!

R

Of what I understand Rob, BKK is destination & stop off. Samui is a visit, I think it's not mentioned as destination. I hope that makes sense.

Aha! I've emailed them to enquire - not that I'm really expecting a reply ...

R

[Rooo]

http://www.cruisetim...i-thailand.html

Thank you Mook.

All here rob.

[Tropicalevo]

The ships drop anchor at Nathon as it is the only place around the island where the draft is deep enough for the size of ships that visit. The pier at Bangrak is very shallow with a draft of only around the 7-9 metres. I look forward to seeing the new QE 11 replacement. Where I live I can see the ships at anchor. Some of them do make an impressive sight to wake up to.

The ships didn't berth at Bang Rak (wrong terminology from a land-lubber. Sorry)- but rather they moored in the deep water in the bay off Six Sense. They then caught tenders to the piers in Bang Rak

[canda]

For the uninitiated "landlubbers" above.... the reason that Star Cruise ships visit Phuket as a weekly "Port of Call" ( the nautical term for a ship either berthing at a wharf or "Anchoring Off" and tendering passengers ashore).... is simple, these ships Embark from the port of Singapore and sail through the Straits of Malacca, stopping at Port Klang for Kuala Lumpur and continuing to Langkawi, Malaysia, then to Phuket....then return... Phuket is in the Andaman Sea and that is where the mystery ends... as Koh Samui... IS NOT.. (being in the Bay or Gulf of Thailand, you may see ships call at Samui, quite possibly having called at Laem Chabang, the Port for Bangkok, as, you guessed it, Bangkok is in the Bay also. Until such times as a Canal could be built... eg...like the Suez or Panama, possibly connecting the the Andaman Sea to the Bay of Thailand, you won't see any of these ships itineraries visiting Samui. Another reason is Phuket has a true Deep Sea Harbour and an alternative fair weather anchorage and more than enough facilities for the international cruise market.

In regard to the idea of offering Tourists "day excursion packages" to go onboard cruise ships to be entertained to lunch, drinks and a look around, whilst the ships passengers are ashore ...is absurd.... go figure..... passengers pay several hundred dollars a day or more, for the right of being treated to some privacy and security whilst aboard, also, not all passengers "Go Ashore" at every port, could you imagine a paying passenger having to wait in line whilst the beer drinking riff raff eat their fill in the restaurants and buffets then use the pools and bars... Oh and then there are the security issues of actually allowing these people to wander around the confines of a ship unsupervised !

[robsamui]

For the uninitiated "landlubbers" above.... the reason that Star Cruise ships visit Phuket as a weekly "Port of Call" ( the nautical term for a ship either berthing at a wharf or "Anchoring Off" and tendering passengers ashore).... is simple, these ships Embark from the port of Singapore and sail through the Straits of Malacca, stopping at Port Klang for Kuala Lumpur and continuing to Langkawi, Malaysia, then to Phuket....then return... Phuket is in the Andaman Sea and that is where the mystery ends... as Koh Samui... IS NOT.. (being in the Bay or Gulf of Thailand, you may see ships call at Samui, quite possibly having called at Laem Chabang, the Port for Bangkok, as, you guessed it, Bangkok is in the Bay also. Until such times as a Canal could be built... eg...like the Suez or Panama, possibly connecting the the Andaman Sea to the Bay of Thailand, you won't see any of these ships itineraries visiting Samui. Another reason is Phuket has a true Deep Sea Harbour and an alternative fair weather anchorage and more than enough facilities for the international cruise market.

In regard to the idea of offering Tourists "day excursion packages" to go onboard cruise ships to be entertained to lunch, drinks and a look around, whilst the ships passengers are ashore ...is absurd.... go figure..... passengers pay several hundred dollars a day or more, for the right of being treated to some privacy and security whilst aboard, also, not all passengers "Go Ashore" at every port, could you imagine a paying passenger having to wait in line whilst the beer drinking riff raff eat their fill in the restaurants and buffets then use the pools and bars... Oh and then there are the security issues of actually allowing these people to wander around the confines of a ship unsupervised !

Great reply! Thanks!

And thanks to all the others who've popped-in some facts and figures!

R

[itishothere]

Oh and then there are the security issues of actually allowing these people to wander around the confines of a ship unsupervised !

And another issue I find interesting; presumably these passengers are in international waters and therefore need a passport and immigration facilities to enter Samui/Thailand? I guess they are a bit like being airside in an airport in this respect?

And I also assume that for someone to board the ship they too need a passport to 'exit' Thailand?

I can imagine all the riff raff queueing up to do their visa runs that way!

[canda]

Oh and then there are the security issues of actually allowing these people to wander around the confines of a ship unsupervised !

And another issue I find interesting; presumably these passengers are in international waters and therefore need a passport and immigration facilities to enter Samui/Thailand? I guess they are a bit like being airside in an airport in this respect?

And I also assume that for someone to board the ship they too need a passport to 'exit' Thailand?

I can imagine all the riff raff queueing up to do their visa runs that way!

[canda]

Some valid comments, itishothere.

Gone are the days when passengers were able to bring family and friends onboard for farewell parties before embarkation, sadly ,due to the threat of terrorism, security has become an even greater issue, even to the extent of shipping companies employing scuba teams to do underwater checks whilst ships are in port, passengers having to have digital photo swipe cards to gain shipboard access, the need for luggage and body scanning equipment etc.

I doubt these companies, nor for that matter their insurance underwriters, would welcome any additional resposibilities, the fact that the safety and well being of all passengers and crew lies with the Captain and his officers on a day to day basis it would be impossible to then keep watch on day trippers onboard.

A ship is like a mini united nations, not only passengers but crew hail from all over the world, and once onboard all passports are held by the Purser's office for the duration of the cruise, to go ashore at a port of call, all are given shore cards that act as a temporary passport to remain ashore whilst the ship is in port, imagine the passengers heading ashore being replaced by a ship load of day trippers coming onboard a ship at dockside, or with even more difficulty, tendering to a ship at anchor then having security checks, passport procedures and belongings checked just to have a couple of hours onboard.

Your reference to being "airside" must have some similarities, in regard to immigration and passport control, I'd assume the shipping company has to act under the countries immigration laws (and its maritime laws as well.)

All said, if it was to happen... it might well be a popular option for a "visa run"....(rather than sitting in a leaky longtail boat heading to Myanmar for a couple of hours).... Now, if only they could open the ship's casino whilst in port....No Contest... A SURE FIRE WINNER!!!!!

Canda.

[wasas]

wonder why this cruise ships don't organise excursions through local agencies with packages incl p/u from the hotel, inspection, guide, drinks or lunch....while the passengers are on tour on land.

There would be many, tourists and locals, interested, I guess, if proper advertised timely. These tourists, who would make such a cruise ship excursion, could be potential future costumers as well.

they book there day trips with the advisors on the ship, and the tour companies pick them up directly