Captain Cook Cruises (Australia)
{{Short description|Australian cruise operator}}
{{distinguish|Captain Cook Cruises (Western Australia)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2015}}
{{Use Australian English|date=June 2015}}
{{Infobox company
|name = Captain Cook Cruises
|logo = File:CaptainCookCruisesLogo.jpg
|caption =
|type =
|genre =
|fate =
|predecessor =
|successor =
|foundation = 26 January 1970
|founder = Trevor Haworth
|defunct =
|location = Darling Harbour
|location_city = Sydney
|location_country = Australia
|area_served = Sydney Harbour
|key_people =
|industry =
|products =
|services = Restaurant, river/harbour cruise & ferry operator
|revenue =
|operating_income =
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|aum =
|assets =
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|owner =
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|parent = SeaLink Travel Group
|divisions =
|subsid =
|homepage = [https://www.captaincook.com.au/ www.captaincook.com.au]}}
Captain Cook Cruises is an Australian cruise operator. As of January 2018, the company operated 21 vessels on Sydney Harbour, providing a range of Government contracted and non-contracted Ferry services, Sightseeing, Dining and Charter Cruises.
History
Captain Cook Cruises commenced operating on 26 January 1970 on Port Jackson, Sydney with the Captain Cook, a modified 1943 Fairmile B motor launch. The business was founded by Trevor Haworth taking its name from James Cook who led the first European contact with the East Coast of Australia in 1770.{{cite book|last=Goldsack|first=Robert|title=A Silver Jubilee: Captain Cook Cruises|date=1995|publisher=Fendwave|location=Sydney|isbn=0-646-19412-7}}[http://www.smh.com.au/comment/obituaries/trevor-haworth-brought-the-pleasures-of-the-harbour-to-all-20140410-zqsxc.html Trevor Haworth 1931-2014 Otituary] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819210128/http://www.smh.com.au/comment/obituaries/trevor-haworth-brought-the-pleasures-of-the-harbour-to-all-20140410-zqsxc.html |date=19 August 2016 }} Sydney Morning Herald 10 April 2014
Initially operating charters, on 1 May 1970 regular cruises began operating from Circular Quay to Middle Harbour. In November 1971 a second cruise commenced via the Lane Cove and Parramatta Rivers as far as the Gladesville Bridge.
In August 1975, the custom-built Captain Cook II built by Carrington Slipways, Tomago was commissioned. In August 1978, the Lady Geradline was built by Millkraft Shipyards, Brisbane. This was followed by City of Sydney built by Sims Engineering, Port Chalmers in 1981.{{cite book|last1=Andrews|first1=Graeme|title=Ferries of Sydney|date=1994|publisher=Sydney University Press|location=Sydney|isbn=0-424002-02-7|pages=177–179}} In 1978 the original Northbridge marina was sold with a new facility purchased in Neutral Bay.File:Captain Cook 2.jpgIn May 1984, the John Cadman Cruising Restaurant business was purchased. In 1987, Captain Cook Cruises began operating cruises on the Hawkesbury River and Pittwater with the Lady Hawkesbury.{{cite book|last1=Andrews|first1=Graeme|title=Ferries of Sydney|date=1994|publisher=Sydney University Press|location=Sydney|isbn=0-424002-02-7|pages=201–202}} In November 1987, the Hegarty Ferries business was purchased from Stannard Bros, primarily to give Captain Cook Cruises exclusive access to wharf 6 at Circular Quay. It operated services to Jeffrey Street, Milsons Point and McMahons Point. In May 1988, the business of Murray River Developments was purchased with the Murray River Queen and Murray Princess on the Murray River and the Brisbane Explorer on the Brisbane River.
In 1991, operations began on the Great Barrier Reef in a joint venture with Qantas.[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/120872924 Luxury cruiser for Qld] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180401075308/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/120872924 |date=1 April 2018 }} Canberra Times 17 January 1990 page 4 The {{MV|Reef Endeavour}} was ordered, however problems during its construction resulted in the Lady Hawkesbury being transferred from the Hawkesbury River to the Great Barrier Reef as the Reef Escape in July 1992. In turn the Brisbane Explorer was transferred to the Hawkesbury as the Hawkesbury Explorer II. The Reef Endeavour eventually entered service in 1995.
In 1992, the company began operations in Fiji, purchasing Tivua Island, located 18 km off the coast of Port Denarau. Sailing Day Cruises were commenced to the island. Reef Escape was relocated to Fiji from the Great Barrier Reef in 1995 and began accommodated cruises through the Yasawa and Mamanuca Islands {{Citation needed|date=February 2023}}.
On 7 January 2003, the former Hegarty routes ceased.[http://www.afloat.com.au/images/magazine-articles/MAGAZINE/2003/0203/0203_GA_Watermen24.pdf Hegarty's ferry service] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150331055819/http://afloat.com.au/images/magazine-articles/MAGAZINE/2003/0203/0203_GA_Watermen24.pdf |date=31 March 2015 }} Afloat Magazine February 2003 In November 2005 Matilda Cruises was acquired from Amalgamated Holdings Limited (now Event Hospitality and Entertainment), with 11 vessels.[http://www.matilda.com.au/dir076/matilda.nsf/Pages/About+Us~About%20Us Introducing Matilda Cruises] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070208155839/http://www.matilda.com.au/dir076/matilda.nsf/Pages/About+Us~About%20Us# |date=8 February 2007 }} Matilda Cruises[https://web.archive.org/web/20180331132442/http://registers.accc.gov.au/content/item.phtml?itemId=751209&nodeId=04045410fc7598c2015d28e99fe8482e&fn=Quay+Cruises+Pty+Ltd's+proposed+acquisition+of+assets+of+Matilda+Cruises+-+3+November+2005+-+sydney+harbour+cruise.pdf Quay Cruises Pty Ltd proposed acquisition of assets of Matilda Cruises Pty Ltd] Australian Competition & Consumer Commission 3 November 2005 In 2011, Captain Cook Cruises was purchased by the SeaLink Travel Group.[http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-08-25/sealink-captain-cook-cruises/2855326 SeaLink buys Capt Cook Cruises] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161030185622/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-08-25/sealink-captain-cook-cruises/2855326 |date=30 October 2016 }} ABC News 25 August 2011[https://archive.today/20141203022835/http://www.travelweekly.com.au/news/sealink-acquires-captain-cook-cruises SeaLink acquires Captain Cook Cruises] Travel Weekly 25 August 2011[http://www.sealinktravelgroup.com.au/uploads/SeaLink_Travel_Group_Prospectus_(web).pdf Prospectus] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141107003413/http://www.sealinktravelgroup.com.au/uploads/SeaLink_Travel_Group_Prospectus_%28web%29.pdf |date=7 November 2014 }} SeaLink Travel Group 2013
Sydney
=Network=
File:Jillian, Circular Quay, 2017 (01).jpg, 2017]]
File:Sydney 2000, Circular Quay, 2017 (02).jpg
File:Cockle Bay, Circular Quay, 2018 (01).jpg
Captain Cook Cruises operate ferry services connecting Sydney Harbour, Darling Harbour, Barangaroo, Circular Quay, Watsons Bay, Manly, the Lane Cove River and White Bay.
The Shark Island and Zoo Express are part of the Hop On Hop Off (HOHO) services which also call at Watsons Bay and Manly. These services will resume during the school holidays on 19 December 2020 after the COVID-19 Pandemic.[https://www.captaincook.com.au/covid-19/ Cruise and Ferry Update] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421010905/https://www.captaincook.com.au/covid-19/ |date=21 April 2021 }} Captain Cook Cruises
Resumption dates for the City Loop (Darling Harbour/Barangaroo), Luna Park, and Fort Denison services are not yet known.[https://www.captaincook.com.au/timetables/ Timetables - Ferries Commuter | Tourist - Hop On Hop Off Ferry Services] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210620160615/https://www.captaincook.com.au/timetables/ |date=20 June 2021 }} Captain Cook Cruises Accessed 6 December 2020
- City Loop
:* Luna Park
- Shark Island
:*Circular Quay West
:* Shark Island
:*Circular Quay West
:* Taronga Zoo
- White Bay Only operates on days that there are cruise liners at White Bay. So will not resume until the cruise terminal reopens.
:*Darling Harbour
:*White Bay
:*A commuter service between Watsons Bay and Circular Quay commenced on 23 March 2015.[http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/city-east/watsons-bay-finally-gets-a-commuter-ferry-as-captain-cook-cruises-launches-private-service/story-fngr8h22-1227280790163 Watsons Bay finally gets a commuter ferry as Captain Cook Cruises launches private service] Wentworth Courier 27 March 2015
:*Circular Quay West
:* Kirribilli
:* Birchgrove
:*Bay Street, Greenwich
:* Northwood
:* Longueville
:*Alexandra Street, Hunters Hill
:* St Ignatius' College, Riverview
==Vessels==
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category-inline|Captain Cook Cruises}}
{{List of public transport operators in Sydney|state=collapsed}}
Category:Ferry companies of Australia
Category:1970 establishments in Australia