Jane Campbell

Review of Starship Sydney & The Pontoon

On board for Australia Day 2019 Lunch Cruise with ...

On board for Australia Day 2019 Lunch Cruise with a group of 15 people. There must have been 600+ people on board (and probably closer to 900).....far too many for it to be comfortable. The air conditioning, although working, was almost useless against all that body heat.....and it was such a hot day - around 35 degrees. The lower deck was bearable but the mid level deck was hot as hell. The food was very disappointing.....fish n chips, prawns, Asian salad bowl, meat pies (of which I didn t see any). The only dessert was a single serve ice cream cone for $5.00! Where was the cold lamb and other cold meats? Where were the beautiful salads? Where were the lamingtons? Where were the pavlovas? Where were the cheesecakes? All these are typically Australian foods....which everyone expects on Australia Day, but they were nowhere to be seen. Fish n chips are English. Asian salad is Asian. The only Aussie food on offer were the prawns, but at $38.00 for 12 they were hugely overpriced. The website stated there would be an Aussie BBQ but, obviously, that never eventuated. And don t get me started on the seating! Four of my group stood in the 35 degree heat on the dock in readiness to board just to secure two tables and 15 chairs to seat us all. AND they were abused by another guest for having done so! There were not enough tables and chairs for all the guests.....some people had to sit on benches around the perimeter of the boat without any tables at all. On top of all this, before we even boarded, we were made to stand on the dock in the heat because they wouldn t allow us to board. Other boats allowed their guests to board as they arrived and so avoided the pushing and shoving that occurred to board the Starship. AND NOW.....having said all this, I know you guys can do better. This is the third Australia Day Lunch Cruise on the Starship that I have been on and it is BY FAR the worst. PLEASE....for all our sakes.....go back to how you used to conduct the cruise. Reserved tables. Fewer people. MUCH better food (buffet). It seems as though the owners are just making a cash grab - taking advantage of the occasion and not caring about overcrowding what is, in my opinion, the best events boat on Sydney Harbour.