Royal Caribbean has made a stunning move by introducing last-minute itineraries to Eden, where Ovation of the Seas will become the largest-ever ship to visit the port.
What was originally meant to be a cruise of sea days only, leaving on February 20, Ovation of the Seas will now port at Eden, which will be a huge economic boost for the town.
Furthermore, Anthem of the Seas, which is the same size as Ovation and set to visit Australia for the 2025/26 season, will visit Eden twice on cruises leaving October 31, 2025, and November 28, 2025.
This is particularly significant because Eden’s cruise port has recently completed modifications to allow the visits of larger ships. Vessels of up to 370 metres long will now be able to visit with the previous limit being 325 metres. Ovation of the Seas is 348 metres long, meaning it previously couldn’t have entered the Port of Eden.
The state government’s investment in the port will prove an instant success, with Royal Caribbean already rerouting three cruises to Eden. If these visits prove a success, they could become a more regular fixture for the cruise line, which would bring significant economic benefits to the town.
With CLIA’s figure stating that cruise passengers in port spend an average of $283 per day, this means the visit of Ovation of the Seas or Anthem of the Seas and their 4905 capacity could bring in up to $1,388,115 for the local economy in just one stop. Across three visits, this comes out to more than $4 million.
If you build it, will they come?
Australian regional cruising has been under the microscope lately, with the absorption of P&O cruises into Carnival Cruises leading to worries for regional Australian ports. However, the case of Eden appears to be proving that when the infrastructure is in place, big cruise ships will come and visit.
Therefore, perhaps if governments can put similar faith in local ports as the NSW government put in Eden to give it planning approval for expansion, we should see cruise lines such as Carnival Cruises and Royal Caribbean investing more in local ports.
Eden has already been celebrating the imminent arrival of Royal Princess, which will hold the title of the biggest ship to visit Eden until the arrival of Ovation of the Seas in February.
Minister for Transport Jo Haylen spoke excitedly of the developments for the port.
“This is the first of the many larger ships to come, Royal Princess brings with her thousands of passengers and crew ready to disembark and explore the Bega Valley.
“We know cruise passengers bring welcome dollars to the local economy, whether that’s here in Eden as they soak up the wonderful hospitality, or by joining shore excursions to immerse in the very best the Sapphire Coast has on offer.
“The arrival of the Royal Princess signals an exciting new era for regional cruises which will see a gradual increase in bigger ships not only this season but also for many future seasons ahead bringing enormous benefits to the region.”
Member for Bega Dr Michael Holland says the previous cruise season had huge economic benefits for NSW and he hopes this development will continue to grow.
“A record-breaking $4.41 billion was injected into the state’s economy during the last cruise season. This time last year, the Royal Princess would have been five metres too long to dock here in Eden, but thanks to the new modifications to the Port’s operations, Eden will see bigger ships and more frequent visits.
“Every cruise season, visiting international cruise passengers can spend up to $283 a day, according to CLIA, injecting millions into local economies like ours.”
What to do in Eden?
Eden and its adjacent Sapphire Coast are famous for their marine life and seafood. If you happen to be on a cruise to Eden between May and November, you should have a good shot at spotting their Humpback whales, often with their young calves in tow.
If you’re visiting out of season you can still learn about the whales and the renowned whale museum, which is a short walk from the museum.
There are also many coastal walks and viewpoints such as Rotary Park Lookout, Aslings Beach Rock Pool, and the Killer Whale Trail, a great walking route.
Available shore excursions often include gourmet trips to sample local oysters and wines, mini-cruises to Twofold Bay, kayaking tours on the Pambula River, or small-group wildlife and bushwalking tours.
Even if you don’t want to jump on an excursion, within a short walk, taxi, or bus ride of the marina are plenty of beaches, restaurants, and shops to make for a picturesque day in a lovely coastal town.
What lines and ships are visiting Eden this season?
A large variety of luxury, expeditions and larger ships are set to visit Eden over the coming season. Royal Princess and Ovation of the Seas are particularly significant as they are only able to visit due to the renovations, but a range of other ships will be coming through and delivering economic benefits as well.
View the full list below
- Royal Princess
- Silver Nova
- Silver Muse
- Disney Wonder
- Crown Princess
- Azamara Pursuit
- Disney Wonder
- Diamond Princess
- Seabourn Quest
- Norwegian Sun
- Oceania Regatta
- Viking Venus
- Viking Orion
- Azamara Onward
- Ovation of the Seas
- MSC Magnifica
- Celebrity Edge
