Welcome party! Three cheers to the 180 volunteers who greeted 785,000 cruisers in NSW

• Almost 180 NSW Cruise Ambassadors are being recognised during National Volunteer Week.
• The volunteers gave about 2000 hours of their time to welcome cruise passengers across Sydney, Newcastle and Eden this season.
• They welcomed more than 785,000 passengers ashore in Sydney, Newcastle and Eden.

They are the face of a destination, often the first person a cruise passenger will meet from the port they’ve just arrived in. And in the cruise industry, first impressions count.

That’s why almost 180 NSW Cruise Ambassadors are being recognised during National Volunteer Week for contributing almost 2000 hours of their time this past cruise season to welcome more than 785,000 passengers ashore in Sydney, Newcastle and Eden.

When a cruise ship arrives in port, it is the cruise ambassadors who provide a warm Aussie welcome to passengers.

They help with direction to transport and accommodation, give tips for the best places for food and drinks, recommend “must-do” and “can’t miss” local experiences and make itinerary stops memorable for all the right reasons

Port Authority of NSW General Manager Cruise Martin Bidgood said National Volunteer Week was an opportunity to not just acknowledge the hard work of our Cruise Ambassadors but to recognise the massive difference it makes to the overall experience for tourists visiting NSW.

“The Ambassadors provide thousands of cruising visitors to our cities and towns with the kind of personal welcome that can absolutely shape their overall experience into something very special,” Mr Bidgood said. “Many of our Cruise Ambassadors are often here for an early start before ships arrive, ready to welcome the arriving passengers with a smile and a helping hand.

“If you’ve ever wondered who the friendly faces in bright red coats are around Sydney, Newcastle or at the Port of Eden, they’re the wonderful volunteers who share their local knowledge, give their time generously, and help visitors feel at home the moment they arrive.”

City of Sydney Cruise Ambassador Michael said a lifelong love of ships and cruising led him to become a volunteer three years ago.

“I went on my first cruise when I was 11 years old, with my parents,” he said.

“That cruise departed from the Overseas Passenger Terminal, where I now meet passengers from around the world.”

“The best part of volunteering is meeting people and working with other ambassadors. You meet visitors from all over the world, some who speak English, and some who don’t – which can make it quite fun trying to communicate with each other,” Michael says.

In NSW, the Cruise Ambassador programs operate in partnership with the City of Sydney, Bega Valley Shire Council, Cruise Eden and the Newcastle Tourism Industry.

The recognition of NSW’s cruise ambassadors comes as state governments around the country acknowledge how vital a good port welcome is to the commercial success of cruise tourism. For instance Western Australia’s 10-year Cruise Tourism Strategic Plan names volunteer and guide training as a formal strategic initiative as one of it’s pillars to grow the sector from $273 million to as much as $620 million by 2033.