- A leading travel agency is launching a campaign to bring more cruises to Fremantle/Perth.
- Campaigners are petitioning for cruises to visit a range of ports throughout Western Australia, showcasing the destinations and injecting money into local economies.
- Government support will be crucial in realising the goals of the campaign.
A major Western Australian travel agency, Cruises From Fremantle, is leading the charge to bring cruising back to Fremantle.
While the campaign is still in its infancy, Tim Van Den Akker from Cruises From Fremantle and Travel Associates Australia has a vision of 10-night cruises out of Fremantle, visiting and supporting regional ports like the sparkling coastal cities of Albany, Busselton, Exmouth, and Broome.
Western Australia’s cruise industry was growing before the pandemic. Now, it is stagnant with major cruise lines visiting, rather than homeporting. From September to April in the 2025/26 cruise season, the port of Fremantle will see just 23 ships.
While more cruises could still be scheduled, this number is currently set to drop to just 14 ships in 2026/27.
The impact of the reduction in cruise visits is especially felt in smaller towns which derive economic benefit from the calls made by larger ships. Cruise Passenger, previously detailed how the town of Geraldton was experiencing millions in losses to the local economy as cruise ships cancelled visits to its port.
The vast majority of the ships that currently visit are smaller expedition and luxury ships, with occasional visits from larger Princess vessels like the Crown Princess and Coral Princess.
However, Van Den Akker believes that by demonstrating to cruise lines and the government that there’s a ready and waiting market for cruises in Perth and regional ports in WA, the industry can get ships coming to the state with more frequency.
Furthermore, he stresses that government support, such as reduced port fees or subsidies for cruise lines will be crucial in establishing WA as a premier cruise destination.
The first Facebook post for the campaign quickly gathered almost 500 comments and nearly 100 shares in a matter of days, as Western Australian cruisers threw their support behind the campaign.
The heavy loss of Pacific Explorer
Van Den Akker says the retirement of Pacific Explorer has left a gap in the market for WA cruise.
“Carnival’s decision to sell Pacific Explorer and retire the P&O Australia brand left WA with no local, affordable cruise options, which has created a significant gap in the market and has taken away a source of income from smaller towns.
“P&O’s withdrawal has had a significant impact on Fremantle and regional ports like Albany, Busselton, and Exmouth. These areas rely heavily on cruise tourism to drive their local economies. Without regular cruise itineraries, businesses—from restaurants to tour operators—feel the loss. For Fremantle itself, the reduced cruising options mean fewer tourists and limited exposure to WA’s unique offerings.”
Why WA cruisers want more options and how they’ll do it
Van Den Akker says Western Australians aren’t happy with having to fly across the country, just to get on a cruise. He says Fremantle needs to be re-established as a key port.
“Many WA cruisers now feel forced to fly to eastern ports like Sydney or Brisbane, which adds significant costs and travel time. There’s a clear need to re-establish Fremantle as a viable home port to make cruising accessible for local families and groups,” he said.
“I am actively working on increasing cruise options for Fremantle. While I haven’t been in direct contact with the state government yet, I’m hopeful that growing public support and strong community interest will entice a cruise line to reintroduce regular sailings from Fremantle.
“The next steps include continuing to build public interest and demonstrating to cruise lines that there’s a strong and ready market here in WA. If locals show demand by voicing their interest and booking available cruises, it could significantly influence decisions by operators.”
What’s the vision?
Van Den Akker has a varied idea of what he wishes to see in cruises out of Fremantle. This includes shorter cruises, rather than only large circumnavigations of Australia, and bringing back cruising to and from Bali. Furthermore, he hopes to attract larger ships.
These are some of his ideas:
- Short two to 10-night round trips to Albany, Busselton, Exmouth & Broome
- One-way and roundtrip cruises to/from Bali
- Themed cruises, such as music, comedy and family-oriented cruises
- Seasonal longer itineraries to destinations like the Kimberley or round-Australia voyages.
- Attracting major cruise lines like Royal Caribbean or the Carnival Corporation-owned lines such as Carnival Cruises, Princess Cruises, Holland America, Cunard, or more
Government cooperation will be crucial
Van Den Akker stresses that none of this will be possible without the government playing a crucial role in making Fremantle a more attractive option for cruise lines. Some of his suggestions include reducing port fees or subsidizing cruise operators.
“Government support is crucial to make Fremantle a more attractive home port. Incentives like reducing port fees or providing subsidies to cruise operators could help WA compete with ports on the East Coast. A collaborative approach involving tourism bodies, industry stakeholders, and local governments would be key to revitalising Fremantle’s cruise industry.”
WA cruisers and citizens throw their support behind the campaign
The sentiment of Western Australians has been instantly felt strongly in the initial stages of the campaign. They like cruising locally and they want more options available. Flights to the East Coast provide a huge financial barrier to those cruising out of the West Coast, with the cheapest flights generally averaging about $700 return from Perth to Sydney.
Cruiser Jules Tarot said: “We arrived at Fremantle port on the Queen Mary 2 this time last year. I refuse to fly to another state to board a cruise ship. If this ship can dock here, so can others. I will cruise from Fremantle on short or longer voyages which I know will be fully booked. No excuses, make it happen, please.”
Linda Smith: “Bring back Fremantle to Fremantle cruises both short and long (Asia and beyond). So many people don’t or can’t travel by air and embarkation/disembarkation in Fremantle is their only option.”
Other cruises like Linda Penfold look back nostalgically on Perth to Bali cruises.
“Went from Freo to Bali and back a few years ago. That was a great cruise. Would love to do that again. Sick of having to fly East, acommodation, and then cruise. Too costly for us from WA.”
Cruisers like Robert Harris are calling for shorter cruises to “feel recharged again”.
“Please bring back the short Cruises. They are so affordable and everybody loves them. Give people a break The cruises are amazing. Give us time away and feel recharged again.”
Cruiser Chantell Morgan is puzzled as to why short cruises were taken away in the first place, given their popularity.
“The short overnight cruises, weekend cruises, and themed local cruises were always booked out in advance. It never made sense why the big company pulled the pin.”
Passionate cruiser Mario Franchina puts a comprehensive summary of the situation, fondly remembering when Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV) used to operate out of Perth and outlining how the Western Australia industry can not only return to its glory days but exceed them
“I’ve done multiple cruises out of Fremantle terminal, and yes, while the terminal is a bit dated, it’s clean and in great condition considering its age. It’s such a shame that since CMV cruises disappeared, lines like Princess, P&O, and Royal Caribbean seem to have given up on Fremantle. Yes, COVID impacted cruising, but we have recovered from all of that, and I’ve been on multiple cruises since COVID—everything is pretty much back to normal.
“I’ve always wondered why Australia doesn’t embrace the ‘hop-on, hop-off’ cruise concept like Europe, where you could board in Fremantle and disembark in Adelaide, Sydney, or do a full round trip back to Fremantle. MSC has mastered this in Europe, and it’s a fantastic model that could work so well here. Imagine having MSC or another cruise line homeported in Fremantle offering these options!
“Another missed opportunity is more localized cruising. A cruise heading south down the WA coast with stops in smaller towns and then back to Fremantle, with the option to extend the trip north to places like Broome or Exmouth, would be incredible. It’s flexible, family-friendly, and would save WA families thousands on airfare.
“Beyond just the cruises themselves, the industry brings so much economic benefit—jobs, local suppliers, and maintenance opportunities. WA has the wealth and the demand, so why not take advantage of it? Fremantle deserves to be a vibrant cruising hub again!”
Loved the days when we had the old Sun Princess on the Fremantle to Singapore cruises. Nowadays all the cruises to Asia are from the Eastern States. Every cruise we bow take entails flights to and from Sydney. Great for tourism for the Eastern States but not for WA.
Miss cruises from Fremantle to Fremantle.It is not financially friendly to fly back from eastern states.
State government needs to bring train,bus & the cruise terminal together. The old terminal has done its job.
Build a new attractive terminal closer to the other transport hub. With future improvements to the surrounding area Fremantle has the making of again being the gateway to Australia
I most certainly support the return of cruise ships to the Port of Fremantle, which has historically been an important contributor to our local economy and tourism industry.
The pandemic brought unprecedented challenges, and our vibrant city port, like many others, has suffered significantly from the absence of cruise ships. It is now more crucial than ever that we take proactive steps to restore this vital part of our tourism sector.
To that end, I respectfully urge the state government to consider the implementation of incentives, such as subsidies or reduced port costs, to encourage cruise lines to return to Fremantle. Such measures would not only provide immediate economic relief but also signal our commitment to revitalizing our port and supporting the businesses and workers who rely on cruise tourism.
The benefits of re-establishing Fremantle as a premier cruise destination are numerous:
– **Economic Boost**: The influx of tourists will benefit local businesses, including restaurants, retail shops, and tour operators, leading to increased revenue and job creation.
– **Cultural Exchange**: Cruise visitors bring diverse cultures and perspectives, enriching our community and promoting cross-cultural understanding.
– **Tourism Promotion**: A thriving cruise port enhances our global reputation as a must-visit destination, attracting more visitors year-round.
By providing financial incentives to cruise lines, we can ensure that Fremantle is an attractive and competitive option for their itineraries. This will not only benefit the cruise industry but also deliver long-lasting positive impacts on our local economy and community.
I urge you to take swift and decisive action to support the return of cruise ships to Fremantle Port. Your leadership and commitment to revitalizing our tourism sector will make a significant difference in ensuring the prosperity and vibrancy of our city. Poi
Please do something about the port and keep cruises coming to Freo and return
The Govt said over a year ago they were upgrading ,obviously means nothing to them
It’s unfair that we rarely can cruise from Freo. It would be so well supported if cruise’s came back.
Please, look after WA.