Cruising is soon to return to South Australia, with 101 cruises scheduled for the upcoming season, topping the 82 cruises that came down south over the 2018/19 season. In the 2018/2019 season the sector infected $145 million into the State’s economy, meaning this number will hopefully climb.
The first ship to port will be Coral Princess on September 17, with the 2000 passengers stopping at Adelaide, Port Lincoln and Penneshaw.
Other arriving ships include Pacific Explorer, Ovation of the Seas and Cunard’s Queen Mary II.
South Australia has been in heavy preparation for the cruise season, working with SA Health and the cruise industry on safety protocols, as well as upgrading the passenger terminal at Outer Harbour.
Premier of South Australia Zoe Bettison says: “The return of cruising signals a major step forward for the recovery of South Australia’s visitor economy. It’s clear South Australia has remained a destination of choice for cruise lines, with more cruises set for our shores than we saw pre-COVID.
“This means more visitors to SA, more expenditure, and more jobs for locals – with on-shore tours spreading the benefits from the city to the Barossa, Adelaide Hills, Fleurieu and Eyre Peninsulas, Kangaroo Island, and beyond.”
Flinders Port Holdings CEO Stewart Lammin says he’s hoping the new port will make cruising to Adelaide smoother than ever.
“In collaboration with SATC, we took the time during Covid to significantly upgrade the passenger terminal here at Port Adelaide to ensure passengers have a smooth transit at the start and end of their holiday.
“The port itself is also fully geared up to manage the full range of cruise liners visiting Australian waters during the next season and we look forward to facilitating the inaugural cruise on 17 September.”
