Princess Cruises’ Diamond Princess heralds the beginning of the 2024-2025 cruise season for South Australia today. The ship, with its impressive carrying capacity of up to 2,794 passengers and 1,065 crew members, docked at Outer Harbor, making stops at Penneshaw on Kangaroo Island and Port Lincoln on the Eyre Peninsula, earlier in the week.
This inaugural docking marks the first of a significant 119 cruise and expedition ship visits slated for South Australia throughout the season.
Princess Cruises alone is scheduled to make 17 calls to the state this season, contributing to over $20 million in estimated total economic impacts.
The state’s diverse tourism regions will benefit economically as passengers participate in various onshore tours and experiences in locales such as Adelaide, Barossa, Adelaide Hills, Clare Valley, and Fleurieu Peninsula.
The cruise season, extending until June 2025, is expected to bring more than 241,000 passengers and crew to South Australian shores. Get on board the ship as it hits Aussie shores with over 20 first-time voyages are on the schedule, featuring prestigious operators like MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Hapag Lloyd Cruises, known for attracting high-yield visitors.
Ports of call this season include well-known destinations such as Adelaide, Kangaroo Island, and Port Lincoln. Additionally, expedition ships will explore remote coastal locations like Cape Donnington and Flinders Island in the Eyre Peninsula, American River on Kangaroo Island, along with Port MacDonnell and Robe on the Limestone Coast.
A significant highlight is the return of expedition cruise ships to Victor Harbor on the Fleurieu Peninsula, a sight not seen in nearly 15 years. Ponant Cruises and Coral Expeditions are scheduled to anchor in December and February respectively.
Reflecting on the growth trajectory, South Australia’s cruise sector has seen a 48% increase compared with pre-COVID levels. Recent data from the 2022-23 season showed a record $215 million injection into the state’s economy while supporting 704 jobs.
The season’s kickoff follows the successful hosting of the Australian Cruise Association Annual Conference 2024 in Adelaide last month. This event brought almost 160 leading cruise industry delegates to the state, with the establishment of the South Australian Cruise Attraction Working Group announced. This group includes representatives from the South Australian Tourism Commission, Flinders Ports, Department of Infrastructure and Transport, and key industry stakeholders, aiming to enhance the state’s appeal as a cruise destination and expand the variety of cruise lines visiting.
Minister for Tourism, Zoe Bettison, commented on the season’s launch, emphasising the economic and social benefits it brings.
“It is a shipshape day to welcome back South Australia’s multi-million-dollar cruise industry. More than 20 maiden cruise ship visits are scheduled this season, which reflects our proactive approach to attracting new itineraries and vessels.”
She added, “Our engagement at various levels continues to ensure South Australia is a featured destination on the itineraries of global cruise lines. Hosting last month’s cruise conference was invaluable for promoting our state, despite some challenges that the cruise sector faces nationally. We remain focused on expanding the number and variety of cruise lines and ships that bring visitors to our shores.”
With a promising season ahead, the state anticipates increased economic activity and enriched cultural exchanges as passengers and crew explore the scenic and diverse offerings of South Australia.
Princess Cruises’ Diamond Princess
When: 2024/25 Cruise season
Where: Port Adelaide Passenger Terminal, 16 Oliver Rogers Rd, North Haven SA 5018
For more information, click here.
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