Eden (NSW Australia) is preparing for a bumper season with almost double the number of cruise ships arriving in the next 12 months in comparison with the previous best year in 2019.
According to Debbie Meers of Cruise Eden, 44 ships had been scheduled to visit Eden with the first two arriving on July 12 and August 7, arriving from Brisbane.
Meers said the cruise season officially started in September "and then keeps building". There would be a mix of vessels too - some very small ships, expedition ships like Caledonian Sky, and 17 ships that would be making their maiden calls.
But it has been a while between vessels - with the last one, Cunard's Queen Elizabeth, on March 10, 2020 - and now the port and surrounding areas had to gear up again for a bigger market than they have earlier experienced.
Meers said they were working on a number of things such as helping tour suppliers.
"On June 28 there is a masterclass for people interested in putting together tours for cruise passengers. Ground handlers Abercombie and Kent will be coming, they are the people that pick up tours and sell them to the cruise lines."