TasPorts (Tasmania) will soon welcome its first cruise ships for 2022-2023 season, with P&O Australia's Pacific Explorer (scheduled to visit Port Hobart) and Princess Cruises' Coral Princess expected at Port Burnie on November 5.
Pacific Explorer arrives in Hobart on October 25, following a voyage from Sydney (NSW Australia). Pacific Explorer will be the first international cruise vessel to visit the port since early 2020.
According to Anthony Donald (TasPorts' CEO), TasPorts supported the return of cruisers to Tasmania due to the economic benefits for local tourism operators and travel-related businesses.
He said that independent economic research confirmed that the contribution of a single medium-sized cruise ship visit to the state was $650,000+ per visit.
“TasPorts has been preparing for their return for some time, working closely with cruise ship companies, local tourism operators and federal and Tasmanian government departments to prepare for a safe return of cruise ships to Tasmania.”
~150 cruise ship calls are lined up for ports in Tasmania during the upcoming cruise season.
Star Breeze will be the first cruise ship to call at the Port of Bell Bay on November 29.
TasPorts facilitates cruise ship calls around Tasmania, supporting the regional dispersal of travelers and the benefits associated with the visits.
International cruise ships visiting the state are still required to meet all state public health requirements.
TasPorts will continue to implement the policy, introduced back in 2019, that limits the berthing of cruise ships at the same time in Hobart to 2.
Forward bookings through to March 2026 showed TasPorts had no cruise ship bookings for ships that can carry 5000+ passengers.
RCI-Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas are the largest passenger ships (capable of carrying ~4000 passengers) booked to visit Hobart this season.