Brisbane cruise terminal marks milestone with 2 million passengers

   January 20, 2025 ,   Cruise Industry

The Port of Brisbane (Queensland Australia) marks a major milestone as passenger movements at the Brisbane International Cruise Terminal (BICT) surpassed 2 million, just two and a half years after its inauguration.

The facility, constructed at US$110 million, celebrated the achievement on Saturday, January 18th, with the arrival of P&O Australia’s ship Pacific Encounter.

This visit may be the vessel’s final call at its Brisbane homeport under the Pacific Encounter name, as Carnival Corporation plans to rebrand the ship as Carnival Encounter following the decision to phase out the P&O Australia brand in mid March 2025.

Peter Little (Carnival Corporation’s Country Manager) highlighted the company’s successful partnership with the BICT, emphasizing the terminal’s role in Queensland’s flourishing cruise industry. Little noted that the rebranding aligns with CCL-Carnival Cruise Line’s plans for fleet expansion, signaling continued year-round cruising operations from Brisbane.

The milestone underscores the strategic importance of the BICT, which opened in June 2022 after delays caused by the COVID crisis. Initially approved in 2017 and completed in 2020, the terminal has become a key asset in Queensland’s cruise tourism industry. Before its construction, vessels longer than 270 meters were forced to dock at Brisbane’s cargo terminals, leading many cruise operators to bypass the city. The terminal has since facilitated significant economic benefits, with each ship call estimated to contribute ~US$620,000 to the local economy.

Looking ahead, cruising is projected to generate US$700 million for Queensland over the next decade. For the 2024-2025 season alone, the port anticipates 150+ cruise calls from 13 different cruise lines, further solidifying Brisbane’s position as a premier cruise destination.