Over 100 cruise and expedition ships are expected to visit Darwin this season with a total passenger capacity of 60,000 cruisers.
Royal Caribbean cruise ship Brilliance of the Seas is cruising into Darwin Port today on its maiden voyage with over 2,540 passengers and around 840 crew for an overnight visit.
The ship is due to sail in at 11am today with passengers greeted by a musical performance, local tourism ambassadors, provision of free shuttle buses into Darwin city and more entertainment in Raintree Park.
With the ship in Darwin for an overnight stay, departing at 6.30pm Friday 23 February, visitors will have time to explore a little further afield with many visitors booked on tours to Litchfield ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Park, as well as jumping crocs, scenic flights and military history tours.
Brilliance of the Seas current cruise is 16 days, one-way from Sydney to Fremantle with the ship sailing in to Darwin from Cairns.
To view upcoming cruise ship arrivals head to https://portinfo.darwinport.com.au/webx/# or to learn more about the NT Cruise Tourism Strategy visit tourismnt.com.au/research-strategies
Quotes to attribute to Minister for Tourism and Hospitality Joel Bowden:
“Ahoy to all of the passengers and crew of Brilliance of the Seas, we are thrilled with your arrival to Darwin and hope you enjoy your time exploring our tropical city and beyond.
“The cruise ship industry makes a significant contribution to the local economy with passengers and crew spending across the hospitality, retail and tourism sectors.
“During the 2023-24 cruise season we are expecting the cruise ship industry to inject $65 million to the Territory’s economy, creating jobs and providing a welcome boost to local tour operators, retailers and the hospitality industry.