Crown Princess opens record Newcastle cruise season
The 290-metre ship is the first of 18 cruise vessels scheduled to call between October and April.
Crown Princess has docked in Newcastle Harbour, officially beginning the region’s cruise season. The ship was reported to be carrying more than 3,000 passengers and 1,200 crew.
The vessel is the first of a record 18 cruise ships scheduled to visit Newcastle between October and April. More than 30,000 cruise tourists are expected to arrive in the region during the season, with local coastal attractions and Hunter Valley wineries among the available destinations.
Port Authority of NSW chief executive John McKenna described the schedule as Newcastle’s biggest cruise season on record, while noting that the number of ship visits naturally varies from year to year.
Destination Sydney Surrounds North General Manager Glenn Caldwell said results from the Cruise Newcastle 2025-26 Passenger Survey indicated that about four in five passengers would return to Newcastle and surrounding areas. Caldwell also said cruise activity was estimated to contribute around $20 million to the local economy annually.
Regional cruise growth is supported by the Newcastle Cruise Memorandum of Understanding, which includes the Port Authority, Destination Sydney Surrounds North, Newcastle Tourism Industry Group and seven local councils.