Newcastle adds east end shuttle for upcoming cruise season
The Passenger Experience Project will connect cruise visitors with local businesses during a season City of Newcastle expects to contribute $7 million to the local economy.
City of Newcastle said Crown Princess was the first of 18 cruise ships scheduled to visit Newcastle from October 2026 through April 2027. More than 35,000 tourists would be invited to experience the city’s east end through the initiative.
The project provides a 24-seat shuttle bus loop every 20 minutes from the Visitor Information Centre to the corner of Hunter and Watt Street. Around 20 local businesses are participating and offering deals to cruise passengers.
East End Collective chair Lukas Thodas said Destination NSW data showed average onshore spending of $197 per cruise passenger. He said the shuttle would carry visitors to the east end, creating a coordinated way for businesses to pursue that spending.
The project was developed in consultation with local precinct businesses, the Newcastle Visitor Centre, Destination NSW, the Newcastle Tourism Industry Group and City of Newcastle. It was one of 16 projects sharing $925,000 through the latest round of the city’s Special Business Rates program.