More cruise liners set course for Cairns
MORE than 40 cruise liners bringing more than 40,000 passengers will visit the Far North this year.
It is estimated the passengers and crew will pour more than $10 million into the region’s economy during the visits.
A Cruise Down Under report last year estimated $9.8 million was spent in the Far North by passengers and crew when 38 ships visited.
There are 43 scheduled visits this year with three vessels, the Seabourn Odyssey, the Saga Ruby and the Princess Danae making their maiden voyages.
Tourism Tropical North Queensland chief executive officer Rob Giason said the number of cruise ships coming to the region remained steady but the exact value to the economy needed to be re-evaluated. He said current figures were out of date and new research needed to be undertaken to ascertain how much was spent while each ship was docked or moored in the region.
"At the moment, it is estimated at $12 million," Mr Giason said.
He said passengers reported a high satisfaction level about Cairns.
Mr Giason said the new cruise ship terminal would increase that satisfaction level and make their arrival more
welcoming.
The Pacific Dawn will make eight visits, anchoring off Yorkeys Knob and Port Douglas as will the Pacific Jewell for two stopovers. The Rhapsody of the Seas will be at the Port of Cairns seven times as well as
anchoring off Port Douglas twice.
March is the busiest month with seven ships mooring at Cairns and one each off Yorkeys Knob and Port Douglas.
The Nautica, a 386-passenger vessel, was the first of the new year, arriving on New Year’s Day. The next is the arrival of Silver Whisper with 188 passenger today.
Royal Caribbean International’s 2435-passenger Rhapsody of the Seas has been operating its third annual cruise program from Sydney since October.
It will continue until April 12 when the 78,491 tonne ship sails to Vancouver for the Alaska cruise season.
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On the way: More cruise liners are set to dock in Cairns in 2010.
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