Newcastle Targets Record 30,000 Cruise Passengers in 2026/27
Ships generally berth at Carrington's Channel Berth, where shuttle buses link passengers to Newcastle's central business district and 30 new Welcome Volunteers will assist arrivals.
Newcastle, New South Wales, expects a record 30,000 cruise passengers during its 2026/27 season, with 18 ships scheduled to arrive through April 2027. Crown Princess opened the season on Thursday. The ship brought more than 3,000 passengers to the city, 150 kilometres north of Sydney.
The forecast compares with nine cruise ships and almost 10,000 passengers in the 2024/25 season. An earlier high-volume season, 2018/19, brought 16 ships and more than 29,000 passengers, putting the new passenger projection just above that benchmark.
Port Authority of New South Wales chief executive officer John McKenna acknowledged that schedules vary between seasons. “Over the longer term, cruise visitation to Newcastle has increased steadily by around 13% on average year-on-year over the past decade,” he said.
Destination Sydney Surrounds North general manager Glenn Caldwell estimated that cruise activity contributes about A$20 million annually to the local economy. He said ship calls also create opportunities to encourage subsequent visits.
Six ships scheduled for first visits
The season includes maiden calls by Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Spirit, Silversea Cruises’ Silver Moon and Oceania Cruises’ Riviera. Costa Cruises’ Costa Deliziosa, Phoenix Reisen’s Amera and P&O Cruises’ Arcadia are also scheduled to visit Newcastle for the first time.
McKenna said the port authority’s role includes safely piloting visiting vessels into the harbour while supporting government and industry work to develop Newcastle as a cruise destination.
Cruise ships generally use the Channel Berth at Carrington, where shuttle buses connect passengers with Newcastle’s central business district.
Regional partnership supports the visitor welcome
The Newcastle Cruise Memorandum of Understanding brings together the port authority, Destination Sydney Surrounds North, Newcastle Tourism Industry Group and seven local councils. The partnership promotes the region and develops tourism offerings for cruise visitors.
“A cruise visit is often a traveller’s first taste of Newcastle and the surrounding regions,” Caldwell said. He also reported strongly positive findings from recent passenger surveys and growing visitor interest in experiences along the coast and farther inland.
The city’s Welcome Volunteers help passengers find attractions, experiences and local businesses, according to Newcastle Tourism Industry Group secretary Stewart Ford. With record passenger numbers expected, he said, funding through the port authority’s Community Grants Program “has helped us recruit 30 new volunteers”. The group has also refreshed its signage and supplied new tourist maps to help arriving passengers explore Newcastle and the surrounding region.
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