THE BRISBANE International Cruise Terminal has welcomed 138 cruise ship visits since opening one year ago.
Port of Brisbane is celebrating the terminal’s first 12 months of operation; it reached the one-year milestone on 2 June 2023.
The $177-million development was completed in 2020, but its official opening was put on hold until pandemic restrictions lifted last year. Pacific Explorer was the first cruise ship ever to call the terminal.
Port of Brisbane CEO Neil Stephens said the terminal has welcomed almost 650,000 passengers since then, enabling a “remarkable” restart for cruising in Brisbane.
“It’s extraordinary when you cast your mind back to when cruising was paused and the facility was instead a Queensland government vaccination hub.
“This past year, 12 different cruise lines have called into Brisbane, with three choosing to homeport a vessel there throughout the busy summer months.
“And, with every vessel call contributing almost $1 million in economic benefits for Queensland, it’s also injected a much-needed boost into the state’s economy post-Covid.
“The last 12 months have been a huge team effort with our cruise line customers and the many partners that work hard every day to ensure a seamless experience for passengers. I want to thank all involved in making the cruise terminal such a success for the city.”
Port of Brisbane said 195 cruise ship visits are locked in for the upcoming cruise season, which runs from October 2023 until September 2024.
