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Australia’s cruise industry experienced a robust recovery in the season, with Sydney Harbour sailing ahead as New South Wales’ leading port of call for cruise ships. Sydney Harbour welcomed a surge in cruise ship visits in the 2024 financial year, with over *** vessels docking at its terminals, a notable rise from the previous year's approximately *** visits. This marked a significant recovery for cruise tourism in Australia's largest city, following years of disruption due to global travel restrictions. Sydney’s Overseas Passenger Terminal (OPT) remains the primary terminal for these passenger vessels, followed by White Bay Passenger Terminal (WBPT).

Australia’s cruise tourism recovery

The revival of cruise ship visits and increased passenger traffic in the and periods had a substantial economic impact on Australia’s cruise industry. In the 2024 financial year, the country’s cruise industry generated a total economic output exceeding *** billion Australian dollars, representing an almost ** percent increase from the previous year. This growth was reflected in passenger spending patterns, with accommodation emerging as the top expenditure category among cruise guests that year, followed by food and beverages.

Most visited Australian cruise ports and terminals

While Sydney remains the country’s premier cruise destination, other ports in New South Wales, including Port of Eden and Newcastle, also welcomed substantial cruise vessel entries in . Home to the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland is another state consistently recording high cruise ship entry volumes, with some of its busiest terminals including Brisbane International Cruise Terminal (BICT), Port of Airlie, Cairns Seaport, and Moreton Bay. Other state and territory capitals’ ports, such as Hobart, Melbourne, Adelaide, Darwin, and Perth (Fremantle), also have an enduring appeal among international and domestic cruise vacationers. This widespread distribution of cruise activity highlights the broad economic benefits of the industry across Australia.