South Australia’s cruise industry is shipshape with last year’s season setting an all-time high visitor expenditure, ahead of a record 2023-24 season launching tomorrow, 25 October.

An economic impact assessment jointly commissioned by Cruise Lines International Association and the Australian Cruise Association shows the 2022-23 cruise season injected a record high $215 million into South Australia’s economy and supported 704 jobs.

Last season welcomed a record 103 full and expedition ship visits to the state, carrying more than 227,900 passengers and crew on board. The upcoming season expects a new high, with 124 visits locked in.

The 2022-23 results well surpass the state’s previous record season in 2018-19, which generated $145 million with 82 ship visits.

More than 26,000 shore excursions were taken during the season, boosting visitation to destinations including Adelaide, Kangaroo Island, and Port Lincoln, as well as visits to expedition landing sites or anchorages in unique and remote coastal locations.

Kangaroo Island hosted the most shore excursions in the state, with 11,500 passengers visiting the region.

Princess Cruises’ Grand Princess will arrive at Kangaroo Island tomorrow, 25 October, to launch the new season before setting sail for Adelaide’s Outer Harbor terminal on 26 October. 

The 124 scheduled cruise ship visits are expected to bring a capacity of 234,000 passengers and crew to SA this summer.

Tourism Minister Zoe Bettison says

Joel Katz, Managing Director in Australasia, CLIA, says the economic impact from cruise tourism last financial year was the highest ever recorded in Australia. 

“Cruising returned to Australia much later than other parts of the world, but the ships have been resoundingly welcomed by cruise fans who have been heading back to sea in huge numbers.