Six cruise ships will sail into Corio Bay this summer, bringing a combined estimated economic benefit of $1.65 million to Greater Geelong and The Bellarine.
This will be the first time since 6 March 2020 that Geelong has welcomed cruise ships to its shores.
Three of these calls will be inaugural visits for the cruise lines and two will be maiden voyages (Viking’s Neptune and Mars).
“Tourism is such an important part of our local economy and one that’s been hit incredibly hard over the past few years,” Greater Geelong Mayor Peter Murrihy said.
“It’s extremely promising to see these cruise lines returning to Geelong – some of which will be coming from as far as America.”
A combined total of 5,090 passengers and 2,572 crew will be aboard the six ships, which sail to the region between 1 January to 13 February 2023.
The incoming cruise ships will moor in Corio Bay, with the Royal Geelong Yacht Club helping to bring passengers ashore by providing access to their facilities to then explore the region.
Cruise visit benefits are felt throughout Geelong and The Bellarine, as passengers can explore the broader region with a range of shore excursions tapping into our wine, culture, and nature experiences.
“We’re looking forward to seeing ships in the bay once again and welcoming thousands of passengers ashore to enjoy the exceptional products and experiences our region offers,” Tourism Greater Geelong and The Bellarine Executive Director Brett Ince said.
“We’ll be working hard from our end to make sure passengers stay as long as possible in our region and that they make the most of their time in our corner of the world.”
As reported in the Australian Cruise Associations Annual Report 2021-22, confidence and the desire to sail is now higher than levels experienced pre-pandemic. It is expected that the industry will continue to grow 4-5% per annum with Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) predicting cruise passengers will hit 34.5 million by 2026.
Five cruise visits are already booked to moor in Geelong for the 2023-24 summer season.
The return of cruise ships to the region overlaps with the Spirit of Tasmania’s move to Geelong, with its first sailing to arrive at the new terminal next Sunday 23 October 2022.
It’s estimated the Spirit of Tasmania’s move will increase tourism expenditure by $57.3 million in Geelong.
“Significant investment in our north-facing bay and region has seen Geelong really come into its own as a strong port city and destination of choice,” Mr Ince said.
“There’s a real buzz among the industry for the Spirit of Tasmania, return of cruise ships to our bay and what we’re expecting will be the biggest summer we’ve seen in recent years.”
