Townsville North Queensland is set to experience its biggest cruise fortnight on record, with six ships set to dock into the Port of Townsville over the last two weeks in January; contributing to a record total of 22 ships across the season.
In a two-week period, the city will welcome over 7,500 passengers and 3,845 crew, marking the busiest period in the city’s cruise history, and a milestone which will bring in the region’s largest-ever ships – the Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth and P&O’s Pacific Encounter.
Results from the 2023-24 cruise season has seen impressive visitor satisfaction results, with passengers rating their experiences in Townsville North Queensland an exceptional 4.8 out of 5, based on surveys completed by almost 300 cruise guests.
Townsville Enterprise Director Visitor Economy and Marketing, Lisa Woolfe said our Tourism Ambassadors greet guests upon arrival into the city and ask about their experiences as they board buses back to the ship at the end of their day exploring the region’s many tourism attractions.
“The feedback we’ve received from passengers has been overwhelmingly positive, and this is a testament to the breadth of experiences on offer right across our region, Ms Woolfe said.
“On average, over 50-70% of cruise passengers from the most recent arrivals chose to explore the far reaches of our region on pre-arranged tours to city icons and attractions including the Great Barrier Reef, Magnetic Island, Billabong Sanctuary, Paluma Rainforest, and Mungalla Aboriginal Tours; with those who chose to be self-guided ranking our Strand foreshore and Magnetic Island as exceptional attractions.”
“Our dedicated team of Volunteer Tourism Ambassadors welcome cruise passengers as they arrive and return to the ship, these passengers give such high praise for the region, and this is something we should be really proud of.”
Townsville Acting Mayor Ann-Maree Greaney said Townsville’s ECO Destination Certification meant the city was well-positioned as a significant cruise ship destination.
“Townsville achieved ECO Destination certification at the nature tourism level in 2024, showcasing the region’s commitment to sustainability and driving green business. This certification, along with regular meetings of the Port of Townsville’s Cruise Ship Committee, helps position Townsville as a city that provides cruise passengers with many things to do, see and experience during their time in Townsville,” Cr Greaney said.
“Our local businesses, including those that offer nature tourism experiences, will feel the economic benefit of having thousands of passengers and crew members exploring our city. I hope our visitors have the opportunity to experience our beaches, our bushland and everything in between while their ships are docked in Townsville.”
The arrival of the Queen Elizabeth on the 14 January 2025, and the region’s first P&O (Pacific Encounter) cruise to berth at the Port of Townsville mark major milestones for the region as the city’s largest-ever ships to berth into Quayside Terminal, made possible through the recently completed $250M Channel Upgrade project.
"Townsville’s 2025 cruise season will bring more than 30,000 passengers and crew to our region and is a testament to the growing appeal of Townsville North Queensland as a must-see destination for international and domestic cruise itineraries," Ms Woolfe said.
“With the newly completed Channel Upgrade project, the Port of Townsville is now able to welcome larger ships, so we’ll see a new demographic from cruise bringing more families with children into the city and the region.”
"The Port of Townsville has become a major gateway for cruise lines operating in the Coral Sea, with itineraries bringing passengers from around the world; our tropical appeal as one of the country’s fastest growing tourism destination is being noticed!”
A note to locals: The best place for the community to wave in our visiting cruise ships is from the Breakwater Wall near the Townsville Entertainment and Convention Centre.
Please note there is no public access to Quayside Terminal on cruise days.
Key Highlights of the 2025 Townsville Cruise Season:
- 22 cruise ships arriving in Townsville throughout the season
- 2024-25 cruise season is set to inject an estimated $7.8 million in visitor expenditure to the local economy
- Queen Elizabeth making its debut in the Port of Townsville on 14 January
- Up to 2081 passengers, and 911 crew
- Contributing over $700,000 in economic impact
- A peak January period with six ships arriving in just two weeks
- Across January (including Queen Elizabeth and Pacific Encounter) - 7,500 passengers and 3,845 crew arriving in January, contributing $7.8 million in visitor expenditure
- Exceptional visitor satisfaction with a 4.8 out of 5 rating from over 300 passengers
