Princess Cruises kick-started Victoria’s busiest cruise season with the arrival of the Dawn Princess in Melbourne yesterday.
Dawn Princess will be based in Melbourne for the next six months, headlining a summer cruise season which will see 28 ships make 78 calls to the city between October 2014 and April 2015. This represents an increase of 16 per cent on the 67 visits made during the 2013-14 season, and a 34 per cent increase on the 58 visits the season prior.
Contributing more than $18 million into the State economy between October and April and carrying more than 30,00 guests, the Dawn Princess will be accompanied by the Diamond Princess and Sun Princess this season.
Princess Cruises’ spokeswoman Meg Koffel said the cruise line had been a driving force behind the city’s emergence as a cruise hub in recent years, with more plans for growth on the horizon.
“We’ve been cruising from Melbourne for seven years, offering Melburnians the chance to see the world from their doorstep. Next year, we’re thrilled to be bringing Golden Princess down under for the first time and basing it in Melbourne.”
Latest figures from Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Australasia show the number of Australian cruise passengers grew by an impressive 20% to 833,348 in 2013 with Victorian cruisers accounting for 17% of the market (141,669 passengers).
When Golden Princess debuts down under in Melbourne next year, the cruise line will have a record 5 of its 18 ship-fleet sailing in Australian waters, with Australia its number one market outside America.
