Princess Cruises’ Crown Princess and Diamond Princess marked a historic first as the sister ships met in Sydney Harbour over the weekend.
Together, the two ships will brought in more than 9,500 international and domestic visitors and more than 2,000 crew members to Sydney’s shores, generating over AU$2 million into the local economy in a single day.
The Crown Princess, fresh from a South Pacific New Year’s cruise, welcomed 3,300 guests embarking on a new journey to New Zealand, while the Diamond Princess arrived from an Eastern Australia itinerary featuring stops in Eden, Port Arthur, and an overnight stay in Hobart.
“We’re delighted to be in Sydney today with our sister ship, Diamond Princess in this beautiful city,” Crown Princess captain, Mario Consentino, said on Saturday.
“It’s the first time our ships are together in Sydney and it’s also the first time I’ll see my colleague Diamond Princess’ Captain Bartolomei in almost 10 years. We’ll celebrate this special occasion in style with an espresso looking over the harbour.”
Princess Cruises chief commercial officer Terry Thornton reinforced the importance of the twin visit.
“Our guests love Sydney and it remains an important homeport for Princess in the region,” he said. “Today our guests from Diamond Princess and Crown Princess will enjoy the city’s world-class shore excursions, vibrant retail precincts, and cafes and restaurants.”
This season, Crown Princess is set to contribute more than $120 million to the Australian economy making 78 visits to 21 different ports across the country, a record for any Princess ship.
Diamond Princess, built in Japan, brings her own unique features including the largest Japanese bath house at sea. Homeported in both Melbourne and Brisbane over the 2024-25 summer season, Diamond Princess makes four calls to Sydney before returning to Japan in March for the Japan northern summer season.
While in port, Crown Princess will provision 140 tonnes of locally sourced fresh produce, supporting Australian farmers and ensuring guests enjoy exceptional dining experiences during their voyages.
The simultaneous visit by both ships in Sydney Harbour demonstrates the importance of cruising to Australia’s tourism industry, with a projected 1.2 million passengers and crew visiting NSW ports in summer season of 2024-25. From small local businesses to large-scale agricultural producers, the cruise industry delivers widespread economic benefits to communities throughout the country.
