Expert says Brisbane mega-cruise ship terminal will bring boom
QUEENSLAND will be at the forefront of the cruise industry in South-East Asia, thanks to a new mega-cruise ship terminal planned for Brisbane.
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QUEENSLAND will be at the forefront of the cruise industry in South-East Asia, thanks to a new mega-cruise ship terminal planned for Brisbane.
International cruise expert Arnold Donald, who heads up the world’s biggest leisure travel company, said the terminal put Brisbane in prime place to boost its cruising business.
Mr Donald, the chief executive of Carnival Corporation, last week visited Port of Brisbane’s $158 million International Cruise Terminal, due for completion at Luggage Point in 2020.
“This will put Queensland at the forefront of the cruise industry, not only in Australia but frankly in this entire region as well,” Mr Donald said.
“The terminal will elevate our guest experience, allow us to bring even more guests and eventually larger ships, which will become a huge economic multiplier for Brisbane.”
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the new terminal would pump billions of dollars into tourism.
“This terminal will be completed roughly around the same time as the second (airport) runway so you are going to have tourism just going to that next level,” she said.
An artist’s impression shows a slick and expansive terminal building. It’s in stark contrast to the industrial surrounds of the current multi-user terminal, where mega-cruise ship guests now disembark beside cargo ships and grain and coal facilities.
Ships longer than 270m cannot currently reach Hamilton’s Portside Wharf.
Among them are the Queen Mary 2 and Princess Cruises’ new 330m, 143,700 tonne flagship Majestic Princess, which will dock for the first time in September with up to 3560 guests on board.
Port of Brisbane chief executive Roy Cummins, who noted cruising was the fastest growing shipping sector, said the present landing spot didn’t make for the best passenger experience.
“We had to do something or Queensland risked losing some of these mega-vessels,” he said.
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