New Brisbane cruise ship terminal on cards
THE huge Ovation of the Seas cruise ship docked in the drab surrounds of Brisbane’s Fisherman’s Island grain terminal. But a new $100 million facility could give future passengers a far warmer welcome.
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BRISBANE could have a mega cruise ship terminal by 2019 as the world’s biggest ocean liners set course for Queensland.
Ovation of the Seas, the world’s fourth biggest cruise ship, docked in the drab surrounds of the Fisherman’s Island grain terminal on Wednesday, but a new $100 million facility could be operating on the northern shore of the Brisbane River in the next two years if given the green light by the State Government.
The biggest cruise ships sailing the seven seas can’t manoeuvre sufficiently to access Hamilton Wharf, meaning they have to dock in makeshift facilities at the Port of Brisbane.
However, it is understood the new market-led cruise ship terminal proposal, spearheaded by the Port of Brisbane, is on track to be approved later this year.
That will be welcome news for the cruise ship industry, which is making a beeline for Brisbane.
Last year a record 320 cruise ships visited the Sunshine State.
Five will visit Brisbane this week alone including Ovation of the Seas and Arcadia, which moored yesterday, bringing 8000 passengers to the River City and injecting more than $1 million in to the local economy in a one-day spending spree.
Ovation of the Seas is the biggest ship to ever visit Brisbane and boasts features that would make the Titanic look like an old tinny.
Guests can enjoy on-board surfing, rock climbing, skydiving and drinks poured by robot bar tenders.
Michaela Field, from Sydney, said the super ship was amazing.
“This is my fifth cruise but this is the best for sure,” she said.
The ship’s Royal Caribbean owners hope to bring Ovation back to Brisbane next summer.
Originally published as New Brisbane cruise ship terminal on cards
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