More than 660 passengers explore Townsville with the inaugural arrival of the MV Boudicca

Townsville and Magnetic Island has been presented to the world stage with the inaugural arrival of boutique cruise ship MV Boudicca.

Captain Mikael Degerlund, Cr Les Walker, Coralee O'Rourke MP and Port of Townsville general manager for business strategies Claudia Brumme-Smith on board the MV Boudicca.

TOWNSVILLE and Magnetic Island has been presented to the world stage with the inaugural arrival of boutique cruise ship MV Boudicca.

The liner’s visit to Townsville marks the first cruise ship of the year at Quayside Terminal.

The Fred Olsen Cruise Line owned vessel is currently on a 168 day world cruise visiting 64 ports over four continents.

The ship’s maiden voyage to Townsville allowed more than 660 passengers spanning 12 nationalities to explore the city and surrounding regions injecting valuable revenue into the local economy.

RELATED

• Townsville Marine Tourism Precinct to include multi-level carpark and bus interchange

• Hinchinbrook Chamber of Commerce says businesses welcome proposed Paluma to Wallaman Falls trek

• New superyacht law passed in parliament opens door for city

MV Boudicca captain of three years, Mikael Degerlund said he was looking forward to exploring local landmarks while in port.

“It is my first time here and at midday I am going to go down and have a stroll along The Strand and go to the aquarium and have a look,” he said.

Boutique cruise ship MV Boudicca owned by Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has docked at Quayside Terminal in Townsville for the first time.

Mr Degerlund said he hoped the passengers would give Townsville a positive wrap up so the cruise line would incorporate Townsville in future cruise itineraries.

“In all the ports we are going to, our guests fill in comment cards and based on that, we make a decision if they would like to come back to the port or not,” he said.

“So if we get good ratings from our guests, we will of course come back (to Townsville).”

Townsville City Council Deputy Mayor Les Walker said local and state governments had actively campaigned to attract intimate cruise ships to visit Townsville.

“This is a boutique ship with people who are travelling for six months of the year so that just goes to show how much money is in the cruise ship sector,” he said.

“It is exciting that we get to host these sorts of ships and now we are on the world stage … the passengers of the ship will go home and tell the world and sell it to the world that Townsville and Magnetic Island is a beautiful place to visit.”

Originally published as More than 660 passengers explore Townsville with the inaugural arrival of the MV Boudicca