32,700 tourists hit Darwin in 8 week rush

Almost 14,000 tourists are heading to Darwin in the next month, with a whopping 18,700 to follow in the four weeks after that. Find out how they are getting here.

Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas with more than 20 restaurants, bars and lounges, and more than 4100 passengers will be in Darwin in April Photo - Tim Faircloth/Royal Caribbean

Almost 14,000 tourists are heading to Darwin in the next month with a whopping 18,700 to follow in the four weeks after that.

The 32,700 Wet Season tourist bonanza will pour much needed revenue into the cash registers of tour operators, pubs, souvenir shops, cafes and restaurants.

The tourists will be aboard 25 cruiseships docking in Darwin from now until the end of April.

And that’s not taking into account the MS Queen Elizabeth that just brought more than 2000 passengers and crew to Darwin.

The Queen Elizabeth cut an imposing figure as it dominated the Darwin waterfront after its Tuesday morning arrival.

The Darwin Waterfront and Darwin CBD were buzzing with passengers from the ship keen to get a taste of the Territory.

The MS Queen Anne, a larger sister Cunard ship that carries more than 3000 passengers, arrives March 11.

Just two days later the Norwegian Son and more than 1900 passengers arrive.

The largest of the cruiseships heading our way is the monster Ovation of the Seas which carries a staggering 4100 passengers and arrives a month later on April 10.

The Celebrity Solstice and Crown Princess, which both carry in the vicinity of 3000 passengers each, are the next biggest cruiseliners stopping in Darwin.

The Celebrity Solstice is here on April 2 and the Crown Princess four days later on April 6.

The Crown Princess is due to return to Darwin three weeks later on April 25.

Originally published as 32,700 tourists hit Darwin in 8 week rush