‘They love how friendly Townsville is’: Port marks best cruise season ever

The curtains have drawn over Townsville’s best cruise ship season ever, pulling in 21 ships and $7m in tourism spending - and next season is shaping up to be even bigger.

Norwegian Sun is the last cruise ship to arrive at Port of Townsville for the 2024-25 season... by the first ship of the 2025-26 season is only three months away. Picture: Evan Morgan

The curtains have drawn over Townsville’s best cruise ship season ever, pulling in 21 ships and $7m in tourism spending - and next season is shaping up to be even bigger.

Port of Townsville cruise coordinator Monica Cazzulino said the Port was getting really good feedback from ship passengers, and the most surprising thing the tourists loved about Townsville was the friendliness.

“They love how people smile and say hello,” Ms Cazzulino said.

“One mother said her child got to throw a frisbee to a dog on The Strand which made that little boy’s day, and we get a lot of passengers who come back in the afternoon in a local’s car because they got talking somewhere and were offered a ride around town.”

The 2024-25 cruise season started in November for the Port of Townsville, and concluded on April 26 with the 1900 passenger-strong Norwegian Sun.

Townsville Enterprise’s Lisa Woolfe, MP Adam Baillie and Port of Townsville cruise ship coordinator Monica Cazzulino. Picture: Evan Morgan

However, the cruise companies are starting to recognise Townsville and the first ship of the 2025-26 season is booked to arrive on July 3 - four months earlier than last year.

“Most cruise ships are based in the Northern Hemisphere so they are focused on coming down to Australia to escape their winter, which means they are normally here in our summer,” Ms Cazzulino said.

“But the cruise season is getting longer as companies shift their focus towards the Southern Hemisphere, and the ships are only getting bigger.”

The Norwegian Sun was one of three ‘super’ cruise ships who berthed in Townsville this season, made possible by the $251m expansion of the Townsville shipping channel in December.

Norwegian Sun captain Ronny Borg disembarked to take a short walk around the Townsville streets on Saturday.

Norwegian Sun captain Ronny Borg - who’s actually Swedish, flew into Australian two days ago to start his contract on the ship. “I think I have the best job in the world,” Mr Borg said. Picture: Evan Morgan

“The last time I was here, was 30 years ago,” Mr Borg said.

“I do like it here, it’s laid back and it feels very genuine, and in this weather it is so easy to sail around.”

The Norwegian Sun’s travel itinerary is enough to long for a holiday.

The Pacific Ocean-based ship started its cruise in Bali before coming down the Queensland coast, stopping in Townsville (Monday, April 21), and picking up a few more passengers in Brisbane.

From there it’s returned to Townsville (Saturday, April 26), and will sail on to Cairns, Fiji, French Polynesia, Hawaii, and Alaska.

Norwegian Sun was built in 2001 and can carry 1936 passengers and 906 crew. It is 258m long and wouldn’t have been able to berth in Townsville without the recently completed shipping channel upgrade. Picture: Evan Morgan

According to Townsville Enterprise’s director of visitor economy, Lisa Woolfe, passengers who got to visit Townsville on Monday were racing off the ship first-thing on Saturday to catch the 7am ferries over to Magnetic Island.

“A lot of the guys who were here on Monday went straight out on those first ferries,” Mrs Woolfe said.

Other passengers strolled out after their buffet breakfast and hopped on tours to Billabong Sanctuary, Wallaman Falls, and even on a military tour which hopscotches around town.

“Next season the first ship is coming in July, but the bulk of these cruise ships are still visiting between November and April which is traditionally our off-season,” Mrs Woolfe said.

“So the timing is actually very good and it gives our tourism operators some extra cashflow.”

Passengers John and Rose Dunn boarded in Brisbane and will stay on the ship until Fiji, where they will fly back home. The pair just sold their house so decided to hop on a cruise while ‘homeless’. Mr Dunn said he’d visited Townsville when he was in the RAAF ‘many years ago. He used to fly in the old Lockheed P-2 Neptunes, and was interested in seeing the one on display outside the RAAF base. Picture: Evan Morgan

Tourism operators severely impacted by the February floods have also been helped along by the cruise ships - Hidden Valley Cabins, currently cut off from Townsville by the closed Mt Spec Rd, have pivoted and now run bus tours for ship passengers into Ingham and the Tyto Wetlands.

Member for Townsville Adam Baillie showed up at Quayside Terminal to see the last cruise ship of the season.

“It’s great to have such a successful season, and there is more success to come based on future bookings,” Mr Baillie said.

According to the Port of Townsville, cruise companies are already making bookings into 2028.

“I think it’s important to acknowledge that Townsville is a tourism destination, and the state government is investing in that now. Just on Maggie we have the Picnic Bay toilets, the Sooning St bridge, and the road out to Radical Bay being funded,” Mr Baillie said.

When asked about the Townsville aquarium, Mr Baillie said it “couldn’t come soon enough”.

“I will advocate to see that open as soon as possible.”

Originally published as ‘They love how friendly Townsville is’: Port marks best cruise season ever