Carnival Australia wrapped up a record-breaking summer season after pumping over 0,5 billion AUD into country's economy via 698 ship calls at local ports.
The season started with the arrival of Majestic Princess on September 15, 2018, the biggest Princess ship to sail in Australia. This season, another of Carnival’s cruise brand, Cunard, based Queen Elizabeth in local waters for a total of 54 days. In the summer of 2019-2020, she will return for 101 days, and for 118 days in 2020-2021.
During the wave season, P&O Cruises made a record 334 visits to Australian ports - 17% over 2018 - and accounted for around 50% of the total port calls of Carnival Australia.
According to Carnival Australia president, Sture Myrmell, the record number of port visits by Carnival Australia-brand cruise ships reflected the country’s "love affair with cruising" and domestic itineraries in particular.
Highlights for this season included:
- Princess Cruises' Majestic Princess was homeported in Sydney, Australia from September 2018 through March 2019 and is scheduled to return in September 2019 for the upcoming 2019-2020 cruise season.
- Princess expanded its Across the Ditch program in New Zealand with over 20 exclusive shore trips.
- Carnival Cruise Lines increased its 3-5-day voyages by 40% on the back of increased demand for short breaks
- Carnival Spirit finished her 6th cruise season in Sydney, Australia and will move to a new homeport in Brisbane in 2020 to cater for increasing demand in Queensland.
- Queen Elizabeth made a maiden call to Hobart, Tasmania on February 18, 2019.