Maiden cruise ship visit for Eden – signals start of best ever season

Port Authority of NSW today welcomed the maiden arrival of Brillance of the Seas with more than 2500 passengers sailing into majestic Snug Cove, Eden – kicking off the biggest ever summer cruise season for Eden.

Port Authority Chief Customer and Commercial Officer, John McKenna said the Summer Cruise Season for Eden 2023/24 will be sensational with 41 cruise visits of which nine cruise ships are maiden visits to our port.

“The growth of the Eden cruise market has been steadily increasing year on year since the first cruise ship arrived into Eden in 2005. The diversity of cruise lines we see today is exceptional with Eden fast becoming a popular destination for cruise itineraries,” Mr McKenna said.

“It is also great to see a record number of maiden calls with international cruise lines such as Disney, Viking and Oceania Cruises visiting Eden for the first time this summer bringing thousands of passengers to see, taste and do the very best the Bega Valley and Sapphire Coast has to offer.

“In the last summer season for 2022/23 we had over 50,000 passengers sail into Eden, and it is likely we will surpass this number of passengers given the increased cruise ships expected to visit.”

Mr McKenna added it was fantastic that Port Authority was onboard Brilliance of the Seas today as part of an age-old maritime tradition to deliver a special plaques and keys exchange ceremony to celebrate her maiden voyage.

“The growth of cruise ship visits into regional areas of NSW is very exciting as more international cruise lines are adding Eden to their itineraries, further cementing NSW as the cruise capital of Australia.

“The season ahead will be the biggest on record and will potentially inject $18 million into the local Sapphire Coast economy,” Mr McKenna said.

To learn more about the schedule for visiting cruise ships, visit Port Authority's Cruise Schedule.

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