Crown Princess leads 56 ships bringing 80,000 passengers and millions in tourism dollars as South Australia Cruise Season begins
The South Australia 2025–26 cruise season is officially underway, with the Crown Princess kicking things off at Outer Harbor last weekend.
Over the next few months, 56 ships carrying more than 80,000 passengers will sail into South Australian ports, bringing fresh faces and millions in tourism spending. Princess Cruises alone expects to inject around $15 million into the State this season.
Tourism Minister Zoe Bettison said the season is an important boost for local operators.
“We’ll see a number of new cruise ships visit South Australia with maiden voyages to all major ports — Adelaide, Penneshaw, and Port Lincoln — as well as a visit to Robe for the first time in 10 years,” she said.
“We’re working hard to maximise the benefits of cruise to our visitor economy, with new tour experiences in regions like the Limestone Coast, Fleurieu, and Barossa.”
Princess Cruises Vice President Matthew Rutherford said South Australia is a strong performer for the line.
“The arrival of Crown Princess into Port Adelaide kicks off an exciting summer cruise season.
Princess is South Australia’s number one cruise line, bringing more international guests here than any other,” he said.
“With over 3,000 guests onboard, we can’t wait to show off the best of what South Australia has to offer across Adelaide and our regions.”
Luxury cruise lines Silversea, Regent Seven Seas, Holland America Line, and Oceania are also charting SA waters this season, with Robe welcoming ships for the first time since 2015.
Travel icon Phil Hoffmann said the return of major international cruise lines signals renewed confidence in South Australia’s tourism appeal.
“Each visit from a major line like Princess Cruises delivers significant benefits to our local economy,” he said.
“The 2023–24 season injected $227 million into South Australia. This year may be smaller, but the momentum is building — and it’s great to see government and industry working together to make it happen.”
To learn more about South Australia’s cruise season and tourism initiatives, visit the South Australian Tourism Commission.
You can also read more about how the State is backing coastal communities in our story, South Australia’s $102.5M Algal Bloom Summer Plan – Here’s What You Need to Know.
