Cruising from Brisbane reached new heights over the busy holiday season, with over 264,000 passenger movements through the Brisbane International Cruise Terminal (BICT) over December 2023 and January 2024.
Forty-eight cruise ships called at the BICT over the two months, exploring the Queensland coast, southern ports and south Pacific destinations including Noumea, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea or New Zealand.
Port of Brisbane Pty Ltd (PBPL) CEO, Neil Stephens, said it was a hive of activity at the terminal.
“For many weeks, our teams worked seven days a week, alongside our cruise partners, to help hundreds of thousands of people start their holidays and welcome them home again,” he said.
“Across the two months, the BICT recorded over 264,000 passenger movements. The busiest day had a total of 9,936 passengers disembarking and embarking one vessel.
“On average, around 130 hard-working staff are on hand for every cruise call across our partners including baggage handlers, security screeners, check-in staff, cleaners, café staff, stevedores, customs officers and many more.
“While those two months are some of the busiest, the BICT will welcome a cruise ship most days throughout the cruise high season which runs October to April every year.
“Every cruise ship call contributes around $1 million to the Queensland economy, supporting jobs along the supply chain.
“With over 160 ships across 16 cruise lines currently scheduled to call at the BICT during the 2023-24 season, cruising from Brisbane provides a significant boost to Queensland’s economy and its tourism industry.”
PBPL is continuing to invest in the $177 million world-class cruise terminal, with additional passenger car parking currently being constructed. Due to open mid-year, once complete it will add more than 300 new onsite car parking spaces to the existing 900 available for passengers and staff.
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