Great Southern Welcomes Surge in First-Time Cruise Ship Arrivals
- Gloria Zhang
- May 14
- 1 min read
The departure of the 184-metre Insignia from the Port of Albany last week marked the close of a record-setting cruise season for southern Western Australia.
Over the seven-month 2023–24 season, around 22,000 cruise passengers visited the region, with nearly 20,000 arriving in the Great Southern alone across 18 vessel visits. The Goldfields-Esperance region welcomed 1,300 visitors across three stops, and the South West received 800 passengers from a single visit.
Southern Ports CEO Keith Wilks said the season reflected growing interest in the region, with 60% of cruise visits being maiden calls. Notable first-time visits included large vessels such as the Crown Princess, MSC Magnifica, and Westerdam, carrying thousands of passengers.
To mark these milestones, cruise captains were presented with handcrafted plaques from the Albany Men’s Shed, made from timber salvaged from the port’s former jetty.
Wilks emphasised the long-term benefits of cruise tourism, noting that many passengers return for longer stays after sampling the region. The Australian Cruise Association estimated a $385 million economic impact for WA during the season, highlighting the sector’s growing importance to regional economies.
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