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11/02/2019 09:32 AM

Explorer of the Seas cruises into Port Kembla

Port Kembla welcomes back the huge cruise ship Explorer of the Seas — along with its 4000 passengers and around 1000 crew members.

Image: Explorer of the Seas makes its second visit to Port Kembla


Passengers arriving on the Explorer of the Seas (11 February) began their day with live music and markets in the city of Wollongong’s art precinct before heading off further afield to explore the sights of the Illawarra region

Launched in 2000, the 311 m vessel sailed into Port Kembla at around 8am before passengers were called back to set sail for Hobart, Tasmania later in the evening.

It’s the second time the giant Royal Caribbean liner has visited the port following a visit on 29 January 2018 and marks the seventh visit from a cruise ship to the Illawarra port.

Image: Explorer of the Seas arrives into Port Kembla


Port Kembla welcomed its first ever cruise ship, Radiance of the Seas, to its shores on 30 October 2016. Later this year, the port will receive a visit from Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Jewel on 14 December, while the MSC Magnifica will make a stop in the port on 17 March 2020 as part of the ship’s global itinerary.

Regional cruise in New South Wales has showed continued signs of growth, with Newcastle Harbour welcoming 11 cruise ships during the 2017-18 cruise season, up from five the year before, and 15 ships visiting the Port of Eden, an increase from 14 last year.

Cruise continues to be the fastest growing tourism sector in Australia. Latest statistics from the 2017 cruise industry source market report by the Cruise Lines Industry Association (CLIA) shows that almost 1.34 million Australians took a cruise in 2017 — almost six per cent of the population — and 77 per cent of these took a cruise in local waters.

Find out more about cruise in New South Wales

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