Cruise restarts with a ship to visit the Port of Eden in winter

With the federal government ban on cruising finally lifted, Eden is poised and ready for the return of cruise ships, and the season will be kicking off with a bang – months earlier than usual.

Cruising has been a slow build up in the Port of Eden after many years of hard work by a team of dedicated volunteers in lobbying to cruise companies to put Eden on itineraries.  From the first ship to visit in 2005, the number of ships grew continually each year, with 32 confirmed ships for the last season prior to bushfires and covid.  In 2019, the cruise ship wharf at Snug Cove received a $44 million extension funded by all three levels of government (federal, state and local) resulting in a wharf that can now accommodate vessels up to 325m in length to berth alongside.  In addition to this, the newly constructed Eden Welcome Centre was opened in 2021 providing facilities to passengers that visit the Port of Eden on cruise ships – including a purpose built protected area for market stalls, bathrooms and shade facilities as well as the Eden Visitor Information Centre located on the ground floor of the building.  This investment has given Eden fantastic facilities to welcome cruise ships with now and the town is looking forward to the return of cruise to see the facilities come to life.  The 2022-2023 season currently has 34 ships confirmed to visit Eden kicking off with a winter visit on 12th July with the Coral Princess – this ship will be the first to ever visit Eden in the winter time, the first to visit from Brisbane, the maiden voyage for the Coral Princess into Eden, and the first ship to restart cruise after the long covid cruising ban.

Eden is excited for the return of cruise and looks forward to welcoming passengers from both Australia and internationally back to our seaside town.