The North-West Coast will miss out on thousands of international visitors during the upcoming cruise season, with Burnie set to only receive just under half the number of ship visits it did last season.
Last season 33 international cruise ships visited the port, but it’s been slashed back to 16 this season.
The whole region will feel the effects, with cruise ship passengers generally venturing beyond Burnie to visit other attractions including Cradle Mountain, Wings Wildlife Park at Gunns Plains, Gunns Plains Caves and The Nut at Stanley among others.
Operator Carnival has pulled out of Burnie as it’s operating larger ships no longer suitable for the port, while Virgin Cruises has opted to keep its fleet in the Northern Hemisphere due to the extra time taken to get to Australia by not using the Suez Canal, currently subject to terrorist attacks.
Burnie Mayor Teeny Brumby says it’s disappointing there’s fewer ships this season, but the city and the region will make the most if it, with the city’s cruise volunteers revved up to welcome passengers.
The first ship of the season, The Queen Elizabeth, with 2,092 passengers and 900 crew, is due on December 6th.
