Historic day for cruise ship visitation to Hobart

Published on 04 December 2017

The City of Hobart is set to welcome more than 8,200 passengers and crew from two cruise ships tomorrow in what will be one of the busiest cruise ship days in its history.

The Lord Mayor of Hobart, Alderman Sue Hickey said the Ovation of the Seas and the Pacific Eden will dock in Hobart for the day tomorrow, Tuesday 5 December 2017.

“Having more than 8,200 passengers and crew converging on Hobart for the day is fantastic news for our City.

“These passengers and crew will inject money into the local economy by booking tours and spending while they are in port.

“What passengers really enjoy is the proximity of the ship to the city and the feeling of being treated as special visitors. They love the interaction with the local community and shopping and tours are high on the list of priorities,” said the Lord Mayor.

Chairman of the Council’s Economic Development and Communications Committee, Alderman Philip Cocker said that there were many people involved in showcasing the City to cruise ship passengers.

“The Council, through its award-winning Tasmanian Travel and Information Centre, puts a great deal of effort into providing a warm welcome to visitors.

“We have rostered on more staff at the Tasmanian Travel and Information Centre and have increased the number of our volunteers to meet tomorrow’s demand.

“Our staff and volunteers do a wonderful job of meeting and greeting passengers as they disembark at the cruise ship terminal. They provide a warm welcome to visitors and offer expert advice about the City’s highlights, recommending landmarks, shopping experiences and tourism attractions.  

“Then there are the shops, cafes and restaurants, the taxi drivers and the tourism operators, all of whom let cruise passengers know they are welcome in Hobart,” said Alderman Cocker.

The Lord Mayor said despite only spending a short time in Hobart, we know that many passengers return to Tasmania for another holiday after their cruise visit. 

“We need to capitalise on showcasing our city, enticing travellers to spend locally who hopefully go home happy to recommend that other people visit Hobart,” said the Lord Mayor.