Territorians welcomed more than 3,000 visitors today as the Crown Princess docked at Fort Hill Wharf.
The Crown Princess, a 114,000-tonne vessel, is the latest in a long line of cruise ships to visit the Northern Territory during the 2025-26 cruise season.
Minister for Tourism and Hospitality, Marie-Clare Boothby, welcomed the visit as a boost for local businesses and a sign that the Finocchiaro CLP Government is steering the Territory's visitor economy into a new era of growth.
"In our year of action, certainty and security, it has been a significant year for the Territory's tourism and hospitality industry, and particularly the cruise industry, with over 100 cruise ships making port," Minister Boothby said.
"The Crown Princess arrives only a few weeks after the Discovery Princess made its maiden voyage to the Territory, tangible proof of the data we are seeing time and again: that the economy is growing, and that tourism is crucial to that growth.
"Every time a cruise ship docks, it's our local tourism operators, hospitality businesses, and retailers who reap the benefits. And we're able, once again, to showcase the Territory as a destination of choice for visitors and investors."
The latest data from Tourism Research Australia reveals that the Northern Territory is well and truly bucking the trend on tourism growth. While the number of trips and visitor spending figures remained relatively flat across the country, the Territory recorded an increase in overnight trips of 28% and visitor spending rose by 38% (to September 2025).
Meanwhile, figures from the Australian Cruise Association confirm that the total economic impact of the Territory's 2024-25 cruise season was $205.6 million - a 13.3% increase - supporting 581 local jobs.
"When tourism thrives, the Territory thrives, which is why tourism is one of the five key pillars to rebuild the economy after nearly a decade of decline under Labor," Minister Boothby said.
