- Luxury cruise vessel Crown Princess arrives in Fremantle today, with WA to welcome more than 200 cruise ship visits over the 2026-27 summer season
- Arrival follows one-year countdown to Sapphire Princess home porting in Fremantle over 2027-28 cruise season
- Cruise tourism supports the Cook Labor Government's economic diversification strategy, generating visitor spend and supporting local jobs for Western Australians
Western Australia's 2026-27 cruise season has officially set sail, with Crown Princess arriving at Fremantle Harbour today.
The luxury vessel's arrival, after touring up the WA South West coast over the weekend, marks the start of another strong cruise season for Western Australia, with 200 ship visits scheduled across the State's ports over the 2026-27 season.
Five of those ships will be making their maiden voyage in WA waters, bringing new visitors to the State's regional destinations and highlighting WA's growing reputation as a premier cruise destination.
Fremantle is set to welcome 26 cruise visits during the season, providing an important gateway for cruise visitors to explore Perth and beyond.
The season launch also marks a major milestone for WA's cruise industry, with just one year to go until Sapphire Princess begins home porting in Fremantle for the 2027-28 season.
The premium Princess Cruises ship will undertake ten cruise itineraries originating in Fremantle, delivering an estimated $142 million in economic impact and supporting more than 1,000 jobs.
Sapphire Princess will offer itineraries from Fremantle to destinations across Western Australia and further afield, including voyages from Australia's South West to the Coral Coast, through northern WA and to Indonesia.
The home port will provide a significant boost for WA's visitor economy, bringing thousands of passengers through Fremantle and creating opportunities for visitors to stay longer and spend more across the State before and after their cruise.
Cruise tourism plays an important role in the Cook Labor Government's economic diversification strategy, attracting interstate and international visitors, driving regional dispersal, and generating valuable visitor spend.
The sector also supports a broader economic ecosystem spanning tourism, hospitality, retail, transport and supply businesses across metropolitan and regional WA.
For more information on cruise tourism in WA, visit tourism.wa.gov.au/cruise
As stated by Premier and Tourism, Trade and Investment Minister Roger Cook:
"Western Australia's cruise season is setting sail again, bringing thousands of visitors to our shores and creating valuable opportunities for tourism and hospitality businesses across the State, as well as supporting local jobs for Western Australians.
"This season is also particularly exciting because we're now just one year away from welcoming Sapphire Princessto Fremantle as its home port - a major win that will generate valuable tourism dollars for our economy and support more than 1,000 jobs for Western Australians across its nine itineraries.
"Having cruise ships such as Sapphire Princess home port in Western Australia is not only good for tourism and our regional destinations, but it also supports our agricultural and transport sectors - adding further growth and jobs in a diversified economy."
As stated by Ports Minister Stephen Dawson:
"Western Australia's ports play a critical role in supporting our economy, moving key exports and connecting communities. They also welcome cruise ships that bring thousands of visitors to destinations across the State.
"From the historic port cities of Fremantle and Albany to the spectacular coastlines across our regions, cruise tourism supports local businesses, showcases our unique attractions and delivers benefits to communities along the way."
As stated by Parliamentary Secretary Sam Rowe:
"Crown Princess arriving at Fremantle is a fantastic way to kick off the 2026-27 season and showcase Western Australia to cruise passengers travelling along our spectacular coastline.
"The benefits will extend beyond the port, with cruise operations creating demand for goods and services and supporting opportunities for WA producers, suppliers and businesses across metropolitan and regional WA."
As stated by Fremantle MLA Simone McGurk:
"Cruise tourism is hugely valuable to Fremantle businesses and generates millions in economic return to Western Australia.
"We look forward to welcoming visitors to Fremantle this summer to enjoy all our port city offers."
