- Luxury cruise vessel Crown Princess arrives in Fremantle today
- WA to welcome more than 140 cruise ship visits this summer season
- Arrival followsSapphire Princessannouncing Fremantle as its 2027-28 home port
- Supported by the Cook Government, through Tourism WA
Western Australia's summer cruise season has officially set sail, with the arrival of Crown Princess into Fremantle Harbour.
The luxury Princess Cruises ship, carrying more than 3,000 guests and 1,200 crew, is the largest vessel of the 2025-26 cruise season.
The vessel has been making its way along WA's coast, with stops in iconic WA destinations including the Kimberley Coast, Broome, and Exmouth before arriving in Fremantle. It will then head to Busselton and Albany, before continuing to Sydney as part of a 28-night itinerary.
More than 140 cruise ship visits are scheduled across Albany, Broome, Busselton, Dampier, Esperance, Exmouth, Fremantle and Geraldton this season.
Additionally, WA will welcome eight maiden visits from cruise ships that have never visited WA waters before, bringing new visitors to the State's regional destinations and highlighting WA's growing reputation as a premier cruise destination.
Crown Princess is the first large ship of a total of 26 cruise visits Fremantle will welcome this season, including 16 turnaround calls and 12 overnight stays.
Princess Cruises also announced last month it will home port its Sapphire Princess cruise ship in Fremantle for the 2027-28 season, generating an estimated $142 million in economic impact.
In 2023-24, WA's cruise sector generated $385 million in economic impact and supported more than 1,200 local jobs.
The Cook Government continues to focus on growth in the State's cruise sector, through the Western Australian Cruise Tourism Strategic Plan 2023-2033.
Around $1.8 million in funding will be spent delivering the strategic plan over the next four years and building cruise line engagement, with an additional $35.5 million committed to improve infrastructure at the Fremantle Passenger Terminal.
For more information on cruise tourism in WA, visit tourism.wa.gov.au/cruise
As stated by Tourism Minister Reece Whitby:
"Cruise tourism is an important pillar of Western Australia's tourism industry, bringing thousands of international and interstate travellers to our State to experience our extraordinary destinations, and injecting millions into the WA economy.
"This season's eight maiden ship visits are a clear signal that Western Australia is firmly on the global cruise map, and we'll continue to work with industry partners to attract new itineraries and ships that bring investment, support local businesses, create jobs, and grow our important cruise sector."
As stated by Ports Minister Stephen Dawson:
"The voyage of the Crown Princess along the WA coast gives guests and crew the chance to enjoy our unique coastal regional communities. Cruise tourism is a great way to highlight the diversity of our State.
"The Cook Government is proud to be investing in port infrastructure across WA, including $35.5 million in upgrades at the Fremantle Passenger Terminal."
As stated by Fremantle MLA Simone McGurk:
"The arrival of Crown Princess not only marks the beginning of our summer cruise season but highlights Fremantle's role as a major cruise hub that encourages visitors to extend their stay and explore Fremantle and Western Australia.
"Cruise tourism has always been an important industry for Fremantle businesses, and we look forward to another successful season."
