Councillor Peter Murrihy has presented Captain Pedro Montes Pinto of the Star Breeze cruise ship with a commemorative plaque designed by Wathaurong Glass, to welcome 300 passengers and 190 crew members to Greater Geelong.
The bike riding cruise visits the best cycling locations around the world and is our region's first cruise ship visit for the 2022-23 summer season.
The Star Breeze docked in Corio Bay this morning and passengers are spending the day riding through the Otways to Apollo Bay before returning to Geelong.
The overseas tourists, mostly from the USA, will spend the evening exploring central Geelong and supporting local hospitality venues and retailers.
Tomorrow, the cruise passengers will cycle along the Bellarine Rail Trail with a stop at our region's world-class wineries and a ride on the ferry.
The ship's arrival is set to provide significant economic benefit to Greater Geelong, expose our region to new markets and attract repeat visitors.
A local business is supplying bikes for hire, while staff transporting the bikes will be staying at a Geelong Waterfront accommodation provider.
Mayor Trent Sullivan:
It is fantastic to not only see cruises return to Geelong in the highest numbers we've had, but that international visitors are eager to explore more regional destinations than ever before.We are so excited to showcase our stunning region to these international passengers and cement our reputation as a scenic cycling destination for adventurous visitors.
I hope the passengers visit Greater Geelong again in the future for a longer stay to explore everything our region has to offer.
Councillor Peter Murrihy, chair of the Economic Development portfolio:
It was a real pleasure to go onboard the Star Breeze to meet Captain Pedro Montes Pinto and have a tour of this amazing cruise ship.It is great that small businesses with considerable local knowledge and specialised offerings are being utilised, as this support will strengthen these operators and Greater Geelong's economy.
Geelong and The Bellarine is attracting ultra-luxury, six-star cruise lines thanks to our amazing landscapes and experiences on offer.
The Star Breeze is now bringing another two ships to Geelong this summer, increasing the number of total cruise ships during the 2022-23 season to eight - our largest season yet.
A total of 5,700 passengers and 3,000 crew will descend on Greater Geelong and The Bellarine over summer, bringing in close to $1.9 million in economic value to our region.
The Regent cruise ship is next on the schedule to visit Geelong on New Year's Day.
