French no longer all at sea in Darwin
THE first cruise ship to call Darwin home in four years has berthed at Fort Hill Wharf. Luxury French ship L’Austral will call Darwin home for the next month, and will return in July 2018.
Tourism Minister Lauren Moss said it was the biggest expedition ship to ever home port in Darwin.
She said about 1500 cruise ship passengers are expected to stay on the L’Austral during the 2017 home port season, along with 136 crew.
“The NT cruise sector has a current estimated value of $30.7 million annually,” she said. “Home porting, which allows passengers to arrive a day or two before their cruise and extend their stay after their cruise, will further grow the value of the sector and help create jobs.”
Ponant chairman Asia Pacific Sarina Bratton said the ship’s company was excited to launch its first season of Kimberley cruises from Darwin.
“This, our first Kimberley season, has been a sellout and forward bookings for 2018 are nearing capacity,” she said.
She said the extra tourists would trigger a local economy boost. Amy Speck and Denzil Lincoln were at the wharf yesterday and welcomed the French ship to town with Vegemite on a French stick.
“It’ll be good to bring more tourists to the area,” Mr Lincoln said.
Forty-five cruise ships are expected to visit the Top End in the 2017-18 season, including a return of the Ovation of
the Seas in April 2018.