Qld “cruise powerhouse”

THE revised agreement between Carnival Australia and the Port of Brisbane to allow the new Brisbane International Cruise Terminal ( TD breaking news) will allow Brisbane to “take its place on the world cruising map for some of the globe’s most iconic cruise lines”, according to Carnival Australia president Sture Myrmell.

The new pact follows conditional approval of the deal by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission ( TD 10 May), with Carnival and the Port saying they have “agreed a way forward in the best interests of the cruise industry, Qld tourism and the state’s economy”.

Under the revised deal Carnival has committed to purchase a maximum of 100 “foundation” berthing days annually for the next 15 years, with no more than four in any week.

Port of Brisbane ceo Roy Cummins said the agreement provided commercial certainty to underwrite the development of the new $158m facility.

“This is also good news for the cruise industry as a whole, which will benefit from access to a world-class terminal facility.

“Cementing this partnership today means we can avoid delays and maintain our construction timeline which - weather permitting - targets completion in the second quarter 2020,” he said.

Carnival Australia ceo Sture Myrmell said the terminal would be a major piece of national infrastructure, and the “single most important investment in cruise tourism in Queensland in 12 years”.

In the wake of the announcement Carnival Cruise Line has confirmed that Carnival

Spirit will homeport year-round from the new terminal in 2020, with bookings for Brisbane sailings to open early next month.