Newcastle Cruise Hub guides on creating shore excursions

Newcastle, 170kms north of Sydney, is the gateway to Australia’s acclaimed Hunter Valley vineyards.

Cruise Hunter

In 2002 Priscilla Radice founded Cruise Hunter to put the bulk export port on the international cruise industry map.

Radice was told that Newcastle was too close to Sydney to be a stop for cruise ships but, undeterred, she proved the sceptics wrong.

In January 2003 Hapag-Lloyd’s Europa made the first international cruise ship visit.

Ground handlers

The new Cruise Hub, launched by Destination New South Wales’ regional arm Destination Sydney Surrounds North in conjunction with the Port Authority of NSW, gives advice on how to put together a shore tour and says ‘you will need to work with a ground handler who will arrange to sell your product via the cruise line.’

Profile of visiting ships

It also gives a profile of the ships arriving between November and March 2025.

The first is Holland America Line’s Westerdam, arriving on November 18.

She will be followed by Silver Nova, Viking Orion, Seven Seas Explorer, Viking Venus, Seven Seas Voyager, Diamond Princess, Amadea and Seven Seas Mariner.

The ships arrive at the port’s Channel Berth at Carrington where a shuttle bus takes passengers on a 10-minute drive to Newcastle’s central business district.

‘Over 13,000 high-value travellers are set to explore this beautiful region, injecting millions into our local visitor economy,’ Destination Sydney Surrounds North’s director Fiona Dalton said.