National ANZAC Centre in Albany, Western Australia, a major attraction for passengers

Tourism Western Australia’s ceo, Stephanie Buckland, said the state-of-the-art interactive ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) Centre is gaining worldwide attention and is a popular shore excursion for cruise ship passengers.

Ships scheduled to call at the port this year are Amsterdam, Astor, Diamond Princess, Crystal Serenity, MSC Orchestra, Dawn Princess and Volendam.

Buckland said Western Australia is a ‘fantastic’ cruise destination, with each of its 10 ports offering unique tourism experiences for passengers.

She said in 2013-14 the State’s cruise industry generated A$116.5m towards the economy and recorded a total of 68 cruise ship visit days, a 20% increase from the previous year.

Fremantle experienced its biggest cruise ship season in 40 years, attracting more than 30 ship visits and more than 60,000 passengers in 2013-14.

P&O Cruises Australia’s 70,000gt Pacific Jewel will be home-ported in Fremantle between March and May this year. She will sail on seven roundtrip cruises to Indonesia, Asia and West Australian ports and is expected to generate more than A$10m for the local economy in passenger and crew spending, provedoring and port charges.

The company’s smaller 47,000gt Pacific Sun was home-ported in Fremantle in 2011.

Meantime, Cruise & Maritime Voyages’ 600-passenger Astor departs Fremantle on March 16 for Tilbury after a second extended season based in Western Australia.

CMV ceo Australia, Grant Hunter, said Astor will depart London on October 17, 2015 for a third (Australian) summer.