Celebrity to make maiden arrival into Newcastle

Over 4,000 passengers and crew will cruise into Newcastle tomorrow to experience the best of the Hunter and Central Coast regions on the maiden arrival of Celebrity Edge.

Port Authority of NSW CEO John McKenna said at 306m long Celebrity Edge is the largest cruise vessel by length to visit this season and thousands of passengers are expected to enjoy a range of local attractions across the Hunter and Central Coast region.

“From wine tasting in the Hunter Valley, to getting up close with Australian wildlife on the Central Coast and Port Stephens, and exploring Newcastle’s historic sites, this visit showcases why the region is a must-visit on Australia’s cruise map.”

“Cruise visitation is a key driver of regional recovery and growth, and the passengers and crew aboard Celebrity Edge will make a significant contribution to the local economy.”

Hunter Valley Resort and Farm Proprietor, Philip Hele OAM said it will be terrific to see a cruise ship arriving into Newcastle and to welcome its passengers to our business.

“Newcastle cruise ship arrivals have a significant impact on small family businesses like mine. They bring new visitors straight into the Hunter Valley, filling our cellar doors, supporting our restaurants and turning first time guests into enthusiastic ambassadors for the region,” he said.

“Tomorrow, we are expecting 96 cruise passengers at my Hunter Valley Resort and Farm, which is a real highlight of the season for us. It brings energy to the property and supports local jobs.”

Strong regional support for cruise was reflected in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to grow cruise tourism, led by Port Authority and agreed to by seven local councils and two peak tourism organisations, Destination Sydney Surrounds North (DSSN) and the Newcastle Tourism Industry Group (NTIG.

DSSN General Manager Glenn Caldwell said in the six months since the announcement, the MoU has delivered significant wins for regional tourism.

“Through this agreement we’ve assisted local business owners to tap into the cruise economy with a number of new local offerings including a koala experience in Port Stephens, helicopter tours to the Hunter Valley, and boat cruises in Newcastle.”

“Our on-ground Cruise Coordinator has secured local guides to accompany cruise ship passengers on shore excursion tours and worked with NTIG to onboard more than 50 wonderful Welcome Volunteers who give a warm welcome to cruise passengers stepping ashore – that’s an eightfold increase with more to come for the 2025/26 season.

“We’ve also delivered cruise support to businesses via workshops in our region, in collaboration with Destination NSW, to help businesses create and deliver great experiences for the Newcastle cruise market. We have also developed new website content to support the growth of cruise.”

“This work shows that the MoU is providing the right channels and support for local businesses to leverage the cruise tourism market,” Mr Caldwell said.

The MoU was developed to support local businesses to create tourism offerings tailored to the cruise market, enhance the visitor experience, and establish a part-time cruise coordinator role.

Alongside Celebrity Edge, approximately 14,000 passengers and crew will round out the summer cruise season for Newcastle. MS The World, the world’s largest private residential yacht, is the next ship to arrive on 19 December.