Season's Greetings for cruise ship visitors

Christmas Day at the Cairns Cruise Liner Terminal will be twice the fun this year with the arrival of two cruise ships carrying 2,382 passengers and crew from around the world.

First to dock will be the AIDAcara arriving at 0800hrs from Sydney for her maiden visit to Cairns.  The distinctive vessel is part of the German cruise line AIDA Cruises, based in Rostock, and owned by Carnival Corporation.

Many of the passengers will be from Germany and experiencing their first summer Christmas. Intercruises agents have made sure the guests will experience a true tropical celebration with a booking with Sunlover Reef Cruises which will transfer passenger to a reef pontoon to provide Christmas Lunch on the Great Barrier Reef.

The Wildlife Habitat in Port Douglas is also having a special opening in order to give passengers the option of an Aussie wildlife experience via a bus journey along the beautiful stretch of highway to and from Port Douglas adjacent to the Coral Sea.

Upon the vessel’s arrival, Ports North will conduct a plaque ceremony to mark AIDAcara’s first visit to Cairns.  The vessel will depart at 2200hrs on Christmas night, next stop Darwin.

The second cruise ship, Regatta, is arriving at 1330hrs on Christmas Day from Fraser Island. Operated by Oceania Cruises based in Miami Florida, which is owned by Norwegian Cruise Lines, Regatta is also expected to have a high number of North Americans enjoying the novelty of a summer Christmas.

The overnight visit means passengers and crew can mix it with the locals in Cairns on Christmas Day, enjoying the city’s attractions such as the Lagoon, Foreshore and Esplanade. On Boxing Day the vessel leaves at 2100hours, providing plenty of time for organised tours to Kuranda and the Reef. The ship’s next stop is Alotau in Papua New Guinea.

For more information contact:
Andree Stephens Ports North Communications Advisor
07 40523815