More than 100 cruise ships have docked in Brisbane so far in 2025-26 and the number is expected to reach 139 by the end of the cruise season.
Brisbane International Cruise Terminal (BICT) numbers, released this week, show 101 cruise ships have docked in Brisbane this summer, including five maiden visits. The busiest month was December with 22 visits.
The number is expected to reach 139 for the full October 2025 to September 2026 cruising season.
Since opening in 2022, there have been more than 500 cruise ships and almost three million passenger movements recorded at the terminal which celebrated its 500th cruise ship call when the Carnival Luminosa docked in December last year.
Port of Brisbane Pty Ltd (PBPL) Chief Executive Officer Neil Stephens said the strong summer season reinforced Brisbane’s growing importance as a cruise gateway for Australia and the Pacific.
“Queensland is the country’s second largest cruise market and the BICT is central to this, supporting cruise activity and the economic benefits it brings to regional ports and communities along our state’s coastline,” Mr Stephens said.
“These are calls taking passengers to tourism destinations along Queensland’s coast and southern states, as well as Pacific destinations including New Zealand, Vanuatu, and Papua New Guinea.
“Each cruise ship call at the BICT contributes around $1.05 million in economic benefits to Queensland, while supporting local jobs.”
