The Glenelg Shire is getting ready for cruise ship season after the first of four visits this summer made its way into port.
NCL Bahamas Ltd’s Norwegian Sun docked into Portland recently, welcoming more than 1800 passengers to shore.
Glenelg Shire Mayor Cr Karen Stephens said it was the first of multiple stopovers for the Norwegian Sun this Summer, with a further two visits scheduled in coming weeks.
“Portland has become a destination of choice thanks to our natural deep sea port and great on-shore facility ratings, which have been largely achieved thanks to the significant efforts of our local community who have got behind this important tourism opportunity,” she said.
“We thank all the volunteers, tourism operators, business owners and staff who have been working tirelessly to ensure to secure repeat visits from cruise operators.
“It’s now full speed into one of our busiest cruise ship seasons which will bring tens of thousands of visitors to our region.
“I look forward to welcoming cruising visitors to our shores and know they will have a wonderful time experiencing all that our Shire has to offer.”
The Norwegian Sun’s visit to Portland marked the start of the cruise’s 15-day itinerary around Australia and New Zealand. The ship departed from Melbourne, visiting sites such as Kangaroo Island, Hobart, Milford Sound, Dunedin and Wellington before finishing in Auckland.
As part of the day visit, shuttle buses transported cruise ship passengers across the local area, promoting key tourist destinations and CBD sites.
For up-to-date scheduling information please visit the Port of Portland website.