South Australia’s 2025–26 cruise season is officially underway, with Crown Princess sailing into Port Adelaide this week to kick things off in style.
The Princess Cruises ship marks the start of a bumper summer program for the state, with thousands of local, national and international guests set to visit SA’s shores over the coming months.
“Princess is South Australia’s number one cruise line and we bring more international guests to South Australia than any other cruise line,” Princess Cruises Vice President Asia Pacific Matthew Rutherford said.
“Today’s arrival of Crown Princess kicks off our summer cruise season, which will showcase the best of what South Australia has to offer our guests.”
The arrival also signals the continued rise of cruising in South Australia – a sector now worth millions to the state’s economy each year.
Princess Cruises estimates its 2025–26 season alone will inject around $15 million in local economic benefit, supporting suppliers, tour operators and small businesses.
“As we welcome the arrival of the Crown Princess and its more than 3,000 passengers, we look forward to showcasing our state to local, domestic and international visitors,” South Australian Minister for Tourism, Hon Zoe Bettison MP said.
“We know Princess Cruises and their guests love South Australia and it’s fantastic to see visits scheduled to our state across four of its ships, including its newest and biggest, which will make a first-time visit to Port Lincoln early next year.”
Guests disembarking Crown Princess can explore a range of South Australian experiences from Barossa Valley wine tastings and wildlife encounters at Cleland to maritime tours and Coorong cruises.
Rutherford said the launch underlines the line’s long-term commitment to South Australia, with more port calls scheduled over the next two and a half years.
“With over 3,000 guests onboard the Crown Princess, Princess Cruises is setting the standard in cruising in South Australia,” he said.
“We can’t wait to show off the best of what South Australia has to offer to our guests on board Crown Princess, and to impress them with what’s on offer right across Adelaide and South Australian regions.”
Last month, Princess Cruises announced it will return to Western Australia in 2027, homeporting Sapphire Princess in Fremantle for the summer season. It marks the line’s first WA deployment in eight years and makes Princess the only major premium cruise brand homeporting from the state.
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