National

Carnival cruise lines shun Victoria over fee hike

By AAP Newswire

Nov 29, 2023

Princess Cruises will no longer home port at Station Pier in Port Melbourne. -AAP Image

Two popular Carnival cruise lines will soon no longer sail from Melbourne because the cruising giant says it cannot cope with a 15 per cent jump in port fees.

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From 2025, Princess Cruises will no longer home port at Station Pier while Cunard will bypass Melbourne entirely.

Carnival Australia's chief strategy officer Teresa Lloyd said the decision was in no small port due to Ports Victoria "significantly and unexpectedly" raising charges.

Ms Lloyd understands the money will be put towards the costs of maintaining Station Pier at Port Melbourne.

"We appreciate the importance of maintaining our ports but to be expected to carry a 15 per cent increase with no notice is unreasonable," she said in a statement.

The company says more than 100,000 Victorians went on their cruises in the last year and the cruise industry pumped $379.5 million into Victoria's economy during the 2022-23 financial year.

Ms Lloyd called on the Victorian government and Ports Victoria to find a long term solution to the issue.

It comes more than a year after the Spirit of Tasmania ferry service shifted its Victorian base from Station Pier to Geelong.

The Victorian government and Ports Victoria have been contacted for comment.

By AAP Newswire

Australian Associated Press