Residential ship visitors explore Townsville day and night

For residents sailing full time on the largest privately owned residential ship, ensuring Townsville was included on their 2025/26 itinerary was a must.

The World, Residences at Sea, is one of a kind, with 165 luxury residences, sailing a continuous itinerary across every ocean and continent, with the residents curating their must-see destinations.

The residents have been exploring the east coast of Australia since 1 December 2025 and will continue down the coast until 12 January 2026.

The guests will arrive in Townsville on Thursday 11 December 2025 and depart on Saturday 13 December 2025, offering the residents and crew on board the unique opportunity to explore our region day and night. This is The World’s fourth visit to Townsville with previous calls in March 2003, September 2006 and December 2009.

Port of Townsville General Manager Business Development Drew Penny said this cruise season was shaping up to be Townsville’s busiest, with 25 cruise ships from 13 cruise lines visiting between July 2025 and April 2026.

“We’re seeing cruise ship companies who haven’t visited Townsville before engaging with us to see how we can accommodate their visit, which is a really positive sign,” Mr Penny said.

“The World is a little different to the vessels we see in terms of the clientele and length of stay, so we’re really excited to be able to welcome the residents for their extended stay.

“They’ll also be able to enjoy Townsville in the evenings if they wish to and visit our nearby restaurants and dining precincts such as Palmer Street.”

Mr Penny said the Port can accommodate overnight stays and encouraged cruise ship operators to work with the Port’s cruise team to see if extended stays could be part of their future itineraries.

The World’s President and Chief Executive Officer Jessica Hoppe said The World is not a cruise ship, rather, it’s a community where residents live aboard, some full time, travelling the globe from the comfort of their own private luxurious apartments.

“It’s a real pleasure for The World to visit Townsville and spend time with the people and places that make this region so memorable,” Ms Hoppe said.

“Our residents have a say in where the ship goes and vote on the destinations we visit. So being here says a lot about their genuine interest in Townsville and what it has to offer.”

She said they were drawn to experiences that feel authentic, and Townsville’s combination of coastal beauty, vibrant culture, and access to North Queensland’s incredible natural landscapes really speaks to them.

“Whether it’s taking in the views from Castle Hill, strolling along The Strand, or learning from the region’s leading marine research connected to the Great Barrier Reef, our community is truly looking forward to our time here,” Ms Hoppe said.  

“We’re grateful for the warm welcome.”

Townsville Enterprise Director of Visitor Economy and Marketing, Lisa Woolfe said tourism is one of our region’s greatest economic drivers.

“It strengthens local businesses, creates jobs and showcases Townsville North Queensland’s unique character to the world,” Ms Woolfe said.

“Although this is one of our smaller ships, given the multi-day stay, we expect to see approximately $500,000 injected into our local economy due to the duration of the visit.

“Welcoming a multi-day ship to our shores is an exciting progression for our cruise sector and provides visitors a unique opportunity to experience Townsville and the greater region by day and by night.”

The next cruise ship to visit Townsville, will be Seabourn Quest on Monday 15 December. In the New Year the first cruise ship of 2026 to stop in will be Viking Orion on Sunday 4 January.

To view the full cruise shipping schedule, visit: Shipping Schedule | Port of Townsville