Port of Townsville welcomes Carnival Luminosa

Port of Townsville welcomed the maiden visit of Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Luminosa on Tuesday, 11 November, with the vessel homeporting in Brisbane for the summer season.  

This summer will mark Carnival Luminosa’s fourth consecutive season sailing from Queensland, with 70,000 guests expected to travel across 25 voyages throughout the season.

More than 2000 passengers and crew arriving to Townsville aboard the 294-metre cruise ship, with the majority of guests coming from Korea, Japan, and China.

Port of Townville General Manager Business Development Drew Penny said Carnival Luminosa’s arrival from Brisbane complements the region’s growing appeal as a must cruise destination and opens new opportunities for Northern Queensland itineraries.  

“This maiden call reflects the growing demand for cruise ships in Queensland’s waters and creates opportunities for more frequent visits to northern ports like the Port of Townsville,” Mr Penny said.

“It’s an exciting time for our city as we continue to welcome more cruise ships and showcase everything North Queensland has to offer,” he said.

Australia’s ties with Japan, China, and Korea are crucial for cruise tourism as these nations represent major visitor markets and key partners in the tourism industry, and strengthening these relationships helps position Townsville as a globally connected regional city.

Townsville Enterprise Director of Visitor Economy and Marketing Lisa Woolfe said even with this being a last-minute schedule change, our community has rallied together to deliver another outstanding welcome.

“Townsville always turns it on for its cruise visitors, whether it be 12 months or hours' notice,” Ms Woolfe said.

“We’ve got our cruise volunteers welcoming visitors as they disembark the ship, market stalls and entertainment set-up in the terminal, and buses transferring passengers to the Strand.

“Today’s arrival offers a fantastic boost for local businesses with an estimated economic value of half a million dollars flowing through our city in just one day.

“This is a maiden voyage and an opportunity to showcase just how Townsville turns it on for its visitors.

“Today’s arrival is a testament to the port expansion, which has allowed large ships into Townsville.”

This will be Townsville’s busiest cruise season yet with 25 cruise ships from 13 cruise lines set to visit our city between July 2025 and April 2026.

Cruise provides a major boost to the local economy with each passenger spending about $200 a day exploring the region.