With recent announcements that cruising is set to resume from Australian ports, we will once again see these beautiful beasts of sea gracing South Australian ports from October 2022.
The following schedule gives you plenty of time to fill your calendar and set your clocks ready to view their majestic beauty later this year.
For South Australia, the 2022-23 season will see 32 cruise ships make 187 visits to South Australian ports in Port Adelaide, Port Lincoln and Kangaroo Island.
Adelaide's Port Adelaide Passenger Terminal at Outer Harbour will welcome 39 visits this year from 17 different vessels with a number of those visits being overnight stays. For Port Adelaide, 2022-23 will see old favourites such as Queen Elizabeth, Queen Mary 2 and Ovation of the Seas scheduled to return, along with many others.
The best vantage points for Adelaide people wanting to welcome back an old friend, cast a dream-like gaze upon these megaliths of the sea or simply watch ships cruise in and out is anywhere along the foreshore at Semaphore or from Lady Ruthven Drive, North Haven.
Travel to the Outer Harbour by train or car. Please see
Adelaide Metro for further information.
Those on Kangaroo Island need not be disappointed with 12 vessels making 28 visits docking just off Penneshaw. Locals can bring their binoculars and gaze upon the following beauties.
Port Lincoln will welcome 4 cruise ships making 11 visits. Locals will need to bring their binoculars to get a good view from the shore.
This season will once again bring big ships and little ships and everything in between to delight cruise ship fans with visiting vessels ranging from the small and luxurious to the mega cruise ship for families and fun. With these visits bringing vital spending into the South Australian economy, particularly to our regions and especially our fire-ravaged Kangaroo Island, this can only be good news for our tourism economy.
Please note: These are viewing events only at all ports and no access is available on board visiting ships. All times given are subject to change. Please visit
Cruise Ships in Adelaide for further information.
Azamara Quest – December 2022, February 2023
Port Adelaide
27 December 2022 – 6.30 am to 10 pm
12 February 2023 – 6.30 am to 10 pm
Penneshaw
28 December 2022 – 8 am to 5 pm
11 February 2023 – 8 am to 8 pm
Azamara Quest is an R class ship sailing with Azamara Cruises. At just 181 metres in length, she is considered a floating boutique hotel and carries 686 passengers and 408 crew. As a mid-sized cruise ship, she is smaller than most but graceful.
Azamara Quest. Photo: Cruise Ships in Adelaide
20 – 22 January 2023 – 5.30 am to 10 pm ( 2)
25 – 26 February 2023 – 6.30 am – 5 pm ( 1)
Penneshaw
17 January 2023 – 7.30 am to 7.30 pm
25 January 2023 – 8 am to 7 pm
22 February 2023 – 7.30 am to 7.30 pm
Port Lincoln
19 January 2023 – 6.30 am to 5 pm
23 January 2023 – 5.30 am to 8 pm
24 February 2023 – 6.30 am to 5 pm
MS Caledonian Sky has been doing small ship expeditions for APT over the past months during COVID around Australian Ports, mainly West Australia. At just 90.6 metres in length and 15.3 metres wide, she is nothing like the mega cruise ships. However, she remains impressive and a world of luxury for her 99 guests who are looked after by 75 crew.
Caledonian Sky. Photo: APT
11 – 12 February 2023 – 7 am to 3 pm ( 1)
Celebrity Eclipse is a solstice-class cruise ship operated by Celebrity Cruises and is the sister ship to Celebrity Solstice, Celebrity Equinox and Celebrity Silhouette. At 317 metres in length, she carries 2,852 passengers plus crew and definitely sits on the big and beautiful side of the conversation.
Celebrity Eclipse. Photo: Celebrity Cruises
22 November 2022 – 12.30 pm to 11.30 pm
Coral Adventurer is operated by Coral Expeditions; Australia's Pioneering Cruise Line. While firmly on the luxury side of the equation, Coral Expeditions ships are designed for exploration and adventure so see if you can spy the two Xplorer expedition tenders which allow deeper on shore excursions. Coral Adventurer is 93.4 metres long and carries just 99 passengers and 48 crew.
Coral Adventurer. Photo: Coral Expeditions
5 – 6 November 2022 – 12.30 pm – 5 pm ( 1)
16 November 2022 – 5.30 am to 5 pm
A little younger than sister ship Coral Adventurer, Coral Geographer also features the lightweight Xplorer tenders also known as 'safari jeeps'. The same size as her sister ship, Coral Expeditions allows just 99 guests for space and comfort.
Coral Geographer. Photo: Coral Expeditions
2 November 2022 – 5.30 am to 5 pm
8 April 2023 – 5.30 am to 5 pm
Penneshaw
7 April 2023 – 8 am to 6 pm
Coral Princess is a coral-class cruise ship operated by Princess Cruises. Coral Princess and sister ship Island Princess are two of only five panamax ships operated by Princess Cruises, that were built to navigate the historic Panama canal.
Coral Princess is 294 metres long and carries 2,000 passengers and 895 crew.
Coral Princess. Photo: Princess Cruises
19 December 2022 – 5.30 am to 9 pm
5 and 24 January 2023 – 5.30 am to 9 pm
25 March 2023 – 5.30 am to 9 pm
Penneshaw
18 December 2022 – 7 am to 5 pm
6 and 25 January 2023 – 8 am to 6 pm
26 March 2023 – 8 am to 6 pm
Port Lincoln
17 December 2022 – 6.30 am to 6 pm
7 January 2023 – 6.30 am to 6 pm
24 March 2023 – 6.30 am to 6 pm
We will see quite a bit of Grand Princess this season with four visits across the season in Port Adelaide and Kangaroo Island and two in Port Lincoln. A grand-class cruise ship now operated by Princess Cruises at the time she was built she was the largest and most expensive passenger ship ever built.
Slightly smaller than Coral Princess at just 290 metres in length, she carries 2,600 passengers and 1,150 crew.
Grand Princess. Photo: Princess Cruises
8 December 2022 – 6.30 am to 11 pm
Penneshaw
9 December 2022 – 8 am to 6 pm
Port Lincoln
7 December 2022 – 6.30 am to 5 pm
While not a megaship this beautiful Vista class lady from the Holland America Line whose name represents noorden or north in Dutch, is 293 metres in length and carries 1,924 passengers and 800 crew.
Noordam will grace us with just one visit this season at each port and is well worth gazing upon her Holland America Line beauty.
Noordam. Photo: Holland America Line
5 November 2022 – 6.30 am to 6 pm
10 December 2022 – 6 am to 4 pm
6 March 2023 – 6 am to 6 pm
An old hat at Port Adelaide, the very beautiful megaship
Ovation of the Seas will berth at Adelaide's Outer Harbour for the early risers and spend the day in Adelaide before commencing her onward journey. There are three opportunities for Adelaide this season, so set your date for a visit.
A Quantum Class vessel, Ovation of the Seas is 348 metres in length, has 16 passenger decks and carries 4,180 passengers and 1,500 crew.
From your vantage point you might be able to see the Ovation's North Star; a jewel-shaped capsule which ascends over 90 metres above sea level and gives passengers 360o views of the sea and destinations.
Ovation of the Seas. Photo: Cruise Ships in Adelaide
14 January 2023 – 6.30 am to 9 pm
20, 24 and 27 February 2023 – 5.30 am to 4 pm
3, 10, 13, 27 and 31 March 2023 – 5.30 am to 4 pm
3 April 2023 – 5.30 am to 4 pm
Penneshaw
4, 14 and 25 December 2022 – 7 am to 6 pm
15 and 19 January 2023 – 7 am to 6 pm
15 and 23 February 2023 – 7 am to 6 pm
2, 4 and 30 March 2023 – 7 am to 6 pm
Port Lincoln
13 January 2023 – 6.30 am to 6 pm
21 and 28 February 2023 – 6.30 am to 6 pm
28 March 2023 – 6.30 am to 6 pm
With all the dates for Pacific Explorer this season you could be forgiven for thinking she is making South Australia her home. At 266 metres in length, she has 10 passenger decks and carried 1,998 passengers.
Those of you who have been around cruises for some time will remember her as the Dawn Princess operated by Princess Cruises, however, since 2017 she has sailed with P&O Cruises Australia.
Pacific Explorer. Photo: P&O Cruises Australia
11 November 2022 – 5.30 am to 6 pm
7 December 2022 – 5.30 am to 6 pm
6 February 2023 – 6.30 am to 5 pm
1 March 2023 – 5.30 am to 6 pm
Penneshaw
8 December 2022 – 8 am to 6 pm
After just a single day's opportunity to gaze upon the majestic beauty of Cunard's youngest Queen, Queen Elizabeth in the 2018-19 season, this upcoming season will give four opportunities for Port Adelaide, although just one for Kangaroo Island.
Evoking the heyday of Hollywood glamour and elegance, Queen Elizabeth will gracefully glide into the outer harbour with a crown upon her head just as a true Queen should.
Come along, wave the flag and be in the company of royalty, but be on the lookout later in the season for Queen Mary 2.
Queen Elizabeth. Photo: Cunard
17 March 2023 – 5.30 am to 6 pm
Penneshaw
16 March 2023 – 7 am to 6 pm
There is something about Cunard ships that spell out sheer style and elegance and if you came out to see Queen Elizabeth earlier in the season then take the opportunity to see this second of the three Queens and the flagship of the Cunard line,
Queen Mary 2.
At 343 metres long Queen Mary 2 was at the time of her construction, the longest and largest passenger ship every built. Today this honour is held by Wonder of the Seas. However, Queen Mary 2's ability to carry 2,695 guests over 14 passenger decks and 1,253 crew certainly means she is among very big company.
A look from above will enable you to see the sun deck and sports centre.
Queen Mary 2. Photo: Cunard
7 December 2022 – 6.30 am to 7 pm
7 January 2023 – 7.30 am to 11 pm
Penneshaw
6 December 2022 – 12 pm to 8 pm
8 January 2023 – 7 am to 6 pm
MS Regatta is 593.7 feet in length and with nine guest decks accommodates 684 passengers with 400 staff. The flagship of the Oceania Cruises fleet has undertaken a re-inspiration in recent years.
Regatta. Photo: Oceania Cruises
13 March 2023 – 6.30 am to 9 pm
Penneshaw
14 March 2023 – 7 am to 5 pm
At 198 meters in length, Seabourn Sojourn has 11 passenger decks and carries 450 passengers. From your vantage point you may be able to see the Sun Terrace and The Retreat which includes a 9-hole putting green.
Seabourn Sojourn. Photo: Seabourn
16 December 2022 - 6.30 am to 6 pm
Penneshaw
15 December 2022 – 9 am to 11 pm
Owned by Silversea Cruises, Silver Muse is their newest flagship and although only carrying 596 passengers and 411 crew is imposing in port. Said to be an inspirational work of art, Silversea Cruises believe that she redefines ultra-luxury ocean travel. From shore though, gaze upon her from a height and see if you can spy the Observation Library and Jogging Track.
Silver Muse. Photo: Silversea Cruises
11 January 2023 – 7.30 am to 9 pm
Docking for just one day, MV Zenith has operated with Peace Boat since early 2020. Originally built as a sister ship to Celebrity Cruises MV Horizon, this journey will see her winding her way from Yokohama, Japan to Australia via Taiwan, The Philippines and Indonesia.
Zenith is 208 metres in length and carries 1,964 passengers and 620 crew.
Zenith. Photo: PB Cruises
15 – 16 February 2023 – 12.30 pm to 11 pm ( 1)
Penneshaw
17 February 2023 – 8 am to 6 pm
Zuiderdam is the first of the Vista-class ships for Holland America Line and a sister ship to Noordam docking in all three South Australian ports in December 2022. Her other sisters are Oosterdam and Westerdam.
As with Noordan, Zuiderdam is named for south (zuiden) in Dutch. At 291 metres in length, she carries 1,848 passengers and 842 crew.
Zuiderdam. Photo: Holland America Line
