Newy 87.8 FM – Cruise passengers surveyed at the Port of Newcastle over the 2025-26 season have rated their overall experience 4.5 out of 5, with roughly four in five saying they intend to return to Newcastle and surrounds.
The survey was conducted between 19 October 2025 and 31 March 2026 by Destination Sydney Surrounds North in partnership with Port Authority of NSW and the Newcastle Tourism Industry Group.
A total of 178 surveys were completed across five ship arrivals, during which 6,919 passengers came ashore. More than 83 per cent of respondents said their expectations were met.
The ships surveyed were Silver Nova, Celebrity Edge, Viking Venus, Crown Princess and Viking Orion. Only passengers using the port-to-CBD shuttle bus were surveyed.
Welcome Volunteers, run by the Newcastle Tourism Industry Group, and information for visitors were the top-rated services, while transport and walkability both scored above 4.5. Shopping was the only category to score under 4, at 3.98, with passengers naming shopping, Sunday retail opening hours and visitor signage as areas for improvement.
Of those surveyed, 62 per cent were international visitors and 38 per cent domestic, with over half aged between 61 and 75. Among internationals, about 60 per cent were from the USA and 23 per cent from the UK.
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