THE new Brisbane cruise terminal at Luggage Point has now started accepting bookings for the 2020/21 season, with strong interest from cruise lines even before construction has commenced on the facility.

Speaking at last week’s Australian Cruise Association conference in Broome, Port of Brisbane chief operating officer Peter Keyte said the planned facility will be “capable of handling any cruise ship currently envisaged”.

Moreover, demand for slots at the new terminal so far indicates “we’re going need a second berth sooner than we thought”.

Keyte said the Port of Brisbane was continuing to consult with the industry on a booking system to ensure equitable access, with wharf construction scheduled to commence by the end of the year followed by the terminal in early 2019 and a planned opening in the second quarter of 2020.

The two-level terminal will have capacity to handle about 1,300 passengers per hour, with internal areas including arrivals, check-in area, security, immigration and quarantine plus luggage collection and drop-off facilities.

Keyte said the building design allows simultaneous passenger check-in and disembarkation to maximise efficiency, while the facility will also feature a cafe and light retail offering, open public spaces including a waterfront promenade and both long and short-term car parking.

The development has been “de-risked” through a long-term agreement with Carnival Australia which has committed to 100 berthing days annually for the next 15 years in return for priority berthing rights at the new terminal (CW 06 Jun 2018).