---
title: "Port Arthur Cruise Port"
url: https://cruisello.com/destinations/australia-new-zealand/port-arthur
description: "Tasmania's haunting convict ruins by the sea"
---

# Port Arthur

🇦🇺 · Australia · Australia & New Zealand

> "Tasmania's haunting convict ruins by the sea"

## At a Glance

- **Avg. Ships/Day:** 1
- **Avg. Time in Port:** 9.8h
- **Visiting Sailings:** 18
- **Cruise Lines:** 2

## Peak Season

Busiest months: Dec (5 sailings), Mar (4 sailings), Feb (3 sailings)

## About Port Arthur

Port Arthur sits on the Tasman Peninsula in southeastern Tasmania. Ships anchor offshore and tender passengers to a small dock. The main attraction is the Port Arthur Historic Site, a former convict settlement that operated from 1830 to 1877 and is one of Australia's most significant heritage sites. The prison ruins, the asylum, and the separate prison (where silence was enforced as punishment) are spread across well-maintained grounds overlooking the harbour.

The site includes a museum, a harbour cruise that passes the Isle of the Dead (the settlement's burial ground), and guided tours of the ruins. A ghost tour runs in the evenings but isn't practical during a port call. The surrounding area is bush and coastline, with walking trails along the cliffs. Tasmanian produce is excellent: look for local cheese, whisky, and seafood at the site's café. Australian dollars are the currency.

## Quick Facts

- **Currency:** AUD (Australian Dollar)
- **Language:** English
- **Timezone:** Australia/Hobart (UTC+11)
- **Tipping:** Not expected; 10% for exceptional service

## Location

Coordinates: -43.1435, 147.8440

- [Open in Google Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/search/cruise+terminal+Port%20Arthur/@-43.14353,147.84404,13z)
- [Open in Apple Maps](https://maps.apple.com/?q=cruise%20terminal%20Port%20Arthur&ll=-43.14353,147.84404&z=13)

## Things to Do in Port Arthur

Top-rated shore excursions that fit a typical ~10h port call. Prices are starting prices per person.

| Tour | Rating | Duration | Fits Port Day | From | Provider |
|------|------|------|------|------|------|
| [Tasman Peninsula Wilderness Cruise from Port Arthur](https://cruisello.com/gogogo/excursion/606c4f72-98e7-41f7-be1e-5396ddbaab3c.md?via=markdown) | 4.9★ (307) | 3h | ✓ | €120 | Viator |
| [Port Arthur Ghost Tour](https://cruisello.com/gogogo/excursion/7f8cd037-8e7a-4129-b175-72b7347d4ba5.md?via=markdown) | 4.3★ (229) | 1h 30m | ✓ | €22 | Viator |
| [Shore Excursion - Port Arthur - Tasman Peninsula](https://cruisello.com/gogogo/excursion/e330a1cb-b75b-4e17-86d7-2393fd5d959d.md?via=markdown) | 4.8★ (55) | 3h | ✓ | €63 | Viator |
| [90 minute Cape Raoul Cruise and Port Arthur Historic Site entry](https://cruisello.com/gogogo/excursion/4470993c-fb2c-4e2b-9904-b854739c4807.md?via=markdown) | 5★ (14) | 4h | ✓ | €120 | Viator |
| [Port Arthur Historic Site [official]](https://cruisello.com/gogogo/excursion/1961b1cd-bd51-4a41-8519-b019766bed54.md?via=markdown) | 4.5★ (324) | 8h | – | €34 | Viator |
| [Coal River Wine Hopper](https://cruisello.com/gogogo/excursion/018cb6da-3095-4ef4-b1c1-3ca92c47f70c.md?via=markdown) | 4.9★ (73) | 7h | – | €62 | Viator |

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews.

## Nearby Ports

- [Hobart](https://cruisello.com/destinations/australia-new-zealand/hobart.md): 27 nm
- [Burnie](https://cruisello.com/destinations/australia-new-zealand/burnie.md): 152 nm
- [Phillip Island](https://cruisello.com/destinations/australia-new-zealand/phillip-island.md): 306 nm

## Cruise Lines Serving This Port

- [Holland America Line](https://cruisello.com/cruise-lines/holland-america-line.md)
- [Princess Cruises](https://cruisello.com/cruise-lines/princess-cruises.md)

## Cheapest Available Sailing

**[View this cruise →](https://cruisello.com/cruises/convict-coast-hobart-port-arthur~PCL-RP-20270319-6.md)**

- **Price:** €700 per person (€1,400 total for 2 guests)
- **Cruise Line:** [Princess Cruises](https://cruisello.com/cruise-lines/princess-cruises.md)
- **Ship:** [Royal Princess](https://cruisello.com/cruise-lines/princess-cruises/royal-princess.md)
- **Duration:** 6 nights
- **Departure:** 2027-03-19
- **Itinerary:** Convict Coast – Hobart & Port Arthur

## Featured Cruises from Port Arthur

Prices are per person, two sharing, in the fare's own currency.

| Cruise | Ship | Line | Departure | Nights | Price |
|------|------|------|------|------|------|
| [Gale-Tamed Convict Shore – Hobart, Port Arthur & Melbourne](https://cruisello.com/cruises/gale-tamed-convict-shore-hobart-port-arthur-melbourne~PCL-RP-20270130-8.md) | Royal Princess | Princess Cruises | 2027-01-30 | 8 | €1,269 |
| [Gilded Eucalyptus – Kangaroo Island & Port Arthur](https://cruisello.com/cruises/gilded-eucalyptus-kangaroo-island-port-arthur~PCL-AP-20261118-12.md) | Grand Princess | Princess Cruises | 2026-11-18 | 12 | €4,023 |

## Browse Cruises

- [All cruises visiting Port Arthur](https://cruisello.com/cruises.md?stopoverPorts=port_arthur) (18 sailings)

## Browse

- [Australia & New Zealand cruises](https://cruisello.com/destinations/australia-new-zealand.md)
- [All Destinations](https://cruisello.com/destinations.md)
- [All Cruises](https://cruisello.com/cruises.md)