Minibus Hire Across Australia

Getting Your Group to the Ship at Luggage Point

Brisbane's big ships leave from the Brisbane International Cruise Terminal out at Luggage Point, Pinkenba, near the river mouth and a long way from the city centre. No public transport goes there, so it pays to sort out how your group travels before you start packing.

Why your vehicle's length matters

The terminal sorts traffic by size. Anything over 6.5 m long, coaches and shuttles included, heads for the Coach & Shuttle Area and stays out of the two-minute drop-and-go loop at the front. Limousines under 6.5 m can use that loop, provided the driver stays with the car. Ask the operator which side of the line your vehicle falls on, because it decides where you'll be walking with your bags.

Getting onto the site at all is controlled too. The cruise lines' own pre-booked coaches for that day's sailings are let in, while any other charter connection needs the port's agreement in advance before it can carry passengers to or from the terminal. That's paperwork for the operator, but it's why leaving the booking until sailing day is a gamble.

White minibus parked at the curb
White minibus parked at the curb

From the runway to the ship

Brisbane Airport is close by, about 12 km and roughly a quarter of an hour on the road. The CBD is further, about 21 km and around 30 minutes. If you fly in on sailing morning, send the flight numbers: only licensed vehicles may collect pre-booked passengers at the airport's loading zones, and the operator times the pickup to your arrival.

The terminal opens only on days a ship is at berth, so there's no dropping anything off ahead of time.

Cruise lines you might be sailing with

  • Seabourn
  • MSC Cruises
  • Cunard
  • Holland America Line
  • Princess Cruises
  • Royal Caribbean International
  • Carnival Cruise Line

The terminals

  • Run by Port of Brisbane Pty Ltd and open only on days when a ship is at berth
  • 450 m berth pocket with two passenger boarding bridges, built so ships longer than 270 m no longer have to use the port's cargo terminals
  • Brisbane International Cruise Terminal (BICT), 1 Cruise Terminal Drive, Pinkenba (Luggage Point), opened in June 2022

Before or after the cruise

A spare day in Brisbane has plenty of options. Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast is about an hour south, Australia Zoo at Beerwah about an hour north, and Tamborine Mountain around an hour and a quarter away. With a minibus, a family or group can pick one and still be back in town for dinner.

Your questions

Where do taxis and rideshare go?

To a rank and bays about 120 m from the terminal entrance, linked to it by an undercover walkway. Handy if a couple of people split from the group.

Is there an accessible set-down point?

Yes, two accessible bays at the far end of the two-minute drop-off area out front. Let us know about any mobility needs early so the operator can look for a vehicle that works.

Can we leave a car at the terminal instead?

Parking on site is prepaid, with only a few drive-up spaces, all in Car Park 3. One minibus there and back is often simpler for a group.

Cities

Vehicles