Public transport during the 2022 / 2023 cruise ship season

Events > Culture

We extend a warm welcome to all cruise ship passengers arriving at Station Pier in Port Melbourne.

Public transport is the perfect way for you to get around the city and take in the sights, before you travel back to the ship and set sail on the next chapter of your journey.

PTV has made it easy to use public transport during your stay. Simply purchase a myki Explorer and enjoy a ready-to-use myki card with one day’s unlimited travel on public transport, plus special offers for a number of attractions. You can purchase the myki Explorer at Station Pier from the PTV ticket booth.

To travel into Melbourne, catch the Bus 109 City Express from Station Pier. This bus will take you directly into Queens Bridge Street.

The first cruise ship will arrive in Port Melbourne on 15 September 2022, with ships to arrive every few days until 6 April 2023.

During cruise ship season, local passengers in the Port Melbourne area who catch Route 109 trams are encouraged to allow extra travel time as trams to the city are likely to be busy.

Tram Route 109 leaves from stop 129 – Beacon Cove/Light Rail at the end of Station Pier. It travels through Port Melbourne and along Collins Street, in the heart of the city.

Cruise ship passengers

• Travel from Station Pier to Melbourne city
• Travel from Melbourne city to Station Pier
• Map of Station Pier
• Download cruise ship season factsheet (PDF) 2.7MB
• Public transport tickets
• Contact Public Transport Victoria for more information

Local passengers

• Local passengers: allow extra time for your journey into the city
• Cruise ship arrival dates

Cruise ship passengers

Travel from Station Pier to Melbourne city

Your ship will arrive at Station Pier in Port Melbourne, six kilometres from Melbourne city. To travel into the city, you can take Bus 109 City Express to Stop 115 Casino/Southbank, Queens Bridge Street.

From here you can walk or continue your journey via tram into the city.

The bus shuttle and trams cost a normal public transport fare and you must travel with a myki which you can buy at the PTV ticket booth inside the Cruise Terminal.

Travelling to the city

You can catch either a tram or a bus from Port Melbourne into the city, however the shuttle bus is the only service that runs directly from Station Pier into the city.

The Bus 109 City Express shuttle runs direct from the Cruise Terminal on Station Pier to the city, stopping on Queens Bridge Street. The journey takes approximately 20 minutes.

Bus frequency:

Morning (8am – noon): every five to seven minutes
Lunch (Noon – 2pm): every 20 minutes
Afternoon (2pm – 5pm): every 10 to 15 minutes

Route 109 trams also run from Port Melbourne (Beacon Cove) tram stop to the city via Collins, Spencer, Clarendon and Station streets. From the Cruise Terminal on Station Pier, you will need to walk 560 metres to the tram stop.

Tram frequency:

Weekday trams run every 5 to 6 minutes during peak times and every 10 to 12 minutes at all other times.

Weekend trams run every 12 to 20 minutes.

Detailed route information: Route 109 - Port Melbourne to Box Hill (via City)

Travel from Melbourne city to Station Pier 

Bus shuttle to Station Pier

You must catch the Bus 109 Express shuttle directly to Station Pier, departing from Queens Bridge Street.

Bus frequency:

Morning (8am – noon): every five to seven minutes
Lunch (Noon – 2pm): every 15 to 20 minutes
Afternoon (2pm – 5pm): every 10 to 15 minutes

Tram to Station Pier

Route 109 trams also run from the city to the Port Melbourne (Beacon Cove) tram stop via Collins, Spencer, Clarendon and Station streets. From the tram stop, you will need to walk 560 metres back to the Cruise Terminal on Station Pier.

Tram frequency:

Weekday trams run every 5 to 6 minutes during peak times and every 10 to 12 minutes at all other times.

Weekend trams run every 12 to 20 minutes.

Detailed route information: Route 109 - Port Melbourne to Box Hill (via City)

Map of Station Pier

Download the Station Pier map

Public transport tickets 

myki is your ticket to travel on Melbourne’s trains, trams and buses, including the bus shuttles.

How much you pay to travel on trains, trams and buses depends on where and how you're travelling. We define the metropolitan area as Melbourne and its suburbs, and the rest of Victoria as regional.

The cost of travel to areas outside of Melbourne depends on where you are going, for more information see Regional fares.

myki Explorer

The myki Explorer contains a reusable myki card with enough value for one day’s travel in Melbourne, discounts to various Melbourne attractions including Melbourne Aquarium and Eureka Skydeck, a protective souvenir wallet and instructions on how to use myki.

You can buy a myki Explorer at the PTV ticket booth, located in the upper level foyer of the Cruise Terminal.

The myki Explorer is available for full fare, senior, concession and child visitors.

• A full fare myki Explorer costs $16 and includes $9 myki money for travel.
• A concession, child or seniors myki Explorer costs $8 and includes $4.50 myki money for travel.

Credit card or EFTPOS facilities (VISA or Mastercard) are available in the Cruise Terminal. Australian cash dollars are also accepted. There is no Currency Exchange service.

If you want to travel beyond Zone 2, then you will need to top up your myki with additional myki Money.

If you are staying in Melbourne for more than one day, or you plan to return to Melbourne in the future, then hold on to your myki card so you can top it up and continue to use public transport.

Mobile myki

If you’ve got an Android phone, you can opt for a digital myki.

To get started with Mobile myki;

1. Download Google Pay^TM
2. Follow the instructions within Google PayTM to set up your payment card
3. Go to Passes. Tap the blue + Pass button and select Public transport. Choose myki
4. Choose myki Money or myki Pass
5. Choose your fare product: Full fare, Child, Senior or General concession
6. Finish the transaction and you’re ready to travel!

For more information, see Mobile myki 

Contact Public Transport Victoria for more information 

Public transport staff will be available at the Cruise Terminal to help you find your way to the PTV ticket booth and bus shuttle services. You can also drop in to the PTV Hub at Southern Cross Station or call PTV on 1800 800 007.

You can also download the free PTV mobile app for both iPhone and Android. The PTV mobile app allows you to view service times, use the journey planner and set your favourite stops throughout Victoria for faster access to public transport information on the go.

Local passengers

Local passengers: allow extra travel time for your journey into the city

If you live locally and catch Route 109 trams into the city, please be aware of when the cruise ships sail into Port Melbourne. Some visitors will catch tram Route 109 into the city to see the sights, take in Melbourne's culture and enjoy everything this city has to offer.

If you do catch this tram, please allow extra time for your journey as services may be busier than usual. Check below to see when the cruise ships will arrive in Port Melbourne.

Cruise ship arrival dates 

The first cruise ship will arrive in Port Melbourne on 13 October 2019, with ships to arrive every few days until 23 April 2020.

Check the list below to find out exact dates when the cruise ships will arrive at Station Pier in Port Melbourne.

Please note: this list may be subject to change. Turnaround boats are not listed as we do not provide public transport for these ships.

List of cruise ship arrivals

*Shuttles not provided - passengers will need to use Route 109 trams

Additional information

• Please check the Disruptions page for notification of any service changes that may affect your journey to and from the event.
• To plan your route, use Journey planner.
• Download the free PTV mobile app for Android and iOS and access public transport information on the go.
• Passengers requiring accessibility information and assistance, see Accessible transport.
• For information on ticketing for children and concessions, see Children and Concessions.
• Passengers needing further information or assistance, please call 1800 800 007 prior to travelling.

Subscribe for weekly travel updates

Keep up to date with planned disruptions on your line/route and across the network by subscribing to our weekly travel update email.

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For official updates and event information from Public Transport Victoria, follow us on Twitter. If you need help or a question answered, call us on 1800 800 007.