Spirit of Tasmania’s next-generation vessels will begin carrying passengers at the end of October, in what the operator is calling the biggest upgrade to the Bass Strait crossing in decades.
The new ships, Spirit of Tasmania IV and Spirit of Tasmania V, bring upgraded accommodation, greater vehicle capacity and new onboard experiences, with a focus on self-drive travellers, families, caravan owners and people holidaying with pets.
The new vessels are designed to carry an additional 470 passengers per sailing and feature 301 cabins, including accessible cabins, along with more than three times the caravan capacity of the current fleet. The inaugural passenger sailings will take place on 31 October.
New features
- the first pet-friendly cabins on the route
- increased height and length capacity for vehicles and caravans
- Business Class recliners on day and overnight crossings
- new family-friendly and premium accommodation, including deluxe cabins
- an expanded Tasmanian food and beverage offering built around local produce
- increased passenger and vehicle capacity.
Tourism Tasmania chief executive Sarah Kingston Clark said the crossing was part of the Tasmanian holiday itself.
“The journey across the Bass Strait is part of a Tasmanian holiday, and the new Spirits will give travellers a taste of the island from the moment they step onboard,” she said.
“Tasmania is a place meant to be explored at your own pace. With greater capacity and accessibility through the new Spirits, more travellers will be able to bring their car, caravan or bikes, giving them the freedom to take their time, get off the beaten track and discover more of our diverse regions.”
The vessels will also give the travel trade new opportunities to package and promote Tasmania’s drive market, encouraging visitors to bring their own vehicles, campervans, bicycles and outdoor equipment while supporting longer stays and greater regional dispersal.
The pet-friendly cabins respond to growing demand for pet-inclusive travel and could open Tasmania to travellers who previously chose not to leave their animals behind.
New accommodation and pricing
• Adult passenger fares from $49
• Child fares from $25
• Standard recliners included in fare
• Business recliners from $49
• 4 bed internal cabins from $125
• 4 bed porthole cabins from $185
• Pet friendly cabins from $225
• Family cabins from $275
• Deluxe cabins from $549
• Standard vehicles from $49
• For a 12-metre car and caravan combination, fares start from $643. A 7-metre motorhome is also from $643.
Vehicle fares are based on the overall length of the vehicle or vehicle combination.
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