How to pick up your hire car at a cruise terminal

Stepping off a cruise ship and into a rental car is easier than many travellers expect. With a little planning, you can move from port to open road in under an hour and make the most of your time ashore.

Cruise schedules run to tight windows, so timing matters. Unlike airports, most cruise terminals do not have rental desks inside the building. Instead, you’ll typically need to collect your rental car from a nearby depot, be it a city depot or, in some cases, one at an airport. That short transfer — whether by taxi, rideshare or shuttle — is worth factoring into your day, especially if you plan to drive to a regional destination and return before your ship departs.

In many cases, we see cruise passengers using a rental car for one of three reasons. Some want a simple way to explore beyond the usual shore excursions. Others are starting or ending their cruise holiday and prefer the flexibility of driving themselves. And some need a vehicle for a one-way trip to another city or airport. Whatever your plan, booking ahead is key, as cruise ship arrivals can create sudden spikes in demand — and prices — especially in cities such as Sydney and Brisbane. Leaving booking your rental car until you disembark may limit your options.

It also helps to keep in mind both your luggage needs and the size of your group. Cruise travellers often carry larger suitcases than typical city renters, so choosing the right rental car with a generous boot can make the day more comfortable. Likewise, if you’re travelling with family or friends from your cruise ship, consider how much space you’ll need for both passengers and their luggage — especially if you’re returning directly to the terminal before departure.

Finally, make sure you have all the documents you’ll need to rent a car before you disembark. At a minimum you’ll need your driver’s licence and a credit card in the main driver’s name to collect your rental vehicle. Allow extra time on busy cruise mornings, and plan to return the car well before your boarding window if you’re rejoining the ship.

If you’re comparing options for an upcoming cruise stop, use VroomVroomVroom to check depot locations, opening hours and vehicle types in advance. A little preparation makes for a seamless transition from ocean views to the freedom of the open road.

Picking up a rental car from a cruise terminal

As mentioned above, is most cases rental car providers do not maintain depots right at cruise terminals, instead you’ll typically need to arrange a transfer from the terminal to the depot. Wherever your cruise stops, book ahead and check depot opening hours against your ship’s schedule. Read on for details on a selection of major cruise terminals and the car rental depots near them from around Australia.

Sydney

Sydney has two main cruise terminals: the Overseas Passenger Terminal at Circular Quay and White Bay Cruise Terminal near Balmain. If you dock at Circular Quay, you’re a ten to 15 minute walk from the heart of the city, and while there’s only one depot right at Circular Quay, there are others around the Town Hall, Central, and Kings Cross districts of Sydney City, but for these a short taxi or rideshare trip might make more sense, especially if you have a bit of luggage.

White Bay sits west of the city centre, near Balmain, from where you’ll need to transfer by taxi or shuttle to either a city depot (see above) or to Darling Harbour. Be sure to allow extra time on busy cruise days, as traffic across the Anzac Bridge and through the CBD can slow you down.

Brisbane

Large cruise ships dock at the Brisbane International Cruise Terminal in Pinkenba, near the mouth of the river and very close to Brisbane Airport. Despite its seaside location, this is an industrial area with limited public transport, and most travellers opt for a taxi or rideshare to the airport or the Brisbane CBD to collect their vehicle. The airport is the closer option — albeit with typically higher rental rates — but if you’re flying out after your cruise, an airport depot can be a practical option.

Cairns

In Cairns, smaller ships berth at the Cairns Cruise Liner Terminal, a ten to 15 minute walk from the Esplanade and downtown Cairns car hire depots. Large cruise ships mostly anchor offshore at Yorkey’s Knob and tender passengers to shore, from where a taxi or rideshare is needed for the 20 minute transfer to Cairns Airport or the city and their respective rental car depots. Cairns Airport offers the largest range of vehicles and extended opening hours, which can be helpful if your tender schedule shifts. Bear in mind the time requirements if you need to use a tender to return to your vessel.

Port Douglas

For Port Douglas, larger cruise ships anchor offshore and ferry passengers to shore in a tender, landing at Crystalbrook Superyacht Marina at the northern end of town, and there’s a Sixt depot in Port Douglas within walking distance of the marina. For a broader selection of providers and vehicles you may want to consider arranging a rental car collection in Cairns instead, but keep in mind that will require a 60 km drive down the Coral Coast.

Melbourne

Cruise ships calling into the Victorian capital of Melbourne dock at Station Pier in the Port of Melbourne. Set just to the east of the mouth of the Yarra River, there are no rental car depots within a short walking distance of the terminal, but there are depots in both South Melbourne and Southbank that are a short taxi or rideshare drive away, and these will be your best bet for a car hire location convenient to the cruise terminal in Melbourne.

Hobart

In Hobart, cruise ships dock at Macquarie Wharf set on the southern shoreline of the Tasmanian capital. From the terminal it’s about a 500 metre walk to rental car depots located in the Hobart CBD, and these will be your best option, especially if you’re after a fairly short hire and don’t want to lose time getting to depots further afield like those at Hobart Airport.

Adelaide

In Adelaide, large cruise ships berth at Port Adelaide Passenger Terminal, which is located around 25 km to the north of Adelaide CBD. There are no rental car depots close to the terminal, and you’re best served to head into either Adelaide City, or if you’d prefer somewhere a little closer, perhaps Regency Park or Beverly, both of which have a selection of rental car depots to choose from and are a shorter transfer from Port Adelaide Passenger Terminal than the city.

Perth

As Perth city is set away from the coast, cruise ships instead dock at Fremantle Passenger Terminal, around 20 km to the southwest of Perth CBD in Fremantle. Both No Birds and Sixt have Fremantle Passenger Terminal depots within walking distance, while Budget and Europcar are a short taxi or rideshare drive away.

Darwin

In Darwin cruise ships berth at Darwin Port Cruise Ship Terminal, around one kilometre to the south of downtown Darwin where a full range of rental car providers maintain depots. Depending on how much luggage you have, you could walk into town, or else it is a short taxi or rideshare drive away.