Sydney Swans kick goals on inaugural Princess Cruise

There was plenty of 'cheer cheer the red and the white' when the inaugural Sydney Swans Member Cruise set sail over the Australia Day long weekend on the Princess Cruises' Crown Princess ship.

Words: Carolyn Cummins Images: Toby Zerna Media

Setting off from Sydney’s sparkling harbour bound for Hobart, the four-day cruise hosted about 300 one-eyed Swannies fans who paid to mingle with a collection of former players, current women players, the girls’ team senior coach and the club’s chief executive Tom Harley.

The pairing of the Australian Rules Football team and Princess Cruises was signed early in 2024 and is for two years. There are now discussions as to whether another cruise will occur, given the success of the first one.


Alongside Harley was the executive general manager of AFL- Leon Cameron, AFLW Coach Scott Gowans, AFLW Captain Chloe Molloy, 2022, AFLW Club Champion Cynthia Hamilton as well as Swans greats and 2012 Premiership players Josh Kennedy and Ted Richards.


Most of the team members traveled with their families and said it was a great way to keep the kids happy and also meet and greet the fans at putt-putt golf, at the buffet - Richards’s favorite spot - and while taking in some of the shows onboard.


Like all cruises, the Crown Princess had an array of activities and events to keep all the passengers engaged and occupied. The four pools and bars were also well patronised.


Kennedy played for the Swans for 12 years and was a Premiership player and multiple Bob Skilton Medallist. He hails from Melbourne football royalty with his father John Kennedy Jr., a former Hawthorn player, and is the grandson of John Kennedy Sr., an Australian Football Hall of Fame member.


Kennedy brought his family and said they all loved the experience and he was happy being continually involved with the Swans. “They are my family and I love watching the games where I can,” he said.

Richards was also a Swans Premiership player over his 16 years at the club. He told the audience at the panel discussions that he was a cruise convert and the family all embraced the trip.

“It's great to be able to enjoy the ship, the kids are happy and occupied and I can talk football,” Richards told one of the fans. “I’m very proud of the Swans and get to as many games as I can,” he added.

The immersive cruise event gave Sydney Swans fans a unique opportunity to sail with their team to reflect on the 2024 season and look forward to an exciting year in 2025. There were freshly-minted members up to a couple that have followed the team for 43 years, joining when it was then known as the South Melbourne Football Club.

Harley said the cruise had been tailor made to give members an unforgettable Sydney Swans adventure, and was jam-packed with entertainment and activities for all ages.

He said given the team is truly interstate with its South Melbourne beginnings, the cruise attracted members from Sydney, Melbourne and Perth.

“We’re proud to partner with Princess Cruises for this exciting opportunity, and give our members this unique opportunity to immerse themselves in a once-in-a-lifetime Sydney Swans experience,” Harley said.

Picture - L-R Cyggy the Swans mascot, Josh Kennedy, Chloe Molloy, Crown Princess Captain Mario Consentino, Cynthia Hamilton, Swans CEO Tom Harley and the Princess Cruise mascot aboard the Crown Princess (Toby Zerna Media) 

To kick off the cruise was a cocktail party where the team members and coaches mingled with fans to hear first-hand how they love the game and the team.

There was also an extensive panel discussion about the year that was and even the heavy loss to the Brisbane Lions in the AFL Grand Final in September 2024 was canvassed. A very lively trivia quiz was held with Lachie Daddo doing the emcee work and swans club members helping or in some cases, light-heartedly not helping, with the answers.

Princess Cruises deemed the event a success and at the official Swans fans’ dinner the entrance to the Da Vinci dining room was festooned with Swans bunting and flags while the staff did a congo line of flag waving as the room erupted into the theme song.

Princess Cruises senior director of marketing and sales, Nick Ferguson said guests were buzzing with excitement.

“The AFL is a sport that brings people together, and we believe in the power of community. Moving into our second year of partnership with the Sydney Swans underscores our commitment to local organizations and we look forward to being part of the Swans journey to success,” Ferguson said.

“Travelling on board the magnificent Crown Princess is exciting enough, but having the opportunity to leverage our strong partnership with the Sydney Swans to enable this unique cruise is such a special moment.”

The Crown Princess is part of the line’s 16 ship fleet and being built in Italy it was fitting to have an Italian captain, Mario Consentino with the main dining areas named Sabatini’s, Michelangelo, Bottlicello and Da Vinci plus the Crown Grill and Adagio cocktail bar.

This four-day cruise was popular, with all of the 3090 cabins booked. The Crown Princess was launched in June 2006 and christened by Martha Stewart, the American TV personality and entrepreneur.

Aside from the official events, there were morning pilates and yoga sessions where the current and former players engaged with guests for an early morning stretch.

“These panels and events give us a great insight to what you fans want and all the feedback will be discussed at the club,” Harley told the faithful crowd.

The event was also a good time to meet the AFLW players, and captain Molloy said she welcomed seeing the fans “up close and personal”. AFLW Coach Gowans spoke passionately about getting the womens’ games played in front of bigger crowds and extending the season.

“It’s still early days but we are excited by the girls’ game and no one is more committed to its success as the team and the club,” he told the audience.

Molloy is coming back from a knee injury and spent her free time with Hamilton, at the ship’s expansive fitness centre to ensure she can play when the 2025 AFLW season starts later this year. Harley said he loved the spa and massages.

L-R Cynthia Hamilton, Chloe Molloy, Swans CEO Tom Harley, Crown Princess Captain Mario Consentino and Josh Kennedy on the bridge of the Crown Princess (Toby Zerna Media) 

Cruising is gaining popularity around the world and for Princess Cruises, to have a themed event was a good way to introduce people to the experience. It's the best way to relax, as it's merely dropping the suitcase in the cabin and then off to enjoy the ship without the hassle of internal flights or working out where the train station is.

Princess Cruises has three ships based in Australia over the summer 2024-25 season including Crown Princess and Royal Princess homeported in Sydney and Diamond Princess homeported in Brisbane.

All three ships offer itineraries visiting New Zealand, the South Pacific and 'seacation' voyages.

The Sydney Swans first match is on March 7 against Hawthorn.

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Carolyn Cummins is a 26-year member of the Sydney Swans and an official ambassador of the club and was a guest of Princess Cruises.