The Spirit of Tasmania website was overwhelmed by high demand this morning, Wednesday, September 16, 2026, as additional tickets for the new Spirit of Tasmania IV and V ferries were released. The surge in traffic led to the site crashing, leaving many prospective passengers facing difficulties.
According to ABC News Tasmania, tickets went on sale at 10 AM, but by 11 AM, users were encountering queues and error messages when attempting to complete bookings. The release included increased capacity for voyages that had previously sold out, as well as promotional fares and the introduction of new pet-friendly cabins.
The high demand reflects significant public interest in the new vessels, which are set to commence sailings from October 31, 2026. The Tasmanian Government, through Premier Jeremy Rockliff, and TT-Line CEO Chris Carbone had previously announced a staged release of tickets for the Spirit of Tasmania IV and V, with the first stage covering sailings from October 31 to December 12, 2026. All new ship accommodation types, including family cabins and business recliners, were expected to be available for sale by May 2026.
The new ferries are designed to offer increased overall capacity for passengers, cabins, recliners, and vehicles, marking a significant upgrade to the Bass Strait crossing service. This expansion is expected to provide a boost to Tasmania’s visitor and freight economy.
In preparation for the new ships, TT-Line has also confirmed changes to its sailing schedule. Regular daytime sailings will cease, with the new vessels primarily operating overnight services. However, TT-Line has indicated that day sailings could be reintroduced if demand proves higher than anticipated. Furthermore, the service will temporarily halt all passenger sailings for one week in late October to allow for essential testing of the new ships and comprehensive crew training.
Readers are encouraged to visit the official ABC News Tasmania website for further details on the website issues and booking information.