Thousands board cruise ship docked in Adelaide as season kicks off

Cruise ship season is injecting more into South Australia's economy every year as more ships choose to drop anchor in Adelaide.

Thousands of passengers loaded onto the Pacific Explorer today, the first of nearly 30,000 guests expected across multiple cruises in March and April as well as December.

Outer Harbour is the ship's home base during the peak of the Aussie cruising season for the second year in a row.

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This year it is expected to reel in more than $30 million for the state's economy. 

Passengers can opt for a number of different cruises with the itineraries ranging from three nights to seven.

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They will visit Kangaroo Island and Port Lincoln as well as interstate destinations.

This is the 38th cruise ship that's docked here in Adelaide so far this year.

Another 75 will arrive throughout the rest of the season.