Cruising will finally be allowed to resume in Australia after April 17, with the announcement from the federal government concluding a two-year ban due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The ban blocking large international cruise vessels from entering Australia has been in place since March 2020.
On Tuesday Health Minister Greg Hunt confirmed he would not be extending the ban, which expires on April 17, on the basis of medical advice and with the backing of the national cabinet.
“On the basis of medical advice and with the agreement of national cabinet, lifting the cruise ban is consistent with the reopening of Australia’s international border and shows that we have successfully navigated Australia’s emergency response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.
However, state governments will still get the final say on when or how cruising will resume.
“State and territories will advise their readiness to receive cruise ships [at a later date],” a joint statement from Mr Hunt, Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews and Trade Minister Dan Tehan read.
The travel industry is now seeking clarification around the return of cruise ships to Australia.
“Today’s announcement is a huge breakthrough for more than 18,000 Australians who depend on cruise tourism, including travel agents, tour operators, food and produce providers, entertainers, port workers and many other industry suppliers,” said Cruise Lines International Association managing director Joel Katz.
“The suspension of cruising over the past two years has cost the Australian economy more than $10 billion and we now have an opportunity to work on a revival.”
Mr Katz said more than 8 million people had already taken cruises around the world with new health measures in place on board.
“Cruising has changed enormously in response to the pandemic and the work our industry has done with medical experts internationally has resulted in health protocols that are among the most extensive to be found anywhere in world tourism,” Mr Katz said.
Australian Federation of Travel Agents CEO Dean Long has welcomed the news, with cruising representing the bulk of revenue for most agencies.
However, he stressed the industry now needs states and territories to confirm their position on cruises returning.
“We now need the state and territory governments to tell us whether they are open to welcome cruise ships back from April 17, when the ban under the Biosecurity Act expires,” he said.
Getting clarity, he said, is essential before any real planning of getting ships back to Australia can begin.
“Given international cruise ships must meet all state and territory public health requirements to be able to berth, clarity is needed before the real planning of getting ships back here can begin.”
Australian Cruise Association CEO Jill Abel said it will be some months before international cruise ships are ready to return to Australian shores, which will buy states some preparation time.
“This news will give the Australian-based expedition ships the opportunity to enter into agreements with the various states and territories to re-start their winter expedition business,” Ms Abel said.
P&O Cruises Australia president Marguerite Fitzgerald said the company had begun preparations for the staggered return of its three-ship fleet and crew.
“We’ll be working closely with government agencies on our return which will see us visit about 20 ports around the country after an absence of more than two years,” said Ms Fitzgerald.
P&O is on track to be the first cruise line to recommence operations from home shores, with their ship Pacific Explorer due to sail from Sydney on May 31 for a four-night cruise to Brisbane and back.
Other cruise lines are unlikely to return to Australia before spring, ahead of peak cruising season over the summer months.
The government has outlined several safety measures to take place as cruising resumes, including a requirement for passengers to be double vaccinated, an enhanced pre-arrival COVID identification and reporting processes, and a rule that will see cruise ships having to obtain permission before unloading passengers or cargo.
The Australian government’s cruise ban in March 2020 followed an outbreak on board the Ruby Princess, where the vessel docked in Sydney and authorities allowed thousands of passengers to disembark before going through COVID-19 checks. It was one of several high-profile COVID-19 outbreaks on cruise ships around the world.
The oversight led to the country’s first major outbreak of coronavirus, causing 28 deaths and spreading to at least 900 people.
WHICH CRUISE LINES ARE RETURNING TO AUSTRALIA, AND WHEN?
Norwegian Cruise Line‘s refurbished Norwegian Spirit will begin her inaugural season in Sydney on December 22 after an extensive refurbishment until March 2023, operating trans-Tasman and Pacific sailings.
P&O plans to resume cruising on May 31 with Pacific Explorer and launch of a new program of sailings from Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Melbourne.
Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines will kick off its cruising season in Australia from October 21 in Sydney (Radiance of the Seas 7-night Tasmanian cruise), and November 9 from Brisbane.
Holland American Line‘s Noordam returns to Sydney on November 12 for the 2022-23 Australia and New Zealand season. The Noordam then departs on December 17 for an Australian circumnavigation.
Cunard‘s Queen Elizabeth will commence her Australian homeport season on November 7 with the ship’s inaugural circumnavigation of Australia. Further highlights are a Culinary Voyage headlined by Matt
Moran, short sailings to Tasmania and Cunard’s popular Christmas Voyage to New Zealand.
Seabourn‘s Odyssey returns to Sydney on December 5, 2022, for 16-day sailings spanning Australia and New Zealand.
Carnival Cruise Line will kick off sailings in Australia from October 5, starting with a four-day round-trip departing from Sydney, stopping off at Tangalooma (Moreton Island).
APT has been operating cruises in Queensland, Victoria and South Australia since June 2021. The 99-passenger MS Caledonian Sky has now relocated to commence its Western Australian cruising season this month, through to September.
Celebrity Cruises will be bringing Celebrity Eclipse to Australian waters from October 2022 through April 2023, with a series of 3- to 13-night itineraries visiting Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific. This will be the first time Celebrity Eclipse comes to the region.
Viking Cruises will bring back Viking Orion for her seasonal Sydney and Auckland home ports between November 2022 and March 2023, and Viking Mars, one of the line’s newest ocean ships, for voyages in Asia, Australia and New Zealand, scheduled to arrive in Sydney on December 27, 2022.
Oceania Cruises‘ Regatta will arrive in Sydney on December 12, 2022 for a 35-day circumnavigation of Australia, followed by a Sydney to Auckland (New Zealand) sailing on January 16, 2023, and Sydney to Papeete (Tahiti) sailing on February 13, 2023.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises‘ Seven Seas Explorer will launch a 14-night trans-Tasman sailing from Sydney on December 29, 2022, and an 18-night Sydney to Bali (Indonesia) voyage on January 26, 2023.
Princess Cruises‘ Coral Princess is set to debut in Brisbane on June 16 for her inaugural season Down Under.
