Cruise ship companies are rushing to resume operations as the Federal government’s two-year ban on them expires on Sunday, with some of the biggest names in the business setting sail for Queensland.
The P&O Pacific Explorer will arrive in Brisbane on June 2 thanks to a commitment from Carnival, and Royal Caribbean has expressed interest in returning with plans to park its enormous Quantum of the Seas in Queensland for an entire season from November 1 to April of the following year.
Before the pandemic, the cruise industry contributed $1 billion to the Queensland economy. However, the coronavirus halted the industry’s growth, leaving Brisbane’s brand-new $177 million international cruise ship terminal to sit vacant for the past two years.
However, with industry heavyweights meeting state government representatives this week to ensure a safe relaunch in the upcoming weeks, there is fresh vigor for cruising’s comeback.
Operators are optimistic that the effort will now gain momentum, even if it will take some time to complete the turnaround necessary to have the ships fully operational and staffed.
As part of comprehensive industry reforms:
- all passengers over the age of 12 and crew must be fully vaccinated to board domestic and international cruises
- all passengers and crew must return a negative Covid test before boarding
- all ships must have clear Covid-safe plans for all shore excursions
- Covid-safe plans also apply for Covid-positive cases and close contacts disembarking a cruise ship.
Queensland Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe stated the Sunshine State was primed to lead the relaunch of cruising in Australia.
“The last two years have been anything but plain sailing for cruise ship operators, and I certainly appreciate their enthusiasm to return to Queensland,” he said.
“We have more ports, more destinations, more onshore visitor attractions, Australia’s longest stretch of cruising coastline, and warm winter weather that’s perfect for sailing and the envy of the southern states.
“Sunday’s lifting of the Federal Government’s biosecurity ban on large, international cruise vessels entering Australian waters means the cruising industry can finally weigh anchor and join tourism’s economic recovery.”
22 sailings on Quantum of the Seas will depart from Brisbane, with stays in Airlie Beach, Cairns, Sydney, Eden, Hobart, and South Pacific islands between a 2-night vacation and a 13-night excursion.
Quantum, which is more than 300 meters long and twice as wide as the Story Bridge, has more than 2000 cabins.
Comprehensive new health protocols, according to Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Managing Director for Australasia Joel Katz, would enable the rebirth of one of the most fervent cruise markets in the world.
“Millions of people have already sailed in more than 80 other countries where cruising has already resumed, with stringent new health measures in place,” he said.
“Cruise lines have done an enormous amount of work with medical experts internationally which has resulted in health protocols that are among the most extensive to be found anywhere in world tourism.”