Cruise line CMV buoyant about the return of cruising to SA

COVID-19 has anchored the cruise industry worldwide but Adelaide-based CMV Australia is busy planning a summer season of voyages from Outer Harbour — if they can land here.

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A company planning the return of the once-booming cruise industry to South Australia hopes to start with the equivalent of dipping its toe in the water, with local cruises largely staying within the South Australian bubble.

Cruise & Maritime Voyages has paused cruises on its six ships worldwide until late next month due to the pandemic.

However, CMV Australia managing director Dean Brazier is confident the line’s Vasco da Gama will return to homeport in Adelaide and Fremantle for the coming summer cruise season.

Major hurdles to overcome range from getting permission for the ship to land at SA ports, to ensuring non-South Australian guests are able to go ashore, as well as getting the ship here from the northern hemisphere carrying passengers from country to country.

CMV Australia shifted its head office to Adelaide in 2017 as it focused on the SA and WA markets, basing ships in these states for the summer cruise seasons.

It has scheduled five departures from Adelaide in December, visiting SA ports as well as calls in Tasmania and Western Australia subject to borders being open, although planned calls also to Melbourne, Portland and Geelong are in doubt.

They include visits to Kangaroo Island, Port Lincoln and Wallaroo, with each visit generating hundreds of thousands of dollars as passengers take tours, dine and shop onshore.

“We were so proud to have Vasco da Gama homeporting in Adelaide last summer, and we know that South Australians loved the convenience of being able to take a couple of days off to jump on a ship and visit fantastic destinations across the state,” Mr Brazier said.

“Vasco da Gama will homeport in Adelaide again this season, where she will champion domestic tourism by bringing visitors to regional ports across the state.

“We look forward to visiting Kangaroo Island again and supporting the community as it continues to recover from last summer’s bushfires, as well as coming back to some of our favourite SA regions such as the Eyre Peninsula and the Copper Coast.”

While the Ruby Princess fiasco may have spooked many people from cruising, the Australian doctor sent to contain the coronavirus outbreak on the Ruby Princess as well as Diamond Princess and Grand Princess says he would happily take a cruise.

Asked if he would ever go on a cruise on one of those ships, Dr John Parker said: “Yes. Eventually cruising will become safe again, safer than before.”