‘Emotional day’: First cruise ship in two years sails into Sydney

Cruising has made a triumphant return to the Harbour city as P&O’s Pacific Explorer kickstarts the $5bn industry back to its glory.

The first cruise ship in more than two years has sailed into Sydney Harbour this morning to restart an industry worth more than $5 billion to the Australian economy.

The P & O flagship Pacific Explorer came through the heads after 9am with a three tug escort and the hopes of 18,000 people whose jobs rely on the industry riding with her.

“This is the culmination of two years of hope and optimism and a lot of hard work,” a tearful Carnival Australia and P & O Cruises Australia chief executive Marguerite Fitzgerald said.

Three tugs sprayed plumes of water into the air as the liner, which had been docked in Cyprus, returned to Australia to reprovisioned and for the 600 crew members to spend six weeks training and getting reacquainted with the ship before the her first four night cruise to Brisbane.

Margy Osmond, chief executive of the Tourism and Transport Forum, said: “This is a symbolic moment for Australia.

We’re home: P & O Cruises’ Pacific Explorer returns to Sydney Harbour after a two year cruise ship ban. Picture: Getty Images for P & O Cruises

“The pictures of the ship coming through the heads will send the message around the world that Sydney is open for business - not just for cruising but for all tourism.”

NSW Transport Minister David Elliott was on board a boat of dignitaries who travelled out to see the P & O liner come through the heads at 9.30am.

The cruising industry contributes more than $5 billion to Australia’s economy. Picture: Supplied

“It is a very, very special day because psychologically we are seeing what living with Covid looks like,” he said.

“When Scott Morrison and Dominic Perrottet said we cannot walk away, we have to live with Covid this is exactly what they meant.

“Cruising is synonymous with Sydney Harbour so today’s arrival will be a wonderful psychological boost for Australian tourism. It is an emotional day.”

Tourism leaders welcomed the return of the industry.

Denise Ora, chief executive of the Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, said: “We used to have 5.4 million visitors walk through the QEII gates and we lost 60 per cent of that through Covid. It is great to start to get those those numbers back.”

Originally published as ‘Emotional day’: First cruise ship in two years sails into Sydney