Cruise ship arrives in Sydney with close to 300 suspected Covid cases

A cruise ship classified as a tier 2 Covid risk by the NSW government has docked in Sydney on Friday morning.

A luxury cruise ship carrying as many as 300 positive Covid cases has docked in Sydney on Friday morning.

The Celebrity Eclipse moored at Circular Quay as the NSW government classified the vessel as a tier 2 Covid risk, signalling there were as many as 99 positive cases per 1000 people on-board.

The cruise ship, which was carrying about 3000 people, had just completed a trip to New Zealand, including stops to Christchurch and Dunedin.

The Celebrity Eclipse had completed a two-week tour around New Zealand, including stops in Christchurch and Dunedin. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Ben Symons

Celebrity Eclipse passengers wait for transportation from Circular Quay after the Covid-infested cruise ship docked on Friday morning. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Ben Symons

All passengers aged 12 and over had to be fully vaccinated to sail, per the Covid protocols outlined on the Celebrity Cruises website.

Vaccination certificates had to be sighted at the departure point for passengers to be allowed to embark.

About 3000 people were on-board the Celebrity Eclipse, which has hundreds of positive Covid cases. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Ben Symons

Mask-clad passengers disembark from the Celebrity Eclipse at the Overseas Passenger Terminal in Circular Quay on Friday morning. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Ben Symons

It comes a week after the Grand Princess docked in Melbourne, with dozens of Covid-infected passengers allowed to disembark.

A Princess Cruises spokesperson said last week the vessel had been impacted by a spike in cases across Australia.

“Like many other tourism operators, we too have been impacted by the current fourth wave being experienced across Australia,” the spokesperson said.