Pacific Explorer’s arrival in Sydney signals the return of domestic cruising

One of the nation’s biggest cruising liners has sailed back into Sydney as Covid-19 travel restrictions are lifted.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 18: P&O Cruises Australia's flagship Pacific Explorer is led into Sydney Harbour by a flotilla of maritime vessels on April 18, 2022 in Sydney, Australia. Pacific Explorer's arrival marks the return of cruising in Australia following a two-year hiatus following the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by James D. Morgan/Getty Images for P&O Cruises)

One of the nation’s biggest cruise liners has sailed back into Sydney Harbour this morning as two years of Covid-19 travel restrictions end and the $5bn cruise ship industry begins its long recovery.

A ban on cruise ships was lifted and foreigners were allowed to enter Australia’s three biggest states without a negative Covid-19 test on Sunday for the first time since March 2020, as the federal government’s biosecurity powers lifted at the Easter weekend.

Apart from Tasmania and Western Australia, where restrictions on the industry remain in place, every major port in ­Australia will welcome the return of large cruises.

P&O Cruises’ Pacific Explorer arrived in Sydney Harbour on Monday morning, before embarking on her first voyage to Brisbane on May 31.

P&O Cruises Australia's flagship Pacific Explorer enters Sydney Harbour displaying a banner emblazoned across her front.

The rebirth of cruising comes in the second week of the federal election campaign and will be used by Scott Morrison as more evidence he has led a post-pandemic economic revival.

Tourism Minister Dan Tehan welcomed the return of ships into Sydney, saying it was another sign the country was emerging from Covid-19. “The Morrison government welcomes the return of large-scale cruise ships, which will support more jobs and businesses in the tourism sector, further reinvigorate the regions where cruise ships dock and attract more tourists to our country to experience the world’s best attractions.

“The Morrison government is building a strong economy and a stronger future, and the resumption of cruising in Australia is another step forward in our recovery from Covid-19,” he said.

The Pacific Explorer, which normally carries more than 2000 passengers, was met by jubilant crowds when she passed through the heads at 9.30am, with three water cannon tugs forming a guard of honour and escorting her back into Circular Quay.

Her arrival heralds a cautious return for the embattled sector, which was previously worth more than $5bn a year and employed up to 20,000 staff before the pandemic struck.

Industry leaders remain bullish about its recovery.

Alongside the Pacific Explorer, Ponant Asia’s Le Laperouse is set to depart from Darwin on April 28 and the Coral Princess will resume cruises from Brisbane in June, as more ships return to Australian waters later in the year.

Veteran skipper Alan Nixon, who is piloting the Pacific Explorer into the harbour on Monday, said the arrival of the ship signals the return to “more normal life” in the wake of the pandemic.

“Every captain I’ve ever known regards sailing into Sydney Harbour as a special event. I never tire of it … Captains aren’t known for being emotional types but when we sail into Sydney Harbour, it will be impossible to avoid the emotion of the moment.”

P&O Cruises Australia Captain Alan Nixon aboard the Pacific Explorer.

In March, the Victorian, NSW and Queensland governments agreed to align travel protocols for passengers – requiring full vaccination for over 12-year-olds and a negative Covid-19 test prior to departure – while Western Australia will only permit vessels carrying up to 350 passengers to operate until the state ban lifts in October.

In Tasmania, the government will retain its ban on ships carrying more than 99 passengers, indicating last week it was in no rush to welcome back large cruises any time soon.

Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chair John Hart said he was confident the industry could rebound quickly, with promising signs already emerging. “When the government announced the ban would lift, we saw an immediate response from consumers. Phones have been ringing off the hook, and we’re already seeing bookings in CBDs beginning to rise in anticipation of cruises returning, even though this is an out-of-season ­period.  

“The density of cruise passengers in Australia is greater than any other country in the world. Over 4 per cent of our population are cruisers and what we’re seeing is that they can’t wait to get back.”

Tourism & Transport Forum boss Margy Osmond said the resurgence in domestic flights and scenes at Australia’s major airports were a strong indication of mounting consumer appetite.

“The return of cruises into Sydney Harbour will be hugely symbolic, and the current activity in domestic travel over Easter should be a cause for optimism,” Ms Osmond said, adding that the industry’s recovery would be long and occasionally unpredictable.

P&O Cruises Australia's flagship Pacific Explorer is led into Sydney Harbour by fire tugs.

Avid cruise-goer Honida Beram will be among the first people to cruise in Australian waters next month onboard the Pacific Explorer.

Ms Beram said she was overjoyed that the federal government had finally “seen the light” and ended the ban that had left businesses including providores, tour operators and entertainers who supply the ships on the rocks and cruise-goers crying foul.

“I’m absolutely vibrating with excitement, it’s been a long time coming,” she said.

“It’s been two years and it’s great to be back on the water.

“I can’t wait to see the crew and welcome back the ships to Australia.”

Ms Beram, 45, who runs travel website Cruising with Honey, spearheaded a campaign to resume domestic cruising during the pandemic that fell on deaf ears. She is a cruising veteran who has made about 30 cruises and has tours booked in Alaska and Europe for mid-year before cruising domestically later this year.

“I’m just so happy the federal government has now seen the light, and realised what an incredible impact financially it is … cruising impacts the Australian economy … and how much joy it is going to bring,” she said.