Despite fully vaccinated Australian citizens and permanent residents now being able travel overseas without an exemption, the Australian domestic cruise industry restart is still in unchartered waters.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Australian government had been talking about lifting the current ban on cruise ships in December, but without certainty, many cruise companies have extended what has been referred to as a voluntary pause in operations.
Having already announced its intention to resume domestic operations with cruises for the fully vaccinated, P&O Cruises Australia stated recently the company now expected to recommence a month later than planned, "amid continuing uncertainty about the resumption of cruising".
P&O Cruises Australia said the voluntary pause had been extended until mid-February 2022, because of the "absence of a clear pathway for a return to cruising in Australia".
Princess Cruises has also extended its pause on cruise holidays in both Australia and New Zealand to mid-March 2022.
Eden Tourism board vice-chair Lana Wills said the board was not expecting to be notified of anything sooner than mid-December.
"I think the decisions are around whether it's worth mobilising ships for a short season or if they just hold off until 2022/23," Ms Wills said
"A decision really does have to be made soon, as you can't get on a cruise ship even domestically at the moment.
"Then we can make some decisions around preparing for when the ships return. There's a very strong cruise community of people who love holidaying in that way and I imagine they'll be very happy," Ms Wills said.
There has been substantial investment in Eden as a cruise destination over the last five years, with many hopeful the success of the industry would boost the economy in the Far South Coast region.
A group of MPs, including Member for Eden-Monaro Kristy McBain, began advocating earlier this year for the cruise industry to resume and were of the opinion the government needed to create a framework for a return to domestic cruising.
Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) managing director Australasia Joel Katz said the latest cruise cancellations were the result of the uncertainty the industry faced while there was no agreed plan in place for cruising's resumption.
"Although the federal government is considering lifting the cruise ban, it will still be necessary to establish detailed plans with state governments first," Mr Katz said.
"Internationally, close to four million people have successfully sailed in countries where cruising has resumed, with stringent new health measures in place. Australasia is one of the only major cruise regions in the world where no plan for cruising's revival has been established by governments.
"Cruise lines will need several months to prepare for operations and bring ships back from other parts of the world. We're hopeful we will see some ships return by Easter.
"The new health protocols in response to the global pandemic are among the most comprehensive to be found anywhere in world tourism. It's important that we have further discussions with Australian governments and health authorities as soon as possible so we can implement health protocols locally and allow a careful and responsible resumption of cruising."
Read also:
Leah Szanto
Regional journalist covering the Far South Coast of NSW.
Regional journalist covering the Far South Coast of NSW.
