Australia’s Cruise Surge Set To Resume This Summer

As international ships return for the first summer season since the 2020 ban, interest in cruising has skyrocketed to levels not seen before the pandemic.

September is “Cruise Month” for the cruise industry, and 46 ships are expected to dock in Australian ports this summer.

Staffing shortages, COVID-19 outbreaks, and other logistical challenges (Tasmania’s tourist industry group is presently trying to ban mega ships’ with more than 5000 passengers) have all hampered preparations for the next season. However, there are still many exciting things to look forwards to.

This summer, Australian ports will host the likes of the Quantum of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas, as well as all three of Cunard’s “Queens” (Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth, and Queen Victoria), which were built before or during the pandemic.

Due to being one of the last countries to resume sailing, Australia has had to overcome some unique logistical hurdles. The longer time spent preparing for larger ship sailings (about 12 weeks) is significant for boats based in certain locations of Asia and Europe, where more preparation is needed for trans-Tasman travel.

Cruises have steadily returned to Australia since the ban was lifted on 18 April.

According to Joel Katz, CLIA’s managing director for Australasia, cruise ships are increasingly sticking to shorter itineraries in local waters due to high demand.

According to Katz, “the recent focus on domestic travel has meant that Australians are now considering more close-by options like Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania. These states now feature regularly in cruise itineraries, which means economic benefits of cruise tourism can be spread to other communities along our coasts.”

This business transition has resulted in the largest number of cruise ships ever visiting Eden, a town on the South Coast of New South Wales.

Western Australia’s tourism industry is gearing up for the return of big ships, but the state has already had a busy Kimberley cruise season.

According to Katz, “the Kimberley has reemerged as Australia’s top expedition cruise destination throughout the winter.” In the coming months, travellers will have more small-ship options in places like Western Australia, the Northern Territory, Tropical North Queensland, and nearby neighbours like Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.

Even though Sydney has traditionally been Australia’s international cruise gateway, Queensland and Victoria are making considerable strides to overtake Sydney in recent years.

The news that Sir Richard Branson’s high-profile new cruise company Virgin Voyages will base its 2770-passenger Resilient Lady in Melbourne beginning in late 2023 had to hurt Sydney’s tourism industry.

The Spirit of Tasmania is relocating to a brand new, state-of-the-art facility in Geelong called Spirit of Tasmania Quay. This improvement is expected to enhance tourism expenditure in Geelong by $57.3 million in the next year and in Victoria by $174.1 million by the following year.

A new terminal further north is being heralded as a game-changer for Queensland.

A first for Australian cruises, the new Brisbane International Cruise Terminal opened this year, according to Katz.

Before June, the $180 million facility had been a “ghost” ship terminal, sitting empty since 2020.

According to Katz, “with a new, contemporary facility, Brisbane is now better poised to function as an important cruising gateway in the north-east, and this will imply greater choice for Australian cruise passengers as they evaluate itinerary possibilities in the South Pacific and northern Queensland.

Australia will play host to some of the world’s largest cruise ships this summer. Between now and April 2023, several boats will make their premiere in Australian waters.

New cruise ships from Princess Cruises and Celebrity Cruises, the Grand Princess and Celebrity Eclipse, respectively, will make their debuts in October, and the Carnival Luminosa will make her home port in Brisbane in November.

The Norwegian Spirit, freshly refurbished to the tune of $150 million by Norwegian Cruise Line, will make her way to Australia in December. Before the end of the month, the Seven Seas Explorer will debut in the Asia-Pacific region with Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

Source: Traveller