Australia’s Cruise Surge Set To Resume This Summer

By TIN Media | International Published 1 year ago on 6 September 2022
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AUSTRALIA:

The popularity of sailing has soared to levels unseen since the epidemic as international ships make their summertime debut following the 2020 prohibition.

For the cruise industry, September is "Cruise Month," and this summer, 46 ships are anticipated to call at Australian ports.

Preparations for the upcoming season have been delayed by staffing shortages, COVID-19 outbreaks, and other logistical issues (Tasmania's tourism industry association is currently attempting to ban mega-ships with more than 5000 passengers). There are still a lot of wonderful things to look forward to, though.

The Quantum of the Seas, Ovation of the Seas, and all three of Cunard's "Queens" (Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth, and Queen Victoria), which were constructed before or during the epidemic, will dock in Australian ports this summer.

Australia has had some special logistical challenges as one of the latest nations to begin sailing. Boats stationed in specific parts of Asia and Europe, where greater preparation is required for trans-Tasman passage, benefit from the extended preparation period for larger ship sailings (approximately 12 weeks).

Since the embargo was lifted on April 18th, cruises have slowly started to return to Australia.

Joel Katz, general director of CLIA for Australasia, claims that due to increased demand, cruise ships are increasingly choosing to stay on shorter itineraries in nearby waters.

According to Katz, "Australians are increasingly considering more nearby options including Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania because of the increased focus on domestic tourism. The fact that these states are now frequently included on cruise itineraries means that other coastal areas can also gain economically from cruise tourism.

Due to this commercial change, Eden, a town on the South Coast of New South Wales, has seen the greatest number of cruise ships ever arrive.

The state has already seen a robust Kimberley cruise season, but Western Australia's tourism industry is preparing for the arrival of large ships.

Katz claims that "throughout the winter, the Kimberley has reemerged as Australia's top expedition cruise destination." More small-ship options will be available to travelers in the upcoming months in locations like Western Australia, the Northern Territory, Tropical North Queensland, and close neighbors like Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.

Even though Sydney has historically been Australia's main port for international cruises, Queensland and Victoria have made significant progress in recent years to replace Sydney.

Sydney's tourism economy may have suffered from the news that Sir Richard Branson's well-known new cruise line Virgin Voyages will base its 2770-passenger Resilient Lady in Melbourne starting in late 2023.

The Spirit of Tasmania is moving to Spirit of Tasmania Quay, a brand-new, cutting-edge facility in Geelong. It is anticipated that this development will increase tourism spending by $174.1 million in Victoria and $57.3 million in Geelong by the following year.

For Queensland, a new terminal further north is being hailed as a game-changer.

According to Katz, the new Brisbane International Cruise Terminal opened this year and is a first for Australian cruises.

The $180 million building has been a "ghost" ship terminal up until June, sitting vacant since 2020.

With a new, modern facility, Brisbane is better positioned to serve as a significant cruising gateway in the northeast, and this will mean more options for Australian cruise passengers as they consider itinerary options in the South Pacific and northern Queensland, according to Katz.

This summer, some of the largest cruise ships in the world will visit Australia. Several boats will debut in Australian waters between now and April 2023.

The Grand Princess and Celebrity Eclipse, two brand-new cruise ships from Princess Cruises and Celebrity Cruises, will make their debuts in October, while the Carnival Luminosa will make Brisbane her home port in November.


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