Cruise ships ‘back on before Christmas’

Australians could be allowed to set sail on a cruise ship by Christmas, the federal government has announced. Health Minister Greg Hunt confirmed he’s considering scrapping the Biosecurity Act ban preventing international cruise ships travelling to and from Australia.

Ships have been banned from our waters for more than 18 months after the Ruby Princess COVID-19 catastrophe resulted in hundreds of cases and 28 deaths.

“I expect to be able to make a decision on cruise ships in the coming weeks once we’ve got the medical information, but it will require at least one state or territory to partner on that,” Hunt said on Sunday.

“We’re working with a number of states and territories, we’ll let them make their own considerations. But, we would like to see cruising back on before Christmas.”

NSW and Victoria are likely to be the first ports to reopen to cruise ships, given they have already ditched quarantine requirements for fully vaccinated international travellers.

Cruise companies have been campaigning for months to be allowed to resume operations. Cruise Lines International Association Managing Director Joel Katz told Sunrise the industry is “very encouraged’ by the development.

“We need the federal government to lift the ban and then we need to be able to work with the states and territories to finalise the protocols,” he said.

Katz said cruising will look very different when ships can set sail, with strict COVID-safe rules in place. This will likely include vaccine requirements, mandatory tests before boarding, passenger limits, extra cleaning and ventilation as well as a ban on self-serve buffets.