CLIA’s Bud Darr Backs Calls for Government Summit to Unlock Australia’s Cruise Potential

• The new Cruise Lines International President, Bud Darr has praised Australia’s potential as a cruise region.
• But, on a first visit to Australia, he addressed the problems that have led to capacity reductions.
• Darr believes a whole-of-government approach similar to that in New Zealand would help.

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) President and Chief Executive Officer Bud Darr has backed calls for the Australian Government to convene a summit with industry to tackle the obstacles holding back cruising in the region.

Speaking during his first visit to Australia at CLIA360 in Brisbane, the association’s biggest ever conference of local cruise experts, Darr said he would support a whole-of-government approach similar to the model being adopted in New Zealand, where multiple ministries have engaged directly with cruise leaders.

“I think that’s always a very constructive thing,” Darr told Cruise Passenger. “When governments come together in a serious way, we’ve seen a really meaningful dialogue and practical solutions emerge. If Australia were to take that same approach at the federal level—and perhaps state level too—it could only be positive. We would certainly encourage that.”

Why does Australia have fewer ships?

Darr was quick to praise the warm welcome he received during his tour of Sydney and his meetings with local stakeholders. But he acknowledged that despite the enthusiasm of passengers and communities, Australia faces obstacles that risk deterring cruise lines from sending ships.

Chief among these are the lack of suitable berths in Sydney, high port charges, and a regulatory environment Darr described as “dynamic and fairly aggressive.” He also cited limited customs, immigration and biosecurity resourcing, which he said adds complexity for operators.

“On their own, each of these issues may seem manageable,” Darr explained. “But taken together, they create real challenges. Cruise lines have only so many ships, and those vessels will always be deployed where the itineraries make the most commercial sense. If costs rise too high or guest experience suffers, decisions are taken accordingly.”

Cruise lines like Australian sailings

Sydney remains the jewel in Australia’s cruise crown, but its capacity issues are well known. Darr noted the geographical constraints of the Harbour Bridge, the difficulties of White Bay, and the reliance on anchoring and tendering, which cruise lines prefer to avoid for safety, logistics, and guest comfort reasons.

Still, he highlighted positive developments in ports outside Sydney, including Eden and Adelaide, which have stepped up as cruise destinations in recent years. “There’s more to Australia than one pinnacle port,” he said. “The growth of regional destinations has been one of the more interesting developments of the past half-decade.”

Despite these hurdles, Darr said cruise executives in Miami view Australia positively, pointing to the nation’s extraordinary demand for cruising. With more than 1.3 million Australians taking a cruise each year — out of a population of just 27 million — the country has one of the highest per-capita participation rates in the world.

“It’s dramatic, and it certainly has the attention of those who make deployment decisions,” Darr said. “The goodwill is there. People want to come here. It’s a long way to travel, and airlift can be challenging, but the locally generated demand is powerful.”

Australians love cruising

Asked whether Australia risked developing the same hostility seen in some European ports, Darr was reassuring. “I’ve seen nothing that suggests Australians are unwelcoming,” he said. “Quite the opposite. There is enthusiasm in the ports and communities here. That’s very different from a small number of northern European ports where protests and opposition have been disruptive.”

Darr argued that Australia’s challenges are practical rather than cultural. “The problems we face here are fixable problems,” he said. “If the market feels welcome, if the costs are competitive, if the regulatory environment is balanced, then there’s a huge opportunity for greater success.”

Why a summit might help

Darr praised the example of New Zealand, where CLIA representatives recently met with five government ministers simultaneously to discuss cruise industry issues. “That kind of signal says, ‘we’re serious about making this work,’” he said. “When tourism and transport are combined in policy, you get a more holistic discussion. That’s what’s needed here.”

As Australia emerges from a period of lost capacity, Darr believes government leadership could help ensure ships return in greater numbers. “We want to be constructive partners,” he concluded. “A federal summit that brings everyone together—industry, regulators, and communities—would be a valuable step in making sure Australia continues to be one of the world’s great cruise destinations.”