Peter Lynch 
By Peter Lynch, Editor-in-Chief Welcome to our last newsletter of the year. The team at Cruise Passenger has charted another extraordinary 12 months when the world has resumed cruising…but Australia has remained shut to all but our small-ship lines. We’ve following the talks that so nearly produced a restart date – Omicron put paid to … Read more
By Joel Katz, Managing Director Australasia, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Wednesday’s Daily Telegraph made the message loud and clear: “ABANDON SHIP… AGAIN!” A double-page spread in the Sydney tabloid showed why Australian cruise passengers, travel industry workers and the wider cruise community feel abandoned by our governments. The recent extension of Australia’s long-running … Read more
Princess Cruises yesterday welcomed the outcome of a New Zealand Customs’ inquiry into Ruby Princess’s visit to the country in March 2020 which found the company and crew had no knowledge that COVID was on board. The announcement means no action will be taken against the ship’s crew or any of the entities involved in … Read more
New COVID strain Omicron has halted Australia’s cruise restart with just 14 days to go before the Biosecurity Act ban on foreign flagged vessels is due for renewal. The state has told Cruise Passenger it is now waiting for the Federal Government’s all-clear before it can start planning the return of ships. Last week, we … Read more
NSW is set to become to the first state to allow cruising, with a target date set for February 1 to begin intrastate itineraries. The major breakthrough ends 21 months in which cruise ships have been banned and also ends Australia’s isolation from international shipping. It is the last country to end its cruise ban. … Read more
In a move that is likely to spark some soul searching among cruise lines that specialise in family holidays, Disney Cruise Line has announced that all passengers aged five up and up will have to provide proof that they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 on all journeys scheduled for departure on or after January 13. … Read more
The Prime Minister Scott Morrison wants it. So does Health Minister Greg Hunt. And the Premier of NSW Domenic Perrottet is behind it too. So it won’t be long before we see cruise ships back in Sydney harbour again after a 20-month gap. Most are predicting March, thanks to the 60-90 day turnaround time needed … Read more
Cruise ship operators are pinning their hopes of a cruise return on NSW, with a meeting with NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard this week proving productive. The talks took place on Thursday, and are believed to follow the federal government indicating that Canberra will not continue the ban on foreign flagged ships after its expiry … Read more
Celebrity Cruises has unveiled a stunning Rome to Sydney repositioning cruise aboard the technologically advanced Celebrity Edge. The ship will be on her way Down Under for her inaugural season in Australia. “This Grand Voyage is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reconnect with the world, experience new cultures, explore diverse and exotic landscapes, and experience something new … Read more
She's the most specious ship yet from luxury line Oceania Cruises. James Sitters tells Rose Kelly and Peter Lynch what's on board the new class of ship, including restaurants, spas and suites.
