Geraldton was ready for its best cruise season: Then 12 ships cancelled and millions of dollars were lost 

A series of government funding cuts as well as the withdrawal of P&O Australia has led to Geraldton, a Western Australian coastal town, experiencing the devastating effects of 12 cruise cancellations. 

Geraldton is a town that loves and welcomes cruises. Local businesses, restaurants, market stall owners, tour guides, and more are always lined up with smiling faces, ready to show cruise visitors the best of their sparkling coastal town.

Yet now, unfortunately, the town doesn’t even have a single cruise ship booked for 2025 or 2026. Furthermore, the town has experienced the crippling cancellation of 12 different ships that had been set to visit. 

Former city mayor, now a cruise guide and advocate for the town, Shane Van Styn told The Geraldton Guardian that on average a cruise ship visit brings in between $100,000 and $300,000 to the town. This means that 12 cancellations equate to a loss of in between $1.2 and $3.6 million for the town.

Geraldton is nearly five hours north of Perth, meaning it is accessible, but on-route for most domestic and international tourists.

Mr Van Styn explains the combination of two factors that have led to these mass cancellations including the defunding of the Australian Border Force and the disbanding of P&O Cruises Australia.

“It’s a combination of P&O pulling out and the Australian Border Force no longer having the resources to do on-ship clearances whilst en route. Western Australia only has Fremantle as the first port of call, so when ships come from the north they bypass Broome, Exmouth, and Geraldton, leading to an overall reduction.”

Has defunding of the border force knee-capped Geraldton cruise?

• There is an immigration process that must occur when a cruise ship visits its first Australian port of call. For example, many cruise lines sail or have sailed, routes from Asia that visit Western Australian ports. These routes arrive from the north making Geraldton an ideal starting point, before heading further south to ports like Perth and Esperance. 
• Previously, in these cases, the ABF would fly officers internationally to board the cruise ship, and clear passengers for entry to Australia, while en route to Geraldton. 
• However, the ABF is no longer offering this service. Mid West Ports Authority CEO Damian Tully told the Geraldton Guardian that this is due to resourcing cuts. 
• “Mid West Ports was advised a number of ships were cancelled due to ABF resourcing requirements by cruise ship representatives. Mid West Ports is committed to the cruise tourism industry and is working with the State Government to address its current impacts.”
• The ABF rejected those claims, stating that the first port of entry applications were rejected as the Port of Geraldton doesn’t have the passenger terminal facilities for border agencies. Essentially acknowledging that the flight-out service would no longer be possible.
• “The Port of Geraldton does not have passenger terminal facilities for border agencies and the port can experience very high winds, making a cruise vessel entry into Geraldton difficult,” the spokesperson said.
• “Cruise ships are advised the dedicated passenger terminal at the Port of Fremantle is a more seamless and enjoyable disembarkation experience (for) passengers while providing ABF officers the resources to quickly, safely and accurately process international arrivals.”
• However, as Van Styn pointed out, when ships come from the North, if they have to pass Geraldton, Exmouth, and more to the first port at Fremantle, they won’t return north but rather continue South along the rest of their itinerary, meaning the northern towns suffer the financial burden. 
• Federal Member for Durack Melissa Price also believes its due government cuts on ABF funding. “I am dismayed for our local economy, which is given a welcomed boost whenever a cruise ship docks here in Geraldton.”

Why P&O’s disbanding is bad news for ports like Geraldton

• Essentially, since P&O announced it would be ceasing its Australian operations, the future of cruise for many regional Australian ports has been thrown into dismay. 
• P&O have several scheduled cruises to Geraldton that were cancelled as a result of the Pacific Explorer retiring from service. Two P&O ships were absorbed into Carnival but it is unclear if these ships will visit many regional ports and unclear if they will sail year-round in Australia. 
• P&O would sail all around Australia and New Zealand, visiting regional ports such as Geraldton, that are receptive and welcoming to cruise ships. 
• Across Norwegian Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruise Lines, Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Lines, there are currently no scheduled sailings to Western Australia.  
• Princess Cruises still visit a range of ports in Western Australia, but not Geraldton. Princess Cruises has 11 scheduled port calls in Exmouth, however, this is a tender port, meaning fewer guests are getting off the ship and spending money in the local economy. Princess also has cruises scheduled to Broome, but has chosen not to visit Geraldton on those itineraries. 
• Essentially, as major cruise lines move the vast majority of their operations to sailings out of Sydney and Brisbane, it means there are ports like Geraldton scattered across Australia, you used to see millions in economic activity from cruise lines that are now left without it.  
• Furthermore, cruisers living outside of Sydney and Brisbane will now likely have to take a flight if they wish to cruise, with next to no cruises sailing out of other states. 

Western Australia is lobbying for improved cruise conditions 

• Geraldton MLA Lara Dalton told the Geraldton Guardian that the Minister for Ports in WA is advocating for first port of entry status in Broome. This would mean that cruise ships coming from Asia could first stop in Broome, then visit towns like Exmouth and Geraldton. 
• “Our Government has been really proud to support our local cruise sector, with $333 million injected into the economy in 2022-23 and more than 1000 jobs supported.
• “I am aware that the Minister for Ports David Michael is advocating for FPOE (First Point of Entry) status in Broome and will be in Canberra (this) month, where he will meet with the relevant ministers again, to raise our concerns.
• “The deputy premier (minister for tourism) is also working with Mr Michael on these matters.”