Survey reveals 90 per cent of cruisers want crew and passengers vaccinated

Cruise passengers

An overwhelming number of Cruise Passenger readers have said they want both crew and their fellow passengers to be vaccinated before they step aboard. Close to 90 per cent of readers said they believe vaccinations should be mandatory for everyone on their sailing and 82 per cent of people will get the vaccine once it … Read more

Ponant targets Australia with more cruises at home

Ponant in Australia

Luxury French expedition line Ponant has revealed a big increase in its capacity in Australia with voyages in Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, New South Wales and Queensland. The eight new itineraries scheduled for later this year, can be sailed back to back and will include visits to places like Dirk Hartog Island, Shark Bay … Read more

Health officials open talks with cruise operators as hopes rise for a return to sailing

Health officials open talks with cruise operators as hopes rise for a return to sailing

Health department officials are now working with the cruise industry to finally produce a plan for the phased restart of itineraries in Australia, Cruise Passenger can reveal. The promising start made by Australia’s only locally flagged and crewed fleet, Coral Expeditions –  sailing in Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania – has led to renewed optimism … Read more

Strongest hint yet that Australian cruising is coming back

Cruise Passenger

The minister in charge of Australia’s tourism portfolio has made the most encouraging remarks in a year about the return of cruise ships to Australian waters, sparking a wave of optimism among operators. Speaking with Channel Nine’s Today Show host Karl Stefanovic, Dan Tehan was asked about the number of special deals available for cruising … Read more

Shock as New Zealand halts Ponant sailings claiming crew were refused visas

My Kimberley coast cruise secrets, by Australia's best known expedition leader

The cruise industry was in shock last night after an expected season of itineraries from New Zealand by luxury expedition line Ponant was blocked at the last minute. The New Zealand Immigration Service claims 61 of the Le Laperouse’sย  90 crew don’t have visas because they are not “essential”, and has said the ship cannot … Read more

How Ponant’s sailings in New Zealand could be the catalyst for Australian cruise

How Ponant's sailings in New Zealand could be the catalyst for Australian cruise

The arrival of Ponantโ€™s Le Laperouse in Auckland next month is a beacon of hope for Australia’s cruise industry. After months of painstaking negotiations by the line’s Asia Pacific chair Sarina Bratton, the French luxury adventure small ship operator welcomed the news over Christmas that they had the green lightย  to sail in the region. … Read more

Ponant expects to sail New Zealand in February in a major break for the region

Who has the best small ships? Your guide to boutique vessels

In a major breakthrough for the region, luxury adventure cruise line Ponant has been given “conditional approval” to sail in New Zealand waters. The move follows the Cruise Lines International Australasia model of sailing only with New Zealanders in New Zealand waters.ย  The model is under consideration by the Australian government. Ponant said in a … Read more