“We are seeing the rapid recovery of cruise tourism in Australia and Carnival Australia’s brands are set to make an important contribution during the 2022-23 summer cruise season,” President of Carnival Australia and P&O Cruises Australia Marguerite Fitzgerald said. In one of Sydney Harbour’s epic maritime events, Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Splendor arrived home today escorted by sister brand ship P&O Cruises Australia’s Pacific Adventure as the official summer cruise season gets underway for Carnival Australia’s eight brands, signalling the growing cruise industry recovery.
Carnival Australia’s three cruise brands that base ships year-round in Australia — P&O Cruises Australia, Princess Cruises and Carnival Cruise Line — are well advanced in their restoration of local operations.
“It marks an official restart of the international cruise industry for our country – which is great news for tourism in NSW, local businesses and suppliers and our economy.”
Eighteen ships from Carnival Australia’s eight brands are set for a peak summer cruise season in 2022-23 making 667 turnarounds and port calls to 33 destinations across the country.
“The NSW Government is so excited that the cruise industry is now opening its doors to an increased number of bookings in a safe manner as it roars back to life this summer,” Mr Franklin said.
The resurgence of cruising and the revitalisation of the $5-billion-a-year cruise industry has happened at a faster rate than could have been expected after more than two challenging years.
“As our ships have progressively returned to service, we have experienced the excitement of regional destinations as they have seen cruise visitors and opportunity return.”
Celebrating Splendor’s return, Carnival Cruise Line President, Christine Duffy said: “After an extremely successful restart in the US, we’re thrilled to bring our signature brand of fun cruising back into Aussie waters.
From September 1, 2022, to April 30, 2023, Carnival Australia-brand ships turnarounds and calls will generate strong economic activity around Australia as the $5 billion a year cruise industry continues to rebuild.
Her arrival marks the first cruise ship to enter Australian waters with international passengers in nearly three years.
The NSW Minister for Transport, Veterans and Western Sydney, David Elliott, also added: “NSW is Australia’s capital of cruise”.
As Australia’s main cruising organisation, we are grateful to our guests and suppliers who kept the faith and to federal and state government authorities that backed the resumption of cruise operations.
Six of the 18 Carnival Australia ships sailing local waters will be making their maiden visit to Australia this summer, including P&O Cruises Pacific Adventure, Princess Cruises Grand Princess and Island Princess, Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Luminosa and Holland America Line’s Westerdam and Zuiderdam.
Minister for Tourism Ben Franklin congratulated Carnival Australia and the cruise lines it represents for their efforts in preparing for a spectacular summer season of cruising.
“Cruising is very important to NSW, delivering thousands of visitors to our ports and injecting billions of dollars into the state and regional economies.”
Carnival Splendor’s return also fulfilled a promise made by the crew of Carnival Spirit the night before their ship left Sydney in March 2020 as the two-year cruising pause began.
The number of ship turnarounds and calls eclipses the 625 that were announced prior to the 2019-20 season, which was curtailed due to the onset of the covid pandemic.
“Today is a historic occasion for Australia as we welcome back the first international passengers to arrive in well over two and a half years. Splendor’s return also kick-starts an exciting time for Carnival Cruise Line as it celebrates 10 years in Australia in October, and Brisbane being the first to experience our newest ship, Carnival Luminosa, in November.”
This spectacular Fort Denison ‘moment’ signified the fact that Carnival Splendor and Pacific Adventure are now both home-ported in Sydney to resume cruising on itineraries in Australia and to the South Pacific.
Carnival Splendor and Pacific Adventure met off the coast sailing together before separating to enter the harbour in majestic single file and momentarily pausing adjacent to Fort Denison, and the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge providing a stunning backdrop.
Today’s maritime pageantry also served to highlight the rapid recovery of cruising in Australia. In addition, Cunard will base Queen Elizabeth in Australia for its longest-ever local season of cruises, while two Holland America Line ships and a Seabourn ship will also spend significant periods in Australian waters.
Carnival Splendor returned to Sydney after a 23-night Transpacific voyage from Seattle. Prior to the pandemic, Australia was the fastest growing cruise market per population in the world, with NSW leading the sector.
Written by: William Trevan
