“Cruising is coming back to Queensland”: Palaszczuk, Carnival, and Princess reveal restart plans
With cruising finally coming back to Australia, the Queensland Government announced plans to revive the cruise industry as Carnival Australia and Princess unveil sailing plans.
This comes after the Federal Tourism Minister, Dan Tehan, predicted cruising would return on 17 April, which Greg Hunt, the Federal Minister for Health, has confirmed.
QLD Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk confirmed the state would soon finalise health protocols with the Commonwealth, NSW and Victorian Governments to ensure the return of the state’s $1 billion cruise industry.
“Cruising is coming back to Queensland,” Palaszczuk said.
“Rebuilding Queensland’s tourism industry is central to our plan for economic recovery.
The Palaszczuk Government has also completed a $127 million project to widen and deepen the shipping channel in Cairns and is now delivering a $232 million upgrade to the Port of Townsville.
QLD Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said health protocol is still being confirmed, but would likely require passengers and crew to be vaccinated, COVID testing and mask-wearing before embarking and when disembarking, and more communications between cruise lines and passengers about health protocols and COVID-safe practices.
“The industry is one we want to see resume as soon as practicable but not at the expense of proper health requirements and procedures,” Hinchliffe said.
In light of the announcement, Carnival Australia is unveiling plans for its ships to make about 140 calls to Queensland ports this year in a commitment worth an expected $165 million to the state’s economy.
The organisation’s homegrown cruise line, P&O Cruises Australia, is set to lead cruising’s comeback in Brisbane, which has the only purpose-built cruise terminal in Australia with the new Brisbane International Cruise Terminal.
Two weeks later, Princess Cruises Coral Princess will begin her maiden Australian deployment in Brisbane, setting sail on 16 June with a three-night cruise, the first of 21 cruises from the Queensland capital in 2022/23.
In a move worth an estimated $60 million to the Queensland economy, the 2000- guest ship will be homeported in Brisbane for 11 new departures ranging from 3-12 nights between June and August before returning for another 10 cruises this summer from November.
Then, on August 20, P&O Cruises Australia will base its latest ship, Pacific Encounter, in Brisbane for her first season in Australia, sailing on 24 cruises in 2022.
Detailing the plans in Brisbane today, Carnival Australia president Marguerite Fitzgerald said Queensland is once again set to be the linchpin of cruising in Australia after a two-year pause in cruising operations.
“Like our guests, we can’t wait to return to Queensland. Not only do Queenslanders love to cruise, the state has a fantastic selection of ports that are among our domestic and international guests’ favourite destinations, from Cairns in the north to Moreton Island in the south,” Fitzgerald said.
The return to cruising comes after a two-year ban on the industry following the Ruby Princess debacle in March 2020.
Cruising’s return to Australia has been postponed 23 times over the past two years.
Image: Facebook/Annastacia Palaszczuk
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
Annastacia Palaszczuk brisbane Brisbane International Cruise Terminal cairns carnival australia Coral Princess Dan Tehan Greg Hunt Marguerite Fitzgerald moreton island P&O Cruises Australia Pacific Encounter Port of Townsville princess princess cruises queensland Queensland government Ruby Princess Stirling Hinchliffe TownsvilleLatest News
Voyages celebrates 40 years at Uluru with two new immersive experiences
No plans for celebrating your 40th this year? Here's a hot tip from us.
SkyDeck: The inflight entertainment you could never have imagined
Forget those external cameras you can live stream while in the air... With SkyDeck you can check it out for yourself.
Second Boeing whistleblower dies of ‘mystery infection’
Joshua Dean died from a fast-growing mystery infection on Tuesday.
Aussie winners of American Airlines ‘Sell Your Way to the USA’ announced
Show me the money! For the winners, Sell Your Way to the USA was worth getting involved in.
ANZCRO celebrates 30th with special edition of iconic New Zealand Book
Choice bro! ANZCRO celebrates its 30th with a special edition of its iconic New Zealand Book. Chur!
Room to move at Cairns Harbourside Hotel with ‘spacious’ new family package
Moody teens can eat two-minute noodles while younger brothers and sisters get to eat free with mum and dad. Win, win!
A&K unveils lavish around the world wildlife adventure in private jet
The kind of holiday that if you need to ask the cost, you probably can't afford it.
Flight Centre and Reforest hit one million trees target early
Nice one Flight Centre, we think you've earned an early Friday knockoff.
New cruise options spearhead stacked APT 2025 program
Just in case you thought you were running out of cruise itineraries, APT's here with a fresh batch.
Travel Weekly announces a new team to helm Australia’s No.1 travel trade title
Some shameless self-promotion from us, but we thought you needed to know who's bringing you the news.
IHG reveals plans for Brisbane’s first Kimpton in 2028
Just another reason to book that trip to Brisvegas. But don't jump the gun, it's not open until 2028.
Cruiseabout’s first store in five years opens in Perth
Perth gets a break from being behind the rest of the country with the addition of the first Cruiseabout store.
ATAS complaints process acknowledges non-economic loss
A High Court case win over 'disappointment and distress' on a cruise gone wrong prompts ATIA complaints change.
Cunard previews new Queen Anne
Yep, this one does exactly what it says on the tin.
Bunnik Tours unveils latest expansion to Iceland
Just as the Icelandic vikings did many years ago, Bunnik is expanding into new territories.
Australia’s first glamping retreat turns 25
25th anniversary gifts usually come in silver. Ours comes in the way of a news story.
Embrace the journey: Traversing the world with the Shokz OpenRun
If you’ve been on the wrong side of a final call in the airport, or missed the stop on rail journey, it might be time to invest in a pair of Shokz OpenRun headphones. Originally marketed as headphones for fitness fanatics, runners or cyclists with a keen to steer clear of a prang with a car, […]
Tourism Western Australia MD Carolyn Turnbull departs
Turnbull hints her new role will see her staying in the tourism and hospitality industry and who can blame her?
DriveAway launches Brit-Euro Blitz campaign
If agents can put the foot down quick enough and get involved, there are some great prizes to be won.
Fly and Stay Free with the Great Southern
Unlike those dodgy scam phone calls you're getting more and more of, there's no strings attached to this deal.
Sober travel and TikTok guide Australian Gen Z trips
Can you call it a sober holiday if you enjoy a few glasses of red on the flight? We think yes.
Travel DAZE Exec Agenda REVEALED: top execs to speak on airline competition
As the industry reels from Bonza's implosion, it is more important than ever to ask the big questions.
TTC: Deals are driving up demand for September trips
The latest market research from TTC Tour Brands shows interest in international leisure travel remains high for 2024, with 77 per cent of Australians over 18 still planning trips this year. Notably, 28 per cent of those travellers are eyeing September for their journeys. Europe continues to be the most popular destination, with 68 per […]
Skroo says Rex will need deep pockets to fill lost Bonza slots
The door is open for Rex, and anyone else who wants to launch a regional Aussie airline...
Sno’n’Ski Holidays unveils 2025 mega famil to Colorado!
Let the games begin - this is certainly not a famil that you will want to miss!
Walk Japan launches Kyoto: Mountains to the sea walking tour
There are two types of people, one who enjoys walking on holiday and another who enjoys sipping Mojitos by the pool.
Which destination had a 48% boost in bookings following 10 MILLION TikTok views?
Here's a clue: it's not Malabar Beach.
Asher Telford appointed General Manager of SeaLink Whitsundays
Telford has plenty of reasons to smile after SeaLink doubles down and makes him GM after buying his tourism operation.
Qantas ‘working urgently’ to fix app data leak
Qantas is looking into customer reports that passengers have this morning been able to access other passengers’ personal information on the airlines app. X user Lachlan posted that he was able log into different accounts every time he opened the app. My @Qantas app logs me in to a different person each time I open […]
Hilton Expands Presence in North Queensland with the signing of Hilton Garden Inn Townsville
Heading to a North Queensland Cowboys clash? Hilton Garden Inn Townsville is set to open, but not until 2026.
Rail Europe ANZ: making dream journeys come true
Rail Europe's running a lottery! You're not going to win millions, but you might just snag a free holiday.
UPDATE: Bonza hole deepens as administrators investigate financial affairs
Administrators dig deeper as struggling airline unlikely to be revived.
Revamped Wailoaloa Beach hotel opens as Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort & Spa
Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort & Spa is open and ready for bookings after the first phase of a multi-million-dollar transformation. Part of IHG Hotels & Resorts’ premium collection, the transformation has seen the completion of 106 guestrooms showcasing contemporary interiors reflective of the premium Crowne Plaza brand and is a first for the […]
Nielsen Data reveals brands spending big to attract Aussie tourists
Trip A Deal, Virgin and Ignite Travel walk into a bar, blow their cash on travel advertising instead of the pokies.
Kamalaya Koh Samui clinches clutch of wellness awards
Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary & Holistic Spa has so far clinched five prestigious awards in 2024, including being inducted into the ‘Hall of Fame’ at the World Spa & Wellness Awards in London. Founders of the Koh Samui sanctuary and spa John and Karina Stewart expressed their heartfelt gratitude for the awards. “We are profoundly honoured […]
Jetstar offers 200,000 return for free flights to celebrate 20th anniversary
Jetstar hits 20 and everyone else gets the presents with free return flights to domestic and international destinations.