Leave your mask at home: Minns set to scrap all COVID regulations on NSW cruising

Portrait of man wearing face mask traveling on boat in Europe at summer holidays during coronavirus pandemic. New normal. Tourist in straw hat and sunglasses having boat trip tour on vacation.

The NSW Premier, Chriss Minns is prepared to scrap all remaining COVID restrictions on cruise ships in the state as Australia gets closer to completely removing restrictions.

There are a number of rules currently in place, including anyone over the age of 12 needing to be vaccinated as well as passengers having to wear masks and complete a test before boarding the vessel.

Under the  Eastern Seaboard and Western Australian Cruise Protocols, cruise ships must also report on how many active cases they have on board between 12 and 24 hours before arriving at a NSW port.

The world’s famous ship, Queen Elizabeth cruise ship docked at Circular Quay, in Sydney with Harbour Bridge in background. Australia 28/02/18. (iStock – Natsicha)

The news comes just days after the federal government announced it would review the conflicting cruise vaccination rules in place, potentially unlocking new holiday options for thousands of unvaccinated cruisers.

There is no set date on when the restrictions will be lifted, although it is possible that it could happen within a matter of days, in time for the start of the Australian cruising season which will set sail in September.

“We need to move on and get back to normal,” Premier, NSW, Chriss Minns, told The Daily Telegraph. 

“We’ll be removing restrictions on cruising, like the need for wearing a mask and having a COVID vaccination when boarding. There is no need for it anymore.

“Passengers should continue looking after their health before and during their cruise, including through vaccination … but Australia can’t remain the only country globally with these rules for cruising.

“These protocols were important at the time to get the cruising industry going again after COVID. They were never meant to remain forever.”

Managing director of Cruise Lines International Association, Joel Katz the current rules are not only confusing, but also negatively impacting the industry.

“The current situation is very confusing for guests – we are constantly hearing from international guests who go on the Australian government website which says there are no cruising restrictions – but then when they get here (Sydney) there are,” Katz told The Daily Telegraph.

“We are pushing the federal government to (finish) the review of protocols and to bring them into line with current community expectations.”

The luxury cruise market generates over $1.5 billion each year and industry experts expect around 1.1 million passengers to sail on cruise ships in Australia this coming season.

Latest News

  • Aviation

Low-cost Indian carrier SpiceJet continues to burn cash

It’s not just low-cost Australian carriers that are facing hardship. SpiceJet, India’s version of Bonza, recently announced a 72 per cent reduction in its net loss versus last year. But, despite this improvement, the airline has posted losses for six straight years. But it has secured board approval to raise up to INR 30 billion […]

  • Attractions

SAKA Museum recognised in TIME magazine’s World’s Greatest Places 2024

AYANA Resort Bali’s newly-opened cultural and events centre, SAKA Museum has been recognised in TIME magazine’s World’s Greatest Places list for 2024. Part of AYANA Bali’s resort destination, the museum integrates Bali’s rich history with state-of-the-art facilities, making it the centrepiece for the island’s spiritual and cultural heritage. TIME magazine’s inclusion of SAKA Museum in […]

  • Cruise

Silversea taps Barbara Biffi as senior vice president for global sales

Ultra-luxury and expedition cruise travel brand, Silverseas, has announced Barbara Biffi as its new senior vice president of global sales. Biffi joined the company in 2007, holding numerous positions and gaining a deep understanding of the brand, the preferences of its guests and its strategic goals, the company said. An Italian national with a wealth […]

  • Technology
  • Travel Agents

Amadeus welcomes FCM Travel as new reseller partner of Cytric Easy

Cytric Easy, the travel management tool embedded in Microsoft Teams, is to be integrated into FCM Travel portfolio. Amadeus and FCM Travel have extended their Cytric distribution agreement to include Cytric Easy. With this new agreement, global travel management company FCM Travel, becomes a reseller of the innovative travel management collaboration solution embedded into Microsoft […]