THE return of cruise ships to Australian shores will be marked by the arrival of Pacific Explorer in Sydney Harbour on 18 April.

Falling on the Easter Monday public holiday, the timing of Pacific Explorer’s arrival will allow the city’s boating community to escort the vessel as it sails towards the Overseas Passenger Terminal, to come alongside at 1030.

The P&O vessel is the first cruise ship scheduled to return to Australia following the government’s decision to lift the biosecurity determination which had prohibited the arrival of international cruise ships since 2020.

Minister for transport and veterans David Elliot said workers in Australia’s ports and cruise terminals are ready to welcome visitors back.

“As a seafaring nation, cruising is synonymous with our way of life and with the return of these majestic ships, Aussies will once again be able to embrace one of our most popular holiday experiences,” Mr Elliott said.

Stuart Ayres, minister for enterprise, investment and trade, minister for tourism and sport, and minister for Western Sydney, said the cruise industry is a significant contributor to the New South Wales economy.

“I cannot wait to see cruise ships safely re-enter our state’s harbours, and our local businesses welcome back those seafaring travellers,” Mr Ayres said.

“For the most part, a cruise experience will be a lot like it was before the pandemic, but we have put important protocols in place to ensure everyone’s safety, both those on board and on shore.

“Not only is this announcement important to industry and their passengers, cruising supports our tourism operators, hospitality industry and all those local suppliers who help with the enormous task of re-supplying ships.”

New South Wales has reportedly led the charge in planning for the safe resumption of cruising once the nation-wide ban is lifted.

The work to restart the industry was carried out in partnership with officials from federal, Victorian, and Queensland governments and cruise industry operators.

Marguerite Fitzgerald, president of Carnival Australia and P&O Cruises Australia, said Pacific Explorer’s return be the beginning of “the revitalisation of the large and varied cruising ecosystem”.

“Seeing Pacific Explorer sail into Sydney Harbour will be an emotional moment for our employees, many thousands of guests and our numerous cruise suppliers, travel agents and entertainers,” Ms Fitzgerald said.

“Our supply chain team is already gearing up to deliver hundreds of pallets to Pacific Explorer containing locally supplied fresh produce, wine, and other products necessary for cruise operations.”

According to the NSW government, the priority for all parties involved with the resumption of cruising is to ensure safeguards are in place to mitigate the risk of COVID-19, including in regional areas.

Protocols relate to vaccinations, negative COVID tests, and COVID-safe plans around shore excursions which consider the needs of communities receiving visiting passengers.

“The protocols we have put in place are such that we are confident ships can return to our shores without compromising public health or safety,” Mr Elliot said.

Pacific Explorer’s first guest voyage will be a four-night round trip from Sydney to Brisbane, departing on 31 May.