Cruise industry says it's time to allow ships to sail again

Thursday, 18 June 2020

Some cruise lines are hoping to once again set sail later this summer, following months of business shutdowns because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The cruise industry wants a ban on cruise ships lifted to allow Kiwis-only voyages around the New Zealand ports.

The Government suspended all cruise ship visits until the end of June and Cruise New Zealand Association chief executive Kevin O'Sullivan said they were anxious to prevent any extension.

Several cruise companies, including the small luxury Ponant line, had shown interest in running cruises for New Zealand passengers only, adding Australians when the trans-Tasman travel bubble opened up.

O'Sullivan said Cruise NZ was encouraging businesses who had previously benefited from port visits to lobby their local Members of Parliament about ending the port ban on cruise vessels introduced in March to combat the spread of coronavirus.

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'Australia extended their suspension (of cruise ships) until mid September, and we didn't follow suit which was fairly heartening.'

When cruises return to New Zealand waters, the approach to serving food may have changed post-coronavirus.

The initial plan was for ships return and lay up until they were permitted to take on passengers, with crews quarantining en route, O'Sullivan said.

'We're getting quite a bit of traction with various government agencies because it is very similar to commercial shipping arrivals.'

However, on Thursday it was announced that the Government might tighten up requirements for ships' crews as it toughens Covid-19 border restrictions after two women were released from self-isolation, then tested positive.

Ponant's The Le Laperouse cruise ship docked down on Auckland's Queens Wharf during the Covid-19 lockdown.

Cruise lines have come in for close scrutiny following cases outbreaks of coronavirus on board.

Ten Diamond Princess passengers died and more than 800 contracted Covid-19, while 22 deaths and almost 700 cases of the virus have been linked to the Ruby Princess.

O'Sullivan said Kiwis with previous experience of cruising were not deterred, and he understood Ponant had already had significant interest from New Zealanders keen to cruise around the country.

'Getting first time cruisers might be a little bit harder because of the negative publicity around the covid-19 pandemic.'

O'Sullivan said cruise lines were already making changes to their buffet service, with food being dished up by staff, rather than passengers helping themselves.

There had also been talk of making Christchurch a turn-around port, so passengers would embark and disembark at the Port of Lyttelton's new cruise berth, instead of in Auckland.

ChristchurchNZ's general manager destination and attraction Loren Heaphy said that having the city designated a turn-around port would have a signifiant impact because of the increase in guest nights around cruises.