It’s officially summer cruise season in Australia.
Carnival Cruise Lines Carnival Splendor arrived home today. She was escorted by her sister brand ship P & O Cruises Australia’s Pacific Adventure in one of Sydney Harbour’s biggest maritime events.
The two ships met off the coast and sailed together before they separated, entered the harbor single file and momentarily paused adjacent to Fort Denison. When pulling out of Sydney in March 2020, the crew used cabin lights to spell out, “WE WILL BE BACK.” That promise has been fulfilled.
This maritime event also shows the recovery of cruising in Australia. There are 18 ships from Carnival Australia’s eight brands that are set to cruise in 2022-23.
“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.
She went on to say that the “resurgence of cruising and the revitalization of the $5 billion a year cruise industry” was happening much quicker than was expected after the challenging years cruising has faced.
This season is promising to be even bigger than the pre-pandemic season of 2019.
Carnival Splendor arrived in Sydney after a 23-night Transpacific voyage from Seattle. The arrival comes after nearly 1,000 days since last sailing in Australia.
Carnival Cruise Line President, Christine Duffy said, “Her arrival marks the first cruise ship to enter Australian waters with international passengers in nearly three 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.”
Six Carnival Australia ships will be making their visit to Australia this summer: P & O Cruises Pacific Adventure, Princess Cruises Grand Princess and Island Princess, Carnival Cruise Lines Carnival Luminosa and Holland America Line’s Westerdam and Zuiderdam.
How about you? Is your summer just beginning?