Kimberley Cruising 2021

Could Australia’s Kimberley coastline see the ‘carefully controlled’ restart of cruising in Australia in 2021? We live in hope. Several cruise lines are poised to deploy ships in the region as early as July – boutique New Zealand company Island Escape Cruises was the latest to announce a Kimberley season (July to September) for its upcoming new 32-passenger ship Island Escape.

Bookings for this season’s Kimberley cruises are also open for APT’s Caledonian Sky, Aurora Expeditions’ Greg Mortimer, Ponant’s Le Soleal and Le Laperouse, Scenic’s Scenic Eclipse and Silversea’s Silver Explorer. Like Island Escape, these are all foreign-flagged ships, registered variously in the Marshall Islands, the Bahamas and the Wallis and Fortuna Islands. 

The big question is whether the federal government will lift the restrictions under the Biosecurity Act (currently in place until June 17) which prevent all foreign-flagged ships and those carrying 100 or more passengers from returning to Australia.

Joel Katz, managing director of CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association), said the industry has been working with the federal government on a framework for the resumption of cruising for more than six months, and that small ships and expedition operators may provide an early opportunity for this to happen, although ultimately the industry will be guided by government and health authorities.

CLIA also notes that federal health minister Greg Hunt has said the suspension of cruising can be withdrawn or amended at any time, so discussions continue on replacing the suspension with an approval system that would allow cruise lines to progress towards resumption of domestic operations, with extensive health protocols in place.

Meanwhile, Australian owned and flagged expedition ships operated by companies such as Coral Expeditions and True North are already sailing in the Kimberley, alongside a handful of vessels that accommodate between 12 and 36 passengers. 

It remains to be seen whether they will be joined by the luxury expedition fleet, in what could be an unforgettable season for travel-starved cruisers and cruise lines alike.