The cruise industry remains under a cloud of doubt into 2022 after the national state of emergency was extended for at least another two months until February 17.

In addition to restrictions on international travel to and from Australia, the extension means cruise liners are still banned from entering the country.

Today, that has seen one of the major players in the game cancel further planned trips until at least mid-April 2022.

CEO of the Australian Cruise Association, Jill Abel, said the industry had been terribly patient for two years.

She said it can take 60-90 days to get the cruise liners ready.

“It is devastating for the people who want to go cruising, but the people I represent in my association are the operators on the ground, the people that supply tourism attractions, and entertainment, and transport for the shore-based or land-based activities,” she told Scott Emerson.

She said operators had been “hanging in” there, but it was getting desperate.

“It’s hard when you are hearing that other sectors are getting up and going and that international visa holders are able to come back into the county, and what we are asking for are for these domestic cruises to come back in for Australians to get to go cruising in Australia.”

Press PLAY below to hear her call to re-open the industry

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