Australia’s first cruise ship in two years docks in Sydney

The first cruise ship to arrive in Australia since the COVID-19 pandemic took hold two years ago has docked in Sydney this morning, Report informs referring to ABC.

One day after a ban on cruise ships was lifted, P&O's Pacific Explorer has entered Circular Quay.

Tug boats carrying water cannons showered the cruise liner as it sailed into the city's cruise terminal, while hordes of people watched from the shore.

There were about 250 staff on board but no passengers.

The Pacific Explorer made the 18,000-kilometer voyage back from Cyprus where the ship has been anchored with many others after the local cruise industry was shut down due to COVID.

It will depart on the first trip with passengers on May 31, when it sails to Brisbane.

Australia's cruise industry was shuttered in March 2020 when international borders were closed to prevent outbreaks of COVID-19.

Cruise liner the Ruby Princess was the source of the nation's first major cluster, with infections on board leading to hundreds of cases across the country and almost 30 deaths.

It docked on March 19, 2020, one day before borders were closed.

Two years on, the industry says it is safe and prepared to deal with the pandemic.