In a surprise announcement on Friday, P&O Cruises Australia, President Sture Myrmell said that only vaccinated guests and crew would be allowed on P&O Australia’s ships when it resumed cruising.

Myrmell said governments were linking society returning to normal to sufficient numbers of Australians being vaccinated for COVID-19, adding, “P&O Cruises is the longest-serving cruise line in the country with a proud 90 year history of sailing from Australia, and we want to do our bit to get this country back up and running again”.

He added, “Governments have been connecting vaccination rates to plans to end lockdowns, border restrictions and, ultimately, re-opening Australia”, adding, “In addition, our research shows that the vast majority of our guests want to cruise with other vaccinated Australians.”