International cruise ships will be allowed back into Australian ports on 17 April after a 2-year ban. The ban was introduced in March 2020 after the Ruby Princess docked in Sydney with more than 100 undiagnosed COVID cases onboard. The 2,700 passengers were allowed to leave without being tested, and that led to about 900 coronavirus infections and linked 28 deaths. It was the biggest single source of infection in Australia at the time and heaps alarming. But in the here and now, officials say the decision to lift the ban is based on health advice and that it’s safe to do so.  When cruising resumes, the Government says there will be added safety measures, including pre-arrival reporting and thorough testing of the ships’ emergency response systems. The announcement is a major win for the $10 billion cruise industry and the tourism sector. “I can’t wait to see our cruise terminals once again filled with arriving international passengers,” Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews said yesterday.