Cruising choices with an active Pandemic

[zig]

True, but unless the virus is at zero all over Australia and NZ by then the crew are going to need to be tested again every time they go ashore (which isn't even realistic, feasible or going to detect the virus straightaway) or they're going to have to be banned from going ashore at all, anywhere, even just for a few minutes, which is cruel. (Although 18 hour work days 7 days per week and living 4 people to an inside crew cabin below the waterline is already pretty cruel).

Same would hold true for passengers.
If they wait for there to be no virus in Aus/NZ then cruising won’t commence for a long long time. Seems to be a circular argument with no solution at present that doesn’t have some degree of risk.

 

[Pushka]

Whichever way you look at it it is an unsolvable cluster. We need to find a new way forward.

 

[Anna]

Anyone else still getting constant emails from Princess even though you've pressed the "don't contact me for 30 days" button

No emails from Princess although I got a leaflet from them in the mail not long ago which got binned after a cursory glance. My constant emails are from P&O Australia who I've never sailed with, never intend to sail with and don't know how they even got my email address.

 

[woodyren]

True, but unless the virus is at zero all over Australia and NZ by then the crew are going to need to be tested again every time they go ashore (which isn't even realistic, feasible or going to detect the virus straightaway) or they're going to have to be banned from going ashore at all, anywhere, even just for a few minutes, which is cruel. (Although 18 hour work days 7 days per week and living 4 people to an inside crew cabin below the waterline is already pretty cruel).

If the crew has undergone quarantine and testing prior to entering a travel bubble region and the ship stays within that region it is irrelevant whether the crew goes ashore or not as the passengers on board are arriving from the same region and visiting the same ports.

 

[VPS]

Cruising and coronavirus: Ten steps the cruise industry needs to take to recover

Here are 10 things that the cruise industry should consider as it embarks on a path to recovery.

www.traveller.com.au

I didn't agree with a lot in this article, and I think the cruise lines will agree with even less

Typical traveller rubbish.

 

[p--and--t]

No emails from Princess although I got a leaflet from them in the mail not long ago which got binned after a cursory glance. My constant emails are from P&O Australia who I've never sailed with, never intend to sail with and don't know how they even got my email address.

Both cruise-lines belong to the same umbrella group of companies (Carnival) and they would claim you as a customer even though you haven't sailed with one of the lines.

 

[drron]

The Silver Explorer is due to arrive in Auckland either 10th or 11th December and on the 11th cruise to Dunedin.That basically is the only cruise going to significant areas of population.
It then is scheduled to do 2 14 day cruises from Dunedin to the NZ sub Antarctic Islands and Macquarie Island.The crew could go ashore on most of the landings as most of the islands uninhabited.
Then a 22 day cruise adding on a few days in the Ross sea.
Exits NZ with a 15 day cruise but after Macquarie Island going via Hobart,Maria Island -so you can wave at RooFlyer while you cruise by-,Flinders Island,Phillip Island to Melbourne arriving on Feb 24th.

 

[tgh]

You may be right.. but I suspect that the bubble concept is cactus based on the attached post.
The ship is currently anchored off Panama and it makes little sense to sail to Europe and then back to Dunedin in December.

 

[drron]

Well on the Silversea site it was meant to on the way to the Arctic now and in October transit the Panama canal and cross the Pacific to Auckland.

 

[RB]

Well on the Silversea site it was meant to on the way to the Arctic now and in October transit the Panama canal and cross the Pacific to Auckland.

According to the Marine Traffic site
SILVER EXPLORER (Passenger Ship) Registered in Bahamas - Vessel details, Current position and Voyage information - IMO 8806747, MMSI 311562000, Call Sign C6TA8 | AIS Marine Traffic

 

[love_the_life]

Silver Muse is also supposed to be in AU?NZ waters in December. Have a booking on her for over Christmas. Will know more as it gets closer to the date.

 

[tgh]

The Muse has been anchored near Panama , keeping the Explorer company .. but is now enroute for the Phillipines to repatriate crew.
Mayhaps she will then wander south...

 

[lovetravellingoz]

The Muse has been anchored near Panama , keeping the Explorer company .. but is now enroute for the Phillipines to repatriate crew.
Mayhaps she will then wander south...

Given the reluctance of many states to re-open State Borders can you really envisage them welcoming Cruise Ships from offshore anytime soon?

 

[drron]

There are cruise ships and then there are cruise ships.
I don't envisage the mega cruise ships being allowed back any time soon but the 120 pax Explorer is a different proposition.It basically goes to places less travelled and rarely to major centres of population except to embark/disembark passengers.
Silversea has already outlined their plans to test all pax twice before boarding,extra cleaning etc.I presume they also have a plan for the crew.
The Silver Muse can take 600 pax max.Neither ship has inside cabins for passengers.

 

[zig]

Four Corners should be interesting viewing this evening with a focus on Ruby Princess.

 

[ayebee]

Carnival / Princess took a quite beating on 4 corners tonight, but I imagine they will just carry on marketing the dream.
Not for me at best of times.

 

[Pushka]

Carnival / Princess took a quite beating on 4 corners tonight, but I imagine they will just carry on marketing the dream.
Not for me at best of times.

Also didnt realise Id been on two of the three affected ships.

It would be important to know how long before porting that the ship needs to notify the number of ill passengers prior to being allowed to disembark. The day before the ship surgeon notified a number to NSW ports authoroty that represented under 1% so NSW Health allowed it to Port. But that number changed drastically within a few hours and the ship surgeon testified she "forgot" to tell NSW health that update as it was chaos onboard.

 

[p--and--t]

Interesting the emails coming from cruise critic and others headlining RISK FREE cruising. Read the rest and only relates to you can get your deposit back if you change your mind.

Also note in only a few days, RCI has backed away from their earlier statements hinting (Windjammer) buffets would be gone. Now it's just revised procedures with more/repurposed wait staff.

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

A story of drama on the Aurora Expeditions ship the Greg Mortimer. The ships doctor give account of interaction with ships owner - also a doctor !

'Give limited information truthfully': The extrication of a cruise ship

While the Greg Mortimer floundered off the coast of South America, its Australian owner – a doctor and former neighbour to Malcolm Turnbull in Point Piper – was applying pressure behind the scenes.

www.smh.com.au

 

[Princess Fiona]

Recently published in BMJ. Article about the Greg Mortimer. All passengers and crew tested for Covid-19. 59% positive. About 80% of those asymptomatic, although if one were stuck on a Cruise Ship wanting to get off, the temptation to downplay symptoms and hope for a negative test would be immense I’d imagine.
Covid-19: In the Footsteps of Ernest Shackleton