Cruising choices with an active Pandemic

[Gogo65]

So the ban has been extended to September 17th.

COVID-19 emergency measures extended for a further three months

The human biosecurity emergency period under the Biosecurity Act 2015 will be extended for a further three months.

www.health.gov.au

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Cruise ship where everyone was meant to be have been vaccinated now has out outbreak in two passengers..

All guests had to show proof of vaccination and a negative Covid test before boarding, the company said. All on-board staff are fully vaccinated

Covid: Celebrity Millennium cruise guests test positive for virus

Royal Caribbean restarted cruises in June after they were suspended for more than a year.

www.bbc.com

Cruise Had COVID Outbreak Despite Requiring All Passengers Be Vaccinated

The ship set sail from St. Maarten on June 5, in what was the first major cruise hosting Americans since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

www.newsweek.com

 

[drron]

A report on the case where Florida is suing the CDC saying their cruise ship rules are too strict.

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/tourism-cruises/article252007683.html

 

[Port Power]

A report on the case where Florida is suing the CDC saying their cruise ship rules are too strict.

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/tourism-cruises/article252007683.html

I find the last paragraph hilarious! CDC has ruled 95% of passengers must be vaccinated to board a cruise ship, but Florida has passed a new law prohibiting cruise companies for asking for proof of vaccination.

I am sure cruise ships out of Florida will fill up as soon as people are allowed to cruise again, but if a loved one becomes sick with COVID, or dies, the family will be looking at anyone but themselves to blame.

 

[Gogo65]

Royal Caribbean are now selling non vaccinated cruises from Florida and Texas, the recommendation is that you are vaccinated but you are not required to be (obviously because they can’t ask for proof).
I can’t imagine booking a on one of those. Imagine an outbreak but I suppose all the non vaccinated can enjoy it together.

 

[tgh]

Who Pays for Medical Expenses and Flights Back Home When Guests Aboard Royal Caribbean Cruise Ships Test Positive for COVID-19?​

Interesting discussion here :

Who Pays for Medical Expenses and Flights Back Home When Guests Aboard Royal Caribbean Cruise Ships Test Positive for COVID-19?

As everyone knows by now, yesterday two guests tested positive for COVID-19 during the recent cruise of the Royal Caribbean owned Celebrity Millennium

www.cruiselawnews.com

 

[Anna]

This sort of news makes me feel sad for the future of cruising

At the very least, sad for my own future in cruising because even though I will soon be fully vaxxed I won't want to get on any ship with hordes of unvaxxed pax and strong memories of Diamond Princess and Ruby Princess.

 

[Pushka]

This sort of news makes me feel sad for the future of cruising

At the very least, sad for my own future in cruising because even though I will soon be fully vaxxed I won't want to get on any ship with hordes of unvaxxed pax and strong memories of Diamond Princess and Ruby Princess.

The thing is, we will not become very unwell as hopefully the vax will sort that, but the impact of non vaccinated people testing positive and the whole cruise gets ruined for all.

 

[love_the_life]

Over on the Cruise Critic site, there’s a post from someone who had their Princess Alaska cruise canceled. Seem# they had children under 12 who couldn’t be vaccinated and the cruise line has said all pax must be fully vacced.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Cunard has announced the cancellation of their Australian season commencing November 2021 through March 2022

I'm really disappointed if it's due to the Aussie government playing hardball. (I can't see why the ship couldn't have sailed here empty and just carried Aussies. The cabins on may cruises were sold out.)

 

[Pushka]

Cunard has announced the cancellation of their Australian season commencing November 2021 through March 2022

I'm really disappointed if it's due to the Aussie government playing hardball. (I can't see why the ship couldn't have sailed here empty and just carried Aussies. The cabins on may cruises were sold out.)

This was in the email sent:

We are delighted to see the world gradually open up, as vaccine programmes and other effective measures to manage Covid-19 take effect. However, based on the latest guidance from countries we visit, we unfortunately need to make some additional changes to our published itineraries involving international ports of call.

After completing her series of UK staycation sailings in October, Queen Elizabeth was scheduled to return to Australia for a prolonged series of voyages. However, with the current forecasts for the lifting of restrictions in Australia, this will not be feasible. Therefore, we have made the decision to cancel all sailings on Queen Elizabeth between 18 October 2021 and 9 March 2022

Australia is being left behind. This makes five cruises that we have had booked but now cancelled by the cruiseline.

 

[zig]

I read online that Seabourn has also cancelled Australian/ NZ season for summer 21/22.

 

[Gogo65]

Unfortunately I think these will be the first of many.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I would really like to know the 'why'!

It seemed perfect... the ships travel from USA/Europe to AU, giving the crew quarantine so they arrive covid free. All pax originate in AU, are vaccinated, or close enough to. Was it the government saying 'no' just to be difficult? (no aussie jobs?)

 

[tgh]

It seemed perfect

Let one in let them all in.. no win

 

[Port Power]

I would really like to know the 'why'!

It seemed perfect... the ships travel from USA/Europe to AU, giving the crew quarantine so they arrive covid free. All pax originate in AU, are vaccinated, or close enough to. Was it the government saying 'no' just to be difficult? (no aussie jobs?)

Not being difficult for the sake of it, I think. I know there are many restrictions and provisos though, so cruise lines just give up. It may not be viable to sail to Australia empty, either, when they can do more itineraries to the Caribbean. Singapore is probably also not allowing the ships in, which is another factor.

I've asked for a refund on my QM2 March cruise. 2023 fares are ridiculous! I’ll wait a few more years to complete the trio, once fares are back down to normal and Covid is just another annual vaccination to be had.

At least now I can book Coral Discoverer for those same dates, which is a bonus.

 

[odysseus]

I would really like to know the 'why'!

It seemed perfect... the ships travel from USA/Europe to AU, giving the crew quarantine so they arrive covid free. All pax originate in AU, are vaccinated, or close enough to. Was it the government saying 'no' just to be difficult? (no aussie jobs?)

Seems to be. Not literally that it was to be difficult, but nothing in for them politically. Being 'tough on borders' gets them votes so that's a headwind to say yes. And there aren't enough countering points to change their mind i.e. it doesn't help the economy but just results in money going overseas, and as mentioned not enough public support for it so doing so would encourage their base to complain about increasing risk, and why people can travel for lifestyle and yet there's still people waiting to return internationally.

It's likely only going to be done after higher priorities about sorting out international travel generally.

 

[Pushka]

Unfortunately I think these will be the first of many.

It has to be, because there is not one state except possibly NSW that will guarantee they wont slam their border shut. Mid cruise.

 

[Anna]

I would really like to know the 'why'!

It seemed perfect... the ships travel from USA/Europe to AU, giving the crew quarantine so they arrive covid free. All pax originate in AU, are vaccinated, or close enough to. Was it the government saying 'no' just to be difficult? (no aussie jobs?)

I suspect the cruise lines either think they won't fill the ships with only Aussie pax, or think that with only Aussie pax able to board, it would be more profitable to sail elsewhere. Just because the cruises might have been sold out, doesn't mean that the booked pax were all Aussies. Whenever I was on an Aust waters cruise in the beforetimes, there were lots of foreign pax on board saying a cruise is a great way to see Australia.

 

[Pushka]

I suspect the cruise lines either think they won't fill the ships with only Aussie pax, or think that with only Aussie pax able to board, it would be more profitable to sail elsewhere. Just because the cruises might have been sold out, doesn't mean that the booked pax were all Aussies. Whenever I was on an Aust waters cruise in the beforetimes, there were lots of foreign pax on board saying a cruise is a great way to see Australia.

And the infamous Ruby Cruise had around 60% overseas passengers. So Aussies contacting the cruise line were reassured that as this ship was only cruising in NZ and Australian waters then it was safe. There was no mention that more than half the ship would be filled with UK and USA travellers who at that time could enter Australia freely. What could possibly go wrong?