Cruising choices with an active Pandemic

[VPS]

Our cruise (NCL Baltic in August) requires full payment in April. It includes 2 nights in St Petersburg, plus nights in several neighbouring states. Given the decision by Russia to start shooting at Ukraine today, the future of such a cruise seems very much up in the air.

I was at a Regent presentation (and NCL) is under their umbrella and they were saying St Petersburg is unlikely this year but not sure

 

[odysseus]

Our cruise (NCL Baltic in August) requires full payment in April. It includes 2 nights in St Petersburg, plus nights in several neighbouring states. Given the decision by Russia to start shooting at Ukraine today, the future of such a cruise seems very much up in the air.

They didn't stop any cruises there in 2014 when Russia started its invasion of Ukraine, and had most killing of others that year including MH17. It's all about the dollars, and as sanctions won't be broad based against Russia, nothing to suggest it won't still go ahead.

Of course, morally there's far less justification to continue... but again it didn't stop many since 2014.

 

[OATEK]

I was at a Regent presentation (and NCL) is under their umbrella and they were saying St Petersburg is unlikely this year but not sure

They didn't stop any cruises there in 2014 when Russia started its invasion of Ukraine, and had most killing of others that year including MH17. It's all about the dollars, and as sanctions won't be broad based against Russia, nothing to suggest it won't still go ahead.

Of course, morally there's far less justification to continue... but again it didn't stop many since 2014.

Just got the email from NCL to say that no St Petersburg in 2022, and working hard to find alternative ports. Even Riga, Tallin will be under a cloud given the Russian's desire to return the baltic states to the fold as well. As we see it, a Baltic cruise is not a goer this year (at least).

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

Has anyone experience with Avalon cruises? They are advertising no Single Supplement on several river cruises.

@VPS this just came into my email inbox

Exploring Caves and Sipping Wine on a River Cruise in France’s Rhone Valley

It’s part of Avalon Waterways’ “active and discovery” itineraries, which are geared toward adventure.

www.cntraveler.com

 

[love_the_life]

Has anyone experience with Avalon cruises? They are advertising no Single Supplement on several river cruises.

It has been a very long time, but we did a Rhine River cruise on them. They were fine at the time, but expect with the growth in river cruising competition are probably better now. Cabins were quite small and a French balcony. Included tours were fine - and you could always go off on your own if you wanted to.

 

[Pushka]

A meeting in Adelaide today with Dan Tehan and Simon Birmingham. Headline being that cruises may return soon. As in March. Yeah. I’m thinking where are the ships, the crew, the supplies and even - customers.

‘At the roundtable, held at Sir Keith Murdoch House in the CBD, six high-profile agents – Phil Hoffmann, from Phil Hoffmann Travel, Dennis Bunnik (Bunnik Tours), Ben Mead (Holidays of Australia), Adam Schwab (Luxury Escapes), Belle Goldie (itravel) and Ryan Thomas (Ignite Travel) – outlined the dire state of the industry after two tough years of Covid-19 restrictions and travel bans.

Mr Hoffmann told the forum that revenue for his company plunged to 8 per cent of pre-Covid levels and staff fell from 230 to 80.

At Bunniks Tours, revenue dropped 97 per cent and it lost half its staff. Flight Centre, which shut 600 of its 1000 stores, is now hiring staff.”

 

[drron]

Silverseas is now dropping test at the pier though you need a negative RAT 2 days before boarding.
Also a big change in mask wearing.

Second. The wearing of masks during the cruise will now be at each guest’s discretion, with the exception of the casino, the theatre, and during muster drills where masks remain mandatory.

• While we recognize that the wearing of a mask is a personal choice, we do strongly encourage our guests to wear a mask whilst indoors aboard ship, other than when actively eating or drinking, or when in the privacy of their suite.
• 
  
• The staff and crew aboard all our ships will continue to wear masks for the foreseeable future.

As well guests don't need to social distance though the crew will. Started as of yesterday.

 

[tgh]

The floating petri dish stigma is going to be very slow to escape for the cruise industry
Guests on a SilverSea world cruise had to be tested before disembarking for tours in Zanzibar
Tanzania has very low vaccination rate of 4.2% = pot kettle….
Then the whole ship has to be tested before entering Seychelles waters.
Seems that the risk of spending weeks locked up in a cabin @ $100us/day waiting for a neg test kill cruising stone dead for me.

 

[Pushka]

Cruising likely in Australia in mid April

The Australian. Two-year ban on cruising set to end

CHLOE WHELAN

Australian cruise enthusiasts will finally be welcomed back on the water next month, ending a two-year ban estimated to have cost the economy more than $10bn.

The federal government is poised to reopen the industry on April 17 following approval from the states, with a formal announcement expected on Wednesday.

 

[luxury-lizard]

Well let's see how long it takes the cruise lines to return - it's not like they're just hanging around with spare ships and crews for this announcement. Of course the "cruise season" is pretty much coming to an end but presumably the Kimberley cruises will be going full speed ahead come June. Watch this space - maybe a few amazing deals in the pipeline.

 

[Pushka]

Well let's see how long it takes the cruise lines to return - it's not like they're just hanging around with spare ships and crews for this announcement. Of course the "cruise season" is pretty much coming to an end but presumably the Kimberley cruises will be going full speed ahead come June. Watch this space - maybe a few amazing deals in the pipeline.

It's good timing because it's the end of the season so gives them time to prepare the ships, training, provisioning etc. The point being that by September it will be back.

 

[drron]

The Commonwealth may lift their ban but the States control the ports.
NSW looks like they will welcome them back but I suspect QLD and WA will not to International ships just to intrastate cruises as already operating.

 

[Pushka]

The Commonwealth may lift their ban but the States control the ports.
NSW looks like they will welcome them back but I suspect QLD and WA will not to International ships just to intrastate cruises as already operating.

International won't start at this time, just Australian. Eastern seaboard states seem to be in. SA as usual, well, Health Advice blah blah.

 

[tgh]

Silver Explorer is booked almost solid for the Kimberley season from the 04/06.. ...lots of disappointed folks if it cancels

 

[tgh]

OOOps….

Norwegian Escape Runs Aground Off Dominican Republic - Cruise Industry News | Cruise News

The Norwegian Escape ran aground on Monday evening off the coast of Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. All guests and crew are reported to be fine. "There are no reports to damages to the ship," read a statement. "Operations onboard have not been impacted and all services and activities continue as…

www.cruiseindustrynews.com

 

[Guvner]

Just booked Seven Seas Voyager for their Monaco > Athens cruise in Oct, fly to CDG, leisurely 2 days in Paris then a TGV to NICE the day prior to sail away.
Return flights from ATH proving problematic, but I'll keep working on those.

Regent rep said that their Northern Europe port updates will be released today/tomorrow.

 

[odysseus]

Cruising is back - and P&O sends out cancellations for cruises on Adventure til October?

They say it's being replaced by Explorer, but Adventure does nothing in the meantime when it had been scheduled to operate. As Explorer is smaller, only thing I can guess is they're low on bookings so replacing with a smaller ship initially to reduce costs.

 

[Port Power]

I’ve just disembarked Coral Discoverer in Hobart today. 57 passengers only. We had a PCR 72 hours prior to boarding and a RAT quayside before embarking. A passenger reported flu-like symptoms before breakfast yesterday, day 6, and tested positive on RAT. Everyone returned to cabins and everyone on board did a RAT. 7 positives (passengers). The couple concerned either didn’t notice symptoms earlier or caught it at Port Arthur where we only walked past other visitors. Result is that even fully vaccinated, negative-tested passengers and non essential crew have been directed by the Tasmanian health authorities to hotel quarantine for 7 days!

I heard the assistant purser going past my room five minutes ago though, being let out! People who have had Covid-19 within the last 6 weeks or so do not have to quarantine. I have yet to have my interview with the health officer.

The ship will return to Cairns empty as planned to begin its sold out Kimberley season. And for deep cleaning.

After two successful expedition cruises from PER-DRW and BME-PER, we’ve come a cropper here in Tasmania.

Fortunately I have a bottle of good Tassie bubbly and a bottle of Pinot noir.

EDIT: If a Covid case is going to terminate a boutique expedition ship cruise, what does that say for the mega ships? The sick person/people should isolate (I.e. actual symptoms like coughing and sneezing), but the rest of the passengers can continue on. The big cruise companies will not tolerate what is happening today. It is not feasible.

 

[SydneySwan]

Result is that even fully vaccinated, negative-tested passengers and non essential crew have been directed by the Tasmanian health authorities to hotel quarantine for 7 days!

Absolutely woeful effort from the Tas authorities in not making an attempt to live with Covid. So essential crew can go about their duties. Please! What about essential cruise passengers?

 

[Port Power]

Absolutely woeful effort from the Tas authorities in not making an attempt to live with Covid. So essential crew can go about their duties. Please! What about essential cruise passengers?

I do agree with the “woeful” part, but essential crew are, well, essential. You can’t have the ship floating about without someone on the bridge and a few engineers and deckies! They all tested negative too. Plus the ship’s run to Cairns will keep them isolated from mixing with land lubbers.