arxcards

Pollastrini - best sardines I've ever had. This was part of an extra "pre-starter" tapas course, along with feta & olives and the like, and there was still three courses to follow. This extra course has been gone for over 10 years.

Nor Carnival.au. These are the two AU specific sites, and it might take them days to update it, but they no longer require proof of a vaccine or a negative test.

There would have been some sort of licensing arrangement between 400 Gradi and P&O, which has been fractured for whatever reason. The name must be worth selling cruises to be licensed that way, and while personally I would cruise P&O for the Luke Mangan menu, I wouldn't cruise P&O for 400 Gradi. I am yet to see a menu or pricing, but P&O Trattoria doesn't do it for me either - even at half the price. I get the feeling it will become a $$ per sitting vs a la carte.

From P&O. 🍕Goodbye Gradi...and hello to the NEW P&O Trattoria Italian Restaurant and P&O Pizzeria🍕 P&O's very own Italian restaurant and pizzeria will be replacing 400 Gradi and Gradi Pronto onboard all three of our ships, effective 2nd September 2023. Buon Appetito! P&O Trattoria and P&O Pizzeria are specialty food options and prices do apply.

I just added the trophy to your post. Not the "thanks" trophy, but the Provan-Summons trophy. Go the Knights. They have beaten plenty of contenders, so must be one themselves.

Maybe it is also time for Princess to drop the plus package mandate? 😉

They have, and it looks like Australia specific info has been moved from their site. They posted on their social media in the wee hours that they applaud the changes. Still unclear, passengers have asked questions around embarkation, with this reply: "Following the announcement by the Australian government (sic), at embarkation, we no longer require proof of COVID vaccination or pre-embarkation COVID testing".

The dogs had it all in their own hands till they got beat by the eagles last week. Hard to feel sorry for them for missing out after that.

What sort of numbers set off for Machu Picchu?

Good to hear Stu.

There is some info on the QLD equivalent page now, updated today, confirming that the East Coast and WA protocols no longer exist. Once the states using it agreed it was no longer needed, it just had to be removed. https://www.business.qld.gov.au/industries/hospitality-tourism-sport/tourism/qld/cruise-tourism/covid-protocols The Communicable Disease Network Australia National Guidelines for Cruising in Australia have been rescinded following a statement to support safe cruising which was published by the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) on 25 August 2023. This statement has triggered removal of the Eastern Seaboard and Western Australian Cruise Protocols (the Protocols) which have been voluntarily implemented by cruise operators. This means there are no requirements for the cruise sector to apply these Protocols as of 25 August 2023. Cruise operators should continue to check with jurisdictional authorities about specific requirements, including risk mitigation strategies, for cruise operators to minimise the transmission of communicable diseases including COVID-19, other acute respiratory infections and gastroenteritis.

No flights for this one, unless you need to fly to Sydney. Not bargain basement, but in the cheap realm for a 13-nighter in January. Majestic Princess, Jan 18th or Feb 10th '24, 13 days 5 ports - Noumea, Mystery Island, Lautoka, Suva, Dravuni Island $1499pp twin. The same ports on Royal Princess' Christmas cruise is $1699pp twin

More broad than that. No test required, but a general health form will ask you about any flu or gastro symptoms you may have recently had. The response is usually in the form of a fact sheet of how to manage any symptoms you may have.

Yes, we really were the last with restrictions.

Technically, the next ones to depart. How that work in a practical sense around the cruise lines adjusting whatever they need to - no idea.

They have all done it by agreement. The protocols were applied by a select committee, not any government.

It is for all states. The shared protocols are gone, agreed by all of the states. Each state has their own health department, and always applied their own requirements prior to covid. This is likely to be a yes/no survey, and be similar from state to state

For the OP. It has changed today, but it might take a few days for the cruise lines to update their systems. Looks like you are good to go.

I have posted Chris Minns' press release, which is where Sky News (and everyone else) is reporting from. Today, Sky News is on the mark.

Stunning 😉

I was looking for the official word last night, but it was thrown up in the dead of night. Media release. https://www.nsw.gov.au/lifting-of-covid-cruise-ship-protocols The NSW Premier Chris Minns has ended COVID rules for cruising as the industry prepares for a busy summer. Premier Minns has signed paperwork formally removing the Eastern Seaboard and Western Australian Cruise Protocols. The cruise protocols were introduced in April 2022 to support the safe resumption of cruising following the lifting of the Commonwealth’s ban during the COVID-19 pandemic. The participating state governments - NSW, Victoria, QLD and WA - approved the cruise protocols, which have been implemented by the cruise industry on a voluntary basis. The protocols stated that all passengers aged 12 years and over needed to be fully-vaccinated to board a cruise ship departing or arriving at a port in these 4 states. It also enforced mask wearing, including when embarking and disembarking, along with mandating negative COVID test results prior to departure. Governments have agreed there is no longer a need for formal protocols with increasing community immunity to COVID-19 and lessons learned from the cruising industry since voyages resumed. The Premier’s move follows an announcement late Friday by the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC). The AHPPC rescinded the current Communicable Diseases Network Australia (CDNA) Cruise Guidelines and issued new advice around cruising. The committee did note that cruise ships remain a higher risk setting for communicable disease and that cruise operators can help reduce the risk, including by managing staff health, encouraging passengers and crew to stay up to date with vaccinations and by promptly identifying and controlling outbreaks. The NSW Government encourages the cruise industry to continue its work to reduce the risk of COVID-19 and other outbreaks on voyages, in line with the updated Australian Health Protection Principal Committee’s advice. Premier of NSW Chris Minns said: “We need to get life back to normal. “We have scrapped these rules because they aren’t needed any more. “Passengers can take their own decisions to look after their health before and during a cruise. “Cruise companies have been looking after their guests and workers and we encourage them to continue that. “But this change is needed – we could not remain the only country with these rules for cruising. “These protocols were important at the time to get the cruising industry going again after COVID. They were never meant to remain forever.” Minister for Tourism John Graham said: "The 2023 winter cruise season in Sydney is on track to be one of the strongest on record and it is fantastic even more people can now participate. “These protocols were important after COVID but were not intended to continue in perpetuity and I thank the sector for how they have handled the additional requirements placed upon them. “The decision to bring the sector in line with other forms of travel is a sensible way to give visitors an unforgettable and safe experience across NSW’s beautiful coastline.” Minister for Health Ryan Park said: “The decision to repeal the cruise protocols is supported by NSW Health advice and NSW Health will continue to work with the cruise industry to minimise health risks to passengers as much as possible. “The NSW Government remains committed to safeguarding public health and ensuring that policies are adapted in response to changing circumstances. “I am confident that the cruise industry will continue to prioritise the health and safety of passengers, crew, and the broader community.”

NZ dropped theirs some time ago. As long as the ship didn't visit an Australian port (including Norfolk Island), passengers didn't require vaccination. There was some mention that P&O were still requiring it for the current Pacific Explorer season, but not a NZ requirement.

It is all states. They have all agreed to remove the East Coast & WA cruise protocols. The protocols were by committee, not a state by state legislature. Now we see what each of the cruise lines updates on their sites. They seem to be so focused on the vaccination side of things, that pre-cruise testing hasn't rated much of a mention. The protocols that set this are no longer there, but each state has always had their own version of pre-cruise screening, usually in the form of a yes/no paper survey. As far as I can tell, each state can revert to that or decide they still want RATs. The RATs are easy enough, but the administration of them has been the issue.

I can't see it either. One of the local travel media sites was saying it started at $US150 for 7 nights, but I don't know if that is pp or per cabin.

I think we have been down this road a couple of times before. The only way that they will put a cruise terminal anywhere on Garden Island is if the Navy wants to give it away. The Navy doesn't want to give it away.