JamMei

On 10/8/2022 at 7:24 PM, USN59-79 said:

I have never heard of  a country placing a requirement like that on cruise ship passengers, particularly mid-cruise.  I would refuse to buy it as I self-insure.  I wonder what HAL's reaction would be to that?

Ray

These requirements were not initiated mid-cruise.  These requirements were in effect prior to embarkation as Fiji and New Caledonia opened to travelers post pandemic.  I asked HAL on several occasions about the requirement for medical coverage to no avail.  I received either a non-response or non-answer from HAL.  This is a major fail by HAL if anyone is denied going ashore in either New Caledonia or Fiji.  

3 minutes ago, arxcards said:

Why does it matter? Carnival Australia is receiving their advice from government officials, not from having their finger on the pulse. Unlike our nations where public officials love to stand on a soapbox, these things are done quietly in the islands by largely faceless public officials.

 

In this case, it also includes advice from Australian authorities around elevated PNG travel risks. PNG has been open for months, but seen as a covid risk to visiting ships. The announcement by Carnival Australia is their decision to send ships there.

"Finger on the pulse" was meant as Carnival has a better idea of what's going on in this South Sea arena, because they are interacting with the local governments.  Another thread I am following, someone called the PNG Embassy in Washington, D.C.  Granted it was a couple of weeks ago, but the Embassy response "we are open to tourists, but still  closed to cruise ships".  New Caledonia is pretty much the same, I received a response from the "official" tourism site that stated we are still officially closed to cruise ships, regardless of what is being said in the media.  We anticipate opening soon and will update our website when the government announces the opening.  

It is clear Carnival has made the decision to go forward with both PNG and New Caledonia.  HAL recently updated its Westerdam itinerary cancelling Vanuatu, and rearranging its New Caledonia and PNG port calls,  That said, the cruise lines are not always candid with its customers on what's going on.  As an example, about a month ago a problem with a HAL itinerary for Auckland, NZ, came up.  HAL said the port call date was Nov 19 and the Port Authority said the date was Nov 20.  Several booked passengers challenged HAL, including myself.  HAL stood by their date, even when provided a copy of an email from the Port Authority.  Lo and behold, couple days ago, change of itinerary notice was sent out.  Port Authority was correct all along.

My hope is that both PNG and New Caledonia are open when the Westerdam reaches those ports.  My purpose in posting my concern was to get additional input.  I appreciate you take on the situation.

On 9/9/2022 at 4:32 PM, Kiwi_cruiser said:

From Travel Weekly: https://www.travelweekly.com.au/article/png-cruisings-return-to-be-marked-by-carnival-ships-arrival/

 

PNG cruise return to be marked by Carnival ships arrival

 

06 Sep 2022

Ships from two Carnival Australia brands are set to return to Papua New Guinea as the country’s maritime borders are reopened for ships at Milne Bay Province and Conflict Islands.
 

As part of her inaugural season down under, Princess Cruises’ Coral Princess will visit the Conflict Islands making her maiden call on October 4 during a 12-night itinerary from Sydney.
 

It is the first of a number of maiden calls Princess ships will make as part of the fleet’s global restart.
 

Three days later, P&O Cruises Australia’s Pacific Encounter will call at Alotau in Milne Bay Province during a 10-night cruise from the ship’s Brisbane home port, which also includes calls to Kiriwina Island, Rabaul and Conflict Islands.
 

Guests sailing on the Pacific Encounter voyage are being advised that their cruise itinerary will now include the return to PNG.
 

P&O Cruises’ sister ship Pacific Explorer has already notched up a number of firsts in reopening cruising to traditional cruise destinations in the Pacific. The P&O flagship was the first cruise ship back to Sydney and Brisbane and the first to cruise to New Zealand and Fiji. And, as recently announced, Pacific Explorer will be the first cruise ship to return to New Caledonia.
 

“We are delighted that Papua New Guinea and its idyllic island communities in the Milne Bay Province and New Britain are about to see the benefits of cruise tourism’s resumption,” said Marguerite Fitzgerald, president of Carnival Australia and P&O Cruises Australia.
 

“We are seeing ‘normal’ cruise operations steadily evolve putting together the elements and destinations that make Australia and the Pacific such a vibrant region for cruising.
 

“We also know that our guests and crew can’t wait to reconnect with the people of PNG and other island nations. With PNG coming on board, we can now look forward to Vanuatu becoming the next nation to reopen.
 

“Once Vanuatu is back online, the full suite of destinations that make cruising in our region so special will be restored.”

Would feel more comfortable about PNG opening to cruise ships if a government official was quoted saying the island nation is open to cruise ships.  Same for New Caledonia. I am sure Carnival has their "finger on the pulse" of these countries as their subsidiaries Princess, P & O, and Holland America all have port calls in October, but none of the published media reports quote a government official.  

On 6/27/2022 at 12:47 PM, NSWP said:

Will never know the numbers Geoff, unless there are many and media get hold of it. The cruise line won't reveal, bad for business.

You got that right!  Cruise lines don't want to get too specific on any issue for fear of bad publicity.  

I have asked this question on several other venues and never received an adequate answer:  Is PNG actually open to cruise ships?  I saw the announcement PNG opened to tourists, but entry by sea or cruise ship was not addressed.  Besides, several cruise critics threads, I contacted a cruise line with PNG itinerary in October.  They basically, walked around the question, with a non-answer.  Same on the visa issue.  PNG requires a visa.  Cruise ships have used on-arrival visa procedure(currently suspended) or some other "special consideration" in the past, but now don't want to even address the visa issue.  Almost like they don't plan on stopping in PNG, but is not going to notify pax until last minute.

Anyone have the straight scoop on cruise entry to PNG?

It appears many of the island groups in the South Pacific are in the process of reopening in the next few months.  What is unclear is how many of these locations will actually be open to cruise ships.  Does anyone have a good up-to-date source on which ports are open.  

I see where Vanuatu is opening to international tourists on July 1.  But no mention of the port being open, only air travel.  Same for Samoa...open Aug 1,  but no mention of cruise ships.  Best I can figure is that Samoa, Vanuatu, New Caledonia and Papua New Guinea are closed to cruise ships, with no reported opening date.  Anyone hear different?