portcbob

I would be more worried about actually cruising then flies. 

Firstly your no hope in February if your referring to 2022.

October may be a chance of cruising however its only maybe at this stage 

If your referring to 2023 I would recommend cruising in NZ in February.

3 hours ago, Ondine said:

Problem as I see it is that cruise ships need absolute certainty to be able to sail because of the long lead in time and cost.  What happens if they get the go-ahead and start to bring their ships back (3 month start up) and another strain of virus arrives.  With our record of opening and shutting borders on a whim how can they trust anyone?  They would need an iron clad guarantee that they can still sail once they get here.

 

It looks like they were anticipating a start up when they moved Royal Princess into dry dock in Singapore and Pacific Adventure left Trieste and sailed to Limassol.  Pacific Encounter also has been alongside the docks in Limassol a lot lately - doing what?  Finishing off her refit?

 

The ships off Cyprus will take around 4-5 weeks to get back into our waters to even come near us.

Still a monthly review shows that we are making progress.  Bring it on.

Hope your take on this is right.

What a joke Australia has become. High vaccinations and boosters getting done now what is the difference between starting cruising now or a couple of years down the track. Nothing is going to change.

Unfortunately with the new news it appears that cruising could be doomed for Aussies in 2022.🥵

It is thought and hoped on the 17th Decrmber the federal government will lift the ban and let cruising to restart. What's your take?????

12 hours ago, SinbadThePorter said:

 

But NSW is not Australia, even though it might think so. It's tiresome that some from NSW so resent it when Qld doesn't ask "how high" when the NSW government tells it to jump.

 

Qld did covid the right way, without the panicked schemozzle that NSW went through. Now we are opening our borders, despite the inevitability of covid spread from NSW hotspots, and we are still resented. I really don't understand what we were supposed to do. Just leave the borders open and welcome NSW covid spreaders with a red carpet I suppose.

 

If you don't want to come to Qld, fair enough, but I expect that for the sake of consistency you will also be avoiding SA, WA, NT and Tas. Who did exactly as Qld did with regard to borders.

Very well said. This is not state of Origon. Although I don't particularly like Palachook myself we have had a pretty good time of it ( without having to wear masks).

23 minutes ago, NSWP said:

But one has to get tested for covid before entering that hallowed ground up north, the Queen said.

 

Can you imagine the traffic delays at the checkpoints which are still going to operate? 

We live in Qld and it is believed the Queen will allow cruises to resume if the Feds give the green light on the 17th. The only problem is that the Queen might only let Queenslanders to cruise from Brisbane. 

Another thing I think we will all have to consider in booking a new cruise when cruising commences is the NEW PROTOCOLS. We are concerned about wearing masks and paying hefty prices for ships tours. Could be deal breakers for us. We'll have to wait and see.

2 hours ago, NSWP said:

But we don't really know do we? We are not on board when previous occupants depart and cabin cleaning starts.

All I am saying is that I think the cleaning may be a bit more intense than pre covid.👍

17 hours ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

I think that might have changed quite a bit since Covid.

Bit more detailed cleansing I would suggest. Those 5 minute cabin cleans are over.

If this new variant causes the Feds to cancel the restart of cruising in a couple of weeks time we all may as well forget about cruising altogether. New variants will be popping up from time to time in the future for probably years to come. 

Either make the call for a restart OR can cruising forever, but make a decision as this virus is not going away.

2 hours ago, kidzplay said:

there will often be new variants, that's what living with Covid means and at least we are "living" with Covid and not "dying" with Covid.

I believe Cruising will return by early to mid next year as we surpass the 90% vax mark, and lets face it, on a ship you know everyone is double vaxxed and negative tested as that's the only way they can get on, so it would be safer on a ship than it would in your local shopping centres, my thoughts are with all the suppliers as well, i have seen the amount of produce that gets loaded onto the ship at Sydney and that's all local produce, it would be great to be back in business especially for them.

Well said, your spot on.👍

1 hour ago, Russell21 said:

Just read an article written by the SA Doctor who discovered this latest variant. She claims that there has been an understandable over reaction to this variant, as while it is very virulent, easy to spread and catch, they symptoms are relatively mild.

Heard the same.👍

I wouldn't be at all surprised if the whole of 2022 cruising season is now in serious jeopardy and could be abandoned.🥵

27 minutes ago, Russell21 said:

Carnival have offered some very attractive cruises for next year but they are including countries that are still very early in their vaccination plan. Desperate to cruise as I am I'm still going to wait until cruising actually starts.

Carnival has some nice ones from Brissie of 7 days to Airlie Beach, Cairns ect which are really cheap. March, 2022.  Carnival Spirit.

Just read a news article this morning stating cruising domestically is to restart in NSW in Feb, 2022 with NSW cruisers. I think they mentioned P & O and Carnival.

9 hours ago, ollyoeno said:

I reckon you can charter a yacht to take over 100 passengers from state to state, mooring offshore with a tender to debark them. That'll prove a point to the feds and state governments.

 

How long is this stupid policy going to go on for? It's embarrassing, we've got friends on their fifth cruise.

Exactly.👍

3 hours ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

In NSW Perrottet has indicated he's in favour of a restart but will he be able to convince Hazzard of that, especially after NSW Health got slammed over the Ruby debacle. 

If he doesn't we're doomed.

At least by the 17th Decenber we should have some idea what's going on with the lift of the cruising bans. Hopefully we all can be more positive to cruise in 2022.

3 hours ago, ollyoeno said:

From earlier today:

 

GREG HUNT: Sure. So, under the Biosecurity Act, we currently have four determinations for outbound travellers, for inbound travellers, for cruise ships, and for retail.

I have now revoked the duty free, or international airport retail order. So, as of today, duty free is back on. So, that biosecurity determination order has been repealed.

The next one that we’re reviewing is cruise ships. We are working with the states and territories and the chief health officers. You need a double green light to restart the cruise ship industry, and that is a Commonwealth order, which is lifted.

We’re reviewing that right now, precisely on the basis of the 90 per cent plus first vaccination rate and the 83 per cent second vaccination rate. And so, I expect to be able to make a decision on cruise ships in the coming weeks once we’ve got the medical information but it will require at least one state or territory to partner on that.

But we’re working with a number of states and territories, we’ll let them make their own considerations. But, we would like to see cruising back on before Christmas.

Yeah Right. 

26 minutes ago, cruisingaussies said:

“I expect to be able to make a decision on cruise ships in the coming weeks ...."

"....But, we would like to see cruising back on before Christmas."

 

I just wonder if Greg Hunt has any idea of how long it takes to get a ship up and going.  I'd say none, which applies to most ideas associated with his department.  And does he know there are less than six weeks to Christmas?

I wouldn't start packing just yet.

Yep, however it gives us all some hope.

2 hours ago, NSWP said:

An election, lol. But the Banana benders love her.

Not all queenslanders love her, us two for one. 

I believe the meeting was yesterday ( Thursday ) but hence NO news.

1 hour ago, Aussieflyer said:

I can’t find anything either but the decision would not have been announced from the meeting I think as anything will require the bio security emergency legislation. It is due to end Dec 17 but if extended that would be announced in the next few days or so going on past experience. The meeting outcome would need to go back to other relevant ministers. There should be a press release soon. 
waiting waiting waiting 

Yep waiting. 😁

Hi fellow cruisers.

There was a meeting set down for discussions re commencement of domestic cruising with the NSW Health Minister and others.

Haven't found out any feedback.

Does anyone know if it was yesterday or next Wednesday, please??