portcbob

14 hours ago, Fletch1 said:

I have found Cover-More to be quite expensive in the past.....at least for my pre existing conditions. I went with them one year, and then found other companies to be much cheaper for the same cover. 

Who are they????????

The View, Sydney.

Stayed there a couple of nights pre cruise a couple of years back. 

Great hotel with magnificent harbour views..

Walking distance down to the Harbour for ferries, restaurants ect ect 

Great brekkie and they will drive you to the cruise terminal on morning of your cruise.

Highly recommended at reasonable price .

Ps. Tip, if you select this hotel pick a room up high.👍

No Insurance, no cruising.

Insurance companies will have to build some sort of covid protection into their travel insurance as most people aren't stupid and won't travel.

Short answer is NO guys.

11 hours ago, woodscruise said:

NCL on track for Sydney Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) continues to anticipate the deployment of its Norwegian Spirit in Australian waters in the first quarter of 2022, with a “voyage resumption plan” unveiled overnight detailing a Mar return to service in Sydney. Announcing quarterly financial results, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) Chief Executive Officer Frank Del Rio (pictured), said the company’s great cruise comback is already on track, with 11 ships already sailing across the globe from the NCL, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruies brands. “Initial trends are extremely positive with strong onboard revenue, high guest satisfaction scores and our comprehensive science-backed SailSAFE health and safety protocols working as designed to minimise the impact of COVID-19,” he said. Del Rio laid out the phased relaunch plans for the remainder of the fleet, with about 40% of capacity currently in operation, and plans to have all 28 vessels back by Apr. The restart also envisions Oceania’s Regatta returning to service in Feb next year in Papeete, while Mar will see Norwegian Sun recommence operations in Tokyo and Norwegian Jewel in Panama, as well as the planned local return of Spirit. Del Rio noted the Delta variant of COVID-19 had negatively impacted third quarter booking volumes, but the impact had now abated, with particularly strong booking levels for sailings in the second half of 2022 and into 2023. The company continued to burn cash at the rate of US$275 million per month during the quarter, and NCLH expects this to increase in the current three month period due to additional costs around the relaunch of more ships. Total revenue was USD$153.1 million for the three months to 30 Sep, compared to just USD$6.5 million in the corresponding period last year. Although NCLH made a net loss of USD$845.9 million for the quarter, and expects to continue losses until it is able to resume regular voyages, the company expects to be profitable for the second half of next year, based on its “current trajectory”

 

Source Cruise Weekly 04Nov21.

 

 

Good luck with that.

There is a very easy answer to all this crap going on in Australia or should I say not going on. 

Instead of putting our cancelled cruises over to 2023 and beyond, just jump on a plane and spend our money on international cruises. 

At least we'll probably be able to take one.

1 hour ago, SinbadThePorter said:

 

For the government there is only one thing that matters, the election early next year. Everything is judged on the basis of whether it helps or hinders re-election.

 

The government's polling and market research will have told them which issues need to be neutralised before the election. It's apparent that restarting cruising is not one of them.

I have to agree.👍

11 hours ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

Bummee but until our government commits to a definite date for cruising to restart, with enough notice (2-3 months) for the cruise lines to bring the ships up to full operational status, then the cancellations will just keep on happening. At least Princess and P&O Australia, and possibly Silversea, are trying to keep hopes up. The other cruise lines have just abandoned Australia all altogether. 

Why wouldn't they with no definite starting dates by the government. To much uncertainty now probably till after the election at the earliest.

1 hour ago, woodscruise said:

When is the next federal election. I am sure Scomo does not want the Ruby Princess and how the Covid19 was handled during the election campaign. My feeling after the election.

Spot on. After the federal election at the earliest.👍

After seeing the news yesterday from P & O Australia & Princess cruises who have banned cruises to at least February & March, 2022 respectively if cruises will really start next year. Australian Government doesn't seem to be expediting the restart and with 3 months to get the ships ready I think 2022 will now be touch and go.

1 hour ago, MicCanberra said:

I would hope cruising is going full strength here by then.

Same here mate.👍

We are booked on a 28 nighter, Brissie to Brissie around Aussie in October, 2022 and now with all the rumblings of the cruises recommencing we are really positive it will now go. ( Coral Princess )

You'll get to go in 2022. Keep pursuing your dream.👍

Two for us 

May, 2022 Brissie to the islands including Fiji on Pacific Encounter

( Doubtful ).

October, 2022. Brissie to Brissie, 28 nighter circumnavigating around Aussie on Coral Princess.

( More Likely ).

PS. Something to look forward to.👍

30 minutes ago, MMDown Under said:

If the insurance industry doesn’t change its policies about insurance coverage for covid it will be the end of cruising as we know it.

Garden Clubs in Queensland were going to be forced to close when they couldn’t get insurance.  Fortunately they were able to

get insurance through Victoria.

 

 

Totally agree. When cruising starts unless insurance companies change their policies to include covid related illnesses, surely no one in their right mind would travel. The risk would be to great. If they don't have a covid coverage the whole travel industry will go down tge gurglar. It has to happen.

6 hours ago, frantic36 said:

 

From the people I know the answer would be Yes, with many of us having our vaccinations as soon as eligible.

 

However there are quite a few who are happy to just travel within the State and don't see the need to open the borders "too soon". They don't seem to have family overseas or interstate so don't have that understanding or compassion for those of us who want to see other family.

 

I hope that all goes well as the rest of Australia open ups and that will prompt those in WA who want to keep locked in decide they want to join the rest of Australia and the world.

 

WA unfortunately won't open up with the emperor in power. He obviously is not going to tow the line in respect of the national cabinet agreements by all the premiers. This will put domestic cruising in Australia, particularly the big ones of 28 days ect around Aus in serious jeopardy.

36 minutes ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

I'm a very logical person, Les, and don't get swayed by politics. I'm not a health expert nor an economist. I just study the figures, from here and overseas, and draw logical conclusions.

 

Yes, we need to get people back to work, we need contact with our loved ones, and we need haircuts but having opened up too soon could end up with us back in lockdown again. A 2-3 week delay on opening up, until vaccination rates were higher, might mean no further lockdown required. 

Sorry to disagree guys, however now is the time to open up. 

Yes, numbers will most probably go through the roof in NSW but hey we can't be locked up for ever. Vaccination rates are now good so this is the only way forward and for cruising.

Isn't it ridiculous, Aussies will probably be able to cruise internationally

before we can cruise domestically.

We have two cruises booked for 2022, 1 brissie to Fiji with P & O in May which I doubt will go and the

2nd, 28 nighter around Aussie, Brissie to Brissie in October, 22 which I believe is a 50/50 chance.

Would not hesitate to book Norwegian. We have cruised about 3 or 4 times with them and all cruises were great. 

Great flexibility in dining venues, great staff and entertainment  

Cruise looks great, go for it.👍

On 9/21/2021 at 1:42 PM, NSWP said:

Like the State of Origin, State against State.  It is inevitable that Qld will soon get hit hard with Covid like NSW and Victoria.  Watch this space.

It's starting to happen Les.

I agree that cruising won't be a chance until after the fed election however when the country gets to 80% vaxxed they the government may start to run out of excuses for not to start cruising. 

It will look pretty ordinary if the country opens up to O/S travel where you can cruise HOWEVER can't here domestically.

15 hours ago, pully8 said:

Love reading the live cruise reports on here.

Encouraging that cruising is happening now for some lucky people.

Just not Australians, unless we can get out of the country to join the cruises.

Fully vaccinated and waiting and watching the world go 

Yeah, it's bloody frustrating isn't it. 

Apparently international travel is to recommence by Xmas this year to certain countries. 

As our vaccinations hit the 80% mark and you are double vaxed I'm pretty sure cruising will also start domestically as they will start to run out of reasons for not to restart.

Here's hoping.👍

Canadian Rockies and Inside Passage cruise in Alaska. 

Cancelled out in 2020, so going to make a play for it in 2023.