BRANDEE

21 minutes ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

It is unlikely there will be more lockdowns.

 

I've lost track of what is happening with the Western Australian border but it's unlikely there will be more border closures by the rest the states.

 

Australians have been able to come home for a while now.

 

Yes, we can travel overseas to cruise and people are already planning to do this. Personally I can't be bothered with all the hassle but reserve the right to change my mind if cruising doesn't look like resuming later this year.

Hope you get to cruise by later this year.  Not to sound like I am not concerned, but time is flying by and the body is getting more aches and pains!  We are planning a big year of travel for our 50th, I am a bit nervous but following protocol to stay as safe as we can and still enjoy our golden years! 

By the end of the month NYState will probably remove mask mandate..maybe sooner.  Some town governments in NY are already ignoring the governor's mask mandate.

By summer, here, traveling across the USA will probably be back to normal.  Well, as normal as normal can be.

9 minutes ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

Morrison has just announced the border will be open to double-vaccinated international visitors from Feb 21st.

 

Not a word about cruise ships though.

Is your government going to stop issuing lockdowns?  Is it still going to be a state by state decision?  Something an international visitor may want to know before visiting. Can all Australians who were stuck abroad when the borders closed, allowed to come home now?

You can fly to another country to get a cruise or is it not allowed?

Brandee

16 minutes ago, Ondine said:

The app may be very useful once onboard for booking things and knowing what is going on etc. Not wrapped in having to carry the phone around all day but maybe the benefits may outweigh that.

 

However it is useless for doing a check in prior to boarding.  It has a mind of its own.  Why must they change things that are working fine?

I am not planning to carry my phone once on board.  You can request a printed Patter for activity times.  I enjoyed the Medallion the past three cruises as a door opener and coffee card and paperless bar receipt.  And I have no plans to track or be tracked by my husband..Lol

4 minutes ago, Blackduck59 said:

 

Glad you have taken the time to understand curling...shuffleboard on ice. For some reason many Canadians excel at the sport and we are always in the hunt for medals.

I didn't see the whole event just the last few final runs, they were the best runs of the day for the Canadian, Ozzie and Kiwi. The American girl did her best run earlier in the day.

Where are you cruising to Brandee? Ours is Pacific Coastal on Viking Orion in early April.

Shuffleboard on ice..exactly.  I play shuffleboard as bad as I ski and skate, so I am amazed by it all.

I am doing a 20 day Caribbean cruise. beginning of March on the new Enchantment.  It was booked June 2020 and with all the OBC Princess gave us for the interrupted and cancelled Ruby NZ/Fiji cruise, plus getting a 50% refund on our airfare from that cruise , we are going free.  There are some islands that have covid restrictions, such as only ship tours and some islands, like Turks and Caicos wants testing two days prior, and some islands just closed.  I respect all their decisions and very lucky we can go anywhere.

Our friends are on the Caribbean Princess doing a b2b, and the first week was 940 passengers.  Not sure how Princess can stay in business. Not even enough to cover gas money!! Of course, I am concerned about testing two days prior since omicron can surprise you! We also have to test mid way into cruise.

Omicron is decreasing in NY but still high numbers in US.  NY still has mask mandate and NYC has vaccination rules for attending plays, concerts..going to work.

Next week will be the first time I can go to  grandchildren's indoor sporting event. Mask and limited seating!.  

So much controversy over masks and vaccinations, I have almost given up reading the news.  Or speaking to some people I know...We start isolation two weeks before cruise and will isolate after when we come home, plus be tested. 

Some people think I am crazy to go cruising and I really can't argue, but so far it is still a go!

2 hours ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

I haven't had a chance to cruise with the medallion yet but I'm all in favour of new technology. BUT they obviously haven't done enough testing with it from what I've read. I think the medallion itself is operating OK, it's the app that is causing the majority of the problems. They were stupid to switch over to the app completely, it would have been better to have run it in parallel with the website for a couple of years before closing down the website options. That way people would have an alternative if they had problems with the app. I realise some people would refuse to use the app until forced to do so but enough people would probably use it, especially once they were on their cruise, and most bugs would get sorted during the parallel period.

 

Having said that, I'm glad my software development days were back when there were less "flavours" of operating systems to deal with! 

You are 100% correct that they rolled out the app before getting rid of all the glitches.  It took 2+ hours on the phone to get a medallion tech to get my name "valid" again.  The app did not recognize either my name or husband's and as a result we could do nothing in the app.  A tech took three minutes to "flip a switch"  to get it manually accepted.  His words, "When the app works it is very, very good and when it doesn't it sucks"!  Lol  He said they should have kept the ability to enter info on the personalizer page by computer, instead of only app on phone!. I also understand that this week they rolled out a new phone number strictly for tech problems to free up phones for other questions/problems.

 Take care..Brandee.

1 hour ago, Blackduck59 said:

I haven't really been glued to the Olympics, I just happened to see it was slopestyle and it is so cool to watch. Of course I'm not an expert so  every trick landed is awesome to me. Several of the "new" events those introduced in the last few games are very watchable. I prefer event that don't involve "judges" to score although I understand not every event is "Fastest competitor wins" but I prefer those. Freestyle skiing and boarding events are "judged" sports I find fun and exciting. Figure skating was once a graceful and wonderful art. Now it is just a bunch of ticks strung together with little thought to the music or art. Of course our team is rebuilding our very best skaters have retired. How do you replace Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir, I saw them perform their gold medal routine at an Ice Show here in Victoria. They were pure magic. Alas our team must move forward and let's see how they do.

Anyone standing after slopestyle should get a medal!  I am actually watching and understanding curling..Yikes! The boarder from NewZ was amazing on her last ride! 30 days to my Princess cruise!!

7 hours ago, cr8tiv1 said:

How about this "fix".  Princess brings back the personalizer and then uses some of the Princess Customer Service Representatives to move information from the web to the app.  It would reduce the number of calls to the center.  Ha Ha...I think that would be faster than trying to help everyone with a not ready for prime time app.

 

And I say that because today, I checked on my sisters' booking.  App just spun around and around.  They went from Green to Yellow.  Couldn't enter anything...circled around back to home page over and over again.  

 

Voila...checked 5 hours later and back in green lane with 1, 2, 3, 4 checked off.  

Your idea is too logical..to easy..too smart..Let's do it the hard way...lol

28 minutes ago, PrincessLuver said:

 

Well said......I am just chuckling how something that is so simple to use is actually mind-blowing and unsettling to others....but they rant on and Princess is going to keep moving forward.....Oh Lordy!!  😇

It is only "so simple to use" if the system is glitch free.  The app still has a lot problems that have to be corrected by the tech department after a three hour phone wait. (App considered my name invalid and all it took was a teck flipping a switch on the other end to change it) Until all the glitches are fixed there should be the option of entering your information on your computer.  Shouldn't be so critical of your fellow cruisers..one day you too can be made invalid by Princess Medallion App!

On 1/23/2022 at 5:31 PM, Scubadoc said:

Wow thanx so much everyone. Awesome info. The planning begins!

We stayed five nights in Sydney pre cruise. Blue Mountains tour a must.  So much to see. The hop on/off bus was great to see the city.  One day the city route and the next day the beach route.  We used Marriott Bonvoy points for the Marriot Hotel at Circular Quay..excellent location.  Princess EZAir got us roundtrip upgrade to business for $4200 total..Direct from JFK.  If a drop in price before payment in full you get lower price.

New Zealand was beautiful and lovely people.  Think of doing a b2b to Fiji as long as you are there.

2 minutes ago, Blackduck59 said:

 

That is unfortunate, our local vaccination center is much smaller than the original location. I showed up about 20 minutes early for my 1635 hrs. appointment, there was a long line of mixed appointments. They would just call out appointment times and those with appointments went to the front. I got to check in at about 5 minutes after my appointment time. It was another short line for the next available jabber. I was sitting in the "wait for a reaction, or not" area by 1650 hrs. I think there is a different location or maybe different times for the pediatric doses, there were no younger people at that site.

Hi Lyle,

Ice you arm off and on for the next few hours..it does help.  Good luck with no other reactions. 

8 hours ago, Chiliburn said:

Your a sweet heart @BRANDEE

For the Australian princess fraternity ( which I am not).

What would that include?

I know it’s for US residents but our Princess cruisers may get the benefit of it in Australia one day with their Medallion 

 

 

 

The Covid 19 Protection Program is for anyone (not just in the US) currently booked on a Princess cruise sailing up to April 30, 2022. (And booked by Feb 28, 2022)  It is a four month plan.  It might be extended if the current variant doesn't subside, or a new variant arrives and gets out of control. If you are booked on a May 2022 cruise, it is not offered. (yet)

This is a public relations move to stop the hemorrhaging of refunds for currently booked cruises by passengers thinking it's crazy to not cancel. This is a "risk free" and "We'll take care of you " plan.

They are "promising" to take care of you from 30 days prior your cruise up to the disembarkation and beyond if you are covid positive. 

Pre cruise (30 days with a positive covid) monies will be refunded and/or FCC extended, including all taxes, excursions, etc. 

On Board if positive there is no charge for medical visits. If you have to quarantine on board, monies per day refunded.

Shoreside they will reimburse medical care not covered by your insurance and give you a Dedicated Family Assistant/liaison for care and support.  Meals on shore will be covered w/daily allowance Assistance opening Covid insurance claims to eligible policies.

This is all a don't worry, be happy deal that will disappear once the current variant subsides and cancellations are not top of the passengers list. Again a quick thinking executive at Princess to keep the money and passengers on the ships in the current upsurge. Also, might be something to protect them from future lawsuits like the one in Australia..a breach of promised vacation..this pretty much spells it out..You can get covid!!

Time will tell if a similar Protection Program will be offered for future cruises..maybe at a cost.  This is under the heading of Cruise with Confidence.

25 minutes ago, BRANDEE said:

As I sit here on call waiting for Princess cruises..I'll answer the surprising question of why the Boss sold his music book to SONY for  $500+million. 

 

At first I was pretty surprised, since Paul McCarthy had fought so hard in the past years to get back some of the Beatles song book back from SONY.

 

According to the tax man I am married to: Cash!  It is much, much easier to leave cash in your estate for your heirs.  Currently, some passed legends like Bowie and James Brown, still have their families fighting rights with record companies and the money is tied up.  Second..Here in the US we have a federal capital tax rate of 20% that is expected to increase this year for anyone earning over a million.  And also upfront money is better than getting royalty payments yearly.

 

Okay, one hour of waiting for the next available  Princess representative to answer my "very important" call. Not looking good to get an answer.  Hopefully, my travel agent has better luck!

 

 

 

Just got off phone with Princess Rep.  The new Covid 19 Protection Plan is for anyone booked on a Princess cruse sailing before April 30, 2022 and booked before Feb. 28, 2022.  No Charge..it is a new company policy.  It is independent from the normal Princes Insurance that is 8% or 12% cost of cruise.  So it is basically a no risk , money wise, for those who are choosing to go ahead and try a cruise by April 30th.  

10 hours ago, Chiliburn said:

Thanks @BRANDEE

 

 It’s good how someone from the other side of the planet is doing research for the Princess cruisers in Australia

Hey the boss sold his rights for half a billion?

 Is that right?

 

 

As I sit here on call waiting for Princess cruises..I'll answer the surprising question of why the Boss sold his music book to SONY for  $500+million. 

At first I was pretty surprised, since Paul McCarthy had fought so hard in the past years to get back some of the Beatles song book back from SONY.

According to the tax man I am married to: Cash!  It is much, much easier to leave cash in your estate for your heirs.  Currently, some passed legends like Bowie and James Brown, still have their families fighting rights with record companies and the money is tied up.  Second..Here in the US we have a federal capital tax rate of 20% that is expected to increase this year for anyone earning over a million.  And also upfront money is better than getting royalty payments yearly.

Okay, one hour of waiting for the next available  Princess representative to answer my "very important" call. Not looking good to get an answer.  Hopefully, my travel agent has better luck!

1 hour ago, NSWP said:

Is the Plan just for North Americans though?

It is a plan only offered for cruising up to April 30th 2022 and booked by Feb. 28,2022. 

Most of those cruises have already been paid in full..so this insurance plan can not be purchased by most of us who are booked between now and mid March. 

I was not made aware of this when I paid my balance the second week of Dec for a March cruise. I was offered their regular insurance that I usually decline due to a private insurance plan. 

I called Princess today to find out when this new plan became available, but their new Christmas week hours are 9am to noon.  The only reason I looked it up was due to a post on this thread about covid insurance on RCCL. Want to know if I can get "grandfathered" in and also what the cost when most of the cruise is FCC.  The plan is either 8% or 12% of cruise cost depending on regular or platinum coverage.

There was also a news article suggesting the CDC is being pressured to suspend cruising.  

 If I get any info tomorrow...I'll pass it on.

12 hours ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

But that's not cruising without Covid cover which is what the original question was. Royal Caribbean are providing very good Covid cover. But what happens if you test positive just before embarkation? 

 

I wish all the cruise lines would offer something like that. 

Princess cruises now offers Covid 19 Protection Plan.  I have no idea when they started to offer this, but it is for those cruising up to April 30, 2022.  You have to purchase it at time of final payment.  That will exclude most passengers that have already paid their final payment for up coming cruises.

43 minutes ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

Great to hear from you, BRANDEE, and that you're doing OK despite the increase in cases in your area.

 

The term "Smuck" would definitely apply to certain Australian politicians IMHO. 🤣

 

So what are those favourite dishes your grandma made?

 

The NSW government has finally done the necessary backflip so masks are mandatory again in indoor public spaces, as are QR code checkins, and limitations on numbers. Once again it's a case of closing the door after the horse has bolted but it might help contain the spread.

 

Have a great holiday season and a Happy New Year. I hope next year will see this virus subdued if not tamed entirely.

 

Julie.

I think there are a lot of smucks in the world...lol

I was very fortunate to grown up with my grandma living in the same house as me.  I learned early on (around 8 yrs old) how to cook by watching and helping her make many Italian dishes.  She was orphaned as a young girl due to an earthquake in Sicily and ended up in a nunnery in Rome and she became a cook for the 400 women living with her..  So many of the dishes are a combination of southern and northern recipes. (She came to America as a mail order bride for a widower double her age with nine children)

Every Christmas the menu stays the same.  If I try to cut something out..I get complaints.  One year I decided not to use my grandma's Christmas dishes and my dad actually pouted with his arms folded like a little boy.  One hour before the rest of the family arrived, I had to reset the table using her dishes. Even though my dad passed 9 years ago, I still set the table with those same dishes in his and her honor. I am sure they are lead filled and probably poisoning the family!!

Grandma's favorites are a stromboli filled with  capicola, procuitto, mozzarella and salami.  Served with a cold eggplant caponata.  Then there is lasagna and beef  braciole.  Also paprika/butter mushrooms and stuffed artichokes. Desert of struffoli and cream puffs.  I did add something new a few years ago..bourbon carrots(soak carrots in bourbon and molasses overnight before cooking) There is also meatballs, sausages, stringbeans and caulifower added to the mix.  My daughter in laws come with their own leftover containers..they also have requested me to write down all the recipes. That is hard since I have nothing written down..all from memory!

Hoping we all get to make many memories and traditions with our loved ones!

3 hours ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

Ditto.

 

The real concern is the whether hospitals will be swamped again as the numbers rise, and that can affect people who need hospitalisation for something other than Covid. Another concern is number of close contacts forced into isolation for a period - these may include essential service workers. 

 

Things are going to get very, very interesting in NSW over the next couple of weeks. At least QR codes are back, but masks are still not mandatory. 😡

 

We get our booster shots this afternoon so will be laying low until they take effect.

Glad to hear you are getting your booster.  It does give you a little feeling of help over the new variant.

NYC is sky high with new cases but more testing now than ever.  Lines for testing are 3 hours plus,  long and there are no home test available. 

There are many break thru cases.  However, the vaccinated are getting mild to no symptoms and the unvaccinated are sicker and going to the hospital.  Of course, there is always the case of a vaccinated compromised patient not doing well.

Long Island, especially eastern LI (Suffolk) , has the highest rate of NY State.  Masks are mandated by our state governor, but the LI executive supervisor in eastern LI and also western, where I live (Nassau), are not enforcing her mandate.  They are smucks..that is a word from my younger days in an Italian/Jewish neighborhood..it means beyond stupid!! They are passing the buck to local towns and businesses.  Smuck also means not possessing balls!

All adult family members have received their booster with various levels of symptoms..none to some.. to my older son's 102.8 temperature and chills and major headache for half a day!! My grandchildren will be get their boosters in January.

We all have been very careful the past few weeks in anticipation of our family Christmas get together in three days. I've cooked up a storm of everyone's favorite dishes (all my grandma's recipes from Italy).  Hoping to celebrate New Year's Eve with close friends (we are all boosted). But that is over a week away..so who knows.

Take care and Happy Holidays and Happy and Healthy New Years!!

59 minutes ago, Blackduck59 said:

 

Well others have responded and are close to the mark. I think you will find that the term "Snowbirds" is most often used to refer to Canadians who flee the Canadian winter in places like Florida and Arizona. I think it really stuck after a Canadian singer, the great Anne Murray did the song "Snowbird" which was an instant hit. That song also led to the name of our world famous RCAF 431 Air Demonstration Squadron.

Currently, Canadians are the number one source of Snowbirds to Florida, but originally it was the retired New Yorker, going down to Florida after the holiday of Christmas or Hanukkah until springtime. I remember my aunts and mom packing a suitcase of Italian pasta and canned tomatoes because you could not get any good Italian products in West Palm Beach. And forget about a decent bagel and smear.  Finally a smart guy opened up "Two Guys from Brooklyn" a deli /salumeria and was loved by every Italian and Jewish snowbird!! Of course, that was back in the late 70's.  Eventually my Snowbird aunts and uncles and parents became Sunbirds.  

2 hours ago, LincolnLegend said:

Thinking of you, @NSWP Uncle Les, hope all turns out well for you. 

 

@BRANDEEthanks for the update, I'm in South Australia and we have been very lucky so far, our borders are due to open next week so I really think it is a matter of time until we start to see the cases in our area. I'm booked on a cruise August 22, it's definitely a case of wait and see still for us!

Hoping all my Aussie friends keep safe and get back to living the life.  Be safe and Happy Holidays!

Brandee

2 hours ago, frantic36 said:

 

Brandee, stay safe and well. I know from a friend in New York it has been tough there. She, after taking many precautions still got Covid and found it exhausting. She is better and got her vaccination when she was deemed safe to do so after Covid but it was still scary for her.

 

Same with us here in West Australia with age groups but thankfully all my family including my under 30yo sons understand the science and have been vaccinated, including one son who is a bit needle phobic.

 

Here in WA we have a slow vaccination rate. On the one hand we have been lucky because we have not had a problem with Covid outbreaks but sometimes that is a problem as some deny the problem thinking Covid isn't that bad which is very frustrating.

 

On a positive note my husband and I are vaccinated and we along with my 92yo MIL will get our boosters in January. We hope to travel over to the East Coast of Australia in February and Europe on a cruise in July. 

 

I am keeping my fingers crossed that more people will follow the science and not the anti-vaccination hype.

Thanks frantic 36!  Hoping we all get back to our lives as normal as normal will ever be again.  NY got kicked on its arse when covid started and coming back from the Ruby cruise and having covid was scary.  Hopefully more realize that vaccination is the way. Good Luck and have fun on your two cruises.  Stay safe and Happy Holidays to you and yours!

8 hours ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

Great to hear from you BRANDEE, and that you have managed to have some lovely trips away.

 

Australia is doing very well overall. 80% fully vaccinated and 90% have had at least one dose. Some of us are almost coming up time for a booster shot. I think vaccinations are due to start for the 5-11 year olds soon, they are just waiting for supplies.

 

NSW has 90.9% of those 12 years old and over fully vaccinated and the Australian Capital Territory has reached an amazing 97.3%. Victoria is at 88.2%, Tasmania is at 82.8%, but South Australia at 75%, Northern Territory at 71.6, Queensland at 71.2 and Western Australia at 70.2% still have a fair way to go. Of those last four states Queensland is the one that will block cruising for longer than we would like.

 

Cases in NSW seem to have stabilised around 150-300 per day. Victoria is still getting high numbers (800-1200 per day) unfortunately but they are coming down slowly. The other states have very few cases, if any.

 

Our Federal Health Minister has said cruising will start here by Christmas and promises to make an announcement confirming this in a couple of weeks. Of course most of here are laughing our heads off at that as we all know it can take up to three months to bring ships up to full operational status. But we are hoping to get some cruising from March onwards even if they are only cruises to nowhere, and restricted to intrastate. Sydney is the most likely for an early restart but NSW doesn't have many ports, however our new Premier seems quite keen to get cruising started our of Sydney. The Queensland Premier has already stated that only Queensland residents will be allowed to cruise on cruises out of Brisbane. 

 

In NSW fully vaccinated people have quite a bit of freedom but have to show their vaccination certificates at restaurants etc. Masks are still required on public transport, in shopping centres and other public inside areas. State borders still remain an issue, especially with those states who are lagging behind with vaccinations.

 

Fully vaccinated Australians are now allowed to travel overseas now but I'm not sure what places are viable in terms of not requiring quarantine etc. Anyway it's not bothering us as we're not planning any overseas trips in the near future. But we are hoping that we'll be able to get some cruising next year.

 

Happy holidays to you and your family. As always stay safe and enjoy life.

Cheers, Julie.

 

 

 

Happy Holidays to you, too!  

Glad to see Australia doing so well regarding vaccinations.  Hoping you get back to the new normal soon.  I've been reading all the posts regarding the cruise restart/government schedule and feel your frustration. Take care and be safe!

Brandee

3 minutes ago, Aus Traveller said:

Nice to hear from you BRANDEE. How are you?

Thank You ..glad to hear from you. I am always popping in and out of the Australian/New Zealand Threads to see how all of you are doing. I have been doing fine and recently got my booster shot that gave me a full day of fatigue, but after that all is well. 

Hoping that Les gets good results from his tests.  I am sad to hear he is having health issues.  I always appreciated all the correspondence when I was planning my Australian/NZ/Fiji  trip two years ago!!

I have been very lucky to be able to travel as the US has many various rules depending where you live.  We did a three week road trip to the mid west in late spring and felt like I was in a different country...they didn't hear about covid, masks and self distancing.

Nashville, Tennessee (southwest) in September..we were only part of the 10% wearing masks at the Grand Ole Opry. 

However, our 3 week stay in Aruba last month, (and last Oct, too)was very covid careful...masks in hotels, restaurants, bars..but not at the pool. We had to test pre travel and again before we left Aruba to come home.

Here in the suburbs of NYC we do not have to show proof of vaccination for movies, restaurants, gyms etc, but masks are required in all schools and hospitals, doctors offices, federal buildings and on transportation.  Most stores still request masks and for the most part a large majority are wearing them when shopping. (I do) Wearing masks in church is optional..dah!!

In NYC, proof of vaccination is needed to go to movies, plays, indoor restaurants, gyms and working for the federal, state or city government (teachers, police, doctors, nurses, firemen).

As much as you can say we are back to normal..nope..we are not..Not sure what normal is anymore. Christmas shopping today, wearing a mask, is not normal.

Now that winter is coming and family get togethers, there will be an upsurge of covid..sadly it is starting already. There are constant tv commercials to encourage vaccinations and let us not forget the flu season started here.  

NYC has a very good rate of vaccination and the city was taken by surprise at how many 5 and up children came for vaccinations the first day..they ran out of vaccines.

Us seniors have the highest rate of vaccination but the 30/40 year olds are the worst...Don't tell me what to do!!  This does not include my kids and grandkids who are all vaccinated.

Most people have not returned to their office jobs yet.  Working from home is still very common. Only my daughter in law who works in a public school goes to work every day.  My sons still work from home (finance jobs with big companies) and my daughter in law who is in research goes to the lab a few days a week, but she is traveling back and forth to Ireland monthly (She is quality control and firing some people). Lol

I am booked for a Princess cruise in March to the Caribbean..I have over $5200 FCC due to expire May 2022..that is the extra Princess gave for the cancelled Fiji March 2020 cruise.  Princess also gave half my airfare back from Australia for the cancelled cruise in March. I used their EZAir.  So far Princess is requiring vaccinations for passengers or you wear a bracelet if you are one of the few who get a medical dispensation.  No children without vaccinations allowed. 

I read the threads often to see how everyone is and how Australia  is doing and hope all of you get to cruise and travel soon  Your government is gun shy after the Ruby..I guess.  Not sure what the "best" policies are. Controlling a country of 25million has got to be more realistic than a country of 335million..but so many lives lost here..Just plain crazy.

Hope you and your family have a great holiday season and get to celebrate together.  As always...wishing you and all my friends on the Aussie/NZ thread a healthy and safe year to come!

Brandee

6 hours ago, NSWP said:

Hi all, been AWOL for a week, had to go to Canberra last week for a couple of days, medical consultations etc. I have more visits there in the coming weeks, MRI/Biopsies etc, a few big hurdles to jump.

 

Cheers.😬

Sending well wishes and good thoughts!

23 minutes ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

Because there is no guarantee all of them would actually quarantine properly at home. They'd pop out to the grocery store or the bottle shop or go to the pub for a drink with their mates. 

 

Yes, there are a lot of Australians who are waiting to get home. As in around 40,000. They keep getting bumped off flights because they can't afford business or first class fares, and all the people who have had exemptions to travel overseas and can afford expensive fares take up the limited number of seats on flights.

 

Yes, Australians who are currently overseas can get vaccinated there and, in fact, will probably have to so they can get a chance to come home.

Wow.."a chance to come home"..that sounds so horrible.  To think a country would not help a citizen, who is not a criminal, get home after 18 months.  Didn't your country allow foreign sports people in for tournaments? Didn't Australia send a team to the Olympics?  Guess the average Joe got screwed by the government..not that it hasn't been done by other governments to their own citizens.  Like you all just said..welcome home to the rich and famous! 40,000 is alot of people in your small population.   Hoping you get to 80% so they can come home real soon!

32 minutes ago, MicCanberra said:

There were caps on Aussies returning home due to limited  quarantine hotel accommodation, then some states stopped arrivals to their state, which left only Sydney and the very few returning via Darwin I.e Howard Springs taking them. Then the outbreak in Sydney occurred in June and they were stopped as well, .

Why couldn't Australians quarantine in their own home?  Wouldn't that allow citizens to be able to return back to their own country?  Are there a lot of citizens still unable to return to their homes and families?  Can Australian's vaccinated outside of your country return home?