Australia Burning

[No username]

Are cruise lines altering their routes, ports, or excursions due to the Australian fires?

 

[GUT2407]

16 minutes ago, No username said:

Are cruise lines altering their routes, ports, or excursions due to the Australian fires?

 

Not that I have seen, maybe any stops at Eden may need to be skipped.

[OzKiwiJJ]

The major ports aren't currently affected by the fires although there can be smoke pollution on some days. 

 

It is possible that excursions could be cancelled, particularly up to the Blue Mountains from Sydney as there are several big fires burning in that region. 

 

I did a short cruise from Sydney ti New Caledonia last month, when the fires from north of Sydney up to Queensland were quite intense.  Smoke haze was visible on the first and last days while travelling along the coast but the air around the ship seemed fresh enough - I'm very sensitive to smoke pollution and would have been coughing otherwise.

[No username]

Thank you, GUT2407 and OzKiwiJJ.  Hoping that things will improve, not just for our February cruise, but especially for the people and wildlife of Australia.  I also hope people will update this thread regularly.

[dogs4fun]

1 hour ago, No username said:

 Hoping that things will improve, not just for our February cruise, but especially for the people and wildlife of Australia.

Same here - most especially for the people, wildlife & environment.

[OzKiwiJJ]

14 hours ago, No username said:

Thank you, GUT2407 and OzKiwiJJ.  Hoping that things will improve, not just for our February cruise, but especially for the people and wildlife of Australia.  I also hope people will update this thread regularly.

There are threads running in the Australia & New Zealand Cruisers forum and also in the Aus/NZ Ports of Call forum. Those are the best places to check for updates or post requests for information.

[No username]

Thank you OzKiwiJJ.  I am new to Cruise Critic and was not sure how to negotiate my way around.  Will look for those forums.

[Host Kat]

On ‎1‎/‎3‎/‎2020 at 6:48 PM, No username said:

Are cruise lines altering their routes, ports, or excursions due to the Australian fires?

 

On ‎1‎/‎4‎/‎2020 at 9:06 PM, OzKiwiJJ said:

There are threads running in the Australia & New Zealand Cruisers forum and also in the Aus/NZ Ports of Call forum. Those are the best places to check for updates or post requests for information.

 

16 hours ago, No username said:

Thank you OzKiwiJJ.  I am new to Cruise Critic and was not sure how to negotiate my way around.  Will look for those forums.

 

Howdy @No username and welcome to Cruise Critic!

 

To help you out I have moved your thread to the Ports of Call - Australia & New Zealand forum where it will be on-topic.

 

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Host Kat

[No username]

Thank you Host Kat.  I have been finding all kinds of good information on the site.  I hope I don't step on too many toes as I awkwardly negotiate my way around!

[Jamietravelstheworld]

On 1/3/2020 at 4:48 PM, No username said:

Are cruise lines altering their routes, ports, or excursions due to the Australian fires?

 

Over the last couple days stops at Kangaroo Island and Eden have been cancelled. However, things can change quickly, and by the time I'm in Australia (arrive Jan. 29) things could be totally different. I understand that about half of Kangaroo Island has been wiped out - it's just tragic. 

 

Jamie

[possum52]

3 hours ago, Jamietravelstheworld said:

Over the last couple days stops at Kangaroo Island and Eden have been cancelled. However, things can change quickly, and by the time I'm in Australia (arrive Jan. 29) things could be totally different. I understand that about half of Kangaroo Island has been wiped out - it's just tragic. 

 

Jamie

Jamie, not half of the island but a third which is still too much. It is horrendous, more than 50 homes have been destroyed and an incredible amount of our wildlife have been lost. I would think, as long as there isn't any more fire on Kangaroo Island, that is as soon as possible ships and tourists will be elcomed back as the tourism industry is so important to the Island's economy. Eden will be the same. If it is not viable to visit, the cruise companies will find other ports for their ships to visit.

 

Leigh

[MMDown Under]

On 1/8/2020 at 9:17 AM, possum52 said:

Jamie, not half of the island but a third which is still too much. It is horrendous, more than 50 homes have been destroyed and an incredible amount of our wildlife have been lost. I would think, as long as there isn't any more fire on Kangaroo Island, that is as soon as possible ships and tourists will be elcomed back as the tourism industry is so important to the Island's economy. Eden will be the same. If it is not viable to visit, the cruise companies will find other ports for their ships to visit.

 

Leigh

Almost half of the island, 215,000 hectares, was burnt.  It stretched from the National Park in the West towards Kingscote, the main town, in the East.  People recently evacuated from the centre to Kingscote, on the beach, in the middle of the night.  Now is not the time for tourists, but the time for recovery of one of the most beautiful islands in Australia.  Famous for its National Park, wildlife, seals, koalas and birds.  

[possum52]

7 minutes ago, MMDown Under said:

Almost half of the island, 215,000 hectares, was burnt.  It stretched from the National Park in the West towards Kingscote, the main town, in the East.  People recently evacuated from the centre to Kingscote, on the beach, in the middle of the night.  Now is not the time for tourists, but the time for recovery of one of the most beautiful islands in Australia.  Famous for its National Park, wildlife, seals, koalas and birds.  

 

Yes you are correct, but when I wrote the reply you quoted, the figure being given in the media was a third of the island. The fires on Friday burnt even more of the land. Tourists will not be allowed back on the island until it is safe and the communities are ready for them to resume visiting. It is now worse than when I wrote my post and I do agree that the island has to recover. But it is also fact that the KI communities rely on tourism for a large part of their economy along with agriculture which I believe has been severly damaged during these fires. 

 

The destruction of the wildlife on Kangaroo Island is horrendous and the island will take many years to recover if ever. 

 

Leigh

[MMDown Under]

10 minutes ago, possum52 said:

 

Yes you are correct, but when I wrote the reply you quoted, the figure being given in the media was a third of the island. The fires on Friday burnt even more of the land. Tourists will not be allowed back on the island until it is safe and the communities are ready for them to resume visiting. It is now worse than when I wrote my post and I do agree that the island has to recover. But it is also fact that the KI communities rely on tourism for a large part of their economy along with agriculture which I believe has been severly damaged during these fires. 

 

The destruction of the wildlife on Kangaroo Island is horrendous and the island will take many years to recover if ever. 

 

Leigh

Yes, it was a third following the original fire.  I have been following closely as I love that island and planned another visit in Spring.  The destruction of the wildlife is so sad.  It is one of the few places in Australia where you could stay in the National Park and spot koalas in trees in the wild.  My daughter sent a list of six small charities, which are helping the wildlife, to my girlfriend in New York.  

[possum52]

30 minutes ago, MMDown Under said:

Yes, it was a third following the original fire.  I have been following closely as I love that island and planned another visit in Spring.  The destruction of the wildlife is so sad.  It is one of the few places in Australia where you could stay in the National Park and spot koalas in trees in the wild.  My daughter sent a list of six small charities, which are helping the wildlife, to my girlfriend in New York.  

I do hope the wildlife charities in the other states are receiving donations as it appears WIRES is receiving the majority of donations. I have donated to Wildlife Victoria. 

 

Leigh

[MMDown Under]

13 minutes ago, possum52 said:

I do hope the wildlife charities in the other states are receiving donations as it appears WIRES is receiving the majority of donations. I have donated to Wildlife Victoria. 

 

Leigh

The small charities my daughter recommended to my NY friend were -

• Animal Rescue Collective
• Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park
• Koalas in Care
• Zoos Victoria Bushfire Wildlife Fund
• Australia Zoo Wildlife Fund (has treated 90,000 animals since bushfire season)
• plus Wires (raised 13 million, which they are sharing throughout Aust wildlife organisations affected by bush fires)

[possum52]

11 minutes ago, MMDown Under said:

The small charities my daughter recommended to my NY friend were -

• Animal Rescue Collective
• Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park
• Koalas in Care
• Zoos Victoria Bushfire Wildlife Fund
• Australia Zoo Wildlife Fund (has treated 90,000 animals since bushfire season)
• plus Wires (raised 13 million, which they are sharing throughout Aust wildlife organisations affected by bush fires)

All very worthwhile charities to donate to. 

 

Leigh

[Janet987]

Itinerary changes as of Jan 6. https://www.cruisecritic.com/news/4937/?fbclid=IwAR2mqNgYESUXYpdf8946bjzg2H-ke9S4QFPrHU3884ixhwCSHO_AD5-qK-U