How do an 87 and 89 year old get home from Freemantle?

[mamaofami]

I love how people on this board come together to help those in need. I think the best suggestion so far is to pass their names along to the Neptune Lounge. Your parents probably aren’t as worried as you are or they would have contacted you. We should all remember to be in touch with loved ones when emergencies happen. Good luck to you and your parents.

[T8NCruise]

If it was me, and I was in such a panicked state about parents who are not healthy and of such advanced age - I would get on a plane and get to Australia, and go from there, so they have a family member with them when they disembark.  The suggestion I saw earlier of flying to Hawaii and staying there for a couple of days to recuperate before heading home seemed the best option to me.
 

[Copper10-8]

Another option: Amsterdam will be in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia in two days, on Monday. Philippine Airlines has a direct connect from Darwin to Manila. I took it in Nov 2014 when HAL sent me to a FBI crime scene processing course there, it's a four-hr. flt. From Manila, there are then direct flights to LAX which will get them back in North America for a possible rest period, before heading home to Canada. Just a thought  

[Mary229]

If it were me one option i would consider is Airbnb and hunker down until the worst blows over.   

[FredT]

Tell them to get a nice hotel.....  Then fly your own rear end out there to help shepard them home.  If you can't get ahold of them by now, GPO yourself, and meet up with them in Australia.  Then fly back in two (or even better, three) stages.  One to Sydney, one to LA and one home, with a night in a nice hotel between each.   

 

Thats what I would do if it were my parents.   Consider yourself REALLY lucky to still have them at that age, and do anything you can to keep them around.    

Edited March 15, 2020 by FredT

[mariner]

I would first contact HAL support services to try to nail down the plan.

I thought they were American, but since reading, perhaps contact Canada's version of the US State Department for some guidance.

And then I'd book them a hotel and get on a plane with stops in Hawaii.

I would NOT recommend they go solo to Manila.

[durangoscots]

2 hours ago, T8NCruise said:

If it was me, and I was in such a panicked state about parents who are not healthy and of such advanced age - I would get on a plane and get to Australia, and go from there, so they have a family member with them when they disembark.  The suggestion I saw earlier of flying to Hawaii and staying there for a couple of days to recuperate before heading home seemed the best option to me.
 

I did that a few years ago (voluntarily) when I flew from Sydney to California after disembarking a WC segment. Made life much easier for me. I was close to 80 at the time.

 

[old mike]

Kindergirl,

 You've probably figured out by now that the majority of people on this site care about others and would bend over backwards if they could to help. please please let us know the outcome. As you can see I'm also a Canadian and I'm very aware of the recent appeals by the Federal government for canadians abroad go return home by commercial carriers hwilst that option is still available.

[cranethie]

You don't have to go to Sydney for Vancouver flights. 

 Air Canada has direct flights to Vancouver from Melbourne.  Melbourne is closer to Perth than Sydney.

 I have taken that flight myself so know it will be a long14hrs for some oldies but maybe an 'easier' one on a 'familiar airline' with staff with familiar voices.

Just something else to consider if you are able to have any input into their travel arrangement.

[Cruisegroover]

I'd find a good travel agent and work out some out of the box alternatives. Even for us Aussies who are used to long haul flights to go basically anywhere its a tough gig. For example Air New Zealand you could go via Auckland rest then onto Hawaii and get a North American carrier to your hometown via the west coast of USA.

 

Of course adding in stops adds to the cost so maybe premium economy might be worth a look. I fly PE and its certainly better than economy.

[Vict0riann]

And you would have to find airports that are still accepting travellers.  I'm sure HAL will work something out.  There are probably bunch of Canadians on board - perhaps is it worth it to HAL to charter a flight for all the Canadians.  

[3rdGenCunarder]

Where is the ship now? How long until it gets to Fremantle?

[Vict0riann]

I think it gets to Fremantle March 24?  There are a few other stops along the way, Captain Mercer said, if they are allowed in.

[3rdGenCunarder]

1 minute ago, Vict0riann said:

I think it gets to Fremantle March 24?  There are a few other stops along the way, Captain Mercer said, if they are allowed in.

 

Thanks. So HAL has over a week to make onward arrangements. Nothing has to be worked out in the next ten minutes. Of course, there's also a week for more countries to change their rules. 

[lucymorgan]

22 hours ago, Kindergirl said:

I’m thinking the best idea would be for them to ride it out there, as crazy as it sounds. I don’t know if that’s possible in regular times, never mind now. 

I am sorry you and your parents are going through this.  

I am confident that they will be looked after by HAL, the Australian authorities and medical system (if required) and the airlines until arrangements are made to get them home.      

Best Wishes

 

edit: if you get a choice of routes home I suggest you choose the route with the fewest stops even if uncomfortable and longer as each step involves additional work for them and additional exposure risk.  I would also choose to pay more if possible for business class or first class seats when HAL organises the flights as long haul cabins from Australia have far fewer people (say 8-60 seats instead of hundreds), far more comfortable, have lie flat beds, much more space and far less use of bathrooms.  They will also have access to airline lounges while waiting to board and at stops and will be well looked after.

 

Also we usually choose to depart/arrive long haul from Melbourne rather than Sydney because it is easier

   

Edited March 15, 2020 by lucymorgan

[Cruisegroover]

1 hour ago, Vict0riann said:

And you would have to find airports that are still accepting travellers.  I'm sure HAL will work something out.  There are probably bunch of Canadians on board - perhaps is it worth it to HAL to charter a flight for all the Canadians.  

Yes Australia has just announced restrictions on travellers and cruise ships. It's a very fluid situation and all I can suggest is read some Australian news sites ie www.abc.net.au for the latest information. Even the cruise companies will have difficulty in keeping up with all changes.

[Cruisegroover]

2 hours ago, Cruisegroover said:

I'd find a good travel agent and work out some out of the box alternatives. Even for us Aussies who are used to long haul flights to go basically anywhere its a tough gig. For example Air New Zealand you could go via Auckland rest then onto Hawaii and get a North American carrier to your hometown via the west coast of USA.

 

Of course adding in stops adds to the cost so maybe premium economy might be worth a look. I fly PE and its certainly better than economy.

Since I can't edit the NZ option a no go due to travel bans.

[USN59-79]

The thing to understand is that HAL will arrange travel home for all the passengers.  More than likely they will send people to Australia to help with the arrangements.  In the case of the Westerdam, even the CEO, Orlando Ashford came to Cambodia with some of his assistants.  There were people from embassies, including Canada there daily to help.  In our case, since we had traveled to the ship using Premium Economy, they purchased business class tickets for us to fly to Japan and then non-stop to Seattle.  They will probably tell the passengers to not arrange their own transportation unless they are from Australia.

[dillpickle48]

Forget any ideas about Auckland.  No cruise ships allowed and anyone arriving in the country by plane must then spend 14 days in isolation.  The same rules may be in place in Australia any time soon. News Flash . It has just happened.

No cruise ships.  All arrivals must spend 14 days in isolation as of midnight.

 

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-15/coronavirus-australia-live-updates-covid-19-latest-news/12056788

[Copper10-8]

1 hour ago, 3rdGenCunarder said:

Where is the ship now? How long until it gets to Fremantle?

 

Sailing in the Arafura Sea, arriving in Darwin on Monday

[Ine]

4 minutes ago, Copper10-8 said:

 

Sailing in the Arafura Sea, arriving in Darwin on Monday

Somebody just posted this, might be another problem.

 

[Copper10-8]

3 minutes ago, Ine said:

Somebody just posted this, might be another problem.

 

 

Yes, that is a serious problem! Hopefully, they'll make an exception in this case to get those pax home. Otherwise, she might wind up in Cambodia like Westerdam

[dillpickle48]

Refer to post #69 above. 

 

May be able to re-fuel in Darwin the cruise back to Florida via Hawaii.  Anyone getting off in Darwin will have 14 days isolation.

[Copper10-8]

7 minutes ago, dillpickle48 said:

Refer to post #69 above. 

 

May be able to re-fuel in Darwin the cruise back to Florida via Hawaii.  Anyone getting off in Darwin will have 14 days isolation.

 

Sailing to Honolulu to disembark there might be an alternative although Cambodia will also be in play since they have experience there now with Westerdam under similar circumstances. Sailing all the way back to FLL via the Panama Canal could present additional problems if governments in Central and South America (Colombia) close their ports 

[Boatdrill]

15 hours ago, Kindergirl said:

Kathi @Scrapnana. very kindly offered to get them a message, but I don’t know their suite number.

 

 

Do they have a travel agent ? If yes, the agent can tell you their room number, and other info.   Just my humble opinion....if they have to disembark, they should have an escort for the long journey home, such as a family member, or trusted friend. 

Edited March 15, 2020 by Boatdrill