How realistic is a season with Aussie and NZ passengers only?

[GUT2407]

It seems to me overseas visitors are out for a while yet.

 

So is it viable for cruise lines to sail here with Australian and New Zealand passengers only?

[The_Big_M]

All depends who you're asking.

 

For the cruise companies, yes. Remember, P&O already does that effectively.

 

For the politicians, no.

Edited June 30, 2020 by The_Big_M

[OzKiwiJJ]

Yes. Off season cruises like the Hawaii/Tahiti cruise, Round Australia, and Top End cruises are usually almost all locals, and they are very popular cruises. Also the South Pacific runs outside of the peak overseas tourist season. The NZ itineraries tend to get a bigger mix of locals and overseas tourists.

[Ondine]

Yes ships from Melbourne don't usually carry a lot of internationals.  P&O usually just depart and come back to Melbourne although Princess and Cunard have now some cruises which "pick up and drop off" from Adelaide and  Auckland with Melbourne being the main pick up in the blended cruise itineraries.

[Chiliburn]

A few months ago I thought we could have a cruise season but not anymore.

[Kiwi Kruzer]

I think it is quite feasible , but, I can’t see it happening. It would only take 1 person on board to show symptoms and the Authorities would close the ports and you could get stuck at sea for an extended quarantine  ...14 days in an inside cabin ....No thanks 

[Docker123]

For passengers, quite possible on smaller ships.

 

However, crewing is the serious impediment. Especially considering that there are still tens of thousands still to be repatriated.

 

[mr walker]

50 minutes ago, Kiwi Kruzer said:

  ...14 days in an inside cabin ....No thanks 

Better than 6 months in a leaky boat 🙂

 

Actually the worry of being quarantined onboard, or after returning, is enough to put me off at this stage.

 

[SinbadThePorter]

4 hours ago, The_Big_M said:

For the politicians, no.

 

This.

 

Even if you get past all the logistical problems with getting a fully crewed cruise ship to Oz, there is no upside for politicians risking another Ruby Princess. Only downside.

 

I suspect that there will be no cruising until the pollies can be convinced that there is zero risk of a plague ship appearing on our shores. That will not be for a long time yet.☹️

[getting older slowly]

Until the Spirit of Tasmania is up and running normally ( what the new normal is )

 

They don't start until 1st September... and that day could easily move further away....

 

So No way for Cruise Ships..... Not that is what i want... but can't see it now....

 

Cheers Don  

 

[ilikeanswers]

That really is a question for the cruise lines. While there might be cruises with nearly all local customers you still have to wonder for an industry that works with tight margins if the overseas passengers don't help to balance the books, if they don't bring something financially that can't be replaced by locals? I have yet to hear of any proposal even aspirational for a Australia only for Australians cruise which makes me wonder if the cruise lines are that interested🤔, 

[OzKiwiJJ]

Sorry, ilikeanswers, but I just don't see what you're getting at. Princess, P&O and Carnival all have ships here over winter. All operate very popular itineraries. The Princess Round Australia and Hawaii/Tahiti cruises sell very well, very quickly. When the revised Sapphire Princess itineraries were released the Princess website and phone system was swamped, and some of those itineraries sold out in a day. Why would overseas passengers bring something that locals can't? 

 

 

[ilikeanswers]

26 minutes ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

Why would overseas passengers bring something that locals can't? 

 

That is the question I wonder. We know for example that Americans spend more on board, what if overseas tourists who spend more on board helps to get the profits over the line? Unless someone knows what is happening financially with these cruises companies I don't think any of us can say if it is or isn't viable. The only ones who have the information to work this out are the companies themselves. 

[OzKiwiJJ]

How do we know Americans spend more onboard and is that specific to one line? I've done a number of cruises where we've had traditional dining with Americans and they certainly didn't spend much on drinks. They went to speciality restaurants roughly the same number of times we did and, like us, didn't buy photos or much in the shops. They may have spent more time in the casino though. They possibly spent more on excursions in this part of the world, as we did when we did overseas cruises.

[MicCanberra]

I certainly think there is a market here for at least a few ships especially if they are sailing with partial capacities (50%). I doubt that the government will allow it though.

[ilikeanswers]

18 minutes ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

How do we know Americans spend more onboard and is that specific to one line?

 

It was something I read in article awhile back, they didn't say what they spent on just that cruise lines find them an attractive customer demographic because of their on board spending habits. The point I was really making is we don't know what it is cruise lines need to to be operating at a profit. Just because there are lots of bookings doesn't mean it is enough to cover costs. It isn't uncommon for cruise lines to rely on extras and add ons to push the profitability up. 

[banzaii]

8 hours ago, Ondine said:

Yes ships from Melbourne don't usually carry a lot of internationals.  P&O usually just depart and come back to Melbourne although Princess and Cunard have now some cruises which "pick up and drop off" from Adelaide and  Auckland with Melbourne being the main pick up in the blended cruise itineraries.

Not sure if this in the pros or cons in the context of the OP.

[banzaii]

8 hours ago, GUT2407 said:

It seems to me overseas visitors are out for a while yet.

 

So is it viable for cruise lines to sail here with Australian and New Zealand passengers only?

Viable?  Quite possibly assuming Australian crew are willing to accept lower wages supplemented by minimal tips.

 

Practical?  Only time will tell.  We need to find a way to live with or outlast this disease.  Maybe the ANZ communities have common sense required to take the lead on this, "Mexicans" aside! 😉

[MMDown Under]

I suspect cruise lines would be happy to return to Australia for Aussie and Kiwi passengers, if the Government would allow them to.  You only have to look at the mainstream ships transferred to Germany to see how successful a local industry can be.  

[MMDown Under]

9 hours ago, banzaii said:

Viable?  Quite possibly assuming Australian crew are willing to accept lower wages supplemented by minimal tips.

 

Practical?  Only time will tell.  We need to find a way to live with or outlast this disease.  Maybe the ANZ communities have common sense required to take the lead on this, "Mexicans" aside! 😉

I think it would be viable.  Many Australians currently furloughed from airlines are working for low wages at any job they can get. I think the true unemployment rate is going to be high for a number of years.  People may be happy to work on a cruise ship to travel and see Australia, on a lower wage, with full board.  No tips please on an Australian/Kiwi cruise ships. 

(When I travel I always ask people doing basic jobs where they came from.  It is amazing how many people had high paying but stressful jobs, who decided there was more to life.) 

[Kiwi Kruzer]

9 minutes ago, MMDown Under said:

I think it would be viable.  Many Australians currently furloughed from airlines are working for low wages at any job they can get. I think the true unemployment rate is going to be high for a number of years.  People may be happy to work on a cruise ship to travel and see Australia, on a lower wage, with full board.  No tips please on an Australian/Kiwi cruise ships. 

(When I travel I always ask people doing basic jobs where they came from.  It is amazing how many people had high paying but stressful jobs, who decided there was more to life.) 

You would never get it past the unions ,and depending 

on where the ship registered,  the tax dept . 
The reason young folk are willing to work for low wages overseas on ships is

surprise surprise ...

the tips they get .

 

[Snowgums]

I would be happy for this type of closed cruise. I am sure the cruise companies would get enough takers, like me, who would love to cruise around NZ again. I'd love to cruise within Australian waters too. Just want to get back to cruising. My August 12th cruise to South Pacific has gone, so eagerly awaiting what is in store for us once the cruise industry reopens. 

[phoenixx]

12 hours ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

Sorry, ilikeanswers, but I just don't see what you're getting at. Princess, P&O and Carnival all have ships here over winter. All operate very popular itineraries. The Princess Round Australia and Hawaii/Tahiti cruises sell very well, very quickly. When the revised Sapphire Princess itineraries were released the Princess website and phone system was swamped, and some of those itineraries sold out in a day. Why would overseas passengers bring something that locals can't? 

 

 

 Which Cruise is    the Princess Hawaii/Tahiti one, how many nights? thanks

[By The Bay]

1 minute ago, phoenixx said:

 Which Cruise is    the Princess Hawaii/Tahiti one, how many nights? thanks

We cruised on the Sea princes from Sydney last September, 35 nights. Great cruise.

[icat2000]

Realistic this year. No. Maybe next year.