Pass The Parcel Or Pass The Buck – Why Australia Can’t Cruise While The Rest Of The World Is Enjoying A Renaissance

[Kiwi_cruiser]

According to the cruise industry, no-one in federal or state government will listen to their arguments that cruising is among the safest holiday, thanks to new health protocols and hospital-style medical facilities aboard many vessels.

“Our discussions with government agencies have gone nowhere and our letters to the most senior levels of government have gone unanswered,” says CLIA Managing Director Australasia Joel Katz said recently. “Other countries have not only created detailed plans to uphold safety on cruise ships in response to the pandemic, but have already resumed cruising in a responsible way.

“More than a million passengers have sailed successfully in countries where cruising has resumed – with strict health protocols in place – but in Australia our calls for detailed discussions with health authorities have been ignored.”

Calls by Cruise Passenger to try and establish exactly what is being done to create the so-called “pathway to cruise” in Australia – the last country with a cruising pedigree to back a comeback – shows just how labyrinthine government can be when it wants to ignore a problem.

Cruise line bosses are convinced the Department of Health is to blame for not initiating progress.

But Canberra’s Health Department told us: “Discussions around a pathway for the resumption of cruising are ongoing. The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications is leading this work.

“Operational requirements such as passenger testing, age limits and vaccination status of passengers will be determined by cruise operators and/or state or territory authorities.

“On 6 August 2021, National Cabinet agreed to adopt an updated four-phase National Plan to transition Australia’s national COVID response. Each phase of the plan will be triggered by reaching vaccination thresholds as based on scientific modelling.

“The resumption of cruise operations and other discretionary forms of travel is being considered in the context of the National Plan. International cruising is part of these considerations.”....... Read More >

Source: Cruise Passenger https://cruisepassenger.com.au/pass-the-parcel-or-pass-the-buck-why-australia-cant-cruise-while-the-rest-of-the-world-is-enjoying-a-renaissance/

Edited September 24, 2021 by Kiwi_cruiser

[NSWP]

8 minutes ago, Kiwi_cruiser said:

According to the cruise industry, no-one in federal or state government will listen to their arguments that cruising is among the safest holiday, thanks to new health protocols and hospital-style medical facilities aboard many vessels.

“Our discussions with government agencies have gone nowhere and our letters to the most senior levels of government have gone unanswered,” says CLIA Managing Director Australasia Joel Katz said recently. “Other countries have not only created detailed plans to uphold safety on cruise ships in response to the pandemic, but have already resumed cruising in a responsible way.

“More than a million passengers have sailed successfully in countries where cruising has resumed – with strict health protocols in place – but in Australia our calls for detailed discussions with health authorities have been ignored.”

Calls by Cruise Passenger to try and establish exactly what is being done to create the so-called “pathway to cruise” in Australia – the last country with a cruising pedigree to back a comeback – shows just how labyrinthine government can be when it wants to ignore a problem.

Cruise line bosses are convinced the Department of Health is to blame for not initiating progress.

But Canberra’s Health Department told us: “Discussions around a pathway for the resumption of cruising are ongoing. The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications is leading this work.

“Operational requirements such as passenger testing, age limits and vaccination status of passengers will be determined by cruise operators and/or state or territory authorities.

“On 6 August 2021, National Cabinet agreed to adopt an updated four-phase National Plan to transition Australia’s national COVID response. Each phase of the plan will be triggered by reaching vaccination thresholds as based on scientific modelling.

“The resumption of cruise operations and other discretionary forms of travel is being considered in the context of the National Plan. International cruising is part of these considerations.”....... Read More >

Source: Cruise Passenger https://cruisepassenger.com.au/pass-the-parcel-or-pass-the-buck-why-australia-cant-cruise-while-the-rest-of-the-world-is-enjoying-a-renaissance/

The Ruby Princess disaster is still ringing in their ears.  No one in government wants to sign off on it.

[MicCanberra]

Once the fed gov opens the country to internationals, cruising may recommence, can't see that happening until June or later though.

[pully8]

If fully vaccinated Australians want to travel out of the country they should be permitted to do so.

It has been a very long time. Too late for many missing milestones, funerals and other significant events.  

We are told a certain % of vaccinated need to be met, which is fine.

Permitting outbound travel will mean people can cruise where they like albeit not in Australia, if that is what the authorities determine/mandate.

Inbound travel for students and others is already planned. 

 

 

 

[MicCanberra]

It will happen, maybe not as we would like it but we must have patience. Our time will come.

[SinbadThePorter]

On 9/24/2021 at 3:43 PM, Kiwi_cruiser said:

According to the cruise industry, no-one in federal or state government will listen to their arguments that cruising is among the safest holiday, thanks to new health protocols and hospital-style medical facilities aboard many vessels.

 

Anna is listening.

[pully8]

4 hours ago, MicCanberra said:

It will happen, maybe not as we would like it but we must have patience. Our time will come.

Hopefully.  

[portcbob]

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.👍

[MicCanberra]

Hoping with fingers crossed 

[MMDown Under]

For those who follow world cruisers, Bill and Mary Ann are cruising again on a short cruise to Alaska.  Their blog gives hope for limited future cruising.

[getting older slowly]

Ahhh the dangling Carrot......

 

which begs the question...

what is supply of carrots like ?

and there is a shortage of timber for sticks....

 

Also not fond of carrots and not interested in seeing in the dark or the boogie man under the bed.....

 

On a side thought...with a reduced fleet. will the Cruise lines be willing to bring ship out here ?  particularity if they get no guarantee from the Hill and getting all the states to agreed.......   Maybe a committee needs to be formed about the Dangling of Carrots 

 

[pully8]

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 by.

 

 

[ollyoeno]

With respect, Joel Katz is utterly hopeless and should have been pressuring QLD at least a year ago. After all, they funded the International Cruise Terminal with taxpayers money! So why haven't we cruises in local waters with fully vaxxed persons since then, from that port? 

 

Both the UK and US have resumed cruises as a direct result of CLIA threatening massive job losses all over the newspapers. Why didn't Katz do that?

 

 

Edited September 26, 2021 by ollyoeno

[portcbob]

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. 

[Porky55]

“IF” we can leave Aus on International flights once we reach the magic 80% and “IF” we can return and don’t need to Hotel Quarantine (or at least can self quarantine at home) - the numbers jetting off to faraway places may take the Govts by surprise.

If we really want to cruise, OS might be our only choice. 
And we havent seen our son and grandkids for over two years this month - once we can fly - we will be!!

Masks - on let’s go 😷

 

 

 

Edited September 26, 2021 by Porky55

[OzKiwiJJ]

7 hours ago, ollyoeno said:

With respect, Joel Katz is utterly hopeless and should have been pressuring QLD at least a year ago. After all, they funded the International Cruise Terminal with taxpayers money! So why haven't we cruises in local waters with fully vaxxed persons since then, from that port? 

 

Both the UK and US have resumed cruises as a direct result of CLIA threatening massive job losses all over the newspapers. Why didn't Katz do that?

 

 

Because nobody was fully vaccinated a year ago for starters. Vaccinations didn't start here until mid-February. 

 

The UK and the US started vaccinations, after pushing through approvals under emergency conditions, late last year. They have a much bigger population to draw passengers from. QLD border closures, and lower than average numbers fully vaccinated in QLD, would limit the number of passengers that could cruise out of Brisbane. Plus neither the US and the UK governments appeared to be as anti-cruising as our governments and the cruise industry here doesn't have much clout.

[NSWP]

1 hour ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

Because nobody was fully vaccinated a year ago for starters. Vaccinations didn't start here until mid-February. 

 

The UK and the US started vaccinations, after pushing through approvals under emergency conditions, late last year. They have a much bigger population to draw passengers from. QLD border closures, and lower than average numbers fully vaccinated in QLD, would limit the number of passengers that could cruise out of Brisbane. Plus neither the US and the UK governments appeared to be as anti-cruising as our governments and the cruise industry here doesn't have much clout.

I really think the UK and US Governments have given up on Covid, look at the numbers, still huuuuge !

[NSWP]

3 hours ago, Porky55 said:

“IF” we can leave Aus on International flights once we reach the magic 80% and “IF” we can return and don’t need to Hotel Quarantine (or at least can self quarantine at home) - the numbers jetting off to faraway places may take the Govts by surprise.

If we really want to cruise, OS might be our only choice. 
And we havent seen our son and grandkids for over two years this month - once we can fly - we will be!!

Masks - on let’s go 😷

 

I would pass out if I had to keep a mask on for 24 hours on a flight to Europe. No thanks.

 

 

[Porky55]

38 minutes ago, NSWP said:

I would pass out if I had to keep a mask on for 24 hours on a flight to Europe. No thanks.

I think it won’t matter where we fly for the next year or so, we’ll be wearing masks on a plane.

 

To see family, we can manage the two flights, airports, rules at airports etc.  

 

Netherlands (where family lives) has just lifted their 1.5m rule to open all remaining businesses - restaurants, cafes, pubs etc, and masks are only required there on public transport and in airports. Sounds like heaven right now 💕🙏

 

[MicCanberra]

Testing numbers is mute when it is the number of deaths that is the worry, especially with  some of these countries opening up and relaxing the restrictions.

[gbenjo]

2 hours ago, NSWP said:

I really think the UK and US Governments have given up on Covid, look at the numbers, still huuuuge !

I think almost everybody accepts they cannot eliminate Covid completely but, with vaccination, the severity of it and subsequently a reduced and“ manageable “ demand on hospitals they are willing to live with it. They may just have been a bit “quicker” than Australia to  adopt this attitude.

[pully8]

Agree. Case numbers of people testing positive is only part of the picture.

fortunately it seems fully vaccinated people even if they test positive are not progressing to serious illness, hospital or death.

Some may if they have other conditions with impaired immunity.

Dreadfully sad to hear about people not/part vaccinated undiagnosed and dying at home. 

Happier times ahead we all hope.  

[pully8]

In the UK booster vaccines are being given to some people now.

No plan here yet about that.

Our health system is struggling and needs to be better resourced.

The blame game between who is responsible state or federal continues and is tiresome.

It will be further tested with Covid19 and all the delayed tests and surgery. 

Be appealing to escape from the chaos if possible. 

 

 

[BRANDEE]

21 minutes ago, pully8 said:

In the UK booster vaccines are being given to some people now.

No plan here yet about that.

Our health system is struggling and needs to be better resourced.

The blame game between who is responsible state or federal continues and is tiresome.

It will be further tested with Covid19 and all the delayed tests and surgery. 

Be appealing to escape from the chaos if possible. 

 

 

FYI.  The US is also just approved boosters to those 65 and over, young adults with underlying conditions and those w/jobs that put them at higher risk of Covid.  Suggest time is six months after second vaccine.  Children under 12 still are not being vaccinated.

 

Also, the US hasn't given up, just facing the reality that we will never get to 100% fully vaccinated. That is the number to eradicate covid and it's variants. Covid can not  "die" as long as hosts are available to keep it alive.  Biology 101!

With only 56% fully vaccinate (183 million) there is no longer a wait or line to get your vaccine.  There are still a tremendous amount of anti vaxers around.  There is no way 333 million people, over 50 states, will all go back into lockdown..as someone else said on this post,   (Sadly) we have to learn to live with it!  Vaccination, vaccination, vaccination is the way to go. For the world not just some countries. 

Australia reaching 80% by end of December..I'll root for you! With a population of only 26 million you have about 10 million to go to reach that number...Good Luck!

[Porky55]

2 hours ago, BRANDEE said:

Australia reaching 80% by end of December..I'll root for you! With a population of only 26 million you have about 10 million to go to reach that number...Good Luck!

Actually really proud of what we have achieved here with vaccines. My son lives in Amsterdam and they started their vaccine campaign before us, similar population as Australia, and we already have more 1st Vax numbers than them and only 400k behind with both jabs. 
To have this percentage we are looking at by Dec - possibly over 80%, will be phenomenal.

Wish you only the best over there Brandee 🙏