Australia Cruise Ship ban has been extended to February 2022

[Kiwi_cruiser]

From the Australia Minister for Health: https://health.gov.au/ministers/the-hon-greg-hunt-mp/media/human-biosecurity-period-extended

 

The human biosecurity emergency period under the Biosecurity Act 2015 will be extended for a further two months.

 

These arrangements, which have been in place since 18 March 2020 to protect Australians during the COVID-19 pandemic, will continue until 17 February 2022.

The extension of these arrangements made by the Governor-General was informed by specialist medical and epidemiological advice provided by the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) and the Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer.

 

Continuation of these arrangement will allow the important measures currently in place to continue as the Government continues to reopen Australia and act decisively to respond to the emergence of the Omicron variant.

 

The extension means the four existing emergency requirement Determinations will remain in force for the duration of the extension period, with the ability to be revoked at an earlier time, depending on medical advice.

 

These Determinations include:

1. Mandatory pre-departure testing and mask wearing for international flights
2. Restrictions on international travel from high risk countries
3. Restrictions on outbound international travel for unvaccinated Australians
4. Restrictions on the entry of cruise vessels within Australian territory (this Determination will be reviewed monthly).

These arrangements have been a significant contributing factor in Australia’s success in avoiding the catastrophic effects of COVID-19 seen in many other countries.

It has enabled Australia to respond quickly to moderate the number of inbound and outbound travellers, protect remote and indigenous communities from localised outbreaks, reduce the risk of spread of COVID-19 on flights and at international airports in Australia and further manage the number of cases in quarantine facilities.

 

The human biosecurity emergency period ensures the appropriate legislative powers are available to the Australian Government as further information is gained and understood about Omicron, as well as to protect vulnerable communities in Australia.

 

As has been the case throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, these arrangements will be reviewed regularly to take into account the latest medical advice.

The Government continues to work constructively with the cruise ship industry, with whom we remain actively engaged alongside state and territory governments to enable a phased resumption of cruising in Australia on the basis of medical advice.

 

As part of this work, the Government will continually review, on a monthly basis, whether the current restrictions on cruise ships can be safely lifted or amended.

 

The measures in place under the Biosecurity Act 2015 can be repealed or amended at any time prior to the end of the human biosecurity emergency period and it will be continuously reviewed as a priority.

 

😞

Edited December 11, 2021 by Kiwi_cruiser

[Chiliburn]

Yep and even China with a zero infection policy has 3 cruise ships operating out of Hong Kong.

[portcbob]

What a joke Australia has become. High vaccinations and boosters getting done now what is the difference between starting cruising now or a couple of years down the track. Nothing is going to change.

[Aus Traveller]

I take heart from the comment that the ban on cruise ships will be reviewed monthly, rather than the three-monthly reviews in the past. I think it is likely cruising will re-start during 2022.

[Chiliburn]

1 hour ago, Aus Traveller said:

I take heart from the comment that the ban on cruise ships will be reviewed monthly, rather than the three-monthly reviews in the past. I think it is likely cruising will re-start during 2022.

I hope you are right,
I was going to post that the PM said it will be reviewed around the 17th of January .

Lets hope people control their excitement over the silly season and behave.

 

[Ondine]

Problem as I see it is that cruise ships need absolute certainty to be able to sail because of the long lead in time and cost.  What happens if they get the go-ahead and start to bring their ships back (3 month start up) and another strain of virus arrives.  With our record of opening and shutting borders on a whim how can they trust anyone?  They would need an iron clad guarantee that they can still sail once they get here.

 

It looks like they were anticipating a start up when they moved Royal Princess into dry dock in Singapore and Pacific Adventure left Trieste and sailed to Limassol.  Pacific Encounter also has been alongside the docks in Limassol a lot lately - doing what?  Finishing off her refit?

 

The ships off Cyprus will take around 4-5 weeks to get back into our waters to even come near us.

Still a monthly review shows that we are making progress.  Bring it on.

[OzKiwiJJ]

I read a report on the ABC website this morning that said NSW (at least) is showing signs of a new wave of Covid which should peak in February. If that's the case then we may not get any cruising over autumn/winter because the government will wimp out again.

 

Also report was that the federal government have changed the time for booster shots from six months down to five months. We get ours 23rd Dec.

Edited December 12, 2021 by OzKiwiJJ

[portcbob]

3 hours ago, Ondine said:

Problem as I see it is that cruise ships need absolute certainty to be able to sail because of the long lead in time and cost.  What happens if they get the go-ahead and start to bring their ships back (3 month start up) and another strain of virus arrives.  With our record of opening and shutting borders on a whim how can they trust anyone?  They would need an iron clad guarantee that they can still sail once they get here.

 

It looks like they were anticipating a start up when they moved Royal Princess into dry dock in Singapore and Pacific Adventure left Trieste and sailed to Limassol.  Pacific Encounter also has been alongside the docks in Limassol a lot lately - doing what?  Finishing off her refit?

 

The ships off Cyprus will take around 4-5 weeks to get back into our waters to even come near us.

Still a monthly review shows that we are making progress.  Bring it on.

Hope your take on this is right.

[Chiliburn]

3 hours ago, Ondine said:

Problem as I see it is that cruise ships need absolute certainty to be able to sail because of the long lead in time and cost.  What happens if they get the go-ahead and start to bring their ships back (3 month start up) and another strain of virus arrives.  With our record of opening and shutting borders on a whim how can they trust anyone?  They would need an iron clad guarantee that they can still sail once they get here.

 

It looks like they were anticipating a start up when they moved Royal Princess into dry dock in Singapore and Pacific Adventure left Trieste and sailed to Limassol.  Pacific Encounter also has been alongside the docks in Limassol a lot lately - doing what?  Finishing off her refit?

 

The ships off Cyprus will take around 4-5 weeks to get back into our waters to even come near us.

Still a monthly review shows that we are making progress.  Bring it on.

There’s a lot at stake to crew the ships and bring them here.

The way they kicked them out last time and threatening the captains with arrest. I doubt if they really trust the Australian government to hold there word.

I don’t , I think a lot of Ozzie’s don and I doubt the French do either.
 

Our democracy is in a grey area at the moment.

Edited December 12, 2021 by Chiliburn

[MicCanberra]

I still think it is unlikely to see cruising return until at least May due to the Federal election.

[Russell21]

I thought the decision was made to live with the problem, not half live with it like we are at the moment.

[OzKiwiJJ]

42 minutes ago, Russell21 said:

I thought the decision was made to live with the problem, not half live with it like we are at the moment.

Government thinking: "Yes, you have to live with Covid. You can go shopping and spend lots of money, go to crowded pubs, have big parties at home or on party boats, but we're not going to let those nasty virus-ridden cruise ships back. Cruises aren't important."

[MicCanberra]

Not while people are spending in Australia 

[SinbadThePorter]

32 minutes ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

Government thinking:

 

We've said all sorts of things whenever it was politically convenient, but what will get us through the next election?

[Russell21]

6 hours ago, MicCanberra said:

Not while people are spending in Australia 

This little black duck won't pay the exorbitant prices asked for a holiday in Australia.

[Ondine]

This little duck doesn't want to be cooped up in a car or bus on some busy road trying to guess what the entry permit system is for each state.  This little duck wants to bob around on the ocean and no a river will not do.  This little duck wants freedom on the high seas.

[icat2000]

Only holiday I am taking is to my alfresco area. I couldn't be bothered risking travelling across State lines based on the historical hysteria some State Priemers have demonstrated slamming borders shut and leaving people stranded. There should be no internal border closes period in Australia.

 

Also,  I've hardly spent anything during the COVID19 period. Haven't purchased one items online. (oops. Forgot. Except the cruise booking I made for November 2022).

Edited December 13, 2021 by icat2000

[Cruisers47]

Hi

 

i have made two clothing purchases online .  I got half one package but can’t seem to get the other..,they just keep saying the hold up is because they are waiting on the stuff.   The other is from the same group and have not received any of it.  Will not buy from this group online again. Still it is only clothes for my next cruise and goodness knows when that will be.

 

but just received an email that my refund from AAT kings for my Darwin to Broome has finally be refunded!   Maybe because I contacted my credit card bank last week it hurried things up!

 

now I can afford another cruise!!!   Ha ha

 

eileen

[OzKiwiJJ]

2 hours ago, Ondine said:

This little duck doesn't want to be cooped up in a car or bus on some busy road trying to guess what the entry permit system is for each state.  This little duck wants to bob around on the ocean and no a river will not do.  This little duck wants freedom on the high seas.

Although we really enjoyed our SA road trip and Murray River cruise earlier this year we came home exhausted. It was also very nervewracking not knowing if the SA border would open to NSW in time for us to go there - it did but SA closed it's border to VIC so we had to leave a day early and go the long way through Broken Hill. Changing accommodation places every few days was also a pain. We certainly realised how spoilt we'd become on cruises.

[Aussieflyer]

Not a cruise but we were lucky and managed 11 days in Tasmania in early June including a few nights at the divine Saffire - just like a shipboard suite only bigger and all inclusive. Then in August Tasmania decided the ACT was a hotspot and we've been locked out of there ever since - have cancelled 3 bookings so far for Tas land holidays and also our Silversea cruise for early March has of course gone to god as they say. Have 2 (Princess and RCI for Oct/Nov) and a Cunard for Feb 2023 so hope they all come to fruition.

[Cruisers47]

Just heard our 15 drinks in the 24 hours on Pacific Adventure in April has been cancelled as expected

 

hard for the cruise ships when there is no plan.!

 

just had my booster yesterday.    Hope everybody is getting there’s when able to!,

 

merry Christmas 

 

eileen

 

 

[possum52]

4 hours ago, Cruisers47 said:

Just heard our 15 drinks in the 24 hours on Pacific Adventure in April has been cancelled as expected

 

hard for the cruise ships when there is no plan.!

 

just had my booster yesterday.    Hope everybody is getting there’s when able to!,

 

merry Christmas 

 

eileen

 

 

We had our boosters this morning at our GP clinic. Our daughter and son and son in law are due to have theirs too.

[MicCanberra]

I was to have my booster this morning but put it off until Saturday  morning due to some other priorities coming up.

[OzKiwiJJ]

We're booked in for ours on the 23rd.

[NSWP]

Batemans Bay Medical Centre is the only place doing the boosters down here, mine would be due this month, but they told me it could be March before I get mine, big delays.