Nang Posted March 6, 2023 #1 Share Posted March 6, 2023 Just been advised by P&O that the Explorer will not be sailing into the NZ fjords next week. No real surprise although my hopes were raised when friends who have just completed an all at sea comedy cruise advised they had an unscheduled stop at Kangaroo Island for hull cleaning. Getting $50 OBC per person as compensation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Over from NZ Posted March 6, 2023 #2 Share Posted March 6, 2023 2 hours ago, Nang said: Just been advised by P&O that the Explorer will not be sailing into the NZ fjords next week. No real surprise although my hopes were raised when friends who have just completed an all at sea comedy cruise advised they had an unscheduled stop at Kangaroo Island for hull cleaning. Getting $50 OBC per person as compensation. $50. That's pathetic. They really need to get their act together. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joejoe 59 Posted March 7, 2023 #3 Share Posted March 7, 2023 21 hours ago, Nang said: Just been advised by P&O that the Explorer will not be sailing into the NZ fjords next week. No real surprise although my hopes were raised when friends who have just completed an all at sea comedy cruise advised they had an unscheduled stop at Kangaroo Island for hull cleaning. Getting $50 OBC per person as compensation. They've had plenty of time to get the hull cleaned before the cruise, it's not like they didn't know the itinerary. So if they don't go to the sounds is it OK to drag their dirty butt around New Zealand? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare OzKiwiJJ Posted March 7, 2023 #4 Share Posted March 7, 2023 2 hours ago, joejoe 59 said: They've had plenty of time to get the hull cleaned before the cruise, it's not like they didn't know the itinerary. So if they don't go to the sounds is it OK to drag their dirty butt around New Zealand? I don't think it's quite that simple. Ships don't hang around doing nothing until it's time for the next NZ itinerary. They're doing other itineraries so no easy way to free up time for hull cleaning unless it is deemed necessary. Now don't get me wrong, I'm all in favour of keeping NZ's pristine waterways free from nasty imported marine life but ... Surely this isn't the first NZ itinerary that Pacific Explorer has done this season? Why now? Has NZ happily been letting her in without hull checks on other cruises? Or were her previous hull checks clean and this is something new - if so where has she been to develop a dirty hull? Is it only Fiordland visits that trigger hull checks or is NZ worried about all ports? If it's the latter are merchant vessels subject to the same hull testing or is it only cruise ships that are being scrutinized? My curious mind wants to know more. 😊 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ondine Posted March 7, 2023 #5 Share Posted March 7, 2023 We skipped Fiordlands on Pacific Explorer in January (New Year cruise). They told us it was "operational issues". We were told a month in advance and given $50. Kids were disappointed. Not sure if she got there on her late January cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nang Posted March 7, 2023 Author #6 Share Posted March 7, 2023 Note that this has also occurred for Cunard, Viking, Azamara, Oceania, Princess and perhaps others. Also its not just a one off, Cunard ships have missed the fjords on multiple sailings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chiliburn Posted March 7, 2023 #7 Share Posted March 7, 2023 The marine growth is probably holding it together. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare arxcards Posted March 7, 2023 #8 Share Posted March 7, 2023 5 hours ago, OzKiwiJJ said: I don't think it's quite that simple. Ships don't hang around doing nothing until it's time for the next NZ itinerary. They're doing other itineraries so no easy way to free up time for hull cleaning unless it is deemed necessary. Now don't get me wrong, I'm all in favour of keeping NZ's pristine waterways free from nasty imported marine life but ... Surely this isn't the first NZ itinerary that Pacific Explorer has done this season? Why now? Has NZ happily been letting her in without hull checks on other cruises? Or were her previous hull checks clean and this is something new - if so where has she been to develop a dirty hull? Is it only Fiordland visits that trigger hull checks or is NZ worried about all ports? If it's the latter are merchant vessels subject to the same hull testing or is it only cruise ships that are being scrutinized? My curious mind wants to know more. 😊 Dirty bum ships have also been skipping Bay of Islands. The ports are less restrictive, as they are unlikely to prevent dirty cargo ships that link their trade with the world. Most ports are already contending with urban runoff and are hardly pristine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare arxcards Posted March 7, 2023 #9 Share Posted March 7, 2023 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joejoe 59 Posted March 8, 2023 #10 Share Posted March 8, 2023 15 hours ago, arxcards said: Dirty bum ships have also been skipping Bay of Islands. The ports are less restrictive, as they are unlikely to prevent dirty cargo ships that link their trade with the world. Most ports are already contending with urban runoff and are hardly pristine. We are supposed to enter Bay of Islands at the end of March on Quantum it will be interesting to see if we make it🤞 I bought a ship tour basically to get us of the ship in a timely manner, at least it will be refunded if we don't make it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nang Posted March 9, 2023 Author #11 Share Posted March 9, 2023 The bio hazard is apparently growing well on Explorer's hull .... P&O have just advised via email that the hull needs a partial clean before we are allowed into NZ, anywhere in NZ it seems. The clean is hoped to occur during our transit from Adelaide to NZ, weather permitting. If it can't be done there will further changes to the itinerary. We may end up having an Aussie port only cruise or an all sea days cruise. We can, if we wish, cancel now and get 100% credit. We will be embracing the uncertainty of this mystery cruise and not jumping off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare aussielozzie18 Posted March 9, 2023 #12 Share Posted March 9, 2023 It’s not just cruise ships. Sydney kayaker Richard Barnes paddled his self built Sea Kayak “Blue Moon” from Tasmania to New Zealand solo unassisted. Despite seeing a few sharks in the water a couple days prior, he was still required to hop in the ocean and clean the barnacles off the hull of his kayak on approach to New Zealand. Richard left Hobart mid December and successfully arrived in Riverton on the bottom of the South Island of NZ mid February 2023 after kayaking 1636km. Impressive effort but even more so cleaning those barnacles off in the depth of the ocean with not a soul nearby. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icat2000 Posted March 9, 2023 #13 Share Posted March 9, 2023 Im on the Grand Princess now. Next stop is Fiordland for us. We are heading that way now. So looks like we good to go. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare cheznandy Posted March 10, 2023 #14 Share Posted March 10, 2023 1 hour ago, icat2000 said: Im on the Grand Princess now. Next stop is Fiordland for us. We are heading that way now. So looks like we good to go. Have a great cruise Sarah🥰 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NSWP Posted March 10, 2023 #15 Share Posted March 10, 2023 1 hour ago, icat2000 said: Im on the Grand Princess now. Next stop is Fiordland for us. We are heading that way now. So looks like we good to go. Enjoy ye olde Grand Princess. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joejoe 59 Posted March 10, 2023 #16 Share Posted March 10, 2023 15 hours ago, Nang said: The bio hazard is apparently growing well on Explorer's hull .... P&O have just advised via email that the hull needs a partial clean before we are allowed into NZ, anywhere in NZ it seems. The clean is hoped to occur during our transit from Adelaide to NZ, weather permitting. If it can't be done there will further changes to the itinerary. We may end up having an Aussie port only cruise or an all sea days cruise. We can, if we wish, cancel now and get 100% credit. We will be embracing the uncertainty of this mystery cruise and not jumping off. Great attitude. Good luck, enjoy your cruise wherever you go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LincolnLegend Posted March 10, 2023 #17 Share Posted March 10, 2023 We were told it's an ongoing issue for all cruise lines. The hulls have to be cleaned within 28 days everytime they head for NZ now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NSWP Posted March 10, 2023 #18 Share Posted March 10, 2023 1 hour ago, LincolnLegend said: We were told it's an ongoing issue for all cruise lines. The hulls have to be cleaned within 28 days everytime they head for NZ now. One would hope with all the hull cleaning issues this cruise season, causing changed itineraries, missed ports etc, the cruise lines might have learned their lesson and next year things will go smoother. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare arxcards Posted March 11, 2023 #19 Share Posted March 11, 2023 On 3/9/2023 at 10:07 PM, Nang said: The bio hazard is apparently growing well on Explorer's hull .... P&O have just advised via email that the hull needs a partial clean before we are allowed into NZ, anywhere in NZ it seems. The clean is hoped to occur during our transit from Adelaide to NZ, weather permitting. If it can't be done there will further changes to the itinerary. We may end up having an Aussie port only cruise or an all sea days cruise. We can, if we wish, cancel now and get 100% credit. We will be embracing the uncertainty of this mystery cruise and not jumping off. They are currently on a 3 night cruise to nowhere, and it makes much more sense to take care of it on an itinerary that doesn't have set ports to go to. They have been cruising slowly near Kangaroo Island, in a similar location that one of the other ships had their hull cleaned. If they aren't doing it today/tomorrow, it is really bad planning 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare arxcards Posted March 11, 2023 #20 Share Posted March 11, 2023 On 3/10/2023 at 10:36 AM, icat2000 said: Im on the Grand Princess now. Next stop is Fiordland for us. We are heading that way now. So looks like we good to go. You certainly are. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Over from NZ Posted March 11, 2023 #21 Share Posted March 11, 2023 20 hours ago, NSWP said: One would hope with all the hull cleaning issues this cruise season, causing changed itineraries, missed ports etc, the cruise lines might have learned their lesson and next year things will go smoother. Exactly. No excuse. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nang Posted March 11, 2023 Author #22 Share Posted March 11, 2023 7 hours ago, arxcards said: They are currently on a 3 night cruise to nowhere, and it makes much more sense to take care of it on an itinerary that doesn't have set ports to go to. They have been cruising slowly near Kangaroo Island, in a similar location that one of the other ships had their hull cleaned. If they aren't doing it today/tomorrow, it is really bad planning Good call arxcard, as it turns out the hull was cleaned this morning. We got a message this afternoon from P&O to say its all done and we are allowed into NZ ports, but still not the fjords. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wellou2 Posted March 12, 2023 #23 Share Posted March 12, 2023 On 3/8/2023 at 1:02 PM, joejoe 59 said: We are supposed to enter Bay of Islands at the end of March on Quantum it will be interesting to see if we make it🤞 I bought a ship tour basically to get us of the ship in a timely manner, at least it will be refunded if we don't make it. We were on Quantum of the Seas on a 3 night cruise (23-26 February) and spent two days off Bundaberg getting the hull cleaned so you should have no problems entering New Zealand on your March trip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare arxcards Posted March 12, 2023 #24 Share Posted March 12, 2023 On 3/11/2023 at 9:53 PM, Nang said: Good call arxcard, as it turns out the hull was cleaned this morning. We got a message this afternoon from P&O to say its all done and we are allowed into NZ ports, but still not the fjords. Well, that stinks. Clean hull and inspection report to the NZ authorities should mean a clean bill of health for the fiords. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NSWP Posted March 12, 2023 #25 Share Posted March 12, 2023 (edited) 10 hours ago, arxcards said: Well, that stinks. Clean hull and inspection report to the NZ authorities should mean a clean bill of health for the fiords. One wonders if the NZ Government does not want cruise ships at all in the Fjords? Or is it Fiords? Edited March 12, 2023 by NSWP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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