onlyslightlymad

Article in the NZ Herald speculating as to the resumption of cruising.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/cruises-drop-mask-requirements-over-seas-when-will-new-zealand-ships-return/H4A55LXYZ7343FJHI2TU2TZE7I/

5 hours ago, lissie said:

Look at the Australian curve - took off about 2 months ago... australia covid cases - Google Search 

Let's hope you're right

Just now, lissie said:

I think they will almost certainly bring that date forward (and the July one) - they indicated as much when it was announced. And bar some catastrophic new variant - we'll be through the worst of Omicron by Easter 

I don't think Easter.  Maybe by the end of May.  

The latest NZ border reopening plans all include a requirement to self-isolate for 7 days on arrival from overseas.  October is a bit vague though.

https://covid19.govt.nz/international-travel/travel-to-new-zealand/when-new-zealand-borders-open/#step-5-—-from-october-2022

Of course this could all change.  October is still eight months away.

2 hours ago, NSWP said:

Are you copping some rain from the cyclone?

Not here but fierce wind gusts.  Branches off trees.  So dusty that my eyes itch.  

22 hours ago, NSWP said:

Had one of these for lunch today, bit cool down here, 20C, got a jumper on. 

So insanely humid here at the moment that the shower is foggy on the outside.  

18 hours ago, ilikeanswers said:

 

Maybe not a whole country but there a quite a few tourist industries that have adopted US style tipping. I remember reading an article that in Kenya locals either can't get into safari park resorts or if they do they don't get great service because all the staff are favouring the foreigners especially the Americans as they will give USA style tips.

 

I have noticed in certain countries that have a lot of Americans tourists that there is an expectation that I tip like an American and get annoyed when I tip like a local 😂. 

Oh absolutely.  We visited Vietnam where we were told tipping was not a custom and budgeted accordingly but because we're white they assume we're American and will tip in American dollars to boot.  The worst part is they won't tell you how much they are expecting.  If I knew at the start I would just give it to them and if I knew ahead of time at least I would know how much cash to carry.  It's a horrible custom but I accept it's the norm in the US when I visit.  Just don't try to carry it to other countries.  

On 2/4/2022 at 6:30 PM, OzKiwiJJ said:

Yes, perhaps they need to have a different brand name for those wines. 

 

There are so many wineries in Australia these days, lots of variety to suit all tastes. I guess the same has happened in NZ since I moved to Aus .

I thought you might like to see a pic of dessert.  Tim tam and white chocolate cheesecake with raspberry lamington topping.

1 hour ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

I've had Pikes and Tempus Two wines before and enjoyed them but I've never been a fan of McGuigan's wines. Angove is a new one to me.

 

Lately we've mostly been drinking Australian grown Italian varietals, plus we found a South Australian winery that makes their wines in a more European style which we like.

The wine guy said that the McGuigans Short List consist of some of their higher quality wines instead of the cheap stuff that everyone thinks of.  He said it is hard for them to overcome their branding though.

7 hours ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

I'm glad it went well. Yes, that shiraz would indeed be very nice. It's a long time since I've had a Mt Langhi Ghiran wine but I did like them. What other wines did you have?

Angove Organic Rose, McGuigan Short List Cabernet, Pikes Traditionale Riesling, Tempus two Botrytised.

We had our Voyage to Straya wine night.  It seemed to go well, a great buzz in the room.   My favourite wine was the Mt Langhi Ghiran Cliff Edge Shiraz.

Looks like my cruise will probably go (probably).  NZ open to Aussies in July, others in October.  No mention of the maritime border yet.  I would imagine October....

If it's just a day you may as well go into Christchurch.  Jump on the little tram that does a circuit around the city and you can hop on and off.  Go for a walk in the Botanical Gardens and into the Museum, Art Gallery and Arts Centre.  Walk to the Square and stare at the remains of the Cathedral post Earthquake.  Go shopping at Ballantynes dept store.  Jump off the tram at New Regent St and grab lunch at one of the cafes or restaurants there.  Take a walk along the new river walkway and feed the ducks.  A lot of the CBD is still vacant post earthquake but there are still some nice things to do.  Akaroa is lovely but it's a good hour's drive on a windy road.

7 hours ago, Chiliburn said:

It would cost a few bucks but I believe he’s something to do with the cruise industry.

 I can’t see it being any more risk that being home.  Cruise ships are probably safer that the local club.
 

Anyway every second person I know has had it including me and my family.

The strange thing is uncle Les, I think I caught it of a couple of mates on New Year’s Eve. They weren’t vaccinated and I’m triple vaccinated and I had more symptoms.
 I had mild flu symptoms with a bit of temperature and they didn’t know they had it. As they where tested positive at work straight after New Years.
I just don’t know anymore.

Everyone's immune system is different.  It may be you would have been worse without the vaccination. Remember that you are a sample of one, you have to look at the stats for a much bigger sample than that.  It's like arguing that the climate isn't warming because it's a cold day.  I can understand being pssed off about it though.

7 hours ago, lissie said:

That's probably a very much worst case and given that we are all wearing masks  inside businesses and socially distancing in cafes/bars I don't think it will be quite that bad. But the government has warned we'll go to "level 2" when we get to 1000 cases a day and that could be next week... Remember basically virtually no one has had Covid here - but our vaccination rate is good - it will be an interesting couple of weeks - but I genuinely find it interesting not frightening. Omicron cases doubling in 1.5 to 3 days in areas with local spread - WHO | Reuters

 

Thanks - will do updates here - though not real time - the wifi on Cunard is horrible 

I'm not afraid Lissie but it's all a bit complicated for me.  With owning a restaurant, which is an industry with very tight profit margins and staffing issues as it is, it's a bit stressful.  I also work in education, so that's complicated too.  Especially as the govt seems to say that we can operate in person and via distance at the same time.  I also have a daughter with health issues so there's that.  Also, my elderly mother is reaching the end of her life and is in a facility with tight controls on visitors.  So, am feeling very squeezed.  I am accepting of the fact that Omicron will spread but am not confident that our underfunded health system will cope.

9 hours ago, LittleFish1976 said:

In Victoria and NSW our offical case numbers were well below the modelled numbers but it has been very difficult to get tested or even buy rapid antigen tests (aka Lateral flow tests depending on which continent you're on) which gives an artifically lower number. I'm surprised NZ isn't allowing people (as far as I know) to purchase those tests and do their own home testing. We've found it very useful to be able to test ourselves, for example, before we had a big family gathering on Christmas day. And to be able to do a quick test if you feel a bit 'off' at home.

 

I don't see how you could go from what - 105 today? - to 50,000 in a week! If you get those numbers every day, your hospitals will be overrun in a couple of weeks. I really hope that's not the case.

 

Our waves here in Vic and NSW look like resolving within 8 weeks. However, the AustOpen and school going back next week will make the tail longer.

We can't get RAT test because our govt has been so slow to order them that there simply aren't enough.  A bit of a bureaucratic bungle.  Yes, I do tend to agree with you re 50000 but it is exponential.  We have an immune naive population in that we have had very little virus circulating but then our adult population is about 90% vaccinated.  We're like you were a couple of months ago.

The best modelling as things stand at present in NZ is that we are to experience a three month wave.  Predicting 50000 infections a day by Waitangi weekend (which is next weekend).  So we shall see.

7 hours ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

I've just asked my Princess Vacation Planner to book us on a Tassie cruise in October. I have high hopes this will go ahead as the Federal elections will be over by end May at the latest - we'll either see a restart announcement just before the election of just after it.

 

We've also got a Cunard Xmas/NY cruise booked. Tasmania (again) and NZ. I'm actually slightly less confident about this one as Cunard may pull out of the season early, like they did last year.

 

That's all for this year. We have two cruises booked for 2023 and one for 2024.

 

We'll certainly be onboard the first two if they sail.

I am looking forward to the first person on here actually going a cruise and reporting back.  I must admit to feeling a bit gloomy when I made that post.  Just very tired and nervous as to how I am going to get through the next few weeks and worried about this business of ours.  Anyway who said life was supposed to be easy. 😉

As I wait for the much awaited tsunami wave of Omicron to break across the shores of NZ (Ah to own a restaurant in such exciting times...), my thoughts turn to the Viking Cruise that we have booked in December from SYD to AKL, and to wonder if the darned thing is actually going to go.  I reckon it's about 50 % probability on a good day.  About 30% when I'm feeling more negative.

So, here's my question of the day.  Do you have a cruise booked, if so where and with whom and when.  What do you think the probability is that it will go and, more importantly, that you will be on board...

I had a bunch of shirts come back shrunken.  I only send undies, socks and old t-shirts now.

First Omicron case in the community in NZ - Palmerston North.  It remains to be seen whether it has been passed about.

7 hours ago, Quarantined said:

So, leaving the ship yesterday was quick and easy. I was told beforehand that I would be able to disembark between 9 and 9.30, but just after 8 I got a phone call asking if I was already ready. I was indeed!

 

They disembark one isolation cabin at a time, not through the terminal but directly down dockside. I was met by an immigration officer and several ship officers. 
 

After the ship’s officers confirmed to the immigration officer that I was, as they put it, “free to go” since I had completed my isolation per CDC guidelines I was released to meet my waiting wife. At long last back to some normality!

 

After a night in Tampa we’ve now flown domestically and are checked in and waiting for our international flight. No questions at any point asked about covid status or anything of that sort, but I’m still very glad that the doctor provided me with a letter affirming that I’m cleared of covid and have completed my isolation period. 

All in all, I still feel that Celebrity’s staff have done everything that can be asked of them under the circumstances, but it’s also apparent that the testing and isolation rules will have to change. From many reports to me, from my wife and from other isolated guests, it’s obvious that there were a lot of guests on our cruise with symptoms such as coughing who are not asking for tests, while I had to stay in isolation for 8 days though my symptoms were completely gone after 3 or 4 days.
 

Now that the Conditional sailing Order has expired I think the cruise lines will have to find a better balance of testing, enforcement and isolation. It’s just not sustainable in the long run to incentivise hiding symptoms and not getting tested this way. 

They could go the way of Viking and have all guests test every day.

3 hours ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

It sounds wonderful. I'd be interested in hearing your food and wine pairings once you have them finalised.

I'll send you pics.  We are having some supply issues with Aussie wines due to...well we all know what it's due to, so the choices will be a little more narrow as we need to make sure the customers can order some too if they want to.  

11 minutes ago, Aus Traveller said:

Congratulations! That sounds wonderful. The only thing wrong is that we can't all be there. 😁 All the best.

 

Who is your guest speaker and what is the specific topic?

The guest speaker will be a man we've used several times before from a company that imports and distributes international wines into NZ.  He is a good speaker and very knowledgeable.  He will talk about the wine regions in Australia and talk of the particular wines we choose and the winemakers.  We have regulars who come every time, learn a little about wine, have a taste and order their own to be delivered (if they wish).  In the past, we've focussed on particular winemakers or regions.  We've done a virtual Mediterranean cruise, Marlborough road trip, Hispanic wines, a few particular old wineries...

Here's something to cheer you up.  Our restaurant has reopened after a Christmas break and we are planning our first Wine Night of the year.  We have a theme, guest speaker, food & wine pairings and an opportunity to purchase the showcased wines at the end of the night.  I've decided that February's theme will be 'Straya" so we will be looking at some Australian wines.  I'll let you know how the planning progresses.