Changes to cruising in Australia - what happened today

[Miamia65]

Here in Australia we’ve had an interesting day... 

 

P&O and Carnival suspended sailing for 30 days

 

Royal embarked guests on Radiance in Sydney then cancelled and is now disembarking them ... many were turned away due to no drs certification saying they were fit to travel.

 

Ovation left Sydney on Thursday 12th March and has nowhere to go so is returning to Australia... New Zealand has closed all ports until 30 June. South Pacific is all but closed to cruise ships. 
 

No announcement from Royal yet about voluntarily suspending cruises here! 
 

Many unhappy cruisers!!

[redransom]

Only a matter of time.

[Floke]

Closing the ports until 6/30 is the first realistic date I’ve seen. This 30 & 60 day stuff is just nonsense. It’ll be peaking in 60 days. 

[parrotfeathers]

Saw on the HAL board a ship quit in AU.  Some very elderly wondering how they will get back to the U.S.   No doubt they will get assistance but it is probably still frightening.

[soak01]

Royal have handled this terribly, at least Carnival and P&O have let guests know what is going on and cancelled their cruises. Royal are still trying to sell cruises out of Australia for the next couple of months despite Radiance going nowhere today, Ovation and Voyager heading to Sydney with crews apparently being sent home. No information from Royal, cruise guests just left hanging in the wind.

[Wine-O]

Isn't there just one cruise ship dock in Sydney -- all the rest anchor in the harbor?🍷

[Plum Happy]

3 hours ago, Miamia65 said:

Here in Australia we’ve had an interesting day... 

 

P&O and Carnival suspended sailing for 30 days

 

Royal embarked guests on Radiance in Sydney then cancelled and is now disembarking them ... many were turned away due to no drs certification saying they were fit to travel.

 

Ovation left Sydney on Thursday 12th March and has nowhere to go so is returning to Australia... New Zealand has closed all ports until 30 June. South Pacific is all but closed to cruise ships. 
 

No announcement from Royal yet about voluntarily suspending cruises here! 
 

Many unhappy cruisers!!

I am sure, they can either choose stay in Australia for their duration paying for a hotel room an expense they didn't foresee or pay high change fees to the airlines like so many did in London to get back.  The cost to them and what they are going through is sad.

[Oceansaway17]

and then Ovation can't sail in Alaska until July.  So Ovation and Radiance are in more of a bind than say the FLA and East Coast ships.  such a shame.  Darn the virus and the place it started in as well.

[Biker19]

Just now, Oceansaway17 said:

So Ovation and Radiance are in more of a bind than say the FLA and East Coast ships

There a number of East Coast sailings going to Canada before July 1 as well.

[Oceansaway17]

3 minutes ago, Biker19 said:

There a number of East Coast sailings going to Canada before July 1 as well.

oh yes thanks for reminding me.  Then again they might end up in Bermuda.  

 

What a mess but if it helps.   I am thinking that John LaLa and Twangster should rent an RV and travel the roads of USA and report back to us.  Ha ha.

[taglovestocruise]

15 hours ago, Miamia65 said:

Here in Australia we’ve had an interesting day... 

Royal embarked guests on Radiance in Sydney then cancelled and is now disembarking them ... many were turned away due to no drs certification saying they were fit to travel.

Many unhappy cruisers!!

They jumped the gun..

a.  Effective Monday, March 16, boarding will be denied to any person age 70 or older, unless the guest provides written verification from a qualified treating physician that certifies the person has no severe, chronic medical condition and is fit to travel.

[Dennis#1]

These are terrible times to want to cruise.  We had our March 14th cruise cancelled.  Our April and May will have to be cancelled because I doubt if I can get my doctor to sign that certification.

[mugtech]

Now all RCI cruises all over the world are cancelled for 30 days.  Welcome!!!

 

[LXA350]

What is happening with Spectrum, are they continuing to offer the cruises to no where from Sydney for the responders? Wonder where all these ships will be docked for the next 30 days.

[Biker19]

Just now, LXA350 said:

What is happening with Spectrum, are they continuing to offer the cruises to no where from Sydney for the responders? Wonder where all these ships will be docked for the next 30 days.

Someone else mentioned that she's on her last of the free cruises for the responders. Radiance is arriving in Port Kembla - I assume fees are cheaper there and less crowded than Sydney harbor.

[The_Big_M]

22 hours ago, Wine-O said:

Isn't there just one cruise ship dock in Sydney -- all the rest anchor in the harbor?🍷

 

No, there are two. Royal ships only use one dock though.

[LXA350]

4 hours ago, The_Big_M said:

 

No, there are two. Royal ships only use one dock though.

 

Royal Ships are to high to fit under the harbour bridge hence they can only use the Main Terminal at the Rocks

[Miamia65]

On 3/15/2020 at 10:40 PM, LXA350 said:

What is happening with Spectrum, are they continuing to offer the cruises to no where from Sydney for the responders? Wonder where all these ships will be docked for the next 30 days.

The Sydney port schedule has Spectrum anchored in Sydney harbour from now until 30 April 2020.

 

Radiance, Voyager and Ovation will be berthed at Port Kembla Australia

[pink845]

We were on the cancelled Radiance March 14 cruise.  We got off prior to the walk off deadline of 12 midnight saturday mar 14.  Otherwise we would be put into tender boats or tender cats the next day but captain said high winds were expected the following day that could delay tenders.  We organized our flights and hotel accommodation all free fue to our trip interruption insurance and spent another lively day in Sydney.  Everyone was offered free wi fi which enabled us to book what we needed.  We are taking cruise fare refundable to our credit card.  No interest in future cruise credit.  I think I we will stick to newer ships as our balcony cabin had seen better days.  Balcony was in rough shape.  Will stick to new and shiny and prefer new Princess ships as well.

 

 

  

 

[Dennis#1]

17 hours ago, Miamia65 said:

The Sydney port schedule has Spectrum anchored in Sydney harbour from now until 30 April 2020.

 

Radiance, Voyager and Ovation will be berthed at Port Kembla Australia

Are all of the crew still aboard these cruise ships?

[njkruzer]

United waived change fees.  Had 2 nights in Sydney before flying home.  Of course we had already spent sailing on Radiance. 

 

Btw as to ship's condition, she's scheduled for dry dock in October. 

[avalon007]

1 hour ago, Dennis#1 said:

Are all of the crew still aboard these cruise ships?

Yes as far as we know - one crew member on Oasis is doing a daily video blog of what happens on board with the crew. He is up to day 5 of the 30 day shut down  

 

[avalon007]

Update - After watching day 5 video above he now says he is being sent home next week to the UK , but with the airlines shutting down more each day who knows if that will even be possible by then?

 

[GarlicBread]

6 hours ago, Dennis#1 said:

Are all of the crew still aboard these cruise ships?

 

Spectrum have started disembarking . They have been told they are going home. But it could take days/weeks for them to get their flights. Until then, they're enjoying the guest life.