Further restrictions on entry into New Zealand

[takeout]

I don't think we will be cruising until 2021 at least I hope we are have booked on Quantum OTS

for November 2021 to NZ fingers crossed

[mitz18]

42 minutes ago, Aus Traveller said:

 

I don't think it would be wise to allow international passengers on cruise ships until either they have been vaccinated or they spend at least 14 days in quarantine, then have a 'negative' test. Authorities (either the cruise line or the Aust government) could not allow the same thing to happen as did on the Ruby Princess - an infected person board the ship at the start of the cruise and have the virus spread.

But where does it stop?  You/we can isolate yourselves/ourselves only so long, no?  What about the next “outbreak”?  Be it a major flu issue, SARs, bird flu, etc.  Do you/we become isolationist and keep boarders closed forever or at what point do you (ie we all) have to let it (whatever “it” is) run its course.  I’m not looking for an answer as none of us know, but just wondering aloud how long any of us can survive in “lockdown” mode. All I know is it’s above my pay grade......

[By The Bay]

12 minutes ago, mitz18 said:

But where does it stop?  You/we can isolate yourselves/ourselves only so long, no?  What about the next “outbreak”?  Be it a major flu issue, SARs, bird flu, etc.  Do you/we become isolationist and keep boarders closed forever or at what point do you (ie we all) have to let it (whatever “it” is) run its course.  I’m not looking for an answer as none of us know, but just wondering aloud how long any of us can survive in “lockdown” mode. All I know is it’s above my pay grade......

Countries are starting to open up, but only to other countries that have similar results in controlling the spread of the virus.

[MicCanberra]

I suppose with anything, we are all just working to a threshold that society is willing to accept, i.e. so many deaths / million before something changes.

It is the same with speed limits and such. Society accepts some people will die but the majority will not, lowering the speed will lessen the death rate but not stop it completely. In some cases we have lowerd speed limits (school zones, suburban streets, etc) but we still have high limits on highways. Economy vs death rate, society sets the ratios. 

[bazzaw]

9 hours ago, MicCanberra said:

The way some government officials and some Politian's are talking the borders may be closed to international tourism until the vaccine is not only available but also the community is all vaccinated. This may take up to 2-3 years.

The paranoia and hysteria that this virus has created is what is going to take years before we are back to normality. And there is every possibility that there will be no vaccine for this virus - there are plenty of human viruses that have no vaccine  while others ( like the shingles virus) is only 50% effective. I am fortunate to live in Qld - but still much is still locked down here regardless of no new cases for quite a while. I am much more concerned about the possibility of my getting killed on Qld roads than contacting coronavirus ( there have now been 111 fatalities on Qld roads so far this year) - doesn't seem to be too much paranoia about that situation. If you insist on going to a supermarket - just make sure you don't drive there!!!!

[Rassa]

21 minutes ago, bazzaw said:

 I am much more concerned about the possibility of my getting killed on Qld roads than contacting coronavirus ( there have now been 111 fatalities on Qld roads so far this year) - doesn't seem to be too much paranoia about that situation. If you insist on going to a supermarket - just make sure you don't drive there!!!!

 

A big reason why I prefer cruising to a driving holiday.   I would be more than happy to cruise within Australia waters until there is a vaccine, no big rush for me.  I really don't care at this point about going overseas.

[Russell21]

17 minutes ago, Rassa said:

 

A big reason why I prefer cruising to a driving holiday.   I would be more than happy to cruise within Australia waters until there is a vaccine, no big rush for me.  I really don't care at this point about going overseas.

Wife and I would be happy just to sail around in circles for a couple of weeks, there is nowhere else that you can get the service experience of a cruise than on a cruise. Holidaying in Australia is just an expensive joke for us locals.

[getting older slowly]

12 minutes ago, Russell21 said:

Wife and I would be happy just to sail around in circles for a couple of weeks, there is nowhere else that you can get the service experience of a cruise than on a cruise. Holidaying in Australia is just an expensive joke for us locals.

 

Got to Agree with you... cruise you get everything and no driving, cooking, cleaning and  somebody else does well almost everything..... so relaxing...... looking at the total cost.. of one of our cruises.... could not do the same thing on holiday anywhere at the same level in Australia.....

 

I wonder after this,, without all the OS people... will holidays become cheaper. fro us... with the operators still trading...????

 

Cheers Don

[The_Big_M]

6 hours ago, bazzaw said:

The paranoia and hysteria that this virus has created is what is going to take years before we are back to normality. And there is every possibility that there will be no vaccine for this virus - there are plenty of human viruses that have no vaccine  while others ( like the shingles virus) is only 50% effective. I am fortunate to live in Qld - but still much is still locked down here regardless of no new cases for quite a while. I am much more concerned about the possibility of my getting killed on Qld roads than contacting coronavirus ( there have now been 111 fatalities on Qld roads so far this year) - doesn't seem to be too much paranoia about that situation. If you insist on going to a supermarket - just make sure you don't drive there!!!!

 

That's only because there have been lockdowns and isolation.

 

Had there not then you would have seen cases and deaths like the US and Italy before they convinced lockdown - which they ultimately did because it was unmanageable otherwise. So you might have 10000 deaths in QLD so far, and rising, because you don't wish to make any changes.

 

The road situation doesn't have 'paranoia' because it is known and managed. The death rate isn't going to increase by 100 tomorrow. This virus does if it is not managed.

[MicCanberra]

Containment and suppression rather than elimination.

[mr walker]

15 hours ago, Russell21 said:

 Holidaying in Australia is just an expensive joke for us locals.

 

15 hours ago, getting older slowly said:

I wonder after this,, without all the OS people... will holidays become cheaper. fro us... with the operators still trading...????

 

The costs of local travel is a function of our labour costs. Unless we move to lower those, prices are not going to come down. There would have been (pre COVID) no high demand by Aussies for mass market cheap holidays in Bali, Phuket, Fiji etc if the costs here weren't so high.

 

I see people calling for cruises here to resume locally using Aussie crews. Few are going to pay the fares that would be needed to cover the costs of labour. We went on our first cruise (& another 18) when I compared the costs of an 11N cruise & 7N at a 'resort' for the Great Barrier Reef back in 2011.

 

Our high standard of living and cheap costs are mutually exclusive. Interestingly, even with high labour rates, many tourism/hospitality businesses have relied on 'backpackers' to fill jobs, as they can't get locals to do these jobs, even with underlying unemployment at 4-5%.

 

We will be doing more local travel in the next few years, accepting the costs. Whilst there are places around the world we would like to visit, or re-visit, we have been fortunate enough to see most our 'must-sees' & are comfortable with seeing our own backyard.

 

Anyway, we can't solve all the countries problems today 🙂

 

[getting older slowly]

Well Said Mr Walker...... I must admit.. have never done a fully escort tour before..

 

Holidays in Australia I have always booked everything myself and almost always directly with the business.... Cruising was our first ever everything done for you holiday....   

 

Now one has to wait for the borders to open.....

 

Cheers Don   

[MMDown Under]

I went for a drive to the Sunshine Coast yesterday.  Mooloolaba, Buderim and Caloundra were packed with people enjoying the sun and the beaches.  It was hard to find a park.  I don't know whether they were all out and about before the local school holidays or before they thought the NSW border might open.  I didn't see anywhere with a sign out the front offering discount accommodation, like you see at the Gold Coast.  

[ilikeanswers]

 

19 hours ago, getting older slowly said:

Got to Agree with you... cruise you get everything and no driving, cooking, cleaning and  somebody else does well almost everything..... so relaxing...... looking at the total cost.. of one of our cruises.... could not do the same thing on holiday anywhere at the same level in Australia....

 

While that is true I think those who really want to travel will adjust, they will give up full service if it means they will have a budget to travel and I think there is enough travellers out there willing to do it🤗. 

[OzKiwiJJ]

49 minutes ago, ilikeanswers said:

 

 

While that is true I think those who really want to travel will adjust, they will give up full service if it means they will have a budget to travel and I think there is enough travellers out there willing to do it🤗. 

It depends on whether you want to travel to see new places, or whether you want a break away from day-to-day living and chores in which case not having full service defeats the purpose.

[MMDown Under]

48 minutes ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

It depends on whether you want to travel to see new places, or whether you want a break away from day-to-day living and chores in which case not having full service defeats the purpose.

I had never thought about travel that way.  I travel for new destinations or to relive favourite destinations, so full service has never been a part of the equation.  I love cooking, so it is never a chore, if I have to cook.  

[christodan]

22 minutes ago, MMDown Under said:

I had never thought about travel that way.  I travel for new destinations or to relive favourite destinations, so full service has never been a part of the equation.  I love cooking, so it is never a chore, if I have to cook

When you say  'if I have to cook', do you mean you don't do it everyday? I have to cook everyday and to me it's a chore. So to me a holiday is a break from household chores.   

[MicCanberra]

I don't mind cooking but the worst thing is I have to eat what I cook.

[sewgood]

33 minutes ago, MicCanberra said:

I don't mind cooking but the worst thing is I have to eat what I cook.

Too funny Mic !

[getting older slowly]

2 hours ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

It depends on whether you want to travel to see new places, or whether you want a break away from day-to-day living and chores in which case not having full service defeats the purpose.

travel yes new place are good... so is the idea a break from day to day living

1 hour ago, MMDown Under said:

I had never thought about travel that way.  I travel for new destinations or to relive favourite destinations, so full service has never been a part of the equation.  I love cooking, so it is never a chore, if I have to cook.  

also love to relive favourite destinations

 

Us well I do all the driving and cooking and better half does the cleaning

 

All our holidays were generally staying at self contained cottages,

sometime camping... ( until somebody forgot the tent pegs... Doh)

Before we went cruising had never had the idea of full service....   ohhhh so relaxing....

 

Travel is to us going somewhere which is not like home..... something with a view and great location ( walk to pubs and restaurants ).... generally the coast...  fewer people.....  no timetable to follow ( have to be somewhere by a certain time ) 

 

Also it is nice to have a break from cooking for me.....

 

Looking forward to our next holiday where ever it is

 

Cheers Don

 

Edited June 25, 2020 by getting older slowly

[Bizziecruzer]

On 6/24/2020 at 5:27 PM, bazzaw said:

 And there is every possibility that there will be no vaccine for this virus - there are plenty of human viruses that have no vaccine  while others ( like the shingles virus) is only 50% effective. 

Shingles is not contagious though.

Edited June 25, 2020 by Bizziecruzer

[OzKiwiJJ]

1 hour ago, MMDown Under said:

I had never thought about travel that way.  I travel for new destinations or to relive favourite destinations, so full service has never been a part of the equation.  I love cooking, so it is never a chore, if I have to cook.  

I love cooking too but it's really nice to have a break from it for a while. That's why I love cruising, plus I get to see some lovely places along the way without having to live out of a suitcase day-to-day. Some cruises we go on  are more relaxing than others - the 35 night Hawaii/Tahiti cruise falls into that category, as do repositioning cruises. Others are more port intensive.

[MicCanberra]

36 minutes ago, Bizziecruzer said:

Shingles is not contagious though.

You find them all over the place in America though.

[Bizziecruzer]

11 minutes ago, MicCanberra said:

You find them all over the place in America though.

Don't single out America, it's worldwide. I had shingles and was not in the demographic for vaccine. Advised recently by GP that there's a new vaccine on its way that has a way better result, as in 100%. Cannot give enough praise to all of our scientists who work on vaccines and life saving drugs. Silent achievers.

[OzKiwiJJ]

22 minutes ago, MicCanberra said:

You find them all over the place in America though.

The rooftop variety?