Minister Ducks Questions On Why We’re The Last Major Nation With A Cruise Ban And No Plan

[Kiwi_cruiser]

Minister Ducks Questions On Why We’re The Last Major Nation With A Cruise Ban And No Plan

The cruise industry has shifted its campaign to get the government to issue guidelines for a return to sailings, recruiting travel agents to pressure MPs asking why Australia is the last major cruising nation without a restart plan.
 

The shift comes after the hugely popular campaign to persuade passengers to lobby MPs yielded an incredible 43,300 emails – but little tangible action.

Tourism Minister Dan Tehan sent those who contacted his office a typically polite but ineffectual letter.  You can read it here: Resumption of Cruising

Cruise Passenger contacted the minister’s office to ask what he was doing about helping expedite a framework for the return of international ships.  We will bring you his response as soon as we receive it.

In Queensland, hopes are rising that a meeting may at last be held between the cruise industry and health officials in a state which has Australia’s newest and biggest cruise terminal.  The Brisbane terminal was to have opened this season, allowing large ships from Royal Caribbean and Carnival to land passengers at Luggage Point .....

 

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Source: Cruise Passenger https://cruisepassenger.com.au/the-aussie-holdout-minister-ducks-questions-on-why-were-the-last-major-nation-with-a-cruise-ban-and-no-plan/

[Emoliash]

I presume cruise lines and passengers want certainty, particularly as all the holiday cruise payments will be due from next month and the fact cruise lines appear to be only giving credits if cancellations is to occur. 

[NSWP]

Too scared of another 'Ruby Princess scenario.'

[Snoopkat]

This govt is so good at dodging questions they should form their own dodgeball team.

[OzKiwiJJ]

1 hour ago, Emoliash said:

I presume cruise lines and passengers want certainty, particularly as all the holiday cruise payments will be due from next month and the fact cruise lines appear to be only giving credits if cancellations is to occur. 

I'm not sure about other cruise lines but Princess has been offering a choice between a move-over to specific cruises with fares protected, a full refund, or FCC with a bit extra as goodwill. Cunard also offered a full refund or FCC. 

[By The Bay]

6 minutes ago, Snoopkat said:

This govt is so good at dodging questions they should form their own dodgeball team.

Or they send it off to a committee to give their advice.😉

[Emoliash]

ozkiwijj that is good to know as we have an upcoming Princess Cruise and it was not clear they would give a full refund.

[OzKiwiJJ]

58 minutes ago, Emoliash said:

ozkiwijj that is good to know as we have an upcoming Princess Cruise and it was not clear they would give a full refund.

They've been very good so far. We've had 4-5 cruises cancelled. They were all booked with FCDs as deposits so we just let then ride as FCCs. 

 

We're just waiting to hear what is happening with the Xmas cruises. We actually got a final payment reminder yesterday but I suspect that was an automatically generated email so really doesn't mean anything. We won't pay the balance until we're certain the cruise will go ahead. If it does they'll have to change the itinerary as I'm fairly sure NZ aren't going to let cruise ships in by then.