Cruising choices with an active Pandemic

[Pushka]

There is always a human side to tragedy.. here is a quintessential Silversea contribution.. enjoy

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10103028833954780

1.4K Views ·
5 hours ago ·

Myself and Giancarlo Spinelli worked with our amazing crew of the Silver Cloud to send a message of love to our home countries during this terrible pandemic. We made it with just two iPhones a Mac Book and recorded in an empty suite’s closet with a tiny mic. Please enjoy WE ARE THE WORLD performed by the crew of the Silver Cloud. #wearetheworld #seafarers #notcarriers #oneworld #love #family #crew #crewlife #lifeatsea #silversea #silvercloud #expedition

That is so very touching. Damn this virus.

 

[drron]

Though Silversea are being a tad optimistic in their email of today.

We are pleased to introduce our new Double Bonus promotion. Reserve a Silversea cruise from now until 30 June, 2020, and pay just $1500 AUD for the deposit. The second bonus? We'll give you $1,000 USD in shipboard credit to enjoy during your voyage. What’s more, if you have received a Future Cruise Credit, you can redeem a portion of it to secure your voyage under this program.​

 

[p--and--t]

There is always a human side to tragedy.. here is a quintessential Silversea contribution.. enjoy

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10103028833954780

1.4K Views ·
5 hours ago ·

Myself and Giancarlo Spinelli worked with our amazing crew of the Silver Cloud to send a message of love to our home countries during this terrible pandemic. We made it with just two iPhones a Mac Book and recorded in an empty suite’s closet with a tiny mic. Please enjoy WE ARE THE WORLD performed by the crew of the Silver Cloud. #wearetheworld #seafarers #notcarriers #oneworld #love #family #crew #crewlife #lifeatsea #silversea #silvercloud #expedition

OMG I have tears streaming down my face.

I feel so bad the way Australia has treated those poor souls trapped on the Ruby for so long, feeling like they have been abandoned by their countries, their employer and Australia.

 

[Pushka]

OMG I have tears streaming down my face.

I feel so bad the way Australia has treated those poor souls trapped on the Ruby for so long, feeling like they have been abandoned by their countries, their employer and Australia.

I was thinking about this but not sure what could be done. The crew have been tested and health checked and brought into hospital if needed. Being young it's likely the majority just needed to rest which they've done. None would be Australian citizens and unless requiring hospital treatment they can't be brought on to the mainland. I'd have expected Princess to have repatriated them once well like they have to in the USA but clearly they aren't moved to do so here. There isn't much their homelands can do because they are probably trying to cope with Covid crises in their own country.

 

[drron]

But other cruise lines have flown their crews home from Australia eg Silversea who had 2 ships that had to end their voyages in Australia.

 

[SydneySwan]

But other cruise lines have flown their crews home from Australia eg Silversea who had 2 ships that had to end their voyages in Australia.

I suspect that Princess have been focusing too much on the $$$.

 

[OZDUCK]

But other cruise lines have flown their crews home from Australia eg Silversea who had 2 ships that had to end their voyages in Australia.

The Artania has now departed and the cruise line has arranged a charter to fly out about 36 crew and 25 passengers who remained behind. So as you said other lines are certainly prepared to repatriate crew.

 

[Pushka]

But other cruise lines have flown their crews home from Australia eg Silversea who had 2 ships that had to end their voyages in Australia.

I suspect that Princess have been focusing too much on the $$$.

The Artania has now departed and the cruise line has arranged a charter to fly out about 36 crew and 25 passengers who remained behind. So as you said other lines are certainly prepared to repatriate crew.

Agree. I understand some crew are in the process of leaving Ruby now. But sound like they might be entertainment etc as they are from UK and US. It sounds like the Embassies are proving difficult as well but suspect the main issue is Princess.

 

[k_sheep]

@k_sheep does the revised Princess cancellation policy help you? Supposedly applies to voyages up to 15 October?

Princess Cruises: Refunds and Future Cruise Credits - Notices & Advisories

www.princess.com

Thank you again for this - I phoned and they have pushed back my final payment date another month

So either it will be cancelled (surely!) by then ... or I've just delayed the decision anyway

 

[lovetravellingoz]

But other cruise lines have flown their crews home from Australia eg Silversea who had 2 ships that had to end their voyages in Australia.

Out of interest where are the two Silverseas ships moored in Australia?

 

[lovetravellingoz]

There is always a human side to tragedy.. here is a quintessential Silversea contribution.. enjoy

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10103028833954780

1.4K Views ·
5 hours ago ·

Myself and Giancarlo Spinelli worked with our amazing crew of the Silver Cloud to send a message of love to our home countries during this terrible pandemic. We made it with just two iPhones a Mac Book and recorded in an empty suite’s closet with a tiny mic. Please enjoy WE ARE THE WORLD performed by the crew of the Silver Cloud. #wearetheworld #seafarers #notcarriers #oneworld #love #family #crew #crewlife #lifeatsea #silversea #silvercloud #expedition

Thanks for that. I have never been a big cruiser (apart from yachts that I skipper) but we were on the Silver Cloud in 2018 for the Scottish Isles and UK Cruise. So that made this video extra touching for my wife and I.

 

[drron]

Out of interest where are the two Silverseas ships moored in Australia?

I believe they are off Gibraltar now.No crew were infected.The company provided air charters for most of the crew to fly home and left a crew of ~ 100 for each ship to sail them back to Europe via Capetown.Basically the way it should have been done.

 

[tgh]

It is a tad surreal.. as far as the Cruise line is concerned , we are still flying to Osaka on the 04/06 and embarking the Silver Explorer on the 07/06 at Kobe for a cruise north along the coast.
Y'all can come along , they are still advertising the cruise.. plenty of cabin availability...
If we were living under a rock we might be starting to pack soon.
The surreal bit is that our ship has just entered the Panama Canal heading for Tenerife to join all the other Silversea ships.

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

OK - I will join you, Ron will be working in Tassie = i love the Explorer - it is my favorite SS ship !

 

[Pushka]

It is a tad surreal.. as far as the Cruise line is concerned , we are still flying to Osaka on the 04/06 and embarking the Silver Explorer on the 07/06 at Kobe for a cruise north along the coast.
Y'all can come along , they are still advertising the cruise.. plenty of cabin availability...
If we were living under a rock we might be starting to pack soon.
The surreal bit is that our ship has just entered the Panama Canal heading for Tenerife to join all the other Silversea ships.

And then you could wing your way over to Rome for our Med cruise touching into Greece and Malta. Plenty of spare cabins for youse all.

 

[get me outta here]

Did the Ruby P actually have pax / crew step ashore in NZ?

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Did the Ruby P actually have pax / crew step ashore in NZ?

Yes a NZ Tour Guide and others were infected.

A cluster of 19 cases in the Hawkes Bay region of New Zealand is also linked to the ship's stopover in Napier during the cruise.

'We were left in the dark': Global anger as coronavirus cases on Ruby Princess rise

International anger builds over the Ruby Princess fiasco, with the first death recorded outside Australia and the number of global cases linked to the stricken cruise rising to at least 35.

www.abc.net.au

Prior to the ship being granted clearance to disembark in Napier, Covid-19 was ruled out on unwell passengers, Hawke's Bay Medical Officer of Health Nick Jones said.

"The ship declared it had several passengers unwell with Influenza A (confirmed through the ship's onboard testing), but one passenger that did not return an Influenza A result.

"Therefore, the ship's Master was advised that if Covid-19 could not be excluded, the vessel would not be granted clearance to disembark in Napier," said Dr Jones.

"At the request of the ship's doctor, the Medical Officer of Health arranged for immediate Covid-19 testing to be undertaken by public health officials while the ship was still in Wellington, and all returned negative results."

Jones said the Medical Officer of Health was also advised by government officials that the new border closure introduced at that time did not apply to vessels already within New Zealand waters.

"The ship was therefore cleared for disembarkation in Napier, but unwell passengers were to remain on board the vessel," he said.

Covid-19: 16 cases linked to Ruby Princess cruise ship

Cases linked to the Ruby Princess cruise ship in Hawke's Bay makes it one of ten clusters nationwide.

www.rnz.co.nz

 

[zig]

It is a tad surreal.. as far as the Cruise line is concerned , we are still flying to Osaka on the 04/06 and embarking the Silver Explorer on the 07/06 at Kobe for a cruise north along the coast.
Y'all can come along , they are still advertising the cruise.. plenty of cabin availability...
If we were living under a rock we might be starting to pack soon.
The surreal bit is that our ship has just entered the Panama Canal heading for Tenerife to join all the other Silversea ships.

Your cruise has now been removed from the website. First available itinerary on Explorer is now 18 June.

 

[tgh]

.. maybe it is booked out...

I was quite looking forward to this cruise …. Oh well...

I guess the ta will call us with the news.. wonder how long it will take to credit back the card transactions ?

 

[zig]

.. maybe it is booked out...

I was quite looking forward to this cruise …. Oh well...

I guess the ta will call us with the news.. wonder how long it will take to credit back the card transactions ?

I nearly booked it last year as I liked the look of the itinerary, but the date ended up not working for me.
Credit card refunds are reported to be taking a long time...