Fear virus in full focus on Explorer Dream - 7 day Sydney to Tasmania and back - which Mrs SydneySwan and I are currently cruising on.
It has about 1000 passengers out of a capacity of around 2700. I understand original bookings were north of 2000. Many Chinese were forced to cancel and many local, mainly Asian Australians cancelled in the last two weeks prior to departure. We have met one Chinese Australian lady from Sydney who is the only one of her group of 8 who travelled. The other 7 cancelled 3 days prior to departure for no refund. One person on the cruise has been told by her employer, a Chinese Australian business on Sydney’s north shore, she must not return to work until 2 weeks after she returns from the cruise!
We have just reached Hobart - waiting for clearance to go on land. Not in doubt surely?