Facebook Instagram Youtube
Search
Close
  • News
  • Destinations
  • Experiences
  • Travel Smarts
  • Deals
  • Competition
Menu
  • News
  • Destinations
  • Experiences
  • Travel Smarts
  • Deals
  • Competition
  • News
  • Destinations
  • Experiences
  • Travel Smarts
  • Deals
  • Competition
Menu
  • News
  • Destinations
  • Experiences
  • Travel Smarts
  • Deals
  • Competition

Bah, humbug! Australia grounded for another three months – leaving thousands with a huge Christmas headache

Peter Lynch by Peter Lynch
06/09/2021
in Uncategorised
Reading Time: 4 mins read
0

Australia has extended its ban on overseas travel until December 17, throwing Christmas plans into disarray for those who thought they could slip overseas.

There is a glimmer of hope that Santa could still smile on those with plans to go to Singapore or New Zealand, as the ban expires the day before Qantas announced it was planning to resume overseas flights.

But you’d need to be booked and ready to go. As we reported last week, Qantas and Jet Star were taking record calls.and there is no guarantee that the ban won’t be continued into next year.

The alternative for many is trying to book at home. But where are the vacancies? for thousands of families, it’s a cruel gamble with their break after a truly horrible year.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison today maintained that a family Christmas on on the cards. “I am bullish that if we stay the path we will get there,” he said.

But Health Minister Greg Hunt played grinch las week, announcing what could mean the end of some holiday dreams – including cruises. Many thought the big ships could return to Australian waters

The Biosecurity Act ban on overseas travel was extended, and it prohibits foreign-flagged vessels from Australian waters.

Ovation of the Seas – will she come to Sydney?

Mr Hunt’s announcement clearly caught many by surprise. Usually the Health Ministry makes the call the night before the last order expired.

But many operators were furious. They had pinned their hopes on the quickening pace of vaccines and felt October and November looked promising.

Cruise industry leaders are particularly upset that Australia is now the last nation with a history of attracting large numbers of cruisers to ban ships in its waters.

In Asia, Europe and America, almost all of the lines are back at sea. Royal Caribbean, for instance, has operated 459 sailings and carried 180,000 passengers since the middle of last year.

“Our discussions with government agencies have gone nowhere and our letters to the most senior levels of government have gone unanswered,” said Cruise Lines International Association Australasia Managing Director Australasia Joel Katz said.

“More than a million passengers have sailed successfully in countries where cruising has resumed – with strict health protocols in place – but in Australia our calls for detailed discussions with health authorities have been ignored.”

Mr Katz said the cruise industry had presented some of the most stringent COVID-19 measures to be found anywhere in world tourism, developed with the support of medical experts and health authorities internationally.

At least two lines have scheduled sailings for December – Royal Caribbean has Ovation of the Seas, an Ultraclass vessel carrying over 4,000 passengers, scheduled to arrive for cruising until March.

P&O Australia has a Christmas cruise departing aboard the new Pacific Encounter on December 18th, followed by sailings into 2022.

Two lines are sailing, however.  Coral Expeditions continues to sail its three small Australian-flagged ships around Kimberley and from Queensland, and has been doing so without incident for many months.

And APT has its Caledonian Sky vessel in Western Australia and is shortly to move to other state itineraries.

The smartest operator in the room – unless border closures are extended again – is Alan Joyce.

The Qantas boss said last week his airline planned to resume regular flights to London, North America and parts of Asia before Christmas. that Australia would have to hit 80 per cent vaccination levels before setting up travel bubbles with other countries that have high vaccination rates.

Tourism and trade minister Dan Tehan was cautious, and said it would depend on vaccine outcomes.

Travel operators at home are desperately hoping borders will reopen by Christmas as they face a crisis of bookings and cashflow with little government help. already, tens of thousands of jobs have been lost and billions of dollars worth of booking losses have slashed travel agent numbers by over 25 per cent.

Explore Deals

Deal

Luxury Queenstown Ski Holiday

Destination: Queenstown

From $655

Book Now
Deal

Charming Candidasa Escape

Destination: Bali

Inclusions:

Daily breakfast for two, 1 x 90-minute couples spa treatment with flower bath at Ocean Spa for two, 1 x three-course romantic dinner for two, 1 x selected cocktail for two OR 1 x bucket of small local beer (4 pcs) at Pool Bar/Restaurant, 1 x half-day tour visit to Taman Ujung water palace,

From $1545

Book Now
Deal

Luxury Adults-only Fiji Getaway

Destination: Fiji

Inclusions:

4 nights 5-star accommodation at Sofitel Resort & Spa, Access to the adults-only Waitui Beach Club, Complimentary mini bar, Daily buffet breakfasts, Access to in-room unlimited movies and wifi,

From $2895

Book Now
Deal

Experience Vivid Sydney

Destination: Sydney

Inclusions:

2 nights in a studio room at A by Adina Sydney, Daily breakfast, 6-course degustation in Sydney Harbour dinner cruise with guaranteed window seating,

From $549

Book Now
Deal

Romantic Sydney Escape

Destination: Sydney

Inclusions:

3-night luxury city view apartment at A by Adina Sydney, Daily à la carte breakfast, 3-Course Dining Walk, Hunter Valley Scenic Wine & Dine Day Tour, Sydney Harbour 2-Course Lunch Cruise,

From $2658

Book Now
See more offers
Previous Post

New dilemma for vaccinated Australians as Europe demands booster jabs

Next Post

Precious pups and festive flowers: What to do at Toowoomba’s Carnival of Flowers

Next Post
Precious pups and festive flowers: What to do at Toowoomba’s Carnival of Flowers

Precious pups and festive flowers: What to do at Toowoomba’s Carnival of Flowers

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Explore Deals

Deal

4 Night Ultimate Whitsundays Escape

Destination: Whitsunday Coast

Inclusions:

4 x nights at Mirage Whitsundays, Daily breakfast, Whitehaven Beach day trip, One-Hour Scenic Flight, Two-hour Sunset Sailing Cruise ,

From $1190

Book Now
No Result
View All Result

Follow us for up to the minute news, deals and more...

Facebook Instagram Youtube
Explore with us weekly

Sign up to the explore Newsletter

The most comprehensive website guide to regional Australia and city stays.

Editorial

  • Big Splash Media, Elizabeth Bay, Sydney NSW 2011
  • +61 2 9356 8888
  • [email protected]

Site Pages

  • News
  • Destinations
  • Experiences
  • Deals
  • Travel Smarts
Menu
  • News
  • Destinations
  • Experiences
  • Deals
  • Travel Smarts

Important links

  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Conditions of Use
  • Contact
Menu
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Conditions of Use
  • Contact

www.exploretravel.com.au

brought to you by

ACM

Ⓒ 2021 - Website produced by Big Splash Media

Facebook Twitter

Archives

  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • March 2020

Categories

  • Australia
  • Editors Choice
  • International
  • My Australia

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

© 2022 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme.

No Result
View All Result
  • Ask the Experts
  • Contact
  • Deals
  • Destinations
    • Australia
    • International
  • Experiences
  • Home
  • Home
  • News
  • Privacy Policy
  • St Patrick’s Day quiz
  • Subscribe to our Newsletter
  • Swap Holidays
  • Terms & Conditions for the Viking River Cruise Giveaway
  • Travel Smarts
  • Viking River Cruise Giveaway Terms & Conditions
  • WIN A VIKING RIVER CRUISE WORTH $22,990​

© 2022 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme.