NEWS UPDATE: Mask Mandate Returns, Australian Media Frenzy has to End, Disney goes Global & more!

Join my private Facebook group for cruise deals, tips and advice - the more members we have, the better we’ll get! www.facebook.com/groups/CTGdeals Follow me on Facebook and Instagram: www.facebook.com/thecruiseandtravelguy www.instragram.com/thecruiseandtravelguy Support the channel with a slogan tee: https://thecruiseandtravelguy.myshopify.com Head to my website for great cruise and travel deals: www.thecruiseandtravelguy.com.au In news confirmed late yesterday, Carnival Australia released a statement indicating that they will once again require guests to wear masks onboard their ships. Their updated health policy reads: Out of an abundance of caution, for the time being, masks are required in public indoor spaces (unless eating and drinking or in your stateroom), outdoors when in large congregate events where physical distancing cannot be maintained, during the entire embarkation and debarkation process, when on buses or water shuttles (where applicable), and while indoors on any shore excursion. The updated mask requirement will be in place from November 20th through until December 31st. Princess Cruises also updated its policy to indicate that all guests and crew must wear masks at all times indoors effective immediately. P&O has so far not updated their policy, but I expect they will shortly. Royal Caribbean likewise has not yet updated its written mask policy. Various Australian media outlets were at it again this week, as the Majestic Princess berthed in Sydney with approximately 800 passengers suffering from mild or asymptomatic cases of COVID onboard. In particular, author, Margot Saville was quite scathing in her attack on both the industry and those of us that enjoy cruising - referring to those 800 passengers as unwanted ballast. Not missing a beat, the derivative writer mentioned the Ruby Princess before continuing her poorly considered attack. Her main focus and sore point seems to be that cruise lines simply release “medically compromised” people into our health system. Just so we’re all on the same page, COVID positive cases are no longer required to isolate at home. International arrivals by air are not required to provide proof of vaccination, nor are they required to provide proof of a negative COVID test, and mask requirements have almost all been eliminated from regular day to day activities, yet this enigmatic writer wants to label the cruise industry as the problem? It’s unfortunate that her passionate rant was completely devoid of logic and basic research. Though I suppose in her defence, there’s simply no way of knowing how many thousands of cases are arriving into our airports daily. Had she bothered to investigate her opinion piece further than the surface level of a three digit number, she might have realised the local cruise industry is one of the most highly regulated travel environments in the world. Much to the frustration of travellers, government regulations mean that cruise lines operating in Australia still require proof of vaccination and a pre-boarding negative test. Her bitter tirade is an example of a wider problem with the so called media elite, mostly that they’re unable to see past their own upturned noses. To them all I say, we cordially invite you to stay firmly on land. Celebrity Cruises this week announced that the spectacular Celebrity Edge will return to Australia for the 2024/2025 cruise season. The ship will arrive for her debut down under season at the end of 2023, bringing with her new features for the Australian cruise market including infinite veranda staterooms and the Magic Carpet. Her just announced second Australia season will see her return to Sydney via a transpacific cruise in October 2024, from where she will sail on a series of New Zealand, South Pacific and Australian itineraries between 3 and 14 nights duration. She will finish up with an 18 night transpacific voyage from Sydney to Honolulu departing on April 20th, 2025. With the confirmed return of Celebrity Edge, the upcoming arrival of Virgin Voyages Resilient Lady and the rumoured arrival of Discovery Princess for the 2024/25 summer cruise season, Australians are well positioned to enjoy some of the most modern and luxurious ships in the world from our own shores, which is not something we’ve always been able to say. As was widely reported a few weeks ago, Disney was rumoured to have been in talks to purchase the unfinished Global Dream cruise ship. Well, the rumours were true. The 208K GRT, 342m long vessel was being constructed for the now defunct Dream Cruise Lines and is around 75% complete - though Disney will understandably be making substantial changes to the vessel. With an expected passenger count of 6000, the ship will become the largest in the Disney fleet and will be among the largest cruise ships in the world when she eventually sails. She is scheduled to launch in 2025 and will sail outside of the United States. Thanks for watching!