NEWS UPDATE: Pacific Adventure Appears! Is an Australian Restart Imminent? + Crown & Anchor Overhaul

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 Head to my website for great cruise and travel deals: www.thecruiseandtravelguy.com.au Follow me on Facebook and Instagram: www.facebook.comn/thecruiseandtravelguy www.instragram.com/thecruiseandtravelguy Royal Caribbean, Carnival and Disney cruise lines have confirmed they will require proof of vaccination for all guests over the age of 12. Guests under the age of 12 will need to provide a negative covid test before boarding. As previously reported, Norwegian Cruise Line won an injunction against the state of Florida, effectively overturning laws which prevented businesses from seeking proof of vaccination. Norwegian have further extended their requirements for guests to be vaccinated on all cruises sailing through December 31st this year and in a further addition, have banned guests that are too young to be vaccinated from cruising with them. Cruise lines are often having to play catch up with changing local regulations as they develop across various world markets. In Australia for example, the cruise industry still has no idea what health and safety protocols they’ll be required to meet when cruising is eventually given the green light down under. As first reported by the Cruise Passenger publication, the Australian Department of Health have announced that cruising will officially be included in Australia’s four phase National Plan to reopen the country in a post covid world. The basis for new regulations will be “stronger pre-health arrival health assessment and screening processes, supported by enhanced pre-arrival reporting requirements”. In discussions with the publication, a spokesperson for the department said that international cruising is not being considered at this stage but that the Department of Health was working on a covid risk analysis and response task force report. It’s expected that the report will set the stage for a resumption in cruise industry consultations and planning. My concern with these developments is that the spokesperson does not appear to have considered that domestic cruising is a separate entity to international cruising. Frankly, it’s clear that those that we have elected into positions of authority, are not treating the cruise industry and its many stakeholders with respect. Australia is edging ever closer to it’s 80% rate of double dose vaccinations, which should initiate the fourth and final stage of Australia’s national plan, but all I can see is that cruising is being treated like an after thought, so much so that it hasn’t even warranted a coherent government statement. So what does all this mean for the cruising restart in this country? Well, if our National Plan is to be adhered to, then reaching the milestone of 80% of the population over the age of 16 vaccinated should well and truly trigger the restart of broader international travel. Additional countries would be included in our travel bubble, and of course at that point there is no discernible reason I could be convinced of, that would preclude cruising from being back on the cards. As public discourse continues to shift towards rates of vaccinations and opening up our country, I can only hope that the government finally provide some firm advice on what cruising will look like when it returns, and just when that might be. As always, I’ll be sure to keep you up to date with any developments on that front. Royal Caribbean this week announced the return of some of its Crown and Anchor perks. From September 1st though, the Diamond Lounge will once again be open for qualifying members. For Diamond Plus and Pinnacle members, the top tier milestone event will return and Pinnacle members will also once again enjoy daily breakfast in a speciality dining venue. In addition, on each day of the cruise, Diamond members will receive four drink vouchers covering drinks costing up to $13, while Diamond Plus will receive 5 and Pinnacle members will receive 6. These vouchers can be used at any bar venue across the ship. Diamond plus and pinnacle members will also have a 45 minute head start to find seating in entertainment venues before the doors open to everyone else. And suite guests and pinnacle members will be permitted to arrive for check in at the terminal up to one hour before or after, their 30 minute check in window. Finally, the suite lounge will be off limits to Pinnacle members, but they will instead be offered exclusive access to a new pinnacle club lounge where they can enjoy nightly events. And finally, Golden Princess is well and truly on her way to becoming the Pacific Adventure. She arrived into dry dock in Trieste, Italy last week and P&O have wasted no time in getting to work. The company has supplied interior and exterior shots detailing just some of the changes being undertaken.