March 14 - At Sea
Well, this is turning into a hot mess in record time. This morning it was announced that Regent is cancelling all cruises effective today. And those of us on current cruises will have the cruises ended and passengers disembarked as soon as possible. The captain said we would all have to get off in Freemantle (Perth) on either Wednesday the 18th or Thursday the 19th as we are scheduled to stay overnight.
While we are glad that we have our air tickets home, we aren't in the clear yet. New Zealand announced today that all visitors will be required to self-isolate for 14 days. We are spending the night there before our flight to Los Angeles on Friday, so will we be allowed to even arrive? Will we have to stay at the airport overnight or can we go to our airport hotel and self-isolate there until the next day's flight? So many unknowns.
New Zealand is also asking cruise ships not to stop until after June 30. Not sure what that means - either they can or they can't stop. But asking them not to? I know the Kiwis are polite, but that seems to be taking it a bit too far. So now is it possible that Australia will follow suit and forbid us from docking in Perth?
Wasn't this cruise supposed to be relaxing?
Otherwise, it was a usual day with lectures (today about the ANZAC forces and Gallipoli), Italian lessons, trivia (a miserable day with only 8/15) and dinner with Michael and Diana. The mood seems a bit more somber, although most people seem to be taking it in stride. The crew, who are facing the brunt of this situation, are still the happy, helpful, wonderful people they've always been. I really feel for them and what they are facing. This is an inconvenience for us; but a potential disaster for them.
Tomorrow brings another day and, hopefully, no more news about countries closing their borders.
While we are glad that we have our air tickets home, we aren't in the clear yet. New Zealand announced today that all visitors will be required to self-isolate for 14 days. We are spending the night there before our flight to Los Angeles on Friday, so will we be allowed to even arrive? Will we have to stay at the airport overnight or can we go to our airport hotel and self-isolate there until the next day's flight? So many unknowns.
New Zealand is also asking cruise ships not to stop until after June 30. Not sure what that means - either they can or they can't stop. But asking them not to? I know the Kiwis are polite, but that seems to be taking it a bit too far. So now is it possible that Australia will follow suit and forbid us from docking in Perth?
Wasn't this cruise supposed to be relaxing?
Otherwise, it was a usual day with lectures (today about the ANZAC forces and Gallipoli), Italian lessons, trivia (a miserable day with only 8/15) and dinner with Michael and Diana. The mood seems a bit more somber, although most people seem to be taking it in stride. The crew, who are facing the brunt of this situation, are still the happy, helpful, wonderful people they've always been. I really feel for them and what they are facing. This is an inconvenience for us; but a potential disaster for them.
Tomorrow brings another day and, hopefully, no more news about countries closing their borders.
Sorry to hear about your problems and hope you get home soon, without more difficulties. We've cancelled our 18 day 2020 river cruise Amsterdam to Budapest and Prague.
ReplyDelete