NEWS UPDATE: P&O AUS, Princess CANCEL, plus NSW Premier says Prime Minister is focused on cruising!

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 From November 1, Australians will be able to board a plane and fly overseas where they can do, whatever they like - attend major events, go to theme parks or jump on a cruise. Whilst this is fantastic news, and something that we’ve all been looking forward to since March 2020, these new freedoms are a proverbial slap in the face for the cruise industry and every Australian invested in its return. Though there has been progress in the fight, the federal government have so far stopped short of repealing their ban on cruising which is set to end on December 17th. However, as reported by Cruise Weekly, NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet announced on Sydney radio station 2GB that Prime Minister Scott Morrison is focused on the return of cruising. The Premier indicated that a decision is imminent saying, “I know that he is very much focused on this point... I’ve continued those discussions, and I know that it’s a certain focus of his. My expectation is that cruising will come back online as soon as possible. I don’t have a date, but I know, I’m not just saying this, I know that he is focused on it.” The Premier also echoed his support for the excitement around the restart of international air travel and suggested that he’s looking forward to seeing the same level of support around the cruising restart - whenever that might be. Of course, cruise lines can’t make a business case off the back of statements, they need certainty in order to meet their advertised schedules. Months of planning and preparation is required, with the 2-3 month lead time generally being accepted as cutting it close. For that reason, Australians will again miss out on the earliest of the advertised cruises with both P&O and Princess announcing further cancellations this week. Princess cruises announced the cancellation of four Coral Princess voyages. Its first is now scheduled for March 14th from Brisbane, which is part of their famed Australian circumnavigation cruise. P&O cruises announced that all of their voyages through to and including February 14th were suspended, in the process axing both the Australian Open cruise and Australia Day cruise. P&O Australia President Sture Myrmell said: “Uncertainty still remains in relation to the resumption of cruising in Australia, and even once cruising is clear to resume we would then need to bring our ships back home. In the light of this uncertainty, it is unfortunately necessary for P&O Cruises Australia to extend its voluntary pause in operations for a further month until mid-February next year.” In a CLIA member update this week, Managing Director Joel Katz wrote that much work has been happening behind the scenes, including meetings held this week between the CLIA Executive Committee and Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Dan Tehan. About the continuing closed door meetings, Joel Katz said, “There’s still a way to go, and as we make progress at the Federal level it’s important to remember that action is still needed from the states before we can finalise extensive new health protocols ahead of resumption. Cruise lines will be forced to extend their pause in operations further while there is no agreed path to resumption.” Clearly we’ve seen that exact scenario playing out this week. Last week I mentioned that I had two cruises booked for the new year, and I can confirm one of those has gotten the chop. That makes my 12th. I can tell you those future cruise credits of mine have done more travelling than I have in the past 18 months, and they will soon find a new home just as soon as I choose another cruise. Royal Caribbean have released an update on the progress of its next generation Icon Class this week. It’s expected that the ships are going to be cutting edge in a number of yet to be announced unique ways. If sister line’s Celebrity Edge is anything to go by, it’s safe to expect the first ship in the class, believed to be called Icon of the Seas, will be a technical marvel. Under construction in Finland, the ship will debut the use of Liquid Natural Gas as a fuel source for the cruise line. LNG is reported to have both fuel saving and emission reduction benefits and is already in use with competitor line, Carnival. The first of the Icon Class ships will launch in 2023, carry 5600 passengers and come in at over 200k tonnes. Significantly larger than the Quantum Ultra Class ships yet still quite a way off the mammoth Oasis Class. Thanks for watching!