NEWS UPDATE: Celebrity Cancels Aus, UK International Cruising, NZ to Ban Ships in Milford Sound

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 This week, Celebrity Cruises decided it was time to call the upcoming Australian summer cruise season quits - bringing an end to the will they, won’t they for the famed luxury line. Celebrity cancelled all sailings on the Eclipse between 3 January to 17 April 2022, and those on Solstice between 26 September and 19 December this year. As yet, there don’t appear to be alternative voyages scheduled for the period of cancellation, but Celebrity will likely announce a new deployment in the weeks ahead. This decision comes as no surprise, a byproduct of the Australian governments continuing apathy towards the cruise industry. Remember, cruising hasn’t even received a mention in the government’s four phase road to recovery for life and travel. Despite the Australian government’s inability to even consider cruising in its four phase roadmap to normality, overseas, the world is continuing to open up with more governments approving international travel. In the UK, domestic cruising resumed in May and only two months later, discussions are taking place that will see international cruising return to their shores from August 2nd. The update to cruise travel restrictions comes on the back of new health protocols that state fully vaccinated people from the EU and US will not have to quarantine upon their arrival into the UK. These developments only serve to prove what most of us already know, that a strong vaccine uptake in this country will allow life to return to normal. Meanwhile, Australia’s very own Pacific Encounter and Pacific Adventure have both embarked on a curious journey. The ships are headed around the world, away from their existing anchorage locations around Singapore towards Europe. Both ships are said to be on their way to the Suez Canal where they will transit to eventually settle off the coat of Cypress. It’s not yet known what the reason for their journey is, people have speculated that it may be a more affordable option for P&O to anchor their ships off the coat of Cypress, while others have contended that P&O might be seeking a cruising restart in Europe where travel restrictions are slowly lifting. Any impact on the upcoming Australian schedule is not yet known, but I’ll be sure to keep track of this story. In New Zealand, a new vision for the spectacular Milford Sound region has recommended that cruise ships be banned from the famed inlet. One side of the argument for the ban contends that the natural beauty of the area is spoiled by visiting ships, while tour operators and business dependent on travellers and visiting ships are not at all happy with the concept. The recommendations will be presented to government and any decisions arising from the proposal will be forthcoming in the future. Royal Caribbean have extended their popular Cruise With Confidence program. The initiative allows travellers to book a cruise with Royal Caribbean and have the freedom to cancel that cruise up until 48 hours before departure for a 100% future cruise credit. The program applies to all Royal Caribbean cruises departing on or before 30 April 2022. It’s also important to remember that where cruise lines cancel a voyage of their own volition, they generally offer their affected guests the options of a 100% refund, a future cruise credit with a bonus or an alternative sailing. Thanks for watching, and see you soon!