The cruise community has been celebrating the successful return of ships and itineraries – not so some media outlets, which have painted a completely different picture of what is really going on aboard our Wave Season ships.
Headlines have been dominated by sensationalised reports of disease-ridden ships and nightmare quarantine conditions: “quarantine dungeons” and ships “plagued with COVID” have featured in the headlines. It’s as if there is a parallel universe.
Channel Nine has featured several reports, including Under Cover ‘The Hidden Dangers of Cruising” with Liz Hayes and Current Affair. Both have particularly angered industry heavyweights.
CLIA Managing Director Australasia Joel Katz says despite what media coverage might say, cruise lines have been dealing well with COVID concerns.
“With more ships returning to Australia for the summer season, we are again seeing media attention on cruising.
“Despite the headlines in some news outlets, our most important message still holds true – no setting is immune to Covid-19, but we have processes in place for dealing responsibly with the virus.”
Mr Katz emphasises that cruise COVID protocols are the most thorough of any in tourism.
“The testing and vaccination requirements agreed with state health authorities – together with onboard measures, enhanced medical facilities and detailed response plans – are still the most extensive to be found anywhere in tourism and go much further than those you will find in most settings on land.
“As we’ve seen all over the world, cruise line health protocols have shown to be effective in mitigating the risks of Covid-19 and have allowed cruise lines and health authorities to respond swiftly when cases arise.”
While word from the media hasn’t always been kind, Mr Katz says it’s reassuring that cruisers themselves are still reporting successful holidays.
“It has been great to hear the positive comments from so many cruise passengers sailing in Australia, and it’s a pleasure to know they are still able to have an incredible cruise experience and enjoy their holidays with confidence.”
Even a cruiser who spoke to A Current Affair for a story about being on a “plague cruise” had nothing but positive things to say.
Mark Weston, coming to the end of an 18-day cruise on Quantum of the Seas told A Current Affair: “You can get it anywhere and I’d much rather be on a ship.
While it was reported that up to 400 passengers on the ship may have had COVID, Mr Weston said not to read too much into these reports.
“I was speaking to guest services because a lot of people are throwing numbers around. At the peak it was about 100 cases.
“Which is probably quite a lot but overall with 4400 people on board, 100 cases, that’s not very much.”
Mr Weston said while some people were forced to quarantine, he didn’t fault the cruise industry or cruise line for that.
“This could have been a holiday of a lifetime for them and they’d been isolated in the cabin and missed the best part of their holiday.
“But again, that’s not a fault of the cruise line or the cruise industry, it’s just COVID which is around and not going anywhere.”
As far as those quarantined go, reports still remain positive. Cruiser Andrew Logan caught COVID on Ovation of the Seas and was forced to isolate himself, he wrote on Port Planner: “While it was not the way I was hoping to spend a chunk of the cruise, there was nothing more Royal Caribbean could have done to handle it better. They really did make it so the guest could make the best out of a bad situation.
“They constantly checked in to make sure we were OK, and nothing at all was a hassle for them. If this is the price for cruising during a pandemic, the price isn’t too bad.”
Mr. Logan also reported that room service meals were delivered at no extra charge, he received a sheet with three QR codes to order meals from, he had complimentary Surf Vroom internet, free phone calls, and his cruise fare from the days he was forced to isolate is being refunded to him.
Another cruiser Jody Taylor was onboard Quantum of the Seas when it was reported as a “doomed ship”, she wrote on a cruising Facebook group that her experience was anything but.
“RCI is cleaning all areas and keeping the ship as safe as they can. We are all having a wonderful time.
Looking forward to our 35 day cruise in April on board the Coral Princess, from Sydney across the Pacific to Hawaii and the South Sea islands back to Sydney. Princess are doing the best they can to keep passengers safe and healthy, the rest is up to us not the ‘crap’ some media outlets are spewing out !!!.
Was on the “Covid riddled” Quantum of the Seas.
Always felt safe.
Yes, some people got covid and had to be isolated. Which we all understand. Happily, I had 18 great days.
The ridiculous media stories, however, caused unnecessary upset to friends and family who had not heard from me.
Sadly this is how the medias work these days, they prefer negative (rather than positive) news as it can come out as a sensational or breaking news.
We have just finished our trip from Hawaii to Brisbane on Quantum on the Seas as a relocation tour ,so we flew to hawaii to join. I cant say enough about how wonderful our trip was.The staff were great from the waiters in all 13 restaurants to our room attendant Wentao on deck 9, every time we came back from Dinner we had a wee animal on our bed to giving us an xtra kettle with coffe and teas.If we had an afternoon lie down he would knock on the door as say I ll come back later.
We never knew how many people had covid, we think they were on deck 7. The whole ship was so clean it was being washed down the whole time and we had to wishy washy our hands before getting into large restaurant, Weather was great all pools and solariums well usedand we had as many towels as we wanted same in our stateroom.Didnt want to get off. One thing was we had to have international dovid book showing all our tests and also we had to have a special covid swab done by clinics that had to come back as negative before we got on the ship so everyone was in the same at the time of boarding it also meant we didnt have to wear masks.
Yes the Brisbane terminal was a disaster as we were first international ship in and it was raining we also had 2500 coming off and others were coming on.We were warned that there wouldnt be enough taxis etc, our pick up was family but he came too early and cam back for us with the wonderful help from staff in the terminal thankyou, beautiful ship
The mainstream media are simply an avenue for sensationalism. The cruise industry was harangued over Ruby Princess by them. However, a year and a half afterwards they’re advocating for cruising to restart. Now that it has, they want to trash it again. It’s no wonder their ratings have taken a hit. After all, they have an identity crisis.
We cruised on P&O from Sydney to North Queensland at the end of July. We heard that there was Covid on board during the cruise but the P&O crew were constantly cleaning the ship and we were all washing and sanitising our hands. We were very happy to be back cruising.
I am quite convinced that “The Media” have nothing better to do than cause unnecessary stress to readers and listeners re Covid on board cruise ships. It is happening but has been somewhat exaggerated. Covid can be picked up anywhere. I am going on a cruise next year and am confident that should I be unfortunate enough to get Covid I will be well looked after.
Your newsletter was spot on regarding media sensationalism bulldust about COVID on cruise ships. I have written to the West Australian newspaper about it as well.
We just got off Quantum Transpacific cruise on November 1st.
The cruise was great – with only a small proportion of passengers quarantined with Covid. Everything ran as normal. Media reports were greatly exaggerated, probably to grab headlines.
Recent Princess cruise proved excellent and of no concern re Covid procedures. Media just want to sensationalise and are not earning any respect from me.
The cruise industry has really tried to keep its passengers safe, especially from what we have heard in the last few months from some cruise lines, and cruise passengers.
It is wonderful news that Celebrity are giving free medical assistance including the new Antiviral tablets to anyone who contracts Covid while on board, I hope that is now across all cruise lines
Also I read that passengers get VIP treatment and a full refund for the days they have been isolated, that is excellent service.
We got covid on Princess earlier this year and certainly didn’t get VIP treatment or free medication, and definitely no refund for the days we lost in isolation!!
So keep up the good work,Australians really love cruising
Just finished the 18 day cruise from Hawaii to Brisbane and can’t speak highly enough of the staff on board Quatum of the Seas. We didn’t get Covid and were aware there were some cases on board. Staff were cleaning everything everywhere on a regular basis
Felt safer than in the local supermarket.
Thank you for calling the media out on their negative reporting on cruising. I can’t wait to go on my cruise in 2023.
I would rather cruise than fly,ships are much cleaner than planes ,that’s how it moved around the world ,not by ships but by people stuck it a plane spreading the virus thru cabin than taking it home ,l can’t wait to get back to cruising,
A friend and I recently returned from a Med cruise with Marella and, as far as we could tell, nobody had Covid. One passenger was taken off in a hurry by ambulance from one port of call but that could have been anything from a heart attack to a stroke, just fingers crossed that they are now OK.
My wife & I have just returned home to NSW from a 26 night cruise aboard the Majestic Princess from Los Angeles to Sydney. We had a wonderful, unforgettable cruise, the staff were great and the food was fantastic! Yes, there were at times up to 100 plus Covid19 cases who were in quarantine which, considering the number of people on the ship in quite close quarters with each other was very minimal. The crew were constantly wiping & cleaning everything and as far as I could see the cruise line kept a very good lid on the number of cases, we couldn’t have been happier the way everything was handled & cannot wait till we cruise again!
My wife, then I got Covid on first P&O sailing to Fiji and NZ in August. Quarantined for last 3 (sea) days in cabin,all meals provided, best WiFi, medical attention and supplies all provided freely. Private transportation to Hotel suite for 4 days post cruise for remaining isolation period. Generous meal allowance provided. All this provided by P&O who I can’t commend enough. Then find they refunded us for the cruise days we were sick. PS. Less than 40 passengers were affected.
We would love to go cruising again, but being unvaccinated preclude us from this great holiday.
When the covid passport will be abandoned?
We are currently on Island Princess in the Mediterranean and my wife is currently isolated in our cabin with Covid. The ships staff are going out of their way to minimise our inconvenience – meals delivered to our cabin, regular testing, FCC of cruise days lost, etc all at no cost to us. If we had to get Covid, cannot think of a better place to get it. Meals delivered and on tap medical assistance is better than being at home.
I don’t care what the media says any more as it is all bullshit and as of this anything that they say or print is instantly dismissed as crap
My Wife and I were on the Quantum of the Seas cruise between Honolulu and Brisbane and we are completely puzzled by the Australian press reports about conditions on the Ship. We only knew of one definite case, and the Ships’ treatment of him was impeccable. I believe that Royal Caribbean should be congratulated for its professional handling of the situation.
Spin spin spin – I’ll never go on a cruise. Covid now, but the next thing to take root on the floating petri dish could be way worse, and then you’re trapped. It’s too lazy a holiday for me anyhow. You can keep your buffets!
I was on board Ovation of the Seas for 35 days,from Alaska,through to Brisbane.The only complaint I would have is the dreadful weather on my 7 days through Alaska.No one’s fault,just a weather thing
The ship was kept in immaculate condition,cleansing,hand washing,and those who wanted to wear masks did so.
First week the staff were also wearing masks,then were allowed to go without for a time,im guessing there were maybe a few cases ,by the last week,as they were masked again.
All for not only their wellness,but the customers also.
Can’t fault the staff,any of them for going above,and beyond their duties.
So to those media that are baying a load of nonsense, shame on you.
Captain Ryan and his crew are amazing.
I was on board Quantum of the Seas, and isolated from days 7 to 12 of an 18 day cruise. It is true that RCI looked after us, but their information flow was pathetic, the “free room service” was a necessity due to isolation. The reported 3 x QR codes did not work as expected. Meals were delivered cold and frequently missing items. There was no house keeping ( as can be expected). I have had meetings with managers on Quantum, in all bringing up more than 25 issues with can only be described as failures… and some major. I believe that they will improve, however they have had years to develop working protocols. My belief is that in total there were between 300 to 400 cases total. Towards the end guests were hiding the fact that they were positive for fear of isolation on deck 3.
I am constantly amazed that the media in Australia are so against cruising.
Having experienced 2 cruises in April on the Discovery Princess from Los Angeles and 4 cruises on the Coral Princess in Australian waters in September/ October, I know how hard the crew and passengers work to keep everyone safe.
The crew are constantly cleaning and with plenty of sanitiser stations everyone felt safe.
Wearing of masks were optional on the Discovery but compulsory on the Coral.
The crew on both ships wore masks at all times.
So I say to the Australian media especially Channel 9 – get you facts correct and stop trying to make the news instead of reporting it. Cruising is safe.
We have recently returned from a cruise from the UK to Canary Islands. There were covid cases onboard, however P&O had it under control and it did not affect us. The cruise industry is doing a great job protecting passengers, covid is here to stay so the media should get their facts straight before reporting such rubbish.
My wife and I were on the Qantam of the seas and the staff kept everyone safe with their covid protocols.
The scare mongering by the media is utter rubbish.
The media are pathetic
Now that people with Covid no longer need to isolate in NSW ( it’s advisory while you have symptoms, but asymptomatic suffers can still spread the virus), I’m thinking I might be safer on board a cruise ship than at the supermarket.
Aust TV channels suck,Sunrise,Today, why would you watch their Rubbish…
my friend and I have had 3 cruises out of Brisbane since the return of cruising. We were not aware of any cov-19 cases while were on ship. The media reports do seem to be accurate.
Everybody on board seem to enjoy themselves.
We felt safer on board then visiting the local shopping centre.
We are cruising in Celebrity Eclipse at Christmas and four back to back with Azamara in the new year. We do not pay any attention to the vitriol published by any media organisation. We love to cruise and will not let the inexperience of Journalists spoil our travels.
During our recent cruise on Quantum of the Seas my wife and I both reported symptoms, tested covid-19 positive and each spent 6 days in isolation. While there were some minor glitches in this process we were happy to do so as it was for the benefit of everyone let alone a condition of embarkation. We both only suffered minor symptoms and were well looked after with RCI providing me with free anti-viral drugs from the first day which I am sure helped keep my symptoms mild. In addition we both will receive 6 days future cruise credits. Where else can you be treated so well when you do contract covid-19; as we all will eventually. I can only give kudos to the crew on Quantum.
Perfect sailing on Grand Princess Sydney to Melbourne. Absolutely no evidence or awareness of Covid issues. Curious though everyone was treating journey as normal as if ashore. Indeed, majority of passengers no longer wearing masks although ship did recommend they be worn.
Hope media stops unfair reporting of doom and gloom.
We had Covid on our recent cruise on the Majestic Princess cruising from Vancouver to Sydney, the crew was extremely helpful and very professional in dealing with all our needs, we had 10 days in isolation due to me contracting Covid first then my husband came down with it 4 days later, we have also been promised a FCC for the time we were in isolation and were told that it would be available by the end of the cruise, unfortunately this has not been the case and we are concerned that it may not be forthcoming, we have emailed Princess and are awaiting a reply.
The media doesn’t want an unbiased story. It’s not sensational enough. I’ve been on three cruises since they restarted in may. Heading off again tomorrow and two more booked this year. Really not interested in Liz’s little anxiety booster attempt.
We went on the so called covid ship the Coral Princess. On there for 10 days and never felt unsafe. Had too wash hands before dining rooms, staff never touched our passes. All staff wore masks. Never at any stage felt threatend.
Thats why we do not watch those shows, The press can not control them selves Most is made up?
Couldn’t get over. Liz Hayes. She dragged up stuff from years ago. Picked out video of brawls on board. That would rarely happen. Sensationalism!
Regarding crime scenes. One would hope that this is now rectified. Is there not a “brig” on board? Passengers that disregard rules are put off the ship at their expense.
Have been cruising recently on the encounter, and have 3 more cruises booked.
Clean, friendly, food good. Highly recommend to anyone that wants a great holiday.
Wear a mask if you’re at risk.
Would have more chance of getting sick at a football game,concert , shopping centre or the show.
All ports now are benefiting from the ships docking. This has a great flow on to local economy.
You are more than likely to catch Covid in a busy chopping centre than on a cruise ship with all their sanitising. Princess requires either a PCR 48 hours before travel or a RAT 24 hours beforehand. Plus you need to have your International Vaccine Certificate. We will be wearing our masks if we can’t socially distance.
We have recently travelled on a 29 day repositioning cruise from Vancouver to Sydney on Majestic Princess. We successfully negotiated the then, requirements for boarding the ship in Vancouver and transiting the United States such as medically supervised RAT’s and completion of the Ocean Ready Wellness documentation on the Medallion App.
Princess had in place requests for passengers (guests) to observe hygienic practices to avoid the spreading of Covid 19 including the wearing of masks whilst inside, except of course when one was eating and drinking.
The ship itself was spotless inside and out with obvious extra cleaning and other hygienic practices carried out by the crew. We were required to partake in RAT’s prior to arrival in Honolulu and docking in Papeete. I actually tested positive at one stage which caused us some angst but was cleared by the ship’s doctor after a PCR test and initial quarantining.
There were Covid cases on board with “guests” and crew afflicted. But this all seemed to be managed by specially assigned crew members and medical staff wearing the appropriate garments. Life on board for those “guests” not impacted, carried on normally except for the required protocols.
We feel Princess and the Majestic Princess Crew did all that was possible to prevent the spread of Covid. We thought that it was the non-compliance of passengers (guests) that was a problem by their failure to wear masks when required and lack of observance of other protocols. We thought a more stringent stance against this small percentage of passengers would have been appropriate.
We are looking forward very much to our next cruise on Princess!
Covid isolation on a Cruise sounds much better than a couple from Canada on an organised tour of South Island, New Zealand , they have caught Covid & are confined to their hotel room in Queenstown. Tour has moved on & now all meals & accommodation at their expense & it’s room service meals are expensive & poor. Many on the tour caught Covid on the tour. The hotel has run out of RAT. They had been careful but there is more Covid around than people think.
Just got off of a 29 day cruise that originally started in Vancouver but we joined in LA. There were tales of Covid on board and we were advised to take extra precautions like face coverings. We made it to Sydney without issue and are enjoying a 4 day visit in the Blue Mountains. You can get Covid anywhere. We have already had it despite being vaccinated and boosted. Don’t blame the cruise industry. You alone need to decide what is right for you.
I spent 8 nights on P&O’s Pacific Explorer (23 September to 01 October this year) and besides wearing a mask indoors, it was just the same, a well enjoyed holiday. Still had the theme nights, Trivia etc and enjoyed every minute of it. Everywhere you went there were crew cleaning (although that always happened before Covid on any P&O Cruise I have been on), plenty of KN95 masks available. They supplied some in your cabin to start with. I made friends with a crew member because it was her job to stand outside the Waterfront Restuarant and hand out masks, she was there every morning I went there for breakfast. In The Pantry there was hand washing stations at each end, (they were there before Covid) and plenty of hand sanitiser and if you needed a mask there were boxes with tongs in them so you could take as many as you wanted. I can tell you there were no problems with Covid on my cruise, but if there was the medical staff would be ready for action.
Pleased to see cruisers provide a realistic and balanced view. People with negative views repeat what yhe media reports. Talking to these people they say they have never cruised before. The media and their reporters love a sensational story irrespective of the truth.They are regarded as the least trustworthy in in society.
I have 3 cruise booked from December 2022 to May 2023 and can’t wait. I wouldn’t believe anything said by Liz Hayes and Current Affair.
The media in general and Channel Nine in particular make me so angry with their sensationalist reporting of so-called facts which are really nothing but small stories embellished for the sole reason to panic the public. Journalism used to have values and journalists were made to research their stories and ensure that what they were saying was true and provable. It seems that is no longer the case and they just make it up as they go along. It’s got to the stage now where I believe very little of what I read or hear from the media.
Do you or do you not have to be fully vaccinated to board a cruise ship?
Anyone who believes any of the rubbish Nine media or the ABC produce is just gullible. I have just returned from 3 weeks on Ponant and it is much safer than visiting the local supermarket at home.
Never let the truth get in the way of a good story .The news media are hell bent on the shock value of their stories on cruising, because simply telling the truth doesn’t do anything for their precious ratings!
We went to Paris then to Amsterdam for a cruise, we were there 4 days early to look around but my husband tested positive so we cancelled the cruise so as not to infect anyone else, this was in May this year, our travel insurance covered Covid but only up to $5000, our trip was $20,ooo. We still have not received anything from either the cruise co. Or insurance co. I wish we had kept our mouths shut and bordered the boat, Covid is here to stay.
Yes , I think the media have definitely been living in a parallel universe since about March 2020, and I doubt they will ever get back
Some people in the media are idiots. Obviously they don’t know what happens on a cruise ship because they have not cruised before. If you can catch Covid on a cruise ship, you can catch it anywhere, that’s a fact. And if if do have Covid, you’re much more comfortable than being at home or in a hotel on land somewhere.
The cruise lines have and still are doing a sterling job We have no hesitation what so ever in cruising at the moment and have several bookings coming up We are SO looking foward to every single one of them.
The media LOVE to criticise ☹️ What a shame they can not consintrate on being more positive.
Hi
Caught covid on a cruise with the Pacific Explorer
Pand O went above and beyond to care for me
Isolated 7 days ,given a replacement cruise,antiviral medication at no cost, all meals
Via room service at no charge and chauffeur driven car to home in Nelson Bay at no cost
All praise to P and O
At least on a ship, you see crew cleaning all the time, even before covid.
You have a higher chance of getting covid on Sydney trains, the way they clean is ridiculous, they don’t even clean the whole pole, and they only use 1 squirt of whatever it is they are using to clean 1 end of the carriage.
So leave the cruise ships alone.
I bet these media people have never been on a cruise
Totally agree with the above, we have just completed 10 nights on the Majestic Princess, we all had a magnificent time, staff were always cleaning surfaces mitigating areas of contact, not many masks were worn but some passengers & staff did. Many sanitising stations around the ship 10/10 Princess Cruises
Well I have just returned from two cruises on the Pacific Explorer out of Brisbane. One in September and one in October. I was unaware of any passengers with Covid. There was a high compliance of mask wearing by passengers and 100% by the staff.
On the October cruise there was an emergency evacuation by helicopter for a non-covid related medical emergency. The professionalism of the ships crew and the rescue service was exceptional.
Cruising is a relatively safe form of travel in these Covid times and I suspect the media is doing an irresponsible reporting of the situation. I have travelled overseas seven times so far this year including the two cruises. I never caught Covid. However, I did one interstate visit to Sydney and caught Covid at the Royal Easter Show.