As our first cruise season draws to a close this month and is being hailed a major success, the plight of unvaccinated passengers has sparked a growing campaign to persuade state governments to relax the regulations governing who can board a cruise ship in Australian waters.
Hundreds from both sides of the debate have responded to reports that a change might be in the offing, those in favour of lowering protocols pointing to the Federal Government’s own website as illustrating the unfairness of their plight.
The Health Department’s website says under its cruise section: “Travellers to and from Australia no longer need to provide evidence of their COVID-19 vaccination status… Cruise operators may have specific requirements for their passengers, and must also meet any requirements of the state or territory they are operating in. Check the requirements of your cruise operator and the states and/or territories and countries in which you will be travelling.”
Governments around the world have relaxed their policies on unvaccinated travellers, and Australia’s Federal Government has no restrictions on cruisers.
The states, however, have maintained their position that passengers must be vaccinated.
Cruise lines have also relaxed their positions in other parts of the world – Viking recently stated its vaccine policy will remain for the indefinite future.
Viking’s Executive Vice President of Marketing, Richard Marnell told TravelWeekly: “Our guests overwhelmingly, for the time being, want a vaccinated ship.”
Cunard, Lindblad Expeditions and Windstar cruises, on the other hand, are eliminating COVID requirements altogether, including testing, isolating and mask-wearing, and other major lines such as Royal Caribbean, NCL, Carnival and more have removed vaccination requirements in the majority of locations.
While few in Australia want to be seen to be pushing for change so soon after a season of success, guests have contacted Cruise Passenger complaining the unvaccinated are being unfairly treated. Others say that, with the protocol in place, they feel safe taking a cruise holiday, and that removing them would be a deterrent.
Donna Madzar commented that she’s unvaccinated and ready to start cruising again and is feeling frustrated with current protocols.
“I think all covid mandates for cruising must be lifted in line with the rest of the world. Most covid infections on cruises are from vaccinated passengers – as unvaccinated are banned from Australian cruises. Everyone can see that it doesn’t matter anymore if you are vaccinated or unvaccinated.
“I’m unvaccinated, healthy and willing to contribute my money to the cruise industry to keep staff in jobs. And to spend money on Australian soil in different states.”
Ms Madzar said she feels it is a form of discrimination that she is still not allowed to sail.
“The covid cruise mandates must be lifted as this is a form of discrimination against Australians who are taxpayers and deserve better than this treatment! If I can work in an office, go to the movies, travel on planes, eat in restaurants, go to footy and Tennis with huge crowds, why can’t I cruise?
“The mandates have been lifted across most parts of the world for the cruise industry and we need to follow and learn to live with this as other countries are doing.”
Cruise Passenger understands that vaccination and other COVID protocols will face review in April.
A NSW Government spokesperson shared with Cruise Passenger that they are unable to put any sort of timeline on when the protocols will be reviewed.
“The Eastern Seaboard and Western Australian Cruise Protocols outline a range of public health measures to mitigate the health risks to cruise passengers and reduce the spread of COVID-19. Over the summer cruising season, the Cruise Protocols supported cruise lines to operate safely.
“The NSW Government is not in a position to indicate the process or timing for reviewing the current Cruise Protocols.
“The Cruise Protocols and additional information on COVID-safe cruising are available here.”
User ‘Happy Cruisers’ wrote that despite being vaccinated, they also feel the mandates should end.
“Time to bring Australia in line with the rest of the cruise world. There are no restrictions anywhere else in Australia for unvaccinated residents or tourists so why is this outdated requirement still in the cruise industry?
“I am vaccinated but have many family members of various ages that cannot get vaccinated for various reasons and they are longing to join family cruising holidays again.”
Diane Reardon was amongst the other comments advocating for the unvaccinated to cruise.
“I totally agree with unvaccinated people being able to cruise. Unvaccinated people are allowed to travel by plane which demands them to sit in very close proximity to other passengers for many hours. Surely this is riskier than cruising.”
However, there were many people vehemently on the other side of the fence.
Hugh Maxwell Moffitt wrote: “They have to be JOKING, after travelling on the Majestic Princess over the Christmas/New Year cruise, we were required to wear masks in the public areas which while were a little disappointed, we were happy with our cruise. One thing we noticed, a second RAT test was undertaken 2 days into our cruise which was supervised by our cabin steward.
“We were again on the Majestic Princess on the Northern Australia cruise which sailed on the 27th of February from Brisbane to Port Douglas but the ship had picked up passengers in Sydney before Brisbane. There was no wearing of masks but we were careful as RAT tests were part of boarding. Part of our cruise included calling back into Sydney to disembark passengers we guess who was not doing the around Australia section of the cruise.
“The people who boarded in Sydney were very open to not distancing themselves in the lifts and sadly my wife and I both finished with Covid, along with another couple who live in our village, so thanks for that.”
Karen Hunter wrote: “No I shall not be cruising with unvaccinated people on the ship, having seen how covid spreads on board on previous cruises you can count me out.”
Regular Cruiser wrote: “It is stupid to let unvaccinated and untested passengers travel on a cruise ship. If they bring it on board, they will infect a large number of unknowing passengers. Especially in restaurants, bars, theatres, corridors and lifts. I for one do not want to be anywhere near an unvaccinated person on a cruise ship at sea.”
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I would be curious to see the cruise ship’s medical log for Australian cruises.
With mandating boosters 14days prior to embarking and with the publishing of the very long list of side effects I imagine the medical staff on board are kept busy and quite possibly the number of medical staff has needed to be increased.
I say we the Unvacinated, who are not getting sick because we cant catch covid. Covid is from the vaccine, it is attacking the cells of the Vaccinated. We get the flu . I want to start a class action against the eastern seaboard and the cruise ship industry for discrimination. Ive had enough, they wont let unvacinated on no one goes. Keep them out of Australia for good if they dont stop this evil discrimination. The vaccinated who say they wont cruise with unvacinated, you Imbeiciles are so brainwashed and delusional. Do you go shopping and go out for dinner , your standing next to a unvacinated person fool.
You people deserve whats coming the vax will kill all vaccinated within 5 years of furst shot that is a fact , do your reasearch .
Enough is enough
Yes to unvaxxed cruising, all should be included. At present in Australia, it’s only vaccinated on board and therefore, those infected have caught it from a vaccinated person. Good Hygiene practice and protocols testing for everyone is the key to reduce the spread, not vaccination status.
Interesting how they have dropped the requirement to have the complete doses of boosters? Likely was unmanageable as the booster requirements keep changing. But the whole reason of boosters was that the original vaccine dose (some taken as early as March 2021) waned after 5 months!
So anybody that is vaccinated with the original dose, has for very long now lost all antibody protection. So the requirement is completely stupid, either you believe in the vaccine and its numerous boosters provide protection or you don’t. The rest of the world is on the latter side.
Vaccinations are one of the necessary steps that we need to follow to successfully reduce the impact of COVID; we also need some cruisers to improve their personal hygiene.
You have a choice to vaccinate or not, but that choice comes with consequences, one of which is to stay ashore and not travel.
For those that are looking for conspiracy aspects to vaccines – I feel sorry for your lack of intellectual awareness and appreciation of medical science. I hope you never get polio, tetanus, hepatitis A or B, rubella, whooping cough, pneumococcal, rotavirus, mumps, chickenpox, or diphtheria. Or have you had those vaccines? Hmm, double standards maybe…
Seriously do people even listen to themselves. Think, for goodness sake. At the moment you can’t cruise if you are unvaccinated, yet people on board ships are still catching Covid. It would seem logical therefore that those infected didn’t catch it from unvaccinated, because there were none on board, so they caught it from a vaccinated passenger and their vaccination afforded them no protection. Similarly, though masks are useless as has been proven, if you believe they work, wear one if it makes you feel safer. You have to wonder, is commonsense even a thing any more? Or are people now so brainwashed that they love to be led around by the nose and believe everything politicians and the media tell them? I guess that’s why we have wall to wall labor governments now. Australians are such compliant creatures … govern me harder daddy.
People who are against unvaccinated passengers coming aboard need to do some research and not rely on the brain dead television news for their Covid information. Medical professionals all over the world are reporting that the vaccines do nothing to stop people contacting Covid or spreading it to others. The mandates have finished but some peoples’ brains are still in lockdown.
I’m absolutely gobsmacked that there are still some people who believe that vaccination prevents transmission of covid-19. There isn’t even any evidence that the MRNA vaccines are still somewhat effective at reducing sickness with the latest strains of covid-19, not that it should matter since the latest strains are about as dangerous as a bad cold. And frankly, with the arrival of oral anti-viral treatments like Lagevrio and Paxlovid the last remaining argument for vaccination – symptom severity in the high risk group (60+) appears to be moot.
I think most of the country has come to grips with the fact that our public policy on vaccinations was misguided and it seems to me that the few remaining hold outs are doing so more for ideological reasons than evidence/science based ones.
What an absolute joke that unvaccinated people aren’t allowed to cruise . What does the vaccine do to help? There is NO evidence it stops or even slightly prevents transmission otherwise the whole of Australia wouldn’t have nearly gotten the viral infection. It barely stops the infection from getting worse . If anything, everyone I know who got the vaccine got symptoms 10X worse then those who were unvaccinated . Most people that decided o not get vaccinated are very healthy and live natural alternatives which help fight against pathogens so they aren’t as significantly affected by covid . I have no idea why unvaccinated people aren’t allowed on cruises . No one would even know . It would really help increase the industry again as a lot of people are still holding back as their peers and family can’t go with them
No Vax, No Cruise
Any updates please?
Where did you hear that on the 23rd April they may make an announcement ?
Thanks
Listen to the science they said, well it seems their science was wrong. How many times did we hear the vaccine would stop transmission, would stop symptoms and save lives, to many times. The vaccine was just a payroll for the right people, and an injury to the wrong people.. I would trust an unvaccinated hygienic person over a vaccinated person who doesn’t follow proper hygiene practices. I say unvaccinated have as much right to cruise as vaccinated.
The ignorance and utter stupidity of a lot of the comments in this post are astounding!
What has happened to common sense? What has happened to thinking for oneself? How is it possible for someone to honestly think that being vaxed against covid is going to help you when it has been proven REPEATEDLY that the vax DOES NOT prevent you from catching it or from passing it on.
People who still think that the unvaxed are to blame for them catching covid are clearly delusional and should be embarrassed by this reasoning.
When ONLY double plus booster jabbed people are permitted on cruises out of Australian waters, who is it exactly that is passing on covid on these ships!?? It is not rocket science, people! It is the vaxed passengers obviously!
Masks also do NOT work and this has been proven time and time again.
But be sure to run off to get your 5th and 6th and 7th booster! And do not be surprised when you suddenly have stage 4 cancer, or a heart attack! When will some people WAKE UP and realise that they have been lied to REPEATEDLY! Get some critical thinking and research people like Dr Peter McCullough, Karen Kingston, Dr Reiner Feullmich, Dr Mike Yeadon who are all telling the truth. Not to mention, of course, our own Australian Senators (Alex Antic for one) and public officials who are shouting from the roof tops to make people more aware of what is really going on. There are many more, these are just a few.
How’s this for a novel idea – let’s have a cruise for ONLY unvaxed passengers. There will be zero illness, as these passengers have healthy, intact immune systems!
The jabs don’t stop infection or transmission. Therefore, a passenger’s vax status is irrelevant.
The vax requirement is no longer justified (scientifically, socially or ethically).
It’s definitely time to welcome everyone back.
Rhonda, I am so sorry for your loss. I appreciate your viewpoint. It appears that unvaccinated resident Australians like you and many others might be permitted to sail on the Disney Wonder when it arrives in Australia later this year.
Yes all unvaxed should be allowed to cruise now that its been proven the vaccinations do not stop people from getting covid so stop punishing the ones who didnt comply.
It appears that an unvaccinated person might be able to travel in Australian waters on a Disney ship! The Disney Wonder sails into Australia later this year (2023) for a short cruise season. Within the Disney site, you are just directed to the statement by the Australian Government. It reads as if unvaccinated travellers on the Disney ship won’t be subject to State rules, just Australian Government rules. Does anyone have further clarification on this please?
I have received Australian Government advice that being fully vaccinated is no longer a mandated requirement and is now a recommendation – Web link below.
Health Direct: 826 – Can I go on a cruise ship? Updated on 08 March 2023, at 15:05 AET
https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/national-covid-19-helpline-faqs/consumers/826
The current State Governments’ stringent Covid-19 cruise health requirements are no longer relevant and need to be dropped. They are discriminatory against the non-vaccinated, including those with natural immunity after having had Covid-19 like myself. At the very least it would be helpful to know what medical justification remains for this ongoing discrimination.
Australia continues to punish the unvaccinated by not allowing them to
Cruise but you can get in a plane and fly all over Australia.
Unvaccinated. Cruising is going ahead in America allowing unvaccinated to cruise . The States in Australia should wake up to the fact the Covid vaccine does not stop you getting Covid the vaccine actually has caused death and adverse effects around the world. I am not vaccinated I got covid over it within 5 days, my younger sister fully vaccinated got heart problems after the covid vaccines, she then got Covid and sadly to say she passed away last December. So all you carrying on about unvaccinated people shouldn’t cruise take note of your own health, the vaccine has not stopped you getting the virus nor do you know if it has done any damage to your body , after all it was an experimental vaccine not tested long enough to prove it is safe. The vaccinated should do more research before discriminating people . Australia let the cruises start up for the unvaccinated again.America amongst other countries have.
Some very unintelligent and uneducated comments in here that border line embarrassing, the power of propaganda and media lies has done one hell of a job on some people. Get out of your echo chamber, do some research that isn’t fed to you by mainstream legacy media and wake up. The vaccine doesn’t stop infection, shows no evidence of minimising symptoms and is being discontinued or advised against in many countries across the world. WAKE UP AND CATCH UP AUSTRALIA, you all got conned, just admit you fell for their lies and take the L.
The ARROGANCE of some of these commenters is blown up hysteria at best! Thinking that ‘they’ deserve a holiday because oh they went out and ‘got vaccinated’ (which is supposed to protect them, right???) but others who have NATURAL IMMUNITY from infection cannot board next to their high and mighty masked faces.ugh!
Seriously, get your heads out of the clouds, if you like I had the ‘jabs’ because you HAD TO to keep your darn job! Then so be it, but for the life of me cannot see why ‘they’ hold onto the fear when the protection of the ‘jabs’ is all theirs.
Let people live the way they like. If YOU don’t want to cruise next to the ‘unclean’ then choose another holiday, perhaps a flight amongst the Unvaccinated (heaven forbid ) to Morocco?
No, there is absolutely no sensible reason for banning unvaxxed people from this point forward. The end!
Honestly it makes sense to bring back cruising to all Australians. After such a long break and a big divide in our population we can enjoy holidays now again together as the threat of the pandemic has eased. Of course the virus will be ongoing within our community. Each of us have a responsibility to ourselves to continue to protect our own health. The time for mandates is over. We will make safe choices on taking precautions as we see fit, from flu and covid jabs to hand hygiene and staying home when ill. The time to rebuild our economy relationships mental health and trust in society is now. If not now, when?
I’m an Aussie who cruises a lot here in OZ & all around the world. Vaccinated or not, Australian cruisers are a grubby and lazy bunch. So many of them not washing hands before going into buffet. Despite poor staff urging passengers to do so.
Overcrowding into lifts is mind boggling. Why??? If I see a crowded lift I wait for the next one or use the stairs (walk off that scrummy lunch or breakfast)
No distance given when lining up for tours. These are the bigger problems and why things like Norovirus get spread so easily. Think about it. The next time you pick up a pair of tongs to get that French toast,waffle or salad, 100+ people before you have used the same pair of tongs. One of them is bound to have a cold, flu or Norovirus.(I have noted Princess staff frequently
change tongs) That’s how diseases get spread. Bad Hygiene. I always have sanitising wipes I use when I get to the dining table before I eat. I’m not going to have my cruise ruined because someone doesn’t care about their own personal hygiene. And I still wear a mask. That way at least I know I’m protecting myself against those that don’t care.
The Ruby Princess someone mentioned below is proof that even in the first outbreak covid was only a risk to a subset of individuals.
They are more than likely vaxxed now and probly had the coof too like the rest of us.
No reason to deny entry becuz everyone is at the same risk of infection after a few months anyway. Got one booked for later in the year and don’t give a hoot if someone next to me isnt jabbed.
The entirety of the past few years has proven that:
1-Vaccination for Covid19 is an individual risk vs benefit due to NOT stopping transmission. THOSE of you stating you won’t cruise with unvaccinated need to have a good look around.
2-Mandates may have had their place, to reduce the strain on hospital system FOR A SHORT TIME. Now that the virus is spread from corner to far flung corner of the countryside they are no longer needed, as you can see by the reduction in Case Fatality Rate.
3-To keep them in place for cruises but no other part of general society, is now nothing but punishment for non-compliance.
I say let people make their OWN risk assessment with their doctor. I have had 4 shots soon to be 5 as I have comorbidities my specialist has advised it. A 40 year old may not have the same risk & that should be taken into account.
Would share my cabin with them whether unvaccinated or not.
after being on over 70 cruises over the years,there is no way i will be cruising with non vaccinated people, after seeing what happened with Ruby Princess and other ships.
We are all vaccinated and therefore protected from severe symptoms. Yes I think the cruise lines should be removing the restrictions.
Covid19 was simply put, a bad cold for me: aged 58 and my husband: aged 63.
I don’t see that it is still worse than the flu?
Dr Kerry Chant from NSW Health stated last week that the majority of hospitalisations are incidental findings of Covid19, not severe symptomatic illness due to Covid 19.
It’s not as worrying now to invite everyone back to cruising. It is another phase passed — move on!
Yes to unvaccinated cruise passengers.
So many dumb people commenting on not allowing unvaccinated people to cruise. They all get sick on them anyway it seems makes me laugh, people – obviously it’s not the unvaccinated causing your so called covid,I seriously think these mRNA DNA altering gene therapy jabs have totally dumbed the population down to have no critical thinking skills left or basic Common sense thought processes. No surprise there as it’s not meant to stop covid it’s designed as a bioweapon and sorry peeps it’s not too hard to find the evidence of that. Phizer has already admitted proper research and safety trials were not done.WAKEUP
Why shouldn’t they be allowed? It is 3 years in, we have learnt a lot. Stay in if you are sick. Wash your hands and respect others personal space particularly the elderly who are wearing masks, they are feeling vulnerable so give them space. That applies to those of us who are fully vaccinated and those who chose not to. Simply time to move on and allow everyone to enjoy a cruise holiday. Looking forward to our next cruise, with passengers from all walks of life.
Don’t mind one bit. Let them back on. I have had covid twice even after 4 doses of a mix of all the available vaccines. How people would still feel threatened by unvaccinated people is not at all sensible. We go shopping fly on planes go to movies and restaurants now all together, let them cruise.
Surely having 2 shots in March 2021 can not be any more immune than an unvaccinated person who has been recently infected… Since the rules are only that someone must have had a primary course, it makes NO sense to exclude now, the ABC news said today that 99.6% ‘herd immunity’ in Australia now and Omicron is just going around immunity of both infection and vaccination. I’m vaccinated but the science no longer stands up for mandates.
There is a very good reason for vaccination.
Harm minimisation and risk reduction.
Consider the cost of emergency evacuation for a severe Covid infection.
My wife tested +ve for covid but QANTAS didn’t bat an eyelid about letting her fly. Taxis didn’t ask any questions. Everyone in the streets and shops in Adelaide were maskless – the only one wearing a mask was my spouse and I. Transmission of Covid Omikron variant has been shown to be transmitted more by contact with surfaces than by air transmission, so wash your hands after using stair rails and similar or carry the pocket alcohol cleaners. It is now known that mRNA vaccines don’t stop you catching covid and don’t stop you transmitting covid and may simply moderate the effects of covid at the expense of some serious side effects.
Unvaccinated should have been welcome back a long time ago. People are getting covid on vaccinated only cruises so why are the unvaccinated still been discriminated against when the vaccine clearly does not stop catching it and spreading it? The rest of the world is fully open for everybody to enjoy cruising and has been for quite some time. Unvaccinated can literally get on a plane to another country and board a ship there, but can’t board a ship just down the road from them. This makes no sense at all.
Actually I believe the vaxxed should be banned from cruising cause they shed the spike proteins, has more risks of deaths and injuries and can cause problems to the rest of the passengers.
SCIENCE, not the garbage political ideology unqualified so called health officials, has been out saying vaxs are very bad and not to take it, masks are useless. Real science are facts, unlike Fauci declaring himself as a God and saying science is science and can’t be debated! Science is always debated.
Look up the real experts like Peter McCullough. Why we even have any State of Emergency is so illegal!! A NSW Judge threw out all fines pertaining to Covid because mandates are NOT lawful and is illegal!
So to not follow the law and stop the discriminatory practices will mean they are open to lawsuits. That’s the first place I’d go to – a class action lawyer.
Well I have cruised twice in the last few months with a vaccine exemption. Showed my exemption and negative RAT test and was good to go. Did not get Covid on either cruise so couldn’t have given it to anyone. And yet plenty of vaccinated people got Covid on the cruises I was on – but not from me. These people saying they won’t cruise with unvaccinated people – you probably already have. My partner got double vaxxed at the end of 2021 and has had none since and yet he is perfectly free to cruise while I am not. How am I any more of a danger than him? People need to realise the vax doesn’t stop you getting it or spreading it. It may or may not reduce your symptoms. I had it a year ago and was fine again within a week, whilst my friend who is a nurse and triple vaxxed, spent 3 weeks in bed due to Covid. It really depends on your own state of health, your immune system and the hygiene precautions you take – not whether you have been vaxxed or not. Drop the cruise mandates Australia.
I recently travelled on Holland America. Masks were mandated but not enforced. Covid hygiene was very lax. It was a 3 part cruise. They allowed unvaccinated on board. Many people got Covid on part 2 – they were not even required to isolate. They did tests on the day before part 3. Apparently so many people were positive, we were told they had to cancel part 3. Individual selfishness ruined the holiday of over 2000 people, let alone the crew and all those relying on the income from tourism
That’s why we will only cruise with Viking they have excellent protocols ,hygiene standards , service and air filtration systems … no Kids , no casinos and no drunken yobbos
Okay, here’s the FACTS! I’m vaccinated (4 boosters) and THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THE VACCINE KEEPS ANYONE FROM PASSING IT ON. THAT WAS ALL FAKE AND THEY ADMITTED IT. Also, MASKS DO NOT WORK. There is not ONE study that contradicts that. I don’t regret (much) getting vaccinated to hopefully reduce any illness but other than that WAKE THE F**K UP PEOPLE and realize we were conned and victims of stupid politicians. That’s it. It’s over. There is not one reason a non-vaccinated person is more risk to a ship other than he/she might (might) get far more ill and that’s their problem. This is obviously why we have a Labor Government because they thrive on mindless lemmings.
Just returned from an around Australia cruise on the Majestic Princess. We wore our masks religiously and are fully vaccinated. There was an outbreak on board (how many, no idea), The Captain advised that passengers wear masks when not eating or drinking. Signs on the lifts to wear masks and limit number of people, did the passengers follow this request – NOPE. So many clowns on board did not wear masks, mostly American and Australian passengers who are one foot in the grave so obviously don’t care.
Absolutely no unvaccinated on cruises.I see poor hygiene in many people and I will not cruise where there are the unvaxxed.
Recently cruised to NZ from Sydney although being vaccinated I wore a mask every day but 99% of the passengers did not even after warnings from the captain that masks should be worn in crowded areas especially on shuttles. My wife dropped her guard at the last Port of visit and contacted Covid. Although fully vaccinated was not well for 2weeks. NO to UNVACCINATED passengers and enforce mask wearing in crowded areas.
Ridiculous now the world is awake and knows that the unvaxed do not spread it more than others.
My husband and I would love to take our adult son and daughter in law on a cruise for their anniversary, however their choice not to take a vaccination hinders us from doing so.
At this point in the virus outbreak, we can fly them to Europe to board a similar ship, it seems more than a little silly to not be able to do so from our home country.
Yes, unvaccinated should be approved to travel again.
I have no issues with cruising with unvaccinated. Most of Australia has already had covid, most of us are already protected by vaccination as well, and if we catch it we can pass it on just as easily so that is their own risk.
I think it’s time to start living normally again.
I am very surprised how brainwashed some of these cruisers are regarding the vaccinations. I can cruise in Europe unvaxxed except for Greece but I can fly into Greece & holiday there no problem. I have had covid last year. 2 days of a headache & temperature & that was it & I’m in my 70’s. Really though , I’m not sure a I want to cruise again with these people who know nothing about the truth about the vaxxes & how many they have killed & maimed.I would rather holiday in a country where all mandates have been removed than on a ship with the brainwashed who believe the vaxxes do anything but hurt your immune system. No wonder all these people are catching covid on a fully vaxxed ship as their immune systems have been totally destroyed by the vaxx.
I recently cruised Princess. I wore a mask whenever necessary, unlike the majority of other passengers. Caught my first dose of Covid. Only after 1 week into the cruise did the captain announce that masks should be worn. So people did. Knowing how covid spreads on cruises I feel the captains instructions were a little late. It will be a while before I cruise again.
Covid / Noro ?
People / basic hygiene?
If we ALL complied and followed basic hygiene as in washing hands after going to the toilet, wash hands before you enter the dining areas etc cover your cough, don’t use the table napkins as tissues, chances of a covid / noro outbreaks are greatly reduced. Cruise lines could help by having servers in the buffets where possible.
And yes we could cruise with no vaccinations. After all, there is no vaccination for Noro. If you are feeling unwell and let’s face it, you know when you aren’t feeling too good, do the right thing and stay in your cabin for the day.
We will never be free of noro or covid.
And yes I am fully vaccinated for Covid and have been on 3 cruises in 9 months.
It is up to each and everyone of us to do the right thing. We are not just protecting ourselves but all those around us – fellow passengers, port crew, ship crew.
I’m not getting the experimental medication for anyone. Nor will I be using the PCR tests as they’ve been proven to be useful for finding anything in anyone but not for diagnosing if someone’s carrying and spreading any virus or sickness. If you don’t want me as a paying customer- I sure don’t want to pay you. But anyone still asking this question really needs to get their heads out of MSM hypnotisation.
I’m unvaccinated used to go on cruises my mum had five shots she had a stroke from it can no longer drive. I can’t get a medical exception it’s near impossible despite having some health issues. Total discrimination! Can’t see my stepfather in the nursing home as I won’t have the dangerous rats test. Enjoy your life while you have your health. Total discrimination have un vaccinated on board. By the way I got pneumonia of the last cruise jan 2021 holland America I survived. No hols since.
I would like to see Western Australia drop the Vaccinatuon requirement on Cruise Ships within WA.
Please fall in line with all other States and International Shipping Lines.
Wendy
No to unvaccinated cruisers.
A: your choice, your body
B: To many people showing dodgy rat tests
C: Yes, we can all get covid, vaxed or unvaxed
D: Have you watched some people on cruise ships. Absolutely no regard for hygiene.
There are few other places that you can spend long periods of time together in a very
limited space.
When these requirements for us to cruise are lifted. Remember these points, because
a lot of people and departments have crucified the cruise industry. They had no prior
experience with this pandemic and it didn’t come with an instruction guide.
No more FREE credits or cruises.
And most people are not going to be able to afford insurance.
I’m not looking forward to being stuck in a cabin thinking about my wasted holiday.
As adults we all have opinions. But. They won’t all be the same.
It appears the gentleman in the article complaining about catching Covid on his cruise has forgotten the fact that ONLY VACCINATED PEOPLE were on his ship. So he actually caught Covid from ONLY vaccinated people.
What people seem to be forgetting is it has now been proven that the Vaccination DOES NOT prevent people from catching Covid and DOES NOT stop the spread of Covid. The only benefit of the Vax is the POSSIBLE reduction in severity of symptoms to the vaccinated person.
I know numerous people that have been double vaxxed and double boosted and have had Covid twice and a couple of them have had Covid three times now. and I know people not vaxxed that have NOT had Covid.
Clearly flying in a plane closely beside people, breathing the same recirculated air has an extremely high chance of the transfer of colds, flus and Covid, and yet unvaxxed are free to fly.
The current contradiction of travel status between Government and State rules clearly shows discrimination to the unvaxxed and I would hazard a guess links back to a desire to still “punish” those that didn’t comply.
The majority of cruise ships now are welcoming all people vaxxed or not. Princess ships announced their changed stance in September 2022, it is the stance of the various Ports that is causing the problem.
It is well past time for Australian states to come in line with Government rules, stop discriminating, trying to punish the unvaxxed, lift the ban against the unvaxxed and allow all people to make a decision for themselves to choose to cruise or not.
The pre-embarkation testing is done is the best way to reduce the probability of Covid getting on board.
The vaccine only helps reduce the effects/severity of Covid if they catch it.
YES to Unvaccinated people on ships and YES to testing ‘everyone’ before entering the ship.
People have been so brainwashed in relation to these vaccines that they fail to use reason.
The vaccine does nothing, zero, ziltch to stop the spread of covid. Pfizer has even admitted that they didn’t even test for this. If you are vaccinated you can still get it and still pass it on. If you are not vaccinated you can still get it and pass it on. So what difference does it make? Honestly I cannot understand this charade going on any longer
I travelled from Singapore to Brisbane in February 2023 on the Encounter. I was disappointed in my fellow country men and women in their complete disregard for covid hygiene standards. The generation was predominantly senior and ignoring the standard to cover up was almost universal. Shame on you all.
Perhaps the issue is not being vaccinated but observed and prudent hygiene practices
W Irvine
Pensioner
If they remove the mandate to be vaccinated on a cruise ship then I and my family will scrap the idea of ever cruising.
How is Vaxinated/non vaxxed relevent? the transfer of the virus affects both, both can spread the virus with equal loads so ignorent people dont understand that regardless, if you are Vaxed you can still get and spread the virus like those unvaxed. So prove me wrong!
As this cruise season has demonstrated. No unvaccinated person has been on a cruise ship, so what of the reported cruise lines (predominantly Princess) outbreaks of Covid? Yes, vaccinated people spreading Covid, multiple times. So there goes that argument of unvaccinated spreading Covid on cruise ships. Just practice basic hygiene people.
Yes all lines need to ditch their vaccine requirements. I’ve had 4 different vaccines for covid and none of them worked. Ie no antibodies. I’ve had private blood tests to prove it.
So does this mean i can’t go cruising because while vaccinated on paper, my body rejects the vaccine?
It’s an absolute disgrace and complete discrimination against people to not allow invaccinated people to travel. Shameful.
For the person stating that their family can’t cruise due to be unvaccinated for a variety of reasons, if they are medically exempt from vaccination they can actually apply for an exemption to cruise.
What everyone seems to forget when comparing us with cruising to the rest of the world is the fact they ALL started cruising long before we did, back in 2021 the ships overseas restarted we are only just coming up to one year of cruising with large ships. It took more than a year for the vaccine mandates overseas to fully drop off completely, and when they were reduced they were done so gradually as well it went from 5% unvaccinated (all age groups) to allowing children under 5 to actually sail without an exemption, to children under 12 without an exemption. To lifting the 5% to 10% and let’s not forget the major bloody difference was the fact to sail in the US you had to be supervised taking your test, none of this self administered take a photo. Unvaccinated also weren’t allowed to do an RAT it had to be a PCR and they were then retested at the port and during the cruise as well.
During this cruise season we have seen ships moved up the tiers of cases, we’ve all heard the stories of people fudging their RATs… so sure let’s drop the vaccine mandate but introduce mandatory supervised testing of every single passenger aged 2 and over to make sure they are actually done correctly in the first place.
The correct way would be to slowly bring us in line with the rat of the cruising world and slowly increase the number of unvaccinated onboard. It was after all only last year that the US finally dropped the vaccine mandate two years after beginning cruises, but everyone still needed a supervised test and it was late last year they finally dropped the testing requirement for some cruises. There are still cruises running in the US and around the world that require vaccination in some cases you actually need the 3 doses to be able to sail and be up to date.
The last thing to consider would be this, travel insurance and good luck getting it if you are unvaccinated also all mandates drop that free health care we get onboard for covid would be dropped as well meaning the passengers would be liable for the costs, most TI companies won’t cover you for covid if you haven’t taken all available protections (unless MEDICALLY excluded) and that actually applies to any vaccinations not just covid especially if smartraveller has any recommended travel vaccines and warnings the TI will automatically deny the claim as you haven’t taken all protections. TI when cruising has gone up enough as it is due to covid when they require you to be vaccinated, god knows what the premiums would look like later on. I know for a fact with one insurer since 2021 there premiums have gone up $600
If only vaccinated people are travelling on cruises, how come people are still coming down with Covid.Far from being safe and effective, so-called vaccinations do not prevent you from catching or transmitting Covid. Those people who have been vaccinated should not be concerned about catching Covid. Otherwise, why be “vaccinated”?
Stupidly, I am unable to cruise any more because I have not subjected myself to these experimental jabs. Surely I have sovereignty over my own body.. I will never subject myself to an experimental jab for the sake of cruising!
Forty years ago, I had to be vaccinated against Japanese Encephalitis to travel. I don’t see the difference.
Most covid infections on cruises are from vaccinated passengers – as unvaccinated are banned from Australian cruises .”
That’s a ridiculous statement. Just because something is the majority doesn’t make it bad, at fault or should be banned.
We could equally say “Most covid infections on cruises are from white passengers – as non-whites are fewer on Australian cruises .” or even “Most covid infections on cruises are from living passengers – as dead passengers can’t book cruises .” So all living passengers should be banned???
no unvacinated people should noy be allowed on cruise ships, they have enough people on the ships who dont follow the rules and end up with covid, i am always caution but many are not , we have enough people going to events in Australia getting covid NO TO UNVACCINATED PEOPLE ON SHIPS IN AUSTRALIA WATERS