The Cunard cruise ship Queen Elizabeth has missed a scheduled go to to Bali resulting from a COVID-19 outbreak onboard.
In accordance with native restrictions and after dialogue with native authorities, the vessel has bypassed the port of name and is continuous on to Fremantle in Western Australia for debarkation.
Onboard Outbreak Causes Port Diversion
While the Vista-class ship departed Sydney on schedule on November 7 for her 17-night, one-way cruise, rising circumstances in Australia and the presence of circumstances onboard have now diverted the ship and canceled the decision in Bali that had been scheduled for Monday, November 28, 2022.
“Unfortunately, due to the ongoing rise in community transmission across Australia and this being reflected on various cruise lines, we’re unable to visit Indonesia at this time,” a Cunard spokesperson mentioned.
“That has followed ongoing conversations with the respective authorities in Bali, and we understand and respect the current circumstances we’re operating in. In light of this, we will sail into Fremantle in the coming days as planned.”
Queen Elizabeth has the capability to welcome 2,092 company at double occupancy, and as many as 2,547 company when totally booked with all berths crammed.
The ship has already made calls to Airlie Beach, Cairns, Port Douglas, and Darwin – all well-liked Australian ports – on this crusing. The name to Bali, Indonesia was to have been the one non-Australian port go to, and the final port of name for the itinerary.
How Many Cases?
No confirmed information is on the market on precisely what number of company are onboard the present crusing, however native authorities estimate that as many as 10-15 p.c of company are COVID-positive. This may imply 200-380 company could already be testing constructive, however no particulars have been launched about their situation or if any company want hospital care.
In many current outbreaks, together with aboard Majestic Princess lately, additionally in Australia, the overwhelming majority of circumstances have both been very gentle or fully asymptomatic. On the Majestic Princess crusing, 800 company had been reported constructive. Majestic Princess is a bigger, Royal-class vessel, with a capability for 3,560 company.
Passengers on Queen Elizabeth who do take a look at constructive are required to isolate for 5 days, and should return a unfavorable fast antigen take a look at earlier than being launched from the isolation interval. Free checks can be found to all company, and shut contacts of those that have already examined constructive are required to check each day.
Guests onboard the ship are reporting that some venues have now been closed and there are longer waits for some eating and bar service, seemingly owing to the better want for room service deliveries to company in isolation.
Arrival to Be Sooner Than Expected
The ship was scheduled to complete the cruise in Fremantle on Friday, December 2, however monitoring information now exhibits the ship’s estimated arrival to be very early within the morning of Wednesday, November 30. This has been confirmed by the native well being authorities.
There isn’t any phrase on whether or not all passengers shall be disembarked early, or what compensation could also be provided if the cruise is formally shortened.
While no official clarification has been given, it’s seemingly that the early arrival will allow further time for extra intensive cleansing and sanitation earlier than the subsequent cruise units sail on December 2, an 11-night itinerary returning to Sydney.
That itinerary is crusing alongside the southern Australian coast and Tasmania, and can arrive in Sydney on Tuesday, December 13, 2022.