Passengers on board Cruise & Maritime Voyages’ Vasco da Gama are in limbo this morning after the ship carrying 798 Australians and 109 New Zealanders was denied disembarkation at Fremantle in Western Australia.
Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan made the decision not to let passengers off the ship in the state following the news that at least 133 people who disembarked the Ruby Princess cruise ship in Sydney on 19 March have since tested positive for Covid-19.
“We have seen what has happened in Sydney Harbour,” he told reporters during a press conference yesterday.
“It was a complete and utter disaster. I will not allow that to happen in WA. There are no circumstances where we will allow passengers or crew to wander the streets in our state”.
Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan
NSW has also tightened up its act, announcing yesterday that no one will be disembarking cruise ships in the state until new border protections are in place.
Managing Director, Cruise & Maritime Voyages Australia Dean Brazier said “we have just been made aware via the Premier of Western Australia’s media announcement, that Cruise & Maritime Voyages will no longer be able to disembark guests from Vasco da Gama in Fremantle on Friday 27th March as originally agreed on Wednesday 18th March, and that guests will now be disembarked on Monday 30th March instead.”
“At this stage, we understand all Western Australians will be transferred to Rottnest Island to spend 14 days in self-isolation before being allowed to continue with their onwards journey.”
“Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan has indicated via media reports that he is awaiting notice from other states and territories as to transport arrangements for the rest of our Australian guests, and at this stage, they will no longer be permitted to self-isolate on Rottnest Island as he originally announced yesterday.”
“At this time, passengers with an international residency will need to remain on board Vasco da Gama until they can travel directly to their country of residence,” he said.
“We are in the process of confirming details of the WA Premier’s decision, and the CMV team are working with the state and federal Australian Government, including Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Australian Border Force (ABF), as well as Cruise Lines International Association to resolve this,” Brazier concluded.
Any friends, family or travel agents wishing to contact passengers on board should email paxmessages@vascodagama-gcl.com so that CMV can ensure quick delivery of information to those travelling on Vasco da Gama.