CRUISE & Maritime Voyages (CMV) claims it was blindsided by WA Premier Mark McGowan’s decision to reverse permission for Vasco da Gama’s passengers to disembark in Fremantle on Fri as promised. McGowan announced the move during a press conference late yesterday, revealing that all pax with an Australian residency will...
CRUISE & Maritime Voyages (CMV) claims it was blindsided by WA Premier Mark McGowan’s decision to reverse permission for Vasco da Gama’s passengers to disembark in Fremantle on Fri as promised.
McGowan announced the move during a press conference late yesterday, revealing that all pax with an Australian residency will be transported to Rottnest Island to spend 14 days in quarantine before being given permission to continue their onward journey.
“We have seen what has happened in Sydney Harbour, it was a complete and utter disaster and I will not allow that to happen in WA,” McGowan said.
All non-Australians will need to remain on Vasco da Gama until they can travel directly to their country of residence.
CMV Australia MD Dean Brazier has expressed his outrage about the way in which the WA Govt arrived at its decision.
“On behalf of CMV, we would like to express our disappointment that the WA Premier did not inform us of this decision before sharing this news with the public, and that we were unable to inform our passengers before it appeared in media reports,” he said.
“We are only now beginning to notify pax and their travel agents.
“We have followed all protocols to ensure a smooth arrival of Vasco da Gama into Fremantle, and have recorded no health issues with our guests who are on board,” Brazier added.
CMV is in the process of confirming the details with the WA State Government, as well as working with the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Australian Border Force and Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) to seek further clarity on the unfolding situation.
Vasco da Gama, which is carrying798Australians and109New Zealanders, has now spent 13 straight days at sea.
