Covid 19 coronavirus: Authorities determination to ban cruise ship Le Laperouse slammed

A man whose company has invested more than $ 1 million in booking two cruises on Le Laperouse for customers of 200 people has criticized the government’s decision not to let the ship in.

The luxury expedition cruise ship “floated” outside New Zealand waters and is being held at the border because most of its crew have been denied visas.

According to tour operators, the Le Laperouse crew had previously received approval from the Ministry of Health to enter New Zealand.

Le Laperouse is a 264 passenger ship operated by the Ponant cruise line.

Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi said that when the ship got to New Zealand, 61 people would either be quarantined until they were sent home or “locked up”.

“We put in five months of hard work and everything was ready and dealing with a government circus was a joke,” said the man, who refused to be named.

More than 60 crew members were denied visas because they were not considered essential to the ship’s voyage here.

The staff included hairdressers, bartenders and masseuses.

“There is a lack of understanding that employees working on the ship have multiple roles. They may have to make the beds, but the same person can be a singer and a bartender,” the man said.

“Saying locals can do the job, they’re absolute cops ***.”

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The sauna on Le Laparouse, a luxurious ship from Ponant. Photo / supplied

Queenstown’s Helen Wilkins is upset by the news too.

She has booked a two-week cruise departing Auckland for the sub-Antarctic Islands on February 8th and disembarking in Lyttelton on February 22nd.

“Obviously, I’m very concerned to hear on the news today that the ship is banned from entering New Zealand waters … all very disturbing,” said Wilkins.

Aaron Russ, Travel Director of Wild Earth, chartered the ship from operator Ponant. Seven expeditions were planned in New Zealand, the first of which was to begin in Auckland on February 8th.

The travel plans of up to 700 kiwis are now in disarray.

The ship has 92 passenger cabins.

The New Zealand Cruise Association says it was “shocked and just plain confused” to see that Immigration NZ prevented the ship from arriving at the last minute despite the health department’s green light.

The ministry issued an exemption last December so that the ship could operate inland with a maximum of 100 passengers.

“The NZCA believes that all of the ship’s crew is vital to the operation and cannot be replaced by New Zealanders in such a short time,” said Kevin O’Sullivan, chief executive officer of NZCA.

O’Sullivan said the ship followed the procedure and did whatever was required by the government to offer a safe inland cruise in New Zealand.

“In order to meet Covid-19 crew isolation requirements, the ship has slowly steamed from its last port and tested everyone on board regularly,” he said.

Le Laperouse was supposed to be in Auckland tomorrow for refueling, maintenance and New Zealand Covid-19 testing. The first trip would start on February 8th.

“This is a severe and devastating blow to the New Zealand tourism industry and to all those companies that have relied on this one cruise ship to give them a glimmer of hope for the resurgence of regional cruise tourism,” said O’Sullivan.

“Of course, the 700 Kiwi guests who planned a trip will be the most upset.”

The association said the decision tarnished New Zealand as a cruise-friendly destination and undermined years of hard work.

“It’s just not good enough,” said O’Sullivan.

Tour operators say the ship is currently less than 300 miles from Auckland after sailing from Asia.

“All crew members have been isolated for 27 days, had four negative PCR tests, and are fully trained in the company’s Covid-safe protocols, safety and emergency operations.”