Blocked Ponant cruise ship cancels New Zealand season
3 Feb, 2021 01:00 AM
4 minutes to read
Le Laperouse has called off its NZ season after sailing 8500km and two weeks quarantine at sea. Photo / File
Le Laperouse has called off its NZ season after sailing 8500km and two weeks quarantine at sea. Photo / File
A French, luxury cruise liner stopped at the New Zealand border has cancelled its summer season.
After 61 crew were refused work visas on route to Auckland, on Monday the ship Le Lapérouse was forced to sail 1800km to New Caledonia to refuel. Now operator Ponant has decided to pull out from the planned New Zealand season, which it was given special Economic Exemption to operate last year.
Ponant's New Zealand 'bubble' cruises are facing an uncertain future after the Kiwi government denied visas to a majority of the crew on board Le Lapérouse.
Ponant's New Zealand 'bubble' cruises are facing an uncertain future after the Kiwi government denied visas to a majority of the crew on board Le Lapérouse.
Cruise ship denied entry to NZ low on fuel with storm on horizon
1 Feb, 2021 07:02 AM
5 minutes to read
Cruise ship denied entry to New Zealand Waters.
RNZ
A cruise ship turned away from New Zealand is now stuck off the coast of New Caledonia, low on fuel with a significant storm approaching and no permission to dock.
Le Laperouse has an economic exemption to come to New Zealand for the cruise season, but was last week refused entry after Immigration denied 61 of its 90 crew visas because they are not considered essential workers.
The government says the ship left Jakarta before its paperwork was processed, but the boat s owner believes it and the crew were given the all clear to come.