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.
Robyn Edie/Stuff
Heritage Expeditions co-owner Nathan Russ talks about the work his company did to gain government approval to operate the first expedition or cruise ship in New Zealand since lockdown (first published November 2020).
Le Lapérouse was due to arrive in Auckland on Saturday after getting Ministry of Health permission to run a series of domestic cruises starting next week, but on Thursday as the vessel approached New Zealand, Immigration NZ officials refused visa exemptions for 61 crewmembers classed as hotel staff. The New Zealand Cruise Association said it was “shocked and quite simply bewildered” at moves to prevent the vessel coming here because all the ship’s crew were essential to its operation, and could not be replaced by New Zealanders in such a short time.