In the latest of several measures taken to contain the impacts of COVID-19, UK-based Cruise and Maritime Voyages (CMV) gave the opportunity to Australian passengers onboard the cruise ship Columbus to be transferred to sister ship Vasco Da Gama which will head to Fremantle.
The cruise ship Columbus, carrying hundreds of Australians, has been ordered to cut its world cruise short and return to its UK port in Tilbury, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. But this journey could last almost four weeks.
As such, the cruise company offered passengers the option of staying onboard or transferring to its sister ship, Vasco De Gama, which will head to Fremantle, Western Australia.
Due to the closure of ports, there is no option for passengers to disembark the ship in any other port than London (Tilbury) or Fremantle,
…the company informed.
Australians travelling aboard the cruise ship Columbus disembarked to lifeboats Wednesday in order to be taken to Fremantle.
Accordingly, CMV decided to transfer European nationals from Vasco da Gama to Columbus.
In light of the continued border closures and flight cancellations, to repatriate all passengers as close to their home country as possible and ensure a safe onwards journey we will transfer European nationals from Vasco da Gama to Columbus, as well as transfer any Australian and New Zealand nationals from Columbus to Vasco do Gama,
…CMV said.
Vasco da Gama is now heading towards Fremantle, Australia to disembark passengers around the 27th of March.
Columbus is now proceeding towards London (Tilbury) to finally disembark passengers around the 13th of April.
