Category Archives: Oceania

The inaugural MMA Super Cup kicked off today with eight amateur teams competing in a knockout tournament for the right to claim the trophy as well as US$100,000 in prize money. The tournament is taking place as part of BRAVE International Fight Week and is being held inside the Khalifa Sports City Arena in Isa Town, Bahrain.

Teams compete in a best of nine series and require five wins to advance to the next round. Bouts consist of three, three-minute rounds, with an extra round in the event of a draw.

The opening day saw Ireland taking on Oceania, Mexico facing off against the Arab Champions, Kazakhstan vs. Balkan Champions, and Bahrain vs. Tajikistan. Oceania and Mexico were last-minute replacements for Ukraine and Russia, but you would not have known that from the performances both sides produced.

The Oceanian team, made up of Australian and New Zealand fighters, went head to head with their Irish counterparts as they traded wins. Each side sat at four apiece heading into the final bout, a 120kg contest between Irelands Gustavo Lopez and Oceanias Larry Adnan.

Adnan started strong and soon had Lopez in all sorts of trouble, as the Irish fighter found himself stuck on the mat and receiving a barrage of blows from Adnan. A stoppage looked to be on the cards when in the final ten seconds of the bout, Lopez took advantage of a mistake from Adnan and secured a kneebar which forced Adnan to tap out.

Lopezs victory will now see Ireland take on Mexico in the semi-finals, with the Central American nation making short work of the Arab Champions. The Mexican team won the first five fights in a row and will be confident they have what it takes to make it to the final.

Team Kazakhstan demonstrated its superiority over the Balkan Champions with a 5-0 clean sweep on the other side of the bracket. They will now meet Bahrain in a massive clash between two of the top amateur nations in the world, with Bahrain and Kazakhstan ranked two and three, respectively.

Bahrain had a tough first outing against Tajikistan. Still, a team that includes such names as world pound for pound No.1 Ramazan Gitinov will always be a challenging assignment for any opposition, and Bahrain ended up taking the matchup 7-2.

You can follow all the semi-final action at immaf.tv.

More here:

MMA Super Cup Day 1 Full Results : Ireland And Oceania In Nail Biting Finish - LowKick MMA

With Covid-19 having blighted preparations, many team contesting in the beginning of the men's Oceania World Cup Qualifiers will be ring-rusty.

Photo: OFC

The qualifiers, being held in the Qatar capital Doha, were due to be held last September but the pandemic scuppered that plan.

It means that few of the eight teams have had much game time or been able to hold enough training camps.

To get match ready teams have been playing friendlies on the way to Qatar or in Qatar itself.

That lack of preparation could also mean there's something of a level playing field among the region's top teams, but it's hard to see past New Zealand, which has had games against international sides in the past six months as it looks to qualify for the finals for the third time.

Here we look at the eight teams and survey their chances. In no particular order.

The undoubted underdogs of the competition who are in Qatar because first Samoa, and American Samoa withdrew, then Tonga scratched from the preliminary play-off due to be held last Sunday because of the volcanic eruption and tsunami.

The Cooks' squad includes eight Rarotonga-based footballers, but the bulk of it is made up those playing in New Zealand, Australia and even London.

The locally-based players have been in training three to four times a week since late December. English coach Alan Taylor has been taking those sessions, and admits the inability to bring players together could be an issue.

"Due to players being so spread out and Covid restrictions, we have not been able to train or play as a squad, nor have I been able to visit any of the overseas-based players to watch them play or train as well as assess their physical condition or readiness for the competition in Qatar," Taylor said.

While Taylor, who was also the national coach in 2000-01, appreciates their underdog status, he said they would play with pride and passion and never give up.

Their foreign-based players include eight who play in New Zealand, four in Australia and Tyrrell Barringer-Tahiri of AFC South London.

Auckland City's Brian Kaltak will lead the squad, the third time he has been involved in the qualifying tournaments.

Photo: Vanua Football Association

And like those two previous qualifiers the veteran was based overseas. He is aware that there will be some unfamiliarity in Qatar.

"I haven't trained with the boys and most of the squad now are young guys who I don't know so well. I can't wait to meet with them to be honest," Kaltack said.

The group includes two Australian residents Mitch Cooper and Jared Clarke. Cooper, who qualifies through being born in Port Vila, is a former Australia U-17 and U-20 internationalist who plays for Hume City in the Victoria State League.

In Vanuatu, the squad has been working twice a day under the watch of coach Etienne Mermer.

"I'm excited to see how we have improved and tactically we will respond to what our players' abilities are right now," he said.

The Kapuls were runners-up in the 2016 Oceania Nations Cup held in Port Moresby, only losing the final on penalties to the All Whites.

However, Brazilian coach Marcos Gusmao hasn't had a chance to take his team into action since he was appointed last year.

Nevertheless, Gusmao is confident of a good showing against New Caledonia, Fiji and New Zealand in their group.

"As a coach I will give my best and I am confident and I believe my team will do something positive in Qatar," he said.

The Kapuls have gained some invaluable match practice against a pair of Qatari second-tier sides.

Among their stars are Australian-based Altona Magic striker Tommy Semmy, David Browne, Michael Foster and captain David Muta.

The Solomon Islands are one of the best prepared teams having played three friendlies during their stop-off in Brisbane, registering two wins and a loss against good club sides.

Photo: insidethegames.biz

This included an impressive 4-2 win over Queensland's state league champions Lions FC.

Coach Felipe Vega-Arango says that being ranked second in the region means there will be high expectations but he believes the team has what it takes to win the competition.

Joint domestic league golden boots Tigi Molea and Gagame Feni are included in the 25-strong Solomon Islands squad which includes 14 international newcomers.

The group is bolstered by the international experience of Micah Lea'alafa, Raphael Le'ai and Alvin Hou, who played for the Kurukuru at the FIFA Futsal World Cup in Lithuania in 2021.

Led by Roy Krishna who plays in India, the Bula Boys are a team that's always capable of springing a surprise.

Photo: Fotmob.com

In Qatar they had their first international game since 2019 with an impressive 3-0 win over Vanuatu with Fijian Premier League star Sairusi Nalaubu netting a hat-trick.

It was the first time head coach, Flemming Serristlev, who joined in 2020, was able to see his troops in action.

"The result doesn't matter but the way we played, it matters and I'm really happy to see in practice what we have been training a lot on for the last two years. It really came true in the match, I'm really satisfied," said Serritslev.

"In my opinion we had too many bad passes but after 15 minutes it was okay. I wished they had more early crosses in front of the goal when we had so fast attackers up front."

Krishna is the only non-Premier League player in the 24-man squad with last year's domestic champions Lautoka FC having the largest representation with seven players.

It's been six months since premier domestic league action took place in New Caledonia, but the lack of any game time shouldn't rule them out.

National team stalwarts such as the captain and most capped player, Bertrand Kai, Joel Wakanumune and Emile Bearune head up the local contingent in coach Dominique Wacalie's squad.

Cesar Zeoula and Joris Kenon, who play for UA Cognac FC in France, will compete for places in the midfield, while Jean-Gilles Hnamuko, a current member of Luxembourg's FC Alisontia Steinsel, is one of three goalkeepers selected.

New Caledonia have been among the best sides in Oceania for decades, and reached the final of the Nations Cup in 2008 and again in 2012.

Members of last year's Coupe de Polynesie champions AS Venus account for almost half of Tahiti's final 23-man squad while four Europe-based players are also included.

Three players could make an outstanding contribution in Doha: forward Eddy Kaspard, of French side Trelissac FC, Tutehau Tufariua of another French side Cherbourg FC and the current top scorer in the Tahiti league, Teaonui Tehau, who is one of 10 AS Venus players to make the cut.

Tahiti have been playing French clubs ahead of the tournament in the Middle East.

"We have players who know themselves, and can teach others, what level they must reach in terms of intensity, concentration and discipline, in order to achieve good results internationally," said head coach Sam Garcia.

All the signs suggest the All Whites will end up as top dog at the conclusion of the series.

Photo: PHOTOSPORT

They have a professional outfit playing in the A-league, their clubs have dominated the O-League, and the bulk of the squad plays at the top level overseas.

Nevertheless, this is a one-off and surprises have happened in the past, with New Zealand only winning the last Cup on penalties and suffering defeats to Vanuatu and New Caledonia in previous competitions.

The 30-man squad features the likes of Liberato Cacace who is playing with Italy's FC Empoli, former English Premier League star Winston Reid, Kosta Barbarouses of Sydney FC, and Chris Wood of Newcastle United.

The All Whites have previously qualified for the World Cup, in 1982 and 2010 - when they emerged unbeaten - and have lost out in recent qualifying play-offs to Mexico and Peru.

All matches will be played at the Grand Hamad Stadium, one of the venues for this year's World Cup. The first game kicks off at 5pm local time on Thursday (3am NZT Friday) when the Cook Islands take on Solomon Islands, followed by Tahiti against Vanuatu.

The winners of the tournament will then contest an inter-continental play-off against the fourth-placed team from the federation representing North America, Central America and the Caribbean to claim a spot at the finals. That could be one of Costa Rica, Panama, Mexico or the United States.

Group A

Match Day 1

Match 1 17.03.2022. 17:00 Cook Islands : Solomon Islands

Match 2 17.03.2022. 20:00 Tahiti : Vanuatu

Match Day 2

Match 3 20.03.2022. 17:00 Cook Islands : Tahiti

Match 4 20.03.2022. 20: Solomon Islands : Vanuatu

Match Day 3

Match 5 24.03.2022. 17.00 Vanuatu : Cook Islands

Match 6 24.03.2022. 17:0 Solomon Islands : Tahiti

2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers - Group B

Match Day 1

Match 1 18.03.2022. 17:00 Papua New Guinea : New Zealand

Match 2 18.03.2022. 20:00 New Caledonia : Fiji

Match Day 2

Match 3 21.03.2022. 17:00 Papua New Guinea : New Caledonia

Match 4 21.03.2022. 20:00 New Zealand : Fiji

Match Day 3

Match 5 24.03.2022. 20:00 Fiji : Papua New Guinea

Match 6 24.03.2022. 20: New Zealand : New Caledonia

Semi-finals

Match Day 1

Match 1 27.03.2022. 17:00

Grand Hamad Stadium Group. A Winner : Group B Runner-Up

Match 2 27.03.2022. 20:30

Grand Hamad Stadium Group. B Winner : Group A Runner-Up

Final

Match Day 1

Match 1 30.03.2022. 20:00

Grand Hamad Stadium. Winner Semi-Final 1 : Winner Semi-Final 2

Read the original post:

Oceania's finest set to do battle in football World Cup qualifiers starting Thursday - RNZ

Language services and flexible scheduling expand opportunities for recent immigrants, high school and college students, and teachers

The Port of Seattle announced job fair opportunities this spring for job seekers interested in aviation, maritime, and logistics opportunities. More than 25 employers across Port-related industries will participate in the job fairs. Sponsors include Port Jobs, Work Source, Starbucks, Workforce Development Council, Hilton Hotels, Metro Shore Services representing Royal Caribbean and Celebrity Cruises, and SMS Shore Services representing Holland America, Princess Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Oceania Cruises, and Cruise Terminals of America.

Port-related industries need to fill hundreds of jobs, said Commissioner Sam Cho. Connecting talented potential workers to Port-related employers makes our facilities more efficient, improves customer service, and advances our goal of ensuring that Port-related opportunities benefit everyone in our community.

Job opportunities range from full-time positions starting immediately to part-time, flexible work for the spring and summer cruise season.

10:00 4:00 p.m.Terminal 91 at Magnolia2001 W Garfield St.Seattle, WA 98119

Meet with employers hiring for cruise season jobs at Pier 66, Terminal 91, and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Employers are prepared to work with high school and college students and teachers to accommodate the school year calendar. More information is available on the Ports events page.

10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.Double Tree by Hilton Seattle Airport, SeaTac18740 International BoulevardSeattle, WA 98188

Meet with 25 employers including Port of Seattle, Port Jobs, WorkSource, Starbucks, Horizon/Alaska, Swissport Fueling, Amazon, and more! Afghan refugees and newly arrived immigrants are encouraged to attend. Language services are available. All job seekers are welcome. In-person and virtual options are available. More information is available on the Ports events page.

****Option to attend online at https://publicworkforceevents.easyvirtualfair.com/****

10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.Port of Seattle Duwamish River Community Hub,South Park8600 14th Avenue South, Seattle WA 98108

Meet with employers hiring at downtown cruise terminals Pier 66 and Terminal 91, as well as Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Employers are prepared to work with high school and college students and teachers to accommodate school year calendars. More information is available onthe Ports event page.

Peter McGraw | Port of Seattle Media Officer(206) 787-3446 | mcgraw.p@portseattle.org

Original post:

Port Sponsors Job Fairs with Aviation, Maritime, Logistics, and Hospitality Employers - portseattle.org

All the Oceania Cycling Championships in the one place, a mass participation ride, a national track championships, a National Road Series event, a number of major roads shut down throughout a major city, and a festival hub all while coordinating with 134 affiliate events adds up to one of the most extensive festivals of cycling that has ever been seen in Australia.

The Brisbane Cycling Festival certainly doesn't lack ambition despite the setbacks that it has faced in recent years.

It has been a tough environment for events due to COVID in recent years, with the Brisbane Cycling Festival seeing their 2020 event cancelled, the 2021 event postponed and then eventually run amidst COVID restrictions that severely limited interstate travel. Now, floods have assailed the city and the surrounding region, but event organisers aren't lamenting the situation with only a few alterations on the agenda as they prepare for the biggest Brisbane Cycling Festival yet.

SBS Cycling Central spoke toGeneral Manager of Major Events at Auscycling and State Manager for Queensland, Sean Muir, about the 2022 edition of the Brisbane Cycling Festival.

"On the Monday after the flooding I jumped on a call with a number of other sports and the Minister for Tourism," said Muir, "and he made it clear that sport was really important for getting Queensland back on its feet as soon as possible. Its a great chance to engage with people and take the harder times off their minds, even if it is just for a few hours or days.

"Its a bit of a clich, but in Brisbane were pretty tough. Weve gone through these floods for the second time in 11 years and were pretty resilient. Were used to it, and were a community that sticks together.

Scenes of roads flooded, houses and property damaged, and mountains of water-damaged goods by the roadside will be an ongoing difficulty for weeks and months for Brisbane and the region, with the hope that the event will cater for locals as well as attract interstate tourists to pour some money into the local economy at a time where it needs it.

Recent natural disasters haven't deterred organisers from putting on the most ambitious program to date that hopes to reach cyclists and non-cyclists alike.

"Yes, were catering for cyclists, whether youre a rider, racer, or spectator, but were also an event for families and kids, something that you can come to regardless of whether you regularly ride a bike or not," said Muir. "Throughout the entire festival, theres plenty of content that will engage everyone, regardless of age, size or shape.

"We had over 32,000 people involved last year, this year were hoping to have more and well have a lot more events as well. In total, we have 134 affiliate events taking part across 22 suburbs of Brisbane. We have some really good partners and its really exciting to have an environment where its less restricted than previous years."

The floods are expected to have minimal impact on the event plans, with the major change being the shift of the Oceania Mountain Bike Championships to the Commonwealth Games course in Nerang after landslides around the Mt Crosby MTB course prevented its use. There are also roads on the Tour de Brisbane course that may need to be diverted around, with assurances that it won't impact the quality of the event.

In the Australian cycling landscape, there has been little scope for large festivals of this kind in recent years, with the Tour Down Under at the start of 2020 the last example of a major cross-discipline event of this size being hosted, with the Santos Festival of Cycling a significantly smaller replacement.

This edition shapes as an important year for the Brisbane Cycling Festival, with the event in the third year of a three-year deal with the state government for financial and logistical support. With negotiations being held currently with the state government, a successful event in 2022 would strengthen the event organiser's position, hence they are pulling out the stops in bringing a bumper program of feature racing events.

The Oceania championships coming together all in the one place at the one time, thats amazing," said Muir when asked for his highlights of the 2022 Brisbane Cycling Festival. "For the track its the last opportunity Australia and New Zealand have to gain points ahead of the next World Cup, so theyre both sending full-strength squads.

"For the BMX, we have Logan Martin, world champion and Olympic BMX Freestyle gold medallist competing in our own backyard.

"The Tour de Brisbane is always a highlight. Where else can you go and experience riding around a city on closed roads, riding across the best-known bridges in Brisbane and be a part of something this big.

"The other aspect will be the festival village. Theres going to be so much cycling and non-cycling content down there for people to experience. From the Spokes and Jokes luncheon to the criteriums, entertainment, DJs, food and wine trucks its going to be a great place to be to experience the event as a whole."

The Brisbane Cycling Festival runs from March 24-April 14 with the festival hub running from April 8-10 around the Tour de Brisbane, Colour Ride, Family Fun Day and conclusion of the Oceania Cycling Road Championships. The Tour de Brisbane also aims to raise $200,000 for The Common Good charity in support of heart and lung transplant research at Prince Charles Hospital.

See original here:

As flood waters recede, the Brisbane Cycling Festival looks to deliver biggest event yet | Cycling - SBS

The biggest hints yet that Coldplay are returning to tour Australia and New Zealand have dropped today.

A mysterious Spotify link from the bands Alien Radio FM Twitter account took fans to their Ghost Stories Live 2014 album and to one teasing song in particular: Magic performed live at Enmore Theatre in Sydney that year.

Live Nation Australia then shared the tweet and pointed people to an official waitlist for the band. Do you want to be the first to find out when Coldplay is touring Australia & New Zealand? the website asks. Sign up to the waitlist below and let us know where youd like to see them perform.

Get the latest Live Music news, features, updates and giveaways straight to your inbox Learn more

In other words, the cat is definitively out of the bag. Fans soon lapped up the cryptic hints, with Coldplay Xtra seemingly cracking the code which was written in Coldplays fictional Kaotican language (see below).

The last time Coldplay came to Australia and New Zealand was in 2016 on their A Head Full of Dreams Tour. Supported by Jess Kent and Lianne La Havas, they played huge arena shows in Auckland, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney.

Their current tour is set to kick off in Costa Ricas San Jos on March 18th 2022. Chris Martin and co. then have shows consistently for the rest of the year before the tour currently ends in Argentinas Buenos Aires on October 29th 2022.That means an Oceania leg could be expected to take place in the final months of the year.

Well keep you posted with further updates on Coldplays visit to Australia and New Zealand, but make sure to sign up for Live Nation Australias waitlist to find out exactly when theyll be touring here.

For more on this topic, follow the Live Music Observer.

Subscribe to Rolling Stone magazine

Subscribe to Rolling Stone magazine

View post:

Coldplay seem to be teasing a tour of Australia and New Zealand - Tone Deaf

With definitive timelines of the spectrum auctions, India is on the brink of realising the 5G potential, says Nitin Bansal, managing director, India & head Networks, Southeast Asia, Oceania & India, Ericsson. 5G being an innovation platform, the technology will instigate industrial digitalisation beyond consumer-specific use-cases. Industries like manufacturing, ports, mining, airports, and energy will be the early adopters of the technology which will enable them to drive better business performance. Private networks will be the way ahead to drive these digital transformations, Bansal tells Sudhir Chowdhary as he discusses the 5G potential for Indian consumers and enterprises. Excerpts:

What is the potential that 5G will bring for Indian consumers and enterprises?

From a consumer perspective, there is high interest for 5G in India with consumers willing to pay a premium for the new 5G capabilities. Our Consumer Lab study states at least 40 million smartphone users in India could take up 5G in the first year of 5G being made available with consumers willing to pay a premium for 5G plans with bundled digital services. In fact, Indian users have shown the biggest rise in their intention to upgrade globally according to our study with 67% wanting to take up 5G once it is available, an increase of 14% points over 2019. Further, the Nov 2021 edition of Ericsson Mobility Report reveals that 5G will represent around 39% of mobile subscriptions in India at the end of 2027, estimated at about 500 million subscriptions.

On the enterprise front, Ericssons report on 5G for business forecasts that the industrial digitalisation market for service providers could grow to $700 billion by 2030 with the estimated number for India being $17 billion.

What are some 5G use-cases consumers will be able to see?

While enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) and fixed wireless access (FWA) are expected to be the early use-cases of 5G, the Indian consumers will see many more use cases of the technology in the coming years including:

Cloud gaming: Globally, 5G- ready users are already spending more time on video content and multiplayer mobile gaming, spending 1.5 hours more per week on enhanced video (4K, 360-degree, live streaming) and 1 hour more per week on playing multiplayer online games as compared to 4G users. In India, 60% of the smartphone users plan to use XR applications over 5G network daily in 5 years time and will spend 7.5-8 hours per week (as per an Ericsson report).

Live sports: 5G enabled sports is amongst the top predicted revenue drivers. A spectator will be able to get an even more immersive experience using 5G-enabled stadiums, 5G network slicing, 5G enabled cameras and virtual transmission centres.

Enhanced video: In this era of binge-watching, video content is the most significant traffic type generated by smartphone users. The rapid increase in data traffic for video is a result of increasing video formats/content and high viewing time and consumption.

How will private networks benefit Indian enterprises?

Private networks will enable Indian enterprises to pursue their journey towards Industry 4.0 which requires a high-performance communications foundation that is reliable and secure. Private networks are the preferred way to power digital transformation by connecting devices, industrial sites, and augmenting workers.

How has been the deployment experience in other markets?

Ericsson has an established global 5G leadership with 170 5G commercial agreements worldwide and 109 live 5G networks. Some of the global implementations include: Ericsson has partnered with Telstra, an Australian telecommunications company to offer an industrial wireless connectivity platform for enterprise that can deliver low latency, enhanced resiliency, and the capacity.

From the mining segment, Telia in Sweden will build and manage a dedicated local 5G-ready mobile network for mining company Boliden at Aitik, the worlds most efficient open-pit copper mine located in the north of Sweden. Carrying out drilling and blasting using automation showed an annual EUR 2.5 million net saving for the Aitik mine alone.

In the manufacturing segment, Telefnica, Ericsson and Mercedes-Benz are building the worlds first 5G mobile network for automobile production in Germany.

Our own 5G Smart Factory in Lewisville, Texas, has been recognised by the World Economic Forum as a global front runner in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR).

View post:

Indian consumers are ready to pay a premium for 5G: Nitin Bansal, MD India & head Networks, Southeast Asia, Oceania & India, Ericsson - The...

If youve been dreaming of that long-awaited cruise, travel agents are advising to book now or risk missing out to the rest of the holiday-hungry world.

That message was reinforced by an Oceania world cruise for 2024 selling out in just 30 minutes this week, setting the fastest single-day booking record in the companys history.

But health experts say until there is a vaccine that is more effective against Omicron and any new variants that emerge, cruise ships remain an inherently risky environment.

Oceania

Oceanias 2024 Around the World in 180 Days voyage, which includes stops in New Zealand, sold out in 30 minutes.

Pre-Covid, Kiwis were keen cruisers, with 106,300 New Zealanders taking an ocean cruise in 2019, according to figures from the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA).

READ MORE:* Cruise sector gears up for a comeback in 2022 despite ongoing travel restrictions * Kiwis' interest in cruising 'picking up' despite uncertainty over when borders will reopen * 'My biggest fear': Woman gets stuck in cruise ship water slide

The major travel agencies say customers have been continuing to book cruise holidays throughout the pandemic, with cruise lines opening bookings as far out as two years in advance.

Flight Centre general manager of product Victoria Courtney said they had seen a boost in cruise bookings in November, in line with the Governments first border reopening announcement.

While the Australian market was now starting to get close to pre-Covid levels, in New Zealand, cruise bookings were still just under half of what they had been.

Ricky Wilson/Stuff

The future of visits by giant cruise ships like Ovation of the Seas to Auckland remains unknown.

Kiwis were likely more cautious due to New Zealand being in the middle of its Omicron outbreak, but the hesitancy would also be due to uncertainty around when cruising would be able to resume in New Zealand and Australian waters.

Thats going to be critical for Kiwis to get that information, because they love that close-to-home cruising, and these are the kinds of cruises that are booked a couple of months out from sailing, Courtney said.

In 2019, Kiwis taking domestic sailings around New Zealand presented 21 per cent of cruisers, with 12 per cent taking a cruise in Australia, according to the CLIAs figures. The average cruise duration was 9.6 days.

But House of Travel general manager of cruise Jeff Leckey said they were now seeing much more demand for months-long world cruises and even back-to-back cruises, where a traveller does two consecutive voyages.

Customers have been waiting a long time to get back out and see the world, he said.

I think theyre of the mind that when I go, Im going to make this an epic journey.

Marta Lavandier/AP

Avid cruisers check into the first cruise to leave a US port since the pandemic began, in June 2021.

Leckey said they were seeing new to cruise customers as well as repeat cruisers, as for many, being able to visit multiple destinations without having to deal with all the border requirements was a more attractive option than travelling independently.

From the perspective of the traveller, the cruise holiday is a much more seamless, easy experience in the new world we live in.

Both Courtney and Leckey agreed Kiwis wanting their pick of the cruises for 2023 and even into 2024 should be looking at booking now, as they would be competing with travellers all over the world.

You dont want to miss out to those pesky Americans and Europeans who have been booking for quite a while, Courtney said.

Worldwide, none of us travelled for two years everybody now is desperate to travel and doing some big trips that were postponed.

But there are signs many Kiwis remain hesitant about cruising due to the risk posed by Covid-19.

Stuff Travels international travel survey asked whether the pandemic had changed their views on cruise travel. Early results suggest nearly 50 per cent say yes, while 16 per cent were unsure.

Asked to share how their views had changed, a common theme was that cruising did not seem safe.

There is no way I'd go on a cruise now after the horror stories of cruises being stuck at sea in 2022, one respondent said.

They just seem like floating germ factories to me. Yuck.

Another said: I had a cruise booked for August 2020 (my honeymoon) and was SO excited. Now, I can't think of anything worse than being on a floating petri dish.

While cruises were battling their floating petri dish reputation long before the pandemic, with norovirus outbreaks frequently hitting headlines, a number of high-profile Covid-19 outbreaks onboard have served to reinforce it.

Carl Court/Getty Images

Japanese soldiers and emergency workers in protective clothing walk from the Diamond Princess cruise ship.

In response, the cruise industry says it has implemented extensive new health protocols, including testing and vaccination requirements for passengers and crew, as well as protocols covering sanitation, ventilation, health monitoring and response procedures.

Developed with the help of leading medical experts internationally, these measures are among the most comprehensive to be found anywhere in the travel industry and are designed to uphold health and safety as the highest priority, a CLIA spokesperson said.

More than eight million passengers have sailed successfully under the industrys new health measures in more than 80 countries where cruising has already resumed, including in the UK and Europe, the US and Caribbean, and in parts of Asia.

But Omicron has presented new challenges for the cruise industry. In late December, as the variant surged in the US, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised people against going on cruises, regardless of their vaccination status, after 5000 cases were reported onboard between December 15 and 29.

It has since lowered its warning to the second-highest level, saying the risk remains high and those who are not up-to-date with their vaccines or those who are at an increased risk of severe illness from Covid-19 should avoid travel.

University of Otago public health professor Nick Wilson said the inherent problem with cruise ships was they were a high-density environment, with thousands of people onboard for a long period of time.

Omicron was one of the most infectious diseases the world has seen, he said. Vaccines and testing are not perfect, and until they are, there was no way to completely eliminate the chance of Covid-19 getting onboard.

They can improve the ventilation, they can require masks, they can test everyone, they can require vaccine passes, he said.

But given the thousands of people, you just need that tiny risk to remain and you have an outbreak.

Wilson said as cruise passengers tended to be older, they would also be at higher risk of severe illness or death. According to the CLIA, the average age of cruise passengers from New Zealand in 2019 was 52.

iStock

Older passengers are at higher risk of severe illness or death from Covid-19.

There is no way Id go on a cruise ship, and if my dad wanted to go on a cruise ship, I would say it would be absolutely reckless. Youre really taking a very high risk.

Travel medicine practitioner Dr Jenny Visser, who is also based at the University of Otago, recommended anyone looking at doing a cruise visit their GP and have a discussion about what the risk is to them.

While it might be alright for a fit and healthy 25-year-old whos triple-vaccinated to go, its very different for a 75-year-old with hypertension and diabetes, she said.

The consequences of getting the disease are so much higher.

People should research what health services would be available on the ship some have very sophisticated hospitals, others might have a first-aid kit the skipper administers and what the medical evacuation plan was if they or other passengers got Covid-19. They should also check what their insurance would cover.

Visser said if youre at risk of getting seriously ill, you might want to think twice before booking no matter how far in advance.

By 2024, things may well be different, she said.

But we might have an even worse strain. Who knows? We never even thought about variants two years ago.

Read the original here:

Travel agents say now is the time to book a cruise. But is it safe? - Stuff

Choosing a cruise isn't as easy as picking a cruise line, since almost all lines operate ships of varying sizes.Photo: Holland America Line

Few things affect the cruise experience more than the size of the boat in which you float. In landlubber's terms, think of a 10-room hotel compared to a big resort. Or a hole-in-the-wall eatery compared to a jumbo-sized restaurant. Either may represent budget or luxury and each has its own attractions, but the entire experience will feel very different.

Ship size determines many things about your cruise, from the entertainment and dining options on board to the types of ports visited and the number of shore excursions offered.

Large ships have economies of scale and pack more in; small ships are often upmarket and, of necessity, emphasise destination over shipboard experience. Beyond that, however, you'll find a different ambience from ship to ship according to its proportions.

Choose a cruise that doesn't suit your sensibility or interests and you'll sail into troubled waters. This isn't as easy as picking a cruise line, since almost all lines operate ships of varying sizes.

Norwegian Bliss, for example, carries 4905 passengers but Norwegian Sun, belonging to the same line, only 1936, with the on-board experience differing accordingly. Lines such as Silversea and Viking operate expedition ships considerably smaller than the regular vessels in their fleets.

When it comes to eco-credentials, cruise ships have been improving their woeful environmental record through improved water and waste efficiency, use of solar panels, better exhaust-gas cleaning technologies, sustainable restaurant sourcing and the like. New ships are far more likely to have these eco-considerations built in; some have new energy-efficiency hull designs too. But size is important as well, since most small ships run on cleaner marine gas oil rather than heavy fuel oil.

Get the latest news and updates emailed straight to your inbox.

Some expedition companies such as Ponant now run some ships propelled by liquefied natural gas (LNG), which have zero emissions when in electric hybrid mode. Hurtigruten's Roald Amundsen, launched in 2019, was the first cruise ship equipped with batteries for hybrid power, setting a new standard for small sustainable vessels. Many of Hurtigruten's older vessels are being refitted to use battery packs, LNG or biogas.

Such new, smaller-sized expedition ships are generally the best eco-choice, but things are slowly changing for big ships. When launched in late 2018, AIDAnova (6654 passengers) became the first cruise ship to feature dual-fuel hybrid engines with the ability to run completely on LNG. Almost half of new cruise ships of varying sizes now use LNG.

An unavoidable question to fit the times is whether size matters in respect to COVID-19? Not exactly, since dozens of ships both big and small have had coronavirus outbreaks, though strict protocols mean all have been contained.

Royal Caribbean says that in the second half of 2021 it had 1745 positive COVID tests among 1.1 million cruise passengers, or 0.16 per cent of the total.

That said, a ship with 6000 passengers is more likely to see an outbreak than a ship of 200, and the COVID age has seen a notable spike of consumer interest in small-ship and expedition cruising. This is however an acceleration of a longer trend as travellers look for more boutique experiences, new destinations and more eco-sensitive cruise options.

Choice increases every year. Emerald Azzurra (100 passengers), Celebrity Beyond (3260), Seabourn Venture (264), Silver Dawn (596) and Viking Octantis (378) are among new launches of all shapes and sizes in 2022. Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas (6988 passengers) has just sailed on its maiden voyage and is the world's biggest cruise ship by gross tonnage, and longer than an aircraft carrier.

Cruising is plagued with often inaccurate stereotypes and, with the biggest ships usually grabbing the headlines for the right and sometimes wrong reasons, it can be easy to overlook this industry's huge variety of choice. Sailing on Safari Quest as one of only 22 passengers doesn't compare with sailing on Wonder of the Seas.

So make sure you choose the ship size best suited for you. To ensure smooth sailing, here's Traveller's guide to everything you need to know.

Guests enjoy a Zodiac excursion in the Kimberley on a small ship with APT. Photo: APT

Up to 100

APT, Coral Expeditions, Emerald Cruises, Heritage Expeditions, Intrepid Travel, Lindblad, Sea Cloud, UnCruise Adventures.

People more interested in travel and experiences than simply being on a ship. These modestly proportioned ships are for active, exploratory holidays, not ones focused on indolence and pampering. Ship style varies from rough-and-ready to the feel of a private yacht, but you'll rarely find top luxury.

Facilities are limited so the main plus is intimacy. Choose these ships for their destinations, which often can't be reached by larger vessels, and consider the ship a convenient floating hotel and restaurant.

Petite ships aren't for the seasick prone though they're niftily adept at hugging coastlines and slipping into calm bays. With little public space in which to hide and the same faces over every meal, socialising can get tiring. If you aren't a chatterbox, bring a fat book to hide behind.

Itineraries are a mixed bag but often explore small regions in depth, expedition destinations, and more off-beat ports. APT's seven-night Hobart-return "Tasmania's Wilderness Coast" cruise departs February 1, 2023, from $9133 a person; Coral Expedition's seven-night Cairns-return "Outerknown Adventures on the Great Barrier Reef" has departures in November 2022, from $4750 a person. (APT and Coral Expeditions, with their low passenger number vessels, are among the few operators with permission to cruise in Australian waters due to the federal government ban in place until at least April 17). See aptouring.com; coralexpeditions.com

As close as you get to feeling like a billionaire on a private yacht. Photo: Aurora Expeditions' Greg Mortimer

100-200

APT, Aurora Expeditions, Heritage Expeditions, Lindblad, Ponant, Seadream, Silversea Expeditions, Windstar.

Anyone who has done the predictable ports and is looking for a more unusual (and often expedition) experience, coupled with personalised service and a boutique-hotel atmosphere.

For the most part, high standards, gourmet dining, all-inclusive pricing and no waiting around for disembarkations. This is as close as you get to feeling like a billionaire on a private yacht.

On-board activities aren't much more exciting than a lecture, round of bridge or some light reading. The small pool of passengers can become awkward if you don't click (but is great if you do). Eating times are less flexible than on bigger ships, as are dining choices, and you'll likely have to share tables.

Ships this size operate luxury cruises to sunny islands or expedition cruises to remote destinations. This is the perfect size for Antarctica, where regulations prohibit more than 100 passengers landing at any one time. Silversea's 14-day "Puerto Williams to Valparaiso" cruise departs March 3, 2023, from $14,200 a person; APT's 11-day Broome-to-Darwin "Kimberley Coast" cruise has departures between June and September 2023, from $12,495 a person. See silversea.com; aptouring.com

The newly-launched Viking Octantis expeditions ship. Photo: Supplied

200-500

Hapag-Lloyd, Hurtigruten, Paul Gauguin, Ponant, Scenic, Silversea, Viking Expeditions, Windstar.

Well-heeled, active adventurers, with most ships in the luxury expedition category. Viking's newly launched expedition ships aim at a more mid-range budget (a relative term, as expeditions are always pricey).

As proof that good things do come in small packages, these ships satisfy with their destination focus, luxury levels and smooth service. Some even pack a wow factor with helicopters and submarines. They're large enough to have some dining choices and plenty of open deck space.

Not much room for decent-sized swimming pools or multiple dining and bar venues, and only modest evening shows; the theatre more often hosts lectures. Cliques can rapidly form among the small number of passengers. Not generally family friendly.

This is the niche size for quality expedition cruise ships, so expect interesting itineraries in remote, rugged and polar destinations, as well as to smaller ports and islands. Scenic's 14-day San Diego to Puerto Caldera "Baja and Costa Rica Discovery" departs September 28, 2022, at $15,605 a person. Viking's 13-day Ushuaia to Buenos Aires "Antarctic Explorer" has departures November-December 2022, from $19,995 a person. See scenic.com.au; vikingcruises.com.au

Hurtigruten's Roald Amundsen hybrid ship. Photo: Hurtigruten

500-1000

Azamara, Hurtigruten, Oceania, Regent Seven Seas, Seabourn, Silversea, Viking.

Couples and retirees, as ships at this size are generally upmarket and have little room for kids' facilities or abundant distractions. Many are luxury but some (such as Azamara and Viking) are mid-range. Passengers are well-travelled, open-minded and looking for educational and cultural experiences.

Providing you aren't looking for theme park-like water slides and Broadway-style shows, this ship size offers the sweet spot between the compact sacrifices of small ships and the impersonal fun of big ones, with high service levels, attractive decor and a sense of space.

Relatively limited cabin categories. No kids' clubs and seldom any organised activities for children, although quieter, sensible teenagers are sometimes spotted on board. Some lines, such as Viking, with adult-only policies, don't accept under-18s.

Ships of this size combine big-ticket destinations with lesser-known but interesting ports, seldom repeat itineraries, and offer both country-intensive and more wide-ranging journeys. Viking's 21-day Athens-to-Mumbai "Passage to India" cruise departs October 25, 2022, from $9695 a person; Silversea's 12-day "Auckland to Melbourne" cruise departs January 4, 2023, from $12,800 a person. See vikingcruises.com.au; silversea.com

The upscale Oceania Rivieracan accommodate 1250 passengers. Photo: VRX Studios

1000-plus

Cunard, Holland America, Norwegian, Oceania, P&O Australia.

Those looking for elbow room and on-board activities without the over-the-top choices and hubbub of the biggest ships. While mostly mid-range, these ships vary greatly in price and luxury levels. Oceania is the most elegant, arguably offers the best food at sea, and features the more sedate entertainments and amenities of luxury ships.

Plenty of choice, with ships usually providing spas, multiple restaurants and bars, big-production shows and various educational opportunities. If you're put off by mega-ships but worried that on-board cruise life may not appeal, this is the category for you.

Some (but by no means all) are refurbished older ships from the days when tight cabins and en-suites were the norm. None are as cutting-edge as mega-ships and you can start to feel like one of the crowd when it comes to personalised service.

These ships wander the world (except for P&O Australia, which sticks to the Asia-Pacific) but visit predictable ports and avoid small and remote destinations, although Oceania is more adventurous. Oceania's 14-day Sydney-to-Bali "Awe of Australia" cruise departs December 12, 2022, from $5410 a person; Cunard's seven-night Melbourne-return "Gardening Journey" cruise departs February 4, 2023, from $1799 a person. See oceaniacruises.com; cunard.com

Carnival's Mardi Gras features Bolt, the first rollercoaster at sea. Photo: Supplied

2500-plus

Carnival, Celebrity, Costa, Holland America, MSC, Norwegian, Princess, Royal Caribbean.

Multi-generational and family-oriented passengers, a younger demographic, and those looking for flop-and-drop holidays. Destination is often a secondary consideration. Budget-friendly, although only the basics are included. Celebrity and Holland America edge towards the luxury end and are often described as premium category.

A wide range of amenities, restaurants, entertainments, kids' clubs and lots of sailings to sunny destinations. Nobody will complain about being bored and family members of varying interests can each do their own thing.

Slow disembarking and tendering and sometimes crowded spaces, especially the pool decks. The older vessels of mega-ship companies are this size, so jump to the mega-ship category for the whizz-bang latest in cruise-ship wonders and technology.

The world is covered but expect an emphasis on cities, popular islands and mainstream tourist destinations in heavily cruised regions such as Alaska, the Caribbean, Mediterranean and South Pacific. Celebrity's 10-night Rome-to-Barcelona "Greek Islands and Malta" cruise departs September 5, 2022, $3585 a person. Norwegian's nine-day Southampton-to-Copenhagen "France, Germany and Norway" cruise departs April 29, 2023, from $2564 a person. See ncl.com; celebritycruises.com

Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas is officially the world's largest. Photo: Supplied

4000-plus

Carnival, Costa, MSC, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean.

The same cruisers as very large ships. But note that mega-ships often have adults-only zones such as spas, swimming pools and restaurants, and their size means tranquil corners can always be found.

Mega-ships are floating resorts, entertainment districts and sports facilities rolled into one. They offer everything in one place, multiple pools, dozens of dining options (great for the picky eater) and some kick-back days at sea to enjoy them all. With so many cabins to fill, you can sometimes bag last-minute bargains.

Frequent queues, and the need to make advance reservations (even before you board) for popular shows, dining venues and shore excursions, which hampers holiday spontaneity. While mega-ships offer abundant choices, add-on fees can blow your budget.

Mega-ships operate short- and medium-length itineraries from homeport cities such as Miami, Rome, Barcelona and Singapore, often with several days at sea. Royal Caribbean's seven-night Rome-return "Western Mediterranean" cruise has departures May to August 2022, from $1437 a person, Norwegian's seven-day Seattle-return "Alaska" cruise has departures May-June 2023, from $2209 a person. See http://www.royalcaribbean.com; ncl.com

Viking offers mid-range river cruises that are more destination focused. Photo: Viking Cruises

1. Lock size and bridge height, especially in Europe, mean river ships are similarly sized, but differ in passenger number and luxury levels. In the mid-range consider Avalon, Emerald, Travelmarvel and Viking, which has the biggest fleet and geographical spread. See avalonwaterways.com; emeraldcruises.com.au; travelmarvel.com; vikingrivercruises.com.au

2. Tauck and Uniworld offer the greatest on-board luxury, fine dining, attentive service and personalised excursions. In a sometimes-bland business, Uniworld ships feature flamboyant decor not to everyone's taste but splendidly confident and over-the-top. See tauck.com.au; uniworld.com

3. Does mateship matter? Most passengers are American except for the pan-European blend on CroisiEurope. If you're after Australian conversation, APT and Scenic have majority Aussie contingents. Prices are steep but all-inclusive. See aptouring.com; croisicruises.com

4. River cruise standards are high so you won't find mega-ship bargains at $100 a night. The most value-conscious mainstream company is CroisiEurope whose other plus is its niche cruises such as the Guadalquivir in Spain and Loire in France. See croisicruises.com

5. River ships aren't designed for rambunctious children and make few concessions to kids. Uniworld and Tauck offer multi-generational itineraries with family-oriented activities. Adventures by Disney is the most child-friendly. See adventuresbydisney.com

6. Europe is river-cruise central but you can cruise the Murray in Australia, rivers in Asia and many in the US. American Cruise Lines offers an interesting variety, including cruises themed on music, history, art and autumn foliage. See americancruiselines.com

7. Very small-ship companies include UnCruise on the Columbia River, Aqua Expeditions on the Amazon and Assam Bengal Navigation on the Brahmaputra. Variety Cruises runs an unusual journey along the Gambia River in West Africa. See varietycruises.com

8. Themed cruises are increasingly popular, covering everything from World War I history to classical music, beer to opera. Avalon is the leader with cruises themed on wine, food, Jewish history, photography, gardens and special events. See avalonwaterways.com

9. For a super-slow pace and more intimate experience, consider barging. Companies include European Waterways and French Country Waterways. UTracks combines active guided bike-and-barge tours in France and the Netherlands. See utracks.com

10. Solo supplements are a bane but cruise lines sometimes offer waivers or special deals, and AmaWaterways' ships feature solo cabins. Riviera Travel has the most frequent offers, plus some European cruises dedicated to solo travellers. See rivieratravel.com.au

Continue reading here:

What size cruise ship is best? Tips on choosing the right cruise ship for you - Traveller

CS:GO esports series BLAST Premier and Australianvideo games venue Fortress have joined forces to host Oceanias first-ever regional BLAST Premier qualifier in 2022.

Both entities will hold the Fortress OCE Masters LAN finals at the Alienware Arena in Melbourne. The event will see the regions top four teams compete for a spot in the 2022 BLAST Premier Fall Showdown.

RELATED: Fortress Melbourne partners with Alienware ahead of venue launch

Official dates for the Fortress OCE Masters A BLAST Regional Qualifier event, as well as tournament details regarding its structure prior to the LAN finals, have not been confirmed.

Regarding the partnership, Fortress COO Mads Brown stated: Were very excited to be partnering with BLAST, one of the worlds premier esports companies who are known for their groundbreaking events and best-in-class production.

2022 will be a massive year for esports in Australia as we present the Fortress OCE Masters, bringing a Blast Premier Qualifier to Oceania and giving gamers in the region the chance to qualify to play on the global BLAST stage. Were looking forward to flexing our state-of-the-art production capabilities with our live grand finals.

After launching in March 2020, Fortress quickly had to close its operations a few days later due to the COVID-19 pandemic measures. Following the early setback, Fortress started to build its community through weekly events, as well as online and in-venue tournaments.

Earlier this year, Fortress announced a new venue located in Sydney, similar to the one based in Melbourne. It is set to open its doors to the public next summer.

Alexander Lewin, BLAST Premiers VP of Distribution, also commented: We are delighted to be teaming up with Fortress. As Australias home of games, with an exciting portfolio of activities and ventures, Fortress is the perfect partner to bring BLAST Premier to our fans down under and to a wider Australian audience.

We are very much looking forward to seeing BLASTs Australian qualifiers being played out of their state-of-the-art venue.

RELATED: BLAST Premier bans Russian-based teams from events

Recently BLAST has been on somewhat of a renewal spree, signing new deals with companies such as Betway, Shikenso Analytics, GRID Esports, Coinbase and CS.MONEY.

Esports Insider says: With the help of BLAST, Fortress looks to finally showcase its potential. Having an OCE qualifier is undoubtedly positive for CS:GO fans and professional players. Moreover, the partnership can help the region become a bigger landmark in the esports world.

Subscribe to ESI on YouTube

More here:

BLAST Premier partners with Fortress for first-ever Oceania qualifier in 2022 - Esports Insider

The bust Head of a Woman at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on March 07, 2022. Spencer Platt/Getty Images

In November, New Yorks Metropolitan Museum of Art announced it received a gift of $125 million from longtime trustees Oscar L. Tang and Agnes HsuTang, the largest single donation in the institutions history. Now a few months later, Max Hollein, the director of the Met appointed in 2018, has begun to outline the immediate plans for the 150-year-old museum, which has already kicked off an extensive renovation process that includes a new contemporary and modern art wing and an updated wing for the arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas designed by architect Kulapat Yantrasast. The influx of new money and structural overhauls come as the Met has pledged to removethe now-infamous Sackler family name from seven exhibition spaces and return ill-gotten artifacts to their countries of origin, changes that indicate the institution is working to symbolically shed its skin.

Reassessing its history and its relationship with the materials that comprise the Mets vast collection is an ongoing project for the institution. Efforts have only kicked into high gear, though, since the upswing from the Mets recent low period: In 2017, the museum was grappling with a $40 million deficit, implementing waves of layoffs and postponing plans for a new wing. The Mets previous director, Thomas P. Campbell, stepped down in June of that year.

Over the last couple of years, the Met has repatriated several objects after evidence emerged that they were originally acquired by collectors via illicit means. In October the Met announced it would return a 10th century Nepalese sculpture to its country of origin after researchers determined it had likely been originally stolen from Kathmandus Durbar Square 50 years ago. In June, the Met sent two Benin Bronzes and a brass plaque back to Nigeria.

In addition, Hollein said he wants to rethink the way the museums arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas are displayed. Their current home, the Michael C. Rockefeller Wing, was originally built in 1982, and the new design will include an expansion of the space and the installation of a new glass wall to better illuminate the objects. Yantrasasts renderings of the new Rockefeller Wing also include off-white stone plinths, and the general intended effect feels much more like a pristine Chelsea gallery space than a grand hall in an entrenched museum.

I dont want to criticize other museums, but more often than not, the arts of Africa and Oceania are displayed in an environment that is dark, theatrical, dramatized, Hollein told the Wall Street Journal. Yantrasast, Hollein added, has designed a contemporary environment thats respectful of the materials.

Read more:

After Years of Stumbling, the Met Museum is Changing With the Times - Observer