Wild Earth Travel
The French-owned Le Lapérouse cruise ship is sitting off the coast of Noumea and it is unclear where it will head next after Immigration NZ officials refused to grant hospitality crew critical workers’ visas. (File photo)
The cruise line turned away after crew were denied visas has cancelled its upcoming season of expedition voyages around New Zealand. Ponant said it had been forced to scrap the seven fully booked cruises after Immigration New Zealand refused to issue visas for 61 of 90 Le Lapérouse crew members because they were not considered critical workers. The Government says the ship left Jakarta before its paperwork was finalised but the boat s owner believes it and the crew were given the all-clear to come.