I've got an odd request.

[erikarn@mstdn.social]

@Teaceratops @janet AFAIK it's still running, eg https://www.journeybeyondrail.com.au/guest-information/timetables/the-indian-pacific-2025-2026-timetable/ . Just note it's not a cheap trip!

if in doubt there are bus services that travel between cities too.

They're gonna spend a week on the trip, but it's definitely doable.

[slowtiger@berlin.social]

@Teaceratops Any travel insurance company should be able to answer this (if they're worth the money).

[celesteh@hachyderm.io]

@DamonHD @Teaceratops

Cruise ships have doctors on board, but cargo ships do not, which is something to consider.

What a nightmare. I'm sorry for your frustrations.

[capnthommo@c.im]

@Teaceratops I don't know if this is of any use but it's still possible to get passage on cargo vessels. I used to have a link to one company and I'm sure there must be more. Might be a bit pricey though. Probably less of a viral Petri dish. Anyway, best of luck.

[benaveling@mastodon.world]

As others have noted, there is a quite nice (but not fast) train from Melbourne to Perth, and a perfectly tolerable train from Sydney to Melbourne.
But, that having been said, if they're in their 70s, and still in ICU, they probably won't be fit to travel until much before March anyway.
Insurance company is probably the best placed to make the decision.
@Teaceratops

[mikefromlfe@cupoftea.social]

@Teaceratops @hedders
The travel insurers will have extensive experience in arranging medical repatriation. They have contracts with companies which do nothing else.
Until the insurance company says 'no' then you should stop worrying and leave it to the experts.

[kittylyst@mastodon.social]

@Teaceratops Would a container ship be an option? Limited numbers of passenger births are available.

[bthylafh@nerdculture.de]

@Teaceratops This is a reach, but is there an altitude limit, below which they could safely fly? If so they could hire a small aircraft to get them to a city with a cruise ship departing sooner. From Perth to Singapore, for example.

[mjd@mathstodon.xyz]

@Teaceratops I know nothing firsthand, and I apologize if this is useless. But this web site claims to organize travel by cargo ship, and the very first page I saw had a big graphic that said “Travel from UK to Australia by Cargo Ship”.

I hope this is helpful.

https://cargoholidays.com/cargo-ship-travel-cheap-from-europe-to-any-destination

[joeyh@sunbeam.city]

@Teaceratops last year, @gianluca_grimalda made it from Papau new Guinea back to Italy by freighter etc

[chateaubrackidh@mas.to]

@Teaceratops

Some merchant vessels can take a few fee paying passengers. The vessels that do this are never oil tankers, but container ships often have space for a few passenger cabins. It’s pretty luxury travel, so not cheap. You’d need to check with a company like Maersk if they have a suitable ship going Australia to UK and dates.

[catmisgivings@stranger.social]

@Teaceratops lot of good suggestions downthread, but honestly I think the surface travel options that would get them out before March are quite grueling for anyone whose health is delicate. Best option might be to recover on the east coast until March (hopefully they've left the hospital within that timeframe) and join the cruise

[gcvsa@mstdn.plus]

@Teaceratops Take a boat. Might have to learn sailing, first. Heh-heh. There are freighter companies who accept passengers. It's rather a nice way to travel, although obviously berths are limited.

[rhelune@todon.eu]

@va2lam @Teaceratops @krans @stonebear2 @DamonHD Yeah, when I was looking into one company (Hamburg to South Africa) the passengers had to be under a certain age limit and have a physician's certificate that they are healthy enough to travel for a month without medical care. Also, cargo ships do not take care of passengers' dietary needs (but do stock the onboard shop with their preferred brands of cigarettes) 🙄

[mjustm@awawa.gay]

@Teaceratops@peoplemaking.games maybe the british embassy to australia can help? this seems to me to be in their purview

[dgold@goblin.technology]

@Teaceratops Hi,

I'm not really in a position to be of much help, but...

Have you looked into Cargo Cruising? Its where your parents could travel as passengers on Cargo Ships. The Medical situation would possibly complicate matters -- as much as, if not more than, a cruise ship -- but its a feasible method of long distance slow travel.

From memory of a trip a friend took to Hong Kong, the route would be $AUSTRALIA (If they could get to Brisbane, that would make the sea travel shorter) to Singapore, then Singapore-Suez, finally Suez-Southampton or similar commercial port.

It all takes about 4 weeks from Singapore, so its a long term commitment, and the amenities, while perfectly functional, are basic.

[virginicus@universeodon.com]

@Teaceratops A problem worthy of Jules Verne.

[adriano@lile.cl]

@bnut @Teaceratops “can’t fly ever again” is not the type of statement that admits “but it’s ok in short flights actually” as an addendum.

I’m betting blood clot, because it happened to a relative of mine, but honestly it’s not the point.

[tbortels@infosec.exchange]

@Teaceratops

I'd look at intermediate destinations and try to convert a lot of that travel to land. If they can get to India or china, train travel to get a lot closer to home becomes viable.

In the past I'd have suggested California, then cross-country to New York and the QM2 to the UK, but I would avoid the US for now for reasons.

Honestly, it sounds like their best bet is don't miss the March cruise. Best of luck.

[bonkers@nerdculture.de]

@Teaceratops check out cargo ships. I read somewhere, you can travel with the crew quite comfortably, just without much entertainment.