I’ve quipped before in the space that I own neither a crystal ball nor a time-machine, so I would hesitate to make any predictions about what is coming next for us. However, in the process of putting away my Christmas decorations a few weeks ago, I found an old Ouija board, so Bob and I poured a glass of wine and demanded some answers.
Answers we were given, but Ouija has a poor bedside manner, and can be terse in delivery.
Here are the answers provided by the Ouija board:
Will covid ever end?
Yes. Nobody knows when – ignore those who claim to know.
I’m travelling to Europe in March; will my trip still happen?
Probably – In South Africa, Omicron went from detection to peak to receding in just 4 weeks – an astonishingly fast time line. Israel was one of the first countries to shut down due to Omicron, and it’s now back open to fully vaccinated tourists.
The TV news headlines are pretty grim. Are they going to get worse?
Yes… but keep in mind that TV news is paid for by advertisers and designed to attract viewers to get ratings. It’s been proven again and again that the best way to attract viewers is to stoke fear or anger. So, you should expect the headlines to get worse before they get better.
So how do I eliminate this bias towards bad news?
You can’t… but you can be aware of it. You can also look at the health agency websites of places you intend to visit to get an idea of what’s actually happening in those countries and make up your own mind.
I saw one of the cruise ships in the news that had 50 cases of covid on board.
Yes – that represented .8 % (that is POINT EIGHT percent) of the population on board. If you compare that to the percentage of people in any local community, Ouija says that means the covid containment protocols on board ships are working. Reporting 50 cases of covid as an “outbreak” is without context, and not honest journalism.
I’m travelling in June; will my trip still happen?
Ask me in May.
Am I going to have to show proof of vaccination and wear a mask forever?
Probably not… but you won’t be travelling far in 2022 without those restrictions.
I’m flying to Europe in June; will I be able to get an aisle seat?
If you’re flying on a US based carrier, you should feel lucky if you get there at all. If you’re flying on a European based carrier and you pay the additional fee to be able to pick your seat ahead of time, and then yes – you’ll get an aisle seat.
I’m travelling in September; will my trip still happen?
Consider how long nine months is as it relates to the pandemic. Actually, let me revise that answer: Ask me in August.
My niece is unvaccinated but wants to go Europe. When should she plan to go?
She should not make any plans for Europe (also Australia, New Zealand, Japan, most of South America, or Canada) – it will be years.
X country is closed.
Look at it a month before you go. Remember when Italy was the covid centre of universe? To date their total case count per capita is a little more than half what it is in the United States, and their death rate is lower too. Given their population is much older, and they live in closer proximity to each other, you would think their outcomes would be way worse than ours. You have to look at the individual country, and then use your own critical thinking skills.
Will I get a refund?
Maybe. It depends if you cancel, or the cruise line does. It also depends on the conditions under which you booked, and/or if you used vouchers to pay for the trip. This is the time you need to read the 80-page contract that nobody ever reads.
Just give me the bottom line… tell me when life will return to normal.
NO.
Ouija has spoken… or it might have been the wine.
Here’s today’s travel opportunities
Viking Explorers’ Sale
Viking has revived its Explorers’ Sale on both River and Ocean Sailings. This means you will pay a deposit of only $500 per stateroom, and those clients who are new to Viking will receive additional onboard credits. The Explorers’ Sale applies to 2022, 2023 and 2024 departures. Here are some examples of the most popular Viking itineraries:
- Rhine River between Amsterdam and Basel Switzerland. 7-nights from $1999 per person.
- Danube River between Passau (Germany) and Budapest. 7-nights from $1999 per person.
- British Isles Explorer between London and Bergen (Norway). 14-nights from $6499 per person
- Iconic Western Mediterranean between Barcelona and Rome. 7-nights from $2599 per person
As an exclusive benefit of working with our agency, we can also add an additional $100 per person on board credit to any of the above itineraries.
Rocky Mountaineer Free Golf Leaf Upgrade
If you were thinking about this spectacular train trip through the Canadian Rockies, then this is a great opportunity – we haven’t seen them make this offer before. You pay for Silver Leaf service and get a free upgrade to Gold Leaf. We always recommend Gold Leaf service to you clients, and this way you don’t have to pay the (significant) extra cost. Gold Leaf rail cars have a separate dining area (so you won’t eat at your seats like you do on an airplane) and your glass domed rail car means you’re fully immersed in the extraordinary scenery. There is also an outdoor viewing platform, so your photos don’t have to been taken through a window.
This offer must be booked before the end of January and applies to 2022 departures. You’ll travel between Vancouver on the coast, and either Banff or Jasper on the other side of the Rocky Mountains. The Rocky Mountaineer website can make it difficult to figure out which trip to take, so be sure to give us a call so we can help. A couple of examples:
- 3-nights: Vancouver – Kamloops – Banff: $1646 per person.
- [MOST POPULAR] 6-night Circle route (round-trip Vancouver): Vancouver – Kamloops – Banff – Jasper, and then back to Vancouver: $3798 per person.
All packages include all food and beverages while on the train, National Parks Passes, luggage handling, and hotel nights as indicated.
This luxury train journey is quickly becoming one of the world’s must-do rail experiences. You are on the train in the daytime only, so you don’t miss any scenery or wildlife when it’s dark. You also have the comfort of sleeping in a hotel room.
Have something to say about this?
Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamperedCruiser/posts/3192620137687145
If you’re planning a trip, I’d love to help! Click here or call 800-876-0168 to get in touch today.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Sue Bradley
Sue Bradley
