For the first time in 15 months, we have clients travelling abroad again.
If this isn’t a reason to celebrate, I don’t know what is!
Here’s what you can expect if you’re travelling in the next few months:
- There will be hiccups. Travel requirements change daily, and they are different from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. I fully understand you want to know how it’s all going to unfold two or three months from now. But we don’t know… and neither does anyone else. A high tolerance for ambiguity is required if you are travelling in 2021. The people who will have the best time will be those who consider this part of the adventure.
- Service levels will vary. Cruise lines are having to retrain their crews. Restaurants and hotels are facing similar situations. Great customer service is a reasonable expectation of the higher end cruise lines and hotels. You’ll need to cut them a little slack as they get back in the game.
- Air travel will be challenging. We get more negative feedback about airlines and air travel than all other things combined. Expect to wait longer to check in and clear security. I’d bring a good book to read while I’m waiting to make it a little less frustrating.
- There will be confusion over protocols. Expect to repeatedly show proof of vaccination, a negative PCR test, and wear a face mask. If any of these requirements are NOT in place when you travel (they will all go away at some point), then consider that a bonus. You will be much happier if you set your expectations in advance as having to jump through all these hoops, and then be pleasantly surprised if one or more of them is waived at your time of travel.
- Check your documents well in advance. Many of us haven’t looked at our passports in over a year – check the expiry date, and make sure it is valid for six months past your RETURN date. Bring original proof of vaccination and also have a picture of it just in case.
- Bring proof of travel insurance. You don’t need a full copy of the legalese produced by the insurance company, but you may be required to show proof of travel insurance. Most people fully realize the importance of having such coverage, but if you’re asked to prove it, will you be able to quickly locate those documents?
- Itineraries will change. The cruise lines are incredibly risk adverse, so if there are any covid flare-ups, they will skip ports. This is much less of a risk with river cruises and ocean cruises that visit only one country.
- Shore attractions will be altered. In an effort to enable social distancing, venues may restrict the number of entrants on a certain day. River and ocean cruises were operating last summer in Europe (although without Americans), and we didn’t get reports of any huge disruptions to shore activities, but (again) there is a need to be flexible.
- Masks are the new normal. You will be wearing a mask on planes until further notice. Indoor public spaces in many countries will require masks. As visitor to other countries, we are obliged to comply with their rules, so those will significant opposition to wearing a mask should stay at home until such requirements are lifted in other countries.
- New home ports and destinations are popping up. For example, a substantial percentage of the world’s cruise ships home port in Australia, Canada, or New Zealand. All three of those countries are closed to tourists, which has caused the cruise lines to go looking for alternatives like Malta, the Bahamas, Bermuda, and Iceland. It’s not clear whether such itineraries are a temporary measure or will be more permanent.
- There are going to be cases of covid on ships. Don’t expect zero covid cases. We saw a handful of cases both last summer and again in the past few weeks as guests returned to cruising. The good news is that the containment and mitigation measures are working. There have not been substantial disruptions to these cruises.
The bottom line is that a healthy dose of patience and tolerance for ambiguity will be required to get the most out of your travels this year. Just about all of our clients are in this frame of mind, so I have nothing but optimism for their upcoming adventures.
On to today’s travel opportunities. I went looking for offers that expire on June 30th so I could give you the heads-up in case you are contemplating such a trip.
Greek Isles with Seabourn
Seabourn is the all-inclusive, all-suite small ship cruise line with impeccable attention to detail that is perfect for those craving great food and incredible service. The Seabourn Ovation is doing one-week trips round-trip from Athens, but if you wanted to do 2 weeks, the itineraries are alternating so you can back-to-back cruises without repeating any ports. Here’s an example:
- July 31, 2021 one-week round trip from Athens from $4999 per person for a 300 square foot veranda suite.
- Visits Crete, Limassol, Rhodes, Mykonos, and Nafpilon
- Includes all beverages and specialty dining, gratuities, internet, transfers, and a $150 per person on board credit
- Air add-on: $699 per person round trip economy to Athens.
- There are lots of other dates this summer with similar fares, as long as it’s booked by June 30th.
Croatia with Viking
Viking has two ships home-porting in Malta between now and October. Don’t know where Malta is? Don’t worry about it – the Viking Air department will fly you there directly from Newark (and arrange your connections if you don’t live near NYC). Here are the details:
- Multiple departures (4 -5 per month) between now and the end of September
- 11-days visiting Valletta, Montenegro, Dubrovnik, Split, Zadar, Sibenik, Mgarr
- Fares from $3599 for a veranda suite, and air from $1299 (round trip economy)
- Includes a shore excursion in each port, wifi, beer/wine with meals, transfers.
- Between now and the end of this month, they are throwing in the Silver Spirits Beverage Package (all beverages available at all times), and a $400 per person past passenger discount (if you’re new to Viking, they’ll knock $250 off your fare).
- Viking’s Risk-Free Guarantee is set to expire on June 30th, so for maximum flexibility you’ll want to book before the end of the month (any Viking cruise, not just Malta)
Mississippi River with American Queen Steamboat Company
AQSC resumed operations on the Mississippi back in June, and have a few cabins left in 2021. They are offering $1000 off per stateroom for sailings on the American Countess in July and December, as long as you book by June 30. Here is an example:
- July 24th, 2021: 8-night package travelling from New Orleans to Memphis.
- Fares from $1699 for an inside cabin, and $3499 for a veranda
- Includes 1-night pre-cruise hotel, all dining, all beverages, wifi, and shore excursions on their Hop-on, Hop-off bus in every port of call.
This is a great opportunity to get back into travel mode AND experience the rich culture and history of the Lower Mississippi River.
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I look forward to hearing from you.
Sue Bradley
Sue Bradley
