The State Department still has a Level 4: Do Not Travel
Warning.
All Inclusive Resort Vacations
Mexico has extended their border closure to tourists until
May 31, 2020. Jamaica has a self-quarantine requirement. One main issue is the flights. US airlines virtually shut
down these routes when the Level 4 Travel Warning was issued. This caused the
resorts to close. I expect we’ll need to
see some lifting of that warning before flights resume and the resorts reopen.
Cruises - Basically,
all cruise lines suspended their sailings through at least mid-June and Alaska sailing
through June 30th.
- Azamara, Celebrity and Royal Caribbean suspended cruises through June 11th. Alaska sailings are suspended through July 1st.
- Carnival suspended cruises through June 26th and Alaska sailings are suspended through July 1st.
- Cunard has suspended cruises through July 31st for Queen Mary 2 and Queen Victoria and through September 8th for Queen Elizabeth.
- Disney Cruise Line suspended Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy sailings through June 18th, Disney Magic sailings through July 2nd, and all Alaska/Vancouver sailings through June 30th.
- Holland America suspended all sailings through June 30th and cancelled all one way Alaska sailings and cruise tours for the season.
- Norwegian suspended sailings through June 30th.
- Princess suspended sailings through June 30th and cancelled all one way Alaska sailings and cruise tours for the season.
- Regent Seven Seas suspended sailings through June 30th.
- Seabourn suspended sailings through June 30th.
- Uncruise suspended all sailings through the 3rd week of May.
- Viking suspended all river and ocean cruises through June 30th.
It is important to mention that 2021 cruises are filling up
and prices are rising quickly. As cruises get cancelled, people are
rescheduling for next year. If you are considering cruising in 2021, I highly
recommend placing a refundable deposit on a cabin now. I’d be happy to help you
do that. Email me to get started.
When do I think the cruises will sail again? It’s hard to
imagine that all cruise lines and all ships will be ready to sail in mid-June.
Carnival and Princess this week began a massive operation to sail the majority
of the crew remaining on board home. They somehow have to get them all back to
be ready to sail in June.
If the travel ban is lessened AND the ports agree to accept
cruise passengers, I think we may see some very limited sailings from Florida or
Texas this summer because Florida and Texas are lifting their stay at home
orders. I am personally booked on
cruises in July, October, November and December. Time will tell.
Disney World
Oh - the clickbait
articles on Disney World have been plentiful! Right now, Disney World is closed
indefinitely. Reservations are being
cancelled three weeks in advance. This week, they cancelled reservations
arriving May 17th – 23rd.
Florida has loosened the stay at home restrictions so re-opening is
possible. I think the big questions are: What will the experience be? Will people still want to pay the same price
to visit without shows, parades, fireworks, and potentially character meet and
greets?
Europe Travel
The European Union has floated ideas that some limited tourism
may be allowed in the fall. However, they have also said that US residents may
not be allowed to enter the European Union since the US is now has the most COVID
infections.
We have been posting “virtual vacations” to help scratch
that travel itch: