It's a Great Big Beautiful World! Let's Discover it Together

Showing posts with label Industry News & Updates. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Industry News & Updates. Show all posts

Friday, May 28, 2021

BIG NEWS! The CDC has Revised Mask Requirements for Cruises for Vaccinated Passengers

In its latest COVID-19 operations manual update, the CDC gave cruise operators much more leeway regarding fully vaccinated travelers and near normalcy for ships with at least 95% of crew and passengers fully vaccinated.

The measures go a long way toward restoring the traditional cruise experience — and even allow self-serve buffets in specific circumstances. Click the image below to read more in the story from FoxNews.com





Wednesday, May 26, 2021

ALASKA AT LAST! 2021 Cruises Are NOW POSSIBLE!



Thanks to the work by the US Congress to modify the long-held Passenger Services Vessel Act, there WILL BE an Alaska Cruise Season THIS YEAR! Shortened yes, but cruise ships will be sailing the Inside Passage once again!

There are now five cruise lines sailing Alaska this season. Contact us and book quickly if you want to see Alaska this year.

Here's a list of all your options.
Royal Caribbean & Celebrity
  • Royal Caribbean's Serenade of the Seas will sail 7-day cruises roundtrip from Seattle visiting Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan, Icy Strait Point, Endicott Arm fjord and Dawes Glacier starting July 19th.
  • Royal Caribbean's Ovation of the Seas will sail 7-day cruises roundtrip from Seattle visiting Glacier Bay National Park, Juneau and Skagway starting August 13.
  • Celebrity Cruises' Celebrity Summit will sail 7-day cruises roundtrip from Seattle visiting Ketchikan, Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier, Juneau and Skagway starting July 23.
Guests age 16 and older must have received their final dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days prior to embarkation and have proof of vaccination. Guests under the age of 16 are only required to provide proof of a negative PCR test in order to sail. However, as of August 1, 2021, all guests ages 12 and older must be fully vaccinated, and guests under 12 are only required to provide proof of a negative PCR test in order to sail. All crew will be vaccinated.
Norwegian, Holland America & Princess
  • Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Bliss will sail 7-day cruises roundtrip from Seattle visiting Skagway, Juneau, Ketchikan, Icy Strait Point, and Glacier Bay National Park or Holkham Bay Glacier Fjord starting August 7, 2021.
  • Holland America Line's Nieuw Amsterdam will sail 7-day Alaska itineraries roundtrip from Seattle visiting Stephens Passage, Juneau, Glacier Bay National Park, Icy Strait Point, Sitka and Ketchikan, starting Saturday, July 24.
  • Princess Cruises' Majestic Princess will sail 7-day Alaska itineraries roundtrip from Seattle visiting Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay National Park, and Ketchikan, starting Sunday, July 25. On sale now!
Sailings on Norwegian, Holland America, and Princess are available exclusively for guests who have received their final dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days prior to embarkation and have proof of vaccination. All crew will be vaccinated.

Friday, May 21, 2021

MORE NEWS FROM EUROPE! Italy Reopens

 

The good news just keeps coming as more and more of the world is re-opening! Starting right now, Italy will be welcoming vaccinated travelers back. From the historic architecture of Rome to the vineyards of Tuscany, Italy is waiting for you.

#travelagain #takethetrip #makememories #useatravelagent  

MORE Big News About Europe!

More European River Cruises are Returning to Service in 2021 

AmaWaterways today announced its plans to return to the rivers of Europe resuming sailings onboard select ships beginning July 3, 2021, in Portugal.

Specific sailing dates are as follows:

o July 3rd, AmaDouro will commence sailings through Portugal
o July 21st, AmaMagna will commence sailings on the Danube River
o July 22nd, AmaKristina will commence sailings in France on the Rhône River
o July 22nd, AmaLyra will commence sailings in France on the Seine River
o July 27th, AmaVida will commence sailings in Portugal and Spain
o July 29th, AmaDolce will commence sailings through Bordeaux, France
o July 29th, AmaSiena will commence sailings on the Rhine River



BIG NEWS!! Alaska Cruises Will Resume in 2021 with an Abbreviated Season

The good news about travel resuming continues! 

Yesterday the US House of Representatives approved a bill that the US Senate had already approved regarding a revision to the long-standing PSVA which will effectively allow for an abbreviated Alaska cruise season to happen in 2021!  This is huge news for the people of Alaska who are very dependent on travel and tourism and were affected greatly in 2020 with the complete shutdown of the industry.  The PSVA controls the movement of foreign-flagged ships within US ports and a big hurdle for the Alaska cruise market is the fact that ships must dock in Canadian ports per the PSVA, but very early this year the Canadian government banned any ships from their ports until at least February 2022. This bill from the US Congress will effectively modify the PSVA making the stop in Canada, not a requirement, so there can be roundtrip sailings from Seattle up into Alaska!  Following the passage in the House, three of the Carnival Corporation brands - Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, and Carnival Cruise Line - announced that they will be resuming sailing this summer, beginning in early July for 10 departures each.  Each line will have one ship sailing these itineraries, and all guests must be fully vaccinated.  

This is great news for the industry!!




Wednesday, May 19, 2021

BIG NEWS! Europe to Reopen This Summer!

More great news comes today from the European Union as 27 member nations have endorsed the plan to allow foreign nationals who have been vaccinated in once again!  This is wonderful to see and will allow Americans to once again travel to Europe. 

#travelagain 



Las Vegas Plans Return to Pre-Pandemic Guidelines Effective June 1st

Las Vegas lifts social distancing requirements June 1, 2021


From our friends at the Las Vegas Convention & Vistors Authority... 

The Clark County COVID-19 mitigation plan will expire June 1, allowing for the return of pre-pandemic guidelines that lift restrictions involving capacity limits, large gatherings, and more.
 
The new CDC guidance on masks recommends that those who are not vaccinated continue wearing masks and following social distancing and other precautions until fully vaccinated. The guidance allows fully vaccinated people to stop wearing face coverings in crowds and in many indoor locations
 
Additionally, masks still must be worn in hospitals and healthcare facilities and on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States, and in transportation hubs such as airports and stations. More guidance about masks is on the CDC’s website at https://www.cdc.gov/

  

Sunday, May 16, 2021

Cruise Lines With Vaccination Requirements

 

For all those who are waiting anxiously to be able to resume cruising, here's the most current info on the assorted cruise lines and any vaccination requirements they have put into place. The list included is fairly extensive, though not all cruise lines have made their plans & requirements known yet. My team and I continually monitor the available information so that our guests have what they need to be prepared for their vacations.



Thursday, May 13, 2021

YOU CAN TAKE OFF YOUR MASK!

BIG NEWS!!!

FINALLY! The CDC has just announced that IF YOU ARE VACCINATED you can TAKE OFF YOUR MASK, both INSIDE and OUTSIDE. No more social distancing, for any size crowd! Oh, Happy Day! They have finally caught up with the science!


Thursday, April 29, 2021

BIG NEWS for Land Lovers & Cruise Lovers Alike!

EUROPE IS SET TO REOPEN!  
CRUISING FROM US PORTS LOOKS LIKELY THIS SUMMER! 

This week has brought some wonderful news for the travel industry and economies the world over, to be sure.  In this pair of exciting articles, we find that Europe is set to reopen to vaccinated Americans this summer, AND the CDC has now said that cruising could most likely resume from US ports this July.  Both of these are wonderful and long overdue announcements!  Stay tuned for more as the news gets shared. I'm so excited to see travel ramping up as more and more countries begin to reopen or announce their pending reopenings. And it's been exciting to watch the cruise lines find ways to resume cruising worldwide, but even better to see that the US is finally coming around to allowing it from our ports as well. 



Saturday, April 10, 2021

STILL MORE Opportunities to Cruise in Summer 2021!! NEWLY ADDED ITINERARIES!

MORE CRUISE NEWS - BACK TO SAILING


Today I'm adding to the list of information previously shared about assorted Cruise Lines that have announced that they will be sailing soon from assorted international ports (note that all are from international ports as the US still will not allow cruise departures from US ports). 
 
PREVIOUSLY SHARED
On March 19, I shared that Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, and Crystal Cruises would begin sailing from The Bahamas and St. Maarten.  
 
Then on March 25, I shared that Royal Caribbean was adding departures from Bermuda and Cyprus
 
TODAY I'm pleased to add to the list!!
 
NEW ADDITIONS!
Norwegian Cruise Line just announced that it will begin seven-night sailings from Athens, Greece to the Greek Islands on July 25 and from Montego Bay, Jamacia, AND Punta Cana, the Dominican Republic to Caribbean destinations on August 7 and 15, respectively.
 
• Norwegian Jade will operate 7-day cruises to the Greek Isles from Athens (Piraeus), Greece from Jul 25, 2021, through Nov 7, 2021.
• Norwegian Joy will operate 7-day cruises to the Western Caribbean from Montego Bay, Jamaica from Aug 7, 2021, through Oct 9, 2021.
• Norwegian Gem will operate 7-day cruises to the Eastern Caribbean from Punta Cana (La Romana), the Dominican Republic from Aug 15, 2021, through Oct 10, 2021.
 
6be4a4f9-8b0a-4d3e-8de6-258890804d98
 
 
Viking Cruises just announced their ocean sailings in JUNE and JULY 2021. Two distinct sailing itineraries include Iceland and also Bermuda. These will sell out fast!  Check these out below. 
 
 
 
 
 

The demand to cruise is high, and the available supply is still quite low with only a few ships from each line committed, so contact me quickly for any of these sailing opportunities!

Friday, April 2, 2021

EXCITING NEWS ABOUT TRAVEL!

 New today! Vaccinated people can once again travel without testing or quarantining unless a destination requires it. I'm beyond excited and ready to help you plan!

 
Check out this information released today from the CDC.  

Wednesday, March 31, 2021

Selected for 2021 GTM West!

 

Thrilling News!  I've Been Selected Once Again!

 
Travel will be back and in preparation for that, I've been accepted to participate in GTM West, the industry's premier networking event, happening September 17-19 in Tucson, AZ.  Global Travel Marketplace West is a boutique-style event that provides a unique and interactive platform for the best sellers in the business to connect with global suppliers. This is achieved through one-on-one appointments, countless networking opportunities, and small-scale boardroom presentations.




I’m more excited than ever to meet with suppliers to get travel started again. I’m ready to revitalize my business as well as make valuable connections and provide even better service to my wonderful clients.
 
Travel industry peers: looking to learn more? Feel free to reach out or visit gtmflagship.com!
 
#selected #traveliscomingback #traveladvisors #familytravel #destinations #GTMWest

Thursday, March 25, 2021

MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO CRUISE THIS SUMMER!

For all Cruisers Anxious to Get Back to Sailing...there are now MORE Opportunities for 2021!

 
Royal Caribbean has announced more opportunities to cruise this summer. While the US government may not yet allow cruising from US ports, other countries are open or about to re-open and are allowing them to sail.
 
 
 
 
ADVENTURE OF THE SEAS from The Bahamas
>> Offering weeklong getaways, vacationers can enjoy a day in Cozumel, Mexico, as well as an island-hopping sampler of popular Bahamian ports — including Grand Bahama Island and two consecutive days at our very own private destination, Perfect Day at CocoCay.
 
 
VISION OF THE SEAS from Bermuda:
>> Vision of the Seas® will set sail from Bermuda! Beginning June 26, 2021, you can enjoy a much-needed 7-night getaway soaking up the sun on Bermuda's pink-sand beaches and keep the vacation going after dark, as well as an adventure-packed day at our private destination, Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas.
 
and now...
 
JEWEL OF THE SEAS has been announced from CYPRUS featuring GREECE as well.
>> All-new 7-night cruises departing from Limassol, Cyprus onboard Jewel of the Seas®! Beginning July 10, 2021, Jewel will call Cyprus home for the first time and sail to the picturesque shores of Cyprus and Greece through October 23, 2021. You can explore a combination of culture-rich cities and idyllic islands, including Limassol; Athens, Greece, and the Greek islands of Rhodes, Crete, Mykonos, and Santorini.
Interested in any of these opportunities, reach out! Each ship has limited capacity, adults over 18 must be vaccinated, and negative test results before boarding for all guests.

Friday, March 19, 2021

CRUISES RETURN IN 2021!

FOR ANY CRUISERS COMFORTABLE AND READY TO SET SAIL AGAIN... LOOK WHAT SUMMER PROMISES. Both Royal Caribbean & Celebrity announced today that they will be setting sail beginning in JUNE from Nassau, Bahamas (Royal), and from St Maarten (Celebrity). And earlier in the week Crystal Cruises announced that they will be sailing starting in JULY from Nassau or Bimini, Bahamas as well!
 
Vaccinations are required for adults over 18 y.o. Reduced capacity on the ships. Call me for information.
 
 
With successful cruise sailings happening in other parts of the world since last fall, but the CDC still says no to cruises from US ports, it's nice to see how they thought outside the box! It's true that it might not be right for everyone, but with some resumption in service, it'll sure be nice for those crewmembers to be getting a paycheck again, and for the islands to start seeing their economies rebound as well.
If you are interested, reach out right away, as demand will be high.
 

 

Tuesday, March 16, 2021

Continuing Education Update - Active Vacations

More continuing ed taking place in my house recently.  For all your ACTIVE adventure vacations, I'm your guy as a newly minted Backroads Certified Specialist!  From biking/cycling trips to multi-adventures that also feature hiking, rafting, kayaking, and more.

 

 

I've added a page on my website about it as well where you might learn more.  Please feel free to share this info with anyone in your sphere who loves ACTIVE vacations and experiences! I would love to help them find some incredible options around the US and when international borders re-open, around the globe!

  

 

 

Friday, March 5, 2021

Travel is Coming Back!

I shared this as a FacebookLive today, but also want to add it here.  Travel is coming back, and our agency is booking once again!  Woo hoo!  

For some reason that I'm not sure about the video cut off, so I started again which is why there are two parts to it. Check out the two-part video to learn more, and about a special ask for a specialized travel experience...the Holy Land!  At this point, Israel is the fastest nation on earth to be vaccinated its citizens with about 30% of their entire population having been inoculated, and plans to have the entire nation taken care of by the end of May.  

 

Travel is Coming Back... Part 1



Travel is Coming Back... Part 2




Friday, February 26, 2021

Continuing Education Update - Virgin Voyages

 More continuing ed taking place in my house recently.  Never stop learning. Today I am the newest Certified Travel Professional with Virgin Voyages as a Certified First Mate!  I am absolutely ready to help you discover all that the world's first adults-only (18+) cruise line has to offer. 

#virginvoyages #seacademy

 

Thursday, July 30, 2020

So Much Has Changed in A Year

This memory popped up in my Facebook feed today, and wow, how much has changed in a year! Last year today I was interviewed for a TV segment on travel and business was booming. This year...not so much. Hopefully, travel can return sooner than later. There are so many places I've yet to explore, so many experiences yet to be enjoyed, so many mountains to climb, and so many time zones to go to sleep in.

But until then...it's Food Pantry Day. I'm excited to be able to go over and finish the prep work this morning so that our guests can receive some fabulous food blessings this afternoon. 



Wednesday, May 6, 2020

National Travel Advisor Day



 "Together with its industry partners, the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) is celebrating the occasion on May 6, 2020, and extending its recognition and a heartfelt “thank you” to travel advisors nationwide for all the hard work that they put into taking care of the traveling public."

This pandemic has made my job a lot harder over the past couple of months, doing double even triple the work with all the cancellations and rebooking, but I still love what I do, and still want my clients to have the best trips possible. Even though no one is traveling now, and things will look a little different when travel resumes, it's still a great time to be thinking about and planning for the future. It's a great time to get your 2021 travels booked with your favorite travel advisor. I'm here ready to help you plan something fabulous! To all my colleagues on the front lines of this mess, I salute you and the hats work you do for your traveling guests day in and day out.

Remember that websites don't care about you or your trips, but travel advisors do!