Perfect Vacations by Colleen

Wordle 1,613 6/6

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Cruise lines are just beginning to deal with the thousands of vouchers issued over the past two years. The financial outfall is yet to be seen but common sense tells me that the financial losses of not operating and the vouchers outstanding will probably cause a rise in fares. Even if you want to cruise a year or two out I recommend that you deposit a cruise and lock in lower prices

Woulda coulda shoulda or is it coulda woulda shoulda

I have received some inquiries over the last few weeks about last minute deals - and they are out there, BUT.... I was checking for a client and found him on a 5 day cruise with an outside cabin, for TWO for $509, which was the out the door price including all taxes and fees. Two people, at $100 per day! They were excited until I notified them that while masks weren't required, VACCINES WERE REQUIRED. There was no way they could get vaccinated in time.

It's not just cruises but I've had great reports from clients who went to St. Lucia this year - beautiful, all inclusive resorts (and that means all food and all beverages) that only required vaccinations and COVID tests. Right now it's just proof of vaccination.

So...decide what you want to do in terms of travel and get vaccinated.

https://book.myagentgenie.com/swift/cruise/package/1201400--7-Night-Galapagos-Inner-Loop-Itinerary?siid=201400&lang=1

7-Night-Galapagos-Inner-Loop-Itinerary My Agency Site

I'm still here and still in business. (12 years in January 2021) I miss cruising. I keep watching the news and announcements by cruiselines and I wait for the day when I can take to the open seas.

We are in the midst of the "canary in the coal mine" scenario. A few cruise ships are out there and the travel industry and its clients are holding their breath to see what happens. Some of the major cruiselines are planning to cruise in January 2021. I'm hoping to take a solo cruise for Mother's Day in May...we'll see.

I am taking bookings for late 2021, and I already have blocked off a bunch of cabins for the Alaskan tourist season in 2022. My advice to anyone that wants to do advanced bookings is to buy the best insurance offered. While lots of cancellation policies have been relaxed over the last year, its worth the $$ for the backup protection.

If you have a question or comment, feel free to leave it here or PM me for quotes, advice, etc.

They Lived Happily Ever After
A Travel anecdote to pass the time. (and hopefully keep us from whining so much)

I miss traveling. I've been busy seeing how others are dealing with the lack of conventional travel during this confusing and scary time. I recommend that you hike the Appalachian Trail vicariously by going to Youtube and watching "Boomer on the Appalachian Trail 2020" to get a real feel for hiking by a 67 year old lawyer who retired recently in Nashville. I retired, and I decided to sleep in and drink coffee in the comfort of jammies every morning. Not Randall Bennett. You'll enjoy the down to earth episodes and generally I watched them over a period of time. A great sense of humor, and authentic observations made this a wonderful way to see what it takes on the Appalachian Trail. A gutsy successful effort, and even if you don't hike, and never plan to hike, I recommend watching these.(Note to friends: I don't hike. If you ever read that I died in a hiking accident.....notify authorities) He did 160+ days and 1,700 miles.

February 7, 2020 First Day on the Appalachian Trail

Got a Carnival Cruise booked? As of this morning, here are the cancellations. (note: the September 30, 2020 date applies to almost everyone)

San Francisco sailings through 2020

Carnival Sunrise sailings through and including October 19, 2020

Carnival Spirit and Carnival Splendor sailings through and including October 29, 2020

Carnival Legend sailings through and including October 30, 2020

Carnival Radiance sailings through and including November 1, 2020

Mardi Gras sailings November 14, 2020 through and including January 30, 2021

Carnival Breeze from Ft. Lauderdale sailings November 7, 2020 through and including March 7, 2021

Carnival Magic from Miami and Barcelona sailings March 13, 2021 through and including May 3, 2021

All Other Ships sailings through and including September 30, 2020

With a nod of thanks to lifetime friend and world traveler Pat Hinds:

Cruises
If those numbers led you to think that perhaps there may be a large group of people with a vastly different appetite for risk than you, this will assure it: people are really, really excited to get back on cruise ships. UBS found half of cruise travelers plan to book again in the next 18 months, and 85 percent will cruise again at some point. It’s not just the faithful returning to the ships: according to Royal Caribbean, 60 percent of the 2021 bookings made in the first three weeks of June were not people just cashing in credits from cancelled 2020 trips, but rather brand-new customers excited to book a cruise next year. The industry — which grew 30 percent in the previous five years — does not appear to be going anywhere.

Rob Walker, Marker