Are you ready to cruise ASAP?

Categories

Having shared many links in many emails offering to help you explore America the Beautiful this spring, I confess that response has been zero.

I've concluded that you are waiting for the opportunity to cruise, and if you are traveling to some of our great national parks or Florida beaches, you've found your way on your own.

Are you ready to cruise as soon as possible?

You're not alone.  Last week, release of a new slate of future tropical cruises from Oceania resulted in record one-day sales for that upscale line.  World cruises have sold out in a matter of hours, so many knowledgeable, well-traveled people harbor no fear of getting on cruise ships for extended voyages.

Crystal Cruises sent me an enticing email this morning:

"We are so excited to announce that Crystal Cruises, in partnership with the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, will be the first ocean ship to sail from the Americas since the cruise industry’s voluntary halt in operations last year. Crystal Serenity begins sailing from Nassau on July 3, 2021 with a series of 7 day departures through October 2021...prices start at $1,999 per person for Best Available Stateroom."  Keep in mind that Crystal is a 6-Star, luxury cruise line, so that's a terrific price!

But wait.  I have cruisers scheduled in June to the Caribbean and Alaska on mainstream lines, and the cruise lines have not cancelled them.  I'm not certain that Crystal knows something that other lines aren't sharing, but I think last night's words of President Biden confirm that.  Our new President said that if we all get vaccinated, wear masks and continue to socially distance, then we might be able to have a barbecue in our yard with our immediate family for the Fourth of July.

Lest I'm mistaken, a cruise ship half-filled with a thousand new friends would fall outside of that goal for July, and so my optimism has been popped in the kisser once again for cruises in US waters.

Crystal skirts that issue with the cruises that avoid US law by cruising from Nassasu, which is very close to Florida but not under the jurisdiction of President Biden's CDC.

As you know, not all states have shut down like California and New York.  Florida is ready to open its great ports including Miami, Ft. Lauderdale and Port Canaveral.  Florida beaches and theme parks are open, but cruise ships can't leave from any US ports without approval of the CDC, which has been dragging its feet this year after promising prospects a few months ago.

In Alaska, cruise lines have been holding out hope for some kind of compromise to allow them to cruise roundtrip from Seattle, having cancelled all cruises to or from Vancouver, Canada, due to Canadian restrictions.  Unfortunately, new guests cannot buy space on those cruises. 

Princess and Holland America will be running summer tours using their terrific lodging for those who want to take the land part of their favored cruise tours, with the cruises stripped away.  I'll be happy to help you with one of these terrific land trips as an alternative to cruising.

At this point, I must admit I am more hopeful that Americans will be cruising in Europe, because many of those countries have been devastated by the lack of tourism and they need the dollars.

Royal Caribbean will soon begin cruising from Israel to Greece for Israeli residents, and while Princess has cancelled their summer slate of long cruises from Southampton to the UK and other great itineraries for American guests, they will have "cruises to nowhere" for British residents.  These new cruises are slated for May.

Those are positive signs, because it means they will be testing cruise protocols in more markets.  I am still hoping to take my Norwegian Star cruise to Scotland, Norway and Iceland this summer.

The best bet might be a river cruise that stays in one country, like through Portugal or France.

Fingers crossed!

On the bright side, if you have book a cruise and the ship is unable to go due to Covid concerns, then you have various forms of reimbursements, including many that sweeten the deal you had originally with bonus future cruise credits if you opt to not accept cash, or even to switch to another cruise next year.