Let’s Get This Show On The Road! Or in the Air! Or on the Seas!

airplane flight map

Photo from the airplane seatback map

2021 can’t get here soon enough for me. I’m hoping for a safe, effective vaccine and a swift world recovery from the pandemic so we can travel again. The cruise industry is making sweeping changes to all aspects of cruising to welcome guests safely. Hotels and tour operators have already put many health and safety measures in place.

I have started planning some 2021 trips for myself and my clients. We know these plans are still tentative, so that we will remain flexible.

Here are the guidelines I’ve been following when making 2021 travel plans:

Reservations and Refund/Cancel Policies

I am making sure reservations are cancellable and deposits refundable. This may mean booking a higher class of service on airplanes and trains than I normally would get this level of security. I am reading all the fine print when making hotel reservations. Companies will disclose their policies for cancellations and refunds, but you may have to do some digging actually to find them. I am also phoning and emailing the properties /operators to ask specifically what the policies are if pandemic issues continue to complicate travel. It will be important to keep track of cancellation/change dates to keep deposits safe.

Travel Insurance

I am buying travel insurance within 15 days of making deposits for reservations. This can be tricky because I am making reservations for trips 8, 10, or more months out, and final payments won’t be due for a long time.  To get the best rates and waivers, most travel insurance policies need to be purchased at the time of the first deposit or within 15-21 days of the deposit. I read the terms and conditions to make sure I’m getting the coverage I want, and that pandemic insurance is included. Most travel insurance companies will adjust travel dates if a trip is canceled due to the pandemic, so be sure to keep the information on the policies handy.

Keeping Current with Testing and Vaccination Guidelines

I’m keeping up with travel testing capabilities in my state and testing guidelines in those places where I want to go. I know these will change, but I am training myself to look frequently for current conditions. One place to look is travel.state.gov for official US Dept of State travel advisories and Covid-19 updates. As my travel gets closer, I will be better prepared to do what is necessary to travel safely.
Now that a vaccine is on the horizon, I am watching to learn how it will get deployed. I will follow up with my local health authority to find out how and when I will get vaccinated.
I am sure that I will need to have proof of vaccinations for future travel. Whether that is the WHO International Certificate of Vaccination booklet or some new digital vaccination recordkeeping app, this will be important for international travel going forward.

My 2021 Travel Plans

I feel certain that cruising on smaller ships in less-traveled regions will be popular in 2021. Doug and I have sailed on these ships before and know the level of care and service for each cruise line. When international travel opens up more widely, these cruises will definitely be in demand. So far, I have two trips in the works:

 Wine and Culture Cruise on the Azamara Quest, Azamara Cruises

June 13-24, 2021

blue cruise ship on water

https://www.azamara.com/voyage/qs11m215/11-night-wine-culture-voyage

This 11-night cruise starts in Lisbon and ends in Southampton, England, visiting Porto, Bilbao, Bordeaux, Nantes (Loire Valley), and The Channel Islands. This cruise also has a special golf program with Perry Golf!

Doug and I will be Virtuoso Hosts for this cruise, which means guests booked through a Virtuoso Travel Advisor (like me) will have special amenities. How about an exclusive tour of the Rioja wine region out of Bilbao?
 These are all new places for us, so I’m excited to get acquainted with these regions’ history, culture, and food and wins.
The Azamara Quest carries about 650 passengers and is very comfortable and inclusive. This particular cruise has some attractive savings for new bookings.

Marquesas, Tuamotus, and the Society Islands on the Paul Gauguin, Paul Gauguin Cruises

November 20-Dec. 4, 2021

paul gauguin ship in Tahiti

https://www.pgcruises.com/destinations/marquesas-tuamotus-society-islands/2021-11-20

This 14-night round-trip Papeete, Tahiti cruise sails to places visited by Robert Louis Stevenson and Paul Gauguin. This cruise will stop at several small islands north and west of Tahiti and visit Bora Bora and Moorea.

Doug and I are leading a small group and looking forward to the tropical vibe and great snorkeling. This is one of the most beautiful regions on Earth.

The M/S Paul Gauguin carries about 300 passengers and is built for cruising these ultramarine blue South Pacific waters. Cruise fare includes round trip airfare from Los Angeles, ship-to-shore transfers, onboard alcohol, and gratuities.

 

Choosing the Right Companies

 Both Azamara Cruises and Paul Gauguin Cruises have excellent reservation and cancellation policies that make it easy to book with confidence. We have sailed with them before and have had wonderful experiences. Both companies have stringent health and safety protocols in place and can adjust plans when necessary.

Of course, these trips will only happen when it is safe to travel, but I am booking them now. With so much pent-up demand for travel waiting to be unleashed, capacity will fill quickly. I am taking care to make reservations as flexible as possible and follow my guidelines.

 If you might be interested in either of these trips, please don’t hesitate to contact me and you can get all the details. There are some good deals out there right now!

I know people are waiting for the right time to start booking trips. Demand is high, and supply will be limited for a while, so when you know where and when you want to go, I will help you figure it out.

Contact me to make your vacation heirloom-worthy!