Here is the top travel news for this week.
- In what is very highly anticipated news, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday lowered its health notice on cruise travel from Level 4, which recommends avoiding all travel, to Level 3, which encourages travelers to get fully vaccinated before traveling. Some ships have resumed sailing outside of the U.S. including Royal Caribbean Cruises from the Bahamas, Celebrity Cruises from St. Maarten and NCL Cruises out of Athens, Greece. Lots of ships are about to start sailing out of the U.S. You can find details on our post When Will Cruises Resume 2021.
- Hawaii just eased its travel restrictions as of June 15th, 2021. Hawaii is approaching a 55% vaccination rate. When the state reaches a 60 percent rate, people traveling to Hawaii from the United States will be able to bypass testing and quarantine requirements with proof of vaccination through the state’s “Safe Travels Program”. Hawaii tours have resumed, however, Hawaii cruises aren’t expected until the fall. In related news, the Manoa Falls Trail in Honolulu reopened after a 2 year closure for maintenance and safety measures.
- Spain opened to all vaccinated travelers as of June 7th with proof of full vaccination against Covid-19. Travelers must have received their final dose of vaccination at least 14 days prior to travel. They will no longer have to quarantine but must fill out a health questionnaire. Escorted Spain tours are resuming in July.
- Germany officially opens to Americans on June 20th. Tourists who have been fully vaccinated, have recovered from COVID-19 and have been cleared by a doctor or have a negative test will no longer have to quarantine upon arrival. Visitors arriving in Germany by plane will still need to complete a digital entry form and upload the documents. Tour operators are working on resuming their Germany Tours by August and many river cruise companies are already starting their Danube and Rhine River cruises including Avalon River Cruises, AMA Waterways, Tauck River Cruises, Viking River Cruises & Uniworld.
- Italy introduced a “green pass” to restart safe international travel. They also allowing U.S. passengers flying on COVID-tested flights to skip the quarantine period. Read more on our blog post Italy is open for travel.
- St Bart’s reopened on June 9 to those who have proof of vaccination against Covid-19 at least 14 days before entry.
- The British Virgin Islands is allowing fully vaccinated travelers to enter without quarantine, but they must take a PCR test within 5 days of travel and upon arrival.
- Canada could reopen the border to U.S. travelers after July 21st. Canada’s Prime Minister is waiting for at least 75% of Canada’s population to receive their first Covid-19 vaccine dosage and 20% to be fully vaccinated before the country begins to ease public health restrictions. It is possible that Canada tours both in the East and the Canadian Rockies will resume in mid-September through the end of October.
- Walt Disney World announced more resorts will be re-opening. The Disney Boardwalk Inn (July 2nd) Disney’s Polynesian (late July,) and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge (Aug 26th).
- Disney Cruises 2021 will host its Halloween on the High Seas and Very Merrtyime Cruises across it’s fleet of ships from Florida, New York, Texas and California. Halloween on the High Seas runs from mid-September through October on select sailings and the Very Merrtyime cruises run from early November through December. Both themed cruises will come to the new Disney Wish for the first time this year, which this fall is sailing out of Florida, as is the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy. The Disney Magic will sail out of San Juan until late November where it will homeport in Galveston. The Disney Wonder will sail out of San Diego.
- Princess Cruises will resume sailing from U.S. ports in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Fort Lauderdale, starting in September. There will be a total of 8 Princess Cruise ships sailing between September 25th and November 28th. The first sailing will be a five-day Cabo San Lucas cruise on the Grand Princess departing Los Angeles on Sept. 25. Both the Majestic Princess and the Grand Princess will sail from Los Angeles visiting the California Coast and Mexico. The Ruby Princess will sail out of San Fransisco also to Mexico and then in early 2022 to Hawaii. The Crown Princess will be sailing the Panama Canal from Fort Lauderdale. The new Enchanted Princess cruise ship will sail from Fort Lauderdale to the southern and eastern Caribbean. The Regal Princess, Caribbean Princess and Sky Princess cruise ship will sail from Fort Lauderdale to the eastern and western Caribbean.
