Happy New Year!

I wish you a new year filled with approved leaves, boarding passes, and brand-new adventures!

My mailbox is full of emails from concerned clients about the current outbreak of the coronavirus on some ships.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a new recommendation Thursday that travelers avoid traveling on cruise ships, regardless of vaccination status, following a recent spike in positive COVID-19 cases aboard ships.

The agency raised the travel warning for cruises to level 4 — the highest level - after investigations of dozens of ships with virus outbreaks.

"Even fully vaccinated travelers may be at risk of contracting and spreading COVID-19 variants," the CDC said on its website.
Those recommendations are made on outbreaks with one percent and less. For example, 52 people were tested positive on the AIDAnova, with 2,844 guests and 1,353 crew onboard.

The Cruise Lines International Association opposes this warning made by CDC. "The decision by the CDC to (recommend that travelers avoid cruising) is particularly perplexing considering that cases identified on cruise ships consistently make up a very slim minority of the total population onboard—far fewer than on land—and the majority of those cases are asymptomatic or mild in nature, posing little to no burden on medical resources onboard or onshore."

In this situation, I suggest my clients wait. The situation changes daily. – We had a successful season between July and December 2021. This means that situation will be over at the time for you to sail.

By the way, I have had around 50+ people onboard cruise ships in the last two weeks and want to report to you my findings. One person was sick on the Symphony of the Seas outbreak, and two people were tested positive before the cruise and could not sail.

I canceled those cruises, and Royal Caribbean promised to refund money in full in 30-45 business days.    

Here is my travel advice for 2022

Based on everything we learned in 2021 if you're looking for the best travel experiences in 2022, here is my advice:

1. Sudden travel opportunities will appear, and people will take advantage of them. Choose trips at the last minute. These travel windows will vary depending on the country, as factors that help determine the destination's safety from Covid (for example, the level and type of local vaccination, the availability of outdoor restaurants, optimal conditions for outdoor activities, etc.) fluctuate.
2. Let your time dictate where you go. Flexibility regarding your destination is critical. When you find out when you will be able to travel, sign for video conferencing with me. I will recommend where you are most likely to have the best experience during this period. Given the news from South Africa — that the Omicron wave has already passed — the following window may come sooner than you think, so be ready to jump.

3. Give preference to travel to countries that require vaccination and a negative test for entry. Some people report that you felt safer in a foreign country than at home, thanks to local protocols and private measures to protect against Covid. Even an international flight seems safer because everyone on board is vaccinated, has just tested negative, or both. If you choose the right country at the right time, you will get better service, fewer tourists, and a more rewarding experience than in crowded, sparsely populated resort areas on the U.S. mainland.

4. Stick to one country per trip. Since entry requirements are constantly changing, every border crossing creates the possibility that something could go wrong and ruin the rest of your journey. Fly non-stop if possible. This will reduce time at airports and avoid additional requirements. Don't discount the country because you've already been there. It is easy to get an entirely different trip from your last trip to that place.

5. Give yourself something to look forward to. The anticipation of the trip helps your mental health. If you prepay for a trip, protect yourself financially by buying the right travel insurance. – I will recommend the best one that is right for you.

Feel free to discuss options for your travel in 2022 with me.

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