Each announcement of a border reopening or removal of quarantine requirements comes with a feeling of euphoria. I’m so excited about international travel resuming and the world once again being open to us. Last week was a very good week in that regard. A number of European countries announced new entry requirements, and I know that more are on the way. Read on for the details…
Summer Travel Resuming: Italy
Italy announced that American leisure travellers can enter without quarantine if they travel on special COVID-tested flights. Italy is a perennial favourite for Americans, with more than 3 million travellers visiting in 2019. And what’s not to love? The great cities of Rome, Florence, and Venice. Beautiful lake districts, stunning mountain regions, effervescent Tuscany, and underrated Puglia. Breathtaking coastal areas such as Cinque Terre and the Amalfi Coast. The gorgeous islands of Sicily, Sardinia, Capri, and so many others. Pizza, pasta, seafood, all my favourites. And the wine!
The special flights are on Delta, flying to Rome’s Fiumicino Airport, Milan’s Malpensa, and Venice’s Marco Polo out of select US cities.
Spain
The good news kept coming when Spain announced their new arrival requirements. Starting June 7, fully vaccinated (14 days after final dose) travellers can show proof of vaccination to avoid quarantine.
Unvaccinated minors who belong to the same family unit as the vaccinated adults traveling to Spain will be required to show proof of a negative COVID test performed at least 72 hours prior to arrival. Children under 6 will not be required to show a negative COVID test. Upon arrival, travellers will not be asked to quarantine.
Italy, Spain and the other members of the European Union agreed to allow fully vaccinated travellers to enter the 27-nation bloc without quarantine or testing requirements. However, they have not agreed on a date. Indications are it could be as soon as June, so your summer European holiday might happen after all. A digital vaccination certificate system is (supposedly) in the works and should be ready by the end of June. Vaccinated travellers could board a river cruise as early as July. With so much pent-up demand, space will be at a premium, so contact me to start planning.
Summer Travel Resuming Closer to Home
Drum roll please! Congress passed a bill that will allow foreign-flagged ships to cruise between Washington State and Alaska without a stop in Canada. This could allow bigger and more ships to have an Alaska cruise season this summer. The Alaska Tourism Restoration Act temporarily suspends the 135-year-old Passenger Vessel Services Act that requires foreign-flagged ships sailing between US ports to stop in a foreign country.
Canada has banned cruises from the US through February. Cruises must still meet CDC guidelines to resume, but some lines are reopening sales for August and September and there’s real hope for an abbreviated Alaska cruise season.
I love delivering good news, so I’ll keep you posted as more comes in. Pease reach out if you want to get started planning, especially as space for 2021 and 2022 starts to book up!