Five Top Tips for 2021 cruises
If you’re booking a cruise for 2021 there are some things that YOU can do that will reduce the chances of it being cancelled…
TIP ONE…
book a cruise from your home port - one in your OWN country.
.For the UK that is probably most likely to be Southampton or Dover. You will need took have a Covid test before boarding - flying out to another country to join a cruise will give you all sorts of problems if it proves positive! Not least that you won’t be able to fly home again…
TIP TWO…
book a cruise for July or even later in the year.
There are still some cruises planned for May and June but they’re looking less and less likely to take place by the day. If you have booked one of those and have to reschedule later in the summer you may find that there is very little choice left. Better to be realistic and book for as late as you can!
TIP THREE…
Choose a cruise that visits as few other countries as possible.
Every country will have its own COVID Policies in place that may mean that cruise ships aren’t able to visit. It may be easier to book a U.K. cruise than only visits Norway rather than a Round UK cruise that calls into Scotland, Ireland, the Channel Islands and France. If Norway is accepting cruises then you’re fine - but the odds of a problem increases with every port so the fewer countries you’re visiting the less chance of cancellations and extra sea days. Cruises in the Med are staying within the Schengen Zone so that all polices will be aligned - unfortunately this is why cruisers from outside the zone can’t cruise at the moment.
TIP FOUR…
get a Vaccination as soon as you possibly can.
Sorry! I know thats contentious but as Saga have just instigated a ‘No vaccine No cruise’ policy and it’s possible that other cruiselines will follow - if you’re offered an opportunity to have the vaccine then grab it with both hands! Arms! Whatever … sorry! Seriously though there is talk of airlines requiring travel passports that require proof of vaccination or antibodies - going forward it will definitely make things easier if you have one or the other.
TIP FIVE…
won’t make cancellation less likely but is important.
Make sure you have cruise insurance that will cover COVID-19 related issues. Some companies such as MSC and Saga have their own polices -DO NOT think that a round UK cruise means that you don’t need insurance at all. If in doubt just Google the cost of a helicopter evacuation from a ship off the Hebrides!
BONUS TIP!!
Once you’ve booked a cruise don’t forget to use a CRUISE PLANNER to record all of its details in one place. It will stay by your side as you plan your cruise, pack, leave home and enjoy every day aboard. And afterwards it will always be there - full of information and memories! I especially love the Cruise Addicts version because of its added ‘Puzzler’ section - its a great way to kill time if you have a long wait for boarding!
I hope you’ve found this helpful, as always it would be great if you commented below with your thoughts. You will find some small affiliate links to our books there which help towards the running of the website - if you click through and buy anything from them it gives us a few pence but doesn’t cost you any extra! It’s a great help and thanks to all those who do!
Happy portExploring!
Love
Cathy
xx
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