Oceania Cruises, the premier operator for culinary and destination-based cruising, has announced that, until further notice, they will only be sailing ships with 100% vaccinated passengers and crew. This is sure to be welcoming news to the millions of travelers around the world who are waiting to get back on board cruise ships in a safe and healthy way. The announcement comes as part of Oceania’s SailSAFE initiative. The new safety plan implements a lot of enhanced sanitation and health proceeders for both passengers and crew. Some things that passengers can expect during their cruise with Oceania is: ~ Two…
Author: Keith Langston
As more and more people get the COVID-19 vaccine, they are also planning their summer vacations. However, as stated earlier this month, it’s likely that the US will never reach herd immunity (we need 80% vaccinated, whereas currently only has 50% of people are fully-vaccinated, and the rates of newly-vaccinated Americans have almost completely stalled). This means that certain areas, especially more conservative areas in states that are refusing the vaccine, will continue to see localized COVID-19 outbreaks. And as the virus is allowed to continue its spread, it will also continue to evolve, meaning that, unfortunately, COVID might be…
United Airlines has made clear that they want to encourage Americans to get vaccinated. To help build enthusiasm amongst the population to get the shot (currently, only 40% of Americans are fully vaccinated and the Mayo Clinic believes we need 80% to reach herd immunity) United Airlines is giving away free flights. And these aren’t just any free flights… they’re giving away 30 round-trip fares for two in any class of service to anywhere in the world that United flies to. On top of that, on July 1st, United will announce five randomly selected lucky MileagePlus members who have entered the sweepstakes for…
A vote between the governments of the European Union endorsed a proposal to allow travel from non-EU countries that are deemed “safe”. These countries will essentially be added to a list that states the nation has been doing a good job vaccinating its population and isn’t currently experiencing a significant uptick in COVID_19 cases. According to Bloomberg, “Ambassadors from the EU’s 27 member states backed a proposal to waive quarantine for those with coronavirus inoculations approved by its drug regulator, including shots from Pfizer Inc., Moderna Inc. and Johnson & Johnson. The approval could be finalized this week and implemented soon after.” However, the vaccines from…
It’s been recently announced that Italy is hoping to reopen to Americans sometime this summer. According to Travel Pulse, Italy’s Foreign Minister, Luigi Di Maio, stated, “We’re working on overcoming the ‘mini quarantine’ for anyone from European countries, the U.K. and Israel, if they’ll be equipped with a negative swab, vaccination certificate or if they’ve been cured of the past 6 months. Same thing for the United States, where COVID free flights will be enhanced, and in June we aim to overcome the ‘mini quarantine’ on arrival.” To enter, visitors will need to apply for the “Green Pass”. This can be…
For about a year now, there’s been lots of talk of “vaccination passports”, which, in theory, would provide a certified way to prove you were vaccinated and/or tested negative for COVID_19. However, protests over the passports have caused the plans to stall, leading the US federal government to say they won’t be creating a national system. However, numerous states, countries, airlines, and cruise lines are developing their own. Hawaii has become the first US state to implement a digital vaccination passport for travel. Currently, the program is only for residents of Hawaii. They can now use the state’s Safe Travels…
In an official announcement, the CDC has come out and said that fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear masks or socially distance while indoors or outdoors. In the official statement, the Director of the CDC, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, stated, “If you are fully vaccinated, you can start doing the things that you had stopped doing because of the pandemic. We have all longed for this moment when we can get back to some sense of normalcy.” However, there are a few caveats to this. First, if you’re not yet fully vaccinated the CDC still says you are required to wear…
Recently, The New York Times, CNN, and others revealed the latest findings by America’s healthcare professionals, which is that, sadly, America and the rest of the world may never achieve herd immunity to combat the novel coronavirus. Statistics cite the fact that just slightly over 30% of America is fully vaccinated, yet the number of people seeking out vaccines is dwindling at a rapid pace. Furthermore, experts originally suggested a number of around 70% to achieve herd immunity, but with the rise of the new, highly contagious variants, they now say that the percentages will need to be somewhere between 80%…
Popular housing website, Rent.com, has compiled a listing of the best cities in the USA for artists to live in. These cities are ranked by combining a range of criteria including, walkability, the price of studio apartments, number of performing arts venues, and even the number of museums within the area. On their website, you can view the entire Top 50 list. Here are the top 5 best cities for artists in the USA. 5.) Seattle, Washington Seattle has been known as a hub for art and culture for over half a century. The city hosted the Century 21 Exhibition,…
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings is one of the largest cruise operators in the entire world. Together, the conglomerate owns Norwegian, Oceania, and Regent Seven Seas. Now, the company is threatening to move all of its Florida-based ships in response to the state’s new anti-vaccination laws. De Santis, Florida’s governor, recently made it illegal for any company to require proof of vaccination from customers. This is catastrophic to the cruise industry for two reasons. First, the CDC announced that cruise lines can skip a series of hurdles if they can ensure that over 95% of passengers and crew are vaccinated. However,…
Every state is known for having some weird and obtuse laws. For example, in Ohio, it’s illegal to fish for whales on Sunday. In Utah, residents are not permitted to modify the weather. And in Florida, it’s illegal for women to fall asleep under a hairdryer at salons. But no state has as many odd and absurd laws as the great state of California. The San Diego-based lawfirm, Sevens Legal has even started compiling a list. Here are some of the weirdest laws in The Golden State… In Carmel, it’s illegal for a man to wear a jacket and…
After a new announcement from the CDC, US cruising could resume around mid-July. The new guidelines set by the CDC gives cruiselines two options to resume sailing. First: If a cruise ship has 98% of its crew and 95% of its passengers vaccinated, they can skip trial sailings and begin preparing for commercial cruises to launch this summer. Second: If a cruise line doesn’t want to require passengers and crew to be vaccinated, they will then have to partake in “trial cruises”. These will last from two to seven days and will give the cruise operators a chance to test…
On Saturday, May 1st, the annual Kentucky Derby will be celebrating another year of racing, pageantry, and parties. The derby has been held yearly at the famous Churchill Downs in Louisville since 1875. The event is filled with pomp and circumstance, including flamboyant hats, socialite balls, and of course, the race’s drink of choice, the mint julep. Surprisingly, the mint julep is actually older than the Derby and dates back to the late 1700s. It is also authentically American, originating in the South and becoming popular in states such as Kentucky and Virginia. The base of the drink traditionally includes…
Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the EU Commission, stated in a recent announcement that fully vaccinated American tourists may soon be allowed to visit the European Union after over a year of the EU’s travel lockdown. According to The New York Times, Leyen stated, “The Americans, as far as I can see, use European Medicines Agency-approved vaccines. This will enable free movement and the travel to the European Union. Because one thing is clear: All 27 member states will accept, unconditionally, all those who are vaccinated with vaccines that are approved by E.M.A.,” Leyen, however, did not give a…
Since the pandemic began, the global map has looked like a messy hodgepodge of various travel rules and restrictions. Some countries are fully welcoming to Americans. Some are welcoming to vaccinated Americans. Some require two-week quarantines (which would completely ruin a vacation), and some are still completely closed to visitors from the US and many others. Here’s a quick snapshot of where some of the most popular tourist destinations currently stand (citations at bottom of the article). ***All statistics listed are based on visiting for the purpose of tourism. Some countries have different guidelines for visitors who arrive for different…
Many travelers are trying to be better global citizens. Gone are the days of craving that gated, all-inclusive resort awkwardly built in the middle of a Caribbean island that isolates you from the reality of the nation you’re in. Nowadays, travelers visit places to actually experience them, and they want to stay at hotels and resorts that give back to the planet. Fortunately for travelers, a new brand of hotels, resorts, and lodges have been certified as both eco-friendly and humanitarian by Beyond Green. To be a member of Beyond Green, properties must have sustainable practices, must be dedicated to…
As we’ve previously reported, flying on an airplane where everyone is wearing a mask and the middle seats are blocked has resulted in very few COVID-19 exposures on airlines. Studies show that with an airplane’s advanced filtration systems, the air is constantly being purified, so as long as someone isn’t directly next to you, the chance of their moisture particles making it to you was surprisingly slim. However, as the COVID-19 pandemic has started “coming to a close” (as some believe it is), airlines have gotten restless and have begun removing many of the safety measures in place. One such…
Baymont, part of the Wyndham brand, is launching a new ad campaign showcasing the fact that the hotel chain is pet-friendly. After the wave of pet adoptions during the COVID-19 pandemic, Baymont says it recognizes the need for more pet-friendly hotels to meet the growing demand of families who travel with their pets. To herald in this new campaign, Baymont says it’s looking for a canine ambassador, who will be known as “Buddy of the Year”. This new spokespup will star in the hotel’s new digital ad campaign focusing on the brand’s pet-friendly nature. The winning dog’s owners will also…
Booking.com recently revealed the findings from their survey that shows just how badly Americans want to travel. According to the responses… 68% of Americans would rather travel in 2021 than find true love 70% of Americans would give up their favorite vices if it meant they’d be able to travel in 2021 66% of Americans would choose to travel in 2021 than get a promotion at work These findings prove that the pandemic hasn’t hindered people’s wanderlust…if anything, it’s actually encouraged people to travel more. The COVID-19 pandemic seems to have shown people how short and fragile life can be,…
Last week, the CDC announced new guidelines that won’t require cruise lines to ask for proof of a COVID-19 vaccination from passengers. Many say this move has to do with the CDC not wanting to get into a legal battle with Florida, the largest cruise hub in America. Florida recently passed a law that banned businesses from demanding proof of vaccination from patrons. Some cruise lines, like Carnival (the world’s largest cruise corporation), have said that they will not intervene with the CDC ruling, and will keep vaccinations optional. According to Reuters, Carnival said that requiring vaccinations would be, “largely unworkable…