What’s will it take to get a drink in Honolulu, what’s happening in Run Away Bay, Jamaica, and what’s going on with European river cruises?
Honolulu has implemented a vaccine or testing requirement to enter bars, restaurants, theaters, gyms, and museums. To be considered fully vaccinated you must have received your final dose no less than 14 days prior. For a test to be valid it must be an antigen or PCR test and be no more than 48 hours old.
Customers can show their vaccine card, a photo of their vaccine card, or use a state approved digital app. Children under the age of 12 are exempt. These changes come just weeks after Hawaii placed restrictions on capacity for bars, restaurants, and other gatherings.
Honolulu isn’t the first to implements such restrictions, they join New Orleans, San Francisco and New York City. New Orleans, who we’ve even talking about a lot recently, implemented a similar but less strict version. Requiring proof of only the first shot, or a negative test.
If all these policy changes have you feeling a little overwhelmed, don’t worry, call me or another Travel Advisor. We are here to help you navigate the confusion pf traveling.
In Jamaica the family friendly Bahia Principe Grand Jamaica reopened in July and it’s now followed by the Adults Only Bahia Principe Luxury Runaway Bay, also in Jamaica, which happened to open today.
This is good news for the Caribbean country, who’s economy is intertwined with the tourism and hospitality industries.
Jamaica originally reopened in June of 2020. During this time they limited what resorts could reopen, and worked to shelter the local populations from covid. Having more resorts opening in Jamaica, or really anywhere is a welcome sign that tourism is continuing to improve, and that many covid procedures implemented by these countries are working.
And continuing with the good news, more Cruise lines have recently resumed service in Europe.
This past weekend we saw Oceania Cruises, and Crystal River Cruises resume sailing. This is the first time either company has sailed since March 2020.
Oceanias ship, the Marian, left Copenhagen and will visit ports in Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Finland. The ship will finish the summer season sailing western Europe, the Mediterranean, and the greek islands, then reposition to Miami for winter season sailings.
And Crystal Rivers saw the Crystal Ravel depart from Germany on a Danuebe cruse, and was closely followed by the Crystal Debussy which departed Switzerland to sail the Rhine.
It’s important to note that both Cruise lines do require both guests and crew to be fully vaccinated.