Coronavirus / COVID-19 Information as of March 14, 2020

Much has changed since our message of last week. The Q team continues to help clients with imminent travel plans by looking at alternatives, rescheduling vacations and answering questions.

Our team is still monitoring daily (and sometimes hourly) changes. We thought it might be helpful to share some of the most important travel updates related to Coronavirus or COVID-19, and answer some of the questions our clients have asked over the past few days:

Coronavirus Travel Restrictions

First, you may have heard that the U.S. has suspended the entry of foreign nationals who have been in China, Iran, and 26 European countries (the Schengen area) at any point in the 14 days before their scheduled arrival to the U.S. Today, the White House announced that the same restrictions will apply to the United Kingdom and Ireland as of Monday night.

Travelers from the U.S., regardless of nationality, traveling to Europe or Asia, are not impacted.

It’s important to note that U.S. citizens, legal permanent residents and their immediate family members that traveled to these affected areas within 14 days of their scheduled arrival can return to the U.S. They will be redirected to one of 13 U.S. airports for enhanced entry screening and are subject to a 14-day self-quarantine.

For more details, please refer to the Department of Homeland Security website.

In addition, countries like Argentina, New Zealand and others have begun implementing strict screening procedures that may impact travelers. For details, see the U.S. State Department website.

Cruise Travel

Most ocean-going cruise lines announced yesterday that, due to continued port closures and travel restrictions, and to help avoid the spread of the virus, they will be voluntarily and temporarily suspending cruises from U.S. ports of call for the next 30 days. A few lines will pause their global operations beyond April 11. Several river cruise lines informed us that they will start their European season a few weeks later than usual.

For details: Cruise Line International Association.

In addition, Canada announced last night that it will defer the start of the cruise ship season in Canada to July 1, 2020 for ships with over 500 passengers and crew. We have not yet received details on the impact that might have on upcoming cruises.

As always, we contact clients who are affected by itinerary changes or cancellations, and provide them with alternative options.

Meanwhile, please keep in mind that the current situation is likely to change again.

Here are some of the questions we’ve been asked:

How is the Q team helping its clients?

• Every day, our team gathers the most up-to-date information from trusted sources.
• We meet with other experts within our Virtuoso network, talk with in-country partners, cruise lines, tour operators, hotels and other travel providers.
• As a team, we discuss potential impact and options for all clients who could be affected by the latest developments, and, where appropriate, reach out to clients to discuss options.
• We work with our travel partners to obtain the best results possible for our clients, whether that means rescheduling, getting a (partial) refund or a credit for a future vacation.
• We answer many questions from past and current clients, as well as the media.

Should we still travel?

While current restrictions may limit imminent travel, the majority of our clients are waiting as long as they can before deciding to postpone future plans.

As we said previously, the decision to go, or not, is always a personal one:

• In some cases, and over the next few weeks, the decision may be made for you: for example, when a cruise is cancelled, or a country restricts access to foreign nationals.
• Currently, the CDC recommends that all travelers avoid travel to China, South Korea, Iran and most countries in Europe.
• Older adults and people with serious medical conditions should also consider postponing nonessential travel to other destinations.

If in doubt, we recommend that you discuss your specific situation with your doctor.

In addition, we suggest you review the following websites for up-to-date information:

CDC Coronavirus/COVID-19 Latest Updates

World Health Organization Coronavirus/COVID-19 Outbreak

US Department of State Coronavirus Information

How many Coronavirus cases are currently reported? And how many have recovered?

As of March 14, 2020: 156,015 cases reported worldwide, with over 74,451 recovered.

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/

I am scheduled to go on a cruise later this year. Should I still plan to go?

Since the situation is so fluid, we are seeing almost daily changes. Setting sail may not be an option over the next few weeks. Cruise lines are working with government and health organizations, and expect to operate cruises again following the current voluntary pause in cruise operations.

Will I get my money back if the cruise line cancels my cruise?

If your cruise is cancelled by the cruise line, you will typically get a full refund. You might also be given the option to choose a more generous future cruise credit instead.

Will I get my money back if I want to cancel a future cruise?

Normally, if you choose to cancel a cruise, cruise lines charge a penalty of up to 100% as you get closer to the departure date.

Due to current circumstances, if you cancel a sailing scheduled to depart in the next few months, most cruise lines will allow you to use that penalty amount as a credit towards a future cruise, so you don’t lose your payment. We review options with our clients daily, to help them make the right decision.

Are any Q clients traveling?

Most of our clients are eager travelers. And yes, we have clients en route now. Others are planning to go ahead with their upcoming land vacations to nearby destinations, like the Caribbean.

Most clients realize that the current situation is likely to be temporary. While nobody knows exactly how long travel will be interrupted by the Coronavirus, our clients plan ahead, to avoid finding themselves without a vacation later this year.

We have rebooked guests on cruises in the summer or fall and are planning a “re-do vacation” for many clients later this or next year.

Again, the team at Q is grateful for the support of our clients, and the partnership of our travel partners. Together, we will reconnect our clients to the world again.

With warm regards,

Rob Clabbers
President
Q Cruise + Travel