The cruising industry suffered a major blow because of the pandemic which disrupted sailing for months. Travel enthusiasts remained nervous about booking voyages for some time. However, cruising is back in full swing and more ships are scheduled to embark in 2022 and 2023. People have already booked a European river cruise in 2022, with some lines already fully booked for the second part of 2022 and the first part of 2023.. Many people are booking voyages because of the strict protocols put in place to safeguard everyone’s health during the trips. Many people have been yearning to travel safely again and they can finally do it in 2022.
Despite the resumption of the voyages, there are some changes that have been put in place to protect the passengers, crew and the locals in the destinations you will visit. For instance, passengers need to be fully vaccinated to book voyages. Moreover, passengers are encouraged to wear masks, especially when they are in public places such as dining halls, casinos, elevators and stores.
While going onshore, you must meet the health protocol of the particular country you are stopping in to explore. Some ships do not allow unvaccinated passengers to go onshore unless they are in a controlled environment, such as a ‘bubble tour’, where the passengers explore the places in a controlled environment. This is usually pre-booked.
Many ships will not be sailing at full capacity to enable social distancing between the passengers. However, the capacity will be increased in the coming few months. Another minor change is you will not line up to serve yourself buffets during the voyage. On the contrary, you will be served meals by the employees to avoid crowding.
Moreover, some activities such as nightclubs, indoor dancing and karaoke are either not allowed in some ships or will happen with a lot of social distancing to protect everyone who’s present. Moreover, some spas, saunas and gyms are open and there are hand sanitizer stations throughout the ships to ensure the passengers are upholding the highest hygiene throughout the voyages.
Despite all these measures, the voyages will still be very fun because everyone can now travel safely after months of being locked up in houses, under quarantine. Everyone can now get that much needed break from the normal daily activities.
Many people have started booking early to get the best prices. The prices of the accommodation and the flights increase when demand increases during the holidays. Additionally, booking early allows you to get a great choice of cabins. Some ships have a limited number of particular types of cabins. If you want to secure the best cabins, you will need to book in advance.
More people are starting to book voyages for 2022 and beyond because of the safety measures put in place. The safety protocols will protect the crew, passengers and the locals of the towns, cities and countries the ships will sail through. The travelling companies have taken all measures to ensure everyone can explore Europe safely and have a rich travelling experience during these unprecedented times. This has encouraged more people to start booking their trips early.
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