The Travel Roller Coaster

I’m not gonna sugar coat it, this Covid19 thing has been a roller coaster. On March 12 I received the most crushing travel related news since starting in this industry in 2008, the Disney Parks were CLOSING, on both coasts. I was just returning from my husband’s 50th birthday celebration in Mexico at Hotel Xcaret Mexico. It was magical in every possible way. We were at 30K feet when the announcement came so I left the plane and airport clueless of what had occurred. We proceeded to our Park and Fly shuttle, blissfully unaware. As I sat on the bus and turned off airplane mode I was not prepared for the crushing news that came next. Tears welled up in my eyes as I read the news! Prior to our vacation our Happily Ever After Travel team had worked overtime preparing, printing, and mailing all of our Spring Break traveler packages. 2020 had started as a record breaking year with the most travelers we had seen since our beginnings. We had invested hours upon hours of planning, office hours with two full time helpers putting it all together, all CANCELED. It’s been a long road since that day. I remember thinking on March 12 that we were in for two weeks of closure and then things would resume. I’m not sure how I could have gone on if I had known the truth at that time. As everyone knows that two weeks is now going on 8 months.

When the news came this past Friday, October 30, that the CDC Cruise ban had been lifted, I thought, “This is it! We’re back!” Unfortunately, the reality is the ban” is now being rebranded as a new set of protocols, or “hoops” if you will, the cruise lines must jump through to prove safety. The months of successful cruising in Europe doesn’t seem to suffice the fact that the cruise lines are safe. Our partners in the Cruise Line still have a long road ahead of them.

For our cruisers effected by this news, I’m so sorry. I’m right there with you. My husband and I were scheduled on the Dec 4 Mariner of the Seas as we were determined to be the FIRST back on a cruise ship. Additionally, our family Christmas vacation was scheduled for December 13 on the Norwegian Joy out of Miami. Both cancelled. I’m in the same cancelled boat with you and I feel your pain! We have close to $10K tied up with these cruises and if history repeats itself it will be many months before we see the refund.

I’m writing to say we’re here for you and your travel needs. We are making the BOLD prediction that 2022 will be the BIGGEST year ever for cruising, when the cruise lines should be operating at 100% PLUS the addition of the many new cruise ships currently in production.

We have cruise itineraries available for booking through 2023! Lots of great promotions are available. Once the cruising population’s confidence returns and people begin booking more cruises we anticipate the price of cruises to increase. You can get the best pricing, secure a cruise now with a low deposit and pay it out. It’s always fun to have something to look forward to! Our 2022 Christmas cruise is booked and we can make payments on it between now and the due date so it lessens the blow of the cost. We also have Hawaii 2022 to look forward to for the next two years. It’s fun to think about how different our family will be by the time that cruise arrives. We encourage our guests to consider holidays coming up in the future and how you will spend that time? Don’t be the one who books last minute and has little to choose from. Right now you have CHOICES and great prices. The time is now!

Looking forward to getting off this roller coaster and riding the waves with you into next year!