COVID-19 TESTING SITES AT POPULAR DESTINATIONS

On January 12, 2021, CDC issued an order requiring all air passengers arriving to the U.S. from a foreign country to get tested no more than 3 days before their flight departs and to provide proof of the negative result or documentation of having recovered from COVID-19 to the airline before boarding the flight. This Order will go into effect on January 26, 2021. Here is a list of locations where you may obtain a Covid-19 test prior to returning to the U.S. in several popular destinations.

CDC to Require Negative COVID-19 Tests for Nearly All International Air Travel To The U.S.

International Travel Update: The head of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) approved an order Tuesday expanding coronavirus testing requirements for nearly all international air travelers starting Jan. 26, 2021.

The new requirements will require all U.S. bound passengers age 2 and over to have a negative COVID-19 test results within three calendar days of travel. The CDC will consider temporary waivers from testing requirements for travelers from some countries with little or no testing capacity.

According to the CDC website: Air passengers are required to get a viral test (a test for current infection) within the 3 days before their flight to the U.S. departs, and provide written documentation of their laboratory test result (paper or electronic copy) to the airline or provide documentation of having recovered from COVID-19. Airlines must confirm the negative test result for all passengers or documentation of recovery before they board. If a passenger does not provide documentation of a negative test or recovery, or chooses not to take a test, the airline must deny boarding to the passenger.

“Testing does not eliminate all risk,” says CDC Director Robert R. Redfield, MD, “but when combined with a period of staying at home and everyday precautions like wearing masks and social distancing, it can make travel safer, healthier, and more responsible by reducing spread on planes, in airports, and at destinations.”

This order was signed by the CDC Director on January 12, 2021 and will become effective on January 26, 2021.

NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE CANCELS MORE SAILINGS

Today December 2, 2020, Norwegian Cruise Line extended the suspension of cruises to include all cruises embarking through February 2021, as well as sailings on the following ships through March 2021; Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Epic, Norwegian Gem, Norwegian Getaway, Norwegian Jade, Norwegian Jewel, Norwegian Pearl, Norwegian Sky, Norwegian Sun, and Pride of America.

Currently, NCL has not suspended cruises in March 2021 for Norwegian Escape, Norwegian Encore and Norwegian Joy.

Guests who have an active reservation on a suspended cruise through March 2021 will automatically receive a refund of their cruise fare in the original form of a payment for the amount paid by January 7, 2021. Additionally, a 10% off coupon will be automatically added to the guest’s account which is valid for one year from date of issue, and can be used for any Norwegian Cruise Line voyage embarking through 2022 and is combinable with any future cruise credits and all future promotions at time of booking.

NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE UPDATES

Today Norwegian Cruise Line announced the extension of their Peace of Mind policy, along with an extension of our final payment schedule.  Their hope is that these accommodations will continue to reassure and inspire you to transform their destination daydreams into vacation reality.
 
Peace of Mind Update
To provide you with the utmost confidence in booking, NCL is  extending their Peace of Mind policy to include existing or new reservations made by December 31, 2020 for any voyage from January 1, 2021 through and including October 31, 2021. Peace of Mind gives you the option to cancel up to 15 days in advance of embarkation.

This policy applies to individual and group bookings.
 
When guests choose to cancel via the Peace of Mind policy, they will receive a full refund in the form of a Future Cruise Credit to be used for sailings that embark through December 31, 2022.  To cancel a reservation under the Peace of Mind policy, NCL asks that you contact them via phone.
 
Final Payment Update
Norwegian Cruise Line is also extending their 60-Day Final Payment Policy to include all sailings through June 30, 2021 for new and existing reservations. This postpones final payment and cancellation penalties from the standard 120 days to 60 days prior to sailing.

 Norwegian Cruise Line  continues to remain very optimistic about the future and looks forward to welcoming you on board one of their amazing ships very soon.

VANILLA CREME BRULEE

4 Servings

INGREDIENTS

  • 2 cups heavy or light cream, or half-and-half
  • 1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise, or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ⅛ teaspoon salt
  • 5 egg yolks
  • ½ cup sugar, more for topping

PREPARATION

  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. In a saucepan, combine cream, vanilla bean and salt and cook over low heat just until hot. Let sit for a few minutes, then discard vanilla bean. (If using vanilla extract, add it now.)
  2. In a bowl, beat yolks and sugar together until light. Stir about a quarter of the cream into this mixture, then pour sugar-egg mixture into cream and stir. Pour into four 6-ounce ramekins and place ramekins in a baking dish. Fill the baking dish with boiling water halfway up the sides of the ramekin dishes. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until centers are barely set. Cool completely. Refrigerate for several hours and up to a couple of days.
  3. When ready to serve, top each custard with about a teaspoon of sugar in a thin layer. Place ramekins in a broiler 2 to 3 inches from heat source. Turn on broiler. Cook until sugar melts and browns or even blackens a bit, about 5 minutes. Serve within two hours.

ROYAL CARIBBEAN SHIP UPDATES FOR 2021-2022

Today Royal caribbean announced updates to their 2021-2022 winter sailings that includes a refreshed line-up of ships and itineraries in the Caribbean, Australia and New Zealand. Guests will have even more choices in the Caribbean with ships sailing from the most popular cruise ports across Florida and Texas. In Australia, vacationers can choose from three ships sailing throughout the South Pacific and New Zealand. The new itineraries, combined with Royal Caribbean ships and crew, will deliver the signature vacation experience that guests know and love. Highlights of Royal Caribbean’s updated 2021/2022 Winter season include: 

The Caribbean

  • Explorer of the Seas, which was originally scheduled to sail from Miami, will call San Juan, Puerto Rico home for the season and sail 7-night Southern Caribbean itineraries.
  • Freedom of the Seas, will move from San Juan to the world’s cruise capital of Miami and strengthen short Caribbean escapes with 3- and 4-night cruises to The Bahamas & Perfect Day at CocoCay.
  • Radiance of the Seas, originally planned to sail from Brisbane, Australia, will instead opt for 5- and 9-night sailings from sunny Miami.

Australia

  • Serenade of the Seas,  will make the voyage from Vancouver, British Columbia to Sydney, which will be her homeport through February 2022. Guests can choose to embark on 12- to 15-night cruises around the South Pacific to Fiji and New Zealand, or take a short break in Melbourne and around the east coast of Australia.
  • Quantum of the Seas,  is now slated to sail from Brisbane, Australia, offering a variety of cruises that range from 3-night weekday getaways to 7- to 9-night adventures throughout the South Pacific.