At Reno's Welcome Aboard Travel, there are many incoming calls with many questions…and many ruined trips. Travel advisor Barbara Gardner told me, "Today has been very busy with cancellations."
Barbara's been in the travel business for 47 years. The closest time to this, she says, was 9/11. Customers now are “interested in getting their money back, or getting credits to use at a future time."
Which her customers are getting in credits with no rebooking fees for cruises and flights booked to the end of April. But cruises are in disarray after the U.S. State Department sent an advisory stating, "U.S. citizens, particularly travelers with underlying health conditions, should not travel by cruise ship." Their statement says the "cruise ship environment" can foster an "increased risk of infection."
But many major cruise lines continue to operate. Barbara says "We have people that are leaving in the next few days, and they're saying they want to go because there's not going to be a lot of people on the ship and they're going to have it all to themselves!"
Carnival and other cruise lines offer $200 in credit if you don't cancel. But Princess cancelled cruises from San Francisco, Los Angeles and Ft. Lauderdale. And no cruises are going to Asia or Italy. Some cruise lines will deny passengers from boarding if they were in certain areas, and will turn away anyone with flu-like symptoms.
But there are some nice positives. Airlines are waiving flight change fees. And if you're not afraid to travel, there are some incredible bargains to be had. Gardner says she “just got a tour operator offering round trip to Ireland and Scotland for $199."
She says the bargains now are mainly flights to Europe. They expect the deals will only get better. It’s all tempting for sure. But for most, whether or not to travel now is a waiting game. It's a waiting game for Barbara too. She’s looking forward to the panic to end. She, and her customers, sure miss business as usual.
