Celebrity Edge will start sailing from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale on June 26, 2021.  She will alternate Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries, 7 nights long. The Eastern Caribbean itinerary includes long-time favorite ports like Nassau in the Bahamas; St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands and St. Maarten. The Western Caribbean itinerary will take cruise guests to Roatan, Honduras; Costa Maya and Cozumel in Mexico and Nassau in the Bahamas.

Captain Kate McCue, the first and still only female American ocean cruise captain, will have the honor of leading the fleet – and the industry – back into operation.

Vaccinations Required

Celebrity Edge was given the green light by the CDC to be the first ship back in the water, having met all new standards for providing a healthy cruise experience for its guests and crew.  Celebrity Edge will sail with a vaccinated crew.  US guests 16 years and older must be fully vaccinated, with all COVID-19 vaccine doses administered at least 14 days prior to sailing.  (As of August 1, 2021, all US guests age 12 and older must be fully vaccinated.)

Updated guidelines from the CDC also allows the cruise lines to make further adjustments to onboard protocol. In addition, physical changes to ships – in terms of fresh air and ventilation systems; more space in restaurants and other areas; and many more safeguards are implemented to make each cruise comfortable and healthy.

But wait, there’s more!

Over the past few weeks, more and more cruise lines have announced their new summer 2021 itineraries. And these “new” cruises typically requiring passengers and crew to be vaccinated.  As the CDC and other government bodies continue to update and publish guidelines for (cruise) travel, some restrictions are being lifted or relaxed.  We expect that this will continue over the next few months.

Here are a few other cruise options that have been announced.  Call us for details!

• Celebrity Millennium, Windstar from St. Maarten to the Caribbean
• Celebrity Summit, Royal Caribbean Ovation of the Seas and Serenade of the Seas from Seattle to Alaska
• Celebrity Apex; Seabourn Ovation; Silversea’s Silver Moon, Azamara Quest, Norwegian Jade, Holland America ms Eurodam and others from Athens to the Greek Isles, Israel, Cyprus
• Norwegian Joy from Jamaica to the Caribbean.
• Norwegian Gem from La Romana, Dominican Republic to the Caribbean.
• Crystal Serenity, Royal Caribbean’s Adventure of the Seas from Nassau through the Bahamas
• Seabourn Odyssey from Barbados to the Caribbean
• Silversea Silver Origin, Lindblad Expeditions and Celebrity Flora, Celebrity Xploration and Celebrity Xpedition in the Galapagos
• Crystal Endeavor in Iceland.
• Crystal Symphony from Antigua and St. Maarten to the Caribbean.
• Viking Venus and Viking Sea from Malta to Greece and the Adriatic coast.

We are excited at this latest news and hope you are too!  But we realize that some of the new travel requirements can be a bit intimidating or confusing at first, so give your Cruise Travel Specialists at Q a call if you’d like to know more about cruise travel on Celebrity Edge or others in the summer of 2021.

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It started in mid-February: we’d receive phone calls that went pretty much like this.  “Hi, how are you?  We just got our second shot and now we want to get out of here.  Where can we go?” After almost a year of being “stuck” at home, many of our clients are now vaccinated and ready to start traveling again.

Those who received their first or second dose of COVID-19 vaccine tend to be first in line to plan their next adventure. And many other clients – who due to age or availability may not have access to the vaccine yet – are reaching out to plan their imminent escape from their “Working From Home” monotony.

With infection rates dropping while vaccination rates rise, that proverbial light at the end of the tunnel seems to be getting brighter.

What to expect when traveling now?

You probably know that it takes about two weeks after you’re fully vaccinated for the maximum protection afforded by today’s COVID vaccines to kick in.  (At Q, we are travel professionals, not medical experts. Please ask your physician whether it is safe for you to travel.)

And while you may be safer from COVID, please don’t think that COVID measures no longer apply to you. Responsible travelers will continue to follow local guidelines for social distancing, wear their masks, and protect fellow travelers who may not have been vaccinated yet, as well as themselves.

Also, flexibility is a must. As infection rates and local circumstances change, so will entry restrictions or testing requirements. While most travel providers offer more flexibility than usual in terms of cancellations or changes, you also need to mentally prepare yourself that your trip may not happen, or may not go exactly as initially planned.

So what are some of the travel trends and popular destinations we’re seeing? In today’s issue, we’ll talk about the last-minute, short haul trips and destinations our clients ask about right now:

South Florida Resorts

With many borders closed and snow buffeting Chicago and other locations in the USA, clients pine for some sun. That has resulted in (many last-minute) reservations for beach resorts in South Florida, such as oft-awarded (perfect for families or couples, but also for social distancing with only five rooms and suites per floor) and the (with its ultra-exclusive 25-room boutique hotel-within-a-hotel, Flagler Club, if you want even more privacy). Want something more contemporary? features colorful Jonathan Adler interiors and one of the best spas in the USA.

Bahamas and Caribbean

Many countries are still off-limits to US travelers. But some all-time favorites like Mexico, the Bahamas, Costa Rica and Anguilla, are welcoming us. Those who are comfortable crossing the border need to be aware that a PCR test before departure is required in most cases, and also when returning to the USA. Many of our hotel partners will facilitate these tests onsite, and in some cases even pay for them. For example the include the best food I’ve ever tasted at an all-inclusive resort, as well as your COVID-test before you fly back to the USA!

Worried about testing positive and getting stuck in quarantine before returning home? Well, should that happen at the gorgeous , you can quarantine up to 14 nights courtesy of the Baha Mar resort, with a $150 per day allowance for meals. Alternatively, you can be flown back to the USA on a private plane.

We’ve also seen interest in Puerto Rico peak: as a United States territory, no PCR test or immigration procedures are required when returning to the US mainland. Our clients also like the idea of combining history (San Juan is the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in the Americas); adventure and nature (the El Yunque National Forest is the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Forest Service) with .

American River Cruises

While ocean cruises from the US are still paused, is about to restart its river cruises on the Mississippi and other American waterways.

Important to know: American Queen Steamboat is one of the first cruise lines to require that all guests and crew are fully vaccinated against COVID from July 2021 onwards, which brings an extra level of comfort to clients.

Also important: there has been a huge run on these American sailings, so availability on some departures is very limited.

American Experiences: Road Trips and Southern Charm

While we’ve seen a distinct drop in travel to big American cities like New York or Chicago, smaller Southern cities like or are hugely popular right now.  Not surprising, considering they offer culture, history and fantastic (outdoor!) culinary experiences and great hotels.

Some clients say they prefer to drive rather than fly, so road trips have been appealing too, for example on parts of Route 66, or along Highway 1 in California, or the Blue Ridge Parkway near Asheville and the Blue Mountains.  And with our partners at Relais & Chateaux, we have been able to set up “Route du Bonheur” road trips along fantastic, typically small lodgings with spectacular restaurants.

Culinary enthusiasts have also been flocking to the amazing (and almost always sold out) .

American Experiences: Ranches and National Parks

The quest for space also means that National Parks and dude ranches in America’s “Wild West” are sought after. Ranches range from historic to spectacularly luxurious, and from Ted Turner’s private ranch to an entire Western village for your group’s private use.

The Islands of Hawai’i

Quarantine restrictions initially made Hawaii a bit less accessible, but now the state’s Pre-Travel Testing Program allows individuals to proceed without quarantine.  So if Pacific breezes and gorgeous scenery are on your wish list, talk to us. Here are some to whet your whistle.

Brand-new: “Sunshine and Serenity Cruise” in the Bahamas

Luxury cruise line Crystal Cruises is moving Crystal Serenity from Europe to the Bahamas.  While cruises from the USA are not yet authorized, starting in July, Crystal will offer weekly cruises from Nassau or Bimini exploring some of the lesser known island gems of the Bahamas. Ideal for those who are fully vaccinated (a new requirement on Crystal), Crystal Serenity offers a reasonably priced luxury cruise “fix” alternative to staying at home.

Our next post will be about travel further afield – both in time and distance.

It is exciting that more places are slowly opening up to welcome visitors. We realize that not everyone is ready for travel yet. Of course it is a personal decision. We just want you to know that, when you feel that the time is right for you, the team at Q will be here to help.

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Not everybody realizes that the team at Q doesn’t just plan cruise vacations or international travels.  In a year when our clients like to stay closer to home, but still want an experience that is out of this world, we’ve been planning more ranch vacations and trips to national parks. We have a wide access to a range of ranches (hah!): historic, luxurious, all about horses, or the perfect “dude ranch”.

Dude Ranch Vacations: Activities

What can you expect from Ranch Vacations? Of course activities vary by ranch.  That variety makes ranch vacations popular with families with children, or adults traveling by themselves or in a couple or group. Here are some ideas:

• Indulge your inner cowboy; enjoy the sport of horseback riding; meet a wrangler
• Explore stunning scenery and beautiful surroundings.  Many ranches, like Paws Up (see video below) are in domains so large that they might as well be a national park
• Dozens of activities: hiking; mountain biking; climbing; fly fishing; cooking classes; archery; rock climbing; canoeing; rafting; shooting; UTVs; ATVs; cattle drives
• Children tend to love a ranch stay too: which kid doesn’t want to be a cowboy or cowgirl?  Activities may include pony rides; horse riding; building forts; gold panning; go-kart driving; nature hikes; horse arena lessons; geocaching and much, much more.
• Or relaxing: wellness and spa treatments are available at many ranches, as our dozens of scenic spots where you can just relax
• Fine dining: if you associate ranch food with mystery meat grilled over a log with some baked beans, think again! Many ranches offer exceptional cuisine, indoor and outdoor, wonderful picnics, and plenty to enjoy.
• Traveling in the winter? A whole range of extra things to do: mountain tubing; ice skating; cross-country skiing; dogsledding; curling; fat tire electric bike tours; sleigh rides; snowmobiling; and winter horseback riding.

Ranch Vacations: Locations

You’ll find ranches spread out all over the United States.  Some of our favorites are located in Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Texas, and New Mexico. Of course that means you can enjoy diverse landscapes: mountains, deserts, or wide open spaces.  And the climate will vary too: hot and sunny, cool and comfortable – and even a winter paradise.

(By the way, want a ranch experience overseas, in for example the Australian Outback or on a gaucho ranch in Argentina? Call your Q travel advisor to get started.)

Ranch Styles and Accommodations

Like any vacation we plan at Q, we will try to understand what is important to you on this vacation, so we can match you with the best available option.  Here are some “Wild West” style ranch vacation options:

• All about horses: while there are many different activities, some ranches are particularly dedicated to wildlife, and especially horses.  These are the perfect locations to learn or indulge your love of horses.
• Luxury ranch lodging: fulfill your “modern cowboy” dream at a ranch where luxury comes first. A wide range of activities, typically very high levels of service and cuisine, these ranches are perfect for those who want to see whether they are cut out for the ranch lifestyle – but on their own terms.
• Amazing playgrounds: beautiful scenic ranches, with activities that go well beyond the expected. Tend to be face paced, lots of action and activities in a stunning setting so you feel like you’re “off the grid”.
• Historic ranches: some ranches are centuries old, or transport you back into history (don’t worry, they still offer the convenience you’d expect on vacation).  Perfect if you’d like the true Western experience.
• Private ranch estates: while most ranches will accommodate multiple parties (couples, families and many even have single travelers who enjoy meeting others during their Western adventure), we also have access to some private estates.  For example, if you’d like to go with a small group of friends or family, let us tell you about the private ranch home of Ted Turner and Jane Fonda.
• An entire private Western town in Colorado to top it all off.  Take over an entire traditional western town, with everything you’d expect: homes, saloons, shops, activities, a spa and of course excellent cuisine. Fly there by private helicopter and keep your environment and experience controlled. Exclusivity at its best. There is no website, no access and nobody else but you and up to 70 or so of your closest family and friends.

The Resort at Paws Up: a National Park in Every Way. Except, it’s private.

You’ll find one of Virtuoso’s favorite ranch experiences at The Resort at Paws Up. The Resort at Paws Up is a luxury Montana mountain resort on a sprawling 37,000-acre authentic working cattle ranch. It really is like being in your own National Park.  Except, the accommodations are quite a bit more comfortable: either a spacious private home for you and your family, or a sophisticated safari-style tent.  And soon, Paws Up will open the Green O; an adults-only hidden gem with 12 secluded Haus accommodations.

Click on the image below to see what a ranch vacation experience can look like:

Q clients will often get extras during their ranch vacations: a credit towards spa treatments, activities or merchandise, or other benefits. Call your Q Travel Advisor for details.

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