EBTA 2021 will it be going? Anyone with a magic ball?

[Toulou]

Should I plan on it? Flights, can't search yet. I don't even know if I can book flights to Italy and beyond. I'm starting to think that I will have to wait...but until when? And...if it goes, 14 days onboard the ship, get off in BCN, will I need to prove a vaccination, if available, within 3 days to travel onward...maybe it's just because Easter is still on my mind, what else could it be??

 

[ladyofthetramp]

No magic ball here. My cruise is in June- Italy/Greece-rebooked from this year. If you don't go on the EBTA, I don't go. I think I will be canceling before my PIF date in February. I don't want to, I just don't think they will be going. And if by miracle they do, I don't want to be under severe restrictions for such an expensive cruise. Waiting to see how things look by January. If they have not start to get crew ready etc, by then, our trips will be a long shot.

 

[BartmanLA]

Your first indication would be if they don't cancel the WBTA for 2021, if the ship doesn't go to Europe at all, that probably means your EBTA wouldn't happen.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I think the challenge of the EBTA is not just "will DCL be sailing" but "will European ports be willing to welcome Americans." If the answer to that last is no, DCL won't sail and may be cancelling the Europe season. And if the EBTA doesn't go not sure the WBTA will go, as contracting crew and dead-heading the Atlantic may not be the financial thing to do.

Spain, Italy and Greece are all not open for American arrivals now. Hard to call what spring will look like. We have to get through this fall first.

 

[braysmommy]

No clue but we are booked on this cruise and I'm not buying airfare. I'm not even sure we can now go, if it sails, since the college I work at has moved the spring semester to go later which will make it difficult for me to get off. Not knowing is driving me crazy and we have plan A, B, and C for next spring summer so hoping something pans out.

 

[DisBNewB]

Your first indication would be if they don't cancel the WBTA for 2021, if the ship doesn't go to Europe at all, that probably means your EBTA wouldn't happen.

Eastbound happens first, so they can do the European cruises over the summer, so it would be Westbound TransAtlantic passengers who'd be looking to see if the Eastbound happens...

 

[Toulou]

Thanks to all. I too may not be going but waiting until PIF date. I'm just going to cry...keeping my plan A for now...I wish I had a plan B and C!

 

[spiders]

I don't think the EBTA is dependent on the WBTA. I don't see them leaving the ship there until next summer.

I would bet $0 on the WBTA happening. I would be a decent amount that the EBTA does happen since the vaccine appears to be developing ahead of schedule.

 

[braysmommy]

Thanks to all. I too may not be going but waiting until PIF date. I'm just going to cry...keeping my plan A for now...I wish I had a plan B and C!

If it makes you feel any better plan B is Greek Island which obviously won't be an option if this cruise doesn't happen. Plan C is Hawaii land based vacation if we can get there. Or I guess Plan D is stay home and save some more money!

 

[Toulou]

If it makes you feel any better plan B is Greek Island which obviously won't be an option if this cruise doesn't happen. Plan C is Hawaii land based vacation if we can get there. Or I guess Plan D is stay home and save some more money!

Lol ...and I hope it doesn't get to plans x,y and z!! Lol lol

 

[GPaLarry]

We are counting on the Magic to be near Europe next summer for our British Isles/WBTA B2B. If it isn't there, we have a lot of swimming to do...yikes!

 

[BartmanLA]

Eastbound happens first, so they can do the European cruises over the summer, so it would be Westbound TransAtlantic passengers who'd be looking to see if the Eastbound happens...

Actually I meant to indicate if the 2020 EBTA and 2020 WBTA happens it might give an indication, I responded to this question too early to be fully away hence my confusion, my apologies.

 

[otten]

Your first indication would be if they don't cancel the WBTA for 2021, if the ship doesn't go to Europe at all, that probably means your EBTA wouldn't happen.

The EBTA is the cruise that goes to Europe in the spring. The WBTA goes back to the US in the fall.

 

[BadPinkTink]

wow, there is a lot of confusion in here

Westbound Transatlantic
Leaving Dover, England Friday October 2 2020
Arriving New York Monday 12 October 2020
CANCELLED

Eastbound Transatlantic - The cruise @Toulou is booked on
Leaving Miami Sunday May 9 2021
Arriving Barcelona, Spain May 22 2021

Westbound Transatlantic
Leaving Dover, England Saturday 18 September 2021
Arriving New York Wednesday 29 2021

The Magic is currently located in Dover, with a few day trips to Brest France.
The Magic had a dry dock scheduled in Cadiz for the conversion of staterooms to concierge. The concierge conversion is now cancelled, so its likely The Magic will go to dry dock in Brest for minor updates

The rumored restart date for The Magic is November 12, a 4 night Bahama cruise from Miami.

Between now and November The Magic needs to do a crew only transatlantic to reposition for the winter season Bahama and Caribbean cruises.

 

[tvguy]

I think the challenge of the EBTA is not just "will DCL be sailing" but "will European ports be willing to welcome Americans." If the answer to that last is no, DCL won't sail and may be cancelling the Europe season. And if the EBTA doesn't go not sure the WBTA will go, as contracting crew and dead-heading the Atlantic may not be the financial thing to do.

Spain, Italy and Greece are all not open for American arrivals now. Hard to call what spring will look like. We have to get through this fall first.

This really is the issue. While we had a Hodge-Podge of restrictions across the nation rolled out to try and control covid-19, too many Americans elected not to follow even the most minimum restrictions. And I have no idea when or IF a vaccine will be available, but I suspect people wanting it to go on a cruise are going to be at the bottom of the priority list, behind Health Care Workers, those at risk etc. I have a hard time believing that a vaccine will be ready and in adequate supply for recreational travelers to get shots until 2022 or maybe 23.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

This really is the issue. While we had a Hodge-Podge of restrictions across the nation rolled out to try and control covid-19, too many Americans elected not to follow even the most minimum restrictions. And I have no idea when or IF a vaccine will be available, but I suspect people wanting it to go on a cruise are going to be at the bottom of the priority list, behind Health Care Workers, those at risk etc. I have a hard time believing that a vaccine will be ready and in adequate supply for recreational travelers to get shots until 2022 or maybe 23.

I also don't know how the EU is going to feel about the alleged initial vaccine potentially rolling out this fall, depending on the clinical trial data. The US not being part of WHO trials is something the EU will look at.

 

[ScooterScott44]

We cancelled a trans-pacific on another cruise line that was scheduled around that time in 2021. We just got our refund on the flights. We are thinking that it might be possible to be cruising but international travel is the greater risk. For us it was too big of an investment to gamble so moved everything to 2022.

Good luck planning and hope you have fun no matter what you choose.

 

[harriet2]

Actually I meant to indicate if the 2020 EBTA and 2020 WBTA happens it might give an indication, I responded to this question too early to be fully away hence my confusion, my apologies.

But the WBTA 2020 has been cancelled long ago, so it's not strange people thought you ment the 2021 WBTA

 

[_auroraborealis_]

But the WBTA 2020 has been cancelled long ago, so it's not strange people thought you ment the 2021 WBTA

The Magic will come back empty. I doubt it will float empty in europe all winter.

 

[tvguy]

. I would be a decent amount that the EBTA does happen since the vaccine appears to be developing ahead of schedule.

I guess it depends on your definition of "ahead of schedule". 5 YEARS is the normal development time line. WHO today is saying the EARLIEST they hope to start getting a vaccine into wide distribution is mid-2021. That's IF trials go well. And I susepct recreational travelers are going to be at the bottom of the list to get the vaccine.

https://news.yahoo.com/tempers-quick-vaccine-hopes-162152624.html