Magic Going to Europe this Year?

[brentm77]

Testing might not even be required by Summer. Things are changing every day and new problems cropping up. I would not base any decisions on what going on today for a vacation 4-6 months from now.

Exactly. Nobody knows what June will be like right now. I understand not embracing the uncertainty, but I would never assume it will be like today. Things have changed rapidly and will continue to change. Hopefully for the better.

As for testing to return, big players in the travel industry are pressing for the removal of testing to fly into the US. So far, the administration has resisted, but the administration is signaling they are at least listening.

We are fully committed. If Disney doesn't sail, we will spend two weeks traveling Italy instead of just the one before the cruise. I had family visit last summer and they had a great time.

 

[Intr3pid]

Magic cruised in Europe at the height of the Delta variant, and it will cruise this summer as well. In fact, this should be one of the best summers to visit Europe in a long time. Low crowds, great rates, and a fully vaccinated continent fresh out of a flattened Omicron wave.

That said, if you have zero flexibility in your travels, this round isn't for you. Or if you can't handle a few days of a hotel room in Barcelona. Or if a European cruise is a "once in a lifetime" vacation. Or if your employer needs you on your desk tomorrow.

 

[Chipmunkmaniac]

I do believe they will sail (and I hope so cause I have a couple being booked) I agree numbers of Americans on the ships will be low but don't forget the Europeans represent a big chunk on the ship (esp UK and Spanish people) so may be thats what they need: the Americans cancelling to keep the occupancy at level with guidance. And for cruises with low occupancy such as the second MED they are already selling GTYs with restrictions.

 

[mousefan73]

I’m seriously wondering if it makes sense to cancel our wish Sailing end of August and maybe look out for super good deals on the European Sailings

 

[Bibbidi_Boo]

Testing might not even be required by Summer. Things are changing every day and new problems cropping up. I would not base any decisions on what going on today for a vacation 4-6 months from now.

This! We have a cruise end of august, while I am not getting my hopes up we will actually be able to go I am also not cancelling it yet since so much is changing and fast.

 

[DCLMP]

This! We have a cruise end of august, while I am not getting my hopes up we will actually be able to go I am also not cancelling it yet since so much is changing and fast.

I was surprised to see people canceling their European cruises two months ago based on Omicron. Maybe they were on the fence anyway and that just pushed them over. With prices rising on everything and no end in sight. I could see people having a "lack of confidence" when it comes to spending thousands of dollars on a vacation. I'm wondering if it's a prudent thing to do. I haven't felt that way in 15 years. If I feel that way I'm sure others do too. Unfortunately, I've always been pretty comfortable spending money. I will see how everything plays out and make a decision at the end of June.

 

[DCLMP]

I do believe they will sail (and I hope so cause I have a couple being booked) I agree numbers of Americans on the ships will be low but don't forget the Europeans represent a big chunk on the ship (esp UK and Spanish people) so may be thats what they need: the Americans cancelling to keep the occupancy at level with guidance. And for cruises with low occupancy such as the second MED they are already selling GTYs with restrictions.

I've done 5 European sailings and I wouldn't say Europeans make up a good chunk. I would estimate the ships were about 80% American.

 

[Bibbidi_Boo]

I was surprised to see people canceling their European cruises two months ago based on Omicron. Maybe they were on the fence anyway and that just pushed them over. With prices rising on everything and no end in sight. I could see people having a "lack of confidence" when it comes to spending thousands of dollars on a vacation. I'm wondering if it's a prudent thing to do. I haven't felt that way in 15 years. If I feel that way I'm sure others do too. Unfortunately, I've always been pretty comfortable spending money. I will see how everything plays out and make a decision at the end of June.

Our cruise is the Wish, so less things to worry about making it happen. I really suspect summer travel is going to be low everywhere, so many just can't afford it. I have been seeing grocery costs going up and up and everything else.

 

[Chipmunkmaniac]

I've done 5 European sailings and I wouldn't say Europeans make up a good chunk. I would estimate the ships were about 80% American.

not my experience at all. I ve been on european cruises with PLENTY of people from the UK and on the Med cruises plenty of Spanish. You say 20-80, I would rather say 40-60 and with the limited capacity on the ship that would basically mean its balancing out the way it needs to be...

 

[DCLMP]

not my experience at all. I ve been on european cruises with PLENTY of people from the UK and on the Med cruises plenty of Spanish. You say 20-80, I would rather say 40-60 and with the limited capacity on the ship that would basically mean its balancing out the way it needs to be...

limited capacity won’t last forever. It might be over in the next month. Exactly what are their capacity limits?

 

[Bibbidi_Boo]

limited capacity won’t last forever. It might be over in the next month. Exactly what are their capacity limits?

It might be over soon but they aren't even hitting the limited capacity lately.

 

[DCLMP]

Our cruise is the Wish, so less things to worry about making it happen. I really suspect summer travel is going to be low everywhere, so many just can't afford it. I have been seeing grocery costs going up and up and everything else.

I guess I’m getting old because I’ve gone through so many economic downturns. We were never affected by them. We always took advantage of all the travel deals. This Is different there are no deals and you can’t escape inflation. With two kids in college I’m feeling it. Vacations will be the first thing we cut back on.

 

[Snowwhyt]

I think through the lower transmission months the EBTA through summer would sail now even if a new virus was detected. Cruises have now sailed through terrible numbers during high transmission months. Methodologies in place to reduce the spread.
Although, in the fall when things could start to swing in a much more dire direction, changes and cancelations could happen. That could include foreign ports from stopping foreign travelers from infecting a country, and good for them I say. No country needs foreigners bringing illness and must do what they need to keep the spread down.
I think Hawaii will pull the plug or make requirements the ships will not be willing meet (PCR testing at/before port entry)
But I think we are great though July and Aug-Sept maybe good months still. Oct and forward is a gamble because of the “season of illness” would be upon us as usual. Where a new virus could be the wicked child of Delta and Omicron. That’s an ugly ugly kid I’m thinking and no manners.
I’m on EBTA and 99.8% sure it will sail.

 

[Bibbidi_Boo]

I guess I’m getting old because I’ve gone through so many economic downturns. We were never affected by them. We always took advantage of all the travel deals. This Is different there are no deals and you can’t escape inflation. With two kids in college I’m feeling it. Vacations will be the first thing we cut back on.

Some do fine, we weren't really affected by the last one and should rid this one out fine, but we also noticed how low crowds were during the last one and the slow build up to where things were much busier. Locally I know many that are worried and aren't ready to sink lots of money into things .

 

[dcassetta]

Magic cruised in Europe at the height of the Delta variant

This doesn't really describe what the Magic did. She didn't cruise Europe, she did short at-sea cruises in with strict limits on who could sail.

Hopefully the new omicron BA.2 strain will not create a significant increase in cases and the European season can be more normal.

 

[tidefan]

This doesn't really describe what the Magic did. She didn't cruise Europe, she did short at-sea cruises in with strict limits on who could sail.

Hopefully the new omicron BA.2 strain will not create a significant increase in cases and the European season can be more normal.

The only good news here is that Europe is much farther along with BA.2 and cases are starting to drop, even with that.

 

[ladyofthetramp]

So I just got off the phone with DCL asking about air, because my understanding was if we booked air through DCL and they (DCL) cancelled, the air fare would be refunded. The agent told me that is not longer the case and it is subject to airline penalties (which, BTW, is a different story than I got yesterday), so that’s not good…

Ouch! Really? Ours was booked through Disney the first time (Italy/Greece 2019-non-refundable tickets) and when they cancelled, we got refunded in full. I consider us lucky-we did not lose a dime on that vacation. Last year, we didn't even bother to book the airfare, so no losses there and they cancelled. This year-haven't booked the airfare. I would need the US to drop their arrival testing for US citizens, which I do think they will at some point this spring. And if you are fully vaccinated and boosted to not have to test to board-doubt that will happen in June. That is the wildcard in all this as well. To travel, to spend a few days in Rome is a huge risk. You can't stay in a bubble. You need to fly there. I am agonizing over this cancellation much more than I need to, I think. I just really want to go after 2+ years of waiting. The kids, who this trip was planned for and their graduations-all graduated. Doubt we will be able to travel as a family, as I hoped for. If I am not willing to risk flying from the northeast to Port Canaveral to risk a positive at the port, I certainly am not going to fly to Italy. I guess hope springs eternal, but reality lives in my mind. I need to pull of the bandaid, cancel and rebook next year. I am pretty hopeful, at this point anyway, that may finally be my time to go.

 

[tidefan]

Ouch! Really? Ours was booked through Disney the first time (Italy/Greece 2019-non-refundable tickets) and when they cancelled, we got refunded in full. I consider us lucky-we did not lose a dime on that vacation. Last year, we didn't even bother to book the airfare, so no losses there and they cancelled. This year-haven't booked the airfare. I would need the US to drop their arrival testing for US citizens, which I do think they will at some point this spring. And if you are fully vaccinated and boosted to not have to test to board-doubt that will happen in June. That is the wildcard in all this as well. To travel, to spend a few days in Rome is a huge risk. You can't stay in a bubble. You need to fly there. I am agonizing over this cancellation much more than I need to, I think. I just really want to go after 2+ years of waiting. The kids, who this trip was planned for and their graduations-all graduated. Doubt we will be able to travel as a family, as I hoped for. If I am not willing to risk flying from the northeast to Port Canaveral to risk a positive at the port, I certainly am not going to fly to Italy. I guess hope springs eternal, but reality lives in my mind. I need to pull of the bandaid, cancel and rebook next year. I am pretty hopeful, at this point anyway, that may finally be my time to go.

In fairness, I have called 2 different times and gotten 2 different answers on this, so take it with a grain of salt…

 

[diablodancer]

Full expect the Magic sailings to go ahead but could see some changes to itinerary’s as and when needed to adapt to any new variants/waves etc.

What I am curious about is whether the Northern Europe itineries might be changed due to potential sanctions on Russia and potentially the security situation there (there was a US warning out for potential bombings in St Petersburg and Moscow yesterday, for example).

 

[Annabell]

We are thinking to book the 1e Med cruise, hopefully they will go ahead as scheduled. Are the embarkation requirment (like testing at port) the same as in US ?