Travel Tidbits - THE HILL GUYS® TRAVEL

COVID Vaccination Cruise Requirement on the Rise

4/5/2021

More cruise lines are getting onboard with requiring proof of COVID vaccinations for guests to sail. This is considered by many to be key to successfully restarting an already devastated industry while providing peace of mind for passengers and crew as well as the residents, workers and officials in the countries and destinations they serve.

Here are some lines on the list that are popular with Americans:

American Cruise Lines
American Queen Steamboat
Celebrity (from St Maarten)
Crystal (from Nassau and Bimini)
Cunard (UK)
Norwegian/NCL
Oceania
Princess (UK)
Regent Seven Seas
Royal Caribbean (from Nassau)
Virgin Voyages
Windstar: Vaccinated + negative test result

A vaccination requirement is "under evaluation" at these major lines:

Carnival
Disney
Silversea

These lists are for guest requirements. The majority of lines are already requiring their crews to be fully vaccinated regardless of their guest policies.

We at The Hill Guys Travel will not be surprised to see the list of mandated guest vaccinations grow in the near future.

Source: thepointsguy.com/guide/cruise-line-covid-vaccine-policy/

March 12th, 2021

3/12/2021

Quintana Roo to levy tourism tax on foreign visitors starting April 1

Quintan Roo is home to Mexico's top Caribbean hot spots:

Cancún
Cozumel
Playa del Carmen / Riviera Maya
Tulúm

The tax is $224 MXN pesos per person over age 15 (about $11 USD):

Tourists will be able to pay the new tax electronically when they book their trip, during their stay or upon exiting the state via a new website called Visitax.
There will be also an option to pay in cash at terminals set up in airports.

Flyers and Belize drivers: Currently, it looks like this only applies to foreign air passengers departing Cancún or Cozumel airports and drivers crossing QR's border with Belize. Airport enforcement is supposed to happen prior to departure, but the details are sketchy at the moment. We'll know much more after April 1st when it goes into effect and enforcement begins.

Cruisers: We cannot find that it will apply to cruise passengers for Cozumel or Riviera Maya as those ports already collect revenue from cruise passengers through port charges.

Resources:
Travel Pulse: https://www.travelpulse.com/news/destinations/quintana-roos-new-tourism-tax-goes-into-effect-april-1.html

Mexican News Daily: https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/quintana-roo-to-levy-visitor-tax-on-foreigners-starting-april-1/

Places Americans Can Travel Internationally 12MAR21

3/12/2021

Primary Source: The Points Guy - https://thepointsguy.com/guide/places-americans-can-travel-internationally/

There are over 90 foreign countries and territories that Americans may visit right now. COVID-19 restrictions may include some or most of the following:

Health questionnaire
COVID-19 pre-arrival test
In-person health screening
Post-arrival test
Quarantine
Curfews
Travel insurance with specific coverage for COVID-19 treatment and quarantine accommodations

As of January 26th, all passengers arriving to the USA by plane must have proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of departure to the US or a physician's certification of recovery from COVID-19. This requirement is for all passengers including American citizens and residents.

Some of the most popular destinations that are still off limits to Americans:

Canada
Argentina
Most of Europe
Iceland
Japan
China
Southeast Asia
India
Russia
Australia
New Zealand

The ability to purchase a ticket for an off-limits country does not mean that you'll be allowed to board the plane from the US. Airlines are still flying to those countries so that residents can return home and to move cargo.

Travel restrictions change frequently due to COVID-19 so it is recommended that one keeps apprised of the latest requirements for their destination(s). Check with your destination country's immigration or consulate for specific requirements. Here are some good resources to get started:

TIMATIC Travel Checker: https://www.united.com/en/us/timatic?i=TIMATIC
US State Dept - Consulate Info: https://www.usembassy.gov/#I
US State Dept - Country Info: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel.html
United: https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly/travel/notices.html
American: https://apply.joinsherpa.com/travel-restrictions?affiliateId=americanairlines
Delta: https://www.delta.com/content/www/us/en/travel-update-center/flying-what-you-need-to-know/coronavirus-regional-restrictions.html

JAN 26TH: Negative COVID-19 Result Required for All Air Passengers Entering the USA

1/13/2021

Negative test result within 3 days of flight departure or proof of recovery required

Effective January 26th, 2021:

Air passengers are required to 1) 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 2) provide documentation of a positive test result within the last 3 months and a physician's certification of having recovered from it.
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.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/s0112-negative-covid-19-air-passengers.html

No More Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) for Free on All Major US Airlines

1/9/2021

All the major US airlines will stop taking bookings for Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) by March 1st.

The United States' largest air carriers will no longer allow passengers to bring an Emotional Support Animal onboard for free. They include:

Alaska
American
Delta
JetBlue
Southwest
United

Going forward, passengers will have to pay a fee for carry-on or cargo stowage for all pets except trained service dogs. Access each respective airline's website for complete details.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA):

Service animals are defined as dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. Examples of such work or tasks include guiding people who are blind, alerting people who are deaf, pulling a wheelchair, alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure, reminding a person with mental illness to take prescribed medications, calming a person with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) during an anxiety attack, or performing other duties. Service animals are working animals, not pets. The work or task a dog has been trained to provide must be directly related to the person’s disability.
Dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the ADA.

https://www.ada.gov/service_animals_2010.htm

Alaska Airlines First to Ban Emotional Support Animals

1/2/2021

Alaska Airlines will ban emotional support animals (ESAs) for all bookings made Jan. 11 or later.

In addition, the carrier will prohibit ESAs, even for bookings that have already been made, for all flights beginning March 1.

Alaska is the first US carrier to announce such restrictions following the FAA's change in regulations in December 2020 that now requires airlines to only permit legal service dogs (those specifically trained to perform a task for a person with a physical or mental disability).

Source: Travel Weekly - https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Alaska-will-ban-emotional-support-animals

Airlines: Service Dogs Only

12/4/2020

US DOT has ruled that airlines may restrict service animals to dogs only.
Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) are no longer classified as service animals.

Effective January 3rd, 2021 - Airlines no longer have to recognize Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) as service animals. They are also allowed to restrict service animals to dogs only (even though other animals are trained as service animals).

Key Provisions

Definition of a Service Animal
A service animal is as a dog, regardless of breed or type, that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a qualified individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability.

Emotional Support Animals
Carriers are not required to recognize emotional support animals as service animals and may treat them as pets. This means that ESAs may no longer get to travel for free. They may be treated as a pet and require a fee.

Treatment of Psychiatric Service Animals
Psychiatric service animals are treated the same as other service animals that are individually trained to do work or perform a task for the benefit of a qualified individual with a disability.

Species & Dog Breed/Type
Carriers are permitted to limit service animals to dogs, but are prohibited from refusing to transport a service animal based solely on breed or generalized physical type.

For all provisions and explanations, get all the details of the final ruling here:
https://www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/2020-12/Service%20Animal%20Final%20Rule.pdf

Europe: Norway Extends Entry Ban for Third-Country Citizens Until June 2021

11/2/2020

October 31st - The Norwegian Ministry of Justice and Public Security has extended the entry ban until June 1, 2021, for third-country citizens (anyone outside the EU's Schengen Zone).

https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/news/norway-extends-entry-ban-for-third-country-citizens-until-june-2021/

Southwest Airlines - Exciting New Destinations

10/25/2020

Southwest Airlines has announced several new destinations. These adjustments are in response to the shifts in travel demand caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Miami - Sunday, November 15th

Year-Round Service

Between Miami and Tampa (three times daily in each direction)
Between Miami and Baltimore/Washington (four times daily in each direction)
Between Miami and Houston Hobby (four times daily in each direction)
Between Miami and Chicago Midway (once daily in each direction)

Fort Lauderdale service will not be affected.

Palm Springs (PSP) - Sunday, November 15th

Year-Round Service

Between Palm Springs and Oakland (twice daily in each direction)
Between Palm Springs and Phoenix (three times daily in each direction)
Between Palm Springs and Denver (once daily in each direction)

Colorado: Steamboat Springs (Hayden) and Telluride (Montrose) - December 19th

Seasonal Service: December 19th - April 5th

Steamboat Springs / Hayden (HDN)

Between Steamboat and Denver (up to three times daily in each direction)

Between Steamboat and Dallas Love Field (once daily on weekends in each direction)

Telluride / Montrose (MTJ)

Between Montrose (Telluride) and Denver (up to three times daily in each direction)
Between Montrose (Telluride) and Dallas (Love Field) (once daily on weekends in each direction)

First Half of 2021

Chicago O'Hare (ORD)

Flights will complement the routes from Chicago Midway
This addition is to provide the convenience of two airports in Chicago

Houston George Bush Intercontinental (IAH)

Flights will complement the routes from Houston Hobby
This addition is to provide the convenience of two airports in Houston

Colorado Springs (COS)

Savannah / Hilton Head (SAV)

Jackson MS (JAN)

Complete, Official Details: https://www.southwest.com/

Simplify Your International Flights: Vacation in a CBP Preclearance Destination

7/23/2020

CBP Preclearance: Decrease Stress by Clearing US Customs Abroad Before You Fly Home

Fly directly to the US from select foreign airports get to clear US passport and customs inspections before boarding your flight to the US.

With Preclearance, you arrive to the US like a domestic flight and bypass CBP and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) inspections upon U.S. arrival and proceed directly to your connecting flight or destination. Easy, breezy, beautiful!

16 Preclearance Locations

Canada
Caribbean

Aruba
Bahamas: Nassau and Freeport
Bermuda

Ireland

Dublin
Shannon

United Arab Emirates: Abu Dhabi

Source: https://www.cbp.gov/border-security/ports-entry/operations/preclearance

Hawaii Tourism Authority

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