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When I got off the Epic in 2019 after crossing the Atlantic, as I have many times in the past now, I had no idea it would be the better part of two years before I took another international vacation. I say vacation as I ended 2019 with a really fun “BRU boys” elite run to Brussels for dinner to be ready for my 2020 year (gosh, COVID has changed so much).
This trip was unique in so many ways (including wearing eye protection as well as tight-fitting 3M N95 masks) and over the coming weeks, I will be posting about all the bits that made it both fun and nerve-racking day by day. I am talking about the planning, the changes, the insurance steps I would never have dreamed of, the things that went well and the things that did not, the stress over possibly testing positive for COVID anywhere along the way, and the difference between travel in Europe and the USA right now.
So where did I go? Barcelona. Why? To get back on Epic for an Italian Haven cruise!
Yep. As I posted a while back, I took the “safest” trip I could, that is, a cruise with everyone wise enough to be fully vaccinated!
So what will I be covering?
- The booking and rebooking with SkyMiles and success in applying Global Upgrade certs for Delta one flights.
- EMed Tele COVID19 testing for flights. Worth it?
- Folks not wearing masks on jets!
- The Delta One 767-300 experience during COVID 2021
- The transfers from the airport, to the ship and back to the airport.
- The Hilton del Mar in Barcelona as a Diamond guest via Amex Hotel Collection stay.
- The refurbished Norwegian Epic Haven for 2021 – The good and the bad.
- Shots from my excursion in Spain and Italy
- The updated Barcelona BCN lounge.
- The Delta One 767-400 refurbished seat experience during COVID 2021
- Weather diversion on the way home and Delta steps up yet again.
As you can see I have a lot to share and what you can expect travel to be like when you once again venture out (maybe you already have as flights, and airports, are packed).
I will end this teaser post about the trip with one overriding feeling. There is such a massive divide between Europe and the US right now. In Europe masks are the norm. They are taking COVID seriously and caring about others. In fact, take a look at the numbers the week before my departure from Our World Data:
As you can see, it was much safer for me (once I got there) to be in Spain and Italy than to be in the US. There they get it. They are showing fellow feelings about one another. They are racing to get everyone vaccinated rather that here where, even almost two years into this disaster, some in the US still refuse to help both themselves and others and get the shot! Cabs, in Spain, feel safe with plastic dividers and limited contact while here in the US my cab driver, who packed a ton of folks in, did not wear a mask (he had it around his neck).
The contrast was striking.
The trip truly was amazing and so much fun and needed for me. It is so great to be back out but many of the things that have happened, and what is required, has me rethinking what I will do over the next year and where I will go and do. Thankfully I got my COVID booster shot this past Friday so I will feel good about what I do choose to do. – René
Disclaimer: I am LONG NCLH stock for the onboard credit shareholder perk every time I cruise with Norwegian Cruise Lines!
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Rene, The Epic is the worst ship NCL owns. Although you were in the Haven, the split bathrooms are just awful and the ship layout where you walk through the smoky casino. NCL agrees as they never built another one like it.
Got our 1st cruise since 2019 on the Escape in 21 days.
I look forward to all your posts.
@Byron – The Epic has many good and many really bad points. I was in a refurbished Haven Spa suite (youtube video of the room here fyi). There was no smoking in the casino (for now). The Escape is a very nice ship and happy you get to return to the seas as well.
Welcome back Rene. You back on the scene like no other:)
Who Let Rene Out!
WOOF-WOOF-WOOF
Congratulations on your trip! I just got back from my first international trip in about 20 months. It was a trip to Greece. For US citizens it was easier going (essentially just proof of vaccination) than coming back to the US (negative test required). N95 masks offer the best protection, but I find the fact that the straps go behind the head to be very inconvenient. Putting on and taking off the N95 mask is a real pain and much harder than with masks like KN95 that hook behind the ears. Also masks that hook behind the ears shouldn’t mess up your doo as much by wearing or putting on and taking off. Not my problem b/t/w ha ha!
@john – Thanks! Congrats on your trip. I agree the behind the head straps are a pain but I wanted to be as safe as possible before getting to the ship. More on that in the posts ahead.
Unvaccinated, I’ve hit 51 countries in the last 2 years. No precautions, no interest in them.
@Don – You are the reason we can not have nice things. Get the shot!
“I’ve hit 51 countries in the last 2 years.”
Pictures or it didn’t happen.
“I’ve played Russian Roulette with the health of myself and others many times, and CLICK every time”
Not Belgium or Canada, which don’t allow Plague Rats. Which 51 countries?
Just did our first International in 2 years(exactly) –to Scotland.. Pre-testing was done 48 hours before we left the US..But we also had to fill out LOTS of Paperwork and order and pay 148 pounds each to get the required NHS Covid tests to get a visa to land.. Also in AMS we had to go to a testing-security area to have all of our papers gone over again…. The NHS tests were at the Hotel on our arrival and had to be done and sent on Day 2 a Sunday(also needed to fill out 8 pages on the NHS system to register the tests to us) but on Saturday we had to do our Fit to Fly tests to enter the US again, for our Monday return .. LOTs of testing and $$$$$$. Everywhere we went masking in place and limited entry numbers to stores and restaruants. The forms and Pharmacy testing sites took up a lot of time… This was for those vaccinated!!!! and Boostered… think we will wait to do this again…
Great to see that you had such a nice trip! We look forward to travelling to Italy next summer. Italy certainly has more of a sense of community in many ways. I favor the KF94 these days you should look into them. They fold flat, “boat” style molds to nose and is very comfortable to wear, and the Koreans come down hard on counterfeiters so low-standard junk is unheard of.
Just went through re-upping our family Global Entry and CLEAR etc. for the future.
“You have only yourself to blame if you get sick…”
Nah, others who spread the virus are culpable.
I don’t mean to be negative but if my risk appetite required that my immune system needed an N95 I would never get on a plane or cruise ship. There is great risk to persons with weakened immune systems or those that aren’t vaccinated or haven’t had COVID yet. Other than those situations It’s mostly a matter of fear at this point and if that is the case why expose yourself at all. I’m glad to see you travel so enjoy your trip.
@DaninMCI – I will be covering it more in the posts ahead but NCL tests everyone before they get on the ship. A positive result means no two week cruise for me. I was not taking any chances (nor have I got COVID so far).
@James – Airborne virus and if you ask infectious experts they will tell you eyes are a point that you can get infection (also why you see some choose to fly with full face shields).