Tag Archives: Barcelona

Royal Caribbean Announces Sweeping Updates to 2021 Summer Cruises

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Independence of the seas in Southampton photo credit Dave Jones

Royal Caribbean International has announced a number of upcoming changes in itineraries and homeports to its summer 2021 cruises.

Highlights of the updated summer cruises for 2021 include new four- and five-night Mediterranean getaways from Barcelona, and more time in the Caribbean with ships sailing from additional  U.S. cruise ports next summer including Tampa, Fla. and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

New Itineraries and Homeports

Europe
• Adventure of the Seas, which was previously scheduled to sail from Copenhagen and Stockholm, will head for Barcelona to sail a mix of new 4- and 5-night Mediterranean itineraries.
• Jewel of the Seas, originally planned to homeport in Amsterdam and Barcelona, will now sail from Copenhagen and Stockholm on 7-night cruises calling on Northern Europe’s ports.

The Caribbean
• Independence of the Seas, originally sailing from Fort Lauderdale, Fla. offering 3- and 4-night cruises, will now make Miami her home for the summer season and offer a combination of 6- and 8-night cruises to the Southern and Western Caribbean.
• Vision of the Seas, which was previously planned to sail from Barcelona, will sail from San Juan, offering a new summer program. She will offer 7-night Southern Caribbean itineraries.
• Brilliance of the Seas will stay in Tampa for the summer offering a new drive to port for guests. She will sail 4-, 5- and 7-night cruises to the Caribbean.

In Europe, the Odyssey of the Seas will join Anthem and Harmony of the Seas and make its debut in Rome to kick off its inaugural Europe season.

In Alaska, the region will see the cruise line’s biggest season yet with four ships, including the Quantum of the Seas.

The Caribbean also includes the Mariner and Navigator of the Seas sailing 3-night weekend and 4-night weekday itineraries to The Bahamas and Perfect Day at CocoCay, and Oasis of the Seas cruising from the New York area for the first time. In Asia, guests can sail aboard the region’s newest ship, the Spectrum of the Seas, offering 4- and 5-night sailings from Shanghai and visiting Japan.

Foreign Office warns against all non-essential travel to the whole of Spain

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Coronavirus: UK brings back 14-day quarantine for Spain - BBC News

The Foreign Office has extended its advice against all but essential travel to the whole of Spain.

An update from the FCO on Saturday advised against non-essential travel to mainland Spain but excluded the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands.

That announcement corresponded with the government’s decision to remove the whole of Spain including the islands from the list of countries from which travellers are exempt from quarantine on arrival in the UK.

Industry leaders had called for air bridges to be set up between the islands and the UK, arguing that they were safer destinations than the mainland. On Monday afternoon, the BBC said a government source had confirmed talks were ongoing.

Major tour operators including Tui and latterly Jet2holidays suspended their programmes to mainland Spain but were continuing to fly to the Canaries and Balearics based on the FCO’s guidance.

The FCO said it has now extended its advice to cover the entire country following an assessment of Covid-19 risks.

Coronavirus: Spain races to save tourism as cases surge - BBC News

It said the advice was based on evidence of an increased number of cases of Covid-19 in several regions including Aragon, Navarra and Catalonia, which includes the cities of Zaragoza, Pamplona and Barcelona.

Holidaymakers in Spain are not being advised to leave at this time.

The updated advice says: “The FCO is not advising those already travelling in Spain to leave at this time. Travellers should follow the advice of the local authorities on how best to protect themselves and others, including any measures that they bring in to control the virus.

“If you are returning from Spain you will be required to self-isolate on your return to the UK, but the FCO is not advising you to cut short your visit. You should contact your tour operator or airline if you have any questions about your return journey.”

Carnival Magic to leave Miami

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Carnival Magic to leave Miami
Carnival Magic

The 1,845-passenger Carnival Magic next year will reposition from Miami to operate cruises from Europe, New York City and Port Canaveral, Fla.

Carnival Cruise Line said that the Magic will sail from four cities and two continents in 2021, including two transatlantic voyages.

The Magic will leave Miami for Europe in March 2021 and undergo a two-week drydock ahead of a series of seven- and eight-day Mediterranean cruises from Barcelona through the spring.

The ship will return to New York in June to kick off a summer schedule of four- to nine-day sailings to Bermuda, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, Canada and New England through late September.

The Magic will reposition to Port Canaveral in November to launch a winter season of six- and eight-day Caribbean cruises through April 2022.