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Know your itinerary If ports of call are important, be aware that individual nations, particularly in the Caribbean, have been inconsistent about keeping their port privileges open − especially throughout the pandemic. Many remain skittish as they realize the potential hazard which thousands of disembarking foreign visitors represent to their fragile environments. For example, Castries, a city of only 65,000 and chief port for the Windward Island country of St. Lucia (a top draw for Canadian tourists), has two major piers disembarking thousands of cruise passengers each day − a situation replicated throughout the entire Caribbean basin. That’s a big pool of potential contagion. COVIDmay have regressed, but lessons have been learned and local health authorities are much more sensitive to such impacts on their small communities. Be prepared for last-minute itinerary changes or port calls. They don’t come with a money-back guarantee. Get real with the new cruise lifestyle The growing fleet of mega ships aggressively being marketed to affluent younger cohorts and families emphasizes frills and amusements to keep days “fun-filled.” Water slides, bumper cars, minigolf, skating rinks, volleyball, pickleball or basketball courts and “zip lines” that propel tightly harnessed daredevils along spindly looking cables from upper to lower decks in breathtaking seconds are all designed to keep cruisers from getting bored or snoozing their days away. They need to be kept moving about − and spending. But “big” is not the only story in cruising. Smaller vessels (1,500 to 3,500 passengers) still represent the mainstream of the world’s cruise vessels and these offer a more relaxed and restful sojourn. And let’s not forget the growing fleet of smaller, more intimate, river cruises (particularly European), which are designed to feature the riches of the countries through which they sail. No need for zip lines to keep you engaged. Certainly, the impact of COVIDwill be long lasting. Masks and distancing may still be required for certain venues (especially embarkation/ disembarkation stations), and gone are the days of all-you-can-eat, self- service buffets. Food and beverages will be served by staff. Selfservice beverage stations will be manned by crews doing the serving. No sharing of utensils. Crowd functions such as discos or poolside belly-flop contests will be more restrained. Actually, it sounds like a return to civility, whichmay not be bad. Cruise vessels no longer need to abide by the CDC protocols, but they still maintain their own rules. Also, make sure that your international travel documents are in order and that you understand the requirements of individual ports of call if you intend to tour in a foreign country − even for just a few hours. 22 | www.snowbirds.org Travel

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