Cruise

I was blissfully ignorant of what my travel future held for me when I boarded a plane in Memphis, Tennessee, on Feb. 15, 2020, headed (via Toronto and Frankfurt) to Tunis, Tunisia.

My plan was to spend six days in each of two North African countries, Tunisia and Algeria.

"I certainly empathize with Mrs. Zent’s experience of being disembarked unexpectedly from her cruise. My husband, Bob, and I have been disembarked unexpectedly not once but twice from cruises.

"The first time was in October 2018 while traveling on a Panama Canal trip aboard the Volendam of Holland America Line (877/932-4259; www.hollandamerica.com). ... At every step, I felt support from the ship's staff. ..."

The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) moved to allow some cruise ships to dock in US ports as of Oct. 31, upon the expiration of the last no-sail order. Sailings will begin with a series of “test” cruises, to ensure that ships will be able to meet requirements for testing and safety. If the results prove successful, then a wider range of cruises from and to the US will be allowed.

Cruises have been banned from US ports due to the COVID-19 pandemic since March 14.

I read Julie Skurdenis’ article “The Māoris of Aotearoa (part 1)” with great interest (Oct. ’20, pg. 27). My husband and I visited most of the Māori sites mentioned when we stopped in Rotorua on a cruise from Auckland, New Zealand, to Melbourne, Australia, aboard the Radiance of the Seas in February 2019.

Like Julie, we also used the travel agency Aspire Down Under (New York, NY; www.aspiredownunder.com) and their terrific travel agent Joanne Morgan (877/727-7473, ext. 103, joanne@aspiredownunder.com).

8 days, 7 nights aboard a dhoni (sailboat) in the MALDIVES. Departures Jan.-April, Aug. 2021-Jan. 2022. Highlights: In Malé, fish market, Malé Friday Mosque/sail to Vaavu Atoll, explore Kudiboli, Kuda Anbaraa islands/Meemu Atoll for snorkeling, beach barbecue/meet residents of Fulidhoo. $1,650-$1,710 ppdo. Explore! (Farnborough, Hampshire, England; in US, 800/715-1746, www.exploreworldwide.com).

The closing of borders worldwide due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic led to the canceling and postponing of countless travel plans. ...
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Following is an excerpt from DL Shearer's letter.

"Along with my sister and her grandson (his first cruise), I was scheduled to depart on a 7-day cruise with Holland America Line (Seattle, WA; 877/932-4259, hollandamerica.com), round trip out of San Diego and visiting Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta, on Saturday, March 14. ..."