The easing of COVID-19 travel restrictions across Europe is helping to bring back international travel in a big way.

Croatia is among the beneficiaries, with record numbers of visitors expected in 2022. Preparing for this surge, Katarina Line, Croatia’s premier small ship cruise company and DMC, is highlighting the many seamless transfers available among its wide range of land tours and Adriatic cruises that offer some of the best ways to explore the country “by land and by sea.” Katarina Line is also offering 10 percent off all cruises from April 23 to May 28, 2022, making spring an excellent time to visit Croatia.

Among Katarina Line’s most popular combinations is the 3-day “Coast Express” land program and 7-night “Breathtaking Croatia” cruise. Coast Express can originate from places such as Venice or Zagreb and connect to companion cruises in Opatija or Split. With the 10 percent discount, “Breathtaking Croatia” can start at $1,362, based on double occupancy.

Coast Express includes guided tours and popular excursions, such as a visit to Plitvice Lakes National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The park is Croatia’s largest, dominated by a mix of forests, meadows, and spectacular waterfalls.

“Croatia is much more than just its stunning Dalmatian coast and jewel-like islands, historic port towns and lush, natural wonders,” said Daniel Hauptfeld, Katarina Line’s marketing director. “It also has world-class cuisine, extraordinary architecture steep in history, and friendly people.”

Any Way You Like It

Katarina Line’s Coast Express land tour can originate from several different gateways. The Split and Zagreb gateways feature a guided tour of Croatia’s capital of Zagreb that includes such attractions as St. Mark’s Church and Lotrščak Tower. It also includes a guided tour of Split, Dalmatia’s largest city whose history and rich cultural heritage can be traced back to Roman times. In between is a day spent exploring Plitvice Lakes, the oldest Croatian national park with 16 lakes connected by picturesque waterfalls.

Coast Express also features an Italian gateway, with the tour originating in Venice and visiting Opatija and Plitvice Lakes, before concluding at Split. The Slovenian Gateway features a guided tour of Ljubljana’s three bridges, Prešeren Square and the Robba Fountain. It will also visit Lake Bled in the Julian Alps; and Postojna Cave Park, before concluding in Split.

A Breath of Sea Air

Katarina Line’s seven-night “Breathtaking Croatia” cruises between Opatija and Split, departing from each city on alternating weeks. The itinerary includes guided tours of Split; the island of Hvar, whose historic island town is home to 7th-century fortifications; a Venetian loggia; and historic piazzas. It will also visit the village of Primošten; Kornati National Park; the island of Vis and its famous Blue Cave; the city of Zadar; and the Roman and Venetian ruins of its Old Town.

Other highlights include a visit to Brijuni National Park near the Istria Peninsula. A deluxe cruise includes most breakfasts and lunches, a captain’s dinner, and wine tastings.

“Combining a land and cruise programs offers an exciting opportunity to experience all of what the country has to offer, with English-speaking guides showing you the way,” said Hauptfeld.

Katarina Line sails the Dalmatian coast with guaranteed departures from cities that include Split, Dubrovnik, and Opatija. It provides the full range of small ships, from Deluxe Superior vessels with a capacity of up to 39 persons to the more intimate sailing boats and catamarans.

Strict Health and Safety Protocols

Katarina Line observes strict health and safety protocols, with frequent and regular cleaning of all common surfaces, including handrails, doorknobs, and light switches, as well as the use of air purifiers in the restaurant area. Cabins are cleaned on a daily basis, upon request, with all surfaces thoroughly sanitized.

 

About Katarina Line Katarina is the premier small ship cruise company with a fleet of 60 ships and weekly guaranteed departures from the end of April to mid-October. It operates out of the major tourist centers of Opatija, Split, and Dubrovnik. With a growing fleet in six different categories, the company serves more than 110,000 clients that include 30,000 cruise guests of all ages and budgets. Katarina Line itineraries give travelers the opportunity to explore the stunning natural environment and picturesque Mediterranean towns of Croatia while hopping from one island to another, offering guests a unique opportunity to experience the true Croatia. The company enjoys an exceptional relationship with travel advisors, which account for more than 98% of all bookings worldwide. Katarina line is a member of many different travel associations, including USTOA, ASTA, NTA, ACTA, RDA, STAN and ETOA.  For more information, call toll-free 1-800-485-3121 or visit www.katarina-line.com.

 

In a statement sent to travel agents on Monday,  Celebrity Cruises canceled the 2022-2023 Asia season of the Celebrity Solstice with a total of 19 cruises affected.

“We have made the difficult decision to cancel our Asia season due to the ongoing uncertainty around when international operations might fully restart in this region,” the cruise line said in the statement. “We thank our guests for their patience and understanding as the world continues to reopen and we continue to work through unique circumstances.”

Celebrity is offering passengers booked on the cruises the option of applying their current booking to select Asia sailings in the 2023-2024 season or a full refund.

Celebrity is redeploying the Solstice to the Mexican Riviera,  replacing the seven-night sailings of the Celebrity Millennium. The Celebrity Millennium will be redeployed to the Caribbean.

Uber is planning to create a “superapp” that will include aircraft, trains, and rental vehicles,  partnering with airlines, railroads, and rental car companies to provide a seamless experience for customers who want to travel.

The announcement was made by the regional manager for the UK,  Jamie Heywood, who said, “Ultimately, we want to make it as easy to move people around the world as today to order a Uber, a one-stop-shop for all your travel needs.”

They also plan to incorporate flights, hotel accommodation, and even Eurostar train tickets by integrating leading partners

The app is expected to be launched in the U.K first, with other markets to follow. There is no set date for when the app will be available to the public.

For the first time in two years since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has lifted its risk advisory for cruises, indicating that while their suspension of the advisory does not mean there is no risk of Covid-19 infection onboard, cruise travel will no longer carry a CDC risk warning.w

CLIA issued a statement applauding the CDC’s removal of the risk warning and reiterated the stance that the move recognizes the effective public health measures in place on cruise ships helps to level the playing field, between cruise and similarly situated venues on land, for the first time since March 2020.

The cruise industry, caught up in a series of unfortunate infection outbreaks at the beginning of the pandemic, often expressed frustration at the unfavorable attention cruising received from the CDC as compared with land-based resorts and accommodations. In reality, the major cruise lines instituted some of the travel industry’s most stringent precautions during Covid-19, requiring masks and vaccinations on the majority of cruises. CLIA’s statement went on to indicate its cruise line members “are sailing today with health measures in place that are unmatched by virtually any other commercial setting.”

The CDC is still advising those cruising to be up to date on their Covid-19 vaccinations and to consult with their doctors about any precautions if immunocompromised or at high risk.

As a veteran of more than 40 international cruises, I used to turn up my nose whenever someone suggested that I sail from domestic ports. The only exceptions I ever made were a cruise to Iceland from New York City; a repositioning cruise to Japan that left from Seattle; one to South America that departed from Los Angeles; and two from Miami that sailed to Europe.

I reasoned that, if I was going to kill a night flying from LAX to a departure port and have an after-dinner drink and a Zolpidem tablet after dessert, I could just as easily wake up in Europe, Asia, or Australia as on the east coast of the US. Honestly, you don’t notice the difference—especially if you fly Business or Premium Economy.

After having two international jaunts canceled last year, and considering the possibility of the military crises in Europe broadening before I could sail again, I rethought these views. I booked a Fall Foliage Cruise from NYC to New England, Nova Scotia, Quebec, and Montreal for a client and us. It’s only 12 nights, but with overnight stays in NYC and Montreal, the trip will be nearly the Read the rest of this entry »