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1/10/2022

10 Tidbits for First-Time Cruisers

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Congratulations; you have now booked your first cruise!

You are getting ready to explore the seas and the exquisite destinations that your ship will take you. It is a unique experience in traveling, so here are a few tidbits about cruising to help prepare you for the experience.

Happy Sailing!

1. ​The check-in process can be LONG

Expect to spend an hour doing your first online check-in. The online check-in process can be quite long. A few weeks before your cruise, you will have access to do your online check in. This is where the cruise line gets every single piece of information about you: emergency contact, incoming and outgoing flights, allergies, on-board debit or credit card information, identification documents, etc.
For this process, you will need your reservation information for your cruise, your incoming and outgoing flight information (airline, flight times, and flight number), identification (i.d.) information—i.e., passport number, debit or credit card number, etc.

​*Unfortunately, this is something that your travel agent cannot do on your behalf. There are a lot of terms and conditions for you to review and sign-off on that your travel professional cannot sign for you.

2. ​The cruise lines pre-authorize your credit or debit card

A little known fact for new cruisers is that the cruise lines will pre-authorize your debit/credit card on file. Each cruise line is different in how much they pre-authorize, but it is safe to assume that it will be about $60-$100 per person per day (for a 8-day cruise, the pre-authorized rate will be between $480 - $800 per person). This assures that you can pay for anything that you buy on the ship including drinks, specialty dining meals, photos, the casino, or shore excursions.

*Note: if you go above the per day amount, the cruise lines will do another pre-authorization on your card. This per day amount includes the gratuities—which will be discussed in tidbit #4.

3. ​Sea days are your vacation away from your vacation

​“Why are there so many sea days?! They’re just a waste!” is a comment I’ll receive from non-cruisers. The reality is that sea days give you time to truly relax on your vacation. When your cruise is chalked full of port calls, it can be rather tiresome! Getting up early every morning to rush off the ship, run around all day at your destination, and come back to a ship full of food and entertainment is exciting yet also exhausting. Sea days allow you to catch your breath as a vacation on your vacation—get that much needed spa service, check out shows, do a food/wine tasting, or merely hang out at the pool and rec centers.

4. TIPPING is not REQUIRED--
​Gratuities are automatically put on your account

Tipping is customary in a lot of travel related industries. You tip your car drivers, wait staff, and housekeeping attendants. However, in the cruise industry, tipping (often called gratuities or service charges) has been automated rather than having you feel the need to pull out cash or calculating what to tip at every venue on the ship. The cruise lines have already added up how much each person should pay per day, which is then divided between the staff. This daily total depends on the cruise line but can be between $15-$20 per person per day.

There are typically four ways to pay this: pre-paid, on-board account, not at all, or by special promotions.

Pre-paid
You have the option to pre-pay the gratuities with your travel agent. This amount is added to your final bill and will be due by the final payment date.
*I always suggest this for travelers—it’s just easier on everybody and less confusing in the end.

On-board
If you do not pre-pay it, you will see the daily gratuity automatically added to your on-board account each day. (Some people wonder what this random $15.69 charge on their Account is—only to find out that it is the daily gratuity.)

Not at all
There is another option too—not to pay!
Before you try this option, it may take guts, fortitude, and some explanations. You can request that the cruise line remove the gratuities if you feel that the cruise line has gone below and beyond in what they gave to you. This is your chance to let them know about your experience and request to not include the gratuities on your balance. (I’m not sure EVERY guest service associate will be inclined to do it, but you can request it.)

By special promotions!!!
The last way to pay for your gratuities is to book a promo with the pre-paid gratuities included.

The Cruise Lines will often run promotions to incentivize people to book with them—see tidbit #9. There are a lot of promotional items that the cruise lines can include and one of them includes the pre-paid gratuities. Whenever you hear of this particular promo—jump on it, it is becoming increasingly rare to see and is an instant savings for your trip. (But, don’t fear taking tips out of the pockets of the wonderful staff, the cruise lines still make sure the staff is taken care of during these special promos.)

*I would be amiss to say, if you want to tip any of your crew extra, even though it is not required, you can tip extra to crew who have gone above and beyond in making your experience the best it can possibly be.

5. ​Guided excursions guarantee you won’t be left

If you are at all like me and stress about making it back to the ship on-time, you might want to consider getting a guided excursion done by the cruise line. They have many excursions to choose from including food and drink tastings, guided tours of the city/region, zip lining or boating activities, and so much more. The difference between doing an excursion on your own or one with the ship is that YOU WON’T BE LEFT. Since you booked it with the cruise line, they guarantee that you will make it back to the ship in time before they disembark the port.

After being one of the last passengers to arrive back to the ship within minutes of the cruise lines shutting the doors myself, this is a good option to have. You absolutely do not want to be left by the ship—luckily, I have never been left nor have any of my traveling clients—whew! (But, I won't mention the ONE that almost got left in Victoria, BC.)

6. Pack dress and party clothes

Packing for a trip—on any normal occasion—can be an interesting experience. Packing for a cruise is WAY more interesting. There are so many more occasions on a cruise to pack for than on a normal vacation. You have your casual attire for the ship and casual attire for the port, pool/ spa attire for the ship and beach water-ware for the port, and (DO NOT FORGET) dress-ware for dress night on the ship.

Many cruise lines have gone away with the too formal and too stuffy dress code of the past for the entire ship. However, many of them have kept a couple special “dress nights.” On these nights, the dining rooms will only allow you in if you are dressed up. (For men, the attire is a collared shirt and slacks. For women, the standard is equivalently the same. Just no light-colored jeans, tank tops, etc.) I found these nights to be quite fun—seeing everyone’s Sunday best. It was also nice being complimented on how I looked while also pinning over some fancy dresses.

A special note: some cruise lines will have special request dress nights like a white/red party or a 70’s night. Be sure to ask your travel agent and ship experience crew about what special nights they have in-store.

​7. Get to know the ship and brand before you go!!!

Each ship and each brand is different!

A cruise with a medium-sized ship is different than one of the largest cruise ships in the world. A cruise with a destination focused company is different than one focusing on the overall experience. A cruise line catering to luxury travelers who are retired is different than one catering to budget-conscious travelers who are in the early/mid-part of their career. It is good for you to know this information BEFORE booking your trip, but also as your trip gets closer to its sail-date.

Holland America ships tend to not have all of the bells and whistles. Instead, they focus on the destination. They have seminars about the ports coming up and a cooking show that features local culinary delights. This experience is quite different than Norwegian Cruise Lines. NCL ships tend to focus on the overall experience. This experience starts the moment that you get on their ship with the water slides, broadway type performances, and maybe even a game of laser-tag.

Ask your travel agent which brand and which ship might be the best for you. If you have never worked with your agent before, they may ask a ton of questions about the experience type of experience that you are looking for and give you a few options to look at. If you and your travel agent have known each other for a long time, they’ll already know most of your preferences and should be able to advise you to the best cruise line for the way you like to travel.

8. Tour the ship first

Adding onto tidbit 7, since each ship is different, take a tour as your first vacation experience. These ships can feel like floating cities and will be your home-away-from-home for your vacation. That’s why I like to get acquainted with the ship. It also helps me make a game plan of all of the fun activities to do. I like to go to my stateroom first and then visiting the staterooms of the others in my group. From there, I find the main spots: casual dining, main dining, pool, and party venue. After getting a general understanding of my home for the next several days, I go to all of the unique places on the ship that set it apart from other cruise lines or other ship categories within its own line. (NCL’s Norwegian Epic is quite a bit different than the Norwegian Encore.)

9. Book special promotions or before you get off the ship

The Cruise Lines ALWAYS have some type of promotion going on—your travel agent will know exactly what they are and when it’s the right time for you in particular to book your trip under which promotional. Places like Holland America have a All4Choice that includes 1) a drink package, 2) a specialty dining meal, 3) an internet package, and 4) shore excursion credit. Norwegian Cruise Lines has a similar promos that can include a certain percentage off the 2nd passenger or can include the 3rd and 4th passengers for taxes only, a drink package, internet package, shore excursion discount, and free air on 2nd passengers.

It always varies. Here are some popular promos (terms and conditions of the cruise lines apply):
  • Beverage package—typically including 15 drinks a day including alcohol under a certain rate, premium coffees and juices, and sodas
  • Special dining meal—Cruises have free buffet style food and dining rooms included in your fare. However, they are include SPECIALTY dining restaurants to elevate your experience—Japanese sushi fine dining, premium steakhouse, fine dining French restaurant, etc. You get to choose a meal to enjoy during your cruise. Be sure to reserve your time!
  • Internet package—a 250 minute internet package (1 login). To be honest, this is nice to have but can be unreliable on the ship. It really is only good to share social media posts to make all of your friends jealous … and keep mom and dad or your kids updated that your alive and well.
  • Shore excursion discount—all of the cruise lines do this different and base it off of how many days your cruise is, but you can typically see a shore excursion discount of a certain dollar amount on one excursion or on one excursion per port.
  • 3rd and 4th person free/taxes only—cruise lines will never truly give a cruise away, but they will give it to you for the taxes and port fee expenses. So if you see this deal know that you’ll still pay a bit for those spots, but it will be significantly reduced. *Note—gratuities are still paid on the 3rd and 4th guests in this promotional.

10. Gain membership and reward points with your favorites

Each cruise line has a membership—just like an airline’s mileage program or a hotel’s membership. You typically gain more points by cruising more—1 day at sea = 1 point (*in-suites, 1 day at sea = 2 points). You’ll start gaining points on your first cruise and will then be instantly included in the rewards for your next cruise. Some of these rewards include discounts in their duty-free store or a complimentary bottle of wine or chocolate covered strawberries. As your cruise with them more, you gain better rewards for every cruise that you do. Some of the higher tiers receive a dinner with the captain or a personal concierge.


Norwegian Cruise Lines just revamped their tiers on January 10, 2021. Here are their reward offerings in their latitudes loyalty program:
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Happy Sailing

Cruising is such a unique experience. With these 10 tidbits, you will be well-prepare to experience your first cruise. I cannot wait to hear about your experience on-board and to see your pictures. Please share those with your travel agent and tag us on facebook @CatalystTravel and #inspiringconnections.
Happy Sailing!

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7/17/2021

Travel with Ernie to New York

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Here's my video blog of my travel to New York City--it's a wonderful city and everything is open except for one MAJOR part.

Not only does this video cover my 7 day trip to New York, but talks about some of the current tips and tricks to get around easily and without breaking the bank. I checked out Grand Central Terminal, the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and the 9/11 Memorial Museum, Yankee Stadium, Tavern on the Green, The High Line, West Bank Cafe, the Metropolitan Art Museum, and so much more!

​In addition to the video blog, check out my unique experiences and pictures at all of these lively New York staples:
Arrival in New York City
https://www.facebook.com/erniel/posts/10165454132310201
 
Grand Central Terminal in New York City
https://www.facebook.com/erniel/posts/10165454049275201
 
First night in New York City
https://www.facebook.com/erniel/posts/10165455100020201
 
Statue of Liberty ?, Ellis Island and 9/11 Memorial & Museum
https://www.facebook.com/erniel/posts/10165454241990201
 
Yankee Stadium! Subway Series: Yankees vs Mets ⚾️
https://www.facebook.com/erniel/posts/10165454348320201
 
Tavern on the Green in New York City
https://www.facebook.com/erniel/posts/10165458093525201
 
The High Line in New York City
https://www.facebook.com/erniel/posts/10165458223945201
 
West Bank Cafe and fun times in the West Village in New York City
https://www.facebook.com/erniel/posts/10165459036015201
 
Metropolitan Art Museum of New York
https://www.facebook.com/erniel/posts/10165460621655201
 
Yankee Stadium New York City
https://www.facebook.com/erniel/posts/10165461103080201
 
July 4th Broadway ? Show at Feinstein’s 54 Below in New York City.  Great Broadway ? Singers!
https://www.facebook.com/erniel/posts/10165463064085201
 
SoHo New York City
https://www.facebook.com/erniel/posts/10165463883095201
 
Cafeteria, Macy’s and Trump in New York City
https://www.facebook.com/erniel/posts/10165463987290201
 
Last Day in New York City
https://www.facebook.com/erniel/posts/10165464018475201
 
Last night in New York City!  Dinner and “Springsteen on Broadway ? “!
https://www.facebook.com/erniel/posts/10165464074810201
​​

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2/19/2021

Gay Games Hong Kong 2022 (GGHK22): February Update

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We had a great Zoom meeting update from the Gay Games Hong Kong 2022 Organizing Committee on February 18, 2021.  If you missed it, check out the video recording of the event and the recap below:

GGHK22
Gay Games is a 9-day international world-class diversity festival with multi-sports, arts & culture events and opening & closing ceremonies organised by the LGBTQ+ Community (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, +) every 4 years.

The goal of the Gay Games is to emancipate LGBTQ+ people around the world by educating people through sport, arts & culture events —in a spirit of better understanding.
Program Schedule November 2022
Accreditation / Check-In: Wednesday, November 9 - Thursday, November 10

01 Opening Ceremony: Saturday, November 12

02 Sport Events: Sunday, November 13 - Saturday, November 19

03 Festival Village: Friday, November 13 - Saturday, November 19

04 Arts & Culture Events: Friday, November 13 - Saturday, November 19

05 Closing Events: Saturday, November 19

Travel Packages Available for Wednesday, November 9 - Sunday, November 20
Sports Update - 34 Venue Locations
  • All within a Mass Transit Railway (MTR) Subway stop and/or bus
  • Team Sports: Softball, Basketball, Volleyball, Soccer, etc. will have competitive divisions – A, B, C, D, etc.  Just like in previous Gay Games
  • Swimming – all the typical Gay Games swimming events – single swims and team relays
  • Track & Field – all the typical Gay Games Track & Field events
  • Trail Runs – NEW to the Gay Games – 10k, 15k, 25k and 50k
  • Dodgeball – NEW to the Gay Games
  • Cheerleading – NEW to the Gay Games
  • Dragon Boat Racing – NEW to the Gay Games
  • Esports – NEW to the Gay Games

Catalyst Travel will help to put together travel packages for cities: Seattle, Portland, Vancouver, BC, LA, San Francisco, Denver, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Chicago, etc. If you are not a listed city, we can help with your travel packages (submit request). I, Ernie, will be joining other Catalyst Travel reps for a site visit to check out the hotels, restaurants, gay bars, etc. in Hong Kong in October 2021. 

We will visit hotels within walking distance of the Gay Games Festival Village and will visit 5*, 4*  and 3* Hotels and give our recommendations based on our site visits to these hotels.  We will come back and provide you with recommendations for the best hotels to stay at based on your budget near the Gay Games Festival Village where the nightly festivities and entertainment will be.  We will meet LIVE with the Gay Games Hong Kong Organizing Committee to know where all the sports venues are and understand all the public transportation options (subway, bus, Uber/Lyft, taxi) so we can provide you with the information you need for the Gay Games 2022! 
  We will be your Gay Games Hong Kong experts!

Ernie Lou

As an avid traveler, Ernie has explored a lot of the world having gone to 6 out of 7 continents (North and South America, Asia, Australia, and Africa--Egypt and South Africa). A native Seattleite, Ernie is a diehard Washington sports fan rooting on the Sounders, the Huskies, the Seahawks, the Mariners, and soon coming Kraken. No wonder why he is THE perfect person to schedule your next sports trip whether it's one of Catalyst Travel's Spring Training trips or chasing one of our trophy winning teams around the country.
After earning his degrees from University of Washington, Ernie has worked in tech and PR lending his voice to social causes and education. He has not only been a leader various community groups and organizations like the Seattle Asian American Film Festival, but has also crafted his own documentary on how CoVid-19 has affected the LGBTQIA+ community. Contact Ernie if you are looking for LGBTQ+ destinations or group trips.

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2/19/2021

Gay Games Hong Kong 2022 (GGHK22): February Video Update

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1/21/2021

Travel with Ernie: My Experience in Honolulu

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​Here is my travel log detailing my trip to Honolulu, Hawaii from January 7 through January 15, 2021
 
The State of Hawaii opened up Hawaii for tourists just about 2 months ago. Tourism is Hawaii’s number one industry so having it closed for tourists really impacted Hawaii’s economy.  Most places were closed for about 3 months (May – July).  Since Hawaii is made of islands it was important for them to control who could visit.  They decided that every tourist would have to test for COVID-19 and have a negative result within 72 hours of their flight time or you will have to have a 10-day quarantine in Hawaii.
 
Pre Trip Requirement
You first will need to register as a tourist at the Hawaii Tourism Authority at the following web site: https://www.hawaiitourismauthority.org/
 
COVID-19 Test
You must get a COVID-19 test from one of the State of Hawaii’s Trusted Testing Partners – Here is the list: https://hawaiicovid19.com/travel-partners/  For example Bartell Drugs, Kaiser Permanente, Walgreens, CVS Health, Costco/AZOVA, etc.  Once you get your results you should save it as a PDF and print it out.  You will need to upload the COVID-19 negative test results to your profile on the Hawaii Tourism Authority web site under your profile.  Also print out the test results and bring it with you to the airport.
 
My Trip
I am a member of Kaiser so my test was just a nasal one and not the one with the 8 inch swab up your nose ?   My results came back within 12 hours.  It was easy to get a PDF of the negative results, print them out and upload them to the Hawaii Tourism Authority web site.
 
I went early to the airport, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport so I could take advantage of the great new Alaska Airlines Lounge in the North Terminal.  It’s amazing!  If you have an Alaskan Airlines VISA card the daily pass is only $25.  Great food and beverages but due to COVID-19 they were not serving any alcoholic beverages.  The Alaska Airlines flight was about half full so fortunately I had one whole row to myself!  I was upgraded to Premium Economy, so I had complimentary cocktails, beer and wine!  Alaska has Wi-Fi and a great entertainment service so you can watch movies on your Smart Phone, iPad and laptop.  
Queen Kapiolani Hotel
Waikiki Beach
The Queen Kapiolani Hotel is ranked as the #3 BEST VALUE HOTEL in Oahu by people on Trip Advisor.  We had a wonderful City View room with a balcony.  The hotel has a wonderful lobby area with a great coffee café, Knots Coffee Roasters.  Their 3rd floor deck includes a pool and a great restaurant and bar, the DECK! They have LIVE Music on Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday.
 
Hawaii tourists are about 10% of the normal number so it’s not crowded at all.  Everyone does wear masks and all restaurants and bars have social distancing seating and require you to wear masks when you are not seated at a table.  Everything is OPEN and restaurants and bars are required to close by 10:00pm.
Restaurants and Bars

Zippy’s
Zippy’s is like a Hawaiian/Asian version of Denny’s!  For example on their menu they have Spam, Eggs and Rice for breakfast.  They are Hawaii’s #1 gathering spot for classic local favorites, tasty specialty foods and friendly, welcoming service. Bring your appetite home to Zippy’s. They have Korean Chicken and Chili Plate, Furikake Miso Salmon Katsu, Ramen Noodles, Spaghetti, Roast Turkey, Beef Curry, etc.  They are located all throughout Honolulu and there is one not to far from Waikiki
 
Shorefyre
Awesome restaurant right in the middle of Waikiki located at the International Marketplace above the Tesla dealership at 2330 Kalakaua Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815.  As they say, “At ShoreFyre we cook up delicious food for breakfast, lunch and dinner. With a full bar at hand, they create some of Hawaii’s signature cocktails all in a laid back, casual setting. They make everything fresh with aloha spirit to create tastes and flavors that will recharge you no matter what’s on your itinerary.”  The big bonus is they have LIVE music 7 nights at week! We went to 2 nights of music and you definitely should not miss Latin Night on Wednesday featuring Eddie Ortiz & Son Caribe.  You must go on their web site to book a table on their open air lanai!
Here is a preview: 
https://www.facebook.com/518810200/videos/10164717867700201/
https://www.facebook.com/518810200/videos/10164718120365201/

Hulu’s Bar & Lei Stand
Hulu’s Bar & Lei Stand has been in business for 46 years!  It’s the best Honolulu’s Gay Bar and they welcome everyone!   They have a great location and their bar is open air with an amazing view of Diamond Head.  Great cocktails and food.  You need to make a table reservation on their web site.  Also they have a great person that sings on Fridays and Saturdays.  He is a cute boy, Johnny the 3rd! https://www.facebook.com/iamjohnnymusic/
 
Roy’s at Hawaii Kai
“Cooking has been my life. Thank you for making it part of yours.”
— ROY YAMAGUCHI
Amazing restaurant with an amazing view just east of Honolulu.  
You must order the AL FRESCO PRIX FIXE - $59 menu! Enjoy! Aloha!
Sites – These are the Top 3 You Should Visit!
  1. USS Arizona and Pearl Harbor Tour - This is an MUST Do! There is a great museum that provides you with the background on how the US and Japan were negotiating right up to the surprise attack. Order your tickets on this site and it’s by date and time.
  2. Bishop Museum - Great museum that provides you with the cultural history of Hawaii. Must visit this museum!  Go online and order your tickets ahead of time since it’s by date and time.
  3. Iolani Palace – The Royal Hawaiian Palace - Unfortunately we couldn’t get a visit reservation but this is a MUST SEE in Honolulu! Reserve ahead of time before your trip.
Best Luau
Ka Moana Luau
Oahu’s only east-side luau with award-winning entertainment and one of a kind show- starts with fire and finishes with fire, unlike anything else! Enjoy a short yet beautiful drive to iconic Sea Life Park. Breathtaking ocean views, interactive activities for the family and an amazing menu. The perfect luau for the whole family!
https://www.moanaluau.com/
Discount Tickets
https://bestof-hawaii.com/tours/ka-moana-luau-deluxe-luau-package/
Here is the fire performance:
https://www.facebook.com/518810200/videos/10164706755265201/

Beaches
Here are the great beaches you should visit:
  1. Beach East of Waikiki - Kapiolani Park Beach
  2. North Shore – Polo (Gay Beach) 
  3. Kailua Beach Park – When the Obama’s stay during Christmas they stay in Kailua which is about a 25 minute drive from Honolulu! This beach is amazing!   You have to then visit the Obama’s Favorite Shaved Ice Place, Island Snow at 130 Kailua Rd, Kailua, HI 96734 

Photos from my Hawaii Trip:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10164751105315201&type=3
​​

Ernie Lou

Ernie is an avid traveler having been to 6 out of the 7 continents. After working in various tech and PR jobs, Ernie is extending his expertise to the travel industry as a travel agent with Catalyst Travel. If he's not hosting a party, a cruise trip, or rooting on the Sounders, Huskies, or Seahawks, Ernie is probably out exploring more of the world. Read more of his bio for how he can help you on your next trip.

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11/18/2020

FAA Ungrounds the Boeing 737 Max

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The Boeing 737-Max has been marred in controversy since March 2019. 20 months later, on 18 November 2020, the FAA Administrator Steve Dickson announces that the agency will unground the 737 Max and will rescind the March 13, 2019 Emergency Order. The 98 page Summary of the FAA's Review of the Boeing 737 Max details not only the original circumstances of the grounding but also the rigorous review process, new operational procedures, training enhancements, and steps to return to service.

The initial events indicating a problem with the Boeing plane happened on an October 29, 2018, flight out of Jakarta, Indonesia and a March 10, 2019, flight out of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The crash from Indonesia was immediately followed up with an Emergency Airworthiness Directive addressing their preliminary concerns. After the second crash from Ethiopian Airlines a more in-depth analysis was conducted linking "the potential relationship established between the two accidents" and issued an Emergency Order to ground all Boeing 737-Max planes.

​Sparking widespread alarm, people from around the world questioned what kind of planes they would fly on--scrutinizing every make and model. I, myself, remember flying in mid-March of 2019 wondering if I should keep my flight on a Southwest 737-Max. I decided to keep my flight, said my obligatory pre-flight prayers, and went to Phoenix for Spring Training without incident.

While in Arizona, the Emergency Order was announced. Airlines around the country scrambled to shift passengers from the already filled, more spacious aircraft to smaller ones. Droves of travelers, like myself, were caught stranded or forced to change their itineraries. Getting to the airport a couple of hours earlier than normal, I didn't have a seat assignment. I waited in a seemingly unending line to see if I got bumped from my flight. The mass scramble displaced a dozen travelers from my flight alone, which included me. However, instead of being stuck in the airport for hours or even days like others, I immediately got on a flight to Seattle via VEGAS.

​Since that time, Boeing and the whole aviation industry has been repeatedly hit with one thing then another. Throughout the rest of the year, Boeing had major set-backs with the 737-Max investigation. Combine these setbacks with Covid-19 groundings, orders for planes were cancelled left-and-right. Now, after 2+ years since the first incident and 20 months after Administrator Dickson's Emergency Order, Boeing is finally given good news--a long-awaited green light for flight.

The FAA has identified 7 safety items that needed to be addressed, which include adjusting the software systems for the Angle of Attack (AOA) sensor, providing significantly advanced training for the system, and updating maintenance requirements. With the FAA administrator's own test-flights and first-hand experience handling the airplane, he has stated, "I am 100% comfortable with my family flying on it."

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10/23/2020

Travel with Ernie: My Travel Experience During COVID-19

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I have had three trips since things where shut down this past March due to COVID-19.  My first trip was in June to Chicago. In June the flights were not full and fortunately Alaska Airlines has maintained a policy of keeping the middle seat empty on all their flights for Social Distancing requirements. Alaska Airlines just announced they will extend this policy on all their flights until January 6, 2021. Everyone boarding the flight is required to wear a mask. The only time you do not have to wear you mask is when you are drinking or eating. To minimize Flight Attendant interactions with passengers there was only 1 beverage service with minimal choices like water, Coke and Diet Coke. All the passengers adhered to the mask wearing policy so I felt safe throughout the flight.  The air filtration system on airliner are excellent in filtering out particles.  
A just released airline safety by the US Department of Defense and United Airlines conducted 300 tests in over six months with dummies in-flight to examine the possible spread of droplets.  The study says the risk of COVID-19 exposure onboard its aircraft is "virtually non-existent" and when masks are worn there is only a 0.003% chance particles from a passenger can enter the passenger's breathing space who is sitting beside them. ​
​
When I arrived in Chicago, my good friend informed me of the local COVID-19 situation and any restrictions on businesses like restaurants and bars. Even though indoor seating was available at a reduced capacity we always choose to sit outdoors. We wore masks when we were walking around Chicago and everyone else was following the mask wearing rule.
 
When I returned from my Chicago trip, like I have done after each trip during COVID-19, I took a COVID-19 test at one of the free City of Seattle COVID-19 drive up testing centers. You can just go online and schedule an appointment and it’s free. You get the test results online within 48 hours.
 
My other two trips, one to Los Angeles and one to Fort Lauderdale were very similar in terms of COVID-19 safety precautions. My flights to and from Los Angeles was on Alaska Airlines so the middle seat was empty.   My flights to and from Fort Lauderdale was on American Airlines. American does not have the same policy as Alaska so their middle seats were filled. Fortunately I was lucky on 3 of the 4 legs of my trip that the middle seat was empty. My last trip to Fort Lauderdale was September 30 – October 5, 2020 and the airport seemed much busier than my first trip in June. Passengers seem to be returning to flying and the volume is picking up. TSA announced last week that they screened the most passengers so far since travel dropped in March due to COVID-19.

Ernie Lou

Ernie is an avid traveler having been to 6 out of the 7 continents. After working in various tech and PR jobs, Ernie is extending his expertise to the travel industry as a travel agent with Catalyst Travel. If he's not hosting a party, a cruise trip, or rooting on the Sounders, Huskies, or Seahawks, Ernie is probably out exploring more of the world. Read more of his bio for how he can help you on your next trip.

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10/15/2020

Travelers to Hawai'i May Not Have to Quarantine

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Travelers wanting to explore the great state of Hawai'i do not have to spend 14-days in mandatory quarantine anymore. Travelers now have the option to take a pre-test for CoVid-19 for instant access.

In order to be exempt from the 2 week quarantine, participants need to take a "Nucleic Acid Amplfication test from a trusted testing partner approved by the Hawaii Department of Health within 72 hours from their final leg of departure and [have] a negative result," according to the Hawai'i Tourism Authority.

While the exotic state has opened up the possibility of travel without a mandatory 14 day quarantine, Governor David Y Ige allowed counties within the state to opt-out of the program or initiate a two-test system (a pre-test and an arrival test). Several of the counties, like the County of Hawai'i, has opted for this two-test system. The first test needs to still be negative before arrival into the state. Then the second test is dependent on the specific rules of the county. The County of Hawai'i requires the test upon arrival at a testing site near the airport. Fortunately, the state and counties have put this within their budgets rather than putting the additional cost onto the tourist.

The Pre-Test Program is effect as of October 15, 2020. However, like a lot of other things during the CoVid-Era, these parameters can change on a moments notice. We recommend checking in with your dedicated travel agent to help you stay updated on entry requirements into Hawai'i. If you do not yet have a dedicated travel agent, make a vacation request on the Catalyst Travel website. We will have our Hawai'i specialists follow up with you.

**Update: As of October 26, the County of Maui and the governor of Hawai'i have declared a Public Health Emergency and reissued guidelines on a 14-day quarantine for visitors to the island of Lanai.**
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9/21/2020

Ban on Border Crossings to Canada and Mexico Extended

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With people craving to get out of their houses, traveling to close tourist destinations has been front and center. With initial Covid-19 closings, the border to Canada and Mexico also closed. Driving across the border would no longer be an option, even though flights in-and-out of both countries continued. As of September 21, the ban to the land border going into and out of Canada and Mexico are extended to October 21. After several extensions already, this might not be the last.

Despite the closure, flights in and out of both countries continue with some tourist destinations opening with extra health safety measurements in place.

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9/8/2020

Travel Advisory: US State Department Changes Travel Advisory for Mexico

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The US State Department changed their travel advisory for Mexico. After issuing a world-wide travel advisory in March restricting travel around the world, the US has changed the travel advisory for Mexico to Level 3-Reconsider Travel instead of a Level 4-Do Not Travel. Even though this travel restriction downgrades the status of travel to Mexico, travel due to Covid-19 is still restricted--boarders from the US to Mexico are officially closed. (Flights to Mexico are still allowed and being processed.)

There are sections of Mexico where you are not advised to go because of crime and kidnapping:Do Not Travel To:
  • Colima state due to crime.
  • Guerrero state due to crime.
  • Michoacán state due to crime.
  • Sinaloa state due to crime.
  • Tamaulipas state due to crime and kidnapping.
Reconsider Travel To:
  • Chihuahua state due to crime.
  • Coahuila state due to crime.
  • Durango state due to crime.
  • Jalisco state due to crime.
  • Mexico state due to crime.
  • Morelos state due to crime.
  • Nayarit state due to crime.
  • Nuevo Leon state due to crime.
  • San Luis Potosi state due to crime.
  • Sonora state due to crime.
  • Zacatecas state due to crime.

**When planning your trip to Mexico, be sure to consult your travel agent on the latest travel advisories.**

Travel Advisories, according to the U.S. Department of State:
Level 1 - Exercise Normal Precautions: This is the lowest advisory level for safety and security risk. There is some risk in any international travel. Conditions in other countries may differ from those in the United States and may change at any time.       
Level 2 - Exercise Increased Caution: Be aware of heightened risks to safety and security. The Department of State provides additional advice for travelers in these areas in the Travel Advisory. Conditions in any country may change at any time.  
Level 3 - Reconsider Travel: Avoid travel due to serious risks to safety and security. The Department of State provides additional advice for travelers in these areas in the Travel Advisory. Conditions in any country may change at any time. 
Level 4 – Do Not Travel: This is the highest advisory level due to greater likelihood of life-threatening risks. During an emergency, the U.S. government may have very limited ability to provide assistance. The Department of State advises that U.S. citizens not travel to the country or to leave as soon as it is safe to do so. The Department of State provides additional advice for travelers in these areas in the Travel Advisory. Conditions in any country may change at any time.   

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