Cruise Wrap: MSC and Carnival's new ship updates, Ponant's first online event + MORE - Travel Weekly

Cruise Wrap: MSC and Carnival's new ship updates, Ponant's first online event + MORE - Travel Weekly
Best value Christmas destinations and where to find cheap packages - Mirror Online
You can bag a summer bargain - IF travel restrictions are lifted - Daily Mail

Posted: 25 Aug 2020 08:00 PM PDT

Cruise through the rest of the week with this fresh assortment of cruise news. Get it? Cruise through? Like a cruise ship? Yeah, we cringed too.

MSC Cruises and Fincantieri celebrate float out of MSC Seashore + postpones restart of MSC Magnifica

The float out of MSC Seashore (pictured above) took place today at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy.

MSC Seashore, which will be the company's longest ship at 339 metres and the largest and most innovative ever built in Italy, has now been moved to a wet dock until her delivery in July 2021 to allow for work on her interior.

MSC Seashore will become the third of a total of fours vessels in MSC Cruises' innovative and ground-breaking Seaside class of ships, following MSC Seaside and MSC Seaview, which launched in 2017 and 2018 respectively, and the first of two enriched Seaside Evo ships with newly designed public spaces, more cabins and the highest ratio of outdoor space per guest of any ship in the company's fleet.

In other MSC news, the line has postponed the restart of MSC Magnifica until 26 September.

In connection with the recent introduction of additional testing measures for residents of Italy having travelled to Greece, the line is seeing cancellations and a softening in demand since the ship's itinerary includes as many as three ports in that country. This has led to the decision to delay the restart of the ship by four weeks.

MSC Magnifica's sales are open to residents of the Schengen area, at the same time in this early phase of restart the majority of guests are expected to be Italian nationals and residents.

As a result of this, MSC Magnifica cruise departures from 29 August to 19 September have been cancelled. The first cruise will depart from Bari, Italy with an unchanged itinerary on 26 September.

MSC Grandiosa is currently offering 7-night cruises with embarkation in the Italian ports of Genoa, Civitavecchia, Naples and Palermo and calling additionally at Valetta, Malta.

Crystal Yacht Cruises previews itineraries for Crystal Esprit

Crystal Yacht Cruises has announced a preview of the complete deployment for the all-suite, 62-guest Crystal Esprit for 2023 through the first quarter of 2024.

Following the yacht's previously announced January-March 2023 Seychelles voyages, the collection of 35 all-inclusive luxury sailings in 2023 invites travellers to fully immerse themselves in the most historically rich and famously beautiful destinations through the Mediterranean, Adriatic and the Holy Land.

Most of the itineraries – eight of them brand new – are intensively focused on specific regions, with multiple options featuring all or most ports in the Greek Isles, Croatia and the Dalmatian Coast, Italy and France, plus Holy Land voyages exploring beyond Israel to Egypt, Jordan and Cyprus.

In all, Crystal Esprit's 2023 deployment comprises 12 sailings through the Seychelles; 13 intensive Greek Isles sailings; 10 voyages through the Adriatic in Croatia and Turkey; seven Holy Land and Middle East sailings; and five Mediterranean sailings through Italy and France. Nearly all 2023 and early 2024 Crystal Yacht Cruises are six, seven or eight nights in length, with select Holy Land and Holiday sailings of 11 and 12 nights.

Carnival's new ship to be called Carnival Celebration

Carnival Cruise Line today announced that its next Excel-class ship arriving in 2022 to coincide with its 50^th birthday celebration will be named Carnival Celebration.

A full roster of Carnival partners, including Kathie Lee Gifford, Guy Fieri and Shaquille O'Neal, unwrapped boxes that revealed the letters of the Celebration name, which is both a throwback to one of the popular early ships in the Carnival fleet, as well as a recognition of Carnival's 50^th birthday celebration that will take place in 2022 when the new Carnival Celebration will join the fleet. The video announcement was made across Carnival's social media channels and can be viewed here.

Carnival Celebration will debut from PortMiami in November 2022, and will be a sister ship to Mardi Gras, the first in the Excel series scheduled to enter service on 6 February 2021 from Port Canaveral, Florida.

The addition of Carnival Celebration to Miami will maintain PortMiami's position as the top embarkation port for Carnival Cruise Line.

Hurtigruten presents at 2020 open science conference

Hurtigruten presented at the 2020 Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research's (SCAR) Open Science Conference this month, sharing its knowledge and experience of hosting and collaborating with scientists, and the benefits of its onboard Citizen Science programs to raising awareness of the challenges facing the Polar regions.

The Open Science Conference is a biennial event designed to draw attention to Antarctic issues and provide an opportunity for scientists from a variety of disciplines and countries to present their work, network and become more involved in SCAR science activities.

Biologist and Hurtigruten chief scientist Verena Meraldi's presentation focused on a range of Hurtigruten scientific collaborations as well as the contribution of Hurtigruten's Citizen Science programs to raising awareness about the Polar regions.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises releases new Europe 2021 brochure

Regent Seven Seas has released its new Europe 2021 brochure, featuring 80 voyages to the Mediterranean, Northern Europe and the Baltics.

The line offers free, unlimited shore excursions in every port of call, so your clients can get out and about as much as they want.

The brochure features 15 new ports of call including Dunkerque (France), Eskifijordur (Iceland), Kaliningrad (Russia), Klaksvik (Faroe Islands), Liepaja (Latvia), Nordfjordeid (Norway), Oban (Scotland), Turku (Finland), Wismar (Germany), Chios (Greece), Igoumenitsa (Greece), Monemvasia (Greece), Nessebur (Bulgaria), Paphos (Cyprus) and Pergamum (Turkey).

Cruise Traveller unveils new luxury, all-inclusive cruise package from Australia to NZ

Cruise Traveller has released a new, luxury fly, cruise and stay package for December 2021 which offers free domestic and international flights and savings of up to 51 per cent for couples and 43 per cent for solo travellers for bookings made by 30 September 2020.

The new 17-night, all-inclusive 'Facets of Australia' package begins on 4 December 2021, with free flights to Perth from Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide or Brisbane. Guests will enjoy a free two-night stay in a five-star hotel in Perth and a free day trip to Rottnest island before boarding Crystal Cruises' ultra-luxury, 848-passenger Crystal Symphony for a 15-night voyage to Auckland.

Ports include Bunbury near the famous Margaret River wine region, Adelaide, the spectacular scenery and wildlife of Kangaroo Island, Melbourne for pre-Christmas shopping, Sydney and the Bay of Islands in New Zealand.

At journey's end in Auckland on 21 December 2021, guests will fly home free to Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth or Adelaide.

Cunard extends pause in operations

In an acknowledgement of the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) guidance and the complexity of operating world voyages, luxury cruise line Cunard will be extending its pause in operations from November 2020 until 25 March 2021 for its ship Queen Elizabeth; until 18 April 2021 for Queen Mary 2 and until 16 May 2021 for Queen Victoria.

Viking announces Mississippi trade training prize winner

In celebration of the line's newly announced Mississippi River cruises, Viking has announced the winner of its second email trade training program as Jacqui Ingram from Flying Colours Travel in Sale, Victoria.

Ingram has won a gourmet hamper filled with true southern hospitality, such as authentic Louisiana hot sauce, White Lightnin' Moonshine and a collection of reading material, from cookbooks to cocktails and leather-bound Mark Twain novels such as The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.

Agents can sign up to receive Viking's weekly trade partner emails here.

Silver Spirit becomes first luxe cruise ship to sail with new CIP-M certification

Silversea's Silver Spirit has become the first ultra-luxury cruise ship to sail with a certification in infection prevention for maritime (CIP-M) from DNV GL, the world's leading classification society.

The certification of Silversea demonstrates the cruise line's commitment to enhancing its onboard sanitation protocols to further protect the health, safety and wellbeing of its guests and crew.

The CIP-M programme is built on DNV GL Healthcare's expertise in infection risk management. Using the experience from over 4,000 audits in more than 640 hospitals worldwide, experts from DNV GL Maritime's Cruise Center in Miami and leading medical professionals, tailored the existing infection prevention programme for hospitals to meet the needs of shipowners and operators.

The certification is built on a unique combination of technical maritime knowledge and infection prevention expertise and is the most comprehensive infection prevention certification available in the maritime industry.

Join Ponant's first online event and spot the Kimberley's 'Big 5'

Hosting their first live online event on Tuesday 1 September, Ponant is offering the opportunity to discover Australia's Kimberley's 'Big 5' with some of the top experiences to have along this North West coastal jewel.

Attendees will be able to tune in and listen to a panel of Ponant's in-house Kimberley experts, Mick Fogg and Sandrine Erwin-Rose. As regular expedition leaders to the Kimberley, they will join host and business development manager Craig Farrell for Ponant's first online live event.

Click here to register.

Become a Quark Expeditions PolarPro

Quark Expeditions has introduced Quark Expeditions PolarPro, its new easy-to-use learning platform.

Through quick learning modules, the platform provides agents with key information such as why to travel to the Arctic or Antarctic, the best times to travel to the Polar Regions, and itinerary overviews.

On top of learning modules to grow your knowledge on Polar Travel, the platform gives you the videos, images and marketing materials needed to sell.

Learn quickly from any device and gain your certificate of completion on your own time here.

New Viking combo cruise + river cruises now on sale

Viking has just released two brand-new September 2021 departures for its popular river/ocean combination cruise.

The 22-day 'Grand European & Viking Fjords' combination river/ocean voyage from Bergen to Budapest or v.v. But agents are urged to be quick as they are known to sell-out fast.

With new departures on 13 and 20 September 2021, the 22-day voyage combines Viking's 15-day 'Grand European' river cruise between Budapest and Amsterdam with the eight-day 'Viking Shores & Fjords' ocean cruise between Amsterdam and Bergen, including a seamless transfer between ships in Amsterdam.

Visiting six countries and including 17 guided shore excursions, the new departures are priced from $11,990 per person – a saving of up to $4,500 per couple on the brochure price when booked before 31 August 2020.

Meanwhile, the line has also released its 2023 selection of Europe, Russia, Egypt and Southeast Asia river cruises for sale – the first major river cruise operator to do so.

This exclusive preview of 2023 departures is available at 2020 prices when booked before 31 August 2020, offering savings of up to $4,600 per couple on selected itineraries while enjoying the peace of mind that only Viking's Risk-Free Guarantee can deliver, with the freedom to change plans up to 24 hours before departure.

Viking's early release of 2023 sailings provides Australian and New Zealand travellers with an opportunity to snap up Viking's typically very popular brand-new ships, including Viking Osiris sailing the Nile River in Egypt, Viking Saigon sailing the Mekong River in Southeast Asia and Viking Mississippi, launching in the heart of America.

**A-ROSA's E-Motion now scheduled for March 2022 delivery**

The delivery of A-ROSA River Cruises' new E-Motion ship, which was originally planned for May 2021, has been postponed until March 2022 as a result of disruption to the supply chain caused by the pandemic.

The ship is currently under construction at the Severnav shipyard in Romania. The interior will be completed at the Concordia Damen shipyard in the Netherlands. The first departures are now planned for April 2022 on the Northern Rhine.

The ship will feature an 'e-motion' concept which allows the ship to switch to battery power when approaching a city and arrive emission-free and can be charged overnight by shore power connection.

Costa Cruises to restart in September with two new itineraries for Italian guests + gains biosecurity certification

Costa Cruises has released two new itineraries for the restart of its cruises in September.

From 6 September to 27 September, Costa Deliziosa will depart every Sunday from Trieste, allowing guests to rediscover five destinations in Southern Italy rich in charm, history and culture, such as Bari and Brindisi in Puglia, Corigliano-Rossano in Calabria, Siracusa and Catania in Sicily.

On 19 September, Costa Diadema will leave from Genoa to call at magnificent Italian art cities and seaside resorts in the western Mediterranean: Civitavecchia/Rome, Naples, Palermo, Cagliari and La Spezia.

The two new Costa Cruises itineraries are reserved for Italian guests only, in order to ensure a responsible and safe restart, given the recent evolution of the epidemiological scenario.

The line has also become the first cruise company to earn the Biosafety Trust Certification from RINA, the over 150-year-old testing, inspection, certification and ship classification company that developed the innovative management system certification program.

The certification process, carried out through audits, examines all aspects of life on board and ashore – from the embarkation procedures to hotel services, catering, fitness, relaxation areas and shore excursions – and assesses the compliance of the system with the scheme procedures aimed at the prevention and control of infections.

Best value Christmas destinations and where to find cheap packages - Mirror Online

Posted: 02 Sep 2019 12:00 AM PDT

Christmas isn't exactly the most budget-friendly of times to book a holiday, but that doesn't mean you can't find bargains.

In fact, simply booking your flights at the right time could mean nabbing a deal, not to mention there are some destinations that work out at better value during the festive period.

Skyscanner has offered a helping hand by revealing some of the best value Christmas destinations for 2019, based on the average drop in flight and hotel prices compared to last year.

The best part is that the list includes everything from dreamy beach destinations to city breaks where you can find some brilliant Christmas markets.

We take a look at the top 10 best value destinations according to Skyscanner, and throw in our own top tips on where to find cheap packages and deals.

Check out the list below...

1. Tenerife, Spain

Tenerife saw the biggest average price drop year on year with 33 per cent.

In December, you can still expect sunny days with average temperatures of 21 degrees.

It might be a little too cool to lay out on a beach in a swimsuit, but the weather is ideal if you want to go exploring Tenerife's best attractions , take a stroll along the picturesque shores and enjoy the landscape without the crowds.

The Canary Island offers up some great cheap all-inclusive hotels , while TUI has packages from £319pp based on a 21st December departure.

You can find cheap flights to Tenerife on Skyscanner from £54 each way in December.

2. Palma, Majorca

There are plenty of ways to find cheap flights to Majorca so it's no surprise that the destination featured on the list, not to mention you can find flights on Skyscanner from £42 each way from mid-December.

There are plenty of brilliant things to do in Majorca including fun days out with the kids, while the island's top beaches boast breathtaking sandy shores to explore for a leisurely stroll.

Then there are the cheap all-inclusive Majorca hotels , while you can find flights from £35 each way on Skyscanner.

3. Prague, Czech Republic

Prague saw a price drop of 23 per cent on average flight and hotel deals, and there's no denying that it can make for a pretty beautiful city break.

For a start, in December the city gets an idyllic festive makeover thanks to its dreamy Christmas markets, alongside its already picturesque landmarks from the likes of the spectacular St Vitus Cathedral and Prague Castle to the Charles Bridge where you can get some breathtaking views of the city.

Looking for hotels? Booking.com has a handy round-up of the best cheap Prague hotels you'll want to bookmark.

You can find Prague flights from £44 each way on Skyscanner for travel in December.

4. Buenos Aires, Argentina

Thinking of going all out with a long-haul journey? Then vibrant Buenos Aires needs to be on your list.

The city is packed with thrilling things to see and do , not to mention that it's ideal for sun seekers with its glorious weather and average temperatures of 28 degrees.

You can find return flights from £502pp on Skyscanner for travel throughout December.

5. Budapest, Hungary

Budapest has everything you could want for a festive city break, and not just because of its bustling Christmas markets.

You'll have a plethora of sights to choose from whether you're looking for a dip in the city's iconic thermal baths, want to stroll along the Danube Promenade, or step back in time with a trip to Buda Castle.

Check out our guide on the best things to see and do in Budapest for a dose of inspiration.

You can find flights from £29 each way on Skyscanner for travel in December.

6. Warsaw, Poland

The Royal Castle and Castle Square (Image: Getty)

Warsaw is often hailed as one of the cheaper city breaks in Europe , and there are still bargains to be had even during the peak festive season.

There's plenty to explore from castles and museums to the iconic Old Town, not to mention the colourful Christmas markets to be found where you can pick up everything from arts and crafts to local foodie delights.

Tempted? Skyscanner has flights from £25 each way for travel in December. As for cheap hotels, you can find rooms from £32 per night on Lastminute.com .

7. Vienna, Austria

Vienna Opera (Image: Corbis Documentary)

Looking for a dose of culture on a festive city break? Vienna's operas and concerts are sure to fit the bill, not to mention the city is often tipped as having some of the best value Christmas market breaks too.

You can find flights from £39 each way on Skyscanner for travel in December. Looking for budget-friendly accommodation? Booking.com has a handy guide to Vienna hotels to suit a wide array of budgets.

8. Krakow, Poland

Krakow has plenty of Christmas markets, cheap hotels and fascinating landmarks whether you're looking to check out the impressive Salt Mines, take in the views of the Main Square or discover the nightlife.

It's also worth making the poignant day trip to Auschwitz-Birkenau museum that's devoted to the memory of the camp victims.

If you're visiting in December make sure to pack layers, as temperatures tend to average around three degrees.

You can find flights from £27 each way on Skyscanner for travel in December.

9. Dusseldorf, Germany

Germany is often hailed as the place to be for Christmas markets and Dusseldorf lives up to the reputation.

Boasting a huge Christmas market complete with everything from crafts stalls and food huts to a huge ice rink, it has plenty of festive activities.

Want to do a spot of sightseeing too? The Rhine Tower offers up some great views of the city (and there's a great restaurant), learn about the city's history in the fascinating museums or even take a scenic stroll through its picturesque parks.

You can find flights from £50 each way on Skyscanner for travel in December.

10. Barcelona, Spain

Temperatures in Barcelona during December average around 15 degrees, ideal if you're looking to wander around and take in the sights.

We've got a Barcelona city guide packed with top tips on the attractions not to miss as well as restaurants to bookmark, while those on a budget might want to check out our round-up of cheap Barcelona hotels .

You can find flights from £24 each way on Skyscanner for travel in December.

Prices correct at the time of writing, but subject to availability and change.

You can bag a summer bargain - IF travel restrictions are lifted - Daily Mail

Posted: 06 Jun 2020 12:00 AM PDT

There's been uproar about the Government's new 14-day quarantine rule, which starts on Monday. And the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is sticking to its ban on all non-essential overseas travel.

But both these could be reversed — and if you think that could happen by July or August, you might just want to take a punt on a package getaway in the Med.

With the travel industry on its knees, pressure is on to make holidays to our favourite destinations possible from July, probably using 'air bridges' (also known as 'travel corridors') — reciprocal quarantine-free arrangements between certain countries.

With the travel industry on its knees, pressure is on to make holidays to our favourite destinations possible from July

For those brave enough, there are plenty of bargains, some offering as much as 60 per cent off — with financial protection under the Package Travel Regulations in case of cancellation, and Atol (Air Travel Organisers' Licence) cover should a company go bust.

Here's Escape's guide to choosing wisely:

PORTUGAL RARING TO GO

Beaches reopen today in Portugal, with a three-metre rule between umbrellas

The quarantine for British tourists is lifted today, opening up the possibility of an 'air bridge' soon: talks are already under way.

Facemasks are mandatory on public transport. Hotels are reopening, and restaurant/bars are back with 50 per cent capacity and 11pm closing. Beaches reopen today, with a three-metre rule between umbrellas.

Chance of a summer break? 4.5/5

Tempting deals: A fortnight at the Monica Isabel Beach Club in Albufeira on the Algarve from £399pp, self-catering, departing Stansted on July 4 (onthebeach.co.uk) — 61 per cent off.

Or a fortnight at Club Amarilis in Portimao on the Algarve from £925pp, departing Manchester on July 25 (loveholidays.com) — 33 per cent off.

SPAIN STAYS POSITIVE

The country's 14-day quarantine ends on July 1. But its government — somewhat confusingly — says the UK's coronavirus infection rate must fall before British tourists are given the all-clear to go.

If this happens, an 'air bridge' could quickly be established as Spain is Britain's number-one tourist destination, attracting 18 million of us a year. Tourism is crucial to the nation's economy.

Beaches, hotels, restaurant, bars and museums have already reopened with social distancing. In places at 'phase three' of the lockdown, bullfights are permitted (with one spectator per nine square metres).

Chance of a summer break? 4/5

Tempting deals: A fortnight at the TUI BLUE Flamingo Beach on Lanzarote from £1,316pp all-inclusive, departing Gatwick on July 20 (tui.co.uk) — 25 per cent off.

Or a fortnight at the Globales Palmanova hotel on Majorca from £1,474pp all-inclusive, departing Manchester on July 25 (jet2holidays.com) — 13 per cent off.

HOPES HIGH IN ITALY

The Italian tourist board in Britain is concerned about a shortage of UK-Italy flights, but expects tourism to be up and running in July and August

On Wednesday, Italy dropped its quarantine rule for Britons. So tourism appears to be on soon, with a possible early 'air bridge'.

The Italian tourist board in Britain is concerned about a shortage of UK-Italy flights, but expects tourism to be up and running in July and August.

Hotels, restaurants, bars and shops are open with social distancing. From June 15, shows at theatres and outdoor spaces will be allowed.

Chance of a summer break? 4/5

Tempting deals: A ten-night stay at the Grand Hotel Hermitage in Sorrento from £836pp, half-board, departing on August 7 from East Midlands airport (firstchoice.co.uk) — 20 per cent off. Or a fortnight at Country House Tre Esse hotel near Assisi in Umbria, departing from Heathrow on July 25, from £697pp B&B (citalia.com) — 11 per cent off.

A CHANCE FOR FRANCE

Toujours Provence: But France is closed to tourists ... for now (until at least June 15)

High hopes of a tourism entente cordiale between Boris Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron proved short-lived last month. The French border is closed to tourists until at least June 15.

However, France remains a prime candidate for an early 'air bridge' due to its proximity and being our second most popular destination, with ten million visits a year. On Tuesday, bars, cafes and restaurants reopened for the first time in two months. Hotels and campsites can reopen later this month.

Chance of a summer break? 4.5/5

Tempting deals: A fortnight at the Residhotel Villa Maupassant hotel in Cannes from £826pp, departing from Manchester on July 12 (loveholidays.com) — 16 per cent off.

Or two weeks at Pierre & Vacances Hotel de l'Esterel in Cap Esterel from £1,376pp, departing from Stansted on July 18, car hire included (jet2holidays.com) — 10 per cent off.

GREECE GEARS UP

New daily cases of coronavirus have dropped to zero in Greece recently. Archaeological sites, including the Acropolis, have reopened

From June 15, tourists from 29 countries will be allowed into Greece without quarantine, but not from Britain. However, there is a strong chance the UK will be given the nod on June 30.

New daily cases of coronavirus have dropped to zero in Greece recently. Archaeological sites, including the Acropolis, have reopened. Hotels will open on June 15. Restaurants and tavernas are back with social distancing. Ferries are running.

Chance of a summer break? 4/5

Tempting deals: A week at the Theodorus Fiona Apartments in Roda, Corfu, from £379pp on July 31 with Gatwick flights (olympicholidays.com) — 38 per cent off.

Or a week at the Meganisi Hotel on Meganisi in the Ionian Sea from £960pp B&B on July 19, departing from Heathrow (ionianislandholidays.com) — 15 per cent off.

COUNT ON CYPRUS

British tourists are banned, although the island is gradually reopening with tourists from 13 countries allowed from Tuesday.

The Cypriot government has made positive sounds about British tourists being welcomed back, promising to take care of medication costs, food and lodgings for tourists who test positive for coronavirus during their stay, as well as their families.

Chance of a summer break? 3.5/5

Tempting deals: A week at the Makronissos Hotel in Ayia Napa from £489pp with Gatwick flights on August 25 (olympicholidays.com) — 35 per cent off.

Or a fortnight at the Atlantica Oasis hotel in Limassol from £1,220pp, all-inclusive, departing Manchester on August 27 (firstchoice.co.uk) — 10 per cent off.

STAY SAFE IN CROATIA

Croatia is another country primed for an 'air bridge', especially as Croatian Airlines flights begin from Heathrow to Zagreb on June 15. Pictured is Dubrovnik

Coronavirus is well under control in Croatia, so it's one of the safest countries to visit.

Tourists from ten EU countries were recently given the go-ahead to visit without restrictions, although the UK's director of the Croatian tourist office says Britons can also come if they complete an online form (entercroatia.mup.hr) and have a printed accommodation confirmation. This is yet another country primed for an 'air bridge', especially as Croatian Airlines flights begin from Heathrow to Zagreb on June 15. Many, but not all, hotels have reopened. Beaches are open with social distancing.

Chance of a summer break? 4/5

Tempting deals: A fortnight at the TUI SUNEO Supetar hotel on Brac from £1,026pp all-inclusive on August 7 from Gatwick (tui.co.uk) — 28 per cent off. Or a fortnight at the Sea View Residence I, near Dubrovnik, from £2,699pp from Stansted on August 13 (jamesvillas.co.uk) — 17 per cent off.

NO-GO IN TURKEY?

The FCO says: 'Passengers who are not Turkish nationals or residents of Turkey are not permitted to enter Turkey.' How long this will last is unclear. Returning citizens are required to self-isolate for 14 days.

A glimmer of hope is offered by Turkish Airlines' resumption of international flights next week.

Chance of a summer break? 2.5/5

Tempting deals: A fortnight at Villa d'Louca in Dalyan in the Dalaman region from £1,399pp with Gatwick flights on August 17 (jamesvillas.co.uk) — 40 per cent off.

Or a fortnight at the Kusadasi Golf and Spa Resort from £562pp all-inclusive with flights from Stansted on August 31 (onthebeach.co.uk) — 25 per cent off.

WHAT WE THINK

Wait and see is the safest option — and be ready to pounce if travel is given the green light. The boldest travellers may consider bagging the very best deals ahead of time.

Entry requirements/prices correct as we went to press.

WHAT ABOUT FURTHER AFIELD?

MALDIVES

Travellers will need to show proof of a negative test before entering the Maldives

International flights to the island nation will resume on July 1. The country has had just seven deaths and the government is issuing a 'Safe Tourism Licence' to hotels which meet certain requirements, such as a medic on call and holding an 'adequate stock' of PPE. Travellers will need to show a confirmed booking at a hotel with such a licence and proof of a negative test.

MEXICO

Hopes to welcome international travellers by the end of June. A private initiative offering deals and discounts has been set up by 200 businesses in Cancun to encourage visitors. Perks include two free nights for every two nights paid for by guests and 20 per cent off at theme parks, golf courses and spas.

SOUTH AFRICA

The country has had one of the strictest lockdowns in the world. All tourist attractions, restaurants, parks and beaches are shut. Borders are completely closed and international tourism will not commence until February 2021.

SRI LANKA

International flights from select countries will resume on August 1. Tourists will only be allowed to stay in approved five-star hotels with strict measures in place and will have their temperature taken daily. Visitors will need to present proof of a negative test before boarding flights and will also be tested on arrival at the airport.

USA

In Los Angeles, restaurants and beaches are reopening, but tourists flying from the UK and EU are banned

Restrictions are handled by individual states and vary wildly. In New York they will not start to lift until next week. In Los Angeles, restaurants and beaches are reopening, but tourists flying from the UK and EU are banned. President Trump has said the country will 'start to open up' to Europeans soon.

CARIBBEAN

Restrictions vary between the islands, but most are attempting to reopen as soon as possible. St Lucia (the island's flag is pictured) began welcoming visitors from the U.S. on Tuesday.

In Antigua, the first commercial flight landed on Thursday, while international flights will resume in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines from July 1.

Jamaica's beaches have reopened to domestic tourists, as have some hotels and resorts.

AUSTRALIA

Only citizens, residents and family members can enter the country and even then they have to quarantine for two weeks. Travel from New Zealand could restart in September. Up to 50 people have been able to dine-in at cafes, restaurants and pubs. Most beaches are open.

Harriet Sime

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