ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - While thousands of workers are still trapped on cruise ships due to the coronavirus, some local travelers are already booking their next trip on a cruise ship for as soon as August.
"I don't want to say people were lined up to book," says Altair Travel Owner Pat Blassie, "but I understand a couple of the cruise lines have had record bookings for the initial sailings."
Plus, she says, there are some great deals out there.
"Not just so much the cost of the cruise, but for upgrades," Blassie says. "(Including) the type of cabin, extra amenities, complimentary beverages, free WiFi, free gratuities."
And many cruisers are holding vouchers from cruises that had to be canceled, she says, and the sooner they use them, the better.
"Its really to the cruiser's advantage to book early," she says. "To be able to choose your cabin. To be able to choose the date of your sailing. To be able to choose the right ship, the right cruise line. I predict they all will be sailing full."
While Blassie says she doesn't know how the companies will keep packed ships coronavirus-free, she says they will likely reduce the number of passengers, so "full" won't mean every cabin is sold.
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But not everyone is seeing the rush to hit the high seas. Brentwood Travel Vice-President Susan Hakenjos says she isn't seeing many travelers cruise bookings for August.
"We have had a huge group of people re-booking for next year and the following year, especially river cruising," she says.
According to Hakenjos, because the U.S. is the coronavirus hot spot, many countries don't want Americans to visit. Her customers are hoping that changes by next year.
"I think they're hoping that Italy and everywhere else in Europe is going to open up again because that's where the hunger is, to go to Europe," Hakenjos says.
Hakenjos is also gearing up for more domestic travel, which she says has its own set of concerns.
"We have to be very wary of what every state and every country is doing before we send people back. We want to make sure everyone is safe, including us," Hakenjos says.