I know what you are thinking. Cruising is still not allowed in the U.S. much less Alaska, but UnCruise has stepped up to be the exception.  Before we get into the specifics of how they plan to depart on Saturday for a 7-night Glacier Bay National Park Adventure, let's give you some details behind the company. 

UnCruise Adventures focuses on Small Boats, Small Groups and Small Footprint.  Unlike larger cruise lines, UnCruise's ships host a max of 86 people thus allowing them to be exempt from the current CDC No Sail policy.  In fact, the first cruise will have 38 guests on board!  One other draw to UnCruise is they can sail where the bigger ships cannot.  This allows you to visit amazing destinations.  For example, the August 1st sailing has the following itinerary:

DAY 1
Juneau, Alaska – Embarkation
Arriving in Juneau, you will be transferred from the airport to our hospitality area. Upon boarding, your crew greets you with champagne and smiles. Set sail for a week of scenic channels and secluded wilderness.
DAY 2
Tracy Arm
Take an early peek outside. Fjord cliffs reach skyward. Floating ice. And deep u-shaped valleys. There’s no abracadabra here. Mother Nature’s magic is real. Cruise past harbor seals and their pups lounging on chunks of ice. Tracy Arm delivers with the cotton-candy blue twin Sawyer Glaciers of its furthest reaches. Tides permitting, your skiff driver knows the ropes and guides you along. It’s a mashup of towering walls, temperamental currents, and the Coastal Mountains. So many waterfalls. Mountain goats show off fancy footwork on the cliffs. Look for them.
DAY 3
Frederick Sound
Humpbacks beeline it here each season to feed on krill, zooplankton, and herring. Watch for whales feasting in these abundant glacial waters. Hang out and enjoy the show. Cruise past Five Fingers Lighthouse, Alaska’s oldest light station, and The Brothers Islands, where sea lions nap on rocky nobs. Tonight, toast to a whale of a day in Alaska.
DAY 4
Icy Strait
Before you do anything, look out the window. From kelp-lined channels to hemlock and spruce forests, every inch of this far northwest corner is worth exploring. And today’s adventures promise to be as big as the water is deep! Seals and sea lions haul out on rocky outcroppings, resting before they disappear in the water to search for food. If the tides are right, head out in the skiff with one of the guides for a closer exploration of the rugged shore, or perhaps, make it all the way to George Island. Whatever you do—wilderness trekking, skiffing, or paddling—your expedition team guides the way.
DAY 5
Glacier Bay National Park
This crown jewel of America’s national parks covers 3.3 million acres (that’s a tad smaller than the state of Connecticut). Let that sink in. Most visitors see the same sliver of the park as everyone else. Not you. You’re going the furthest and exploring parts that 99% of visitors never go to. And you have two days to do it. Get started! Taylor Bay sea stacks and rocky shores make for good adventure. Or hike the outwash field of glaciers winding down the Fairweather Mountain Range. The cool breeze off the nearby snow and icefields is energizing. If you motor over to Dundas Bay, keep your eye out for bears, humpbacks, and if you’re lucky, a wolf sighting. Kayak the bay. Bushwhack into the forest. Discover Glacier Bay outback.
DAY 6
Glacier Bay National Park
Your camera’s memory card needs plenty of room. South Marble Island is abuzz with activity. Rare sea birds, black oystercatchers, and orange-beaked tufted puffins can’t be missed. A colony of raucous sea lions adds to the hubbub. They add a distinct aroma to the air, too. Tucking into silent Tidal Inlet—the stomping grounds for bears, wolves, mountain goats, eagles—the backdrop is spectacular. At the end of the western-most arm of the bay sits Margerie and Grand Pacific Glaciers. And possible views of glacial calving. Take it all in on deck.
DAY 7
Chatham Strait
Find a perch on the bridge with your captain, or with your guides on the bow, and watch for whales and other creatures before tucking into Port Frederick or another inlet in the Tongass National Forest. Any spot’s a good one to pull over and stretch your legs. Hike, paddle, or skiff your way through this remote corner with bears on the shoreline, seals bobbing on the surface, and welcoming boughs of moss in the trees. It’s all yours to explore. Back on the boat, there's a treat in store—the Farewell Dinner and some special memories from your crew.
DAY 8
​Juneau - Disembarkation
Linger over breakfast this morning cruising into Juneau. Wish your crew and new friends goodbye. Then it’s off to the airport or begin your UnCruise hotel stay or land tour.

Walt Disney World has taken a lot of measures to help their guests social distance while visiting! One of the initiatives they introduced prior to the parks opening was Mobile Dining Check-In. Our agents were able to experience this at Skipper's Canteen this week.

Prior to your dining reservation time, you'll be able to use the My Disney Experience app to check-in for your reservation while in the proximity of select Walt Disney World restaurants. This means you'll be able to wait outside and make sure you're 6 feet away from other guests, instead of a crowded podium area.

Below are some screenshots that show some of the options you can choose while checking in!

Celebrating something? Let Disney know so your servers can make sure your special day is acknowledged. 

​Have dietary restrictions? Your server will be notified of the allergy and they'll help you navigate the allergy friendly menu options. You also can ask your server to speak with a chef or a manager if you have any questions. Disney is amazing with special diets!

Need to request accessible spaces? The app allows you to notify the restaurant ahead of time, so your table can be set appropriately. ​

​When you're finished checking in, the app will be updated and you'll receive text updates about your reservation. 

​Overall, we love having this option as sometimes the check-in areas get crowded. We hope to see the feature rolled out to more restaurants soon!

We were fortunate enough to participate in the reopening of Walt Disney World this past week.  While we have lots to catch you up on with resorts, attractions, dining, shows, transportation, and more, we feel it's best to begin with safety around these items and give you first hand knowledge of the measures that have been implemented by Walt Disney World.

We flew from Raleigh Durham International Airport (RDU) to Orlando International Airport (MCO) on Southwest Airlines.  The RDU airport was not busy and they have made a few changes in regards to parking and security.  The only parking available at the airport is garage parking and it is $10 per day.  When going through security in Terminal 2 they were combining TSA Precheck and regular security lines while we were there.  If you are TSA Precheck you still go through the designated line, you will be given a card by the security officer and you will proceed to regular security.  You will go through just like the normal TSA Precheck lane once you give the card to the security officer in line.  The seating areas have been marked to allow for proper social distancing and when boarding the SWA flight, they limited each group to 10.  You must have a proper face covering that covers your mouth and nose to be allowed to board.  Once on the plane, they will not allow you to sit in the middle seat unless you are part of a group that is together.  They had one water and snack service.  Overall, SWA was professional as always and very consistent with enforcing their rules that are in place.  The passengers were all cordial and everyone seemed to be respectful of each others' space.  When we arrived at MCO, we experienced the same with full face coverings being worn and everyone practicing social distancing.​

When it comes to transportation, Disney did a masterful job of providing social distancing while maintaining as much efficiency as possible to get you transported throughout the resort.  When riding buses, you line up on a marked spot that is distanced from others and when the bus arrives the driver will ask you how many people in your group and then he will give you a number.  This number corresponds to where you will sit on the bus.  They have installed partitions between numbers along with eliminating seats to keep you separated from other parties.  

We were also excited to see USB ports on some of the buses.   Have you seen these on Walt Disney World buses previously?  This was a first for us.

​​This takes us to the end of Part 1.  In Part 2 we will talk about a few other modes of transportation that we took during the week along with.....wait for it.....THE PARKS!

If you are interested in booking a 2020 or 2021 trip to Walt Disney World, reach out to your Travel Professional today, call us at 833.RTR.TRAV or email us at Vacations@rtrtravel.com !!

​We couldn’t be more excited for the upcoming reopening of Walt Disney World Resort, after an unprecedented 4 month closure. This week, Cast Members got a special preview day at both Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom. Here’s the inside scoop on what changes are happening!
 
Health & Safety Measurements 
 
The park introduced several new policies to ensure the safety of both Cast Members and Guests. You are required to wear a face covering at all times inside the park, unless you are eating or drinking, or while in a designated “Relaxation Zone.” Relaxation Zones can be found at Tomorrowland Terrace, Pete’s Silly Sideshow, and Golden Outpost. These are areas where you can remove your mask and relax.

         Relaxation Station at Tomorrowland Terrace. Photo Credit: Vanessa Sipich

​Bag checks are now low-contact. Guests must place all electronics and metal items into plastic bags, and proceed through the new security detectors with your bag on. If the alarm is set off, then a security guard will have you place all of your belongings into a bin to conduct a search. Fingerprint scans are no longer required to enter the parks.
 
Social distancing is strictly enforced, and there are ground markings in all line queues. Hand sanitizer is found at every turn, and they even make announcements throughout the day reminding guests to social distance and wash their hands.

​Sanitizer stations and safety reminders throughout the parks. Photo Credit:Vanessa Sipich

Shopping
 
Popular shops like The Emporium may experience a wait during busy times, as they are allowing only a fraction of the capacity of guests inside at a time. However, they have the ability to turn on a virtual queue, similar to Disney Springs. Once you get in the virtual queue, you will receive a text when it is your turn to shop! This is great because it allows guests to enjoy the park rather than waiting in line!
 
The Magic
 
It may seem that with all of the safety protocols, cancelled parades and fireworks, etc, that Walt Disney World will lose some of it’s magic. But don’t worry! There’s plenty in store for you! Character Cavalcades appeared throughout the day without notice, and featured some pretty amazing surprises! The train station is closed to the public, but features different characters throughout the day, waving at guests from a safe distance.

​Road to Relaxation Travel will be attending the reopening of Walt Disney World Resort next week! Stay tuned for more information on our personal experiences, as well as any updates or policy changes. What are you excited to see?

Beginning tomorrow, July 9, Walt Disney World will resume ticket sales and Disney Resort hotel bookings for 2020.  Your Travel Professional will be able to book new tickets and plan future visits throughout this year at Walt Disney World Resorts!

For those looking to make their plans right away, please note that tickets and Disney Resort hotel bookings may be released at different times throughout the day tomorrow so coordinate with your RTR Travel Professional as soon as possible. 

All guests with valid admission are required to make a reservation in advance for each park entry.  Your Travel Professional will work with you to ensure there is park reservation availability before booking any new tickets.  Reservations are limited and subject to availability.  Please note that, during this phased reopening, some tickets, ticket options and Disney Resort hotels are unavailable, but there are still a variety of options to choose from.

There is so much to look forward to, with many favorite attractions and dozens of entertainment offerings, including special new character cavalcades and the Taste of EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival.

If you’re wanting to visit Walt Disney World this year, we recommend reaching out to your RTR Travel Professional!!