Looking Forward:
Announcing 2021 Tours

March 31, 2020

During these uncertain times, we would like to provide our guests reserved on tours from July through December 2020 more time to consider their travel options. Guests will now have up until 45 days prior to departure to make final payment (65 days for Burgundy Barging).  All deposits would now be fully refundable up until this time.

Additionally, Odysseys Unlimited will continue to closely monitor the conditions on a worldwide basis. The safety and security of our guests are always our top priorities and, should U.S. authorities – Department of State and the CDC – deem it unsafe to travel to any of our destinations, we would cancel the trip no later than 45 days before departure (and refund all guests in full).

As a reminder, we are working remotely for now and are well equipped to conduct business as usual.  Should you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us by email at customerservice@odysseys-unlimited.com or at our toll-free phone number:  (888) 370-6765.

We extend our best wishes for your good health and safety.

March 20, 2020

While we have cancelled all tours through May (with Italy cancelled through June and China through 2020), at this time we remain hopeful that global circumstances will improve so that we can operate our tours departing in June.  However, in the event that we decide to cancel any June tours based on circumstances in the destination(s), you would receive a full refund of all monies paid to Odysseys Unlimited.  If the Global Advisory issued by the Department of State remains at a Level 4, we will make the decision to cancel your tour by 45 days prior to departure.  However, in the interim, should you be concerned about your upcoming travels before that decision is made, you may defer your tour (or destination) to a later departure date.  If you are interested in this option, the following would apply:

• You would receive a refund for any refundable portion* of the tour and the non-refundable amount* would be applied as a tour credit on the new reservation
• We would need to know your decision at least two weeks prior to your originally scheduled departure

*amounts based on the refund policy and applicable cancellation penalties (per the Terms & Conditions) at the time you notify us of your decision to defer

March 18, 2020

As noted below, we have cancelled all tours through May 2020, and are in the process of contacting all guests impacted by this decision (in order of departure).

We also want to let you know that in light of the current situation, the majority of our staff is now working remotely.  Please be assured that we are well equipped to conduct business as usual; should you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us by email at customerservice@odysseys-unlimited.com or at our regular phone number:  (888) 370-6765.

Like all of you, we are learning to adapt to the continual changes affecting our world, with the health and safety of our employees, guests, families, and friends, paramount.  We appreciate your understanding as we move forward.

We will continue to update this message as necessary.  We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to communicate directly with all guests whose travels are impacted by the changing nature of this event.

March 16, 2020

Based on the U.S. State of Emergency and worldwide developments related to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, we have made the decision to cancel all of our tours through May 2020.

We are in the process of contacting all guests affected by this change, in order of departure. 

We will continue to update this message as necessary.  We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to communicate directly with all guests whose travels are impacted by this decision.

Should you need to contact us sooner, we can be reached by email:  customerservice@odysseys-unlimited.com or toll-free (888) 370-6765, Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

March 12, 2020

In response to the evolving nature of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, we have taken numerous actions with the safety and security of our guests and staff always at the forefront.  As we continue to monitor governmental and world health sources (see below for website links), we are making decisions regarding whether to operate our tours based on their alert levels and recommendations.

Based on yesterday’s presidential proclamation that restricts travelers flying from 26 European countries from entering the U.S. – and the subsequent reduction and/or elimination of flights between the U.S. and Europe – we have cancelled all European tours through April 15, 2020.

We are in the process of contacting all guests affected by this change.  In addition, we have rerouted all guests currently on tour whose original return flight itineraries included a connection through Europe.

Last, we are offering guests on any tour scheduled to depart through May 31, 2020, the option to defer travel with no penalties or fees.  Travel may be taken through 2021.

We will continue to update this message as necessary.  We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to communicate directly with all guests whose travels are impacted by the changing nature of this event.

March 9, 2020

As you know, the situation with the coronavirus continues to evolve quickly, and we have taken further actions as noted below in order to best serve our guests.

• Egypt:  Based on today’s update from the State Department that U.S. citizens should avoid all cruise ship travel, we have cancelled all of our Egypt tours through the current season (April).
• Jordan:  Because of increasing border restrictions, we have cancelled Jordan tours and optional extensions through April.
• Along Central Asia’s Silk Road:  On March 6, the State Department changed the Travel Advisory for Turkmenistan to Level 3 (reconsider travel).  In light of this, we have cancelled all Silk Road departures through April.

We are in the process of contacting effected guests on these departures.  Please be assured that we will continue to monitor the appropriate sources and meet regularly to determine the best courses of action in these uncertain times.

March 6, 2020

We share with you the concern for all of those affected worldwide by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), and wish them a quick and sustained recovery.

In addition, we understand that you may have questions or concerns about upcoming (or future) travel with Odysseys Unlimited.  With the safety and security of our guests and staff always our highest priority, we wanted to assure you that we are diligently monitoring government and world health sources, including the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and the World Health Organization (WHO), and are basing decisions as to whether to operate a particular tour based on their alert levels and recommendations.  In addition, we are staying in close contact with our local travel partners on the ground in all affected areas.

We have taken numerous actions in response to the coronavirus over the past few weeks, including:

• Giving all guests booked on Insider’s Japan and all European tours through May 2020 the option to defer travel or transfer to another tour without incurring cancellation charges on their original tour;
• Cancelled all four of our Italy tours for March and April of 2020 (Portrait of Italy, Northern Italy, Southern Italy & Sicily, Sicily in Depth);
• Cancelled Classic China and China, Tibet & the Yangtze River tours through 2020;
• Cancelled Southeast Asia Odyssey and Treasures of Thailand tours through Spring 2020

At this time, we do plan to operate most of our tours, with the expectation that we can provide a safe and enjoyable travel experience.  However, as this is an ever-evolving situation, our management committee is meeting daily to review developments and will take any actions necessary to ensure the well-being of our guests and staff.  Please be assured that if there are any changes regarding the status of your tour, we will contact you directly, by email and/or phone.

On tour (and at home), we strongly encourage everyone to take the following preventive actions recommended by the CDC to help prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, including:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash (if you do not have a tissue available, we recommend sneezing or coughing into your bent elbow).
• If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
• CDC does not recommend that people who are well wear a face mask to protect themselves from respiratory diseases, including COVID-19. 

For more information, you may wish to visit the following websites:

• U.S. Department of State: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html.html
• World Health Organization:  https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
• Centers for Disease Control:  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

We will update this message as developments warrant.  Should you have further questions, though, please don’t hesitate to contact us by email at customerservice@odysseys-unlimited.com or toll-free at (888) 370-6765, Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time.