Travel Update
As of October 4, 2021
At this time, Ireland, Iceland, Italy and the UK are open to vaccinated travelers without restrictions and departures to all our destinations are operational. See below for country specific information and links to useful resources and read more about our health and safety guidelines here.
The requirements to enter each country vary and may change as conditions in destinations evolve. If you are scheduled for an upcoming vacation, approximately two weeks prior to departure you will receive an online link to access detailed, up-to-date information on all policies and requirements pertaining to your trip.
INFORMATION FOR FUTURE DEPARTURES
Questions about Upcoming Travel
If you have questions about an individual booking, for fastest service we encourage you to utilize the chat feature on cietours.com between 9AM-5PM ET Monday – Friday or send an email to [email protected]. Please note that we are currently experiencing longer than usual hold times at our contact center.
For questions about an upcoming group booking, please email [email protected], or for questions on private driver reservations, please email [email protected]
If this is not an emergency or you are not traveling until 2022, we request that you delay your calls to later in the year.
Mandatory Requirements for Travel
- Because many of our destinations have vaccination requirements for indoor experiences (museums, restaurants, attractions, etc.) all CIE Tours guests ages 12 and over are required to be fully vaccinated and carry proof of vaccination with them to show as needed. We will continue to monitor local requirements and update our policies accordingly.
- Travelers under the age of 12 must be able to produce a verifiable negative COVID-19 test result in the form of written documentation (paper or electronic copy). The negative test result must show that the test was conducted within 72 hours before the start of the trip.
- Each guest must complete a CIE Tours Pre-Trip Health Questionnaire. A sample can be seen here, but the actual form will be included in your documentation packet to be sent approximately two weeks prior to departure.
- Ensure that your passport is current and will be valid for at least six months after returning home from your trip. Note that the average processing time for a United States passport is usually six to eight weeks, but COVID-19 related delays may increase this to 12-18 weeks. Read more here.
Air Travel
- Outbound International flights: Airlines may require proof of a negative COVID-19 test result in order board your plane at the beginning of your trip. Please check your carrier website for the latest details.
- Return flights to the U.S: In order to return to the United States, the CDC requires that all passengers present a negative COVID-19 test, taken within three (3) calendar days of departure, or proof of recovery from the virus within the last 90 days. Read more here.
- Airlines must confirm the negative test result or proof of recent recovery for all passengers prior to boarding and will deny boarding to passengers who do not provide documentation of a negative test or recovery.
- For guests on guided coach vacations, CIE Tours will help to facilitate the necessary testing to meet CDC guidelines, but travelers will be responsible for cost of the test payable at time of administration. Your tour director will have more information while on tour.
- Return flights to Canada: As of 8/30/2021 all travelers 5 years of age or older returning to Canada, regardless of citizenship, must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of departure. Rapid antigen tests are not accepted – read the latest information here.
TRAVELING TO THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
Entry Requirements
- Travelers who present valid proof of full vaccination will not have to quarantine or undergo any travel related testing.
Before You Travel
- Prior to arriving in the Republic of Ireland, all travelers must complete an online Passenger Locator form within 72 hours prior to arrival in Ireland. Access form here.
- NOTE: The Passenger Locator form accommodates only one address in Ireland, so please enter the address of the first hotel at which you will be staying.
- Upon completion of this online form, you will be issued an email receipt which must be shown when boarding; and you may also have to show this receipt to border officials.
For Tours that Include Northern Ireland
- If you are traveling on the following tours that visit Northern Ireland (Irish Odyssey, Irish Classic, Irish Adventure and Mystical Ireland) you must complete the UK online Passenger Locator form no more than 48 hours prior to arrival in Northern Ireland and book a COVID-19 travel test to take on or before day 2 after you arrive. Preview form here.
- NOTE: Since travelers will be on tour during the 48-hour period in which the form needs to be completed, CIE Tours will prompt guests to complete the form at the appropriate time. Additionally, CIE Tours will help facilitate the necessary day 2 testing, including providing test booking numbers needed to complete the form, but travelers will be responsible for cost of the test payable at time of administration. Your tour director will have more information.
- For passengers on the Jewels of Ireland tour, because you will be in the Common Travel Area for 10 days before entering Northern Ireland, neither the UK Passenger Locator form nor day 2 test will be required.
- For passengers on the Irish Explorer tour, because you will not be staying overnight in Northern Ireland, neither the UK Passenger Locator form nor day 2 test will be required.
- See further details and up-to-date information on traveling to Northern Ireland here.
Additional Information
- See further details and up-to-date information on traveling to the Republic of Ireland here.
- If your trip includes a visit to England, Scotland or Wales, please review destination specific requirements for Britain below.
- Have additional questions? Read our FAQs.
TRAVELING TO BRITAIN
(England, Scotland & Wales)
Entry Requirements
- Requirements for fully vaccinated US travelers:
- Provide paper or electronic proof that vaccination has been completed a full 14 days before you arrive in country, along with proof of residence.
- Book a COVID-19 travel test in advance and take the test on or before day 2 after you arrive (the day you arrive is day 0).
Before You Travel
- Prior to arriving in Britain, all travelers must book a COVID-19 travel test to be completed on or before day 2 after you arrive. Then you will need that test booking number to complete the mandatory UK online Passenger Locator form no more than 48 hours prior to arrival. Access form here. You will be denied boarding if you have not completed this form.
- For convenience, we recommend that you arrange for a self-test to be shipped directly to your first hotel in the UK.
Additional Information
- See further details and up-to-date information on traveling to the UK here.
- If your trip includes a visit to the Republic of Ireland, please review destination specific requirements above.
- Have additional questions? Read our FAQs.
TRAVELING TO ICELAND
Entry Requirements
- Requirements for fully vaccinated travelers:
- Provide printed or electronic proof that vaccination has been completed a full 14 days before you arrive in country. Read more about certificates of vaccination against COVID-19 accepted at the border in Iceland.
- Present evidence of a negative molecular (PCR) or rapid antigen test taken within 72 hours of departure. Self-tests are not accepted.
Before You Travel
- All travelers must pre-register with the government of Iceland not more than 72 hours before travel commences. Access form here.
Additional Information
- See further details and up-to-date information on traveling to Iceland here.
- Have additional questions? Read our FAQs.
TRAVELING TO ITALY
Entry Requirements
- Requirements for fully vaccinated travelers:
- Provide printed or electronic proof that vaccination has been completed a full 14 days before arrival
- Present evidence of a negative molecular (PCR) or rapid antigen test taken within 72 hours of arrival in Italy.
Before You Travel
- Prior to arriving in Italy, all travelers must complete an online Passenger Locator form to be used to support contact tracing and engagement with passengers after arrival. Access form here.
Additional Information
- See further details and up-to-date information on traveling to Italy here.
- Have additional questions? Read our FAQs.
GUIDELINES FOR CANCELLED TOURS
If you were scheduled to travel on any cancelled departure, we will immediately reschedule you for another date or provide you with a Future Travel Credit following the guidelines below*.
- Rebook with Confidence – reschedule your trip for another date or tour selection in the future
- CIE Tours will rebook you on a future tour anytime through December 31, 2022 with no cancellation fees or land penalties
- For guests rebooking on the same tour series for a new departure date, any price increase for the future date will be waived.
- If the new trip selected is a different tour series or destination and the price is higher, guest will be responsible for the difference.
- If the new trip selected is at a lower price, no refund will be issued for the difference.
- OR Receive a Voucher for Future Travel – Don’t yet know which future date or tour you want?
- Guests who want more time to select their future vacation will be provided with a Travel Voucher equal to 100% of the land portion of the booking
- Travel Voucher value can be applied to any 2021 or 2022 departure for any of our destinations.
- CIE Travel Vouchers are transferrable, allowing name changes on the land portion of the trip.
- Travel vouchers issued as the result of an insurance claim and airline tickets cannot be issued in a new name.
- Insurance Travels with You - if Trip Protection was purchased through CIE Tours, Part B (post departure portion of the policy that covers trip interruption, missed connections, travel delay, medical expenses and more) will be transferrable to the new trip.
- Note: Insurance policies cannot be issued in a different name; if travel voucher is used by anyone other than the originally insured party, Part B insurance will not carry over.
*The program is valid for any departure cancelled through September 30, 2021. Compensation is provided in the form of a CIE Travel Voucher, redeemable for travel departing by December 31, 2022. CIE Travel Vouchers not redeemable for cash. Offer may be withdrawn at any time and other restrictions may apply. For guests rebooking on the same tour series for a new departure date, any price increase for the future date will be waived with the exception of guests moving from a standard departure to one that includes the Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Travelers are responsible for any airline penalties imposed due to trip changes and/or cancellations. If airline tickets were purchased through CIE Tours, cancellation fees and any changes in airfare are dependent on airline terms and conditions. Promotional discounts applied to original booking do not carry over to the new reservation with the exception of the past guest incentive. Different terms and conditions for both land and air apply to group bookings; please contact your group advisor for more information.