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Tour operators and river cruise lines are saying they've been able to operate their itineraries despite wildfires in Spain and France.
Sweltering heat and little rain have created conditions for the region's worst wildfires in modern history, which are blazing near popular tourist destinations like Bordeaux and Madrid.
CNBC reports that a fire began in southwest France in Gironde last Wednesday and has burned nearly 104,000 acres in France and around 190,000 acres in the Avila and Toledo areas in western Madrid.
River cruise lines that offer cruises in Bordeaux and tour operators that offer land tours in France and Spain say that no itineraries have been canceled.
AmaWaterways, which operates Bordeaux cruises, is operating its itineraries as planned, said public relations manager Cleo Esperandieu.
Luxury tour operator Abercrombie & Kent has remained in close contact with local partners to monitor the situation, said public relations director Janice Yu.
The Globus family of brands, which includes Avalon Waterways, has tweaked itineraries to avoid impacted areas, but itineraries are continuing as normal otherwise, said Cory McGillivray, Globus' vice president of sales operations and channel marketing.
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The ships in Royal Caribbean International's upcoming Discovery class will be small enough to fit through the Panama Canal, said the cruise line's CEO Michael Bayley.
That will allow them to efficiently travel between Alaska and the Caribbean, but the class will also sail to other regions like Asia and Europe, Bayley said Wednesday during a press conference onboard the Legend of the Seas.
"That ship will be specifically designed for those types of more exotic experiences," he said.
The first ship in the new class is scheduled to debut in 2029, followed by a second in 2032. A ship order agreement with Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard inked in January also includes an option for four additional ships.
Royal Caribbean is wielding knowledge gained from its previous ship classes to design the Discovery class.
"We've taken many of the things we've learned from [the Icon] class and we've moved them across into Discovery, along with what we learned in Oasis class and Freedom class and Voyager class and all the classes that we built over time," Bayley said.
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The Douro River has reached capacity for river ships, according to a letter that Port Authority of the Douro sent to river cruise lines in March.
The authority told operators that the maximum capacity for "hotel ships" on the Douro River has been reached due to issues regarding lock usage and operational limits, according to a copy of the March 31 letter obtained by Travel Weekly.
Additional cruises cannot be authorized, the authority wrote, until the authority completes a review of operational conditions. The authority did not immediately respond to an inquiry about the letter, nor did river cruise lines.
New Portugal cruises planned
The Douro flows through Portugal's wine region of the Douro Valley. Douro cruising has exploded in popularity in recent years, with lines adding ships to accommodate demand.
Just last year, Riviera Travel introduced a ship there, as did AmaWaterways and Viking. Next year, Scenic, Emerald, Uniworld and Tauck each plan to add a vessel there. Come 2028, AmaWaterways will debut the AmaGaia on the Douro, and Amadeus River Cruises will sail its first ship in the region.
Uniworld said that it was not impacted by the authority's decision.
"Operations are continuing as planned for 2027 and beyond," the line said in a statement. "The brand looks forward to welcoming guests onboard the new S.S. Sao Rafael next year."
During a Cleveland Research panel, Tauck CEO Jennifer Tombaugh briefly addressed the pause, saying that newbuilds would be suspended as the port authority assesses capacity constraints. But, she admitted, it could be a sign of what's to come as the river cruise industry shows no signs of slowing down its growth.
"I think you're going to see a lot more policy backlash," she said. "I think you're going to see a lot more taxes and other implications that are going to impact both river and land programs across Europe."
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ETIAS is currently not in operation and no applications for travel authorizations are being collected at this time. The European Union will inform about the specific date for the start of ETIAS several months prior to its launch.
In the meantime, international travelers arriving in Europe do not need to register in advance.
The U.K.’s ETA authorization is already in effect
The United Kingdom, which is no longer part of the EU or the Schengen area, last year rolled out its own electronic travel authorization program, known as the ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization). U.S. travelers must apply for United Kingdom’s ETA via the ETA app (available through Google or Apple). Travelers will need to provide some basic personal information, including passport details and a valid email address. They will also upload photos of their passport and of their face and pay a £16 fee (about US$13)—which is increasing to £20 (USD$27) on April 8, 2026. Applicants should be granted approval within three working days, and the approval is valid for two years.
There’s no limit on how many times you can enter the United Kingdom during that time frame. Those with an ETA can spend up to six months in the country at a time and can visit any part of the U.K. You will, however, need to reapply for a new ETA if you get a new passport. Passengers connecting through the U.K. will only need an ETA if they pass through border control.
“You do not need an ETA to travel to the U.K. if . . . you’re transiting through a U.K. airport and you will not pass through border control,” states a government explainer about when an ETA isn’t required. Travelers who leave the main airport building for any reason or need to collect their bags and check them in for an onward flight will pass through border control. Authorities recommend that you check with your airline to find out if you’ll pass through U.K. border control and will therefore need an ETA.
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Some of the Caribbean nations that require US Citizens to apply for a visitor card, immigration and/or customs form in advance of travel. Most are free, some are not.
For the British Virgin Islands and all of Great Britain and it's territories, you must obtain an electronic travel authorization visa by downloading the UK ETA app to your phone and applying.
Aruba - https://edcardaruba.aw/
British Virgin Islands - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta#apply-for-an-eta
Curacao - https://dicardcuracao.com
Dominican Republic - https://eticket.migracion.gob.do/Home/
Jamaica - enterjamaica.gov.jm
Saint Lucia - https://travelslu.govt.lc/
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