Northlanders change travel plans after Coronavirus concerns

DULUTH, MN– The spread of COVID-19 is forcing people to rework their plans especially when it comes to travel.

Thursday we reached out to our KBJR 6 audience to see how Northlanders have had to change their travels due to the virus outbreak. We found a mixed bag of canceled trips, post posted trips, and even new bookings.

Nick and Dani Rhienhart waited more than two years for their honeymoon cruise around the Caribbean just to have to pull the plug last minute.

At the beginning of this week, they were all set to hop on a plane and set sail this weekend but on Tuesday they decided to cancel the trip.

The couple has been married since September 2018 and had been waiting for their work schedules to line up to take 9 days in the Caribbean.

They say they are bummed about canceling but relieved that the decision is made.

They said they are not really afraid of the virus but the stress and worry about if they were going to get stranded on the ship, or even a different country, was just too much to go through with.

“It was just a little bit much for us. The fear that we could be quarantined on this cruise ship for a couple of days and then when we come back here and have to do another 14-day quarantine. It just wasn’t worth it for us,” said Nick Rhienhart.

The couple did not lose any money from the trip between vouchers and refunds and plan to revisit the honeymoon within the next year.

One Duluth dad said that the recent drop in flight prices was just too good to pass up.

Rick Wunner booked tickets on Thursday morning for him and his two sons to head down to San Diego for a last-minute spring break trip for a fraction of the price.

Wunner says that they are aware of the Coronavirus concerns but are still excited for what he called their “corona-cation”

“We’re doing everything we can. Washing our hands and such. I think that this is overall better for the economy than to just cacoon up, within reason. Just be smart and be safe. I’m really excited for this. It’s an opportunity I may never have again,” Wunner said.

Although this may be a good opportunity for cheap travel local experts remind people to travel with caution and make sure to wash your hands.