Cruise
A Perplexing Decision
The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) describes the CDC’s decision to raise the travel level for cruise to Level 4 as “particularly perplexing” considering that cases identified on cruise ships consistently make up a very slim minority of the total population onboard -- far fewer than on land -- and the majority of those cases are asymptomatic or mild in nature, posing little to no burden on medical resources onboard or onshore. The cruise industry association points out that no setting can be immune from this virus—however, it is also the case that cruise provides...
A Wonder In Port Canaveral
Royal Caribbean International has announced that the Wonder of the Seas will homeport at Port Canaveral beginning November 2022. When it debuts in March 2022, Wonder will sail 7-night itineraries to the eastern and western Caribbean. Destination highlights include Cozumel, Mexico; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; and San Juan, Puerto Rico; and each cruise will visit Perfect Day at CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private island destination in The Bahamas that features thrill and chill – from the tallest waterslide in North America to The Bahamas’ first floating cabanas. Wonder will be...
Royal Caribbean Offers Omicron Impact Update
Royal Caribbean Group provided an update on the status of its business and the impact of the Omicron variant. The company said that knowledge about COVID-19 and how to deal with it have been in a constant state of flux for the last two years. Omicron has significantly altered the COVID-19 landscape for everyone, and the Royal Caribbean Group is no exception. As widely reported, the Omicron variant is significantly more infectious than its predecessors and has already become the dominant form of COVID-19 in the U.S. and elsewhere. Fortunately, Omicron also appears to cause...
CDC Advises Against Cruise Travel
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has raised its COVID-19 Travel Health Notice Level for cruise travel from Level 3 to Level 4 – the highest level – reflecting increases in cases onboard cruise ships since the Omicron variant was identified. In its update, the CDC is advising travellers to ‘avoid cruise travel regardless of vaccination status.” The CDC notes in its updated notice that even fully vaccinated travellers may be at risk for getting and spreading COVID-19 variants. It also states that the virus that causes COVID-19 spreads easily between...
Gulotta Joins Windstar Cruises
Windstar Cruises has hired Karl Gulotta as its new corporate executive chef. In his new role, Gulotta will direct Windstar’s onboard culinary operations department to achieve the highest levels of guest satisfaction and product consistency. Together with Windstar’s director of food and beverage operations, Gulotta will be instrumental in setting the tone, look, and feel of all culinary operations, ensuring they align with the company’s high standards, commitment to sustainable practices, devotion to regional menus and products, and its ongoing relationship as the Official...
Tradewind Voyages Unveils Med, Caribbean Sailings
Tradewind Voyages has confirmed its full program for the 2022-2023 season aboard the Golden Horizon as it makes its inaugural journey in the Caribbean in Barbados in November 2022. Complementing the debut in the Mediterranean in May 2022, the following years season is also announced, with sailings starting from Portugal in April 2023. The Caribbean season offers an extensive selection of voyages that span the Grenadines, St Vincent, St Lucia, Guadeloupe, British Virgin Islands, St Kitts, St Barts, Antigua and more. Running from April to September 2023, voyages for the new 2023...
Emerald Cruises Sets A Course For Christmas
As Canadian travellers typically like to plan their international vacations early, Emerald Cruises is offering savings on their entire 2022 Christmastime river collection. Guests booking their select November or December 2022 cruise on the rivers of Europe or Asia will receive a festive bonus of $300 per couple. In addition to this bonus saving, guests will also receive the following current, in-market offers: Guests booking select 2022 European Christmas Market sailings will receive €200 in onboard credit and airline savings as follows: bookings of 15 days or more will...
Riviera Extends Group Booking Incentive
Riviera River Cruises is extending its incentive for booking group vacations on its European river cruises departing during the 2022 holiday season or during 2023. All new group bookings made through Jan. 31, 2022, will receive a free tour conductor bed after seven guests are booked, instead of receiving a free tour conductor bed after 10 guests are booked. Marilyn Conroy, Riviera River Cruises’ Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing North America, said: “Our group booking incentive has proved popular, so we’re extending it through January to allow more travel advisors to...