Cruise
Cruise Update: Bahamas Paradise, AQSC, NCL
Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line will resume sailings onboard Grand Celebration July 25 and onboard the Grand Classica Oct. 2. As well, the cruise line’s Cruise & Stay Program – allowing guests to extend their stay in the Bahamas for up to four nights at one of the company’s resort partners -- will also be available for bookings beginning Oct. 2. And as Bahamas Paradise prepares for its anticipated return, it rolling out an extensive list of new preventative measures designed to ensure the wellness of both passengers and crew. Oneil Khosa, CEO of Bahamas Paradise Cruise...
Celestyal Postpones Sailings To July 30
Celestyal Cruises is further suspending sailings until July 30 due to the ongoing travel restrictions and temporary port closures within the region in which the cruise line operates. The Greek government recently announced that the Greek tourism season will gradually restart in the next few weeks with international flights from select countries resuming in July. Celestyal Cruises says it will continue to monitor the phased opening of Greece to North American travellers while working closely with the Greek authorities on the development of enhanced health and safety...
UNWTO Releases Guidelines To Reopen Tourism
The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) has released a set of guidelines to help tourism sector emerge stronger and more sustainably from COVID-19. The guidelines highlight the need to act decisively, to restore confidence and, as UNWTO strengthens its partnership with Google, to embrace innovation and the digital transformation of global tourism. Produced in consultation with the Global Tourism Crisis Committee, the guidelines aim to support governments and private sector to recover from an unparalleled crisis. Depending on when travel restrictions are lifted, the United Nations...
Tracking Travellers’ Perception Of Safety
MMGY Global has launched its new Travel Safety Barometer -- a sentiment tracking tool created for the travel and tourism industry -- to monitor American travellers’ perceptions of how safe it is to engage in specific travel behaviours as the country embarks on its reopening and recovery efforts. Designed by MMGY’s Travel Intelligence research and insights division, the Barometer is an informational resource for both business and leisure travellers and the industry as the coronavirus continues to fundamentally change all aspects of our society, including when, where and how we feel...
Happy 30th To Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Cruises marked its 30th birthday by reflecting on its journey to push the limits of traditional cruising and create a unique modern luxury experience at sea. Established in 1990 by the Greece-based Chandris Group, the line became part of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. seven years later in 1997. Today, Celebrity Cruises has 14 ships and thousands of team members from over 60 countries. Over the years, Celebrity Cruises has delivered a number of industry firsts and innovations including: Introducing specialty dining (2000) The creation of the modern luxury cruise...
Celebrity Hoping Alaska Will Be On Itinerary
Celebrity Cruises is keeping its fingers crossed that it may start an Alaska program in August, confident that coronavirus hasn't put the kibosh on interest in sailings in that part of the world. Brendan Halcomb of Celebrity's Alaska cruise/cruisetour program told a Tuesday webinar for travel agents in this country that the company has staff looking at the feasibility of sending people to Alaska this summer. Celebrity has to date idled its fleet through July because of coronavirus but the company said during an earlier webinar it hopes to begin a gradual restart of operations later...
Cruise Update: A Message From CLIA
Here's a good way to start the day, a message from the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) to travel agents outlining a number of initiatives that the industry association is putting in place to help them out ... A Primer On River Cruising From Avalon Waterways Over the past decade, river cruising has grown by 250%, proving that when it comes to bodies of water and ships, bigger is not necessarily better. Avalon Waterways has led the river cruise trend, unveiling for travellers an unforgettable fusion of distinctive sights, colourful cultures and enduring traditions...
A Little Assurance From Avalon Waterways
As it anticipates setting sail once more, Avalon Waterways has developed a new Avalon Assurance program that’s designed to safeguard the health and happiness of travellers throughout their Avalon river cruise vacation. Pam Hoffee, managing director of Avalon Waterways, said: “The world has changed but what remains certain is our steadfast commitment to our guests’ safety, comfort and peace-of-mind. To that end, we have established a Global Health & Safety team dedicated to ensuring that the cleanliness of all operations exceeds today’s standards from...