Cruise
MSC Working With Blue-Ribbon Experts
Over the past months since temporarily halting its cruise operation in connection with the development of the global health pandemic ashore, MSC Cruises has been hard at work to develop a new health and safety operating protocol to support its return to service once the time is right. Having set up a cross-functional task force comprised of in-house experts in the areas of Medical Services, Public Health and Sanitation, Hotel Services, HVAC and other Shipboard Engineering Systems, Information Technology and Logistics, MSC Cruises also engaged the world-renowned expert consultancy of...
It’s All About Sailing Healthy
Royal Caribbean Group and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd are collaborating to develop enhanced cruise health and safety standards in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic. The cruise companies have asked Governor Mike Leavitt and Dr. Scott Gottlieb to serve as co-chairs of a newly formed group of experts called the “Healthy Sail Panel.” The panel is tasked with collaboratively developing recommendations for cruise lines to advance their public health response to COVID-19, improve safety, and achieve readiness for the safe resumption of operations. The expert panel has...
Let’s Get Uncomfortable About Racism
Canadian travel professionals are invited to join a virtual event -- “Let’s Get Uncomfortable: Confronting Anti-Black Racism in Canada’s Travel Industry” – set to take place tomorrow (July 7) from 5:00 p.m to 7:00 p.m. ET. With conversations about systemic, anti-Black racism dominating headlines and political discussions, companies are being urged to confront and correct internal biases. The travel industry is among those being taken to task for its lack of diversity, with calls to commit to anti-racist practices from various media outlets and to demonstrate “true...
Agents Choice Is Back … For A Limited Time
Just in case you missed it, Baxter Media is re-opening the 21st edition of the Agents' Choice Readership Survey, Canada's original and most authoritative travel industry survey. If you didn’t get a chance to vote in the Spring, we’re giving agents an extra two weeks to complete the survey. Vote for your favourite destinations, suppliers, brands and services in 40+ categories. We are still offering voters the chance to win one of five fantastic prizes: A delightful discovery through the sights, sounds, and tastes of ‘the big easy’ on Collette’s six-day Spotlight to New...
A Magic Mix
From bringing the first group of travellers to HMS Erebus — a shipwreck discovered west of O'Reilly Island in Nunavut from the Franklin Expedition of 1845, which remained clouted in mystery for 170 years — to working alongside the likes of Robert Bateman, Doris McCarthy and Margaret Atwood, Cedar Swan has many stories to tell from memorable Arctic expeditions. “Our visit to the Erebus last summer was absolutely phenomenal. We worked with Parks Canada to facilitate the first visit by civilians. It was such an honour and incredible experience,” the CEO of Adventure Canada tells...
AQSC Extends Service Suspension
American Queen Steamboat Company (AQSC) is extending its temporary suspension of operations on board the American Empress through August 2, 2020 and the American Duchess through August 16, 2020. The decision was made in an abundance of caution for the health and safety of its guests and crew. John Waggoner, CEO and founder of American Queen Steamboat Company, said that: “The decision to extend our suspension was disappointing, but necessary in order to prioritize the wellbeing of our guests, crew and partners. We have continued to monitor the climate surrounding COVID-19, we...
Celestyal Announces Further Sailing Suspension
Celestyal Cruises, which has sailings to the Greek Islands and the Eastern Mediterranean, has announced the further suspension of its sailings until the previously announced 2021 season, starting March 6, 2021. Celestyal was one of the first cruise lines worldwide to take an immediate decision to temporarily suspend cruise operations out of caution for its guests, crew and the local communities it serves in mid-March. The decisive action resulted in no COVID-19 cases on Celestyal’s ships, and the company was able to repatriate its guests and crew home safely before international...
Emerald Waterways Unveils Europe 2021
Emerald Waterways has opened the books on their 2021 river cruise season with no price increases from the 2021 preview brochure, complimentary or reduced airfare deals on all European sailing. Plus, to celebrate the nation’s birthday, Emerald Waterways is offering a Canada launch bonus of either an on-board credit or additional savings until July 15th. The upcoming season will feature a newly launched Star-Ship, Emerald Luna, new land extensions to Istanbul and Transylvania, and several fresh itineraries on some of Europe’s most popular rivers. All 2021 river cruise bookings...