Cruise
Viking Launches New Experience Channel, Viking.TV
Viking (https://www.viking.com) has launched Viking.TV (https://viking.tv/), a new digital platform designed to provide enriching cultural content and livestreaming video experiences from around the world. The announcement was made by executive vice-president Karine Hagen in a video for current and past Viking guests, posted on the homepage of Viking.TV. “Right now, we are all staying at home instead of traveling together, but that does not have to mean that the only thing we can do is watch the news,” said Karine. “My father, Torstein Hagen, and I felt that if we cannot for...
COVID-19: Restaurants, Your BDMs And Lots More
Canadian BDMs have a message for agents: Sit back, relax and feel the glow because your BDMs across Canada have a message for travel agents here. BDMs from 15 supplier companies -- Transat, Uplift, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Princess, Cunard, NCL, Hurtigruten, WestJet, Carnival, Insight, Canlink, Goway, Palace Resorts and Trafalgar -- joined forces to thank agents for their support during these difficult times and make it clear that they're there for them now and when the crisis has passed. And each of the BDMs also told agents to stay well, stay safe, stay home ... and, of...
Zaandam, Rotterdam Guests Disembark in Port Everglades
Holland America Line has confirmed that Broward County and the Unified Command cleared both Zaandam and Rotterdam for arrival to Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to disembark guests who are fit to travel per guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “These travellers could have been any one of us or our families, unexpectedly caught in the middle of this unprecedented closure of global borders that happened in a matter of days and without warning,” said Orlando Ashford, president of Holland America Line. “We are so happy to be able to...
Hold on… Agents’ Choice Will Be Back Shortly
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to dominate the hearts and minds of our industry, Baxter Media has decided to hit the pause button on its Agents’ Choice 2020 program. “While most of the travel agent community had voted prior to COVID-19 taking over, there are some who didn't get the chance to have their say,” said Wendy McClung, Executive VP, Operations at Baxter Media. “The Agents’ Choice program - survey, issue, and gala - is a celebration of our Canadian travel industry, and we want to hit pause until a time when the industry is back on track and we can all celebrate...
Dreaming of the Future With European Waterways
While travel is on “pause” for most, European Waterways wants those making future travel plans to consider the pastoral regions of Europe. Officials note that luxury hotel barges like those from European Waterways offer families and small groups a unique opportunity to enjoy the world-renowned wines of France and Italy, and the famed whiskies of Scotland. “Our all-inclusive cruises feature superb regional wines paired with exceptional gastronomic meals every day, along with exclusive, experiential excursions that immerse travelers in the historical and culinary traditions of...
Crystal@Home Brings the World of Crystal to You
To help tide travellers over the coming days, the team at Crystal Cruises has created Crystal@Home -- A Virtual Cruise Experience allowing visitors to continue to enjoy the Crystal Experience from the comfort of home. From destination immersion to culinary, entertainment and wellbeing engagements, the weekly “virtual voyage” invites you to stay connected to and interact with Crystal via various platforms including live streaming events, conversations on Crystal’s social media channels, stories on the Crystal Insider blog, a re-release of Crystal Storytellers, the cruise line’s...
COVID-19 Update: USA, Viking, Trafalgar And More
The impact of COVID-19 on travel is deepening in the US ... Royal Caribbean is extending its "Cruise with Confidence" policy through Sept. 1 ... Norwegian Cruise Line is extending the suspension of its sailings to May 10 ... Viking offers an update on its operations ... Trafalgar offers an update on its policies ... Insight does too ... and Vail Resorts' CEO is donating $2.5 million to the companies employees and the mountain villages with it has its resorts ... so read on ... Longwoods International tracks the trends According to research from Longwoods International, the impact of...
A Humanitarian Crisis
In a powerful, and personal, message, Holland America Line president, Orlando Ashford asks the question that we should all be asking ourselves today: “During a time when we’re afraid to go out, fearful of others as possible COVID-19 carriers, how do we ensure we continue acting in ways consistent with our common human dignity?” What follows is Ashford’s message to the world, it is one that we should all read and remember. Ashford writes: “The coronavirus (COVID-19) has run rampant through neighbourhoods, businesses and nations, catching us all off...