Destinations
Crystal Symphony Brings News of NW Passage
The arrival in Vancouver of the Crystal Symphony as part an Asia/transpacific cruise gave Crystal the opportunity to show off its recently refit ship, and treat travel trade guests to lunch. The ship looked good, retaining its classic charms in a market that is diverging from more traditional cruise amenities. More importantly, it gave Crystal the opportunity to talk about next year’s highlight itinerary – a Northwest Passage cruise. Sister ship Crystal Serenity will sail on this itinerary, taking 32 days from Anchorage to New York, starting in August 2016. It will do so after a...
WestJet’s #TartanTail Takes Flight
Later this month, WestJet will launch service from Halifax to Glasgow, Scotland, on board a special version of one of its Boeing Next-Generation 737-700 series aircraft adorned with a custom-designed WestJet tartan on its tail. To mark the occasion of its first service to the United Kingdom, WestJet worked with the world's last dedicated hand-crafted tartan mill, D.C. Dalgliesh of Selkirk, Scotland, to design a commemorative tartan in the airline's distinctive blue and teal corporate colours. In addition to producing neck ties, cufflinks and scarves, WestJet also decaled two aircraft...
Don’t Be Fooled
Don't let the numbers fool you! Our petro-currency may be having a tough time against the greenback but Canadians are still big on America, reports Montreal editor, Mike Dunbar in this week's digital edition of Canadian Travel Press. Ever since the feds upped duty free exemptions in June 2012, Canadian visitation numbers to the United States have been on a roller coaster ride; posting dramatic increases when the loonie was high and major decreases now that it's deeply discounted. But what the bald figures don't show is that the volatility is primarily limited to ultra-short-stay,...
Kissimmee Shines
From world famous theme parks to having a true Florida experience in the great outdoors, Experience Kissimmee's new president and CEO highlighted the destination during an industry luncheon in Toronto on May 21. “One day you can be in the shadow of the world's most famous castle and the next day you can be kayaking the headwaters of the Everglades in the shadows of 200-300-year-old Cypress trees,” said DT Minich, speaking for the first time in Toronto in his new role. “ Kissimmee also goes back and forth with an area in Alaska with having the highest American bald eagle...
Florida X4 on ’10 Best US Beaches’ List
Four Florida beaches are among the 10 best in America for 2015 as ranked by coastal expert and environmental scientist Dr. Stephen Leatherman, known as Dr. Beach. Florida beaches in the new Top 10 are #2 Barefoot Beach Park on Florida's southwest coast, #3 St. George Island State Park in northwest Florida, #6 Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park in Biscayne Bay, and #9 Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park (pictured) in Collier County. Leatherman, professor and director of the Laboratory for Coastal Research at Florida International University, praised Florida's beaches for their white,...
AC Launches Seasonal Atlantic City Service
Air Canada marked the start of seasonal services to Atlantic City Friday (May 22), the resort city known for its beaches, boardwalks and casinos. Seasonal, four times weekly Air Canada Express flights from Toronto to Atlantic City are operated by Jazz Aviation LP with 74-seat Bombardier Q-400 aircraft on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays. All Air Canada flights provide for Aeroplan accumulation and redemption and, for eligible customers, priority check-in, Maple Leaf Lounge access, priority boarding and other benefits. New routes launched to date this year in addition to...
Stampede Spirit Comes to Toronto
Toronto got a taste of the Calgary Stampede on Wednesday (May 20), 43 days before the main event, as the Rock 'N' Horse Saloon transformed into a western scene with BBQ eats, cowboy hats and a live performance by Trinity Bradshaw. “We are here in Toronto to spread a little bit of that western hospitality and Stampede spirit, and invite everybody to come out west and take in the Calgary Stampede,” Lindsay Jardine, Calgary Stampede's tourism sales manager, said to PressToday. “We've been around for now 103 years so Stampede's endured, but it changes every year. It's still the...
Canadian Chef to Lead Culinary Tour of Peru
James Walt, renowned chef of Araxi Restaurant in Whistler, BC, will be leading a culinary tour of Peru this September. The 11-day tour has been designed to explore Peru's flavours and culture in Lima, Arequipa and Cusco. Participants will visit local specialty markets with leading Peruvian chefs to purchase local ingredients, followed by hands-on cooking experiences. Guests will also visit top restaurants such as Sibaris, Central, Chicha Arequipa and Astrid & Gaston. In Cusco, guests will visit Machu Picchu for a hands-on cooking demonstration by Chef Walt in the Sacred...