Cruise
Clear Sailing Ahead
The cruise industry got some long-awaited good news yesterday (March 30) as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lifted its health notice on cruise travel. The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) was quick to applaud the CDC's March 30 decision by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control to altogether remove the Travel Health Notice for cruising -- a move that recognizes the effective public health measures in place on cruise ships and begins to level the playing field, between cruise and similarly situated venues on land, for the first time since March...
A Helping Hand For Ukraine
Toronto's The Bob Family Travel Team at Travelonly has become the latest travel industry firm to lend a financial helping hand to Ukrainians fleeing their homeland. The agency is sending almost 100 clients, friends and 15 travel agents from Travelonly to Eastern Europe in May, with some of the visited countries bordering Ukraine and others now home to Ukrainian refugees. “It is nice to know not one client has cancelled this trip since the war started and although some have questions we all plan to go forward,” says The Bob Family Travel's Pat Probert. The Bob Family and the...
Celebrity Cruises Changing The Faces Of Travel Marketing
Celebrity Cruises is launching a bold new initiative to change the meaning of “all-inclusive” in the travel industry. Recognizing the need to improve the representation of all people who travel in marketing materials, the cruise line has created both a new campaign and the world’s first free to use, ‘open source’ travel image library. The campaign and collection -- ‘The All-Inclusive Photo Project’ (AIPP) -- aims to start a movement, calling on travel companies to help address the lack of diversity in travel marketing imagery. The new images are being unveiled today...
Le Boat Adds Six To Its Fleet
Le Boat is adding six new Horizon Plus boats arriving this week to their fleet on the UNESCO World Heritage Rideau Canal. The addition of the brand-new boats brings Le Boat’s fleet to 30 boats for the 2022 season set to open on May 20, Victoria Day Long Weekend. It also coincides with the company’s 5th anniversary of sailing the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Rideau Canal in Ontario, Canada. Managing Director of Le Boat, Cheryl Brown said: “We are so delighted to start our 2022 season with a much more positive outlook than we’ve had in previous years and the addition of...
AmaWaterways Offers Help To Ukraine Refugees
AmaWaterways is setting a course to provide help to refugees from Ukraine. The war in Ukraine has resulted in a worldwide call to support humanitarian efforts for the women and children that have fled their homes seeking safe refuge in other countries. Believing that it was important to provide support to those affected, AmaWaterways -- through collaboration with the Port of Amsterdam and other volunteer organizations in the Netherlands -- has made available a river cruise vessel to provide temporary accommodations for refugees arriving into Amsterdam. The AmaWaterways’ ship is...
Uniworld Passengers Can Bid On Stateroom Upgrades
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises has unveiled details of its new Category+ program, allowing guests to bid on potential stateroom upgrades ahead of their departure. Powered by Plusgrade, Uniworld clients will be invited to browse staterooms and suites still available on their cruise in a higher category than they originally booked, and then place an offer. Bids may be placed on multiple available staterooms to increase upgrade chances, but guests will only pay for their upgrade if it is accepted. Ellen Bettridge, President and CEO of Uniworld Boutique River Cruises, said that:...
Swan Hellenic Makes Changes To 2022-2023 Cruises
Swan Hellenic is making a series of changes to its 2022-2023 cultural expedition cruises, in response to both the tragic situation in Ukraine and ongoing COVID-related restrictions across the Far East. The changes will now see the SH Minerva sailing a new course into the Northern Hemisphere for a refocused Arctic season, preceded by new UK Celtic discovery cruises exploring unforgettable landscapes and unique cultures. The SH Vega is now scheduled to leave Helsinki Shipyard in September. It will then set a course directly for Argentina to join its twin ship for the 2022-2023...
HAL Speeds Up Embarkation Process
Holland America Line is makng embarkation easier by adding the use of mBark facial recognition and the VeriFLY vaccine verification program in all U.S., Canadian and European homeports. mBark is a mobile system that enables guests to check in for their cruise in less than 10 seconds, while the VeriFLY digital wallet for COVID-19 credentials offers a proven solution for proof of vaccination and test results. Gus Antorcha, president of Holland America Line, said that: “Holland America Line continues to look for ways that make the cruising experience better for our guests as we...