Destinations
Record Cruise Season Expected for Montreal
The 2017 cruise season opened in Montreal this past weekend with the arrival of Holland America's Veendam. Over the course of the season, which closes on Oct. 27 with the departure of the Seven Seas Mariner from Regent Seven Seas Cruises, the Port of Montreal will welcome 52 international cruise ships and 16 domestic ones, for a total of more than 110,000 passengers and crew members. This represents an increase of more than 25% over the last season. Three luxury ships will make their first-ever stop in Montreal, including the Silver Muse, a 596-passenger vessel from Silversea...
Building Bridges
Amid ongoing challenges affecting tourism to Europe, Germany posted record results for the seventh straight year with 80.8 million registered international overnights in 2016 -- up 1.1 million from the previous year, reports Ann Ruppenstein in this week's digital edition of Canadian Travel Press. Speaking at the 43rd annual Germany Travel Mart (GTM) from May 7 to May 9 -- and hosted by Bavaria Tourism and Nuremberg Convention and Tourist Office -- Petra Hedorfer, chief executive officer of the German National Tourist Board (GNTB), said that although “we are living in turbulent...
Air Canada Takes Off To Berlin
Travel trade types in Toronto celebrated with Air Canada and representatives from the German National Tourist Office and Visit Berlin as the airline added Berlin to the destinations that its “ever-expanding” route network now serves. AC's vice-president, global sales, Duncan Bureau told an audience of about 120 that with the launch of Berlin service – beginning June 3 and operated four times a week by Air Canada rouge – the airline has now introduced 20 new destinations to its route network so far in 2017. Last year, Bureau pointed out, Air Canada launched service into 28...
Arts Scene Flourishing in Philly
Those visiting Philadelphia will easily be able to brush up on their knowledge of art. Meryl Levitz, president of Visit Philadelphia, told a Toronto gathering Wednesday night that the city has a flourishing arts scene, underscored in part by its having more than 400 arts organizations. Among very visible displays of the city's commitment to art are at times massive murals on building exteriors, with James Burns one of those responsible for some of those huge artworks, telling the Toronto audience that the “arts scene in Philadelphia is robust.” Tours showcasing murals are...
Disney Sails to Quebec City, Bermuda
In fall 2018, Disney Cruise Line will sail on new itineraries and to new ports, including first-time visits to Quebec City and Bermuda – both with multiple days to experience the destinations. Quebec City will be featured on two new itineraries sailing from New York in September 2018. Both sailings include two full days in the Quebec capital, giving visitors multiple days to experience the city. As part of these two sailings, the 2,713‑passenger Disney Magic will also stop at Saguenay and Baie-Comeau. "The fact that the Disney Magic is coming to Quebec is a historic development...
Houston Not Just About Business
Pilar Florez wants Canadians to rethink their image of Houston. The Visit Houston executive conceded during a Thursday Toronto visit that Canadians often tend to view it as a business, rather than leisure, destination. “I'm here to try to change that perception,” she said. Among the city's tourism attributes are it's being home to the second largest theatre district in the United States. “We have ballet, we have opera, we have symphony. We have options [for tourists seeking a cultural experience],” she said. Among the city's many museums is the Houston Museum of...
Kia Ora!
The Great New Zealand Wine Tiki Tour – showcasing 28 vintners – landed at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto last night after making earlier stops in Vancouver and Calgary. The annual tour is conducted by New Zealand Winegrowers and allows wine lovers a chance to sample and learn all about the latest developments in the the New Zealand wine industry. Attendees were treated to numerous wine and food sampling stations, including a Pinot Noir Counter and 92+ Rating Counter. A silent auction was also held to help raise funds on behalf of SickKids' Ashley's Angels...
Royal Caribbean Opens First Year-Long Program to Cuba
Royal Caribbean International is launching a year-round program to Cuba with new sailings to Havana aboard Empress of the Seas. Royal Caribbean's newly refreshed ship will sail 58 cruises of four- and five-night itineraries from January 2018 through March 2019, more than half offering overnight stays in Havana. Empress’ Western Caribbean and Havana sailings are open for bookings. “Since arriving in Cuba for the first time last month, we’ve seen the excitement of our guests when sailing into Havana and the passion they have for the city at sail away – its people, its...