News

CRYSTAL’S NEW LOOK FEATURES FEWER GUESTS, GRANDER SPACES

It’s been a year in the making, now Crystal Cruises is being relaunched with an upgraded look to appeal to long-time fans of the line back and attract a new following of luxury cruisers. From redesigned public spaces and modern guest rooms and suites to refined in-room amenities and exclusive linens designed for royalty, the new Crystal experience will feature contemporary designs from a collection of European partners.

LISTENING IN: Just Joni

In honour of Canada Day earlier this month, Rolling Stone magazine rolled out its occasional accounting of “best” Canadian artists, encompassing familiar names like Neil Young, Gordon Lightfoot, Rush, Shania, Celine, Drake, and Justin (Bieber, that is). Plus, some absolute head-scratchers: Snow, (disco-punk revivalists) Death From Above 1979, and Japandroids.

FLORIDA IN HOT WATER: Oceans temperatures rise along with humidity

Record global ocean heating has invaded Florida with a vengeance. Water temperatures in the mid-90s (mid-30s Celsius) are threatening delicate coral reefs, depriving swimmers of cooling dips, and exacerbating the Sunshine State’s already oppressive summer weather. Forecasters are warning of temperatures that with humidity will feel like 110 degrees (43 C) by week’s end.

SHORE EXCURSION TRAGEDY: Tour operators on trial in New Zealand volcano deaths

Tourists received no health and safety warnings before they landed on New Zealand’s most active volcano ahead of a 2019 eruption that killed 22 people, a prosecutor stated as prosecutors opened their case in New Zealand this week on health and safety charges against six tourism industry operators that took them, and others, there – most from a Royal Caribbean cruise.

MONTREAL MIFFED: Railway squabble halts sole service to NY

Montreal travellers, and tourism operators, are lamenting the suspension of the only daily train between their city and New York City. Amtrak announced late last month it would halt service on the Canadian National Railway Co. line due to speed restrictions prompted by summer heat, which can cause kinks in the steel tracks.

U.S. TRAVELLERS GIVE NEW MEANING TO ‘PACKING’

The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) says it intercepted 3,251 firearms – 92 percent of them loaded – at airport security checkpoints during the first half of 2023. The total represents an average 18 firearms per day at TSA checkpoints.

HARD ROCK CELEBRATES MESSI WITH CHICKEN SANDWICH

Love Lionel? Then Hard Rock International has the sandwich for you. The pop-culture inspired hotel brand has teamed up with arguably the world’s greatest-ever soccer player, Lionel Messi, to launch a namesake menu item – the Messi Chicken Sandwich, “Made For You by Leo Messi.”

SOUTHERN SURGE CAUSES ‘DISARRAY’ AT U.S. BORDER

Members of US Congress are growing concerned about what they say is a shortage of agents on the southern side of the Canada-US border that is causing “disarray” at entry points to the country.

MORE MASS PROTESTS ROCK ISRAEL: Roads blocked, airport thronged

Thousands of Israeli protesters – some threatening “civil war” – took to the streets on Tuesday, blocking major highways and thronging the country’s main international airport, in countrywide demonstrations against the government’s contentious plan to overhaul the country’s judicial system.

HOW YOU CAN HELP SHAPE AIR PAX RIGHTS

The Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) has launched consultations on proposed amendments to the Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR) and you can help shape the outcome.

VOLCANO HEATS UP ICELAND, VISITORS WARNED

With erupting volcanos increasingly serving as beacons to locals and tourists alike, Icelandic authorities are warning people to stay away from a erupting hotspot in southwestern Iceland, which began erupting Monday, 11 months after its last eruption officially ended.

WORLD CUP A WINNER FOR QATAR AIRWAYS

Qatar Airways reported $1.2 billion in profits over the past year, buoyed by its role in ferrying fans to the soccer World Cup. The long-haul airline said it transported 1.4 million passengers to the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. It also expanded its network to more than 160 destinations.

COURT CONFIRMS SCHIPHOL FLIGHT CUTS

Appeals court judges in Amsterdam have ruled that the Dutch government can order Schiphol Airport, one of Europe’s busiest aviation hubs, to reduce the number of flights from 500,000 per year to 460,000.

TRANSAT SELLS MEXICAN PROPERTY

Transat AT Inc. says it has sold a piece of land in Mexico to resort company Finest Resorts for US$38 million. The company says the sale is part of its plan to focus on its airline business as it tries to return to profitability after more than two years of losses.

HOTEL SET TO OPEN AT GREAT CANADIAN CASINO RESORT

Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto, the lavish new entertainment complex in the city, will open its hotel on Aug. 1 and reservations can now be made. The 400-room property is part of the $1-billion development that opened its first phase on June 20.

ATLANTIC CITY BETS ON NON-GAMBLING ENTERTAINMENT

A new $100-million indoor aquatic recreation facility is hoping to make a splash in Atlantic City with the aim of appealing to family tourism and giving visitors something else to do besides gambling in the New Jersey tourism destination.

BANG A DRUM, INDEPENDENT BAHAMAS IS 50 YEARS YOUNG

The Bahamas celebrates the 50th anniversary of its independence from Britain today (July 10) with festivities across the country and throughout Nassau-Paradise Island. The celebrations culminate days of events throughout the islands involving both residents and visitors, including this morning’s 1 a.m. People’s Rush, when the public is invited to join parade groups to inaugurate Junkanoo.

FERRY DISRUPTION LATEST ‘SPEED BUMP’ FOR PEI TOURISM

The company that operates the ferry between Nova Scotia and eastern Prince Edward Island says the MV Confederation will return to service early this week following mechanical issues that docked the vessel last week and into the weekend – and at the height of PEI’s tourism season.

LYNX TO OFFER MORE U.S. OPTIONS FROM EAST

Lynx Air is expanding service to its US network this fall, with the addition of routes from Toronto Pearson International (YYZ) to Los Angeles International (LAX) and Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX), as well as from Montreal Pierre Trudeau International (YUL) to Las Vegas Harry Reid International (LAS).

JETBLUE, AA DEAL DERAILED: Carrier sets sights on Spirit, again

JetBlue says it will end a partnership with American Airlines in the Northeast US after losing a court fight over the deal and will instead focus on salvaging its proposed purchase of Spirit Airlines.The US Justice Department sued to block both the JetBlue-American deal and JetBlue’s agreement to buy Spirit for $3.8 billion on grounds that they would hurt competition.

PASSENGER FEARING CARTEL MAKES BOMB THREAT TO SPUR ARREST

A passenger who made a bomb threat aboard an Alaska Airlines flight from Atlanta to Seattle last week told investigators he made the false threat hoping to be arrested because members of a “powerful cartel” were waiting in Seattle to kill him.

Scroll to Top