MSC Cruises says its Yacht Club ‘ship within a ship’ concept offers an exclusive holiday sanctuary on board many of MSC Cruises’ ships, providing guests an unique cruise experience with complete serenity, added exclusivity, and privacy that is not lacking in choice.
If 2023 was the year that travel came roaring back, 2024 promises to see the continuing evolution of travel, with travellers looking to see ‘traditional’ destinations in a new way – and discover new ones – and in a way that gives back to local people and communities and gets them closer to the culture and tradition of a place, says G Adventures.
The US Department of Transportation is investigating possible deceptive practices in airline loyalty programs after federal lawmakers raised concerns about how companies are calculating points and rewards. DOT says it is planning “to carefully review complaints regarding loyalty programs and exercise our authority to investigate airlines for unfair and deceptive practices that hurt travellers as warranted.”
Determined to impact the hardships and food insecurity of many people this holiday season, TravelBrands has continued its ongoing partnership with Food Banks Canada for the fourth consecutive year with a $10,000 donation to the charity.
With a host of new offerings and enhancements – and agent specialist perks – Uniworld Boutique River Cruises says it’s sailing into 2024 with high expectations and enthusiasm. Highlights will include the launch of a new ship, the SS Victoria, which will debut in Amsterdam at the start of the European river cruise season.
Sunwing is continuing Boxing Day week deals into the New Year with savings on vacations to Mexico, the Caribbean (including Cuba), Central America and the United States available when booked by Jan. 7, 2024. Customers can get up to $1,500 off per couple on vacation packages at over 200 hotels and resorts.
From repurposed planes and the use of new technology to a milestone flight using biofuel, a key aviation session at the recent World Travel Market London heard how established and new airlines are working towards a more sustainable future.
A 6-year-old boy who left on a flight for the Christmas holidays to visit his grandmother in southwest Florida instead was put on the wrong plane and ended up 160 miles away in Orlando, Florida.
Bethlehem is gearing up for a subdued Christmas, without the festive lights and customary Christmas tree towering over Manger Square, after officials in Jesus’ traditional birthplace decided to forgo celebrations due to the Israel-Hamas war. The cancellation of Christmas festivities, which typically draw thousands of visitors, is a severe blow to the town’s tourism-dependent economy.
Airports and airlines are gearing up for the prospect of travel snarls over the holidays, even though the forecast looks favourable for now. Environment Canada is predicting bright skies and relatively mild temperatures across most of the country through Dec. 25.
Air Transat took flight for the first time to Peru Wednesday night with sister-service from Montreal following today (Dec. 22). The non-stop flights – the only ones between Canada and Peru – will be operated throughout the year, with two departures per week from YYZ and one departure per week from YUL.
There’s nothing like Christmas in a castle, and this year, Windsor Castle outside London will see Christmas displays celebrating the 675th anniversary of the Order of the Garter, the oldest order of chivalry in Britain which was founded in Windsor in 1348.
With more than 3.25 million customers expected to travel with Air Canada on 1,200 Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge, and Air Canada Express flights globally, every day, the airline wants to make sure that travellers spend more time with loved ones than in lines at airports. With this in mind the airline has revealed its top travel tips to help customers “travel like an expert” during the peak holiday period, which runs from mid-December until Jan. 7.
This year’s 46th Winterlude in Canada’a Capital Region is scheduled to take place Feb. 2-19 with a promise of experiences that combine winter with rich culture, artistic creativity, and a celebration of Canada’s diversity. Each year, the iconic event transforms Ottawa-Gatineau into a festive gathering with indoor and outdoor activities for all tastes.
The Pogues’ song ‘Fairytale of New York’ is one of the most played Christmas songs of the 21st century. A standout line in the chorus reads: “The boys of the NYPD choir were singing ‘Galway Bay,’ and while many have joined in to sing out the line, few are aware that the NYPD choir has, in fact, never existed, let alone sung ‘Galway Bay.’
From “destination duping” and “detox trips” to “puppymoons” and cinematic- and concert-driven destinations (Edmonton, anyone?), Expedia Group has uncovered eight surprising and solidifying travel trends – and destinations – for the upcoming year, revealing them in “Unpack24,” a report based on comprehensive booking data across its Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo brands, plus a survey of 20,000 travellers.
Lynx has announced another summer network expansion, offering service to Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO) from Toronto Pearson, starting March 28 and May 3 respectively. The new service will take the carrier to more than 10,000 seats per week to and from the US from YYZ.
Goway and APT & Travelmarvel, both like-minded Down Under specialists, leveraged a long-standing partnership earlier this year that saw the former become the official North American partner for the latter – and it’s a plan that has proved positively bonzer (“first rate” in Aussie lingo), according to company officials.
TRAVELSAVERS members enjoyed an elite retreat, while in other round-up news, Trevello was cruising to success, Flight Centre embraced AI, while TDC said ‘bravo’ to 25 top agencies, and Direct Travel hosted its first-ever leisure conference.
Low-cost airlines Ryanair and Malta Air won a court case Wednesday against the European Union’s decision to approve billions of euros in state aid by the French government to Air France and holding company Air France-KLM during the COVID-19 pandemic.
New York City is always a hive of activity, and never more so than during the holidays, culminating in the famed New Year’s ball-drop at Times Square. But there is much more to do in the Big Apple, and much of it is free.
Scientists anticipated the eruption of a volcano in southwestern Iceland near the country’s top tourist attraction for weeks, so when it happened on Monday night, it was no surprise. The region had been active for more than two years and thousands of small earthquakes rattled the area in recent weeks. Here is a look at what happened and how it may affect flights and tourism.
Despite financial pressures, Canadians’ vacation confidence continues to rise with seven in 10 saying they plan to take a holiday in 2024, according to Allianz Global Assistance’s seventh annual Vacation Confidence Study.
Brazil’s Embratur has joined the Canadian association of tour operators (CATO), an unusual arrangement for a tourist board, but one that reflects the South American country’s keen interest in the Canadian tourism market.
Southwest Airlines will pay a US$35 million fine as part of a $140 million settlement to resolve a federal investigation into a debacle in December 2022 when the airline cancelled thousands of flights and stranded more than 2 million travellers over the holidays. The US government said the assessment was the largest it has ever imposed on an airline for violating consumer protection laws.
With more than two million passengers – 200,000 more than last year and 99 percent of 2019 – set to travel through Vancouver International Airport this month, the facility says it has been working all year to improvement the traveller experience at YVR to ensure there is no repeat of last year’s “challenges” during the holiday travel period, typically the busiest week of the year.
Marriott International is set to debut its first-ever all-inclusive property fully conceptualized by the Marriott brand at the site of the former Marriott Cancun Resort, which closed its doors for the extensive renovation this past March. Reservations are now open effective March 22, 2024.
AI or Artificial Intelligence is a powerful tool for content production, including articles, images, and videos. However, it requires not only intelligent input from the user, but also a keen eye to understand the product. AI is only part of the solution because it’s the human element that makes it powerful and effective. Here’s a guide to understanding the balance.
It’s been an “incredible” year for Nassau Paradise Island (NPI), from the opening of the city’s spectacular new cruise port to a Golden Jubilee, plus landmark hotel happenings and record arrivals. And in Canada, the return of representation for the NPI Promotion Board, which has “ambitious” goals for the destination in this country.
Air Transat passengers can now purchase upgrades on the airline with Plusgrade, which gives ticket holders multiple opportunities to move up to Club Class, featuring the comfort of an exclusive cabin, plus gourmet meals and priority airport service.