DISNEY CRUISE LINE UNWRAPS 2024 HOLIDAY SAILINGS

It’s never too early to plan a cruise, especially for peak periods and events like Christmas and Halloween. With this in mind, Disney Cruise Line has released details and opened sales for its fall and winter holiday offering in 2024.

HOW STUPID CAN YOU GET?: Anger after tourist defaces Colosseum

Italy’s culture and tourism ministers have vowed to find and punish the tourist who was filmed carving his name and that of his apparent girlfriend in the wall of the Colosseum in Rome, a crime that in the past has resulted in hefty fines.

WIRELESS PLAN MAY DISRUPT US FLIGHTS

As if tech issues, labour shortages and weather aren’t enough, flights south of the border could be disrupted starting next week because some planes lack updated equipment to prevent interference from transmissions by wireless companies.

PASSPORT OFFICE READY FOR 10-YEAR RUSH

The federal government says passport delivery has returned to pre-pandemic processing times, there are no backlogs, and Service Canada is exceeding its delivery standard for most applications.

ROLLER COASTER TRAGEDY AT FAMED SWEDISH PARK

Swedish government investigators have launched a probe into a roller coaster accident that killed one person and injured nine at the country’s oldest amusement park.

CANADA CLAMPS DOWN ON CRUISE SHIP WASTE

Declaring that “Canadians deserve clean waters and a clean environment,” Ottawa has announced new mandatory environmental rules for cruise ships. Announced Friday by Transport Minister Omar Alghabra, the new measures address discharges of greywater and sewage and are effective immediately.

THE MURKY RULES OF DEEP-SEA EXPLORATION

When the Titan submersible made its fateful dive into the North Atlantic, it also plunged into the murkily regulated waters of deep-sea exploration. It’s a space on the high seas where laws and conventions can be sidestepped by risk-taking entrepreneurs and the wealthy tourists who help fund their dreams. At least for now.

CHARLES MCKEE REPLACES BUREAU AT CANADA JETLINES

Canada Jetlines has announced the appointment of Charles McKee to lead the company’s commercial activities, replacing Duncan Bureau, who is leaving the company to pursue other opportunities, reportedly elsewhere in the aviation sector.

TICO ENHANCES WHOLESALER TRUST ACCOUNTING OPTIONS

Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO) registered wholesalers now have the option of depositing all sales of travel services into their Travel Industry Act trust bank account, including sales made to out-of-province retailers.

AQV REFOCUSES ON RIVER CRUISING

American Queen Voyages (AQV) has announced a series of deployment changes and updates for 2024 and ‘25 that will see the company drop its Great Lakes itineraries and refocus on river cruising. Consequently, owners the Hornblower Group will also sell its Ocean Navigator and Ocean Voyager vessels.

ROUND-UP: June 19-23, 2023

A couple of Canadian carriers scored top marks in prestigious Skytrax World Airline Awards last week, while in other weekly news highlights: Sunwing Vacations reassured the trade; an Indian airline conducted the biggest buy of planes in history, Ottawa announced a major investment in sustainable aviation fuel; and a popular Australian tourist destination took a new name.

CATASTROPHIC CONSEQUENCES: Implosion would mean instant death

OceanGate Expeditions has confirmed the deaths of the five men on the Titan submersible. The landing frame and rear cover of the missing submersible were discovered on the ocean floor, 500 meters from the bow of the Titanic. The discovery by a remote operated submarine is said to mean the sub suffered a crack and imploded under the underwater pressure, instantly killing those on board. The US Coast Guard said the men would have died instantly, their bodies may never be recovered.

THE LAST SPIKE: Florida rail line almost ready to roll

The last segment of a higher-speed rail line stretching from South Florida to the central part of the state has been completed, a milestone that was celebrated Wednesday by mayors from across the Sunshine State and which heralds the imminent arrival of much-anticipated service between Miami and Orlando.

BOLDLY GOING: Virgin Galactic to start commercial space flights

For a mere US$450,000 per person, travellers will soon be able to travel to edge of space with Virgin Galactic, which will start regular commercial flights beginning in August. The space tourism company has been working for years to send paying passengers on short space trips and in 2021 finally won the US federal government’s approval.

THOUSANDS CELEBRATE SUMMER SOLSTICE AT STONEHENGE

Around 8,000 revellers – Druids, pagans, hippies, local residents and tourists –gathered around Stonehenge in southern England this week to express their devotion to the sun, or to have some communal fun.

LISTENING IN: Matchbox 20 still strikes a chord

Mention Matchbox 20 and the band is usually greeted with an “Oh, I love them.” It is entirely fair to say they are beloved, not least thanks to charismatic frontman Rob Thomas and not just by women (my wife included). A few years ago, Thomas, performing solo, blew the audience away at the annual IPW U.S. travel trade show.

THE WORLD’S BEST AIRLINE: And major awards for Air Canada, Transat

It what is widely regarded as ‘the Oscars of the aviation industry,’ Singapore Airlines has been voted the World’s Best Airline at the 2023 World Airline Awards, the fifth time that the airline has scooped the Airline of the Year title in the 23-year history of the prestigious annual Skytrax rankings.

LEADERSHIP CHANGE AT TRAVELBRANDS

HIS Japan has announced a leadership change at TravelBrands, Red Label Vacations, and Merit Travel. Nathalie Tanious will take charge of the companies following the decision of President and CEO Frank DeMarinis to step down from the organization, effective July 21.

FARES WON’T RISE DUE TO MERGER, SAYS WESTJET BOSS

WestJet CEO Alexis von Hoensbroech says bringing Swoop and Sunwing Airlines under its banner won’t lead to higher airfares, since integrating the discount carriers will also tamp down costs.

VIRGINIA TOWN IS QUIRKY – AND PROUD OF IT

There’s no place like Wytheville. Literally. Unlike Washington or ubiquitous Springfield (notably home of everyman family the Simpsons), the southwest Virginia town is the only place in the US with that name (and the entire world, they claim).

CARIBBEAN KALEIDOSCOPE: This week’s eye on the islands

From Carnival in Antigua and Barbuda to new properties in the US Virgin Islands, record tourist arrivals in Jamaica and the Barbados Food & Rum festival, here’s the some of the latest news from the Caribbean that has caught our eye.

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