As cruise travel numbers rise around the world, several cruise lines say they plan to soon drop their COVID restrictions. A report in Travel Weekly says Ponant, which recently acquired Paul Gauguin Cruises, plans to drop its vaccination requirement for passengers on April 1. “After careful consideration of the lower incidence of Covid infections, combined with the higher rate of vaccinated and boosted guests, we have decided to relax our policy,” said Navin Sawhney, CEO of Americas at Ponant. Travel Weekly said Cunard plans to drop vaccination requirements for guests on the Queen Victoria and Queen Mary 2 beginning April Read more
cruise ships
Toronto Pearson to Limit Flights This Spring + Summer; China Tourism Rebound and Scenic Cruises 2024
Toronto Pearson Airport officials say they’ll begin capping the number of passengers who can fly to the U.S. or come into the country from Europe. In a statement sent to me today by email, the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) said it has “taken decisive measures designed to flatten peak-hour schedules for the March Break and the upcoming summer season” by controlling the number of passengers who go through the airport each hour. “These include hard limits on the number of commercial flights that can arrive or depart in any given hour along with limits on business/general aviation flights. In Read more
Eugene Levy is living large as he records his new TV show. I’ve also got update on a retirement cruise ship, a Black History initiative for New York, snow in Hollywood, and news about Singapore cancelling its Vancouver flights. RETIRE AND LIVE ON A CRUISE SHIP Here’s a great way to retire; live on a cruise ship that sails the world. Business Insider says Victoria Cruises Line is chartering a nearly 30-year-old cruise vessel formerly owned by Holland America for use as an adults-only residential cruise ship. The cost starts at $8,000 USD per month for two people and guests Read more
The world’s most famous city sign is turning 100 years old. The iconic letters for the Hollywood Sign have stood as an American landmark for 100 years, perched atop the Santa Monica Mountains overlooking the City of Los Angeles. The sign is synonymous with the glitz and glamour of Tinseltown and emblematic of a century’s worth of Hollywood history, from the notable to the notorious. Today, the sign is an enduring symbol of Los Angeles, beckoning travelers to come experience a place where magic is possible and dreams come true. “From the Golden Age of Hollywood to the beating heart Read more
U.S. airlines expect strong travel demand that drove record fourth-quarter revenues to continue into 2023, but economic uncertainty and burgeoning labor and operations costs could cloud their rosy outlooks, Reuters reports. JetBlue Airways, American Airlines and Alaska Airlines last week all forecasted full-year earnings that were better than expected, the agency said, adding that “airlines are cashing in as consumers snap up tickets following a pandemic-induced slump.” HOLLAND AMERICA SETS WAVE SEASON RECORD In an early sign of a successful Wave season, Holland America Line bookings in the third week of January were the highest on record for any January Read more










