Bad enough that we’re getting squeezed into airplanes. Now consumers around the world are facing skyrocketing airline prices. Bloomberg reports that corporate travel manager American Express Global Business Travel analyzed tens of thousands of client transactions on international flights to and from Asian destinations and found some serious inflation at work. A typical New York-to-Hong Kong flight in economy class cost more than twice as much this year as in 2019, and almost a third more than last year. “Fares have been bolstered by tight capacity going into travel’s peak season and customers are eager to book, often upgrading to Read more
cruising
Cruise Critic®, the world’s leading cruise reviews site and online cruise community, has announced the winners of its 11th annual Cruise Critic Cruisers’ Choice Awards – naming the world’s most popular cruises, based on consumer reviews and ratings shared on Cruise Critic over the past year. The site boasts the world’s largest online cruise community with more than 650,000 cruise reviews, covering approximately 700 cruise ships across the globe. “While this is our eleventh year announcing our Cruisers’ Choice Awards, this year’s awards are some of the most meaningful to-date,” shared Colleen McDaniel, Editor-in-Chief of Cruise Critic. “Our awards were paused for the past Read more
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
Gun violence in Mexico forced the temporary closure of two airports, stranding more Canadians. CP24 says Canadian tourists were trapped inside a Mexican hotel Thursday as buses that were supposed to take them to an airport and safely home burned outside. “It’s just chaos,” said Tina Dahl of Edmonton, whose six family members stranded in the popular tourist city of Mazatlan were supposed to fly out Thursday night. The government of Canada travel advice Twitter feed states that “there is widespread violence in Sinaloa State since the arrest of a (drug) cartel leader. The Culiacán and Mazatlán airports are closed. Read more
Today is Alaska’s statehood day, and to celebrate the region that is at the heart of summer cruising Holland America Line is sharing details of its 2024 Alaska season. The premium cruise line is debuting a new 28-day Arctic Circle itinerary that includes 12 Alaska ports, longer 14-day voyages and 117 weeklong journeys, enhancing its position as the leader in Alaska cruising. With more sailings to Glacier Bay National Park than any other cruise line, the only cruise line to include the unspoiled riches of the Yukon plus Denali on overland Cruisetours and more than 75 years of Alaska exploration Read more
