Blog
What Will Happen to My Elite Status and Points Because of the Coronavirus?
2020-04-28Limited travel due to the coronavirus prompts airline and hotel rewards programs to make policy changes. The fallout from the coronavirus continues to leave its mark on the travel industry. While frequent travelers were initially stressed about canceled flights, now they must also worry about maintaining their status and accruals in hotel and airline rewards […]
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The post-Covid future: Desire and greed
2020-04-28Like yours, my inbox has been filled with inspiration, sadness, data, static, notes from personal friends I haven’t heard from in years, notes from industry friends who find themselves suddenly unemployed, invitations to view or participate in webinars or Zoom calls or Hopin groups or GoToMeeting events or HouseParty happy hours, solicitations to buy products […]
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CDC Coronavirus Travel Updates: What to Know About Current Travel Restrictions
2020-04-13Cruises suspend sailings; hotels, airlines tweak cancellation policies; see the latest CDC travel advisories. THE WORLDWIDE OUTBREAK of the coronavirus currently exceeds 1.3 million confirmed cases across more than 150 countries. The virus originated in central China in late 2019, and its spread has crippled the travel and event industries. There are now confirmed coronavirus […]
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The opportunity hidden within uncertain times
2020-04-13Age has its burdens and its privileges, and one of the privileges is perspective. So when something unexpected, unprecedented and unfortunate befalls us, it can help to recall outcomes that followed previous dark days. There is no apple-to-apples comparison to chart how recovery might occur after the Covid-19 crisis has ended, but there are past […]
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Tales from the frontlines of World War C
2020-03-30My inbox has become the funnel into which all news about suspensions of service, cancellation/refund policies and alarming statistics and projections swirl. I think it could be added to the list of legally classified depressants were it not balanced by an equal number of examples of inspiring and creative ways that people in the travel industry are responding to […]
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I Went On a Cruise During the Coronavirus Pandemic. This Is What Happened.
2020-03-30Coronavirus concerns, itinerary changes and uncertainty lead to an unusual vacation. AS A TRAVEL EDITOR, it’s hard to turn down the opportunity to see the world. My husband and I – childless and in our late 20s – try to plan a few trips per year if time and money allow. So, when two of […]
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Social Distancing Outside: 8 Safe Places to Go and Things to Do
2020-03-24Here are some creative ways to enjoy the outdoors during the coronavirus outbreak. IF YOU’RE PRACTICING social distancing (as both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and World Health Organization are advising), chances are you’re limiting trips outside your home to protect your health and the health of your loved ones. But fresh air […]
READ MORE The other vaccine we really need
2020-03-09Every morning, I check the webpage titled “Updated World Health Organization [WHO] recommendations for international traffic in relation to Covid-19 outbreak.” It provides some specific recommendations and protocols for governments and individuals — wash your hands! — to contain the spread of the disease. And in its most recent update (Feb. 29 at the time […]
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The most famous Cunard “Queens”
2020-02-23Hello Again Everyone, Welcome to this month’s Captain’s Blog by yours truly, Captain Peter Philpott, recently retired Captain of Queen Mary 2 of Cunard Line, the latest in a succession of famous Cunard “Queens”. The current Queen Mary 2 was designed by a team of British naval architects led by Stephen Payne and at the […]
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The 50 Most Beautiful Places in the World Part 4
2020-02-10Halong Bay: Vietnam It would be hard to conjure up a more beautiful image than Vietnam’s Halong Bay, with its lofty limestone peaks, jungle-covered islands and turquoise waters. You can visit this UNESCO World Heritage Site for the day, though many travelers choose to visit on a cruise and spend the night along the shores […]
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