The World's Greatest Vacations

Do cruises beat resorts on value? The huge price gap says yes

2022-11-14

Cruise line executives have long contended that resorts and land vacations are their main competitors but that cruising is a better value. Nearly three years since the pandemic began, it appears that has never been more true. Both analysts and cruise lines report that the price gulf between cruises and land-based vacations has more than […]

Working during vacation: Hotels respond to bleisure’s flipside

2022-11-07

When it comes to bleisure, there’s been plenty of buzz around how best to cater to business travelers looking to add leisure to the mix. But much less has been said about the growing number of leisure travelers who can extend their trips by working during vacation. The trend is an offshoot of the “workation” […]

As flyer habits change, airlines rethink approach to scheduling

2022-10-30

The changing travel patterns brought about by the pandemic have caused the Big Three U.S. airlines to begin a readjustment of their decades-old approach to flight scheduling. American, Delta and United have for years largely built their schedules with a focus on the peak days and times of their corporate customers’ flights. Now, motivated by […]

First Call: New comforts on Lindblad’s National Geographic Islander II

2022-10-24

When Lindblad Expeditions revealed in 2021 that it was the buyer of Crystal Cruises’ former Crystal Esprit, the expedition specialist seemed an unlikely suitor for a 48-passenger yacht mostly used for high-end charters. But what Lindblad saw was the opportunity to upgrade its hardware in the Galapagos, where an array of upscale ships are being […]

How advisors can conquer overtourism sentiments

2022-10-17

Overtourism is a growing concern for the residents of Hawaii, especially as visitor numbers continue to rise. Some residents have voiced their opinions on social media posts, videos and TV shows, and clients seeing these may start to question whether to continue with their plans. While not everyone has had to face the negative sentiment […]

Kayak guide Santiago Stabile, ringed by a production team, talking to Seabourn Venture guests ahead of an excursion in St. Kitts. Photo Credit: Andrea Zelinski

With its expedition ships, Seabourn reaches for a new demographic

2022-10-10

ABOARD THE SEABOURN VENTURE — Seabourn Cruise Line is gearing up for the 2023 Wave season, working on one of its largest media productions in recent years. The cruise line is planning a slate of television commercials along with content on YouTube and social media, targeting first-time cruisers and cruisers who have never sailed with […]

Some cruise lines give a break to hurricane-affected customers

2022-10-03

Cruise lines are offering a mix of refunds and future cruise credits (FCCs) for washed-out Hurricane Ian sailings, plus some lines have contingencies for cruisers who can’t sail due to hurricane hardship. Virgin Voyages guests scheduled to take a future cruise who are unable to travel due to hurricane-related situations can request a future cruise […]

Canada to drop all Covid border restrictions

2022-09-26

Starting Oct. 1, Canada will drop all Covid-19 border restrictions for people entering the country by air, land or sea, including vaccine and testing requirements. Canada will also end mask and health check requirements for travelers on planes and trains and all quarantine and isolation requirements for travelers, Transport Canada said. Like the U.S., Canada […]

Apocalypse now? Or, perhaps, tomorrow?

2022-09-19

MARRAKECH, Morocco — The first speaker, sustainability consultant Juliet Kinsman, painted a rather grim picture of the world that her audience of travel advisors and suppliers might one day be selling. Speaking this week at Open House, a day of content and networking that preceded the hosted buyer show Pure Life Experiences, she asserted, with […]

Airplanes are packed, and the lounges also seem to be crowded

2022-09-12

Long lines. New limits on guest access. New arrival time restrictions. Welcome to the airport lounge experience of 2022. “It’s not one airline in particular. United, Delta, Alaska, they are all packed,” said Matthew Klint, a frequent traveler who authors the Live and Let’s Fly blog. “It’s also the credit card lounges. And its overseas, […]