TRAVELHotNews.com Magazine

CARNIVAL STAYS CLOSE TO HOME

Economic pressure forces Carnival to keep ships on Eastern seaboard; Liberty sails Miami instead of Europe, Pride to sail Baltimore earlier than scheduled
Charmaine Pang

In the wake of the ongoing global financial crisis, Carnival Cruise Lines has made a timely decision to keep its ships closer to North American shores, cancelling its European program for Carnival Liberty and pushing up the start date for its Baltimore program with Carnival Pride. “Based on current market conditions, continued economic uncertainty and high air costs to Europe, we are shifting our focus to an even greater extent toward our core, close-to-home cruise options which are clearly the preference of the vast majority of the mainstream vacation market right now,” said Gerry Cahill, president and CEO of Carnival. The Carnival Liberty was originally scheduled to reposition to Europe in May 2009. Instead, it will remain on a year-round Caribbean schedule, based in Miami. [Full text and pictures]

AVALON’S NEW RIVER ALTERNATIVE

Avalon Waterways hosts Canadian and U.S. FAM, and announces new alternatives for river cruising
Éric Chevrette

In early November, Avalon Waterways invited travel agents on a river cruise to discover the magnificent Danube. These few days on the MS Avalon Tranquility gave travel agents from Canada and the US, as well as the few journalists invited, a chance to visit Budapest (Hungary), Bratislava (Slovakia), Vienna and Melk (Austria). The journey offered a glimpse of the first three destinations of the Magnificient Europe package, one of the itineraries available from the Globus Family of Brands. Their ships sail on the waters of the biggest rivers of Europe such as the Rhine, the Moselle, the Rhône, the Danube, as well as many others. [Full text and pictures]

AC GOES NON-STOP MONTREAL-GENEVA

Air Canada launches new non-stop Montreal-Geneva service; Swiss International Air Lines to codeshare

Air Canada today announced that it will introduce year-round non-stop service between Montreal and Geneva. Daily flights will begin June 1, 2009 (first flight departs Geneva June 2, 2009), with same-plane service continuing on to/from Toronto. The carrier's Star Alliance partner, Swiss International Air Lines, will offer seats on a codeshare basis on the new route. Tickets are now available for purchase. Air Canada will operate the new Montreal-Geneva non-stop service using 211-seat Boeing 767-300 ER aircraft offering a choice of Economy Class and Executive First service featuring 24 lay-flat bed suites. Flights on the new Geneva route are timed to offer travellers connections on Air Canada's North America network via the carrier's Montreal hub to and from: Toronto (same plane), Ottawa, Quebec City, Halifax, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston and New York. [Full text and pictures]

BRIDE TRAVELS FREE WITH SIGNATURE

Signature Vacations and Majestic Resorts announces bride travels free offer

Signature Vacations and the Majestic Resorts have announced their bride travels free offer. Simply book your group of 20 or more adult passengers to the Majestic Colonial Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic and the 21st passenger pays only the trip taxes. The bride travels free offer is valid on new bookings of 20 or more passengers made to the Majestic Colonial Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic. The 21st passenger pays the trip taxes only. For more information on the Majestic Colonial Punta Cana, visit signaturevacations.com.

FREE SAFARI WITH ADVENTURESINCORPORATED

ADVENTURESIncorporated announces chance to win a free 14-day safari to Botswana

ADVENTURESIncorporated is offering a chance to earn a free 14-day safari to Botswana. Those who secure 10 passengers by December 31, 2009 will earn the free Botswana Safari. "Africa is hot - literally and figuratively - at the moment," states Don Forster, Product and Marketing Manager for ADVENTURESIncorporated. "Cold winters and the lure of exotic sights and sounds have always been a factor in people looking to Africa for the ultimate adventure. Times are tough now and ADVENTURESIncorporated wants to add that extra incentive for travel agents when looking to Africa for their clients." For full details of all ADVENTURESIncorporated's adventure choices visit the ADVENTURESIncorporated website.

GREECE GETAWAY WITH OVADIAS TOURS

Ovadias Tours announces agent trip to Greece; sell over $25,00 and be automatically entered for chance to win a 12-night cruise for two

Santorini, Greece

Ovadias Tours is celebrating its 50th anniversary next year, and agents can be part of the celebration. All those selling over $25,000US in Ovadias tour product will be automatically entered to win a 12-night holiday and cruise for two. The prize trip will comprise of three nights in Athens at a 4-star hotel, a three-day Classical Greece Tour staying in 4-star hotels plus a seven-night Fantastic Greek Islands cruise. The is Eastern Mediterranean cruise will stop in Port Said (Cairo), Ashdod (Jerusalem/Bethlehem), Cyprus, Antalya, Turkey and the islands of Santorini and Mykonos in Greece. The prize has a value of $5,680US. All sales between December 1, 2008 until October 31, 2009 will count and the winning trip can be taken any time between the April and October 2010. Ovadias Tours will track all bookings, and individual as well as group sales will apply. [Full text and pictures]

SPRING SAVINGS WITH AMA

AMA Waterways offers $200US per person discount on 2009 European River Cruises

GLP Worldwide Expedition Travel and Tours, formerly Amadeus Waterways in Canada, is offering a $200US per person discount (based on double occupancy) on its European River Cruises for Spring 2009 sailings. GLP Worldwide Expedition is also offering a complimentary upgrade from an “E” category cabin to a “B” category cabin which comes complete with a French balcony, a savings of $600US. The discounts are applicable on the following sailings: April 4 and 11, 2009 – The Tulip Time Cruise, a nine-day sailing priced from $1,699 per person Category “E”; April 4, 6, 11 and 13, 2009 – The Romantic Danube, a 12-day sailing priced from $1,699 per person Category “E"; and April 19, 27 and May 4, 2009 – The Amsterdam and Paris, an 11-day priced from $1,899 per person Category “E”. Continue reading for more details. [Full text and pictures]