La Compagnie offers all-business class service from Newark to Paris
Traveling to France just got a whole lot more comfortable with the launch of La Compagnie Airline offering all-business class flights from Newark to Paris, Monaco and Nice. With round-trip prices as low as $999 from flights from Newark to Paris, it is a deal that would be foolish to pass up. Courtesy: La Compagnie Courtesy: La Compagnie La Compagnie is operating two new Airbus A321neo's. The 100% business-class cabin has 19 rows in ......
Why you should get travel insurance if you are on Medicare
While traveling overseas, in almost all cases, Original Medicare does not cover medical or healthcare expenses outside the United States. Nor does its prescription drug plans offer any coverage outside the U.S. MEDICARE ONLY COVERS HEALTH CARE IN THE U.S. Under “Original Medicare,” you will be responsible for 100% of medical costs outside the U.S. Travel within the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands is covered ......
Crystal Cruises to double Internet speed
One of the downsides of this modern connected world is that internet access has become critical for many of us while on vacation. We no longer have the luxury of just disconnecting while on a cruise. Others need it to keep in touch with friends or family.Fortunately the cruise lines have been making significant investments to upgrade the quality and speed of internet access onboard modern ships. Crystal Cruises, an ultra-luxury cruise line, is increasing ......
Ritz-Carlton Yacht orders second ship
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection has ordered its second ship the Hijos De J. Barreras shipyard in Vigo, Spain announced. Previously the cruise line had announced its plans to build a total of three 298-passenger ships. ? Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collections first ship is scheduled for deliver later this year. The company decided to get into the luxury cruise business with the "goal ... to introduce the legendary Ritz-Carlton service to luxury yachting, while also redefining curated ......
Trump administration blocks new cruises to Cuba after June 5, 2019
Today the Trump administration issued new regulations prohibiting future cruises to Cuba. Cruises have become the most popular way for Americans to experience and explore Cuba. Over 30,000 more passengers visit Cuba by a cruise ship than by air. ?The State Department announced that "going forward, the United States will prohibit US travelers from going to Cuba under the previous 'group people-to-people educational' travel authorization. In addition, the United States will no longer permit visits ......
Always pack your itinerary in your luggage
Packing a copy of your complete itinerary in each piece of checked luggage can help save you from a vacation that devolves into a total disaster. Recent improvements by the airlines have reduced lost, misdirected, and delayed luggage, but it still happens. And if you are about to begin a cruise, you want the airline to have all the information it needs so it can get your bags to you as quickly as possible. ......
A peaceful Sunday stroll through Madrid’s Retiro Park
Madrid - a Vibrant & Cosmopolitan City When every we take a cruise outside of the Caribbean, we add a few extra days at the beginning or end of the cruise to visit a city we’ve never been to before. One of my favorite European cities is Madrid. It is a city that I keep returning to. ? Near Plaza Mejor Madrid is 2 hour and 30 minute ride from Barcelona on Spain's high-speed AVE ......
Galapagos Island cruising goes upscale
https://youtu.be/Jj9CXshqPyo Celebrity Cruises and Silversea Cruises have upped the ante for luxury cruises through the Galapagos Islands. Silversea will launch its luxury 100-passenger Silver Origin in summer of 2020. Silversea cruises start with two days in Quito, the capital of Ecuador, and include airfare to and from the Galapagos Islands. ?Celebrity Cruises is launching the Celebrity Flora, a 100-passenger luxury exploration ship in June 2019. All cruises are seven night ......
How to skip long TSA security and Customs & Immigration lines
If you’re a frequent traveler, you’ve undoubtedly had the near-universal experience of enduring a TSA security line or an immigration line upon re-entry to your home country. ?What if you could bypass these lines for good? Global Entry - Speed through Immigration You may have heard of Global Entry, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) program that allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon arrival in the United States. You fill out ......
Who owns my favorite cruise line?
IT'S HARD TO KEEP TRACK!The world's largest cruise industry trade association, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), lists 36 ocean cruise lines in the U.S., Europe and Australia. Throughout the modern cruise line history, cruise lines have come and gone, and merged to form mammoth mega branded lines. New brands are appearing each year SOME NEW OWNERS IMPROVE QUALITY & SERVICE LEVELS WHILE OTHERS DROP THEM It's hard to kept track of who owns your ......
Silversea Cruises unveils new Galapagos expedition ship – Silver Origin
Photo: Silversea This all new purpose-built ship will begin sailing the Galapagos Islands during the Summer 2020. Holding just 100 passengers, this all-suite and all-balcony luxury expedition ship will be staffed by experts certified by the National Park of Galapagos who will give guests daily presentations, lectures, and videos about the islands. Guests will enjoy 8 Zodiacs to ensure smooth and easy access to the islands. With a high overall passenger to crew ratio ......
Celebrity fleet upgrades to Edge Class design
THE CELEBRITY “REVOLUTION” We have lots of fans of Celebrity Cruises among our clients. With the launch of the Celebrity Edge, we keep getting asked if and when the rest of the fleet will be updated to reflect the Edge designs. The answer is the process has already begun. The Celebrity Millennium and Summit have already been refurbished (Celebrity calls it the “Revolution”), and the schedule below shows how it will roll out across ......
Silversea to launch new immersive culinary program – SALT
Courtesy: Alessandro Grassini Silversea Cruises is developing a new culinary enrichment program that will be launched with the delivery of the Silver Moon in August 2020. The program is called SALT which stands for “Sea And Land Taste” and was developed with Adam Sachs, an award winning journalist and former editor of Saveur food magazine. A CULINARY ENRICHMENT PROGRAM ?S.A.L.T. Kitchen will be a new restaurant on the Silver Moon where guest ......
Five trends in luxury cruising
The luxury cruise market is changing. It is becoming younger, more active and adventurous, offering access to new exotic destinations, and delivering the service and quality they are know for on brand new elegant and sophisticated purpose built ships. 1) GROWING MARKET As cruising has become more mainstream, more and more cruisers are moving up to the luxury cruise market. Most started with the mass market cruise lines like Carnival, Norwegian and Royal Caribbean ......
We are excited about the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. Learn why!
RESERVATIONS OPEN FOR 2020 SAILINGS Relaxed yachting with immersive experiences It is an exciting time for sophisticated cruisers. New cruise lines are entering the market. Existing lines are adding new and more modern ships. We've got lots of choices. One of the new lines is the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection from the award-winning Ritz-Carlton brand. Known for personalized service, elevated dining and luxury accommodations on land, the Yacht Collection extends the Ritz-Carlton gold standard of ......
Secret advantages of using a travel agent to book a cruise
?Are you tired of your usual land vacations? Have you thought about trying a cruise for the first time? Great! All you need to do is make a reservation and put a deposit down. While you might think it is best to browse thru the cruise line website, find a cruise you like and then call their reservation line or start booking online. But how can you be so sure that you’re getting the ......
The new Martini Bar on the Celebrity Edge
(Transcript from video above) Wow this is certainly a very different Martini Bar. Rather than being tucked away in a corner, the Edge Martini Bar is big (spanning three decks), bold (with its multi-story LED lights which are synchronized with music twice a night), sophisticated (with its elegance and style) and vibrant (it could easily be a bar in South Beach or LA). ?Whether this new design is for you depends on your ......
New tech on the Celebrity Edge
MORE POWER OUTLETS FOR YOUR GADGETS s we use more and more gadgets, our need for additional sources of power grows. The limited number of power outlets on cruise ships has been a problem for years. The Celebrity Edge helps to address these needs with additional outlets throughout the stateroom. The decorative power box shown above gives you access to two 110 outlets and two USB power plugs for smartphones. Additional outlets and USB ......
The Retreat on Celebrity Edge – suite paradise
With the addition of the Retreat on the Edge, Celebrity significantly ups the value and benefits for suites guests. Following the lead of Norwegian’s Haven and MSC’s Yacht Club, the Retreat offers an upscale, sophisticated, and private sanctuary for suites guest. Access to this new private lounge and pool area is restricted through the use of a suites guest’s stateroom card. Now in addition to the suites only upscale Luminae restaurant, suites guests ......
Celebrity Edge revolutionizes cruising
ASYMMETRICAL, MUSCULAR, BOLD & ELEGANT Bow leans out With the launch of the Edge as it's newest class of ships, Celebrity seeks to throw out the mold and revolutionize the design of cruise ships. You'll notice these changes before you even board the Edge. The Edge is striking, bold, muscular, and yet elegant. Her stacks glisten in the sun like the tailpipes on a 60s muscle car. Her bow is uncharacteristically straight to ......
Ponant’s newest flagship “Le Commandant Charcot”
A Polar Class 2 & LNG powered CONSTRUCTION BEGINS Ponant's Charcot Last month, the construction of Ponant’s first LNG-powered polar exploration ship began with the traditional steel cutting ceremony. Ponant’s new flagship vessel, Le Commandant Charcot, will be launched in 2021 offering two week to one month polar expedition cruises. A POLAR CLASS 2 VESSEL ?As a PC 2 (polar class 2) vessel, the ship will attain the second highest rating based on ......
Celebrity Cruises nixes formal nights for Evening Chic!
?As Baby Boomers and Gen Xers move more and more upscale in their cruise preferences, they are looking for a more relaxed cruise experience than previous generations. And it is really no surprise if you think about it. Baby Boomers railed authority in their protest during the 60s & 70s. They have sought more freedom and less rigidity. So it is no surprise that the cruise industry is responding to this changing demographic and ......
It’s time to consider a Northwest Passage expedition cruise
Courtesy of Travel Weekly ?As the global oceans continue to warm, new polar cruise routes are opening and several cruise lines are offering new and exciting expedition voyages. Now passengers can cruise from Seattle through the Northwest Passage from Seward, Alaska, to New York City. Crystal Cruises began these sailing about two years ago. Since then Ponant, Silversea, Lindblad, and Hurtigruten have begun sailing the passage. Cruises typically run 12 – 21 days. ?THE ......
Why cruise passengers should always have a valid passport
Accidents and other unforeseen incidents can happen on any trip. But when you are out of the United States, getting back home afterwards can be a problem if you don't have your passport with you. When re-entering the United States by land or sea, a US citizen is required to present one of the following: US Passport US Passport Card Enhanced Driver’s License Trusted Travel Card Military Identification US Merchant Mariner Document Many sophisticated cruisers ......