AROUND THE WORLD WITH VIKING

Viking has announced its 2024/2025 world cruise itineraries, which include a new voyage that stops in 37 countries and 85 ports over 180 days. The World Voyage I leaves Florida on December 19, 2024, before eventually making its way back to New York, with overnight stops in iconic locations such as Mumbai, Sydney, Istanbul and London. You can join the voyage for shorter portions, including from Los Angeles on January 5, 2025. The world cruises are aboard Viking Sky which has all-veranda staterooms, a Nordic-influenced spa and the serene Wintergarden. Viking Chairman Torstein Hagen says: “Our previous world cruises sold out in a matter of weeks, and we continue to see strong demand for extended voyages.”

Flight Status

It’s the return of excess, with Etihad revealing it will bring back its luxury first-class cabins, The Residence and The Apartment. The airline has ambitious plans to restore its A380s which were grounded in the pandemic and initially plans to fly between Abu Dhabi and Heathrow. And starting in April, Etihad will fly the Abu Dhabi-New York route twice daily. The highly coveted Residence includes a three-room apartment with a private bathroom with shower, a double bed and butler and chef service. The Residence has the highest airfare in the industry with pre-pandemic prices starting at US$20,000. The Apartments are studio flats set across a single aisle so guests can have their own living space complete with a leather lounge chair. There is a flatbed and a 24-inch swivelling LCD TV.