NEWS
Scenic Eclipse’s 2022/ 2023 Arctic collection includes four new destinations VANCOUVER —Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours’ Scenic Eclipse will embark on brand new Arctic adventures in 2022/23, with four new destinations that include the Russian Far East, Japan, Northeast Passage and Alaska. The new destinations complement Scenic’s existing program that takes guests to the Arctic, the Norway, Greenland and Iceland. As the ‘World’s First Discovery Yacht,’ Scenic Eclipse offers unique exploration experiences by way of two state-of-the-art helicopters, a custom-built submarine capable of 1,000 feet and a fleet of Zodiacs. A Discovery Team of 20 geologists, marine biologists, naturalists and glaciologists is also on hand to provide expertise. Highlights of the 2022/23 season include: . Russian Arctic, the Northeast Passage: Scenic Eclipse will traverse nine time zones across the top of Siberia and Russia on a 26-day journey through the Northeast Passage. Guests will see remote Arctic islands rarely visited by humans, cruise past the planet’s greatest migration paths and observe polar bears and walrus on ice floes. Prices from the ‘Cross the Legendary Northeast Passage’ voyage from Anchorage, Alaska to Tromsø, Norway start at $36,744 per person, double, departing Aug. 6, 2023. Guests can also combine the voyage with the seven-day ‘Wilds of Alaska’ luxury escorted land journey, priced from $12,195, which takes in Alaska’s frontier towns. . The Russian Far East: On this journey, guests will trace the Pacific Ring of Fire from Alaska to Chukotka (Russia’s easternmost federal subject), south along Kamchatka Peninsula to the Kuril Islands. Highlights include guided walks in Chukotka, a soak in Kamchatka’s hot springs, and a visit to Soviet-era fish processing plants and Japanese World War II fortresses in the Kuril Islands. Prices for the 14-day ‘Jewels of the Russian Far East’ voyage from Anchorage to Vladivostok start from $18,517, departing May 27, 2023. . Japan: The 12-day ‘Japan: A Journey Through Time’ begins on June 21, 2023 in the seaport of Sapporo, then 16 | TRAVELWEEK | May 13, 2021
travels to Hakodate, known for its Western-style architecture from bygone days. Guests will then visit the archaeological dig of Sannai Maruyama, the largest and best-preserved dig from the Jomon era. Other highlights include visits to Maizuru, Kyoto’s port on the Sea of Japan, and a sailing to South Korea for a day in Busan. Fares start at $17,215. . Arctic: Highlights of the 15-day ‘Arctic Islands: Svalbard, Greenland & Iceland’ include a helicopter ride over the waterfalls of the Norwegian fjords, kayaking between Svalbard’s icebergs, and a submarine dive in Greenland to witness the vast Arctic wildlife of Greenland’s National Park, larger than all but 29 of the world’s countries. Prices start at $20,896, departing July 11, 2023. Scenic is offering special Super Earlybird savings of up to 20% on many sailings when fares are paid upon booking. All bookings are covered by Scenic’s flexible booking policy, allowing guests to defer their cruise to another travel date or itinerary up to 60 days prior to departure. They also come with Scenic’s Deposit Protection Plan, or guests can choose to upgrade to the company’s new Risk-Free Platinum Protection Plan, providing for changes or cancellations up to 15 days prior to departure.
VoX announces new Director for German National Tourist Office TORONTO — VoX International has welcomed Anja Brokjans as the new Director for the German National Tourist Office (GNTO), effective immediately. In her new role, Brokjans will be responsible for developing and executing a marketing plan for the Canadian market, which will include media and trade activities along with initiating digital and social marketing campaigns. She brings with her extensive experience in marketing, public relations, trade and communications. She previously spent 22 years as the spokesperson for Deutsche Messe, one of the world’s largest trade show companies, where she developed marketing plans for international events and companies. Brokjans said she is very excited to join the team at VoX, which represents the GNTB in Canada. “I’m looking forward to diving into this new journey headfirst and working
with the GNTO team, as well as with trade and media partners in Canada,” she said. “I lived in Germany for most of my life and I’ve been telling my Canadian friends how beautiful and interesting Germany is since I moved here. Now I have the opportunity to share this view with a much broader audience.”
Beaches & Baseball: Dunedin, FL can’t wait for Canadians to come back by Cindy Sosroutomo TORONTO — The ties that bind Dunedin, Florida and Canada date back close to 50 years – 44 to be exact to when the Toronto Blue Jays was born. As the original home of the team’s spring training season, this 10-squaremile, laidback city located just north of Clearwater Beach has become so synonymous with Blue Jays baseball that much of day-to-day life revolves around all things blue and white. Welcome signs for the team can be seen in restaurant windows, fans regularly meet on rooftop patios to catch glimpses of games and, of course, watching a team practice or pre-season exhibition game has become a favourite pastime for locals and visitors alike. The team’s sparkling new Player Development Complex, spanning 100,000 square feet and boasting 12 batting cages, a barber shop, a fully-covered practice facility and a 3,700 square-foot clubhouse that’s become the envy of the entire league, will further cement the longstanding connection between Florida and Canada. This year however, due to the global pandemic and continued border closures, Canadians have been unable to cheer on the Jays in person during the pre-season. Their absence, says Steve Hayes, President & CEO of Visit St. Pete/ Clearwater, has been sorely felt throughout Dunedin. “You certainly can tell that we did not have our normal presence of Canadians here and it was missed greatly,” he said during a special ‘Beaches & Baseball’ media briefing yesterday. “Canada is such an important market for us and we cannot wait until the borders upon up and for Canadians to come back to visit.”
