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6Agents react to Canada's ongoing cruise advisory
“This is absurd”: Agents react to Canada’s ongoing cruise advisory
By Cindy Sosroutomo
TORONTO — Well, here’s a head scratcher: Canada officially lifted its cruise ship ban on Nov. 1, 2021, finally permitting cruise ships back into Canadian waters, and yet there’s still a federal advisory against all cruise ship travel outside of Canada. It’s a conundrum that continues to confound and frustrate both travel agents and their clients who have waited over 18 months to set foot on a cruise ship. The cruise ship ban, which first came into effect on March 19, 2020 during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, was lifted early by Transport Minister Omar Alghabra on Nov. 1, 2021, four months ahead of the originally scheduled Feb. 28, 2022 deadline date. The lifting of the cruise ship ban came as the federal government announced Canada’s vaccine passport for international travel, and the elimination of its long-standing blanket travel advisory, for fully vaccinated Canadians. The message from the Government of Canada rings loud and clear: international travel for Canadians can safely resume – so long as they’re not on a cruise ship. According to the government website travel.gc.ca, Canada is very much looking forward to welcoming cruise ships back into Canadian waters for the 2022 cruise season. However, authorities are still advising against cruising outside of the country because if an outbreak of COVID-19 were to occur on the ship, “the range of consular services available to those on cruise ships may be significantly restricted by local authorities, especially in situations of quarantine.” The website also says that it’s unlikely that government-organized repatriation flights to Canada would be available. However, with travel restrictions easing and increasing vaccination rates across Canada, not to mention the stringent health and safety protocols implemented by cruise lines since the start of the pandemic, travel industry experts and professionals say it’s also time to lift the cruise advisory. “Now that the global ‘avoid all travel outside Canada’ travel advisory has been lifted by the federal government, it is also time to ease the ‘avoid all cruises’ advisory,” Wendy Paradis, ACTA president, tells Travelweek.
“ACTA and our advocacy coalition partners have intensified our advocacy efforts to the Canadian Government and this issue will be a key advocacy priority until the cruise advisory is eased. This is an important issue for travel agents and the travel industry at large,” she added. Travelweek reached out to travel agents to see whether the ongoing cruise advisory is impacting bookings. “My cruise sales are zero right now” Lise Archambault of Algonquin Travel & Cruise Centre-TravelPlus in Ottawa says that 40%-55% of her clients are regular cruisers, sometimes sailing two or three times a year. Prior to the pandemic, revenue sales were “robust,” since her cruise clients preferred longer voyages (10 days or longer) with luxury cruise lines. But then COVID led to blanket cruise bans in both U.S. and Canadian waters early last year, causing cruise bookings to dry up overnight. “My cruise sales are zero right now,” says Archambault. “I have a client just waiting to book a world cruise but you have to understand that these deposits are non-refundable. I do not recommend that people pay non-refundable deposits while a cruise advisory is in place – they will not get their money back.” Scott Penney of The Travel Agent Next Door in Stewaiacke, NS, tells Travelweek that the cruise advisory has not had a significant impact on cruise sales in the long term (“In fact, I’ve seen an increase in my 2022 bookings and I have had lots of inquiries and some bookings for 2023,” he says), but it’s a different story for the immediate short term.
“My first clients to cruise since last year were to sail in January 2022 but they recently made the decision to postpone their cruise until spring 2022. So I think there’s still some hesitancy among some clients, which is understandable,” he says.
“What are we supposed to do?” With no cruise bookings in sight, Archambault says the cruise advisory needs to lift, and lift now. “On Nov. 1, the Minister of Transport lifted the ban on cruise ships in Canadian waters, however there’s still an advisory for Canadians to avoid all cruise ship travel outside of Canada. This is absurd,” she says. “What are we supposed to do? Embark on a ship and cruise around the harbour? Vancouver, Montreal and other Canadian ports deserve much better leadership than that.” Penney is in total agreement, saying that travel is back and clients are anxious to explore the world once more. Although he’s confident that the cruise advisory will be lifted soon, he’s still discouraged by other roadblocks in the way, namely pre-departure PCR testing. “The requirement for a negative PCR test to return to Canada is still a deterrent for many clients. They see it as just another unnecessary added cost that they need to factor into their travel budgets, which can be costly, especially for a family looking to get away,” he says. The Canadian Travel & Tourism Roundtable has called on the federal government to remove the pre-departure testing mandate, calling it a prohibitive expense for Canadian families. In recent days Canada’s chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam has said that the 72-hour PCR test requirement should be re-examined.
“Insurance has been a concern for some clients” Helping the case for cruising is Manulife, which announced at The Travel Agent Next Door’s recent ‘Agent ExtraordinIRIE’ conference in Montego Bay that it will once again be covering cruises for fully vaccinated travellers, even with the cruise advisory still in place.
Penney says this will definitely help give cruise bookings a boost, adding that the issue of insurance has been “a concern for some clients who’ve wanted to book up until now.” Archambault, although encouraged by Manulife’s news, still sees travel insurance for cruises as an ongoing issue. “Some insurance companies make you buy a travel insurance policy immediately, whether or not the deposit is refundable, while others will allow you to wait until the trip has a non-refundable portion and will include quarantine and return home due to Covid complications – but not on a cruise,” she says. “I have truly lost faith in these insurance companies and frankly, sometimes the price is as high as the trip itself, depending on the client’s age.”
“Book now to grab that deal” So what’s a travel agent to do when they have a client wanting to book a cruise but there’s a cruise advisory still in place? Marilyn Stainer, a cruise and travel consultant with Independent by Flight Centre, tells Travelweek that she is only booking refundable fares “so my clients will be protected in case something happens.” Stainer herself is booked on a cruise departing in 2023, which she says is already sold out. “There’s a lot of pent-up demand for cruising from all the Future Cruise Credits so I am advising my clients to book now as ships will sell out, causing rates to go up and availability to go down,” she says. Penney offers the same advice to his clients, even those who are still thinking about a cruise a year or longer out. “There are so many amazing offers for cruise clients right now with so much flexibility. Book now to grab that deal and if they change their mind later, under most terms, the deposits are fully refundable so there’s nothing for them to lose. We know the prices are definitely going to increase as we get closer to sailing and there will be less and less options available,” says Penney. Archambault adds that in addition to booking early, make sure to read the fine print. “The advice that I’m giving clients right now is this: book far in advance and ensure that the deposit is 100% refundable,” she says. “We will look at the situation prior to final payment or before any part of the trip becomes non-refundable.”
Fairmont Orlando
TOUR OPERATORS
Tauck CEO Dan Mahar has announced that longtime company executive Jeremy Palmer has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer. Since 2007, Palmer has served Tauck in a variety of operational and planning roles, most recently as a Senior Vice President overseeing the company’s Worldwide Operations, Brand Management and Tauck Director Management departments, as well as Tauck’s strategic planning and new business initiatives. Palmer has also been a member of the company’s Executive Team since 2015.
HOTELS
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has signed on for a new Fairmont property in Orlando. Fairmont Orlando, located in the heart of the city’s entertainment district, is scheduled to open in early 2025 and will mark the brand’s 20th property in the U.S. The hotel’s location is close to several premier attractions and is also just 20 minutes from Orlando International Airport. The property will have 550 guestrooms, including 90 suites, 12 unique villas, and 87 Fairmont Gold rooms. There will also be a 12,000 square foot spa and wellness centre, three pools and more than 44,000 square feet of meetings and events space.
St Kitts
CRUISING
Port Everglades in Florida recently reported its busiest cruise day since the start of the pandemic, with six of the eight cruise ship terminals in use. It wasn’t a record, but it was “a sight to behold and is a solid sign of recovery,” said Port Everglades Chief Executive, Jonathan Daniels. “We have gone from three cruise ships starting up in June and July, to more than 20 ships that will be sailing in November.” The cruise industry traditionally accounts for approximately 40% of Port Everglades’ revenue. It is one of the three busiest cruise ports in the world, typically hosting nearly four million passengers annually.
AIRLINES
WestJet’s new Calgary-Seattle route has officially launched, marking the airline’s first transborder flight since the start of the pandemic. Flights will operate 4x/weekly at first before increasing to 2x/daily by spring 2022. “We are thrilled to foster direct connectivity between Calgary and Seattle for the first time on a route that our guests and both cities have long awaited,” said Chris Hedlin, VP, Network and Alliances. “This route will bolster economic ties between the regions and will stimulate Alberta's visitor economy as we continue to strengthen our transborder network from our global hub in Calgary.”
DESTINATIONS
Starting Dec. 19, 2021 Canadians can fly direct from Toronto to St. Kitts with Air Canada. The weekly Sunday flights continue through April 24, 2022. Canadians may also travel to St. Kitts via a number of U.S. gateways. St. Kitts’ latest Winter Escape promotion, part of the island’s ‘Awake Your Sense of Wander’ campaign, runs until Dec. 31. St. Kitts is also anticipating an increase in cruise ship arrivals, including four inaugural calls from top cruise lines. This month St. Kitts will receive 28 cruise calls with an estimated total of 72,163 passengers.
RAIL
VIA Rail has announced the next phase of its service resumption with the return of the Ocean’s second frequency on Dec. 8, 2021. Here is the schedule of service for the Ocean’s second frequency: Train 14 Montréal – Halifax, Wednesdays & Sundays starting Dec. 8; Train 15 Halifax – Montréal, Sundays & Wednesdays starting Dec. 12. As VIA Rail previously announced, the return to full operations will occur progressively to resume full service in the region, and across the country, by June 2022.
U.S. border reopening signals next important step in travel’s recovery
TORONTO — The U.S. side of the Canada-U.S. land border has reopened after almost 20 months. While at first glance the land border reopening may look like a bigger deal for road trippers and cross-border shoppers than for travel advisors and tour operators selling U.S. trips with airfare, it’s yet another important signal to Canada’s travellers that travel is back. And with full COVID-19 vaccination requirements in place, it’s as safe as it can possibly be. There’s also potentially good news on the PCR testing front. Canada’s chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam recently suggested that current border measures requiring all travellers to present a negative COVID-19 test to enter Canada should be re-examined. The U.S. reopening got lots of coverage, not just in Canada but internationally, as the U.S. also reopened to fully vaccinated international travellers. On parallel runways at London’s Heathrow Airport on Nov. 8, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic coordinated a simultaneous take-off. In a video posted by BA, flights BA001 and VS3 could be seen soaring into clear skies on their way to New York-JFK. “After more than 600 days of separation, today is our moment to celebrate the UK-US reopening,” said British Airways CEO, Sean Doyle, who was onboard BA001.
BA001 marked another important achievement: the A350 flight is being directly powered by a 35% blend of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) provided by bp and made from used cooking oil. It is believed to be the first commercial transatlantic flight ever to be operated with such a significant level of the fuel blended with traditional jet fuel. BA says its newest and most fuel-efficient long-haul A350 aircraft are up to 40% more efficient than the B747-400s that used to operate between London and New York.
Santo Domingo
MONTREAL — Air Canada Vacations has introduced new nonstop routes from Toronto to Santo Domingo in the D.R., operating twice a week starting on December 16, 2021. “We’re making it easier than ever for Canadians to tailor their winter escapes to their specific needs by giving them more options. The addition of this new destination to our product line means that more travellers can experience the unique charm of Santo Domingo,” said Nino Montagnese, VP, Air Canada Vacations. “This gem of the Dominican Republic is sure to become the setting for many sunny vacation memories in the years to come,” he added. The resorts on offer include: Whala Boca Chica; Be Live Experience Hamaca; Hodelpa Novus Plaza; Emotions Juan Dolio by Hodelpa; Hodelpa Caribe Colonial; Dominican Fiesta Hotel & Casino; Catalonia Santo Domingo; and Hodelpa Nicolas de Ovando. For the ultimate Santo Domingo getaway, ACV is also offering seven-night City and Beach Combos.
“Better travel in a changed world”: Travel Edge launches new campaign and site
TORONTO — Travel Edge has launched a new campaign and website platform aimed at “delivering better travel in a changed world.” With the new campaign credo ‘Be Well Traveled’, Travel Edge says its elevated advisor services will enhance the modern travel experience for clients, with an emphasis on personalization and care across the entire travel experience.
The luxury host agency says after almost two years of COVID-19’s impact on travel, it is creating fuller, more engaging, and more managed travel experiences that are tailored and fully supported if anything changes. “The world has changed—and people deserve travel that’s designed for this new reality,” says Travel Edge EVP Gavin Miller. “Travel Edge’s exceptional standard of service delivers on the entire travel experience, from start to finish. From the ideal flight that suits your needs, to organizing welcome
amenities at your hotel, remembering your frequent flyer preferences, to obtaining tickets to a sold-out show, or proactively managing any mid-journey flight shifts, our team offers expertise in creating and supporting your complete journey. This is how we ensure you will Be Well Traveled.”
“The world has changed, and people deserve travel that’s designed for this new reality,” says Travel Edge's Executive Vice-President, Gavin Miller
Miller adds that Travel Edge’s endto-end itineraries are designed around each traveller’s needs and preferences, helping to reduce the chances of ‘missing out’ on desired experiences, and helping them get more out of their journey.
He says the new campaign and web platform, designed around the brand ethos of ‘Be Well Traveled’, portray the benefits of Travel Edge’s standard of service, and highlight the power of the company’s network of travel advisors and personal travel designers to deliver on it from start to finish. And Travel Edge’s 24/7 client support is a huge benefit for modern travellers given today’s realities of border restrictions, testing protocols, and flight route adjustments, he adds.
The newly redesigned TravelEdge. com will showcase a range of curated and inspiring itineraries. “Our new website is the first step in ensuring travellers get access to this higher standard of service,” said Miller. “By the end of this year, that’s where they’ll find a wide range of curated travel experiences to aid their decision making and connect with the right expert for them – someone who listens, who is knowledgeable, and who can offer thoughtful suggestions for creating a truly personalized travel experience.”
He says today's travellers have realized that digital booking platforms don’t offer personal advice, don’t do a good job of curating relevant experiences, don’t support them getting access to the reservations they want, don’t anticipate changes to itineraries,
Viva Wyndham Azteca
and don’t offer support if there is a real-time issue.
The Travel Edge Network extends across the U.S., Canada and Bermuda. An in-house team of personal travel designers allows Travel Edge to serve a wider audience within the multi-billion-dollar luxury travel market, says Nadiya Makarenko, SVP of Travel Edge Network.
Miller says today's travellers have realized that digital booking platforms don’t offer personal advice, anticipate changes or offer support if there is a real-time issue.
Travel Edge has also launched a new ad campaign focused on the idea of ‘Don’t just go on a trip, go on your trip.’ The first phase includes a 60-second spot through targeted social and digital channels. In early 2022 the second phase will launch with a 30-second spot.
Mexico welcomes new and reno’d resorts from Viva Wyndham, Fairmont
MIAMI — Mexico is set to welcome a round of renovated and new resorts in the next two years in Playa Del Carmen, Cabo San Lucas and La Paz. First out of the gate is Viva Wyndham Azteca in Playa Del Carmen, which celebrated its grand reopening on Nov. 1 following extensive renovations.
Corazón Cabo Resort & Spa will be making its debut on Medano Beach in Cabo San Lucas in early 2022. And the new Fairmont La Paz Puerta Cortés Resort and Residences is scheduled to open its doors in 2023.
VIVA WYNDHAM AZTECA
After undergoing extensive renovations totalling more than US$6 million, the all-inclusive, oceanfront Viva Wyndham Azteca has reopened. Its reopening coincides with that of V Heavens Resort in the Playa Dorada complex in Puerto Plata, also part of Viva Wyndham. The two resorts complete the reopening of all eight of Viva Wyndham’s resorts across its portfolio. Renovations to Viva Wyndham Az-
teca include upgrades to all room categories. Superior Rooms are now outfitted with Mexican-inspired décor and state-of-the-art technology and boast ocean, pool and garden views. The lobby and public areas also feature all new décor and a full renovation has been completed at the snack bar with Mexican-inspired design elements. Meanwhile, El Nopal Buffet and Il Palco Italian a la carte restaurants have been completely redone with all new décor, high-end flooring and paint schemes.
CORAZON CABO RESORT & SPA
As the newest addition to Noble House Hotels & Resorts’ elite collection, this US$100 million new-build resort marks the hotel company’s first venture into Mexico. Upon completion it will boast a new-build tower with 204 rooms and suites, contemporary meeting space, the highest rooftop bar in Cabo, two infinity edge pools as well as various dining options.
Currently, guests can experience the modern guestrooms, pools, lobby and rooftop bar, while next year’s grand reveal will encompass the complete
unveiling that will include the signature restaurant and fresh meeting space. In addition to the newly built tower and its amenities, guests also have access to pre-existing features that include Baja Brewing, the only mi“Fairmont La Paz Puerta Cortés marks a milestone in Accor’s growth in Mexico and will be an exceptional addition to our luxury portfolio as we continue to expand in North America.” cro-brewery in Cabo San Lucas; Aleta, an oceanfront all-day dining destination; additional pools; full-service Sparitual and salon; and Corazón Beach Club, the largest beach club on Medano Beach, the only swimmable beach in Cabo San Lucas. Travelweek 2020 ads:TravelWeek 2016 2021-10-27 5:40 PM Page 1 FAIRMONT LA PAZ PUERTA CORTES RESORT Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, part of the Accor hospitality group, is expanding into Baja California Sur with a 155-room beachfront retreat, located within the Puerta Cortés resort community in La Paz.
Upon completion in 2023, it will offer 24 suites, select accommodations equipped with plunge pools, four food and beverage outlets, three outdoor pools and a Wellness Village complete with a luxury spa and fitness offerings. There’ll also be over 13,000 square feet of event space, clubs for both children and young adults, plus access to a marina and Mexico’s only Gary Player Signature Course – El Cortés Golf Club. The property will include 61 one- to four-bedroom branded residences. “Fairmont La Paz Puerta Cortés marks a significant milestone in Accor’s growth in Mexico and will be an exceptional addition to Accor’s luxury portfolio as the Group continues to expand its presence in North America,” said Heather McCrory, CEO, Accor North & Central America.
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