#msc world america

[kreuzfahrttester]

Entertainment an Bord der MSC World America:„Dirty Dancing in Concert“ feiert sein Debüt auf See

Der Filmklassiker Dirty Dancing wird im World Theatre der MSC World America zum Leben erweckt – mit einer spektakulären Live-Band, Sängern und Tänzern Die MSC World America präsentiert mit hochprofessionellen Künstlern, überraschenden Aktivitäten und Produktionen eine neue Welt des Entertainments München – 29.01.2025. Die Gäste der MSC World America, dem neuen Flaggschiff von MSC Cruises, das…

[chrisframeofficial]

Giant new Cruise Ships coming this year!

The popularity of cruising keeps going up and to meet demand cruise lines from across the world are building gigantic passenger ships.

The biggest ships coming in 2025 include:

Star of the Seas from Royal Caribbean at 250,800gt

Disney Adventure from Disney at 208,000gt

MSC World Europa from MSC Cruises at 205,863gt

Star Princess from Princess Cruises at 175,500gt

Mein Schiff Relax from TUI at 160,000gt

Norwegian Aqua from NCL at 156,300gt

Disney Destiny from Disney Cruise Line at 144,400gt

Celebrity Xcel from Celebrity Cruises at 140,600gt

Brilliant Lady from Virgin Voyages at 110,000gt.

So, let's take a look at these new ships that are joining the Global Cruise Fleet in the next 12 months in more detail:

[cruiseandtravel]

MSC Crociere presenta la nuova nave World Class. Tutte le novità.

Una settimana importante quella che ha coinvolto una delle compagnie da crociera più importanti sul mercato. MSC Crociere ha infatti presentato la nuova nave World Class ma non solo; nei scorsi giorni infatti c’è stato il Float Out di MSC World America e la presentazione delle nuove aree tematiche della nave. MSC Crociere ha svelato che MSC World America avrà ben sette diverse aree, ognuna…

[soon-palestine]

with a soaring risk of ships being crippled and their crews killed, the global shipping industry is switching into emergency mode. On December 15th Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd paused their services. On December 16th CMA CGM followed, as did MSC, the owner of the Palatium III, which said that its ships would not use the Suez Canal in either direction “until the Red Sea passage is safe”, and that some vessels would be rerouted via the Cape of Good Hope. Together these four companies account for 53% of the global container trade. Smaller container operators, as well as dry-bulk carriers and oil tanker firms, may now follow their lead.

The main alternative is to strike the Houthis and their arsenal directly. America and Israel have both developed plans to attack Houthi depots and launchers. America will be loth to broaden its involvement in the Middle East: the Biden administration had been focused on expanding the Red Sea task force and putting diplomatic and economic pressure on Iran. Israel does not want a new conflict: it is already facing pressure from America to wind down this phase of the Gaza war, and is concerned about Hizbullah, the Lebanese militant group, which has been firing missiles at Israel almost daily. Yet if Iran and its Houthi proxies continue attacks that keep one of the world’s major trade routes closed, escalation may be inevitable.

link

[raoullemercier]

2024 Saint-Nazaire, X34 - MSC World America, chantier de l'Atlantique (livraison 2025)

[bopinion]

2023 / 07

Aperçu of the Week:

"Success has two letters: Do!"

(Johann Wolfgang von Goethe)

Bad News of the Week:

The only serious competition to Silicon Valley is neither in Europe nor in the Far East, but between the Dead, the Red and the Mediterranean Sea: Israel. Unfortunately. Because it's rather frightening innovations that come out of the more than 300 development and research centers around Tel Aviv. And I don't mean the energy that the state puts into cutting-edge technology for the military, surveillance and espionage. But rather the focus that private-sector companies in the region have also chosen.

Three examples: Cellebrite openly advertises that it can crack iDevices. Much to the delight of the FBI, for example, because Apple had refused to crack iPhones for U.S. authorities or to build a backdoor into their encryption. The questionable services are open to any organization, even criminal ones, for a fee, as if it were a normal IT service.

NSO became a global player in commercial spyware. A market that has grown into an industry estimated to be worth twelve billion dollars, estimates The New Yorker. Their tool named Pegasus was found on the phones of politicians, activists, and dissidents under repressive regimes. The suppression of the Catalan independence movement and the murder of Saudi Arabian journalist Jamal Khashoggi with the help of this spyware are documented.

And just last week, investigative media revealed Team Jorge's business model: professional spreading of fake news to influence elections. They were hired for 32 campaigns, 27 of which were verifiably successful, they say. Yes, political success can be bought - at the expense of the opposition.

What these three examples have in common is a perfidious "not giving a fuck" attitude, which goals are pursued and also achieved with their help. For these are clearly directed against such trivialities as free democracy, independent media, functional rule of law or transparent power apparatuses. The main thing is that the money is right. The framework conditions for this seem to be optimal in Israel, of all places. And when I look at the position of Benjamin Netanyahu's newly enthroned right-wing government against an independent judiciary or free media, this will not change.

Good News of the Week:

In mid-February, Munich always hosts the "Munich Security Conference" (MSC), the world's most important meeting of top politicians on international security. While last year appeals to Russia not to attack Ukraine dominated - we all know what happened a few days later - this time it is about the concrete handling of the war that initiated the much-cited "turning point in time":

The unexpectedly dysfunctional NATO is strengthening internally (higher defense budgets) and externally (Sweden and Finland want to join the alliance), new bloc formations are emerging, the arms industry can no longer keep up with demand, Europe is groaning under a wave of refugees, economic sanctions by the West are turning out to be far less effective than expected, Putin is not wavering. War has become the order of the day.

Major strategic news is not to be expected. All countries have already clearly positioned themselves. From clear, even military support for Ukraine (e.g. all NATO members) to an effort of neutrality based on energy policy (e.g. India or Latin America) to support for the Putin course (e.g. Belarus, Syria or Myanmar). All countries have already taken a clear position? No - the elephant in the room is China.

The youngest major security power calls for peace, but does not name Russia as the aggressor. And just yesterday launched "Operation Mosi II," a joint large-scale naval maneuver with Russia and South Africa off the latter's Indian Ocean coast. So there was little hope that the Middle Kingdom - seen by almost all observers as the only power with de facto influence over the Kremlin - would actively do anything to defuse the conflict.

But then Wang Yi, longtime foreign minister of the People's Republic of China, entered the Munich stage - and stunned. By announcing a peace initiative to end Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, he said, "We will put something forward. And that is the Chinese position on the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis," the Politburo member said Saturday, according to an official translation. "We will stand steadfastly on the side of peace and dialogue." For a safer world, he said, "the principles of the UN Charter are something we must uphold." Good. Very good. Now words just need to be followed by action.

Personal happy moment of the week:

In our countryside, there are plenty of typical Bavarian inns. And, as everywhere, countless Italians and Asians. Rarer are nice cafés where you can have a good breakfast. One we have - thanks to a voucher that I already got last year for my birthday - tried today. Very good coffee, a manageable but balanced menu. With regional products and in a former monastery building. It was worth it. It's always nice to start the Sunday with a delicious breakfast.

I couldn't care less...

...that Ukraine has requested cluster bombs and chemical weapons on the MSC. These are internationally outlawed because they cause massive collateral damage in violation of international law - including to the civilian population. That Russia is not caring about this may be, is even probable. Nevertheless, this quid pro quo logic is too weak for me. If they go low, you (still should) go high.

As I write this...

...I am mourning a little Lothar Wieler quitting his job. As head of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) he was the Anthony Fauci of Germany. And yet more than just the side kick of the respective health minister. As a politically independent person, he moderated the pandemic in a serious but calm manner. He analyzed, commented, admonished and annoyed. Far away from the day-to-day political business. Against his will, he became a media star, even though he much preferred to sit in the lab and work on his figures. He did what he thought he had to do. Tormented by the thought that "even one more child must die". Big shoes to fill.

Post Scriptum

To be climate neutral, each person should only emit less than one ton of CO2 or similar greenhouse gases per year - currently the average is 11.6 tons. Far ahead of the consumption of beef or air travel to the South, individual transport is the main polluter: the Germans' favorite child, the car. But the will in this country to rely on electromobility seems to be driven more by financial interests than by actual conviction. When gasoline was expensive and electric cars were tax-subsidized in 2022, there was a boom. That plummeted dramatically over the turn of the year, with 83 percent fewer fully electric cars and 87 percent fewer plug-in hybrids registered in January 2023 compared to the previous month. Sigh...

[cleverhottubmiracle]

Jump to:Credit...Miriam MartincicA recent Booking.com global survey of 31,000 travelers found that 71 percent of respondents “want to leave the places they visit better than when they arrived.” Eighty-three percent said that sustainable travel is important to them. Now, as travelers wake up to the social effects of tourism, travel businesses are responding in kind, helping visitors maximize the positive — and minimize the negative — impacts of their trips.The Kind Traveler platform, for example, has started a program in which every guest stay helps fund a local charity. StayAltered offers a “community-powered” accommodation booking platform that connects travelers with independent hosts in more than 30 countries on six continents. Home-swapping platforms like Kindred offer alternatives for travelers who are looking to avoid some of the negative impacts associated with short-term tourist rentals.Tour operators are also empowering travelers to engage in difficult social issues in the communities they visit. The nonprofit Abara has three-day “listening trips” along the United States-Mexico border, with a focus on helping visitors understand the social and human dynamics at play in the region. Telos Group offers tours of South Africa, the U.S. South, and Ireland and Northern Ireland, with an eye to helping travelers engage in difficult social histories. Organizations like Unseen Tours, Invisible Cities and Migrant Tour have devised walking tours whose guides offer visitors alternative perspectives on social issues in cities like London, Edinburgh, Paris and Rome.There are also new resources for travelers who want to educate themselves about the social impacts of their travels. The RISE Travel Institute offers online classes on responsible travel and other topics; the organization has also recently released a free e-book on decolonizing travel. The nonprofit Tourism Cares has created a meaningful travel map that features organizations, accommodations and tours that are designed to have a positive impact on communities and the environment.Vincie Ho, the executive director of RISE, acknowledges the growing public awareness about tourism’s impacts on communities and the environment, but noted that “the say-do gap is still huge.”Travelers should be wary of green-washing and “ethics washing,” Ms. Ho said.“We really need to dig deeper and think critically, and not just be sold on something because a company says they’re doing the right thing,” she said.Show moreCredit...Miriam MartincicResponding to record cruise demand, major cruise lines will continue to launch new mega-ships this year, with countless over-the-top features and amenities that will appeal to families.“With every big, splashy new ship launch, we’re seeing even more investment in the family market,” said Colleen McDaniel, editor in chief of the cruise news site Cruise Critic. “No longer are cabins for five the definition of the ultimate in family-friendliness, but now we’re seeing actual ‘neighborhoods,’ dedicated to families.”MSC’s largest ship, the World America, will begin sailing out of Miami in April with a family-oriented district packed with water slides, a ropes course, bumper cars, roller rinks and an over-the-water swing. Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas, the 250,800-ton sister of the world’s largest cruise ship, Icon of the Seas, will launch from Port Canaveral, Fla., in August. It will have many of Icon’s features: eight “neighborhoods,” six water slides, seven swimming pools and more than 40 dining, drinking and entertainment venues.Another trend to watch is the evolution of luxury cruises, which have started to resemble the boutique hotel experience. Traditionally, luxury cruising was associated with formality and opulent design, but the products offered on luxury ships today are more subtle, with elevated service and dining in a more relaxed atmosphere. Explora Journeys, the luxury ocean line from MSC Cruises with super-yacht-inspired luxury ships, will sail in the Caribbean and Mediterranean this year.Cruise lines are not only enlarging their fleets, but are investing heavily in land-based real estate to create exclusive private island and beach club experiences. Royal Caribbean is developing an all-inclusive private beach club in Nassau, the Bahamas, one of its most visited port stops, scheduled to open in December. With more than 17 acres, it will include a family beach, an adult-only beach, a party cove and a V.I.P. area with poolside service.Carnival Corporation is also investing in a pier extension to develop a private beach in the Celebration Key area on Grand Bahama, which is set to open in July.Credit...Miriam MartincicThis year, travelers of means will be checking into remote new lodges and upscale all-inclusive resorts, and demanding reasonable prices, relatively speaking.“The high-end market is responding to three plagues in travel: overpriced, overcrowded and overheated, as in global warming,” said Jack Ezon, who runs the bespoke travel agency Embark Beyond, based in New York.Still, big spenders aren’t flinching at high-season rates topping $1,000 a night at cosseting new resorts that prioritize privacy, including Our Habitas Alula, set amid sandstone canyons in Saudi Arabia, and Gundari Resort, with suites built into cliffs on the Greek island of Folegandros in the Cyclades chain.For those hoping to avoid soaring temperatures, openings in cooler climates also offer seclusion. Flockhill Lodge in New Zealand’s Southern Alps sits on a 36,000-acre sheep farm (rates start around $2,200). In the Scottish Highlands, Kilchoan Estate will open on a 13,500-acre estate that will require a ferry to reach (rates will start around 1,000 British pounds, or about $1,220).On the pricing front, several newcomers are adopting a model usually associated with bargain beach vacations — the all-inclusive — minus the bargain. You won’t have to whip out your wallet for every rum punch and sushi roll at the Princess Senses The Mangrove in Jamaica, where rooms include overwater bungalows (from around $600 a night). Guests at Impression Isla Mujeres by Secrets, in Mexico, reach the all-inclusive by a private catamaran shuttle (from about $1,700 a night). In spring, W Hotels will open its first all-inclusive, W Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic (opening rates from $799 a night).Bundled rates offer a way to predict costs among an increasingly price-sensitive set of luxury travelers. Many felt gouged by the run up in prices when travel came roaring back post-pandemic and the industry suffered from disruptions, understaffing and supply-chain issues. Now, they want to justify the expense. According to Embark Beyond, when safari lodges in Botswana last year started charging $8,000 a night, the agency’s bookings in the African country fell 35 percent.The revenge travel mind-set — accompanied by a willingness to pay whatever it costs — is wearing off.“Luxury travelers are still prioritizing travel, but forgiveness around lack of service or escalating prices in certain destinations has reached this tipping point,” said Misty Belles, the vice president of global public relations for Virtuoso, a consortium of high-end travel agencies. “It’s more of a normalization, returning to value for money.”Show moreCredit...Miriam MartincicIn 2025, air passengers will see lounge openings and changes in frequent flier programs, and the number of premium and elite offerings will continue at a steady ascent.For some travelers, reaching elite frequent flier status will be more costly and challenging. United Airlines has plans to raise its status thresholds, requiring travelers to spend and fly more to get perks like free checked bags and upgrades. British Airways, too, has major changes underway for its loyalty program, moving from a system based on distance traveled and cabin class to a revenue-based system hinging on how much travelers spend. Overall, it will be harder than ever for budget travelers to build loyalty with airlines.Airlines hope to win over customers with new lounges. In late 2025, JetBlue will offer its first airport lounge in New York, at Kennedy International Airport, and in Philadelphia, American Airlines will open two lounges.Traveler demand for premium flying, whether those roomier seats in economy or all the luxuries in the higher-tier classes,is expected to continue, and airlines hope to meet demand.Emirates recently rolled out a premium economy cabin on select routes in the United States after refurbishing its Boeing 777 aircrafts, and the carrier’s premium cabin will be available on more routes.In addition to offering new premium economy cabins, American is expected to unveil new business class seating later this year. Alaska Airlines will continue its expansion of both premium and first-class seating on more than 200 of its aircraft, eventually adding about a million premium class seats and 250,000 first-class seats. (This means it could be easier to get upgraded.) Even budget carriers, like Southwest Airlines, are retrofitting planes to expand premium economy cabins and offer seat selection and slightly more legroom. Frontier Airlines plans to introduce first-class seating.Delta Air Lines recently opened its most exclusive lounges yet in Boston, Los Angeles and New York, with another location in Seattle expected in the spring. The lounges will welcome Delta One ticketholders, select Delta travelers flying first class, and eligible passengers flying first or business class on partnering airlines.Delta One customers can expect white glove service with personalized assistance and semi-private check-in spaces. At Kennedy Airport and Los Angeles International Airport, these travelers won’t have to set foot in the main security checkpoint. Instead, they’ll use a private security lane that leads them directly to the lounge.Show moreCredit...Miriam MartincicHave we passed peak vacation connectivity? New data suggests that travelers increasingly want to use their getaways to get away from cellphones and laptops. According to the 2025 Hilton Trends Report, which surveyed 13,000 adults around the world who plan to travel in the next year, a quarter of respondents say they turn off social media during vacation more than they used to, and a quarter are working harder to avoid responding to calls, texts or emails while traveling.Tour operators and accommodation providers are listening and offering “digital detox” retreats where travelers opt into an internet-free environment, often in a setting surrounded by nature. A rising number of accommodations feature completely off-the-grid experiences.In Sardinia, the Logout Livenow travel agency organizes vacations lasting one to four days with a “zero technology” mantra. Computers, televisions and cameras are forbidden, and when the trip starts, travelers lock their smartphones in a safe deposit box and only receive them at the end of the trip.Even when phones aren’t locked away, many resorts, particularly high-end brands, have instituted policies strongly discouraging phone use in common areas, as is the case with Rancho La Puerta in Mexico and Miraval Resorts in the United States, where “phone free zones” are marked throughout the property. The all-inclusive resort Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit, near Puerto Vallarta, offers a detox concierge, who puts guests’ digital devices in a safe and takes away the room’s TV. At the Grand Velas Riviera Maya, near Playa del Carmen, couples and families are provided with T-shirts that read, “We are digital detoxing,” and a timer in the lobby features the family’s last name and the amount of time that they spent without devices.For travelers who think a busy resort still sounds too “connected,” some tiny homes and cabins offer a more isolated setting for a digital detox.Unplugged rents off-the-grid cabins in the middle of nature, like a lakeside studio cabin about an hour from London, for $620 for three days, that features a phone lockbox, a radio, board games and rain boots in lieu of Wi-Fi (the brand’s website warns that the detox may be punctuated by planes flying overhead). Unyoked offers something similar in Britain, Australia and New Zealand, and in the United States, the accommodations run by Postcard Cabins are spread throughout the country, but Wi-Fi is only available at a few locations.Credit...Miriam MartincicRich Harrington had always wanted to visit Europe, but planning a trip with others felt daunting. “It’s hard enough coordinating dinner out with friends,” he said.Then Mr. Harrington, a 41-year-old animator from Middletown, Conn., discovered group trips that cater to solo travelers, and in 2023, he traveled with the tour operator Exoticca to Italy, where he said he appreciated being able to focus on the experiences and to share them with others in the group.Finding a companion whose budget, time off and interests overlap with yours enough to plan a vacation together can be tough. Tour operators are responding with trips that bring solo travelers together to forge connections with one another, while leaving the itinerary and logistics to the professionals.People are seeking “curated trips that turn into multiday friend-finding events,” said Melissa Biggs Bradley, the founder of Indagare Journeys, a luxury tour operator that offers group trips to destinations like Thailand, South Africa, Namibia, India and Morocco.The demand is growing. Ms. Biggs Bradley estimated that the number of solo travelers on Indagare tours had quintupled since 2019. And surging interest has led G Adventures, a tour operator that focuses on families, young adults and outdoor enthusiasts, to introduce Solo-ish Adventures, group tours with activities “handpicked for turning strangers into a close-knit crew.” Other operators welcoming individual travelers include Contiki, FTLO Travel and Backroads.There were some downsides to traveling with a group, Mr. Harrington said, like restricted flight choices, early morning meet-ups and stops he wished were longer. But, he said, he liked having the transportation and activities arranged.Travel providers often make it easier for participants to break the ice by arranging pretrip video calls and welcome dinners, and it’s not uncommon for people who go on the trip solo to find new friends with whom they end up planning future adventures.Toni Greenberg, 68, of Reisterstown, Md., who lost her husband about a decade ago, befriended two more recent widows on a 2023 trip to Rome with the tour company Road Scholar, and this year, the trio is traveling to Costa Rica together on another Road Scholar trip. “To decide to do your first trip solo takes some guts,” said Ms. Greenberg, but if you are open, “people connect in an unbelievable way.”Show moreCredit...Miriam MartincicThe 2025 forecast on pricing: Mixed. Airfares are up, hotel rates are mostly flat and cruise lines are more likely to waive your gratuities than slash your fare.Hayley Berg, the chief economist for the travel booking app Hopper, said, “Domestic airfares in 2025 are expected to remain above 2023 and 2024 levels until midyear at least.” She added that prices will likely be up by double digits for spring and summer compared to 2024, when domestic fares were some of the lowest on record.Among the brights spots are international airfares, according to Kayak. The travel search company said that prices have recently fallen based on its search results, especially in Asia, where 2025 fares were down 7 percent compared to the same time in 2024, and the Caribbean, down 17 percent.On the U.S. hotel front, rates, which rose only 1.6 percent in the first 11 months of 2024, according to the hospitality benchmarking firm STR, are expected to grow gradually — below the rate of inflation.Luxury hotels are doing better than economy hotels, said Jan Freitag, the national director of hospitality analytics at CoStar Group, a commercial real estate market research firm. Guests can expect to see little change in economy rates, which are projected to rise a negligible .2 percent.When it comes to cruises, strong demand is keeping prices high. Ships are sailing into the new year nearly full. An estimated 34.7 million travelers cruised in 2024, according to the Cruise Lines International Association, up 9 percent from 2023. Roughly 37 million are expected to cruise this year. The review website Cruise Critic found rates for summer 2025 cruises between three and 10 days long were up 6 percent on average since last summer.Cruise ships prefer to offer incentives like prepaid gratuities and shipboard credits over fare cuts, said Jamie Cash, the general manager of Cruiseline.com, a cruise search and review website. “That creates value without creating an addiction to discounts,” Mr. Cash said.Show moreCredit...Miriam MartincicIn 2025, travelers who are reluctant to abandon overcrowded hot spots like Barcelona and Lisbon and take advantage of the near euro-dollar parity — which makes traveling to Europe more affordable for U.S. visitors — are instead striking a balance by booking quieter “detour destinations”: lesser-known places close enough to take a side-trip from a popular city.Reims, France (near Paris), and Brescia, Italy (near Milan, one of this year’s 52 Places to Go), were among the most popular detour destinations that are seeing an increase in searches on Expedia. European travel agencies have also seen an uptick in bookings for Montserrat, another 52 Places item, an hour’s train ride from Barcelona; Normandy from Paris; and Sintra from Lisbon.Following another year of record-shattering heat, the summer “coolcations” trend continues to rise, with more travelers looking to replace hot southern European destinations like Greece and Portugal with more temperate climates in Eastern Europe and Scandinavia.“Noctourism,” or nocturnal travel, is another trend emerging from the desire to escape daytime heat and a growing interest in stargazing and other celestial events like northern lights sightings.“We are calling 2025 the year of Iceland,” said Jennifer Schwartz, a co-managing partner at Authentic Explorations, a New York-based travel company that specializes in Europe. “Although the next full solar eclipse isn’t until 2026, people are paying attention because of the cool climate and ideal location for stargazing.”Tromsø, Norway, is another prime destination to witness the northern lights that is trending in searches on Booking.com.Rail travel continues to grow as an alternative to air travel within Europe, particularly among environmentally conscious travelers and those looking to travel at a slower pace.Railbookers, a travel company that specializes in train vacations, says 2025 will be the year of “tailored train trips,” with customers looking for customized itineraries and experiences.“Rail travel has been growing in popularity over the last several years and is increasingly seen as not just a mode of transportation, but as an integral part of the vacation,” said Frank Marini, president of Railbookers.Switzerland, Italy, Britain, France and Ireland are among the most popular European destinations for rail vacations this year, the group said.Show more Source link

[norajworld]

Jump to:Credit...Miriam MartincicA recent Booking.com global survey of 31,000 travelers found that 71 percent of respondents “want to leave the places they visit better than when they arrived.” Eighty-three percent said that sustainable travel is important to them. Now, as travelers wake up to the social effects of tourism, travel businesses are responding in kind, helping visitors maximize the positive — and minimize the negative — impacts of their trips.The Kind Traveler platform, for example, has started a program in which every guest stay helps fund a local charity. StayAltered offers a “community-powered” accommodation booking platform that connects travelers with independent hosts in more than 30 countries on six continents. Home-swapping platforms like Kindred offer alternatives for travelers who are looking to avoid some of the negative impacts associated with short-term tourist rentals.Tour operators are also empowering travelers to engage in difficult social issues in the communities they visit. The nonprofit Abara has three-day “listening trips” along the United States-Mexico border, with a focus on helping visitors understand the social and human dynamics at play in the region. Telos Group offers tours of South Africa, the U.S. South, and Ireland and Northern Ireland, with an eye to helping travelers engage in difficult social histories. Organizations like Unseen Tours, Invisible Cities and Migrant Tour have devised walking tours whose guides offer visitors alternative perspectives on social issues in cities like London, Edinburgh, Paris and Rome.There are also new resources for travelers who want to educate themselves about the social impacts of their travels. The RISE Travel Institute offers online classes on responsible travel and other topics; the organization has also recently released a free e-book on decolonizing travel. The nonprofit Tourism Cares has created a meaningful travel map that features organizations, accommodations and tours that are designed to have a positive impact on communities and the environment.Vincie Ho, the executive director of RISE, acknowledges the growing public awareness about tourism’s impacts on communities and the environment, but noted that “the say-do gap is still huge.”Travelers should be wary of green-washing and “ethics washing,” Ms. Ho said.“We really need to dig deeper and think critically, and not just be sold on something because a company says they’re doing the right thing,” she said.Show moreCredit...Miriam MartincicResponding to record cruise demand, major cruise lines will continue to launch new mega-ships this year, with countless over-the-top features and amenities that will appeal to families.“With every big, splashy new ship launch, we’re seeing even more investment in the family market,” said Colleen McDaniel, editor in chief of the cruise news site Cruise Critic. “No longer are cabins for five the definition of the ultimate in family-friendliness, but now we’re seeing actual ‘neighborhoods,’ dedicated to families.”MSC’s largest ship, the World America, will begin sailing out of Miami in April with a family-oriented district packed with water slides, a ropes course, bumper cars, roller rinks and an over-the-water swing. Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas, the 250,800-ton sister of the world’s largest cruise ship, Icon of the Seas, will launch from Port Canaveral, Fla., in August. It will have many of Icon’s features: eight “neighborhoods,” six water slides, seven swimming pools and more than 40 dining, drinking and entertainment venues.Another trend to watch is the evolution of luxury cruises, which have started to resemble the boutique hotel experience. Traditionally, luxury cruising was associated with formality and opulent design, but the products offered on luxury ships today are more subtle, with elevated service and dining in a more relaxed atmosphere. Explora Journeys, the luxury ocean line from MSC Cruises with super-yacht-inspired luxury ships, will sail in the Caribbean and Mediterranean this year.Cruise lines are not only enlarging their fleets, but are investing heavily in land-based real estate to create exclusive private island and beach club experiences. Royal Caribbean is developing an all-inclusive private beach club in Nassau, the Bahamas, one of its most visited port stops, scheduled to open in December. With more than 17 acres, it will include a family beach, an adult-only beach, a party cove and a V.I.P. area with poolside service.Carnival Corporation is also investing in a pier extension to develop a private beach in the Celebration Key area on Grand Bahama, which is set to open in July.Credit...Miriam MartincicThis year, travelers of means will be checking into remote new lodges and upscale all-inclusive resorts, and demanding reasonable prices, relatively speaking.“The high-end market is responding to three plagues in travel: overpriced, overcrowded and overheated, as in global warming,” said Jack Ezon, who runs the bespoke travel agency Embark Beyond, based in New York.Still, big spenders aren’t flinching at high-season rates topping $1,000 a night at cosseting new resorts that prioritize privacy, including Our Habitas Alula, set amid sandstone canyons in Saudi Arabia, and Gundari Resort, with suites built into cliffs on the Greek island of Folegandros in the Cyclades chain.For those hoping to avoid soaring temperatures, openings in cooler climates also offer seclusion. Flockhill Lodge in New Zealand’s Southern Alps sits on a 36,000-acre sheep farm (rates start around $2,200). In the Scottish Highlands, Kilchoan Estate will open on a 13,500-acre estate that will require a ferry to reach (rates will start around 1,000 British pounds, or about $1,220).On the pricing front, several newcomers are adopting a model usually associated with bargain beach vacations — the all-inclusive — minus the bargain. You won’t have to whip out your wallet for every rum punch and sushi roll at the Princess Senses The Mangrove in Jamaica, where rooms include overwater bungalows (from around $600 a night). Guests at Impression Isla Mujeres by Secrets, in Mexico, reach the all-inclusive by a private catamaran shuttle (from about $1,700 a night). In spring, W Hotels will open its first all-inclusive, W Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic (opening rates from $799 a night).Bundled rates offer a way to predict costs among an increasingly price-sensitive set of luxury travelers. Many felt gouged by the run up in prices when travel came roaring back post-pandemic and the industry suffered from disruptions, understaffing and supply-chain issues. Now, they want to justify the expense. According to Embark Beyond, when safari lodges in Botswana last year started charging $8,000 a night, the agency’s bookings in the African country fell 35 percent.The revenge travel mind-set — accompanied by a willingness to pay whatever it costs — is wearing off.“Luxury travelers are still prioritizing travel, but forgiveness around lack of service or escalating prices in certain destinations has reached this tipping point,” said Misty Belles, the vice president of global public relations for Virtuoso, a consortium of high-end travel agencies. “It’s more of a normalization, returning to value for money.”Show moreCredit...Miriam MartincicIn 2025, air passengers will see lounge openings and changes in frequent flier programs, and the number of premium and elite offerings will continue at a steady ascent.For some travelers, reaching elite frequent flier status will be more costly and challenging. United Airlines has plans to raise its status thresholds, requiring travelers to spend and fly more to get perks like free checked bags and upgrades. British Airways, too, has major changes underway for its loyalty program, moving from a system based on distance traveled and cabin class to a revenue-based system hinging on how much travelers spend. Overall, it will be harder than ever for budget travelers to build loyalty with airlines.Airlines hope to win over customers with new lounges. In late 2025, JetBlue will offer its first airport lounge in New York, at Kennedy International Airport, and in Philadelphia, American Airlines will open two lounges.Traveler demand for premium flying, whether those roomier seats in economy or all the luxuries in the higher-tier classes,is expected to continue, and airlines hope to meet demand.Emirates recently rolled out a premium economy cabin on select routes in the United States after refurbishing its Boeing 777 aircrafts, and the carrier’s premium cabin will be available on more routes.In addition to offering new premium economy cabins, American is expected to unveil new business class seating later this year. Alaska Airlines will continue its expansion of both premium and first-class seating on more than 200 of its aircraft, eventually adding about a million premium class seats and 250,000 first-class seats. (This means it could be easier to get upgraded.) Even budget carriers, like Southwest Airlines, are retrofitting planes to expand premium economy cabins and offer seat selection and slightly more legroom. Frontier Airlines plans to introduce first-class seating.Delta Air Lines recently opened its most exclusive lounges yet in Boston, Los Angeles and New York, with another location in Seattle expected in the spring. The lounges will welcome Delta One ticketholders, select Delta travelers flying first class, and eligible passengers flying first or business class on partnering airlines.Delta One customers can expect white glove service with personalized assistance and semi-private check-in spaces. At Kennedy Airport and Los Angeles International Airport, these travelers won’t have to set foot in the main security checkpoint. Instead, they’ll use a private security lane that leads them directly to the lounge.Show moreCredit...Miriam MartincicHave we passed peak vacation connectivity? New data suggests that travelers increasingly want to use their getaways to get away from cellphones and laptops. According to the 2025 Hilton Trends Report, which surveyed 13,000 adults around the world who plan to travel in the next year, a quarter of respondents say they turn off social media during vacation more than they used to, and a quarter are working harder to avoid responding to calls, texts or emails while traveling.Tour operators and accommodation providers are listening and offering “digital detox” retreats where travelers opt into an internet-free environment, often in a setting surrounded by nature. A rising number of accommodations feature completely off-the-grid experiences.In Sardinia, the Logout Livenow travel agency organizes vacations lasting one to four days with a “zero technology” mantra. Computers, televisions and cameras are forbidden, and when the trip starts, travelers lock their smartphones in a safe deposit box and only receive them at the end of the trip.Even when phones aren’t locked away, many resorts, particularly high-end brands, have instituted policies strongly discouraging phone use in common areas, as is the case with Rancho La Puerta in Mexico and Miraval Resorts in the United States, where “phone free zones” are marked throughout the property. The all-inclusive resort Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit, near Puerto Vallarta, offers a detox concierge, who puts guests’ digital devices in a safe and takes away the room’s TV. At the Grand Velas Riviera Maya, near Playa del Carmen, couples and families are provided with T-shirts that read, “We are digital detoxing,” and a timer in the lobby features the family’s last name and the amount of time that they spent without devices.For travelers who think a busy resort still sounds too “connected,” some tiny homes and cabins offer a more isolated setting for a digital detox.Unplugged rents off-the-grid cabins in the middle of nature, like a lakeside studio cabin about an hour from London, for $620 for three days, that features a phone lockbox, a radio, board games and rain boots in lieu of Wi-Fi (the brand’s website warns that the detox may be punctuated by planes flying overhead). Unyoked offers something similar in Britain, Australia and New Zealand, and in the United States, the accommodations run by Postcard Cabins are spread throughout the country, but Wi-Fi is only available at a few locations.Credit...Miriam MartincicRich Harrington had always wanted to visit Europe, but planning a trip with others felt daunting. “It’s hard enough coordinating dinner out with friends,” he said.Then Mr. Harrington, a 41-year-old animator from Middletown, Conn., discovered group trips that cater to solo travelers, and in 2023, he traveled with the tour operator Exoticca to Italy, where he said he appreciated being able to focus on the experiences and to share them with others in the group.Finding a companion whose budget, time off and interests overlap with yours enough to plan a vacation together can be tough. Tour operators are responding with trips that bring solo travelers together to forge connections with one another, while leaving the itinerary and logistics to the professionals.People are seeking “curated trips that turn into multiday friend-finding events,” said Melissa Biggs Bradley, the founder of Indagare Journeys, a luxury tour operator that offers group trips to destinations like Thailand, South Africa, Namibia, India and Morocco.The demand is growing. Ms. Biggs Bradley estimated that the number of solo travelers on Indagare tours had quintupled since 2019. And surging interest has led G Adventures, a tour operator that focuses on families, young adults and outdoor enthusiasts, to introduce Solo-ish Adventures, group tours with activities “handpicked for turning strangers into a close-knit crew.” Other operators welcoming individual travelers include Contiki, FTLO Travel and Backroads.There were some downsides to traveling with a group, Mr. Harrington said, like restricted flight choices, early morning meet-ups and stops he wished were longer. But, he said, he liked having the transportation and activities arranged.Travel providers often make it easier for participants to break the ice by arranging pretrip video calls and welcome dinners, and it’s not uncommon for people who go on the trip solo to find new friends with whom they end up planning future adventures.Toni Greenberg, 68, of Reisterstown, Md., who lost her husband about a decade ago, befriended two more recent widows on a 2023 trip to Rome with the tour company Road Scholar, and this year, the trio is traveling to Costa Rica together on another Road Scholar trip. “To decide to do your first trip solo takes some guts,” said Ms. Greenberg, but if you are open, “people connect in an unbelievable way.”Show moreCredit...Miriam MartincicThe 2025 forecast on pricing: Mixed. Airfares are up, hotel rates are mostly flat and cruise lines are more likely to waive your gratuities than slash your fare.Hayley Berg, the chief economist for the travel booking app Hopper, said, “Domestic airfares in 2025 are expected to remain above 2023 and 2024 levels until midyear at least.” She added that prices will likely be up by double digits for spring and summer compared to 2024, when domestic fares were some of the lowest on record.Among the brights spots are international airfares, according to Kayak. The travel search company said that prices have recently fallen based on its search results, especially in Asia, where 2025 fares were down 7 percent compared to the same time in 2024, and the Caribbean, down 17 percent.On the U.S. hotel front, rates, which rose only 1.6 percent in the first 11 months of 2024, according to the hospitality benchmarking firm STR, are expected to grow gradually — below the rate of inflation.Luxury hotels are doing better than economy hotels, said Jan Freitag, the national director of hospitality analytics at CoStar Group, a commercial real estate market research firm. Guests can expect to see little change in economy rates, which are projected to rise a negligible .2 percent.When it comes to cruises, strong demand is keeping prices high. Ships are sailing into the new year nearly full. An estimated 34.7 million travelers cruised in 2024, according to the Cruise Lines International Association, up 9 percent from 2023. Roughly 37 million are expected to cruise this year. The review website Cruise Critic found rates for summer 2025 cruises between three and 10 days long were up 6 percent on average since last summer.Cruise ships prefer to offer incentives like prepaid gratuities and shipboard credits over fare cuts, said Jamie Cash, the general manager of Cruiseline.com, a cruise search and review website. “That creates value without creating an addiction to discounts,” Mr. Cash said.Show moreCredit...Miriam MartincicIn 2025, travelers who are reluctant to abandon overcrowded hot spots like Barcelona and Lisbon and take advantage of the near euro-dollar parity — which makes traveling to Europe more affordable for U.S. visitors — are instead striking a balance by booking quieter “detour destinations”: lesser-known places close enough to take a side-trip from a popular city.Reims, France (near Paris), and Brescia, Italy (near Milan, one of this year’s 52 Places to Go), were among the most popular detour destinations that are seeing an increase in searches on Expedia. European travel agencies have also seen an uptick in bookings for Montserrat, another 52 Places item, an hour’s train ride from Barcelona; Normandy from Paris; and Sintra from Lisbon.Following another year of record-shattering heat, the summer “coolcations” trend continues to rise, with more travelers looking to replace hot southern European destinations like Greece and Portugal with more temperate climates in Eastern Europe and Scandinavia.“Noctourism,” or nocturnal travel, is another trend emerging from the desire to escape daytime heat and a growing interest in stargazing and other celestial events like northern lights sightings.“We are calling 2025 the year of Iceland,” said Jennifer Schwartz, a co-managing partner at Authentic Explorations, a New York-based travel company that specializes in Europe. “Although the next full solar eclipse isn’t until 2026, people are paying attention because of the cool climate and ideal location for stargazing.”Tromsø, Norway, is another prime destination to witness the northern lights that is trending in searches on Booking.com.Rail travel continues to grow as an alternative to air travel within Europe, particularly among environmentally conscious travelers and those looking to travel at a slower pace.Railbookers, a travel company that specializes in train vacations, says 2025 will be the year of “tailored train trips,” with customers looking for customized itineraries and experiences.“Rail travel has been growing in popularity over the last several years and is increasingly seen as not just a mode of transportation, but as an integral part of the vacation,” said Frank Marini, president of Railbookers.Switzerland, Italy, Britain, France and Ireland are among the most popular European destinations for rail vacations this year, the group said.Show more Source link

[ellajme0]

Jump to:Credit...Miriam MartincicA recent Booking.com global survey of 31,000 travelers found that 71 percent of respondents “want to leave the places they visit better than when they arrived.” Eighty-three percent said that sustainable travel is important to them. Now, as travelers wake up to the social effects of tourism, travel businesses are responding in kind, helping visitors maximize the positive — and minimize the negative — impacts of their trips.The Kind Traveler platform, for example, has started a program in which every guest stay helps fund a local charity. StayAltered offers a “community-powered” accommodation booking platform that connects travelers with independent hosts in more than 30 countries on six continents. Home-swapping platforms like Kindred offer alternatives for travelers who are looking to avoid some of the negative impacts associated with short-term tourist rentals.Tour operators are also empowering travelers to engage in difficult social issues in the communities they visit. The nonprofit Abara has three-day “listening trips” along the United States-Mexico border, with a focus on helping visitors understand the social and human dynamics at play in the region. Telos Group offers tours of South Africa, the U.S. South, and Ireland and Northern Ireland, with an eye to helping travelers engage in difficult social histories. Organizations like Unseen Tours, Invisible Cities and Migrant Tour have devised walking tours whose guides offer visitors alternative perspectives on social issues in cities like London, Edinburgh, Paris and Rome.There are also new resources for travelers who want to educate themselves about the social impacts of their travels. The RISE Travel Institute offers online classes on responsible travel and other topics; the organization has also recently released a free e-book on decolonizing travel. The nonprofit Tourism Cares has created a meaningful travel map that features organizations, accommodations and tours that are designed to have a positive impact on communities and the environment.Vincie Ho, the executive director of RISE, acknowledges the growing public awareness about tourism’s impacts on communities and the environment, but noted that “the say-do gap is still huge.”Travelers should be wary of green-washing and “ethics washing,” Ms. Ho said.“We really need to dig deeper and think critically, and not just be sold on something because a company says they’re doing the right thing,” she said.Show moreCredit...Miriam MartincicResponding to record cruise demand, major cruise lines will continue to launch new mega-ships this year, with countless over-the-top features and amenities that will appeal to families.“With every big, splashy new ship launch, we’re seeing even more investment in the family market,” said Colleen McDaniel, editor in chief of the cruise news site Cruise Critic. “No longer are cabins for five the definition of the ultimate in family-friendliness, but now we’re seeing actual ‘neighborhoods,’ dedicated to families.”MSC’s largest ship, the World America, will begin sailing out of Miami in April with a family-oriented district packed with water slides, a ropes course, bumper cars, roller rinks and an over-the-water swing. Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas, the 250,800-ton sister of the world’s largest cruise ship, Icon of the Seas, will launch from Port Canaveral, Fla., in August. It will have many of Icon’s features: eight “neighborhoods,” six water slides, seven swimming pools and more than 40 dining, drinking and entertainment venues.Another trend to watch is the evolution of luxury cruises, which have started to resemble the boutique hotel experience. Traditionally, luxury cruising was associated with formality and opulent design, but the products offered on luxury ships today are more subtle, with elevated service and dining in a more relaxed atmosphere. Explora Journeys, the luxury ocean line from MSC Cruises with super-yacht-inspired luxury ships, will sail in the Caribbean and Mediterranean this year.Cruise lines are not only enlarging their fleets, but are investing heavily in land-based real estate to create exclusive private island and beach club experiences. Royal Caribbean is developing an all-inclusive private beach club in Nassau, the Bahamas, one of its most visited port stops, scheduled to open in December. With more than 17 acres, it will include a family beach, an adult-only beach, a party cove and a V.I.P. area with poolside service.Carnival Corporation is also investing in a pier extension to develop a private beach in the Celebration Key area on Grand Bahama, which is set to open in July.Credit...Miriam MartincicThis year, travelers of means will be checking into remote new lodges and upscale all-inclusive resorts, and demanding reasonable prices, relatively speaking.“The high-end market is responding to three plagues in travel: overpriced, overcrowded and overheated, as in global warming,” said Jack Ezon, who runs the bespoke travel agency Embark Beyond, based in New York.Still, big spenders aren’t flinching at high-season rates topping $1,000 a night at cosseting new resorts that prioritize privacy, including Our Habitas Alula, set amid sandstone canyons in Saudi Arabia, and Gundari Resort, with suites built into cliffs on the Greek island of Folegandros in the Cyclades chain.For those hoping to avoid soaring temperatures, openings in cooler climates also offer seclusion. Flockhill Lodge in New Zealand’s Southern Alps sits on a 36,000-acre sheep farm (rates start around $2,200). In the Scottish Highlands, Kilchoan Estate will open on a 13,500-acre estate that will require a ferry to reach (rates will start around 1,000 British pounds, or about $1,220).On the pricing front, several newcomers are adopting a model usually associated with bargain beach vacations — the all-inclusive — minus the bargain. You won’t have to whip out your wallet for every rum punch and sushi roll at the Princess Senses The Mangrove in Jamaica, where rooms include overwater bungalows (from around $600 a night). Guests at Impression Isla Mujeres by Secrets, in Mexico, reach the all-inclusive by a private catamaran shuttle (from about $1,700 a night). In spring, W Hotels will open its first all-inclusive, W Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic (opening rates from $799 a night).Bundled rates offer a way to predict costs among an increasingly price-sensitive set of luxury travelers. Many felt gouged by the run up in prices when travel came roaring back post-pandemic and the industry suffered from disruptions, understaffing and supply-chain issues. Now, they want to justify the expense. According to Embark Beyond, when safari lodges in Botswana last year started charging $8,000 a night, the agency’s bookings in the African country fell 35 percent.The revenge travel mind-set — accompanied by a willingness to pay whatever it costs — is wearing off.“Luxury travelers are still prioritizing travel, but forgiveness around lack of service or escalating prices in certain destinations has reached this tipping point,” said Misty Belles, the vice president of global public relations for Virtuoso, a consortium of high-end travel agencies. “It’s more of a normalization, returning to value for money.”Show moreCredit...Miriam MartincicIn 2025, air passengers will see lounge openings and changes in frequent flier programs, and the number of premium and elite offerings will continue at a steady ascent.For some travelers, reaching elite frequent flier status will be more costly and challenging. United Airlines has plans to raise its status thresholds, requiring travelers to spend and fly more to get perks like free checked bags and upgrades. British Airways, too, has major changes underway for its loyalty program, moving from a system based on distance traveled and cabin class to a revenue-based system hinging on how much travelers spend. Overall, it will be harder than ever for budget travelers to build loyalty with airlines.Airlines hope to win over customers with new lounges. In late 2025, JetBlue will offer its first airport lounge in New York, at Kennedy International Airport, and in Philadelphia, American Airlines will open two lounges.Traveler demand for premium flying, whether those roomier seats in economy or all the luxuries in the higher-tier classes,is expected to continue, and airlines hope to meet demand.Emirates recently rolled out a premium economy cabin on select routes in the United States after refurbishing its Boeing 777 aircrafts, and the carrier’s premium cabin will be available on more routes.In addition to offering new premium economy cabins, American is expected to unveil new business class seating later this year. Alaska Airlines will continue its expansion of both premium and first-class seating on more than 200 of its aircraft, eventually adding about a million premium class seats and 250,000 first-class seats. (This means it could be easier to get upgraded.) Even budget carriers, like Southwest Airlines, are retrofitting planes to expand premium economy cabins and offer seat selection and slightly more legroom. Frontier Airlines plans to introduce first-class seating.Delta Air Lines recently opened its most exclusive lounges yet in Boston, Los Angeles and New York, with another location in Seattle expected in the spring. The lounges will welcome Delta One ticketholders, select Delta travelers flying first class, and eligible passengers flying first or business class on partnering airlines.Delta One customers can expect white glove service with personalized assistance and semi-private check-in spaces. At Kennedy Airport and Los Angeles International Airport, these travelers won’t have to set foot in the main security checkpoint. Instead, they’ll use a private security lane that leads them directly to the lounge.Show moreCredit...Miriam MartincicHave we passed peak vacation connectivity? New data suggests that travelers increasingly want to use their getaways to get away from cellphones and laptops. According to the 2025 Hilton Trends Report, which surveyed 13,000 adults around the world who plan to travel in the next year, a quarter of respondents say they turn off social media during vacation more than they used to, and a quarter are working harder to avoid responding to calls, texts or emails while traveling.Tour operators and accommodation providers are listening and offering “digital detox” retreats where travelers opt into an internet-free environment, often in a setting surrounded by nature. A rising number of accommodations feature completely off-the-grid experiences.In Sardinia, the Logout Livenow travel agency organizes vacations lasting one to four days with a “zero technology” mantra. Computers, televisions and cameras are forbidden, and when the trip starts, travelers lock their smartphones in a safe deposit box and only receive them at the end of the trip.Even when phones aren’t locked away, many resorts, particularly high-end brands, have instituted policies strongly discouraging phone use in common areas, as is the case with Rancho La Puerta in Mexico and Miraval Resorts in the United States, where “phone free zones” are marked throughout the property. The all-inclusive resort Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit, near Puerto Vallarta, offers a detox concierge, who puts guests’ digital devices in a safe and takes away the room’s TV. At the Grand Velas Riviera Maya, near Playa del Carmen, couples and families are provided with T-shirts that read, “We are digital detoxing,” and a timer in the lobby features the family’s last name and the amount of time that they spent without devices.For travelers who think a busy resort still sounds too “connected,” some tiny homes and cabins offer a more isolated setting for a digital detox.Unplugged rents off-the-grid cabins in the middle of nature, like a lakeside studio cabin about an hour from London, for $620 for three days, that features a phone lockbox, a radio, board games and rain boots in lieu of Wi-Fi (the brand’s website warns that the detox may be punctuated by planes flying overhead). Unyoked offers something similar in Britain, Australia and New Zealand, and in the United States, the accommodations run by Postcard Cabins are spread throughout the country, but Wi-Fi is only available at a few locations.Credit...Miriam MartincicRich Harrington had always wanted to visit Europe, but planning a trip with others felt daunting. “It’s hard enough coordinating dinner out with friends,” he said.Then Mr. Harrington, a 41-year-old animator from Middletown, Conn., discovered group trips that cater to solo travelers, and in 2023, he traveled with the tour operator Exoticca to Italy, where he said he appreciated being able to focus on the experiences and to share them with others in the group.Finding a companion whose budget, time off and interests overlap with yours enough to plan a vacation together can be tough. Tour operators are responding with trips that bring solo travelers together to forge connections with one another, while leaving the itinerary and logistics to the professionals.People are seeking “curated trips that turn into multiday friend-finding events,” said Melissa Biggs Bradley, the founder of Indagare Journeys, a luxury tour operator that offers group trips to destinations like Thailand, South Africa, Namibia, India and Morocco.The demand is growing. Ms. Biggs Bradley estimated that the number of solo travelers on Indagare tours had quintupled since 2019. And surging interest has led G Adventures, a tour operator that focuses on families, young adults and outdoor enthusiasts, to introduce Solo-ish Adventures, group tours with activities “handpicked for turning strangers into a close-knit crew.” Other operators welcoming individual travelers include Contiki, FTLO Travel and Backroads.There were some downsides to traveling with a group, Mr. Harrington said, like restricted flight choices, early morning meet-ups and stops he wished were longer. But, he said, he liked having the transportation and activities arranged.Travel providers often make it easier for participants to break the ice by arranging pretrip video calls and welcome dinners, and it’s not uncommon for people who go on the trip solo to find new friends with whom they end up planning future adventures.Toni Greenberg, 68, of Reisterstown, Md., who lost her husband about a decade ago, befriended two more recent widows on a 2023 trip to Rome with the tour company Road Scholar, and this year, the trio is traveling to Costa Rica together on another Road Scholar trip. “To decide to do your first trip solo takes some guts,” said Ms. Greenberg, but if you are open, “people connect in an unbelievable way.”Show moreCredit...Miriam MartincicThe 2025 forecast on pricing: Mixed. Airfares are up, hotel rates are mostly flat and cruise lines are more likely to waive your gratuities than slash your fare.Hayley Berg, the chief economist for the travel booking app Hopper, said, “Domestic airfares in 2025 are expected to remain above 2023 and 2024 levels until midyear at least.” She added that prices will likely be up by double digits for spring and summer compared to 2024, when domestic fares were some of the lowest on record.Among the brights spots are international airfares, according to Kayak. The travel search company said that prices have recently fallen based on its search results, especially in Asia, where 2025 fares were down 7 percent compared to the same time in 2024, and the Caribbean, down 17 percent.On the U.S. hotel front, rates, which rose only 1.6 percent in the first 11 months of 2024, according to the hospitality benchmarking firm STR, are expected to grow gradually — below the rate of inflation.Luxury hotels are doing better than economy hotels, said Jan Freitag, the national director of hospitality analytics at CoStar Group, a commercial real estate market research firm. Guests can expect to see little change in economy rates, which are projected to rise a negligible .2 percent.When it comes to cruises, strong demand is keeping prices high. Ships are sailing into the new year nearly full. An estimated 34.7 million travelers cruised in 2024, according to the Cruise Lines International Association, up 9 percent from 2023. Roughly 37 million are expected to cruise this year. The review website Cruise Critic found rates for summer 2025 cruises between three and 10 days long were up 6 percent on average since last summer.Cruise ships prefer to offer incentives like prepaid gratuities and shipboard credits over fare cuts, said Jamie Cash, the general manager of Cruiseline.com, a cruise search and review website. “That creates value without creating an addiction to discounts,” Mr. Cash said.Show moreCredit...Miriam MartincicIn 2025, travelers who are reluctant to abandon overcrowded hot spots like Barcelona and Lisbon and take advantage of the near euro-dollar parity — which makes traveling to Europe more affordable for U.S. visitors — are instead striking a balance by booking quieter “detour destinations”: lesser-known places close enough to take a side-trip from a popular city.Reims, France (near Paris), and Brescia, Italy (near Milan, one of this year’s 52 Places to Go), were among the most popular detour destinations that are seeing an increase in searches on Expedia. European travel agencies have also seen an uptick in bookings for Montserrat, another 52 Places item, an hour’s train ride from Barcelona; Normandy from Paris; and Sintra from Lisbon.Following another year of record-shattering heat, the summer “coolcations” trend continues to rise, with more travelers looking to replace hot southern European destinations like Greece and Portugal with more temperate climates in Eastern Europe and Scandinavia.“Noctourism,” or nocturnal travel, is another trend emerging from the desire to escape daytime heat and a growing interest in stargazing and other celestial events like northern lights sightings.“We are calling 2025 the year of Iceland,” said Jennifer Schwartz, a co-managing partner at Authentic Explorations, a New York-based travel company that specializes in Europe. “Although the next full solar eclipse isn’t until 2026, people are paying attention because of the cool climate and ideal location for stargazing.”Tromsø, Norway, is another prime destination to witness the northern lights that is trending in searches on Booking.com.Rail travel continues to grow as an alternative to air travel within Europe, particularly among environmentally conscious travelers and those looking to travel at a slower pace.Railbookers, a travel company that specializes in train vacations, says 2025 will be the year of “tailored train trips,” with customers looking for customized itineraries and experiences.“Rail travel has been growing in popularity over the last several years and is increasingly seen as not just a mode of transportation, but as an integral part of the vacation,” said Frank Marini, president of Railbookers.Switzerland, Italy, Britain, France and Ireland are among the most popular European destinations for rail vacations this year, the group said.Show more Source link

[kreuzfahrttester]

MSC plant viertes World-Class-Schiff für Nordamerika – Name noch unbekannt, fünftes bereits in Planung

MSC Cruises baut seine Präsenz in Nordamerika weiter aus und wird sein viertes World-Class-Schiff ab der Wintersaison 2027/28 ganzjährig in Port Canaveral stationieren. Dies gab die Reederei am 27. Januar 2025 bekannt. Das noch namenlose Schiff wird siebentägige Karibikkreuzfahrten anbieten und neben der MSC World America als zweites Schiff dieser innovativen Schiffsklasse in Nordamerika…

[chilimili212]

Jump to:Credit...Miriam MartincicA recent Booking.com global survey of 31,000 travelers found that 71 percent of respondents “want to leave the places they visit better than when they arrived.” Eighty-three percent said that sustainable travel is important to them. Now, as travelers wake up to the social effects of tourism, travel businesses are responding in kind, helping visitors maximize the positive — and minimize the negative — impacts of their trips.The Kind Traveler platform, for example, has started a program in which every guest stay helps fund a local charity. StayAltered offers a “community-powered” accommodation booking platform that connects travelers with independent hosts in more than 30 countries on six continents. Home-swapping platforms like Kindred offer alternatives for travelers who are looking to avoid some of the negative impacts associated with short-term tourist rentals.Tour operators are also empowering travelers to engage in difficult social issues in the communities they visit. The nonprofit Abara has three-day “listening trips” along the United States-Mexico border, with a focus on helping visitors understand the social and human dynamics at play in the region. Telos Group offers tours of South Africa, the U.S. South, and Ireland and Northern Ireland, with an eye to helping travelers engage in difficult social histories. Organizations like Unseen Tours, Invisible Cities and Migrant Tour have devised walking tours whose guides offer visitors alternative perspectives on social issues in cities like London, Edinburgh, Paris and Rome.There are also new resources for travelers who want to educate themselves about the social impacts of their travels. The RISE Travel Institute offers online classes on responsible travel and other topics; the organization has also recently released a free e-book on decolonizing travel. The nonprofit Tourism Cares has created a meaningful travel map that features organizations, accommodations and tours that are designed to have a positive impact on communities and the environment.Vincie Ho, the executive director of RISE, acknowledges the growing public awareness about tourism’s impacts on communities and the environment, but noted that “the say-do gap is still huge.”Travelers should be wary of green-washing and “ethics washing,” Ms. Ho said.“We really need to dig deeper and think critically, and not just be sold on something because a company says they’re doing the right thing,” she said.Show moreCredit...Miriam MartincicResponding to record cruise demand, major cruise lines will continue to launch new mega-ships this year, with countless over-the-top features and amenities that will appeal to families.“With every big, splashy new ship launch, we’re seeing even more investment in the family market,” said Colleen McDaniel, editor in chief of the cruise news site Cruise Critic. “No longer are cabins for five the definition of the ultimate in family-friendliness, but now we’re seeing actual ‘neighborhoods,’ dedicated to families.”MSC’s largest ship, the World America, will begin sailing out of Miami in April with a family-oriented district packed with water slides, a ropes course, bumper cars, roller rinks and an over-the-water swing. Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas, the 250,800-ton sister of the world’s largest cruise ship, Icon of the Seas, will launch from Port Canaveral, Fla., in August. It will have many of Icon’s features: eight “neighborhoods,” six water slides, seven swimming pools and more than 40 dining, drinking and entertainment venues.Another trend to watch is the evolution of luxury cruises, which have started to resemble the boutique hotel experience. Traditionally, luxury cruising was associated with formality and opulent design, but the products offered on luxury ships today are more subtle, with elevated service and dining in a more relaxed atmosphere. Explora Journeys, the luxury ocean line from MSC Cruises with super-yacht-inspired luxury ships, will sail in the Caribbean and Mediterranean this year.Cruise lines are not only enlarging their fleets, but are investing heavily in land-based real estate to create exclusive private island and beach club experiences. Royal Caribbean is developing an all-inclusive private beach club in Nassau, the Bahamas, one of its most visited port stops, scheduled to open in December. With more than 17 acres, it will include a family beach, an adult-only beach, a party cove and a V.I.P. area with poolside service.Carnival Corporation is also investing in a pier extension to develop a private beach in the Celebration Key area on Grand Bahama, which is set to open in July.Credit...Miriam MartincicThis year, travelers of means will be checking into remote new lodges and upscale all-inclusive resorts, and demanding reasonable prices, relatively speaking.“The high-end market is responding to three plagues in travel: overpriced, overcrowded and overheated, as in global warming,” said Jack Ezon, who runs the bespoke travel agency Embark Beyond, based in New York.Still, big spenders aren’t flinching at high-season rates topping $1,000 a night at cosseting new resorts that prioritize privacy, including Our Habitas Alula, set amid sandstone canyons in Saudi Arabia, and Gundari Resort, with suites built into cliffs on the Greek island of Folegandros in the Cyclades chain.For those hoping to avoid soaring temperatures, openings in cooler climates also offer seclusion. Flockhill Lodge in New Zealand’s Southern Alps sits on a 36,000-acre sheep farm (rates start around $2,200). In the Scottish Highlands, Kilchoan Estate will open on a 13,500-acre estate that will require a ferry to reach (rates will start around 1,000 British pounds, or about $1,220).On the pricing front, several newcomers are adopting a model usually associated with bargain beach vacations — the all-inclusive — minus the bargain. You won’t have to whip out your wallet for every rum punch and sushi roll at the Princess Senses The Mangrove in Jamaica, where rooms include overwater bungalows (from around $600 a night). Guests at Impression Isla Mujeres by Secrets, in Mexico, reach the all-inclusive by a private catamaran shuttle (from about $1,700 a night). In spring, W Hotels will open its first all-inclusive, W Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic (opening rates from $799 a night).Bundled rates offer a way to predict costs among an increasingly price-sensitive set of luxury travelers. Many felt gouged by the run up in prices when travel came roaring back post-pandemic and the industry suffered from disruptions, understaffing and supply-chain issues. Now, they want to justify the expense. According to Embark Beyond, when safari lodges in Botswana last year started charging $8,000 a night, the agency’s bookings in the African country fell 35 percent.The revenge travel mind-set — accompanied by a willingness to pay whatever it costs — is wearing off.“Luxury travelers are still prioritizing travel, but forgiveness around lack of service or escalating prices in certain destinations has reached this tipping point,” said Misty Belles, the vice president of global public relations for Virtuoso, a consortium of high-end travel agencies. “It’s more of a normalization, returning to value for money.”Show moreCredit...Miriam MartincicIn 2025, air passengers will see lounge openings and changes in frequent flier programs, and the number of premium and elite offerings will continue at a steady ascent.For some travelers, reaching elite frequent flier status will be more costly and challenging. United Airlines has plans to raise its status thresholds, requiring travelers to spend and fly more to get perks like free checked bags and upgrades. British Airways, too, has major changes underway for its loyalty program, moving from a system based on distance traveled and cabin class to a revenue-based system hinging on how much travelers spend. Overall, it will be harder than ever for budget travelers to build loyalty with airlines.Airlines hope to win over customers with new lounges. In late 2025, JetBlue will offer its first airport lounge in New York, at Kennedy International Airport, and in Philadelphia, American Airlines will open two lounges.Traveler demand for premium flying, whether those roomier seats in economy or all the luxuries in the higher-tier classes,is expected to continue, and airlines hope to meet demand.Emirates recently rolled out a premium economy cabin on select routes in the United States after refurbishing its Boeing 777 aircrafts, and the carrier’s premium cabin will be available on more routes.In addition to offering new premium economy cabins, American is expected to unveil new business class seating later this year. Alaska Airlines will continue its expansion of both premium and first-class seating on more than 200 of its aircraft, eventually adding about a million premium class seats and 250,000 first-class seats. (This means it could be easier to get upgraded.) Even budget carriers, like Southwest Airlines, are retrofitting planes to expand premium economy cabins and offer seat selection and slightly more legroom. Frontier Airlines plans to introduce first-class seating.Delta Air Lines recently opened its most exclusive lounges yet in Boston, Los Angeles and New York, with another location in Seattle expected in the spring. The lounges will welcome Delta One ticketholders, select Delta travelers flying first class, and eligible passengers flying first or business class on partnering airlines.Delta One customers can expect white glove service with personalized assistance and semi-private check-in spaces. At Kennedy Airport and Los Angeles International Airport, these travelers won’t have to set foot in the main security checkpoint. Instead, they’ll use a private security lane that leads them directly to the lounge.Show moreCredit...Miriam MartincicHave we passed peak vacation connectivity? New data suggests that travelers increasingly want to use their getaways to get away from cellphones and laptops. According to the 2025 Hilton Trends Report, which surveyed 13,000 adults around the world who plan to travel in the next year, a quarter of respondents say they turn off social media during vacation more than they used to, and a quarter are working harder to avoid responding to calls, texts or emails while traveling.Tour operators and accommodation providers are listening and offering “digital detox” retreats where travelers opt into an internet-free environment, often in a setting surrounded by nature. A rising number of accommodations feature completely off-the-grid experiences.In Sardinia, the Logout Livenow travel agency organizes vacations lasting one to four days with a “zero technology” mantra. Computers, televisions and cameras are forbidden, and when the trip starts, travelers lock their smartphones in a safe deposit box and only receive them at the end of the trip.Even when phones aren’t locked away, many resorts, particularly high-end brands, have instituted policies strongly discouraging phone use in common areas, as is the case with Rancho La Puerta in Mexico and Miraval Resorts in the United States, where “phone free zones” are marked throughout the property. The all-inclusive resort Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit, near Puerto Vallarta, offers a detox concierge, who puts guests’ digital devices in a safe and takes away the room’s TV. At the Grand Velas Riviera Maya, near Playa del Carmen, couples and families are provided with T-shirts that read, “We are digital detoxing,” and a timer in the lobby features the family’s last name and the amount of time that they spent without devices.For travelers who think a busy resort still sounds too “connected,” some tiny homes and cabins offer a more isolated setting for a digital detox.Unplugged rents off-the-grid cabins in the middle of nature, like a lakeside studio cabin about an hour from London, for $620 for three days, that features a phone lockbox, a radio, board games and rain boots in lieu of Wi-Fi (the brand’s website warns that the detox may be punctuated by planes flying overhead). Unyoked offers something similar in Britain, Australia and New Zealand, and in the United States, the accommodations run by Postcard Cabins are spread throughout the country, but Wi-Fi is only available at a few locations.Credit...Miriam MartincicRich Harrington had always wanted to visit Europe, but planning a trip with others felt daunting. “It’s hard enough coordinating dinner out with friends,” he said.Then Mr. Harrington, a 41-year-old animator from Middletown, Conn., discovered group trips that cater to solo travelers, and in 2023, he traveled with the tour operator Exoticca to Italy, where he said he appreciated being able to focus on the experiences and to share them with others in the group.Finding a companion whose budget, time off and interests overlap with yours enough to plan a vacation together can be tough. Tour operators are responding with trips that bring solo travelers together to forge connections with one another, while leaving the itinerary and logistics to the professionals.People are seeking “curated trips that turn into multiday friend-finding events,” said Melissa Biggs Bradley, the founder of Indagare Journeys, a luxury tour operator that offers group trips to destinations like Thailand, South Africa, Namibia, India and Morocco.The demand is growing. Ms. Biggs Bradley estimated that the number of solo travelers on Indagare tours had quintupled since 2019. And surging interest has led G Adventures, a tour operator that focuses on families, young adults and outdoor enthusiasts, to introduce Solo-ish Adventures, group tours with activities “handpicked for turning strangers into a close-knit crew.” Other operators welcoming individual travelers include Contiki, FTLO Travel and Backroads.There were some downsides to traveling with a group, Mr. Harrington said, like restricted flight choices, early morning meet-ups and stops he wished were longer. But, he said, he liked having the transportation and activities arranged.Travel providers often make it easier for participants to break the ice by arranging pretrip video calls and welcome dinners, and it’s not uncommon for people who go on the trip solo to find new friends with whom they end up planning future adventures.Toni Greenberg, 68, of Reisterstown, Md., who lost her husband about a decade ago, befriended two more recent widows on a 2023 trip to Rome with the tour company Road Scholar, and this year, the trio is traveling to Costa Rica together on another Road Scholar trip. “To decide to do your first trip solo takes some guts,” said Ms. Greenberg, but if you are open, “people connect in an unbelievable way.”Show moreCredit...Miriam MartincicThe 2025 forecast on pricing: Mixed. Airfares are up, hotel rates are mostly flat and cruise lines are more likely to waive your gratuities than slash your fare.Hayley Berg, the chief economist for the travel booking app Hopper, said, “Domestic airfares in 2025 are expected to remain above 2023 and 2024 levels until midyear at least.” She added that prices will likely be up by double digits for spring and summer compared to 2024, when domestic fares were some of the lowest on record.Among the brights spots are international airfares, according to Kayak. The travel search company said that prices have recently fallen based on its search results, especially in Asia, where 2025 fares were down 7 percent compared to the same time in 2024, and the Caribbean, down 17 percent.On the U.S. hotel front, rates, which rose only 1.6 percent in the first 11 months of 2024, according to the hospitality benchmarking firm STR, are expected to grow gradually — below the rate of inflation.Luxury hotels are doing better than economy hotels, said Jan Freitag, the national director of hospitality analytics at CoStar Group, a commercial real estate market research firm. Guests can expect to see little change in economy rates, which are projected to rise a negligible .2 percent.When it comes to cruises, strong demand is keeping prices high. Ships are sailing into the new year nearly full. An estimated 34.7 million travelers cruised in 2024, according to the Cruise Lines International Association, up 9 percent from 2023. Roughly 37 million are expected to cruise this year. The review website Cruise Critic found rates for summer 2025 cruises between three and 10 days long were up 6 percent on average since last summer.Cruise ships prefer to offer incentives like prepaid gratuities and shipboard credits over fare cuts, said Jamie Cash, the general manager of Cruiseline.com, a cruise search and review website. “That creates value without creating an addiction to discounts,” Mr. Cash said.Show moreCredit...Miriam MartincicIn 2025, travelers who are reluctant to abandon overcrowded hot spots like Barcelona and Lisbon and take advantage of the near euro-dollar parity — which makes traveling to Europe more affordable for U.S. visitors — are instead striking a balance by booking quieter “detour destinations”: lesser-known places close enough to take a side-trip from a popular city.Reims, France (near Paris), and Brescia, Italy (near Milan, one of this year’s 52 Places to Go), were among the most popular detour destinations that are seeing an increase in searches on Expedia. European travel agencies have also seen an uptick in bookings for Montserrat, another 52 Places item, an hour’s train ride from Barcelona; Normandy from Paris; and Sintra from Lisbon.Following another year of record-shattering heat, the summer “coolcations” trend continues to rise, with more travelers looking to replace hot southern European destinations like Greece and Portugal with more temperate climates in Eastern Europe and Scandinavia.“Noctourism,” or nocturnal travel, is another trend emerging from the desire to escape daytime heat and a growing interest in stargazing and other celestial events like northern lights sightings.“We are calling 2025 the year of Iceland,” said Jennifer Schwartz, a co-managing partner at Authentic Explorations, a New York-based travel company that specializes in Europe. “Although the next full solar eclipse isn’t until 2026, people are paying attention because of the cool climate and ideal location for stargazing.”Tromsø, Norway, is another prime destination to witness the northern lights that is trending in searches on Booking.com.Rail travel continues to grow as an alternative to air travel within Europe, particularly among environmentally conscious travelers and those looking to travel at a slower pace.Railbookers, a travel company that specializes in train vacations, says 2025 will be the year of “tailored train trips,” with customers looking for customized itineraries and experiences.“Rail travel has been growing in popularity over the last several years and is increasingly seen as not just a mode of transportation, but as an integral part of the vacation,” said Frank Marini, president of Railbookers.Switzerland, Italy, Britain, France and Ireland are among the most popular European destinations for rail vacations this year, the group said.Show more Source link

[oliviajoyice21]

Jump to:Credit...Miriam MartincicA recent Booking.com global survey of 31,000 travelers found that 71 percent of respondents “want to leave the places they visit better than when they arrived.” Eighty-three percent said that sustainable travel is important to them. Now, as travelers wake up to the social effects of tourism, travel businesses are responding in kind, helping visitors maximize the positive — and minimize the negative — impacts of their trips.The Kind Traveler platform, for example, has started a program in which every guest stay helps fund a local charity. StayAltered offers a “community-powered” accommodation booking platform that connects travelers with independent hosts in more than 30 countries on six continents. Home-swapping platforms like Kindred offer alternatives for travelers who are looking to avoid some of the negative impacts associated with short-term tourist rentals.Tour operators are also empowering travelers to engage in difficult social issues in the communities they visit. The nonprofit Abara has three-day “listening trips” along the United States-Mexico border, with a focus on helping visitors understand the social and human dynamics at play in the region. Telos Group offers tours of South Africa, the U.S. South, and Ireland and Northern Ireland, with an eye to helping travelers engage in difficult social histories. Organizations like Unseen Tours, Invisible Cities and Migrant Tour have devised walking tours whose guides offer visitors alternative perspectives on social issues in cities like London, Edinburgh, Paris and Rome.There are also new resources for travelers who want to educate themselves about the social impacts of their travels. The RISE Travel Institute offers online classes on responsible travel and other topics; the organization has also recently released a free e-book on decolonizing travel. The nonprofit Tourism Cares has created a meaningful travel map that features organizations, accommodations and tours that are designed to have a positive impact on communities and the environment.Vincie Ho, the executive director of RISE, acknowledges the growing public awareness about tourism’s impacts on communities and the environment, but noted that “the say-do gap is still huge.”Travelers should be wary of green-washing and “ethics washing,” Ms. Ho said.“We really need to dig deeper and think critically, and not just be sold on something because a company says they’re doing the right thing,” she said.Show moreCredit...Miriam MartincicResponding to record cruise demand, major cruise lines will continue to launch new mega-ships this year, with countless over-the-top features and amenities that will appeal to families.“With every big, splashy new ship launch, we’re seeing even more investment in the family market,” said Colleen McDaniel, editor in chief of the cruise news site Cruise Critic. “No longer are cabins for five the definition of the ultimate in family-friendliness, but now we’re seeing actual ‘neighborhoods,’ dedicated to families.”MSC’s largest ship, the World America, will begin sailing out of Miami in April with a family-oriented district packed with water slides, a ropes course, bumper cars, roller rinks and an over-the-water swing. Royal Caribbean’s Star of the Seas, the 250,800-ton sister of the world’s largest cruise ship, Icon of the Seas, will launch from Port Canaveral, Fla., in August. It will have many of Icon’s features: eight “neighborhoods,” six water slides, seven swimming pools and more than 40 dining, drinking and entertainment venues.Another trend to watch is the evolution of luxury cruises, which have started to resemble the boutique hotel experience. Traditionally, luxury cruising was associated with formality and opulent design, but the products offered on luxury ships today are more subtle, with elevated service and dining in a more relaxed atmosphere. Explora Journeys, the luxury ocean line from MSC Cruises with super-yacht-inspired luxury ships, will sail in the Caribbean and Mediterranean this year.Cruise lines are not only enlarging their fleets, but are investing heavily in land-based real estate to create exclusive private island and beach club experiences. Royal Caribbean is developing an all-inclusive private beach club in Nassau, the Bahamas, one of its most visited port stops, scheduled to open in December. With more than 17 acres, it will include a family beach, an adult-only beach, a party cove and a V.I.P. area with poolside service.Carnival Corporation is also investing in a pier extension to develop a private beach in the Celebration Key area on Grand Bahama, which is set to open in July.Credit...Miriam MartincicThis year, travelers of means will be checking into remote new lodges and upscale all-inclusive resorts, and demanding reasonable prices, relatively speaking.“The high-end market is responding to three plagues in travel: overpriced, overcrowded and overheated, as in global warming,” said Jack Ezon, who runs the bespoke travel agency Embark Beyond, based in New York.Still, big spenders aren’t flinching at high-season rates topping $1,000 a night at cosseting new resorts that prioritize privacy, including Our Habitas Alula, set amid sandstone canyons in Saudi Arabia, and Gundari Resort, with suites built into cliffs on the Greek island of Folegandros in the Cyclades chain.For those hoping to avoid soaring temperatures, openings in cooler climates also offer seclusion. Flockhill Lodge in New Zealand’s Southern Alps sits on a 36,000-acre sheep farm (rates start around $2,200). In the Scottish Highlands, Kilchoan Estate will open on a 13,500-acre estate that will require a ferry to reach (rates will start around 1,000 British pounds, or about $1,220).On the pricing front, several newcomers are adopting a model usually associated with bargain beach vacations — the all-inclusive — minus the bargain. You won’t have to whip out your wallet for every rum punch and sushi roll at the Princess Senses The Mangrove in Jamaica, where rooms include overwater bungalows (from around $600 a night). Guests at Impression Isla Mujeres by Secrets, in Mexico, reach the all-inclusive by a private catamaran shuttle (from about $1,700 a night). In spring, W Hotels will open its first all-inclusive, W Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic (opening rates from $799 a night).Bundled rates offer a way to predict costs among an increasingly price-sensitive set of luxury travelers. Many felt gouged by the run up in prices when travel came roaring back post-pandemic and the industry suffered from disruptions, understaffing and supply-chain issues. Now, they want to justify the expense. According to Embark Beyond, when safari lodges in Botswana last year started charging $8,000 a night, the agency’s bookings in the African country fell 35 percent.The revenge travel mind-set — accompanied by a willingness to pay whatever it costs — is wearing off.“Luxury travelers are still prioritizing travel, but forgiveness around lack of service or escalating prices in certain destinations has reached this tipping point,” said Misty Belles, the vice president of global public relations for Virtuoso, a consortium of high-end travel agencies. “It’s more of a normalization, returning to value for money.”Show moreCredit...Miriam MartincicIn 2025, air passengers will see lounge openings and changes in frequent flier programs, and the number of premium and elite offerings will continue at a steady ascent.For some travelers, reaching elite frequent flier status will be more costly and challenging. United Airlines has plans to raise its status thresholds, requiring travelers to spend and fly more to get perks like free checked bags and upgrades. British Airways, too, has major changes underway for its loyalty program, moving from a system based on distance traveled and cabin class to a revenue-based system hinging on how much travelers spend. Overall, it will be harder than ever for budget travelers to build loyalty with airlines.Airlines hope to win over customers with new lounges. In late 2025, JetBlue will offer its first airport lounge in New York, at Kennedy International Airport, and in Philadelphia, American Airlines will open two lounges.Traveler demand for premium flying, whether those roomier seats in economy or all the luxuries in the higher-tier classes,is expected to continue, and airlines hope to meet demand.Emirates recently rolled out a premium economy cabin on select routes in the United States after refurbishing its Boeing 777 aircrafts, and the carrier’s premium cabin will be available on more routes.In addition to offering new premium economy cabins, American is expected to unveil new business class seating later this year. Alaska Airlines will continue its expansion of both premium and first-class seating on more than 200 of its aircraft, eventually adding about a million premium class seats and 250,000 first-class seats. (This means it could be easier to get upgraded.) Even budget carriers, like Southwest Airlines, are retrofitting planes to expand premium economy cabins and offer seat selection and slightly more legroom. Frontier Airlines plans to introduce first-class seating.Delta Air Lines recently opened its most exclusive lounges yet in Boston, Los Angeles and New York, with another location in Seattle expected in the spring. The lounges will welcome Delta One ticketholders, select Delta travelers flying first class, and eligible passengers flying first or business class on partnering airlines.Delta One customers can expect white glove service with personalized assistance and semi-private check-in spaces. At Kennedy Airport and Los Angeles International Airport, these travelers won’t have to set foot in the main security checkpoint. Instead, they’ll use a private security lane that leads them directly to the lounge.Show moreCredit...Miriam MartincicHave we passed peak vacation connectivity? New data suggests that travelers increasingly want to use their getaways to get away from cellphones and laptops. According to the 2025 Hilton Trends Report, which surveyed 13,000 adults around the world who plan to travel in the next year, a quarter of respondents say they turn off social media during vacation more than they used to, and a quarter are working harder to avoid responding to calls, texts or emails while traveling.Tour operators and accommodation providers are listening and offering “digital detox” retreats where travelers opt into an internet-free environment, often in a setting surrounded by nature. A rising number of accommodations feature completely off-the-grid experiences.In Sardinia, the Logout Livenow travel agency organizes vacations lasting one to four days with a “zero technology” mantra. Computers, televisions and cameras are forbidden, and when the trip starts, travelers lock their smartphones in a safe deposit box and only receive them at the end of the trip.Even when phones aren’t locked away, many resorts, particularly high-end brands, have instituted policies strongly discouraging phone use in common areas, as is the case with Rancho La Puerta in Mexico and Miraval Resorts in the United States, where “phone free zones” are marked throughout the property. The all-inclusive resort Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit, near Puerto Vallarta, offers a detox concierge, who puts guests’ digital devices in a safe and takes away the room’s TV. At the Grand Velas Riviera Maya, near Playa del Carmen, couples and families are provided with T-shirts that read, “We are digital detoxing,” and a timer in the lobby features the family’s last name and the amount of time that they spent without devices.For travelers who think a busy resort still sounds too “connected,” some tiny homes and cabins offer a more isolated setting for a digital detox.Unplugged rents off-the-grid cabins in the middle of nature, like a lakeside studio cabin about an hour from London, for $620 for three days, that features a phone lockbox, a radio, board games and rain boots in lieu of Wi-Fi (the brand’s website warns that the detox may be punctuated by planes flying overhead). Unyoked offers something similar in Britain, Australia and New Zealand, and in the United States, the accommodations run by Postcard Cabins are spread throughout the country, but Wi-Fi is only available at a few locations.Credit...Miriam MartincicRich Harrington had always wanted to visit Europe, but planning a trip with others felt daunting. “It’s hard enough coordinating dinner out with friends,” he said.Then Mr. Harrington, a 41-year-old animator from Middletown, Conn., discovered group trips that cater to solo travelers, and in 2023, he traveled with the tour operator Exoticca to Italy, where he said he appreciated being able to focus on the experiences and to share them with others in the group.Finding a companion whose budget, time off and interests overlap with yours enough to plan a vacation together can be tough. Tour operators are responding with trips that bring solo travelers together to forge connections with one another, while leaving the itinerary and logistics to the professionals.People are seeking “curated trips that turn into multiday friend-finding events,” said Melissa Biggs Bradley, the founder of Indagare Journeys, a luxury tour operator that offers group trips to destinations like Thailand, South Africa, Namibia, India and Morocco.The demand is growing. Ms. Biggs Bradley estimated that the number of solo travelers on Indagare tours had quintupled since 2019. And surging interest has led G Adventures, a tour operator that focuses on families, young adults and outdoor enthusiasts, to introduce Solo-ish Adventures, group tours with activities “handpicked for turning strangers into a close-knit crew.” Other operators welcoming individual travelers include Contiki, FTLO Travel and Backroads.There were some downsides to traveling with a group, Mr. Harrington said, like restricted flight choices, early morning meet-ups and stops he wished were longer. But, he said, he liked having the transportation and activities arranged.Travel providers often make it easier for participants to break the ice by arranging pretrip video calls and welcome dinners, and it’s not uncommon for people who go on the trip solo to find new friends with whom they end up planning future adventures.Toni Greenberg, 68, of Reisterstown, Md., who lost her husband about a decade ago, befriended two more recent widows on a 2023 trip to Rome with the tour company Road Scholar, and this year, the trio is traveling to Costa Rica together on another Road Scholar trip. “To decide to do your first trip solo takes some guts,” said Ms. Greenberg, but if you are open, “people connect in an unbelievable way.”Show moreCredit...Miriam MartincicThe 2025 forecast on pricing: Mixed. Airfares are up, hotel rates are mostly flat and cruise lines are more likely to waive your gratuities than slash your fare.Hayley Berg, the chief economist for the travel booking app Hopper, said, “Domestic airfares in 2025 are expected to remain above 2023 and 2024 levels until midyear at least.” She added that prices will likely be up by double digits for spring and summer compared to 2024, when domestic fares were some of the lowest on record.Among the brights spots are international airfares, according to Kayak. The travel search company said that prices have recently fallen based on its search results, especially in Asia, where 2025 fares were down 7 percent compared to the same time in 2024, and the Caribbean, down 17 percent.On the U.S. hotel front, rates, which rose only 1.6 percent in the first 11 months of 2024, according to the hospitality benchmarking firm STR, are expected to grow gradually — below the rate of inflation.Luxury hotels are doing better than economy hotels, said Jan Freitag, the national director of hospitality analytics at CoStar Group, a commercial real estate market research firm. Guests can expect to see little change in economy rates, which are projected to rise a negligible .2 percent.When it comes to cruises, strong demand is keeping prices high. Ships are sailing into the new year nearly full. An estimated 34.7 million travelers cruised in 2024, according to the Cruise Lines International Association, up 9 percent from 2023. Roughly 37 million are expected to cruise this year. The review website Cruise Critic found rates for summer 2025 cruises between three and 10 days long were up 6 percent on average since last summer.Cruise ships prefer to offer incentives like prepaid gratuities and shipboard credits over fare cuts, said Jamie Cash, the general manager of Cruiseline.com, a cruise search and review website. “That creates value without creating an addiction to discounts,” Mr. Cash said.Show moreCredit...Miriam MartincicIn 2025, travelers who are reluctant to abandon overcrowded hot spots like Barcelona and Lisbon and take advantage of the near euro-dollar parity — which makes traveling to Europe more affordable for U.S. visitors — are instead striking a balance by booking quieter “detour destinations”: lesser-known places close enough to take a side-trip from a popular city.Reims, France (near Paris), and Brescia, Italy (near Milan, one of this year’s 52 Places to Go), were among the most popular detour destinations that are seeing an increase in searches on Expedia. European travel agencies have also seen an uptick in bookings for Montserrat, another 52 Places item, an hour’s train ride from Barcelona; Normandy from Paris; and Sintra from Lisbon.Following another year of record-shattering heat, the summer “coolcations” trend continues to rise, with more travelers looking to replace hot southern European destinations like Greece and Portugal with more temperate climates in Eastern Europe and Scandinavia.“Noctourism,” or nocturnal travel, is another trend emerging from the desire to escape daytime heat and a growing interest in stargazing and other celestial events like northern lights sightings.“We are calling 2025 the year of Iceland,” said Jennifer Schwartz, a co-managing partner at Authentic Explorations, a New York-based travel company that specializes in Europe. “Although the next full solar eclipse isn’t until 2026, people are paying attention because of the cool climate and ideal location for stargazing.”Tromsø, Norway, is another prime destination to witness the northern lights that is trending in searches on Booking.com.Rail travel continues to grow as an alternative to air travel within Europe, particularly among environmentally conscious travelers and those looking to travel at a slower pace.Railbookers, a travel company that specializes in train vacations, says 2025 will be the year of “tailored train trips,” with customers looking for customized itineraries and experiences.“Rail travel has been growing in popularity over the last several years and is increasingly seen as not just a mode of transportation, but as an integral part of the vacation,” said Frank Marini, president of Railbookers.Switzerland, Italy, Britain, France and Ireland are among the most popular European destinations for rail vacations this year, the group said.Show more Source link

[hauntedqueenking]

[ad_1] Share The Article In case you’re Caribbean dreaming, then maybe one of many best methods to discover this patch of paradise is on a cruise ship.   What could possibly be simpler than hopping on a ship after which touring from port to port, exploring a number of completely different Caribbean islands in a single brief trip?   Cruise holidays are enjoyable, handy….and hovering in reputation!   To fulfill the rising demand for cruise journey, these are the 10 new cruise ships crusing to the Caribbean in 2025:   MSC World America   This large ship could have a capability of 6,774 passengers and can set sail on April 12.   Its inaugural route will take a spherical journey from Miami to Puerto Plata, San Juan, and Ocean Cay. It’ll then spend the remainder of its maiden season exploring the Caribbean.   In case you’re in search of a ship packed filled with enjoyable then this can be a nice one to decide on. Journey the Cliffhanger, an over-the-water swing experience, or climb the excessive ropes course on the highest deck of the ship.   Like many trendy cruise ships, the MSC World America may even boast a water park, and when it is time to chill out, you’ll have a whopping 18 completely different bars and lounges to select from.   Norwegian Aqua  Additionally launching in April, with the maiden voyage happening on April 16, is the latest ship from Norwegian Cruise Traces.   It is a barely smaller ship than MSC’s mega liner, with a capability for as much as 3,571 passengers. This primary cruise will likely be a five-day spherical journey from Miami to Nice Stirrup Cay and Bimini. The remainder of the season will likely be spent touring between Orlando and Bermuda.   What makes this ship so special is that it’s going to boast a ‘first of its form’ rollercoaster and water slide hybrid in addition to Norwegians first ever VR Recreation Zone at sea.   Oceania Cruises Allura   Launching on July 18, the Allura from Oceania Cruises is a smaller however luxurious cruise liner. At full capability this ship solely holds 1,200 passengers.   It is a liner for passengers seeking to actually chill out and unwind. Its highlights embody a library with floor-to-ceiling glass partitions, nice eating in 2 signature eating places, and an onboard creperie for on-demand snacking. Its inaugural crusing will take it from Trieste to Athens over seven days, however it is going to transfer to Caribbean routes later within the season.   Luminara From The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Assortment  One of many smallest ships on this record, the Luminara is definitely a cruise yacht hybrid from the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Assortment. It solely had a capability of 448 passengers.   It is a luxurious liner, and all the suites on board could have their very own non-public ocean-view terrace. If you’d like the posh of a Ritz-Carlton lodge however at sea, then that’s precisely what you’ll get right here!   This ship will take its maiden voyage on July 31, touring a spherical journey from Rome to Livorno, Portofino, Monte Carlo, Ajaccio, and Port Cervo.   After it has completed its deliberate Mediterranean routes, the liner will then transfer to the Caribbean for the rest of its maiden season.   Royal Caribbean Star Of The Seas   The Star of the Seas would be the second Icon Class ship from Royal Caribbean, and these mega-sized ships are bursting on the seams with pleasure, points of interest, and issues to do.   This ship could have a capability of 5,610 passengers and can function an unique ‘Again to the Future’ stage present. This ship will spend its maiden season within the Caribbean. Its inaugural crusing will likely be on August 31, when it is going to take a round-trip route from Port Canaveral to CocoCay, Costa Maya, and Cozumel.   Virgin Voyages Sensible Woman  In case you’ve heard of the Sensible Woman earlier than then that’s as a result of this ship has been marketed then delayed a number of instances, however now it’s lastly launching on September 5 2025.  This would be the 4th ship from Virgin Voyages and can look an identical to its sister ships, too. The one important change? The Sensible Woman could have an tailored body to allow it to suit by the Panama Canal.  The capability of this ship will likely be 2,770 passengers and its first crusing will take a spherical journey to Bermuda from New York Metropolis.   Star Princess From Princess Cruises   The brand new Star Princess ship Princess Cruises will likely be an identical in each approach to its sister ship, the Solar Princess. The capability of this ship will likely be 4,300 passengers.   A number of the highlights of this ship are its SkyDeck Sports activities Court docket, which additionally features a splash space for youths, and also you’ll discover an abundance of pubs and bars on board too.   This ship will make its first crusing on October 4. This will likely be an 11 day Mediterranean crusing from Barcelona. The ship will spend its inaugural season first within the Med after which within the Caribbean.   Disney Future  The arrival of Disney’s latest cruise ship is long-awaited, however Disney has stored the small print of the ship below their hats. Not a lot is thought concerning the ship, however we do know that it’s going to boast a singular Lion King-themed eating expertise.  We additionally know that one of many exercise choices will embody a Marvel Superhero Academy.   The Disney Future could have a capability of 4,000 passengers and can launch on November 20 with a 4-night cruise to the Bahamas from Port Everglades.   The ship will spend the entire of its maiden season within the Caribbean, touring to and from the Bahamas.  Celeb Cruises, Celeb Xcel  The Celeb Xcel is the 5th within the Edge Class of ships from Celeb and can function a stupendous Rooftop Backyard, in addition to specialty eating choices.   The ship could have a capability of three,260 passengers and can formally launch on November 18. The ship will begin its maiden season within the Caribbean earlier than transferring into the Mediterranean.   Its inaugural crusing will likely be a 5-night round-trip cruise to the Bahamas and Mexico from Fort Lauderdale.   Windstar Cruises, Star Seeker Lastly, in December, the most recent cruise ship from Windstar Cruises will launch. That is by far the smallest ship on this record, with a capability for simply 224 passengers.   This ship will spend its maiden season exploring the Caribbean in addition to Alaska and Japan. It will get round for a small ship!   This ship will provide 112 suites and every could have both a personal veranda or a floor-to-ceiling infinity window. It is a luxurious liner for these in search of a extra intimate cruising expertise.   Tor Brierley Tor has been writing for greater than 20 years and has visited 25 nations (and counting!) She makes a speciality of European and household journey and by no means says no to new adventures. ↓ Elevate Your Journey↓ Sign Up Now For Travel Off Path Premium! No adverts, VIP Content material, Private Journey Concierge, Big Financial savings, Day by day Offers, Members Discussion board & Extra! ✈️Join Our Travel Off Path Community Forum: The place vacationers unite, ask questions, share experiences and even discover like-minded journey buddies! SUBSCRIBE TO OUR LATEST POSTS Enter your e mail handle to subscribe to Journey Off Path’s newest breaking journey information, straight to your inbox. This text initially appeared on TravelOffPath.com Opinions expressed listed here are the creator’s alone, not these of any financial institution, bank card issuer, lodge, airline, or different entity. This content material has not been reviewed, authorized or in any other case endorsed by any of the entities included inside the submit. !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s) if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function()n.callMethod? n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments); if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0'; n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0; t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)(window, document,'script', ' fbq('init', '2165215303841561'); fbq('track', 'PageView'); [ad_2] Source link

[ezraworld1]

[ad_1] Share The Article In case you’re Caribbean dreaming, then maybe one of many best methods to discover this patch of paradise is on a cruise ship.   What could possibly be simpler than hopping on a ship after which touring from port to port, exploring a number of completely different Caribbean islands in a single brief trip?   Cruise holidays are enjoyable, handy….and hovering in reputation!   To fulfill the rising demand for cruise journey, these are the 10 new cruise ships crusing to the Caribbean in 2025:   MSC World America   This large ship could have a capability of 6,774 passengers and can set sail on April 12.   Its inaugural route will take a spherical journey from Miami to Puerto Plata, San Juan, and Ocean Cay. It’ll then spend the remainder of its maiden season exploring the Caribbean.   In case you’re in search of a ship packed filled with enjoyable then this can be a nice one to decide on. Journey the Cliffhanger, an over-the-water swing experience, or climb the excessive ropes course on the highest deck of the ship.   Like many trendy cruise ships, the MSC World America may even boast a water park, and when it is time to chill out, you’ll have a whopping 18 completely different bars and lounges to select from.   Norwegian Aqua  Additionally launching in April, with the maiden voyage happening on April 16, is the latest ship from Norwegian Cruise Traces.   It is a barely smaller ship than MSC’s mega liner, with a capability for as much as 3,571 passengers. This primary cruise will likely be a five-day spherical journey from Miami to Nice Stirrup Cay and Bimini. The remainder of the season will likely be spent touring between Orlando and Bermuda.   What makes this ship so special is that it’s going to boast a ‘first of its form’ rollercoaster and water slide hybrid in addition to Norwegians first ever VR Recreation Zone at sea.   Oceania Cruises Allura   Launching on July 18, the Allura from Oceania Cruises is a smaller however luxurious cruise liner. At full capability this ship solely holds 1,200 passengers.   It is a liner for passengers seeking to actually chill out and unwind. Its highlights embody a library with floor-to-ceiling glass partitions, nice eating in 2 signature eating places, and an onboard creperie for on-demand snacking. Its inaugural crusing will take it from Trieste to Athens over seven days, however it is going to transfer to Caribbean routes later within the season.   Luminara From The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Assortment  One of many smallest ships on this record, the Luminara is definitely a cruise yacht hybrid from the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Assortment. It solely had a capability of 448 passengers.   It is a luxurious liner, and all the suites on board could have their very own non-public ocean-view terrace. If you’d like the posh of a Ritz-Carlton lodge however at sea, then that’s precisely what you’ll get right here!   This ship will take its maiden voyage on July 31, touring a spherical journey from Rome to Livorno, Portofino, Monte Carlo, Ajaccio, and Port Cervo.   After it has completed its deliberate Mediterranean routes, the liner will then transfer to the Caribbean for the rest of its maiden season.   Royal Caribbean Star Of The Seas   The Star of the Seas would be the second Icon Class ship from Royal Caribbean, and these mega-sized ships are bursting on the seams with pleasure, points of interest, and issues to do.   This ship could have a capability of 5,610 passengers and can function an unique ‘Again to the Future’ stage present. This ship will spend its maiden season within the Caribbean. Its inaugural crusing will likely be on August 31, when it is going to take a round-trip route from Port Canaveral to CocoCay, Costa Maya, and Cozumel.   Virgin Voyages Sensible Woman  In case you’ve heard of the Sensible Woman earlier than then that’s as a result of this ship has been marketed then delayed a number of instances, however now it’s lastly launching on September 5 2025.  This would be the 4th ship from Virgin Voyages and can look an identical to its sister ships, too. The one important change? The Sensible Woman could have an tailored body to allow it to suit by the Panama Canal.  The capability of this ship will likely be 2,770 passengers and its first crusing will take a spherical journey to Bermuda from New York Metropolis.   Star Princess From Princess Cruises   The brand new Star Princess ship Princess Cruises will likely be an identical in each approach to its sister ship, the Solar Princess. The capability of this ship will likely be 4,300 passengers.   A number of the highlights of this ship are its SkyDeck Sports activities Court docket, which additionally features a splash space for youths, and also you’ll discover an abundance of pubs and bars on board too.   This ship will make its first crusing on October 4. This will likely be an 11 day Mediterranean crusing from Barcelona. The ship will spend its inaugural season first within the Med after which within the Caribbean.   Disney Future  The arrival of Disney’s latest cruise ship is long-awaited, however Disney has stored the small print of the ship below their hats. Not a lot is thought concerning the ship, however we do know that it’s going to boast a singular Lion King-themed eating expertise.  We additionally know that one of many exercise choices will embody a Marvel Superhero Academy.   The Disney Future could have a capability of 4,000 passengers and can launch on November 20 with a 4-night cruise to the Bahamas from Port Everglades.   The ship will spend the entire of its maiden season within the Caribbean, touring to and from the Bahamas.  Celeb Cruises, Celeb Xcel  The Celeb Xcel is the 5th within the Edge Class of ships from Celeb and can function a stupendous Rooftop Backyard, in addition to specialty eating choices.   The ship could have a capability of three,260 passengers and can formally launch on November 18. The ship will begin its maiden season within the Caribbean earlier than transferring into the Mediterranean.   Its inaugural crusing will likely be a 5-night round-trip cruise to the Bahamas and Mexico from Fort Lauderdale.   Windstar Cruises, Star Seeker Lastly, in December, the most recent cruise ship from Windstar Cruises will launch. That is by far the smallest ship on this record, with a capability for simply 224 passengers.   This ship will spend its maiden season exploring the Caribbean in addition to Alaska and Japan. It will get round for a small ship!   This ship will provide 112 suites and every could have both a personal veranda or a floor-to-ceiling infinity window. It is a luxurious liner for these in search of a extra intimate cruising expertise.   Tor Brierley Tor has been writing for greater than 20 years and has visited 25 nations (and counting!) She makes a speciality of European and household journey and by no means says no to new adventures. ↓ Elevate Your Journey↓ Sign Up Now For Travel Off Path Premium! No adverts, VIP Content material, Private Journey Concierge, Big Financial savings, Day by day Offers, Members Discussion board & Extra! ✈️Join Our Travel Off Path Community Forum: The place vacationers unite, ask questions, share experiences and even discover like-minded journey buddies! SUBSCRIBE TO OUR LATEST POSTS Enter your e mail handle to subscribe to Journey Off Path’s newest breaking journey information, straight to your inbox. This text initially appeared on TravelOffPath.com Opinions expressed listed here are the creator’s alone, not these of any financial institution, bank card issuer, lodge, airline, or different entity. This content material has not been reviewed, authorized or in any other case endorsed by any of the entities included inside the submit. !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s) if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function()n.callMethod? n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments); if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0'; n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0; t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)(window, document,'script', ' fbq('init', '2165215303841561'); fbq('track', 'PageView'); [ad_2] Source link

[kreuzfahrttester]

MSC Cruises kündigt Drew Barrymore und Orlando Bloom für seinen Werbespot beim Superbowl an 

Die neue Markenkampagne von MSC Cruises für die USA startet mit einem Werbespot für die MSC World America, die ab April 2025 von Miami aus zu Karibikkreuzfahrten in See stechen wird Drew Barrymore und Orlando Bloom nehmen die Zuschauer im Werbespot mit auf eine Kreuzfahrt Der Teaser für den mit Spannung erwarteten TV-Spot ist ab jetzt verfügbar München – 23.01.2024. MSC Cruises, die…