Browsing: Travel Insight

MSC Cruises has launched a new culinary partnership with Spanish chef Ramón Freixa. The announcement came at Freixa’s eponymous two Michelin-starred restaurant in Madrid. Under the new partnership, MSC will introduce new main dishes and tapas developed by Chef Freixa. He’ll take part in interactive training with MSC chefs, enabling them to recreate signature dishes…

Seabourn has introduced a new lineup of guided Ventures by Seabourn for its 2018 Alaska and British Columbia season. The optional, for-charge shore excursions are available on 11, 12 and 14-day sailings aboard Seabourn Sojourn. Introduced in 2015, Ventures by Seabourn combines the comforts of ultra-luxury travel with expedition-style adventure. It features complimentary lectures by…

Paul Gauguin Cruises has debuted a new seven-night Society Islands & Tahiti Iti itinerary on its m/s Paul Gauguin. Tahiti Iti is the smaller of two land masses that comprise the island of Tahiti. It’s known for its wild coastline, marae (temples), Polynesian culture, and surfing. The m/s Paul Gauguin will call in the port…

Cunard has announced its speaker line-up for its second annual Transatlantic Space Week. The nine-night voyage on the flagship, Queen Mary 2, departs New York October 7, 2018 and arrives in Southampton October 16, 2018. It coincides with International World Space Week. On tap for the journey are several space-themed experiences and lectures from space…

Star Clippers has opened bookings for all late spring and summer 2019 sailings and fall 2019 ocean crossings. Summer destinations include the Eastern and Western Mediterranean aboard the Royal Clipper and Star Flyer, and the waters around Malaysia aboard the Star Clipper. A new Greece itinerary celebrates popular musical “Mamma Mia.” The seven-night cruise sails…

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL) and Ctrip will end their SkySea Cruise Line joint venture. TUI AG’s Marella Cruises has agreed to purchase Golden Era, with delivery expected in December, 2018. After the sale is completed, SkySea will wind down its business operations before the end of 2018. TUI Cruises will retain Mein Schiff 2…

Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Bakar sent an apology to Sara Nelson, International President of the Association of Flight Attendants following derogatory remarks he made about flight attendant of American carriers.  Ms. Nelson replied to his letter, accepting his apology while making it clear that US workers continue to recognize the threats posed to their careers as long as airlines continue to violate the Open Skies Agreement. Letter from Qatar Airways CEO:  Response from AFA International President, Sara Nelson: (Text version below image) July 12, 2017 Akbar Al Baker Group Chief Executive Qatar Airways Dear Mr. Al Baker, I received…

Workplace harassment complaints at American Airlines are mounting as the news of two lawsuits filed in United States District Court Eastern District of Pennsylvania have surfaced. Workplace Harassment Spreads to Social Media Chinery v American Airlines (June 2016) claims harassment and gender discrimination by a group of Philadelphia-based male flight attendants which ignited on social media during a union campaign where the plaintiff sought election. Chinery claims an ongoing pattern of harassment and a hostile work environment at American Airlines where she was subject to defamatory comments and gender-based harassment such as being called, among other things, a “cunt.” She…

With Donald Trump as President-elect and Republicans taking both the House and the Senate, the future could very well be even more challenging for labor unions as they seek to improve contract and promote legislation that benefits and protects workers. The Association of Flight Attendants (AFA-CWA) has released  the following post-election video from Sara Nelson, International President of AFA, giving workers an idea of how the union will approach the soon-to-be drastically changed political landscape. AFA Video:  “I won’t sugar coat the reality of today. The political landscape is not good for working people. More than ever, we must rise…