Sea Cloud Cruises Unveils 2027–2028 Sailings with Savings and European Itineraries
Sea Cloud Cruises announced its 2027‑2028 sailing season, featuring luxury small‑ship voyages on the tall vessels Sea Cloud Spirit and Sea Cloud II. The lineup emphasizes European itineraries, including Irish, Scottish, French Atlantic, and Mediterranean routes. Guests who book by May 30, 2026 receive a 30% fare discount and a $300 onboard credit per person. The new brochure highlights cultural, culinary and coastal experiences across the Caribbean, Mediterranean and Northern Europe.
Top Headlines: This Week’s Biggest Travel Stories
Travel industry faces short‑term headwinds as Middle East tensions push fuel prices higher, inflating airline ticket costs. Despite this, analysts forecast air travel demand to double by 2050, indicating strong long‑term growth. The sector also saw positive momentum at the...
Royal Caribbean Expands Australia Season with New Royal Beach Club Lelepa Debut
Royal Caribbean is adding its first Southern Hemisphere private destination, Royal Beach Club Lelepa, to its 2027‑2028 Australia season. The all‑inclusive beach club, located in Vanuatu, will be featured on all South Pacific itineraries departing from Sydney and Brisbane starting...
ASTA Sets Vienna Expo Dates, Legislative Day Forecast
The American Society of Travel Advisors announced its 2027 River Cruise Expo will take place in Vienna from March 10‑14, featuring a record‑size ship inspection with at least 13 cruise brands and 17 vessels. Registration opened after a sold‑out Amsterdam...
ALGV Opens 2027 Beach Flight Bookings Early With Frontier
ALG Vacations (ALGV) has opened early bookings for its 2027 Exclusive Nonstop Vacation Flights (ENVF) with Frontier Airlines, linking three Midwest hubs to two Caribbean destinations. Chicago O’Hare will fly nonstop to Cancun, while Cleveland and St. Louis will serve...
Princess Cruises Expands ‘North to Alaska’ Program with New Experiences
Princess Cruises is expanding its North to Alaska program with four new signature experiences for the 2026 season, available on all eight Alaska‑focused ships. The additions include the Glacier Experience with ranger‑led narration and exclusive bow viewing, a Welcome to...
Elite Island Resorts Launches Antigua Campaign With Agent Tools
Elite Island Resorts has unveiled “A Love Letter To Antigua,” a multi‑component campaign designed to equip travel advisors with ready‑made itineraries, an interactive 360° map, and a summer promotion offering a free fifth night at The Verandah Antigua. The initiative...
Royal Caribbean Announces Quantum of the Seas’ Singapore Journeys
Royal Caribbean announced that its Quantum of the Seas will resume operations from Singapore for the 2027‑28 season, running from October 2027 through March 2028. The ship will offer a mix of 3‑ to 10‑night itineraries visiting Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam,...
Explore Worldwide Announces First Morocco Familiarization Trip
Explore Worldwide has opened applications for its inaugural North American familiarization (FAM) trip to Morocco, a seven‑day, small‑group tour scheduled for June 7‑13, 2026. The program will host up to ten travel‑industry professionals, offering hands‑on exposure to the operator’s responsible‑travel...
Spring in Europe: Tivoli Hotels & Resorts Offer Seasonal Experiences for Travelers
Tivoli Hotels & Resorts is rolling out spring‑focused experiences across its European portfolio, from Easter celebrations in Porto to tulip‑season stays in Amsterdam. The offerings combine cultural activities, culinary workshops, and wellness programs, targeting both city‑savvy travelers and families seeking...
Cruise News You Can’t Miss: Dining, Destinations & Beach Upgrades
Royal Caribbean is upgrading public beach access at its Royal Beach Club in Cozumel, adding a new pathway to improve safety, signage and lighting under its SEA the Future sustainability program. Hapag‑Lloyd Cruises will launch ten Indian Ocean expedition voyages...
Audley Travel Rolls Out New Training for Advisors
Audley Travel has launched the Audley Academy, an online training academy for travel advisors that awards participants the Audley Ambassador accreditation. Graduates receive a comprehensive sales‑and‑marketing toolkit, a $100 bonus gift card, and ongoing newsletters with product updates. Advisors who...
Intrepid Travel to Resume Egypt Small-Group Tours
Intrepid Travel will restart its small‑group tours to Egypt on April 1 after pausing operations due to regional airspace disruptions caused by the conflict. While tours to Egypt resume, trips to Jordan and Oman stay suspended until at least April 15. The...
Inkaterra Opens Luxury Retreat in Peru
Inkaterra has launched Inkaterra Cabo Blanco, a luxury eco‑resort on Peru’s northern Pacific coast featuring 13 ocean‑view suites with private terraces and plunge pools. The 1,000‑sq‑ft suites open onto a curved main pool and beachfront dining venues, offering high‑end amenities...
Top Headlines: This Week in Travel News
Travel this week was marked by a series of disruptions and recoveries. Cruise ships have returned to Puerto Vallarta after a week of cancellations tied to cartel violence in western Mexico. Safety concerns stemming from the Iran‑Israel conflict are prompting...
Celebrity River Cruises Unveils Destination Discovery Program for 2027–2028 Sailings
Celebrity River Cruises announced a Destination Discovery Program for its 2027‑2028 sailings, adding four themed experience series to its European itineraries. The Storyteller Series pairs guests with local artists and cultural experts, while the Skillmaster Series offers hands‑on craft and...
Victory Cruise Lines Invests $5M in Fleet Upgrades
Victory Cruise Lines announced a $5 million investment to upgrade its two flagship vessels, Victory I and Victory II, during the 2026 layup period. The program covers major engine overhauls, crane recertifications, drydock work, exterior repainting, and extensive interior refurbishments,...
Virgin Voyages Expands to 1,500 AI Agents to Improve Guest Experience
Virgin Voyages has expanded its internal AI agent fleet from 50 to over 1,500 in under four months, leveraging Google Cloud’s Gemini Enterprise platform. The agents support functions such as marketing, sales, crew training, and guest services, including tools like...
AREA15 Opens New Las Vegas Nightlife Concept Oddyssey
AREA15 has launched Oddyssey, an immersive nightlife concept in Las Vegas that replaces the traditional mega‑club model with a sequential, room‑to‑room experience. The offering includes a 90‑minute cocktail theater called Oddyssey Manor and a late‑night dance segment, Oddyssey Noir, featuring...
Star Clippers Offers Free Athens Hotel Stay on Select 2026 Sailings
Star Clippers is giving North, Central and South American travelers a complimentary hotel night in Athens, including breakfast and shuttle service, for select 2026 Greece sailings. The promotion, limited to bookings made by April 30, applies to itineraries aboard the...
Regent Seven Seas Cruises Debuts Air Concierge
Regent Seven Seas Cruises is launching an Air Concierge service on April 1, 2026 for U.S. and Canadian travelers. The program replaces the Ultimate All‑Inclusive Fare, offering real‑time market airfare, personalized routing, cabin‑class selection, and flexible dates. Guests pay a...
Stays Beyond the 2026 U.S. Grand Prix Circuits
Formula 1’s 2026 calendar features three U.S. Grands Prix—Miami (May 1‑3), Austin (Oct 16‑18) and Las Vegas (Nov 19‑21). The article highlights how travelers can extend race weekends with curated stays in nearby destinations such as Savannah’s Ann Savannah, Key West’s Eden House, and the...
Banyan Tree Expands Wellness Offering
Banyan Tree is scaling its wellness portfolio by rolling out Connections Retreats and extending its signature Connections program to eight additional resorts. The new immersive, small‑group retreats debut in Montenegro’s Mamula Island and Bali’s Buahan in 2026, featuring Manduka‑aligned yoga...
Global Entry Reopens Amid Government Shutdown
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security reopened Global Entry on Wednesday at 5 a.m. EDT, ending a 17‑day suspension caused by the partial federal government shutdown. The trusted traveler program allows pre‑approved passengers to skip standard passport control lines at major...
Universal Volcano Bay Nights Returns This Summer
Universal Orlando Resort will host Volcano Bay Nights on select evenings from May 3 to August 21, 2026. The after‑hours event offers lower wait times on flagship attractions, a Beach Bash with a live DJ, and meet‑and‑greets with DreamWorks characters. Guests receive an...
Explora Journeys Marks Fleet Milestones in Genoa
Explora Journeys celebrated three shipbuilding milestones at Fincantieri's Genoa yard, including the technical launch of Explora IV, a coin ceremony for Explora V, and the steel‑cutting of Explora VI. The event marks the third triple ceremony in 18 months, bringing the brand’s six‑ship...
Carnival Cruise Line Launches Express Dining
Carnival Cruise Line has rolled out Express Dining, a streamlined multi‑course service that delivers meals in under an hour for parties of six or fewer. The program is live on 15 ships and will cover the entire fleet by the...
Long TSA Lines Reported at U.S. Airports as Shutdown Impacts Staffing
Travelers at several major U.S. airports are facing unusually long TSA security lines as the Department of Homeland Security shutdown forces officers to work without pay. Wait times have stretched to three hours at Houston’s William P. Hobby Airport and...
TROBBU Adds San Miguel All-Inclusive Villas This Summer
TROBBU will open its second all‑inclusive villa resort, TROBBU San Miguel de Allende, in July 2026. The property offers fifteen standalone villas of 2,200‑3,200 sq ft, each accommodating up to eight guests with private jacuzzis and full kitchen facilities. A 25% discount...
Scenic Group Adds Douro and Mekong Ships by 2028
Scenic Group announced three additional luxury river ships to be delivered between 2027 and 2028, expanding its presence on Portugal’s Douro and Southeast Asia’s Mekong rivers. The new vessels include the Emerald Nova, Scenic Aria, and Scenic Spirit II, each offering...
Atlas Ocean Voyages Reports Limited Availability for 2026 Mediterranean Sailings
Atlas Ocean Voyages announced limited cabin availability for its 2026 Mediterranean Epicurean Expeditions sailing from July through September. Each expedition includes a complimentary Atlas Immersive Experience, offering exclusive after‑hours access to sites such as the Ephesus Odeon, a Syros traditions...
Ride & Seek Offers New Hokkaido Cycling Tour
Ride & Seek announced a 14‑day historical cycling adventure across Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island, launching on September 3, 2026. The tour, priced from $8,960 per person on a double‑occupancy basis, blends forest, coastal, mountain and volcanic terrain with stays in traditional inns...
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay to Host 2026 Food, Wine & Garden Festival
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay will host its annual Food, Wine & Garden Festival on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through May 10, 2026. The event showcases more than 65 international dishes, wines, craft beers and cocktails, plus a new series of wildlife‑inspired garden...
Avanti Destinations Releases Europe Travel Guide for Advisors
Avanti Destinations has launched a 200‑page printed Europe travel guide for advisors, covering 26 countries and featuring 113 new vacation packages, 351 new hotels, and 534 new tours for the 2026 season. Each itinerary includes a QR code that connects...
ASTA Advises Travel Advisors Amid Middle East Disruptions
The American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) has released new guidance for travel advisors as the Middle East conflict disrupts air travel, cruises, and tours. The U.S. State Department issued a Level 4 “Do Not Travel” alert for Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan...
Quasar Expeditions’ Darwin Family Cruise and Galapagos Exploration
Quasar Expeditions announced its 40th‑anniversary Darwin Family Cruise, an eight‑day Galapagos itinerary sailing July 18‑25. The trip aboard the newly renovated Quasar Evolution, limited to 32 guests, will visit both popular and remote islands such as San Cristóbal, Genovesa and Santa Fe....
Incentives Drive 2026 Riviera Cruises Across Europe
Riviera Travel launched a March‑April 2026 incentive program for North American agents booking European river cruises through 2027. The scheme offers a $75 gift card per reservation and a $3,000 grand prize for the top booker, measured by passenger count...
Scenic Group Simplifies Pricing With Four New Fare Options
Scenic Group will roll out a four‑tier pricing structure in the U.S. on March 9, 2026, replacing its long‑standing 2‑for‑1 model. The new tiers—Full Fare, Select Fare, Preferred Fare, and Preferred+ Fare—retain core inclusions while varying payment terms, discounts, and...
Caviar and Cuisine Meet at Hammock Cove Antigua
Elite Island Resorts’ Hammock Cove Antigua will host the Golden Goat Caviar Pop‑Up Weekend from May 7‑10, 2026, marking the premium caviar brand’s first appearance on the island. The four‑day event, timed with Antigua Culinary Month, features caviar‑centric dishes across...
Collette Launches Solo Travel Savings
Collette has launched a Solo Travel Savings Campaign offering up to $1,000 off select Explorations tours for solo guests traveling through March 2027. The promotion, running through July 15, targets the fast‑growing solo traveler segment, especially those over 50 seeking...
A | T Collective Introduces Evoke | Inspire Luxury Brand
Under A | T Collective, the company has launched Evoke | Inspire, a new luxury FIT travel brand that replaces Journese. The brand offers a curated portfolio of 4.5‑ and 5‑star hotels, private villas, yachts, jets and rail, supported by a dedicated...
Tourism Emergency Procedures Activated in Israel and Gulf Region
Israel's Ministry of Tourism launched Operation “Roaring Lion,” activating 24/7 virtual assistance and shuttle services to expedite tourist departures via the Taba border crossing. Four land border crossings remain operational with specific hours, while Destination Management Companies retain full logistical...
Wellness Retreats and Resorts Designed for Today’s Female Traveler
Luxury resorts are increasingly designing wellness retreats specifically for female travelers, capitalizing on the momentum of International Women’s Day. Ananda in the Himalayas offers a data‑driven, Ayurveda‑centric program for high‑performing women dealing with burnout and hormonal issues. In Phuket, Layan...
Rail Europe Joins Pleasant Holidays’ Global Rail Portfolio
Pleasant Holidays has expanded its global rail portfolio by adding Rail Europe, granting travel advisors access to regional and high‑speed train services across more than 20 European countries. The partnership brings major carriers such as SNCF, DB, Trenitalia, and Eurostar...
Southwest Faces Pushback on Assigned Seating One Month In
Southwest Airlines abandoned its 53‑year open‑seating model on Jan. 27, becoming the last U.S. carrier to switch to assigned seating. Within a month, passengers voiced strong dissatisfaction, citing standby assignments and family separations despite available seats. In response, Executive Vice President...
Uniworld Rolls Out New Advisor Training
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises has launched a new Uniworld University course that gives travel advisors early access to the brand’s 2026‑2027 expansion roadmap. The program coincides with Uniworld’s 50th anniversary and offers exclusive advisor rates, CLIA credits, and a Preferred...
U.S. Department of State Issues Worldwide Travel Caution
The U.S. Department of State issued a worldwide travel caution on Feb. 28 after U.S. military strikes on Iran, urging Americans abroad to follow the latest embassy guidance, especially in the Middle East. Embassies in Israel, Jordan, Qatar, Iraq and...
Princess Cruises and The Travel Institute Launch Advisor Education Partnership
Princess Cruises has signed a year‑long strategic alliance with The Travel Institute to elevate travel advisor education. The partnership will launch a new Alaska Destination Specialist curriculum timed with the debut of the Star Princess cruise. Princess will fund scholarships...
Women Travelers Find New Freedom with Paul Gauguin Cruises
Paul Gauguin Cruises is launching a Zero Single Supplement program on seven South Pacific itineraries, eliminating extra fees for solo travelers starting March 2026. The small‑ship m/s Paul Gauguin, refurbished with private balconies and upgraded amenities, will sail to destinations...
Celebrating Women Who Shape Travel Advisor Success
Travel advisor platform Travelsavers highlighted two senior women executives for International Women’s Day. Chief Sales Officer Kathryn Mazza‑Burney credits crisis‑driven customer service and agency‑focused consulting for reshaping the business model. Marketing head Nicole Mazza says the pandemic taught her that...
