News

New Carnival Cruise Line Ship Completes Major Construction Milestone

Carnival Cruise Line announced that Carnival Jubilee successfully finished a nautical feat as the first ship in the company’s fleet to complete a conveyance of the river Ems in northwest Germany. Set to debut in Texas in December, Carnival Jubilee is the first Carnival vessel built at Meyer Werft and was successfully transferred from the German shipyard in Papenburg to Eemshaven, Netherlands, ahead of its upcoming sea trials. To complete the conveyance, an experienced team at the helm of Carnival Jubilee sailed the Ems backward toward the North Sea, departing Papenburg early Monday morning with the support of two tugboats to help with maneuverability. A group of Ems River pilots, the Pilot Brotherhood of Emden, assisted in the transfer. The pilots are highly trained and use state-of-the-art technology, including a realistic river simulation, to prepare for the passage. Carnival Jubilee was carefully guided through narrow channels and under several bridges before arriving in Eemshaven early Tuesday morning, ahead of the first round of sea trials, which begin on November 5. The new ship will be led and manned during the sea trials by a full contingent of officers, technicians and engineers to thoroughly test its technical, mechanical and navigational systems. Onboard, shipbuilders are outfitting Carnival Jubilee with the amenities guests will enjoy when sailings begin from Galveston. Exclusive new concepts in sea-themed areas of the ship will delight guests with delicious food and beverage options. The cruise line’s third vessel to be powered by a Liquefied Natural Gas propulsion system, Carnival Jubilee also features other stunning innovations, including top-deck rollercoaster BOLT: The Ultimate Seacoaster. Carnival Jubilee’s first revenue cruise will depart from Galveston on December 23, offering weeklong cruises to popular Caribbean destinations, including Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico, as well as Mahogany Bay (Roatan).

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Royal Caribbean to Raise Automatic Service Gratuity Rates

Royal Caribbean International announced that current automatic service gratuity rates would increase by more than 10 percent, starting on November 11. According to the cruise line’s official website, automatic service gratuity will jump to $18 per person, per day for passengers in non-suites staterooms and Junior Suites, and increase to $20.50 per person, per day for guests in Suites.Royal Caribbean currently charges an automatic service gratuity of $16 for standard cabins and $18.50 for suites. The gratuity applies to individual guests of all ages and stateroom categories and is applied automatically to all beverages, mini bar items, and spa & salon purchases. Passengers who have pre-paid the gratuity will not see a daily charge during their cruise.Other cruise lines charge similar prices, as Norwegian levies a $20 per person, per day gratuity fee, while Carnival, Celebrity, Princess and others charge $16-$18 per person, per day for most cabins. As pointed out by The Points Guy, a family of four in a typical cabin traveling with Royal Caribbean once the gratuity rate increase takes effect would “pay more than $500 in automatic gratuities on a seven-night cruise, one of the highest levies in the business.”The news of automatic service gratuity rate increases comes as the cruise line reported a total revenue of $4.2 billion, an adjusted net income of $1.1 billion and an Adjusted EBITDA of $1.7 billion for the third quarter. This is a massive increase from the third quarter of 2022, when net income was reported at $33 million and adjusted net income was $65.8 million.

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Kerala to launch multi-language microsites to boost religious tourism

Kerala Tourism is all set for important steps in its endeavor to promote pilgrimage tourism by launching a series of microsites. These microsites have been designed to not only shed light on the state's rich heritage, but also showcase the profound significance of its key religious sites. Among these microsites, one is particularly noteworthy – it focuses on the renowned Sabarimala shrine and is set to cater to a diverse audience by offering content in multiple languages, including Hindi, English, Kannada, Tamil, and Telugu. Situated in the Pathanamthitta district, this microsite dedicated to the hill-shrine strives to be an exhaustive resource for pilgrims, who make all efforts to trek and reach the Ayyappa temple every year. Its primary objective is to enhance the overall pilgrimage experience and facilitate smoother, more organized journeys for these travelers.The revamped microsite, apart from providing comprehensive information about travel routes, will also offer valuable insights into available transportation options and lodging facilities in close proximity to the temples. In addition to this, it will be a valuable source for the latest updates on Sabarimala darshan, offering more information on the distinctive geographical features of the hill-shrine and its deeply rooted cultural traditions. This will be especially beneficial for prospective pilgrims, enabling them to plan their itineraries with ease. The Kerala Tourism Department has allocated a substantial sum of INR 61.36 lakh for the development and maintenance of the Sabarimala microsite, subsequent to receiving the necessary approval from the relevant working group. Furthermore, Kerala Tourism is preparing to introduce yet another microsite with a unique focus on the state's Islamic traditions, festivals, art forms, and places of worship. This initiative forms part of a larger digital project that comes with a budget of INR 93.81 lakh. The department's objective here is to contribute to the promotion and support of pilgrimage tourism within the state. It is important to note that Kerala Tourism has previously designed similar packages and initiatives dedicated to the state's Hindu, Jewish and Christian places of worship that have been well-received. The efforts undertaken by the Tourism Department collectively aim to make Kerala a prominent and diverse pilgrimage tourism destination.

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Etihad operates first commercial flight from Terminal A at Abu Dhabi Intl Airport

Flight EY224, bound for New Delhi, departed from Terminal A on October 31, 2023, utilising one of Etihad's Airbus A350-1000 aircraft with 359 passengers on board. Terminal A is integral to Etihad's growth strategy, designed to handle up to 45 million passengers annually and connect Abu Dhabi to 117 global destinations. Etihad plans to transition its flights to Term in a phased approach starting November 9. Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, marked a key milestone by operating its first commercial flight from the much awaited Terminal A at Abu Dhabi International Airport. Flight EY224, bound for New Delhi, departed from Terminal A at 14:35 on October 31, 2023, utilising one of Etihad's Airbus A350-1000 aircraft with 359 passengers on board. Passengers had the opportunity to experience the new flagship Etihad Lounges at Terminal A, featuring three floors. Terminal A is integral to Etihad's growth strategy, designed to handle up to 45 million passengers annually and connect Abu Dhabi to 117 global destinations. It features dedicated check-in desks for Economy guests and exclusive areas for Business and First class passengers. The inaugural flight was celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony including Etihad and Abu Dhabi Airport Board members and aviation leaders. “This is a pivotal and exciting moment in Etihad’s history. As we begin to celebrate our 20th anniversary in November, we are ready for the next growth chapter in our new home,” said Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer, Etihad. “As we begin our transition to our new home, we look forward to welcoming even more passengers as we continue to grow and expand our fleet and network,” stated Neves. Etihad's new airport lounges at Terminal A offer a wide range of amenities, including dining options, a rooftop cocktail bar, a family room, among others. The Lounge also provides direct boarding access for three aircraft, allowing passengers to board their flights directly from the Lounge. Etihad plans to transition its flights to Terminal A in a phased approach starting on November 9. Passengers are advised to verify their terminal information within two days of travel during this transition period, as Etihad will operate from both Terminal A and Terminal 3 until November 14, when all flights will operate exclusively from Terminal A.

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Royal Air Maroc charts expansion

Royal Air Maroc plans to open a series of new U.S. routes in the coming years as part of a strategic vision what would turn the Oneworld Alliance member into a global east-west and north-south connector. On the drawing board for the Moroccan national carrier is Casablanca-Los Angeles service by 2027. Then, service from Morocco to San Francisco, Chicago and Boston in the decade that follows, as well as the first nonstops from the U.S. to Marrakech and Rabat, which would operate out of New York JFK. Each of the new routes would join the carrier's current service between Casablanca and JFK, Washington Dulles and Miami. Growth plans for Royal Air Maroc This summer, the Moroccan government entered into a new capital agreement with Royal Air Maroc geared toward growing the airline faster, in part to expand Moroccan tourism. Specifics of that financing deal have not been unveiled, but as part of the arrangement, the airline has set a target of growing its fleet to 200 aircraft by 2037 from its current plane count of 50. Last week, the airline unveiled a new brand campaign, #DreamAfrica#MeetMorocco, as it moves the expansion plan forward. The hashtag campaign embodies Royal Air Maroc's goal to further connect not just Morocco, but all of Africa, to the world, said CEO Hamid Addou at a public event in Casablanca. "As an airline and with all our resources, we have an obligation to embody the best of Morocco and contribute to the continent's progress," he said. Under its strategic vision, Royal Air Maroc has set a goal of serving 143 destinations and 200 million passengers by 2037, up from 99 destinations and 60 million passengers in 2019. The targeted new U.S. destinations are just one piece of a global ambition that includes new destinations throughout Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas.

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94 per cent of Indians are inspired by movie or TV show destinations for travel in 2024

The top travelling trend in India for2024 is going to be 'set-jetting', the latest rage of going to filming locations of movies and famous TV series, a new survey has revealed. The findings of "Travel Trends: Redefining value through experience in 2024", released on Tuesday, claimed that a whopping 94 per cent of Indian travellers are inclined to take a trip to a destination that they've seen on the big or small screen -- be it Paris, inspired by hit sitcom "Emily in Paris", or Manali, shown in superhit film "Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani". The research was conducted by global traveltech platform Skyscanner with 1,000 Indian respondents as its sample size. "Ninety four per cent of Indian travellers are inspired by movie and TV show destinations. Set-jetting took the lead in India, as travellers sought to immerse themselves into the iconic location of their favourite shows, embodying 'Main Character Energy'," read the report. So, seizing the spotlight as the top destination that Indians are inspired to visit in 2024 is Manali in Himachal Pradesh with travellers influenced by "Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani", followed by Ladakh, which inspires 47 per cent of the travellers to visit the mesmerising city as seen in "3 Idiots". Claiming the next spot is London in the United Kingdom, with 43 per cent of Indian travellers seeking to add a royal flair to their life as seen in "The Crown", and the enchanting city of Paris in France, with 42 per cent of Indian travellers wanting to experience the city like the character of Emily Cooper, as seen in "Emily in Paris". In fact, as per the report, Skyscanner saw a 23 per cent increase in searches from India to Paris in January following the launch of season 3 of the famous Netflix sitcom last year in December. According to the report, as many as 86 per cent of Indian travellers plan to take the same number, if not more, trips abroad in 2024 compared to 2023. The most buzzing destinations for Indian travellers in 2024: Da Nang in Vietnam, Almaty in Kazakhstan and Baku in Azerbaijan. "On the other hand, Nice in France came out top overall, securing the highest spot for the Best Value Destinations category, followed by Geneva in Switzerland, Tokyo in Japan, and Manama in Bahrain," the report added.

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