CRUISE
Princess Cruises | October 12, 2021
Princess Cruises today celebrated its return to San Francisco with the maiden call of Majestic Princess, the first cruise ship to visit the City by the Bay since the industry global pause of operations. Guests onboard Majestic Princess experienced the iconic attractions of San Francisco during a port call on a seven-day Classic California Coast voyage, sailing roundtrip from Los Angeles.
Long-time partners from the Port of San Francisco welcomed Princess Cruises back, recognizing the beneficial financial impact to local businesses.
"Princess has a long history of visiting the iconic Port of San Francisco with our guests marveling at the bucket-list experience of sailing underneath the Golden Gate Bridge. Our guests remain eager to be back on board enjoying a safe and real vacation."
Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises president
"The Port of San Francisco is excited to welcome back a safe return of Princess Cruises and all cruises to our renowned waterfront and city."said Elaine Forbes, Executive Director of the Port of San Francisco."The city has worked with cruise lines to ensure all CDC guidelines have been met or exceeded. The return of cruise is an important milestone for San Francisco's economic recovery and will support our small and family-owned waterfront businesses."
Majestic Princess offers a MedallionClass vacation, delivering the ultimate in effortless, personalized cruising. It begins with OceanMedallion, a quarter-sized, wearable device that enables everything from touch-free boarding to locating loved ones anywhere on the ship, as well as enhanced service like having whatever guests need, delivered directly to them, wherever they are on the ship.
Princess Cruises sailings onboard Majestic Princess are available for guests who have received their final dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days prior to the beginning of the cruise and have proof of vaccination. All fully vaccinated guests must also produce a negative, medically observed COVID-19 test (PCR or antigen) taken within two days of their embarkation on all Princess sailings.
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FEATURES AND ADVICE
Air Canada | July 26, 2021
After reporting a bigger quarterly loss on Friday, Air Canada projected higher bookings for domestic and US-bound flights this winter as travel restrictions ease.
Although bookings remain below pre-pandemic levels, Canada's biggest airline predicts slower cash burn as travel resumes.
"We are witnessing steadily increasing bookings for the coming winter in the domestic, trans-border, and Atlantic markets, as well as to sun destinations," CEO Michael Rousseau told analysts. "Future bookings for next winter sun travel during certain weeks in June were ahead of the same time in 2019."
After a 16-month ban due to the pandemic, Canada will allow fully vaccinated US visitors to enter the country beginning August 9.
Air Canada recorded a net cash burn of about C$8 million ($6.36 million) per day for the second quarter, lower than previously projected. However, it anticipates that figure will rise to between C$3 million and C$5 million each day in the third quarter.
Carriers are increasing flying capacity, putting downward pressure on fares in certain areas.
While domestic pricing is more difficult, "the environment is fairly steady" on international routes, according to Chief Commercial Officer Lucie Guillemette, who predicts a fall return in corporate travel.
According to the airline, cargo flights, which were introduced during the pandemic, will become a more significant part of the carrier's future.
Air Canada signed an assistance agreement with the Canadian federal government in April, allowing it to access up to C$5.9 billion in funds.
Rousseau said that the airline would determine whether or not to withdraw from the government's financial facilities later this year.
According to Refinitiv data, Air Canada lost C$3.03 per share excluding items. Analysts predicted a C$2.76 loss on average.
In the fiscal quarter ended June 30, the airline's net loss was C$1.17 billion, or C$3.31 per share, compared to a loss of C$1.75 billion, or C$6.44 per share, a year earlier.
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CRUISE
Carnival Cruise Line | July 14, 2021
Carnival Cruise Line has introduced a new requirement for unvaccinated Floridians who wish to go on vacation cruises.
Those above the age of 12 who are not vaccinated will be required to purchase travel insurance for cruises departing from Florida homeports beginning July 31. When checking in, each visitor will be required to show proof of an insurance policy with a minimum of $10,000 in coverage.
The insurance must also include $30,000 in coverage for emergency medical evacuation and must not include COVID-19 exclusions. On the proof of insurance, a guest can be named as either a policyholder or a beneficiary.
If a guest does not have insurance, they will not be admitted and will not be refunded.
According to Carnival, the coverage could be bought through Carnival Vacation Protection or any other travel insurance provider. Carnival Vacation Protection, on the other hand, is only accessible until 14 days before sailing for individuals who live in the following areas:
The United States of America (excluding New York and Puerto Rico)
Canada (excluding Quebec)
The Virgin Islands of the United States (St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix)
American Samoa.
Guests who have been fully vaccinated do not need to purchase travel insurance but must provide proof of vaccination in the form of a vaccine card, digital COVID-19 certificate, and a record of immunization from a healthcare provider's health record or government immunization information system record.
Carnival said that vaccinated guests might need the contact details of the clinic that issued the certificate in the case that the cruise ship has to verify it.
Guests who have been vaccinated and those who have not been vaccinated may be tested. If the test is positive, the guest and their companions will not sail and will be quarantined locally.
Those that need quarantine will get a future cruise credit.
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