green living, smart spending
Holland America Line is speeding the boarding experience with new technology that includes facial recognition. The new mBark facial recognition system is being introduced, along with the VeriFLY vaccination verification program. mBark is a mobile system that enables guests to check in for their cruise in less than 10 seconds, while the VeriFLY digital
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Cunard has named a female ship captain for its newest luxury liner, the Queen Anne. How appropriate this announcement is made during Women’s History Month in March! Congratulations to Captain Inger Klein Thorhauge, who is one of the very few female ship captains in the cruise ship business, and the first female captain at Cunard.
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Windstar Cruises will require proof of a current COVID-19 vaccination and a negative COVID-19 test for all guests sailing aboard Windstar’s yachts. The cruise line resumes sailing in June, 2021 to the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Tahiti and Europe.
The new film, “Let Them All Talk,” is set primarily on Cunard flagship Queen Mary 2. To celebrate, Cunard has kicked off a sweepstakes offering a winner and their guest the chance to sail on the ship from New York to Southampton. The film stars Meryl Streep, Dianne Wiest and Candice Bergen and is streaming on HBO Max.
Got a travel itch? We all do, and even if you aren’t ready to leave this minute, there are travel deals to buy now and use later, including through 2022. Simply, the travel industry is hurting, and there are some exceptional values to take advantage of now. Here’s what some cruise lines, hotels and tour
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Travel Technology: The newest thing in cruising is a bracelet made of recycled ocean plastic that literally opens doors. This eco-chic wearable technology is loaded with high-tech smarts that serves at a room key, let’s you back on board after a shore excursion, pinpoints your location for delivery of an ice cream shake at poolside
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There’s no place like home for the holidays – or somewhere other than home. More Americans than ever – 115.6 million – will be on the road, in the air, and on trains and cruise ships this holiday season, from Sunday, Dec. 21 through Wednesday, Jan. 1. So get ready for gridlock wherever you are.
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Holland America Line has just announced a two-year partnership with O, The Oprah Magazine, including a special cruise to Alaska this summer with Oprah and Gayle King on board, and a contest to win a spot on the cruise. ecoXplorer Evelyn Kanter attended the news conference at Hearst Magazine headquarters in NYC – Hearst publishes
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How will the death of Cuban dictator Fidel Castro affect travel to Cuba? We are republishing articles about recent visits to Cuba by ecoXplorer editor Evelyn Kanter. This is from May, 2016: I’m just back from a week aboard the Fathom Adonia, the first US-flag cruise ship to sail to Cuba in more than 50
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I’m just back from a week aboard the Fathom Adonia, the first US-flag cruise ship to sail to Cuba in more than 50 years, marking a new chapter in Cuban-American relations. Music, dancing, flags flying and lots of cameras marked our departure from Miami and our welcome in Havana – celebrations in both ports. Our
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