Winter in the Florida Keys & Key West Ushers in Sunny, Breezy Outdoor Experiences

Ashley Serrate

FLORIDA KEYS — Winter may bring snowy or freezing weather to many U.S. locations, but the 125-mile-long Florida Keys island chain ushers in subtropical warmth and a variety of outdoor and cultural activities for visitors.

Keys resorts continue to undergo rebranding, renovations and expansions, adding suites for families that allow social distancing while reconnecting with loved ones.

New seasonal winter flights into Key West include daily nonstop service from Houston on United Airlines, and daily service from Boston, Orlando and … Read the rest

Holland America Line Kicks Off Cruise Wave Season with ‘BIG’ Stateroom Upgrades, Free Gratuities and One-Night Specialty Dining, Beverages and Free/Reduced Kids Fares

Buck Banks

This Wave Season Holland America Line is inviting travelers to return to their happy place with the ultimate “View & Verandah” upgrade event that includes six bonus perks. Guests who book a 2021 or 2022 Holland America Line cruise from Dec. 10, 2020, through Feb. 28, 2021, will receive a “BIG” stateroom upgrade, Signature Beverage Package, free one-night specialty dining, 10% off all shore excursions, 50% reduced deposits and free or reduced fares for kids. Savings with the “View and … Read the rest

Holland America Line Retains Title as Top Alaska Cruise Line in the 2020 AFAR Travelers’ Awards

Blog Team

Maintaining its status as the number-one cruise line for explorations to The Last Frontier, Holland America Line was named the top pick for Alaska cruises in the 2020 AFAR Travelers’ Awards. This is the third time the cruise line has won the Alaska category in the award’s five-year existence.

The 2020 AFAR Travelers’ Awards are voted on by AFAR readers who select the cruise lines that capture their imagination and inspire their travel plans. All of the winners are featured … Read the rest

Keys TDC Earns State Tourism Marketing Awards

Ashley Serrate

TAMPA — The Monroe County Tourist Development Council garnered four top Florida tourism marketing awards conferred Thursday evening during a Flagler Awards ceremony in Tampa.

The event, postponed after the annual Florida Governor’s Conference on tourism was canceled in September due to COVID-19, was a scaled-down gathering with mandated social distancing and facial coverings for about 100 participants.

The TDC was awarded “Henrys” in the print advertising, television advertising and out-of-home categories and for public relations. A silver award was … Read the rest

Holland America Line’s Half Moon Cay Earns Best Private Island for 20th Year in Porthole Cruise Magazine’s 2020 Readers’ Choice Awards

Blog Team

Holland America Line took home four Porthole Cruise Magazine 2020 Readers’ Choice Awards in areas that covered everything from onboard dining to shoreside experiences. For the 20th year, readers of Porthole — one of the world’s leading consumer cruise travel publications — named Half Moon Cay as Best Private Island. Additional wins include Pinnacle Grill as Best Specialty Restaurant, Best Shore Excursions and Best Facilities for Guests with Disabilities.

Porthole Cruise Magazine’s annual Readers’ Choice Awards are determined by thousands … Read the rest

Holland America Line’s Supports Future Cruise Bookings with Group Advantage Program for Travel Advisors that Offers Menu of Amenities and Benefits Through 2022 Cruises

Blog Team

Holland America Line’s Group Advantage Program (GAP) is one of the industry’s most robust group programs that offers enhanced value when travel advisors book groups on cruises and Alaska Land+Sea Journeys. When booking groups of five or more staterooms traveling together, travel advisors have access to GAP amenities that are valid on cruises through 2022.

Holland America Line’s GAP features more than 30 different amenities to choose from — plus GAP Packages that cater to weddings and family reunions. GAP … Read the rest

Costa Cruises Announces 2021-2022 Season in South America, Featuring Debut of New Flagship Costa Toscana

Buck Banks
 Costa Cruises, the leading cruise line in Europe and a part of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), today presented its programs for the 2021-2022 season in South America during an online conference led by Dario Rustico, the brand’s general manager for Central and South America.

For its restart in South America, the Italian cruise line will introduce two exciting developments: its new flagship Costa Toscana will make her debut in Brazil, and Costa Favolosa will

… Read the rest

Florida Keys Officials Urge Visitors to Wear Masks and Follow Health Directives

Ashley Serrate

FLORIDA KEYS — Florida Keys officials and businesses remind visitors that carrying and wearing facial coverings and practicing social distancing continue for the island chain to protect against the spread of coronavirus, despite the easing of some statewide restrictions.

“We ask our visitors to continue protective measures such as wearing facial coverings, social distancing when they are close to others and frequent hand-washing,” said Stacey Mitchell, director of the Florida Keys tourism council. “The beauty of the Keys is that … Read the rest

New Offerings Mean a Relaxing, Fun-Filled Autumn in the Florida Keys & Key West

Ashley Serrate

FLORIDA KEYS — This fall, new offerings greet visitors traveling to the Florida Keys & Key West, with 125 miles of places with wide-open spaces stretching over scenic islands and vistas of turquoise sea and sky.

The Keys continue to evolve with new and upgraded resorts offering an increase in villas, suites and cottage accommodations providing space for social distancing among families and small groups.

Florida Keys tourism officials urge visitors to take personal health responsibility and embrace protective measures … Read the rest

‘Let’s Talk Tissue’— A Panel Discussion About the Tissue Industry’s Challenges and Opportunities in the Age of COVID-19

Buck Banks

From altered consumer behavior to changes in market forces, the COVID-19 pandemic crisis has had wide-ranging and lasting effects on the tissue business.

Just a few short months ago at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, news reports were filled with scenes of pandemonium at supermarkets and shelves emptied of cleaning supplies and — most critically — bathroom tissue. Tales of selfish tissue hoarders and desperate tissue searchers for that formerly bountiful commodity were daily media … Read the rest