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

What’s New in the Florida Keys & Key West: Welcome Back and Bring a Mask

Ashley Serrate

FLORIDA KEYS — The Florida Keys & Key West reopened to visitors June 1, with officials urging everyone to take personal health actions to protect against the spread of COVID-19. A Keyswide county ordinance requires that facial coverings must be worn by visitors and residents while in business establishments and other public settings where there is a roof overhead.

The ordinance permits restaurant and bar patrons to remove their masks while seated and eating or drinking. It is not mandated to … Read the rest

Carnival Cruise Line and Panama Partner to Organize Cross-Country Crew Transfer As Part of Repatriation Effort

Blog Team

In the final stages of its repatriation efforts for crew members, Carnival Cruise Line worked closely with key Panamanian officials, including the Panama Minister of Maritime Affairs, The Panama Maritime Authority, the Panama Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Panama Ministry of Health, to allow for the safe and efficient transfer of crew members from Carnival Miracle to cross the Isthmus of Panama via bus to join Carnival Glory on the country’s opposite coast.

With Carnival Miracle positioned on Panama’s … Read the rest

Florida Keys Officials Reopen Island Chain to Visitors

Blog Team

*Note to editors: A collection of nine spot images depicting reopening in the Upper Keys Monday can be downloaded at: https://spaces.hightail.com/receive/zBhgbrk0z2. Included is a drone aerial of the Florida Keys Overseas Highway and other images.


ISLAMORADA, Florida Keys — The Florida Keys reopened to visitors Monday, June 1, after being closed to nonresidents since March 22 to minimize the potential spread of COVID-19 during the global pandemic.

Reopening measures included the removal of health checkpoints on two roads into … Read the rest