We’ve done all the hard work, so you don’t have to! Read on for the top ten travel stories you need to know today.
1. Australians get a fifth version of this cruise ship
Evergreen Tours is giving Australians another vessel to cruise around Europe in, with plans to construct a fifth ‘Star Ship’ named Emerald Belle.
The 182-passenger river ship will be sister to Emerald Star, which launched in April last year; Emerald Sky, which took off in May 2014; plus Emerald Sun and Emerald Dawn scheduled to commence sailings later this year.
Emerald Belle will be built in the same configuration of her sister vessels and is expected to launch next year.
2. Travel Counsellors ‘smash’ a new record
Travel Counsellors’ business is growing physically and numerically after ‘smashing’ an old record and experiencing the company’s highest sales day in 20 years.
The announcement comes a week after the agency group officially launched franchise operations in Western Australia.
The company said that on 16 January this year, it achieved a global sales total of $5.4 million. That’s over $500,000 more than the previous best sale day, which was in January 2014 of $4.9 million.
3. Celebrate the opening of Celebration
Image: Syda Productions/Shutterstock
Here’s a reason to celebrate.
A new travel company has launched specialising in the organisation and booking of holidays for travellers celebrating special occasions.
The Celebration Travel Company is the concept of industry experts Peter Cooney and Yvette Cubbin to offer an easy-to-use service for both clients and agents.
Peter, who is also the company’s director, said the niche organisation was founded after noticing an increase in travellers looking to commemorate something special overseas.
Industry experts, Peter Cooney and Yvette Cubbin, have launched a new company targeting celebratory holidays.
He said The Celebration Travel Company aims at addressing the trend by solely organising holiday celebrations such as birthdays anniversaries, personal achievements and retirements.
Peter and Yvette have more than 55 years of combined travel industry experience, enabling them to meet this niche travel market and offer an efficient, personalised service.
“The Celebration Travel Company makes it more convenient than ever before to book a holiday to enjoy life’s special events.”
Peter Cooney, The Celebration Travel Company director
For further information on the company’s ethos, products and services visit The Celebration Travel Company website or contact 1300 880 571.
4. Adventure World recruits famous experts for Journeys
http://youtu.be/QiCL4tBJr2o
Adventure World has recruited specialists to lead guests on new journeys tailored to unique passions such as literature, eco gardening and photography.
So far, the tour operator’s Special Interest Journeys consists of 12 itineraries, with the first trip commencing 18 October this year.
Experts include Edible Balcony icon, Indira Naidoo who shares her passion for sustainable, rooftop and edible gardens on the Eco Gardening Journey through Europe.
There’s also respected journalist and literary expert, Jennifer Byrne, who invites guests to discover the culture and literature made famous throughout Europe by Hemmingway, Shakespeare, Keats and Dickens.
And Snap-happy discoverers can experience Cuba through a well-trained camera phone with photojournalist Ben Lowy who specialises in smartphone photography.
Other Special Interest Journeys now offered by Adventure World include discovering the masterpieces of the Renaissance in Italy with leading art critic and BBC presenter, Andrew Graham-Dixon; an experience with a leading Astronomer through Chile and Peru; an active trip of boxing, yoga and meditation with a fitness expert in Phuket; tracking the culinary journey from paddock to plate with a chef in Africa and learning the tricks of the antique trade with an expert at Europe’s finest Antique and Art Fair.
5. Concordia captain receives sentence – see what he got
The Captain of the Costa Concordia has been found guilty of manslaughter sentenced to 16 years in prison.
The decision comes three years after the ship hit rocks off the coast of Giglio and sank, killing 32 people.
Last night, the three-judge panel took five hours to decide the fate of the Captain and said they agreed with prosecutors who described the captain as an ‘idiot’ who abandoned the ship ‘like a coward’.
Investigators had also accused him of bringing the 290-metre long ship too close to the shore.
As a result, Schettino will spend 10 years in prison for multiple manslaughter, five years for causing the shipwreck and one year for abandoning his passengers.
Schettino is expected to appeal the sentence.
6. 29 TransAsia pilots fail evaluation
Image: Airbus
Some 29 TransAsia pilots have had their flight suspensions extended by one month after failing to pass an oral test on basic operating and emergency procedures.
The Taiwan-based airline was grounded last week after one of its planes hit a bridge and crashed into a river, killing 40 people and injuring 15 others.
During the one week flight suspension, extensive tests were performed on the airline’s pilots to ensure they’re equipped to handle emergency situations.
Out of the 68 pilots, 10 failed oral proficiency tests that show how they handle certain situations and 19 were unable to take the test due to illness or travel.
The Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) said pilots who failed will be grounded for a month to complete further qualification training. They will be reevaluated again after the month.
“The result is not acceptable for us. We will definitely strengthen their training.”
Peter Chen, TransAsia chief executive
The airline is also said to have offered around $407,000 in compensation to relatives of each of the victims.
Taiwanese media said all families rejected the offer.
7. The Force is coming to Disney
This one is not just for the kids.
Disney has announced Star Wars characters will onboard one of its cruise ships next year as part of eight special Star Wars-themed sailings.
Held on the 2,500-passenger Disney Fantasy, the seven-night Star Wars Day at Sea voyages will offer guests cruising around the Caribbean meet-and-greet with characters, Star Wars-themed children’s activities, food and beverages you’d expect to see in the movies and special merchandise.
8. Bond, Paddington Bear & cocktails with VisitBritain
Lachlan Conn Etihad, Adam Vance Etihad, Joss Croft VisitBritain, Kate Schilling Helloworld.
VisitBritain invited a few industry members to the newly refurbished Langham Sydney for a cocktail and an update on the UK and its products.
The event was hosted by VisitBritain’s team of two in Australia (Mark Haynes and Kristen Angus) and featured a special appearance by the tourist bureau’s global marketing director, Joss Croft.
The three Great Britain representatives shone a spotlight on what’s new, what to do and where to sleep in the UK during 2015.
9. Ricky Martin takes La Vida Loca to Vegas
See you in Vegas Ricky.
Vegas’ celebrity lineup is ‘banging’, as Ricky Martin brings his ‘One World Tour to The Axis at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas.
The ‘Nobody Wants to be Lonely’ singer is only planning 20 shows throughout the US and Canada starting in Vegas on 15 September this year.
It will be his only show in the city before he sets off for other destinations.
Tickets for his Vegas visit go on sale from 21 February on the Live Nation website.
Ricky is the second major celebrity this year to announce shows in Las Vegas. The other is Mariah Carey who confirmed her residency at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace starting in May.
10. Hilarious! Check out this airport’s un-bear-able logo
Lembram o logo do aeroporto de Khabarovsk (Rússia) q viralizou ontem por aqui? Memes –> http://t.co/OCgNW1j4A3 pic.twitter.com/Uh9FVi7PSs
— Sandro Fernandes (@cafecomkremlin) January 29, 2015
An airport located in eastern Russia has gained international attention for one really hilarious reason and it has everything to do with a flying bear.
You read right.
Khabarovsk Airport recently unveiled its new logo as part of an airport image redesign.
Since the reveal, the logo has been mocked world wide.
Why?
Because it has a flying bear.
Click here to check out more hilarious memes.