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Issue 61:
August 2007 |
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THANKS TO
ALL THAT ATTENDED THE
TOUCHSTONE TRAVEL ANNUAL
POOL PARTY!
It was great to see so
many of our friends.
Congratulations to all
of the winners! Please
check out our website
www.touchstonetravel.com
for some
great pictures!
HAL introduces ‘As You
Wish’ dining . . .
Holland
America Line has
launched “As You Wish”
dining, a new program
that allows passengers
to choose from either
traditional pre-set
seating and dining
times, or a flexible
dining schedule. One
level of the two-tiered
restaurant will offer a
flexible/open dining
service, and the other
will host two seatings,
an early and main
seating. Prior to their
cruise, during the
booking phase, guests
will choose
flexible/open dining or
Holland America’s
traditional pre-set
dining time. Guests with
flexible seating may
make reservations daily
during a cruise up to 4
p.m. or simply walk up
anytime during dining
hours. |
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SAIL AWAY
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Royal
Caribbean will introduce
a new smoking policy
onboard its ships,
effective January 2008.
To bolster the cruise
line's new "Vitality"
wellness program,
recently debuted on
Liberty of the Seas,
Royal Caribbean is
increasing smoke-free
zones by designating all
staterooms and one
lounge on each ship in
its fleet as non-smoking
areas.
The new
policy will go into
effect aboard 18 of the
line's 21 ships
initially, with Legend
of the Seas, Rhapsody of
the Seas and Splendour
of the Seas following
suit with the 2008
summer season.
Currently, smoking is
prohibited in guest
hallways and corridors,
restaurants,
entertainment venues and
most of the ship's
interior public spaces
except for designated
areas in bars and
lounges.
The new
policy will add all
guest staterooms and
suites, and one bar or
lounge on every Royal
Caribbean ship on to the
roster of smoke-free
spaces. Guests wishing
to smoke may still do so
from starboard outer
decks, in designated
areas. |
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INN THE NEWS
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Toronto’s
The Fairmont Royal York
has introduced a “The
Titanic - The Artifact
Exhibition Package” in
recognition of the
famous ship’s 95th
anniversary.
In
partnership with the
Ontario Science Centre,
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hotel
guests can travel
through time and explore
the ship’s fateful
sinking on April 10,
1912. The exhibition
displays over 250
artifacts, photographs,
sounds and stories
uncovered from the
Titanic’s maiden voyage.
Visitors can also view
replicas of a
first-class stateroom, a
third-class cabin and
the ship’s boiler room.
Packages include
accommodation, full
breakfast and passes to
the exhibition.
Available until Jan. 6,
2008, rates start from
$399* |
PLANE TALK
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Air Canada ranked ‘Best Airline in North America’-
Air Canada has been ranked as “Best Airline in North
America” in the world’s largest survey of air
travellers. The passenger survey of over 14 million
air travellers was conducted by the independent
UK-based |
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research firm Skytrax between August 2006 and June
2007 using 40 different aspects of passenger
satisfaction for each airline’s product and service
standards. It is the second time in three years that
Air Canada has placed first among North American
carriers. Star Alliance, of which Air Canada is a
founding member, was ranked as Best Airline
Alliance.
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Singapore
Airlines auctions off seats for first-ever A380
flight in October 2007
Singapore Airlines is the first airline to fly the
new Airbus A380. The inaugural commercial flight of
the A380, taking place in October 2007 features a
route from Singapore to Sydney and back.
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Due to the overwhelming requests from people all
over the world to be passengers on the first flight,
Singapore Airlines will be auctioning the seats on
eBay.com. All proceeds from the sale of tickets from
the first flight will be donated to charities.
Winning bidders will receive a personalized
certificate confirming their presence at the first
ever-commercial flight.
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Don’t Cry for me
Argentina: LATA ADDS TWO RESORTS
Iguazu Grand
Hotel and Panoramic Hotel Iguazu
gain Canadian representation
from LATA
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Latin America
Travel Amigos (LATA) has
announced their new role as
Canadian representative for two
prominent resorts in Iguazu
Falls, Argentina. The Iguazu
Grand Hotel and the Panoramic
Hotel Iguazu.
The Iguazu Grand
Hotel is a five-star resort and
one of the members of the
Leading Small Hotels of the
World association. On site is a
full-service spa and casino,
with 107 rooms. Its sister hotel
is the Panoramic Hotel Iguazu,
another five-star property which
was built this March. The hotel
features 91 rooms, all with
views of the triple border of
Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay. |
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Bermuda
offers travelers $300 booking
incentive
Travellers
looking to extend their summer
will now receive a $300 iCard
Gift Card when booking a Bermuda
vacation before Oct. 27.
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Part of the
island’s “Endless Summer”
promotion, the $300 credit can
be used at any Bermuda merchant
who accepts iCard, including
restaurants, shops, attractions,
hotels, and is awarded with each
booking of at least four nights.
Bermuda’s Endless Summer
promotion, available for
bookings made through Oct. 27,
is good for travel between Aug.
23 and Oct. 31 (blackout dates
apply).
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Traveling from the United Kingdom
Please remember the
heightened security restrictions at
all UK airports, including the
baggage restriction: Passengers are
allowed ONE item of hand baggage
through the airport security search
point, no larger than 25 cm x 45 cm
x 56 cm (10" x 17.5" x 22"). For
more information on security
requirements, visit the
www.baa.co.uk
*Some
restrictions may apply.
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