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Golden Horizon, the largest square-rigged cruise ship in the world with five masts, will dock at the Old Doha Port four days prior to the tournament's start on November 20, acting as a floating hotel for Croatian football fans as Qatar prepares to host over one million visitors during the first FIFA World Cup in the Middle East and Arab world. According to Mario Lozancic, president of the Croatia Business Council, the ship, which flies the Croatian flag and was constructed by the Brodosplit shipyard in Split, is scheduled to leave Croatia for the World Cup on October 21 and arrive in Doha on November 16 where it will remain for the duration of the competition (CBC). Despite being lavishly adorned, the ship nonetheless exudes the allure and feel of a classic sailing vessel. The ship ...

Kuwait’-based Jazeera Airways has launced its first route to China with the opening of direct flights to Xian, starting from September 19, initially with a flight every fortnight, moving to a weekly service in the near future. A technical stop in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan for refuelling, using an A320neo aircraft, is included in the flights. Jazeera Airways Chief Executive Officer, Rohit Ramachandran, said: “This a real milestone for Jazeera to be flying all the way to the People’s Republic of China. Commercial ties between Kuwait and China have been growing and we see a positive outlook for developing our network further into the region.” With a population of over 12 million, Xian is the largest city in Northwest China and the third-largest metropolis in Western China. It was the b...

On September 17, the first-ever direct Air New Zealand aircraft to New York City touched down at JFK airport after spending 16 hours in the air. The airline's post-pandemic recovery has been greatly aided by the NZ2 service, which was initially announced in March. Its twin aircraft, NZ1, takes an alternate path in around 17.5 hours from JFK to Auckland. "As one of the world's greatest cities, Air New Zealand is proud to add the Big Apple to its list of 29 international destinations," Air New Zealand CEO Greg Foran said in a statement, adding that the filght connects his two favorite cities in the world. On July 31, 2022, New Zealand will once again be available to visitors from abroad. It was always clear that the airline wanted to reserve a spot at JFK. When the flights we...

Uplift, the premier enterprise Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) solution serving the world's biggest travel companies, has partnered with Amadeus for clients in the United States and Canada. According to traveler studies, 68% would spend more money on travel if BNPL choices were accessible. Travel is a high-priced commodity for customers, particularly when arranging a family or long-distance vacation. Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) alternatives have evolved in recent years as a method to stretch the cost of a purchase across multiple monthly installments, giving passengers more flexibility. As part of a multi-provider BNPL ecosystem devoted to travel, Amadeus is teaming with travel expert Uplift to deliver BNPL services to its famous Amadeus Xchange Payment Platform (XPP). Hundreds of airlines an...

PricePoints, the newest feature of the Priceline VIP RewardsTM Visa® Card, was launched today by Barclays US Consumer Bank, a major co-branded credit card issuer and financial services partner, and Priceline, a pioneer in online travel discounts. This unique points redemption function allows Cardmembers to earn 5x points for every $1 spent while booking on Priceline, even when redeeming points, to help them accumulate points for their vacations as rapidly as possible. "Priceline strives to use innovation to make the best deals available to customers. With PricePoints, we are bringing this vision to life through a game-changing credit card program that allows travelers to earn 5x points on all Priceline travel, even when redeeming points at the time of booking," said Denise Bialek, Seni...

The 2024 Grand Australia and New Zealand Voyage is the latest addition to Holland America Line's lengthier excursions leaving from a North American homeport. The 94-day voyage, which has been in the works for more than a decade, will set sail on Jan. 3, 2024, onboard the Volendam, traveling roundtrip from San Diego, California. "The San Diego departure makes it easy for our North American guests to explore this region…"Guests on this circumnavigation of the land Down Under will experience the vibrant Great Barrier Reef, natural wonders of Hawaii and the South Pacific, and lush landscapes of New Zealand — all without international air travel from the United States or with a convenient flight from Canada. "Australia continues to be a sought-after cruising destination, and by offering ...

Germany's flag carrier Lufthansa Airlines Group has agreed to raise the salary of its pilots at Lufthansa and Lufthansa Cargo following the frequent strikes this year. "Lufthansa and the German pilots' union Vereinigung Cockpit union have agreed on a pay increase for pilots at Lufthansa and Lufthansa Cargo. The cockpit crews will receive an increase in their basic monthly pay of 490 euros each in two stages - with retroactive effect from 1 August 2022, and as of 1 April 2023," a press release from Lufthansa Group stated. The deal contains a comprehensive peace commitment through June 30, 2023, during which strikes are prohibited. So there is now a sector of employees who refuse to allow any further strike calls that stop flights till next June. This provides clients and staff with p...

At the D23 Expo on September 11, 2022, Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products Chairman Josh D'Amaro revealed numerous surprises concerning Disney Cruise Line's future plans. Disney cruisers were ecstatic to learn that the Disney Treasure, the company's newest and sixth ship, will be named after Walt Disney. The next Disney Cruise Line ship will be named Disney Treasure. In a never-before-seen concept film, Peter Pan flies above the ship to reveal not just the ship's name, but also a startling assortment of Disney characters looking for adventure. D'Amaro also mentioned that the Disney Treasure would feature a brand-new motif not seen before on a Disney Cruise Line ship. The adventure theme, which was inspired by Walt Disney's love of travel, will pave the way for spectacular experi...

Japan intends to make a decision on whether to let individual international visitors and eliminate visa restrictions for short-term visits by October, as the country strives to stimulate inbound tourism in the face of a weak yen. According to Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno, the government would examine reducing coronavirus-related travel restrictions, such as lifting Japan's daily entrance quota of 50,000 individuals, dismissing short-term visas, and letting visitors who are not linked with tour companies. "We will try to strike a balance between preventing infections and encouraging economic activity," Matsuno said. The decision will be based on the number of COVID-19 infections in September and October. One suggestion just demands for the admission cap to be raised. ...