Bonus Commissions from ACV, A Scenic Cruise Sub and More: This Week's JimBits

Air Canada Vacations has launched an exclusive offer with Celebrity Cruises.

From Sept. 17 to Oct. 3, the tour operator is offering two per cent bonus commission for Celebrity Equinox bookings. Valid on select sailings from June to September 2019, the offer applies on oceanview category staterooms or higher booked under a non-refundable deposit promotion code EQ4P NO REF DEP.

Plus, the first and second guest will receive Four Perks: Premium Beverage Package, Wi-Fi, $150 onboard credit and prepaid gratuities. Third, fourth and fifth guests can take advantage of a 50 per cent off cruise savings.

Until September 30, free transfers from the airport to seaport and back will be offered to your clients.

"Book early -the beverage package perk is upgraded to a Premium Package at no additional cost" said Christine Chiang, Manager, Product Development Cruises.

Terms and conditions apply. Please consult their website.

British Airways has introduced a new programme of enhancements for connecting customers travelling through the airline's hub at Heathrow to ensure their journey is as fast, smooth and stress-free as possible.

Some 123,000 customers travel with the airline every single day, with a large proportion transferring. The airline has invested in new technology and new vehicles in Terminal 5 to enhance the experience. As well, dedicated connections staff will help customers travel through the airport

Ease of connecting

New ideas include making sure flights with a large number of connecting customers are directed to arrive at the most convenient aircraft stands for the next part of their journey. When the airline knows lots of customers are transferring to the same flight, it will now arrange for a vehicle to transfer them to their next flight, cutting out the need for extra legwork. To help customers print out their boarding passes quickly and easily, new self-service kiosks have been set up in the flight connections area at T5.

Express connections

British Airways now employs dedicated connections managers, who monitor all flight arrivals and organises for customers with tight connections to be contacted while they're in the air and given Express Connect status, and information packs, to fast-track them through flight connections and security checkpoints.

Travelling in style

Customers travelling in First, Club World or Club Europe, plus British Airways Gold and Silver Executive Club members who are at risk of missing their onward connection will be provided with a chauffeur driven executive car, where possible, to transfer them to their next flight. An initial trial has proved so popular that more vehicles are being added to the airline's fleet.

Industry-leading Silversea Cruises opens pre-sale bookings to Venetian Society members for 191 stunning new voyages, which will set sail between summer 2020 and winter 2021. With unprecedented variety and incorporating the launch of Silver Moon, the new collection of itineraries will take guests to 572 destinations in 84 countries and promises to unlock an innumerable range of deep travel experiences in all seven continents. While the pre-sale for Silversea's Venetian Society members will enable past guests to make reservations before all others, bookings for the new itineraries will open to the general public on October 1, 2018.

A highlight of the new itinerary collection, Silversea's Silver Moon will set sail on her inaugural voyage on August 6, 2020: the ship will depart Trieste, Italy, for Civitavecchia on an 11-day cruise. The sister ship of Silversea's flagship, Silver Muse, Silver Moon will benefit from a number of onboard enhancements. One of five Silversea ships in the region in the summer of 2020, she will cruise in the Mediterranean for her maiden season, until November, when she will cross the Atlantic to Fort Lauderdale.

From the ships in each region to the choice of itineraries on offer, Silversea's guests will enjoy a more diverse range of options than ever before. As well as five ships and 54 voyages in the Mediterranean - including a 37-day, 28-port grand voyage - guests will be able to choose from four ships and 29 voyages in Northern Europe; three ships and 21 voyages in Alaska and the Russian Far East; and two ships and 10 voyages in the Arctic, among voyages in many other appealing regions.

Plus, guests will enjoy more overnights than ever before, enabling them to unlock more deep travel experiences in the most amazing destinations around the world. Every voyage over seven nights in Europe and Canada & New England will benefit from an overnight in strategically selected ports.

Pure Grenada, the Spice of the Caribbean, has made a major shift to ensure that its natural environment is protected and preserved for future generations. The Government of Grenada has implemented a far-reaching Non-Biodegradable Waste Control Act, which began with the complete ban on the importation of polystyrene commonly referred to as 'Styrofoam' effective Sept. 1, 2018.

The importation ban will be followed by sale sanctions on 'Styrofoam' effective March 1, 2019 and a complete embargo on its use a month later. The Act will also bar all single use plastics such as shopping bags, cutlery, plates, straws and cups by Feb. 1, 2019.

Grenada's Minister for the Environment, Simon Stiell, described the Non-Biodegradable Waste Control Act as a "progressive legislation which seeks to regulate the use of non-biodegradable products, with a view to reducing the negative environmental impacts and improving the health of Grenadians."

Scenic Eclipse, the world's first Discovery Yachts, are redefining the standard of ocean cruising, providing guests with unparalleled underwater experiences on board the Scenic Neptune U Boat Worx Cruise Submarine 7. Capable of diving to 300 meters, or 984 feet, with seating for up to six guests, the submarine has been custom-built for optimal sightseeing of marine wonders, offering guests an unforgettable excursion into the wide blue depths, and unique access to some of nature's most beautiful sites.

Scenic Founder and Chairman, Glen Moroney, says the submarine will offer guests a unique opportunity to go below and beyond. "Scenic has always sought to venture beyond the horizon, and with our submarine we provide guests with the opportunity to enjoy access to some of nature's most beautiful marine environments. From inside the U-Boat Worx submersibles, each guest will enjoy an uninterrupted view thanks to the strategic placement of all components and the use of an ultra-clear acrylic hull, expertly engineered to make you feel "at one" with the ocean," Mr. Moroney added.

The U-Boat Worx submarine is designed to meet international noise standards, and to provide unmatched comfort, space and style, with maximum legroom and headroom while keeping overall weight and size to a minimum. This combination delivers the ultimate diving experience. Internal climate control and a surround sound music system form part of the fine detailing, together with the optimum ergo dynamics to facilitate ease of boarding and disembarking.

The submarine design consists of a three-person pod on the front and at the back of the sub for a total of six guests plus the pilot, who is located behind the guests. The seats are mounted on a platform that can swivel 180 degrees, so the guests are able to see both sides of the submarine. Strong exterior lights will allow guests to take in the colors and details of wrecks and other underwater sights.

Carnival Horizon's arrival at PortMiami, its new year-round homeport, was marked last week with a larger-than-life celebration highlighted by a fun basketball-themed event featuring the company's Chief Fun Officer - NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal - along with Miami HEAT legends Alonzo Mourning, Shane Battier and Glen Rice.

The festivities, which took place prior to Carnival Horizon's inaugural two-day cruise, included the unveiling of a large Choose Fun bumper sticker on the ship's stern, as well as a flyover from the Carnival AirShip - a massive 128-foot-long red, white and blue blimp that has been traveling the Southeast to bring awareness of new ship deployments in several key markets as part of the line's monthlong Homeport Advantage campaign.

During the event, Carnival presented a $25,000 donation to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital representing funds from an online promotion in which consumers who posted a photo of the AirShip in social media with the hashtag #ChooseFun triggered a donation to the hospital and entered them in a drawing for free cruises and other prizes.

"With its awesome top-deck attractions and wide variety of al fresco dining experiences, Carnival Horizon is the ideal ship for the Caribbean and this event was a perfect way to celebrate her Miami arrival while benefiting the special children of St. Jude," said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. "And we've taken our Choose Fun tagline to the next level by putting a giant a bumper sticker on our newest ship proclaiming our never-ending commitment to FUN!"