Jim Bits: Cayman Islands Fetes Canadian Agents, Airlines Bump up Caribbean Flights, More

The Cayman Islands Department of Tourism partnered with WestJet Vacations to bring four top-selling GTA senior travel agents to the Cayman Islands for a FAM from April 22-26, 2018. FAM participants were treated to flights on WestJet as well as stays at WestJet Vacations properties including Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Resort and the Sunshine Suites.

The itinerary showcased sites and activities at the aforementioned properties as well as visits to the destination's main attractions and some of the Cayman Islands top restaurants.

The agents visited Grand Cayman attractions including: National Gallery of the Cayman Islands, the Cayman Islands National Museum, Tour of Cayman Spirits Co., Pedro St James, Crystal Caves Tour, a visit to Stingray City Sandbar and snorkelling with Red Sail Sports, Submarine experience with Atlantis Submarines Cayman Ltd

Restaurants visited and dining experiences were provided by: The Westin Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach Resort, The Wharf Restaurant, Icoa Ltd, Cimboco Cafe, Camana Bay, Blue Cilantro, Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Resort, Kimpton Seafire Resort + Spa.

Participating Agents pictures in the photo (below) were as follows (from left to right):

Elisa Ossia,Travel Agent Next Door
Galina Bubennova, YYZ Travel
Margaret Pagliarulo, New Wave Travel
Marie-France Gravel, Bespoke Travel Design - Affiliate of TTI Travel

Canadian airlines are planning to resume service to a couple of hurricane-stricken Caribbean islands next winter amid repairs to key infrastructure.

Air Transat said this week that seasonal flights will return to St. Maarten and San Juan, Puerto Rico from Montreal and Toronto for four months starting just before Christmas.

The hurricanes that heavily damaged parts of the Caribbean last September forced the cancellation of its plans to launch a new destination a year ago.

"We're coming back now because the infrastructure is back - airports and everything," Transat spokeswoman Debbie Cabana said in an interview with Canadian Press.

Air Canada says it is monitoring the situation on both islands and is expecting to operate its normal schedule to these seasonal destinations.

WestJet says it began weekly St. Maarten flights on April 29 and that they''ll return to pre-hurricane capacity by February of next year. WestJet also said it has increased its Caribbean coverage this summer with new weekly flights to Nassau, Montego Bay and Varadero.

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts invites guests to save the date and celebrate the May 19th wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at its luxurious hotels around the world. Fairmont will commemorate the historic occasion with special offerings and fun events designed to share a royal moment with guests and fête the much-loved couple.

"For more than a century, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has welcomed members of the British Royal Family as cherished guests," said Sharon Cohen, Vice President, Fairmont Brand Management. "For all of our guests, whether royalty, celebrities or simply intrepid and worldly explorers, Fairmont hotels create rich emotional connections and are often chosen to celebrate memorable and momentous occasions. For guests gathering to toast Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, our hotels offer a remarkable sense of place, a feeling of being part of history and a link to something meaningful, important and enduring - everything a Royal Wedding promises."

Blending royal pomp and ceremony with starlet glamour, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts worldwide will roll out the red carpet leading up to May 19th, with a multitude of packages, luxurious events and special offers celebrating all the various aspects of this monumental royal union.

ON THE BIG SCREEN
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will always have a place in Toronto's heart; it's the city where much of their courtship took place. Now, as she prepares for her real life wedding, Meghan might be thinking back to her acting days and a dream wedding scene with a Fairmont connection. Rachel Zane, her character in the television show Suits, had her heart set on The Plaza, a Fairmont Managed Hotel in New York for a perfect wedding. The scene was filmed at the Fairmont Royal York in Toronto as a stand-in for The Plaza itself. Toronto has played host to the royal couple on several occasions, most notably during the 2017 Invictus Games where they made their first official public appearance together.

Several Canadian properties including Fairmont Royal York, Fairmont Le Château Montebello, Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu and Fairmont Palliser will celebrate the Royal Wedding on the Big Screen and offer guests a chance to share in the moment with luxury screening events held inside the hotels. All the way across the Pacific, Fairmont Jakarta is planning a week-long wedding celebration starting May 14th with a signature afternoon tea menu, flower arrangement workshops, fashion shows and a live streaming viewing party on the Big Day!

Park'N Fly, Canada's leading airport parking provider, knows that summer is the time to relax and stay away for longer. That is why they are offering travellers savings on long stay parking rates. Park'N Fly customers can stay up to 28 days for one flat fee at participating Park'N Fly locations until June 14, 2018.

To access Park'N Fly's long-term rates, travellers can visit www.parknfly.ca and click on "find your rate" to obtain a savings coupon. The savings coupon must be presented at time of check out to receive the special rate.

I went on the site yesterday and found the cheapest rate for a week's parking was $52.91 plus tax, down $31 from the regular price.

In addition, travellers can earn Park'N Fly Rewards points and Aeroplan Miles on every stay at participating locations. Visit www.parknfly.ca for location information.

Viking has announced its most comprehensive itinerary to date with the new Ultimated World Cruise, which will span 245 days, six continents, 59 countries and 113 ports, with 22 port overnights and a full circumnavigation of the globe - making it the longest-ever continuous world cruise itinerary.

Departing from London on August 31, 2019 on Viking Sun, this grand eight-month journey will mark Viking's third voyage around the globe and will nearly double the length of the company's previous World Cruise itineraries.

Within the 245-day Ultimate World Cruise itinerary, Viking will also offer guests an option to sail one of two shorter segments during the cruise. Guest can choose between Viking World Treasures, a 127-day sailing from London to Los Angeles that visits 33 countries and 61 ports, or Viking World Wonders, a 119-day journey from Los Angeles to London that visits 29 countries and 55 ports.

As with all Viking itineraries, guests receive a complimentary shore excursion in each port and free unlimited Wi-Fi; World Cruise guests also receive Business Class airfare and all gratuities and service fees, along with an extensive list of added-value included features in their cruise fare.

"For more than 20 years we have been offering guests the most culturally immersive journeys available in the industry and we are pleased to announce the most extensive itinerary in our history," said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking. "Our World Cruises offer guests the rare opportunity to unpack once and explore dozens of the best destinations on earth - at a value that is unprecedented in the travel industry."