Intrepid to Antarctica, NCL Honours Agents And More: This Week's JimBits

Intrepid Group and Chimu Adventures have announced a new program of sustainable small-group polar expeditions operated by the joint venture partners under the Peregrine Adventures flag, Intrepid's premium brand. Starting in October 2020, the charter will operate on the newly refurbished Ocean Endeavour ship and marks the next step in the joint partnership between Intrepid and Chimu, with the two companies now one of the largest sellers of Antarctica globally. The new range also marks the return of Intrepid Group's Peregrine Adventures brand to Antarctic waters and makes Intrepid Group a truly seven continent operator, said Intrepid Group CEO James Thornton.

"We know there is a huge appetite for a more sustainable and experiential style of cruise, so we're thrilled that this partnership will take Peregrine back to operating polar expeditions in our own small group sustainable style," said Thornton.

The Ocean Endeavour carries 199 travelers and has a range of accommodation options, including single cabins, as well as an onboard health and wellness center with saunas, a well-equipped gym, yoga classes, and a salt water pool. With an industry-leading ratio of one expedition leader to eight guests, a diverse range of on- and off-board activities, and rigorous sustainability standards, Greg Carter, co-founder of Chimu Adventures, says passengers can feel assured the most important details are taken care of. Travelers will have the chance to explore the White Continent on a range of optional activities with specialized guides such as sea kayaking, snowshoeing, photography tours and even ice-camping. All departures will be carbon offset and eco-friendly measures will include no single-use plastic, a reusable water bottle for every guest and only sustainable seafood will be served onboard.

Norwegian Cruise Line, the innovator in cruise travel, has named its top Canadian travel partners for the record-breaking 2018 cruise season.

Awards are given across several key categories, recognizing principal marketing, retail, tour operator and travel agency partners for their ongoing commitment to the success of Norwegian Cruise Line through their robust sales and unwavering loyalty to the brand.

"2018 has been a record-breaking year for Norwegian Cruise Line, and our Canadian travel partners have been instrumental in our company's continued success," said Camille Olivere, senior vice president of sales for Norwegian Cruise Line. "We congratulate our Partners of the Year in every channel and area of expertise, and look forward to an exciting 2019 with the introduction of two of our most innovative ships - Norwegian Joy in Seattle in April and Norwegian Encore debuting in Miami in November."

Norwegian Cruise Line recognized the following travel partners in their respective categories:

Marketing Partner of the Year: Incursion Voyage - Quebec, QC

National Retail Partner of the Year (Canada): Expedia CruiseShipCenters - Vancouver, BC

Wholesaler/T.O. Partner of the Year: Air Canada Vacations - Montreal, QC

National Host Partner of the Year: Travel Professionals International - Winnipeg, MB

Travel Agency Partner of the Year, Western Canada: Jubilee Travel - Burnaby, BC

Travel Agency Partner of the Year, Eastern Canada: Expedia CruiseShipCenters Milton - Milton, ON

Travel Agency Partner of the Year, Quebec: Group Voyage - Montreal, QC

Air Canada this week unveiled its newest Maple Leaf Lounge.

Located in St. John's International Airport's (YYT) recently expanded departures area of the terminal building, the lounge features a panoramic view of iconic Signal Hill and the ocean.

It also offers significantly more space, upgraded amenities, including a business centre, and a wider assortment of refreshments than the previous St. John's airport lounge.

"We are excited to welcome Air Canada and Star Alliance eligible customers to our new St. John's Maple Leaf Lounge. This unique space has been created to enhance the overall travel experience of our premium customers," said Andrew Yiu, Vice President, Product at Air Canada. "Showcasing contemporary design and artwork, the lounge features maple wood screen walls, Canadian-made furnishings and we are also proud to hosts local art and crafts that reflect the charm of Newfoundland and Labrador's landscape and people. Customers will be warmly received and enjoy a calm environment in which to work or relax before their Air Canada flight."

"Tourism and visitation depend on high quality experiences, and having this new Maple Leaf Lounge at the recently upgraded St. John's International airport will help advance our goals to attract more visitors and build our province's reputation as a first-class destination," said Dwight Ball, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Cunard has announced a stellar line-up for its fourth annual Transatlantic Fashion Week Crossing, to take place July 28 to August 4, 2019 (M922) on the iconic luxury liner Queen Mary 2. Headlining the voyage will be royal milliner Stephen Jones OBE, shoe maven Stuart Weitzman, and iconic American model Pat Cleveland. Fashion Historian Colin McDowell MBE, author Lindy Woodhead and Burberry vice chairman Rose Marie Bravo CBE will also be joining the line-up of industry innovators. The seven-night crossing will feature runway shows, inspiring talks, bespoke dinners and Q&A's with the experts on board.

British milliner Stephen Jones OBE is considered one of the world's most influential milliners of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Described by Vogue as the 'go-to man when it comes to making headline hats', he has worked with everyone from Diana, Princess of Wales to Mick Jagger and fashion greats including Vivienne Westwood. Stephen will showcase some of his most memorable pieces in two runway shows onboard and participate in a Q&A session.

Now there are two more great reasons to check out of Toronto's newest and best hotels.

Hotel X Toronto, a beautiful property I stayed at earlier this year, will soon opens its doors for its inaugural New Year's Eve party, one of the most anticipated New Year's celebrations in the city. Boasting a wealth of amenities unrivaled by any downtown hotel, the resort style property offers guests the perfect start to 2019 with a couple's package designed to deliver both luxury and value. Sure to be the highlight of 2019, this New Year's Eve Gala package early booking pricing is just $690 per couple and includes:

Luxury Accommodations with a view

Gala 3-course dinner for two, followed by late night stations

6-hour top shelf open bar and hors d'oeuvres

Dancing with live DJ and entertainment

Parking and New Year's Day breakfast included!

Start the new year off with a healthy start at 10XTO, the most ambitious hotel fitness centre in Canada!

Add a second night for just $199!

Hotel X Toronto also is the official hotel of the Aurora Winter Festival and has created a Stay & Play package that will allow visitors to make a trip to the festival a perfect family outing, romantic winter staycation or magical time with friends. The Aurora Winter Festival is running from Wednesday to Sunday until December 30th, and promises to become a holiday tradition.

Packages start at just $325 per night and include:

• Two tickets to the Aurora Winter Festival (Wednesday-Sun)

• The option to upgrade to a suite or add a second bedroom plus up to three children's tickets for an additional $199 + tax/night

• Two holiday season Black Forest hot cocoas at Nespresso Café

• Free overnight self-parking at Hotel X Toronto for your entire stay

• A $25 breakfast daily credit at Maxx's Kitchen (breakfast)

• Viewing of a holiday movie with popcorn in hotel's Screening Room

• Two for the price of one with professional caregivers at our Kid's Play Centre. Pay for one hour and get the second hour free

• Children up to four years of age are free at the Aurora Winter Festival

To book the package go to www.hotelxtoronto.com and use the code: AURORA2018 or call (647) 943-9300.

Contiki (www.contiki.com), the original travel company offering epic global adventures for 18 to 35-year old's, today announces its partnership with the Canadian Tourism College (CTC) as it relates to their Travel and Tourism Diploma program. The new upgrade will set a new standard for education in the world's second-largest industry. As part of the partnership, a one-week European adventure to London and Paris from Contiki will be introduced as part of CTC's curriculum starting in April. Arianne Carangan from Winnipeg, Manitoba was the first student to register for the new program. For her, this diploma allows her to study something she is passionate about while fulfilling her life-long dream of travelling to Europe. Carangan explained how she feels about being given the opportunity to bring her learning to life saying, "I have never been this excited to study!"

This new feature is designed so that students can gain first-hand experience in all aspects of the travel industry while seeing some of the most spectacular destinations in the world. As part of the Contiki adventure, students will be having dinner with Londoners in their homes and cooking alongside a European chef in Paris. They will be taken on a perfumery tour in Paris, visiting the world-renowned Palace of Versailles, and staying at Contiki's own Chateau de Cruix - the travel company's 'Special Stay'. Most importantly, students will be receiving behind-the-scenes instruction from the Contiki team helping them understand how to design and operate life-changing trips for travellers.

Guests looking to explore the fjords of Norway, castles of the British Isles, flavours of Italy and beaches of Greece can choose from six Holland America Line ships to discover a wide range of ports and regions on cruise itineraries for the 2020 Europe season. Anchored by the return of Nieuw Amsterdam to the Mediterranean, Nieuw Statendam, Rotterdam, Veendam, Zaandam and Zuiderdam will offer cruises from March through early November.

In addition to transatlantic crossings to and from Europe, the ships will span the entire region on itineraries from seven to 35 days, including the Baltic; British Isles; French and Spanish rivieras; Iberian Peninsula; Iceland; the Mediterranean and Northern Europe, including Norway and the North Cape. Istanbul, Turkey, is back on the schedule with seven overnight visits, and Veendam will offer several distinct and unique European itineraries.

Roundtrip sailing options from a variety of port cities make for a convenient cruise vacation. Guests can embark at Amsterdam and Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Boston, Massachusetts; Civitavecchia (Rome) and Venice, Italy; Barcelona, Spain; and Copenhagen, Denmark. Cruises also sail between Barcelona, Spain, and Venice or Civitavecchia.

To offer more in-depth experiences in some of Europe's most popular cities, Holland America Line has scheduled overnight calls at 13 ports, including Antwerp, Belgium; Amsterdam; Barcelona; Dublin, Ireland; Funchal, Madeira; Istanbul; Lisbon, Portugal; Piraeus (Athens), Greece; Reykjavik, Iceland; South Queensferry (Edinburgh), Scotland; St. Petersburg, Russia; Venice; and Valletta, Malta.