How Royal caribbean and Carnival cope with Hurricanes

The Serenade of the Seas, which was scheduled to depart San Juan, P.R., at 8:30 p.m. local time on Sunday, Aug. 21, was ordered to leave at 5:30 p.m., so 145 guests who had not re-embarked were left behind. Royal Caribbean provided 15 of the passengers, who had booked their air travel via the line, with hotel accommodations in San Juan for Monday evening, as well as a flight to Aruba on Tuesday, where they re-joined the ship.

The cruise line also notified the 130 passengers who paid cruise-only fares and booked their air separately of hotel availability in San Juan, but the expense was their responsibility, since it was a weather-related event. They also were responsible for their own air to re-join the ship. “Since this decision was made by the Port of San Juan on Sunday while the ship was docked alongside, there was no way to notify our guests of this change in departure time,” Royal Caribbean said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Carnival Cruise Lines’ Carnival Victory was forced to depart San Juan at 6 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 21, approximately four hours ahead of schedule, stranding about 300 passengers at the port. However, about half were able to meet up with the ship at its next port call in Barbados. For those who were unable to board ship, Carnival provided a complimentary, two-night hotel stay in San Juan and complimentary air transportation to Barbados.

Guests who did not have passports in their possession could not proceed to Barbados and missed the full voyage. Those passengers will receive a future cruise credit equal to the amount of the cruise fare they paid.

Strike Threat For Eurotunnel

Bank holiday strike threat for Eurotunnel

Eurotunnel is putting emergency plans into place to cope with threatened strike action by French employees over this bank holiday weekend.French unions are demanding a pay rise of 8% or will call a stoppage. The cross channel rail link has suspended sales of tickets for the bank holiday period in light of the strike threat. More than 25,000 vehicles, carrying around 100,000 people, are expected to use the service over the three days. Eurotunnel says it hopes to rely on its British drivers to run services as usual, but has suspended extra ticket sales to ease the situation. SeaFrance and DFDS Seaways (formerly Norfolkline) have both issued statements urging those wishing to avoid any disruption to book with them as early as possible because capacity is already tight. SeaFrance Dover-Calais Ferries will be operating an additional 16 crossings for both car and freight traffic due to a huge surge in demand. The ferry operator is also advising customers to use the M2/A2 route to the Port of Dover to avoid potential delays as a result of the Eurotunnel strike

Malia? er no Magaluf.

The new Inbetweeners movie has prompted a huge rise in Brits searching for clubbing holidays in Malia.

The film is set as the finale to the E4 sitcom, and centres on four boys taking a lads holiday in the clubbing resort in Crete. It was released last week, and since then has lead to record numbers of Brits wanting to visit the destination.

Club 18-30’s trading manager Russell Whitton said: “Early indications show more interest than ever before for Malia since The Inbetweeners Movie was released last week.

“Whilst it’s only been a few days since the film’s release, it is a positive sign that Malia will be the place to go in 2012 for young holiday makers.”

TYPICAL THOMAS COOK ILL-INFORMED AND STILL ILL-INFORMING THE PUBLIC,  IT WAS FILMED IN MAGALUF AND ANYONE SELLING A HOLIDAY ON THE BACK OFF THE FILM TO MALIA SHOULD NOT BE SELLING HOLIDAYS.

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Soreda Hotel, Qawra, Malta

Board: All Inclusive

Depart: Gatwick or Bristol

Date: 01 October – 24 October 2011

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This doesn’t mean July & August would become cheaper.

There has been a proposal by education secretary Michael Gove to slash the traditional six-week school holiday and replace it with a month-long summer break. He has called for a shake up of primary and secondary education at academies and free schools.

The new school-year plans would see staggered summer breaks from the beginning of July to the end of September and a switch from three terms to six. Abta said though it would give kids the shortest summer breaks in Europe, could help combat high prices in the peak season.

An Abta spokesperson said”the trvael industry gets a lot of stick about price rises, so a shorter term would allow families the option of travelling in the start or end of holiday time, though this doesn’t mean prices in July and August would be cheaper, they are peak months regardless of school holidays because of guaranteed weather. Operators would though have to be  given plenty of notice so they could plan their capacity.”

The plans have been broadly welcomed as the industry agrees they should offer agents a longer selling season and more customer choice with potential for reduction in prices.

Some members of the public are sceptical as they think it would just increase the window for higher prices, as the prices go up when kids are off school throughout the year so the pattern would be repeated.

Virgin Pilots vote for strike action

Virgin Atlantic pilots have voted to go on strike for the first time in the history of the airline due to an ongoing dispute over pay.

Some 97% of Virgin pilots who are members of the Balpa union voted for industrial action in a ballot which saw a turnout of 94%.

Balpa, which represents around 640 of Virgin’s 750 pilots, has not set any strike dates in the hope that an agreement can still be reached with the airline.

“The size of the poll and the huge majority for action should send a clear message to Richard Branson,” said Balpa general secretary Jim McAuslan. “I am happy to meet him anywhere and anytime to resolve this.

“My messages are simple: pilots do not want to strike and are hugely disappointed by the company’s approach. There has been no UK pilot strike for 32 years. But there comes a time when even moderate people say “enough”.”

Pilots have not received a pay increase since 2008 and have been unhappy about being offered only a 4% rise this year.

Virgin Atlantic said in a statement: “We are naturally disappointed with the result of the ballot but remain committed to further talks with our pilots’ representatives to find a solution. We have made an industry leading offer to Balpa that is double the national average for a UK business. 

“We value our pilots enormously and that is why we have offered three guaranteed pay rises in the next two and a half years and a share of company profits. We believe that once Balpa communicate this offer to our pilots, industrial action will be averted. 

“We have contingency plans in place to prepare for any industrial action and will take every step possible to minimise the impact on our customers.”

Travel Disruption Ahead

The travel industry is bracing itself for a raft of strikes as industrial action grips Greece and the vote on strike action by Virgin Atlantic pilots is announced.

The Foreign Office has warned tourists to expect disruptions in Greece, as industrial action continues in the country as it endures another economic crisis.

Greek dock workers will also join in the strikes on June 24, with the Foreign Office warning that all port services are likely to be affected, including cruise and ferry services throughout the country.

Passengers have been advised to contact the company with whom they are travelling.

There is also expected to be possible disruption to power supplies, as a result of the industrial action, which began from midnight on June 19 and continued yesterday and today.

Meanwhile the Foreign has warned British nationals to avoid Syntagma Square in central Athens, with a trade union demonstration expected today, at around 7pm.

Airline pilot union Balpa will announce the outcome of its strike ballot for Virgin Atlantic pilots later today with reports suggesting that they are likely to vote for the first walkouts in Virgin’s history.

The pilots are unhappy about being offered a 4% pay rise after having three years of pay freezes.

The earliest Virgin pilots could go on strike is next week because the union has to give the airline at least seven days notice.

Hebridean Island Cruise for 2012

Hebridean Island Cruises released its 2012 cruise brochure, which details 20 new itineraries aboard the 50-passenger Hebridean Princess to Scotland and Ireland.

During its March through November season in 2012, Hebridean Princess offers four- to 10-day cruises sailing mainly from her Scottish homeport of Oban, as well as from Greenock and Invergordon in Scotland. Two new cruises depart from Cork, Ireland. Other season highlights are tours to Kelburn Castle, built in the 13th century and rarely accessed by groups, and the privately owned Isle of Eriska. New signature “Footloose” itineraries include walking tours accompanied by three guides.

New 2012 season fares include meals, beverages and select wines, spirits and champagne, privately escorted tours, a guest speaker program, and all port charges and gratuities. Also included are activities such as the use of the ship’s bicycles, fishing, bridge, speedboat rides and more. Black-tie gala dinners are a highlight

For more information visit www.payless4holidays.co.uk or   call 0844 4148 268.

Last Chance to Save £2000 per couple on cruise.

Book before 30 June 2011 for savings of up to £2000 per couple on Viking River Cruises,market leader in river cruising, just visit cruising page on www.payless4holidays.co.uk to see our lastest offer and take advantage of these great savings.

After 30  June these savings fall to £1000 per couple so get on board now.