Ocean & River Cruises Travel

08/13/2025

Important update for Air Canada flights for Friday 15th to Sunday 17th August

Air Canada has issued a lockout notice in the wake of stalled contract negotiations with flight attendants.

03/06/2025

So deeply honoured and appreciative of the support of this amazing network, Virtuoso Team Canada, and our fellow member agencies.

What an amazing Virtuoso Travel Forum here at the lovely Fairmont Le Château Frontenac this week.

And guess where Forum is headed next…!

Announcing the winners of our second annual regional Virtuoso Awards at our Canada Forum, which took place at Fairmont le Château Frontenac in Québec City.

Honoring Virtuoso members and partners that consistently demonstrate their commitment to the Virtuoso network. Awards were announced at an elegant gala on Wednesday evening.

The regional Virtuoso Awards categories and winners follow.

Northern Lights Award: Aaron Levine - Laurier Du Vallon
Most Engaged Member: Ocean & River Cruises Travel
Most Engaged Partner: Windstar Cruises

Top Producers – Member winners:
Cruise Top Producer: Direct Travel
Hotels & Resorts Top Producer: Direct Travel
Tour Top Producer: Direct Travel
On-Site Top Producer: Direct Travel
Specialty Top Producer: Direct Travel

Top Producers – Partner winners:
Cruise Top Producer: Celebrity Cruises
Hotels & Resorts Top Producer: Villas of Distinction
Tour Top Producer: Collette
On-Site Top Producer: GILTEDGE - South Africa
Specialty Top Producer: Allianz Partners

Highest Annual Growth – Member winners:
Highest Cruise Annual Growth: Trevello Travel Group
Highest Tour Annual Growth: LuxeXperts
Highest On-Site Annual Growth: Civilized Adventures
Highest Specialty Annual Growth: Renshaw Travel

Highest Annual Growth – Partner winners:
Highest Cruise Annual Growth: Royal Caribbean International
Highest Hotels & Resorts Annual Growth: Andaz Costa Rica Resort at Peninsula Papagayo
Highest Tour Annual Growth: Collette
Highest On-Site Annual Growth: IC Bellagio - Italy
Highest Specialty Annual Growth: Privé Jets

Virtuoso wishes to congratulate all 2025 award recipients.

01/09/2025

As we move into 2025, there's much to anticipate and be excited for the year ahead, including the opening up to travellers of new destinations, and new ship experiences. These range from the new Magdalena River cruise options in Colombia aboard AmaWaterways, to the most sophisticated and advanced ice-breaking passengers ship in the world Commandant Charcot with Ponant and which can offer explorations of Quebec and the St Lawrence river in the Boreal Winter!

There also continues to be important changes for travellers in terms of advance documentation required to visit many destinations, including the United Kingdom where travellers from the US, Canada (and most other non-European countries) will now be required to secure an Electronic Travel Authorisation prior to travel.

Effective immediately an ETA is required for travel to the UK, including those just in-transit during a flight connection. Airlines will deny check-in to folks that do not have this important advance approval to travel.

Additional details:

Information on who can get an ETA and how to apply before coming to the UK.

09/09/2024

Flying with Air Canada in next two weeks? The potential for labour action could cause significant disruptions, starting as soon as this Friday, 15/Sep. Here is the official update as of today Monday, 9/Sep:

On Friday, September 13, 2024, if agreement is not reached with ALPA by then, Air Canada will need to start some winddown activities, including the cancelation of some holiday packages and the grounding of some aircraft.

On Sunday, September 15, 2024, at 00h01 EDT, ALPA and Air Canada will be in a legal position to serve a 72-hour notice of strike or lock-out. If such notice is served, Air Canada would begin an orderly winddown of its operations.

Wednesday, September 18, 2024 is the earliest day when a strike or lock-out could begin.



https://media.aircanada.com/Air-Canadas-statement-in-response-to-ALPAs-notice-to-bargain