Travel with Herschel

04/09/2026

SAVE THIS DATE --- Tuesday, May 19th

You are invited to our Princess Consumer Event at the Whitby Courthouse Theatre. It's a chance to meet our new Princess Representative, Susan Carvalho.

Right now the organizers are looking at sessions at 2 pm and 7 pm. You will eventually receive a notification by email with a link that will allow you to register.

If you prefer, send me a message indicating how many will be attending and whihc session you'd prefer. I'll keep a list and have you added to it when the time comes.

I'll post more details as they become available.

😀

04/08/2026

You may be aware that because of the current problems with the US/Israel/Iran, some of the packagers of all-inclusive Vacations are imposing a surcharge on bookings going to the south.

With Transat the higher rates start on April 14th. With Sunwing it's April 10th. Air Canada Vacations have not announced anything yet. West Jet is being "coy" about their prices for flights and all-inclusives. They simply say rates will vary depending on demand and market conditions.

United has just announced an increase in their charge for checked baggage.

From the time I started as an agent (in 2009), the cruiselines have always had it in their contracts that if the price of a barrel of oil exceeds US$60, they can impose a fuel surcharge. As far as I can recall, the only cruiseline that ever did add a surcharge was Cunard. I think they applied it only to the Atlantic crossings where the ship sails 24/7, no stops along the way.

04/03/2026

Thinking of a cruise on Royal Caribbean? Then keep this in mind.

THE ROYAL TREATMENT - SPA FOR 2, SPARKLING WINE AND CHOCOLATE DIPPED STRAWBERRIES.

Booking Window - April 27th to May 4th.

Let me save you some time. Here's the "fine print".
The offer applies only to cruises 5 to 10 nights long, departing between July 1st and November 30th, 2026, to the Caribbean or the West Coast, in a Balcony cabin or Suite.

Doesn't look so tempting any more, does it?

Call now to connect with business.

03/11/2026

from Travel Pulse Daily:

Europe’s New Entry System Slows Arrivals at Busy Airports

Travelers heading to Europe this year may want to budget extra time upon arrival, as a new biometric border system continues to be rolled out across the region.

The new Entry/Exit System (EES) is designed to digitally track when non-EU and non-Schengen visitors enter and leave participating countries. Instead of getting a passport stamp, travelers now have their passports scanned, along with fingerprints and a photo.

The new process applies to short visits of up to 90 days within a 180-day period. That rule hasn’t changed for visa-exempt travelers, including Americans. EU citizens, residents and people with long-stay visas are not affected.

The EES phased rollout began in October 2025 and is expected to be fully operational by April 10, 2026. However, some major airports in the region are already seeing massive slowdowns at passport control.

According to the BBC, wait times of three or four hours have been reported at peak times as passengers move through the new scanning stations. Olivier Jankovec, director general of Airports Council International Europe — which represents over 600 airports — said passenger processing time has increased by “four to five times” with average wait times lasting around two hours.

Several factors are contributing to the delays, including a shortage of border staff and technical issues with some of the new machines. Jankovec also worries that things could get worse during major travel periods like Easter and the busy summer season.

Markus Lammert, European Commission Spokesperson for Internal Affairs, said the system has already logged about 23 million entries and exits, along with roughly 12,000 denied entries. He maintains that it has been running “largely without issues,” but admitted that member countries are still working to improve the process.

To help ease crowding during busy summer months, countries are allowed to “partially suspend” EES operations and go back to traditional passport checks if the electronic system becomes overwhelmed — at least until September.

Jankovec said airports would need to revert to the old system in order to handle the influx of passengers if "the situation becomes unsustainable at border control." If airports were to adhere solely to EES protocols, and staffing and equipment functionality haven’t improved, he foresees wait times reaching five or six hours.

Last week, UK travel trade association ABTA urged border authorities to make better use of such contingency measures, saying they have not always been used when needed. The organization also called on destinations and border agencies to plan better for peak travel periods.

For now, industry experts advise passengers to expect delays, especially during the busy season, and come prepared for extended waits. That might mean allowing extra time for connections or arrivals, bringing snacks and keeping kids entertained while they’re stuck in line.

Send a message to learn more

03/11/2026

Some good news for a change.

Travel advisors with clients headed to the United States through Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport will be able to deliver some welcome news to them as of today (March 10, 2026) as those clients will now be able to clear U.S. Customs and Border Protection before their flight at Billy Bishop. The ope...

01/17/2026

from TravelPulse Canada:

Visa-Free Travel to China Coming Soon for Canadians, Confirms Prime Minister Carney

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Chinese President Xi Jinping announced a new partnership between Canada and China on January 16, 2026, marking a major shift in bilateral relations.

After nearly a decade without a Canadian prime ministerial visit to Beijing, Carney confirmed that Canadian citizens will soon be able to enter China without a visa.

“I’m very pleased to share that President Xi in our meeting today has committed to ensuring visa-free access for Canadians travelling to China,” Carney told reporters.

“The Prime Minister welcomed President Xi’s commitment to introducing visa-free access for Canadians travelling to China,” a statement added, noting the step aims to strengthen tourism, education, and cultural exchanges between the two countries.

Carney highlighted the existing ties between the nations, including a Canadian Chinese diaspora of about 2 million people and more than 300,000 Chinese visitors to Canada in 2024. “These links position both nations to benefit from enhanced travel,” he said.

“At its best, the Canada-China relationship has created massive opportunities for both our peoples. By leveraging our strengths and focusing on trade, energy, agri-food, and areas where we can make huge gains, we are forging a new strategic partnership that builds on the best of our past, reflects the world as it is today, and benefits the people of both our nations,” Carney added.

No start date has been set, but once implemented, Canada will join 45 countries whose citizens can stay in China visa-free for up to 30 days through 2026.

The agreement also covers cooperation in public safety and security, global governance, and climate action.

Canada will allow 49,000 Chinese electric vehicles at preferential tariffs, "with an import price of $35,000 CAD or less," while China will cut canola seed tariffs to 15% and lift barriers on key Canadian exports, unlocking nearly $3 billion in trade.

Send a message to learn more

01/16/2026

from Parade Magazine:

Seeing the Louvre Is About to Cost Tourists a Lot More
A new ticket policy takes effect this week.

The change is part of the Louvre’s effort to fund long-overdue renovations and beef up security at the historic museum, which has been under pressure from massive crowds, staffing shortages and a string of labor strikes. Last fall’s high-profile theft of French Crown Jewels—valued at tens of millions of euros—only intensified concerns about protecting priceless works and the people who guard them.

If visiting the Louvre Museum is on your travel bucket list — here’s something to know before you go: it just got a lot more expensive.

Starting this week, the world’s most visited museum is rolling out a new two-tier ticketing system that raises admission prices for many international visitors. For tourists from outside the European Union — tickets will now cost 32 euros (about US$35), up from 22 euros. That’s roughly a 45 percent increase overnight.

Send a message to learn more

01/16/2026

from TravelPulse Canada:
WestJet Reconsiders Reconfiguration

Economy seats on newly reconfigured WestJet planes will be returned to how they were following online backlash and rampant criticism over cramped seating.

"WestJet tried seat pitches that are popular with many airlines around the globe as they serve to provide affordable airfares," said Alexis von Hoensbroech, WestJet Group Chief Executive Officer in a statement to media.

The airline had introduced economy cabins with a seat pitch of 28 inches. Seat pitch is measured from one point on a seat to the same point on the seat behind it and indicates how much room a passenger has in their seat.

According to a report from Global News, no other large Canadian airline has 28-inch pitch seats. Some lower-cost American airlines like Spirit and Frontier have rows with tighter legroom while offering more space at higher prices, a model WestJet was looking to emulate.

"As an entrepreneurial airline founded on making air travel affordable to Canadians it's in our DNA to try new products. At the same time, it is just as important to react quickly if they don't meet the needs of our guests," said von Hoensbroech.

Passengers and some airline staff questioned the safety and comfort of the new seats, WestJet branch of the Canadian Union of Public Employees issuing a bulletin in August raising concerns about the redesign. It said the more cramped conditions made it harder for guests with varying mobility, car seats and pets, on top of limited overhead bin space.

Staff representatives also raised concerns about the difficulty crew would face getting rest in the confined seats as they travel to work.

When a video filmed on a WestJet plane went viral, public judgement was swift and fierce, drawing a lot of negative comments online.

WestJet had already paused plans to reconfigure 43 of its aircraft with “fixed recline” seating and an extra row of seats, resulting in the shorter pitch. 21 planes have already undergone the retrofit.

The airline stated that "following a review of operational data and feedback from guests and WestJetters,” those 21 planes will be returned to their previous configuration with its prior standard seat pitch for economy cabins.

"WestJet was founded as an airline centred on guests," added von Hoensbroech. "It is in this spirit that we will take what we've learned and continue to be cost-disciplined and innovative, while staying true to what our guests and our people expect from us."

Send a message to learn more

01/03/2026

SAVE THIS DATE!!!

Thursday, January 22nd, 2026

Do you want to learn more about Celebrity Cruises? Get ready for our "Sale Like a Celebrity" Sale which will run from January 29th to February 14th.

Where? Whitby Courthouse Theatre, 416 Centre Street South, Whitby

When? Depending on responses, there will be a matinée at 2 pm and an evening performance at 7 pm.

Refreshments will be available in the foyer after each presentation.

RSVP --- Email or message me, and I'll make sure you are on the list. Please indicate whether you would prefer the 2 pm or 7 pm session.
If you'd rather do it yourself, use the following link:
https://promo.expediacruises.com/500033/salelikeacelebrity/

I hope to see you there.

Send a message to learn more

12/24/2025

There have been a couple of interesting developments from Norwegian Cruise Line.

1. They have brought back the original Free at Sea Package.

2. Free at Sea can be upgraded to Free at Sea PLUS for about US$50 per person per day. It's probably a good value because you then get:
unlimited streaming wi-fi
bottled water
prepaid daily gratuities
an enhanced beverage package
50% off any specialty dining you add to the original package

3. They are predicting that prices will be going up once "Wave Season" starts.

To tell the full truth, they have also made some changes to their commission structure which will definitely benefit travel agents but which may contribute to the increase in prices.

Happy Holidays!

Send a message to learn more

12/24/2025

from Travel Pulse:

Disney Cruise Line Takes Delivery of Its Largest Ship Ever: Disney Adventure

Disney Cruise Line has officially taken delivery of the company’s biggest ship ever, marking a major milestone for a vessel that’s been years in the making—and setting the stage for the line’s expansion into Asia.

The ship, Disney Adventure, was formally handed over on December 16, 2025, by Germany’s Meyer Werft shipyard. When she debuts next spring, the 208,000-gross-ton ship will become the largest in Disney’s fleet, carrying up to 6,700 guests.

“The Maiden Voyage sets sail March 2026, welcoming guests on board for magical moments at sea,” the cruise line shared in a Facebook post announcing the delivery.

Beyond her sheer size, Disney Adventure is notable for what she represents strategically. The ship will be based in Singapore and operate short three- and four-night “cruises to nowhere,” according to Cruise Hive, marking Disney Cruise Line’s first dedicated push into the Asian cruise market.

Sailings will run roundtrip from Singapore’s Marina Bay Cruise Centre, focusing on onboard entertainment, dining and experiences rather than port-intensive itineraries. Under an agreement with the Singapore Tourism Board, Disney Adventure is set to sail from Singapore for at least the next five years.

While the ship is now officially in Disney’s hands, guests still have a short wait before they’re able to step on board. Disney Adventure will operate two preview cruises on March 5 and March 9, 2026, ahead of her official maiden voyage, which is scheduled to depart on March 10, 2026.

Those dates come later than originally planned. Disney Adventure had initially been slated to enter service in December 2025, but construction delays prompted the cruise line to push the debut to March 2026. As a result, roughly 22 sailings were canceled. Guests booked on those cruises were automatically moved to the new dates and received a 50 percent refund of their cruise fare, with the option to cancel altogether if they preferred.

The ship’s journey to completion has been anything but straightforward. Construction originally began back in 2018, when the vessel was ordered by Dream Cruises under the name Global Dream. At the time, the ship was envisioned as one of the world’s largest cruise vessels. Work continued until 2022, when Dream Cruises’ parent company, Genting Hong Kong, declared bankruptcy, leaving the ship about 70 percent complete.

After that, Disney Cruise Line purchased the partially built vessel from Genting’s liquidators, renamed her Disney Adventure and enlisted Meyer Werft to finish the job. Now, after years of stops, starts and rebranding, the ship is finally nearing her long-awaited debut.

For Disney Cruise Line, Disney Adventure isn’t just a new ship—it’s a statement of intent, signaling both fleet growth and a bold move into a new global market just months away from welcoming its first guests.

Send a message to learn more