News – Page 6 – OFFSHORE

Top Chef Canada winner visits the Caribbean’s culinary capital

November 25, 2022 No Comments

With an abundance of fresh seafood, seasonal ingredients and talented chefs, the Cayman Islands is a destination that is home to a fantastic restaurant scene.

The Cayman Islands Department of Tourism is using a newly crowned culinary heavy hitter to promote the destination’s culinary scene.

The department held a recent Toronto lunch where the food was prepared by Tre Sanderson, who was recently announced as the winner of the Food Network Canada’s 10th season of Top Chef Canada.

The Caribbean’s culinary capital

Sanderson has visited the Cayman Islands, getting a first-hand look at what the department of tourism labels “the Culinary Capital of the Caribbean.”

It marked the first time the popular show filmed an episode internationally.

“As the culinary capital of the Caribbean, we knew that we would be able to provide a unique location for the chefs and production team — with a variety of experiences that showcase the international influences, amazing ingredients and cuisine, island flair and sophisticated infrastructure that sets us apart from other destinations,” Raymond Mathias, who oversees the department’s Canadian office, told the Toronto gathering.

“We were amazed by the creativity of the four remaining contestants as they competed in a variety of challenges across heritage and hospitality sites in Grand Cayman, and explored the farmers’ market, local fish shacks, recreated a garden party reminiscent of events at Cayman Cookout and Taste of Cayman, and even managed to find a few moments to enjoy our glorious beaches.”

Dining options in the Cayman Islands also got the thumbs-up from Eric Abboud, vice-president of Insight Productions, producer of Top Chef Canada, who praised the destination for having a “great restaurant scene.”

Mathias, noting it has been nearly three years since his department hosted an event in this country, told those on hand that “we look forward to seeing you in the Cayman Islands again very soon.”

Mathias also congratulated Toronto-based chef Sanderson — who prepared the food served — on his win.

An emotional Sanderson in turn told the gathering that being named Top Chef Canada was a “special moment” for him.

STORY BY: IAN STALKER

Photos courtesy of the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism and Food Network Canada

Gift Guide: Our top 5 picks for luxury travellers

November 18, 2022 No Comments

From stocking stuffers to last-minute splurges, cross off the travel enthusiast on your shopping list with a little help from our Holiday Gift Guide.

Carry-On Closet

Designed in collaboration with tattoo artists Veronica Mallo, Emily Conley, and Megan Massacre of NYC’s Grit & Glory salon, the new 2022 limited edition Solgaard ‘Touch of Rose’ Luggage Collection is now available in Solgaard’s full range of three suitcase sizes, including the flagship Carry-On Closet (20”) and Carry-On Closet Plus (22”), and Solgaard’s larger Check-In Closet (Trunk). Solgaard’s new Carry-On Closet doubles as a mini closet, complete with several built-in garment organizing cubes. All suitcases feature a sustainable interior lining made with Solgaard’s proprietary SHORE-TEX fabric made from ocean-bound plastic.

$315 USD, www.solgaard.co

Winter Boots

Where refined meets rugged, Cougar’s newest winter collection has a wide range of stylish yet practical boots for everyone. For the outdoor adventure enthusiast, snag a pair of the Swinton leather waterproof boot. Available in black/gum, black, and brown colour combinations in sizes six through eleven, these mid-height leather Chelsea boots feature a rounded toe and are completely waterproof. The thermoplastic rubber outer sole provides an anti-slip grip and the polar plush lining keeps your feet cozy, making the Swinton boot the perfect transitional footwear from autumn to winter.

$200, cougarshoes.ca

Tunic

Featured in Vogue Italia and spotted on the Vancouver Fashion Week runway, Nanaimo-based design house Ay Lelum fuses storytelling and cultural preservation through fashion. Using multigenerational family artwork of Coast Salish artists, they create wearable pieces from natural fibers. Opening their first store in Nanaimo in October, visitors can view and purchase stunning couture, along with items such as The Spindle Whorl Pillow, starting from $95, featuring a spindle whorl motif by artist William Good. The popular sustainably made tunic is soft and cozy, perfect for keeping your loved ones warm during the winter. Available in teal and red, sizes run from XS to 5XL .

Starting at $245, aylelum.com

Wireless Mobile Printer

Travel memories are meant to be shared, not tucked away on your phone’s camera roll! Display your favourite travel photos around the house with the help of Kodak’s pocket-sized printer, which easily connects to any iOS or Android smartphone, tablet or similar device via Bluetooth. Available in white, the printer eliminates the need for clunky ink cartridges and instead, features a built-in lithium-ion rechargeable battery that prints cute and compact up to 25 2”x3” prints on a full charge.

$119.99, amazon.ca

Fanny Pack

Perfect for stashing your keys, cash, and mobile phone, MNDRN’s Remy fanny pack is a stylish twist on an old wardrobe staple. Handmade in Bali by local artisans, the bag is designed using genuine leather and is available in black, sand, tan, or taupe. The convenient strap can be adjusted around the waist as a bag, cross body or off-the-shoulder accessory for any and all adventures, hands-free.

$222, mandrn.com

American Airlines adds comfortable lay-down seats

November 16, 2022 No Comments

With new deliveries of its Airbus A321XLR and Boeing 787-9 aircraft, beginning in 2024, the airline will unveil new Flagship Suite premium seating and a reimagined aircraft interior for its long-haul fleet.

Flagship Suite seats will offer customers a private premium experience with a privacy door, a chaise lounge seating option and more personal storage space. Customers will enjoy tailored luxury in their private retreat in the sky in American’s premium cabin.

“We are enhancing the customer experience across their entire journey with American,” American’s Vice President of Customer Experience Julie Rath said. “The arrival of new long-haul aircraft and the customized seat design of the Flagship Suite seats will offer customers a truly private premium experience on our long-haul fleet.”

American was the first U.S. airline to debut long-haul Premium Economy seats in 2016, and in response to customer demand, the airline is adding even more Premium Economy seats to its long-haul aircraft. The new custom-designed Premium Economy seat creates more privacy and doubles the amount of in-seat storage space.

With the introduction of new interiors on its long-haul aircraft, premium seating on American’s long-haul fleet will grow more than 45 percent by 2026. American’s Boeing 787-9 aircraft will have 51 Flagship Suite seats and 32 Premium Economy seats, and the airline’s Airbus A321XLR aircraft will feature 20 Flagship Suite seats and 12 Premium Economy seats.

Members of American’s award-winning AAdvantage loyalty program can earn miles through everyday activities such as shopping and dining that they can use for award tickets to experience American’s new Flagship Suite seats when it debuts in 2024.

Refreshing existing aircraft

American will also be retrofitting its aircraft, the Boeing 777-300ER, to include Flagship Suite seats. These 20 aircraft will be refreshed with the new interiors starting in late 2024. American’s aircraft will feature more premium seats than its current design, with 70 Flagship Suite seats and 44 Premium Economy seats.

American will also retrofit its Airbus A321T fleet to align those 16 aircraft with the rest of its A321 fleet. American will continue to offer lie-flat seats on its transcontinental routes departing New York and Boston along with its Northeast Alliance partner, JetBlue Airways, providing travelers with a premium experience and the opportunity to arrive refreshed after a cross country flight.

Celebrity Cruises unveils new ports and destinations

November 14, 2022 No Comments

Celebrity Cruises has announced its most ambitious season of sailings ever, with nearly 500 sailings for the 2024-2025 season that send the line’s fleet of 16 relaxed luxury ships, including Celebrity AscentSM, the fourth ship in the highly acclaimed Edge SeriesⓇ, to more than 250 destinations in 70 countries.

The new offerings include first-ever homeports for some of Celebrity’s Edge Series ships; new year-round offerings in Europe, with new ports; new overnights and double overnights; and new experiences across the rich cultures of every region while basking in the fullness of the Celebrity cruise experience.

Highlights of the new 2024-25 season include:

Year-round sailings with more than 40 different itineraries in Europe, along with overnights in 11 of the world’s most popular cities from Lisbon, Portugal, to Istanbul, Turkey, and Reykjavik, Iceland; and brand-new ports of call including Pauillac (Bordeaux), France; Brindisi and Trieste, Italy; and Kavala and Volos, Greece; Cel
The Edge Series ships deployed to new regions of the world with Celebrity Edge sailing to Alaska roundtrip from Seattle; and Celebrity ApexTM sailing from London to the Norwegian Fjords and the Arctic Circle, the latter a destination Celebrity hasn’t visited since 2014;
Year-round sailings from Asia, including an entire summer of sailings from Tokyo, Japan
New 3-night Caribbean itineraries, complemented by sailings up to 12 nights from four departure ports – Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

“For our 2024/2025 season, we wanted to take our offerings to new heights – all in celebration of our fourth Edge Series ship, Celebrity Ascent, sailing its inaugural season in 2024,” said Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, President and CEO of Celebrity Cruises. “There’s truly no better way to see the world’s best places than on the world’s best places where our guests are treated to the accommodations and amenities of a Celebrity ship – a luxury hotel, Michelin-quality dining, and a world-class luxury spa retreat all in one with the world just steps away.”

A European season like no other

With seven ships, including three Edge Series ships – Celebrity Ascent, Celebrity, BeyondSM, and Celebrity Apex – Celebrity Cruises expands on its legacy of award-winning European itineraries with 153 different sailings visiting nearly 100 destinations.

For the first time ever, an Edge Series ship will homeport outside of London, with Celebrity Apex hosting more Norwegian Fjord sailings than ever before, including a new, 12-night Norwegian Fjord and Arctic Circle itinerary.

Celebrity Ascent will embark on its inaugural European season with itineraries visiting culturally rich cities throughout Spain, Italy, France and Greece; while Celebrity Beyond will embark on 10- and 11-night itineraries to Greece, Istanbul, Naples, and more. Additional itinerary options include sailings throughout Scandinavia, along with special sailings to Egypt and Israel.

Homeporting in Tokyo (Yokohama) from April 2024 to October 2024, the newly revolutionized Celebrity Millennium will sail 12-night itineraries, immersing guests in the physical and cultural beauty of Japan from the awe-inspiring Mt. Fuji, to the quiet temples and bamboo groves of Kyoto, with each sailing including overnight stays in Osaka. Special sailings immerse guests in the country’s renowned summer festivals culture including Golden Week in May.

Following its season in Japan, Celebrity Millennium will join Celebrity Solstice providing guests an opportunity to immerse themselves in the cultural offerings of Southeast Asia on 11- to 14 night sailings visiting 32 destinations across Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India and more from September 2024 to April 2025.

Roundtrip from Seattle, Celebrity Edge – the first Edge Series ship to sail to Alaska – will take guests on 7-night itineraries to the pristine Endicott Arm Fjord and Dawes Glacier, complete with breathtaking views and gushing waterfalls, with stops in Victoria, British Columbia, and Ketchikan. Joined by Celebrity Summit and Celebrity Solstice, together, they will offer 57 sailings and an array of 6- to 8-night itineraries from May to September 2024.

For the 2024-25 season, eight Celebrity ships, including three Edge Series ships – Celebrity Ascent, Celebrity Beyond, and Celebrity Apex – will offer itineraries ranging from 3-night weekend getaways to longer 12-night voyages. Itinerary offerings include:

Celebrity Ascent – making her Caribbean debut with rotating 7-night Western and Eastern Caribbean itineraries, visiting the picturesque ports of St. Thomas and St. Maarten, or the historic Georgetown, Grand Cayman and the unique landscape of Labadee, Haiti, where beachside meets mountside;
Celebrity Beyond – sailing 10- and 11-night itineraries to the Southern Caribbean, visiting St. George, Grenada; St. John’s Antgua, St. Maarten, and more. For those looking to check off a bucket list destination, Celebrity Beyond will also take guests to see the modern marvel that is the Panama Canal;
Celebrity Apex – transporting guests on a 7-night itinerary to some of the most sought-after destinations in the region including Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic; Labadee, Haiti; Key West, Bimini, Bahamas; St. Kitts, Tortola, and more;

Additional sailings include:

Celebrity Edge returning for her second season Down Under, embarking on a selection of 3- to 14-night itineraries starting October 2024 and running through April 2025.
Setting sail to the Galapagos aboard one of the brand’s three uniquely intimate and stunning ships – Celebrity Flora, Celebrity Xpedition or Celebrity Xploration – on six or seven-night itineraries carefully curated to ensure wanderlust travelers experience all this extraordinary archipelago offers. Every sailing includes an option to extend the experience on land.

Celebrity Equinox embarking on her inaugural season in South America, including a 14-night itinerary exploring the beauty of Patagonia, Argentina and Antarctica, as well as taking in a tango show or surfing the beautiful beaches of Montevideo, Uruguay.

Celebrity Eclipse making her Northeast debut, sailing to Canada and New England; Greenland and Iceland; and offering 7-night Bermuda itineraries from the New York area.

Hotel brand seeks foodie “CEO” for new job sampling food on all five continents

October 26, 2022 No Comments

Sampling Mexico’s sizzling street tacos, inhaling the bold aroma of Turkish coffee, uncovering the tangiest chimichurri in Argentina – it’s a job any foodie would covet and now, it could be yours. Ramada^® by Wyndham, one of the world’s most well-known hotel brands, is searching for its first-ever Chief Eats Officer (“CEO”), a newly created role that will take one lucky job-seeker around the globe as they help the brand uncover and share some of the world’s best culinary and cultural delights. Best of all, the gig comes with a $10,000 payday and bragging rights as the most mouth-watering job ever.

Known for its diverse portfolio of award-winning hotels in more than 63 countries around the globe, Ramada helps travelers sample the world. The appointed “CEO” will be tasked with uncovering the culture and cuisine throughout five different continents and creatively showcase their finds on the brand’s social media and marketing channels. In exchange, the selected candidate will receive $10,000 and a $150 daily travel stipend to help them make the most of their globetrotting adventure. The “CEO Comp Package” also includes paid accommodations and air travel, an upgrade to Wyndham Rewards Diamond membership and bucket-list travel experiences.

For more information and how to apply, visit www.ramada.com/ceo.

This credit card company now offers a luxury hotel and airport lounge collection

October 24, 2022 No Comments

Credit card company Capital One recently announced that cardholders will soon be able to access an exclusive hotel booking platform with the launch of Premier Collection for Capital One Venture X Rewards later this year.

Through the rewards program, cardholders can also look forward to two new airport lounges with “chef-driven” experiences.

With the launch of the Premier Collection, travellers can enjoy perks including a $100 experience credit to be used during the stay, complimentary breakfast for two each day, free WiFi throughout the stay, room upgrades, early and late checkout, and the opportunity to earn 10 times the miles on Premier Collection bookings.

Some of the luxury hotels included in the Premier Collection include 1 Hotel South Beach (Miami Beach); Crans Ambassador (Switzerland); Hotel Cafe Royal (London); Chable Yucatan (Yucatan); Faena Miami Beach (Miami); and Montage Healdsburg (California).

Alongside the new luxury hotel collection, Capital One Travel cardholders will also gain access to two new airport lounges, two at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and one at New York’s LaGuardia Airport’s Terminal B (LGA), curated by chef, humanitarian and bestselling author, José Andrés.

Travellers who visit the lounge can enjoy an espresso and coffee bar, grab-and-go eats and curated cocktails, all inside a comfortable and thoughtfully-designed space.

For more information, click here.

A non-stop flight from Vancouver to Miami is finally taking off this winter

August 26, 2022 No Comments

The longest U.S.-bound route from Vancouver will soon be serviced by a new schedule of non-stop flights by Air Canada. AC will launch direct non-stop flights between Vancouver (YVR) and Miami (MIA), starting Dec. 17 this year.

This is the longest flight route between Vancouver and any point in the United States, topping even Hawaii from YVR. It has been nearly 18 years since a non-stop service has connected Vancouver to Miami.

It will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, and will fly using a Boeing 737 Max 8 on the route. These have 16 business class seats and 153 seats in economy. The direct flight from YVR to MIA will take about five hours and 46 minutes, while the return service will take about six hours and 45 minutes.

According to booking data, Vancouver-Miami had about 56,000 roundtrip point-to-point passengers in 2019, demonstrating the need for Vancouver to Miami airlift in this underserved market, says the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The Bureau says that western Canadian visitors – who have a demonstrated love for outdoor adventure activities – will be keen to visit the Miami Land region.

This is a showcase of Greater Miami’s natural splendour, and includes vast mangrove forests, ocean deep diving, historic nature walks at the Deering Estate, spying on alligators in South Miami-Dade and taking swamp tours.

Others will be just as happy to explore the breathtaking sandy ribbon of South Beach and its chic neighbourhoods, just east of Miami city. And from Miami, visitors can drive to famous Florida attractions like Daytona Beach, Cape Canaveral and the Space Coast, and Orlando, with its many theme park attractions – or alternatively, land and transfer to their cruise ship for a leisurely cruise holiday.

A look at the most popular places to travel from Canada

August 12, 2022 No Comments

According to new research from First in Service Travel LTD (F1S), Italy, France and Greece are the top international destinations Canadian advisors are booking and recommending.

“With all the pent-up demand for travel, coupled with the Canadian dollar’s stronger performance against the euro over the past year, it’s no surprise that Europe is performing so well,” explained Fernando Gonzalez, chief executive officer for F1S, one of North America’s largest independent travel agencies. “Italy has once again claimed its place among the world’s premier destinations, thanks to its stunning scenery, exquisite culture and history, epicurean delights, and extraordinary people.”

Findings from the recent survey had F1S travel advisors name the top three international destination they were booking for 2022. Among international destinations, 72.7% of the advisors named Italy as one of their top destinations, followed by France (45.5%) and Greece (27.3).

“Italy is always a winner,” added F1S advisor Willa Griffin. Advisor Waldo Wohl concurred, offering a simple explanation that “Italy is always Italy.”

Gonzalez indicated that the biggest surprise internationally for the year is the popularity of Greece. “Whether it’s the culture of ancient cities like Athens or the allure of the islands, Greece has really taken off over the past couple years. It was able to take hold during the pandemic and has maintained its strong forward momentum this year,” he said.

F1S advisor Marisa Wise added that she is booking “lots of Santorini. Its views and food are amazing. Also, Greek island cruising is super popular.”

First in Service advisors in Canada were also asked which “under the radar” destinations they are booking most internationally. Colombia and Portugal were tied for first place, with 27.3% of advisors recommending each.

“Travel to the United States and cruising have both been on the rebound,” Gonzalez added. “Additionally, we will soon issue the trends we are seeing specifically for domestic travel within Canada.”

F1S advisor George Alexandrou is among those recommending Colombia because “it has a great mix of culture, adventure and direct flights.” Meanwhile, Portugal is recommended by F1S advisor Christina Gula, who said, “Portugal is a beautiful country with lots to offer. Great scenery, food and culture.”

Most popular travel picks

Each surveyed advisor was also asked to name the single most popular international destination they are specifically booking for Canadian clients on each continent and other major regions globally.

The top picks were:

Africa: South Africa
Asia: Thailand
Australia/New Zealand/South Pacific: Australia
Caribbean: St. Barths
Central America: Costa Rica
Europe: Italy
Middle East: Israel
North America: United States
South America: Colombia

Willa Griffin, who helps lead the agency in Canada, pointed out that they’ve seen a major uptick in last minute bookings with borders reopening.

“I think it’s been a combination of pent up demand and the feeling that the world might close down again,” Griffin shared. “Personally, I feel like things will regulate themselves again very soon. This spring and summer were all about having the freedom to travel again. Moving forward, I think people will again start to plan ahead, maybe not like they used but will want to ensure that they get what they want from their travel dollars. I am already seeing very limited availability for festive which to me is a very good sign.”

Where to travel this summer if you want to avoid the crowds

August 8, 2022 No Comments

Avid traveller Mark Wolters — who has been to 70 countries to date and counting — shares his adventures and honest travel advice on his popular YouTube channel, Wolters World, to 893K subscribers.

The Illinois-based professor, who is on the road five to six months out of the year, caught up with OFFSHORE to share some advice on where travellers can go to beat the crowds in Europe.

“With revenge travel still in full effect, even with all of the airport and airline issues, it is hard to find a tourist destination that is not crowded this summer,” says Wolters, who is on team carry on only. “We have spent the entire summer traveling around Europe and there are a few things we have noticed that may help you get a respite from the tourist hordes.”

Tip #1: Secondary destinations

“First off, main tourist destinations like Paris, London, and the Amalfi Coast in Europe are completely packed, however the secondary destinations have not been as full,” he shares. “Instead of the Amalfi Coast in Italy, go to Puglia and Southern Italy and explore Bari, Matera, Alberobello, and Polignano a Mare.

Tip #2: Heritage towns

“Puglia is a popular summer destination for Italian tourists. In Bari you can see the grandmothers making pasta in the street, visit St. Nicholas’ Basilica, yes that St. Nicholas, and party the night away with the locals. Even though there are still a lot of tourists visiting Puglia in the summer, you will notice significantly more elbow room wandering the UNESCO World Heritage towns of Alberobello with their Trulli homes that look like a colony on Mars and Matera (which is in Basilicata) with their sassi or caves carved out of the rocks, than you will on the Amalfi Coast.”

Tip #3 Get off the beaten path

“With the major tourist destinations full, this is a great time to explore some of the lesser visited countries of Europe,” Wolters suggests. “If you have wanted to visit the Baltics or Scandinavia this is a wonderful time to visit. The weather is good, the sun stays out until 10:00 p.m., you have numerous lakes, coastlines, islands, and nature areas to explore. Also, the capitals of Tallinn, Stockholm, Oslo, Riga, Helsinki, Copenhagen, and Vilnius all have tons of cultural options for travellers. I spent time this summer in Helsinki, Copenhagen, and Vilnius, and I felt like I was almost alone in comparison to my time in Rome with all the tourists there.”

5 must-have fashion accessories for spring travel

May 13, 2022 No Comments

Spring is one of the best times to travel, whether in Canada or abroad. Milder temperatures are perfect for a range of active travel, including hiking, camping, luxury glamping, and more. From now until summer, stay dry (and fashionable) with these top five accessory picks!

Rain Boots

Make a splash this spring with Cougar’s new ankle-high Firenze glossy rain boots. Available in six colours including cute pastels like the Butter Yellow and Cucumber Green, these boots mimic the classic design of a timeless Chelsea boot. Stylish enough for everyday wear, these pull-on rubber-like boots are fully waterproof, and also have a removable moulded foam footbed which allows for extra comfort for more adventurous days.

$80, cougarshoes.com

Carry-on Luggage

Available in three gorgeous pastel colours (lilac, sea foam green, and blush pink), the Mecca Collection by Bugatti includes three pieces of luggage, each of which is equipped with a zipper-release expansion system to store all you need. The carry-on luggage (H : 18.5 x W : 13.75 x D : 9 + 2 in. ) weighs just 6.2 pounds and features a hard outer shell made of lightweight and resistant ABS and single 360-degree spinner wheels for effortless, smooth and quiet travel.

$149.99, bugatticollections.com

Crossbody

Made from water-resistant vegan leather, the Edition22 Flap Crossbody is a perfect ally to explore any new city. Designed to be carried over the shoulder or as a crossbody, it offers multiple organizational pockets to store all of your everyday essentials in the right places. Available in black or charcoal grey.

$100, bugatticollections.com

Dry Bag

Adventure travellers will love K&B Sport’s new collection of adventure bags. The Canadian outdoor brand specializes in gear for active travellers. Available in four different styles (5, 10, 15, or 30L), the Bolet (pictured), is made of a lightweight, water-repellant fabric that keeps your belongings dry, weather you’re paddling down the river, hiking through the mountains, or simply exploring on a rainy day. A hook on the bag lets you easily attach the bag to a kayak, canoe or paddle board, while a roll-top closure allows for quick access to contents.

$19.99, www.k-bsport.com

Socks

Easily overlooked, a good pair of socks is a must for any frequent outdoor traveller. Darn Tough socks are a brand of socks designed specifically for active travellers. They’re made from a naturally antimicrobial merino wool blend that stands up to multi-day backpacking trips. The lightly cushioned sole provides extra comfort for long walks, without contributing to blisters or swelling. Choose from a variety of fun outdoor-themed prints and colours!

$29.95, www.mec.ca