Did you Know?: Travel News

by Barbara Broadbent

Air Canada Rouge now flies non-stop between Montreal and Orlando, twice daily. They also will offer additional non-stop flights from Toronto and Montreal to Athens and Rome. 

These will be on their Boeing 767-300ER aircraft and offer 3 customer comfort options… rouge (equivalent of Economy); rouge Plus (equivalent of Premium Economy, with preferred seating and additional legroom) and Premium rouge (equivalent of Business Class, with additional space and enhanced service). The in-flight entertainment system will be removed and replaced with a streaming wireless system for laptops and smartphones. Ipads will be available for rent onboard. Their future plans are to offer service routes from Calgary and Vancouver, with Airbus 319’s (142 pax) and 767-300’s (282 pax).

United Airlines will be offering non-stop service between Los Angeles and Melbourne effective Oct 26, 2014 (subject to government approval). The route will be offered 6 times weekly with Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. Flight time will be approximately 15 hrs 45 min westbound, and 14 hrs, 35 min eastbound.

CROISIERES AML is a family-owned company established in Quebec since 1972. It has 18 boats operating in 8 Quebec ports. 

Admire the beauty of the landscape and discover the picturesque regions along the St Lawrence River. Take part in the different activities aboard the boat to learn more about this fascinating marine world, its flora and fauna. Offered mid-June through to September, the 1-week cruise perfectly combines enchanting scenery with warm interactions with the people you’ll meet.

Did you Know?: April Travel News

by Barbara Broadbent

KLM has introduced its new World Business Class. The new cabin interiors and seats of their Boeing 747 fleet were first introduced to Toronto last fall. They expect the complete conversion to be complete by this summer.

The Boeing 777-200’s will be the next fleet tofeature this new class. To include the important element of sustainability and environment, the new design features carpets made in part from the fibers of former KLM stewardess uniforms!!

Vancouver’s Visitor Centre at 200 Burrard Street, opposite the Canada Place Cruiseship Terminal, reopened late last summer after acomplete redesign and renovation. 

The 2000 sq ft open-plan office features a “living wall” of 600 plants, a Hesquaiht totem pole carved by renowned artist Tim Paul, and giant digital walls showcasing videos and images of inspiring tourism experiences.

New designer outlet at YVR airport is expected to open in the spring of 2015. Construction is underway on a 30–acre site at the eastern end of the airport grounds. 

It has been designed as an open-air village with 2 luxury piazzas, pedestrian-friendly walkways and tree-lined streets… and offer retail space as well as restaurants and cafes.

Portland Rose Festival, operating for over a century, presents its signature event … the Spectacular Grand Floral Parade, on Saturday, June 07. 

Every all-floral float, floral-decked equestrian unit and melodious marching band starts its journey by passing through the Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum before hitting the streets for the rest of the 4.2 mile parade route. Weekend events include 2 musicals presented by the Portland Center Stage and the Annual Spring Rose Show.