Year: 2019

Maui residents looking to experience Hawai‘i’s “Ninth Island” can now enjoy non-stop service to Las Vegas with Hawaiian Airlines’ new four-times-weekly flights between Kahului Airport (OGG) and McCarran International Airport (LAS).

The carrier celebrated its newest route with Hawaiian music and lei for guests departing at OGG today. Earlier, the airline hosted a special giveaway at Kahului’s Maui Sunday Market that invited attendees to show up with packed bags and be ready to board the inaugural flight, HA32, that evening. Two lucky winners, each accompanied by a guest, embarked on an all-inclusive roundtrip to Las Vegas, including a complimentary AVIS rental car, and hotel provided by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

Hawaiian is the leading domestic carrier for travel between Maui and the U.S. West Coast, connecting Kahului to Los Angeles, Oakland, Portland, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, and Seattle. Las Vegas becomes the airline’s ninth U.S. West Coast city with nonstop service to OGG.

“We have a 34-year history of welcoming travelers between Hawai‘i and Las Vegas, and the demand continues to grow at an incredible rate,” said Brent Overbeek, Hawaiian’s senior vice president of network planning and revenue management. “Our nonstop OGG-LAS service represents our commitment to offer our guests the most convenient network between the Hawaiian Islands and the U.S. West Coast, and strengthens Hawai‘i’s ties with the Las Vegas community.”

HA32 departed OGG at 8:50 p.m. tonight and is scheduled to arrive at LAS at 4:30 a.m. The return flight, HA31, has a 6:30 a.m. scheduled departure at LAS tomorrow, with an 11 a.m. estimated arrival at OGG that gives travelers the afternoon to relax and enjoy the sights, sounds, and flavors of the Valley Isle.

“We’re proud that Las Vegas is affectionally known as the ‘Ninth Island,’ and we couldn’t be more pleased that Hawaiian Airlines is adding this service and making travel between Las Vegas and Maui more convenient than ever,” said Chris Meyer, vice president of global sales for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. “Vegas changes everything by taking every experience to the next level, and 2020 is going to be a huge year with the launch of major new resort, sports and convention and meetings offerings. As Las Vegas continues to grow, we look forward to welcoming an ever-increasing number of business and leisure visitors from Hawai‘i.”

Hawaiian first launched service between LAS and the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) in September 1985 with Lockheed L-1011 aircraft, and previously operated OGG-LAS flights from October 2010 to October 2012 with Boeing 767 aircraft. Hawaiian, which also offers up to three daily nonstop flights between Honolulu and Las Vegas with Airbus A330 aircraft, carried more than 470,000 guests between the two cities in 2018.

"As a record number of passengers continue to utilize McCarran, we are excited for this new service between Las Vegas and Maui offering travelers a chance to experience what makes both destinations so remarkable," said Chris Jones, chief marketing officer for McCarran International Airport. “After years of collaborative efforts, it is satisfying to see this launch come to fruition.”

Guests traveling between Maui and Las Vegas can indulge in the comfort of Hawaiian’s newest fleet of Airbus A321neo aircraft. The quiet and fuel-efficient A321neo features 16 luxurious leather recliners in First Class, 44 Extra Comfort premium economy seats, and 129 Economy seats. In addition to the carrier’s award-winning service, including complimentary meals, in-flight entertainment and Hawaiian hospitality, guests have ample access to additional overhead stowage space and USB outlets to charge personal entertainment devices.

Source: newsroom.hawaiianairlines.com

Scenic Luxury Cruises and Tours took home a number of top awards and has been named as one of the world’s top cruise lines in Cruise Critic’s annual Editors’ Picks awards in USA & Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom. The Scenic Group was also recognized globally as one of the best cruise lines in the world, winning the Best New Luxury Ship award across all three geographic locations.

Cruise Critic® is the world's largest cruise reviews site and online cruise community. These experts, with hundreds of cruises under their collective belts, highlight the best ocean, river and luxury cruise lines for USA & Canada travelers, across dozens of categories.

2019 USA & Canada Cruise Critic Editors’ Picks Awards
Best Value for Money: Emerald Waterways (5th year in a row)
Best Enrichment: Scenic
Best New Luxury Ship: Scenic Eclipse

2019 Cruise Critic Australia Editors’ Picks Awards
Best New Luxury Ship: Scenic Eclipse

2019 Cruise Critic UK Editors’ Picks Awards
Best for Enrichment: Scenic
Best Shore Excursions: Scenic
Best Value for Money: Emerald Waterways
Best New Luxury Ship: Scenic Eclipse

The 5-star Scenic Space Ships sail many of Europe’s most interesting rivers as well as the Mekong in SE Asia and the Volga in Russia. These luxury ships offer truly all-inclusive fares where everything except massages and the hair dresser is included: private butler service, unlimited complimentary beverages, gratuities, transfers, cultural entertainment, regional cuisine as well as Western dining in customized settings: poolside to cabin, alfresco to fine dining, and Scenic Freechoice activities help create remarkable memories from the regions’ kaleidoscope of customs and cuisine.

Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours has grown over its 33-year history to include award-winning, all-inclusive river cruises and handcrafted land tours that take participants to many of the world’s most fascinating destinations. Since 2008, Scenic has offered river cruises in Europe, SE Asia, Russia and Egypt on its 15 Space-Ships. 

 Seabourn, the world's finest ultra-luxury travel experience, will open a window on the majesty of nature for guests of its new ultra-luxury purpose-built expedition ship, Seabourn Venture, which is set to sail to the world's most coveted and remote destinations beginning in June 2021. The Bow Lounge is designed to further enhance the perspectives that the natural world presents, increasing the sense of discovery that is sure to captivate guests by bringing a view of the outside inside combined with direct access to the outdoors.

Located on Deck 6, at the forward-most part of the vessel, the Bow Lounge will provide the closest access to water level via the foredeck, making it the perfect spot for guests to spend some time watching for marine life. Within a few steps, guests can be outside, with a vantage point that is ideal to watch the ship's course, spot wildlife, or take in the beautiful natural scenery.  

As envisioned by renowned designer Adam D. Tihany, the creative design eye behind the new vessels, the Bow Lounge will introduce some technological enhancements, providing guests with a first for Seabourn with touch screens showing the ship's plotted location, as well as navigational charts and scientific information used to help guide the ship on its journey. Large screens will project live footage from mounted cameras outside the ship, and from a drone when conditions permit, while the touch screen monitors invite guests to explore on their own with a live map, weather information, and notes detailing upcoming expeditions. Expedition Team members will be available within the Lounge throughout the day to interact with guests, answer questions, provide interpretation and aid in spotting wildlife.

The space will also provide direct access to the Bow Sprit on Deck 6 forward (when conditions permit) to give guests the sensation of standing in front of the ship and views of waves parting and ice sloughing off the bow at the waterline.

"While we can't put Seabourn guests in the captain's chair on the bridge, the Bow Lounge  helps guests feel like they are part of the action because of the position at the very front of the ship along with information like maps and charts displayed on touch screens," said Richard Meadows, president of Seabourn. "The lounge is one of those unique features that will set Seabourn Venture apart from most expedition vessels, where guests can quickly walk outside to spot natural features or wildlife as they learn from the expedition team, while illuminating and invigorating the experience by getting them as close as possible to the world outside."

Thoughtfully designed in deep blue and orange hues, the Bow Lounge features rhythmic architectural lighting panels that balance the space and contribute to the feeling of a control center laid out for full access by guests. Wood and metal patchwork wall panels will reflect the angular motif of the custom carpet and reintroduce a handcrafted sensibility into one of the more technical and engaging guest spaces onboard.

The "Pantry in the Bow Lounge," one of eight dining experiences on Seabourn expedition ships, will allow guests to help themselves to freshly prepared light fare and refreshments as they scan the horizon and socialize with others onboard.

Each new ultra-luxury expedition ship will feature 132 luxurious oceanfront veranda suites. Renderings of the new ships, suites and public spaces of the ship can be found in the link here. More details about the expedition ships will continue to be revealed in the coming months. Itineraries for the first season of travel aboard Seabourn Venture are now open for booking on the Seabourn website. The second sister ship is set to launch in May 2022.

Seabourn represents the pinnacle of all-inclusive, ultra-luxury travel with intimate ships offering key elements that set the line apart: spacious, thoughtfully appointed suites, many with verandas and all oceanfront; superb dining in a choice of venues; complimentary premium spirits and fine wines available onboard at all times; award-winning service and a relaxed, sociable atmosphere that makes guests feel at home onboard. The ships travel the globe to many of the world's most desirable destinations including marquee cities, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and lesser-known ports and hideaways.