Tourism

• Saturday, December 18th 2010 - 18:58 UTC

  Full reimbursement for ‘Brilliance of the Seas’ Mediterranean cruise passengers

  

  The nearly 2,060 Royal Caribbean “Brilliance of the Seas” passengers who endured a horrifying early morning in the Mediterranean won't be paying a dime for the experience. “The captain announced a full refund for all guests as a result of the 'unfortunate incident”, posted Cruise Critic member Lifelong Cruiser, who was onboard.

• Saturday, December 18th 2010 - 18:53 UTC

  Royal Caribbean sweeps with cruise industry Travel Weekly awards

  

  Miami-based Royal Caribbean swept half a dozen categories in the Travel Weekly awards, including the top spot for “cruise line, overall” as well as “cruise line, domestic” and “cruise line, Caribbean.” Royal Caribbean also won in the category of “cruise line, sales and service,” and the line's much-promoted new Oasis of the Seas swept the categories of “cruise ship, rookie” and “cruise ship, overall.”

• Wednesday, December 15th 2010 - 02:48 UTC

  Polish yacht grounded in Beagle channel with loss of two crew members

  

  The bodies of two crew members from a Polish flagged yacht that grounded in the Beagle Channel, extreme south of Argentina, have been recovered by Argentine naval patrols, reported late Tuesday the Ushuaia based Search and rescue centre.

• Tuesday, December 14th 2010 - 14:00 UTC

  Airlines profits for 2010 and 2011 up but “margins remain pathetic” says IATA

  

  The International Air Transport Association (IATA) revised its industry outlook for 2010 to a net profit of 15.1 billion USD (up from the 8.9 billion forecast in September). Similarly IATA revised upwards its projections for 2011 to a net industry profit of 9.1 billion (up from the 5.3 billion forecast in September). However net margins remain weak at 2.7% for 2010 and falling to 1.5% in 2011.

• Thursday, December 9th 2010 - 07:52 UTC

  Rio displays the world’s largest floating Xmas tress with 3.3 million lights

  

  Thousands of Brazilians and visitors gathered at Rio de Janeiro's Rodrigo de Freitas Lake to witness the lighting of the world largest floating Christmas tree with 3.3 million lights.

• Thursday, December 9th 2010 - 07:15 UTC

  Clelia II sailing on her own is expected Friday in Ushuaia

  

  The expedition vessel MV Clelia II is now operating at normal speed during its northbound crossing of the Drake Passage, following heavy sea conditions Tuesday that resulted in a broken bridge window and some electrical malfunctions.

• Wednesday, December 8th 2010 - 04:50 UTC

  Antarctic luxury cruise vessel heading for Ushuaia after suffering engine failure

  

  A Maltese-flagged cruise ship with 160 people on board which on Tuesday declared an emergency as it was sailing across the Drake Passage off the southern tip of South America is limping back to Ushuaia, its port of destination, according to a release from the Argentine Navy.

• Tuesday, December 7th 2010 - 08:05 UTC

  Brazil and U.S. open-skies agreement; fully operational in 2015

  

  Representatives of the United States and Brazil have singed an Open-Skies aviation services agreement which will significantly liberalize U.S.-Brazil air services for airlines of both countries over a transition period, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).

• Thursday, December 2nd 2010 - 21:40 UTC

  Santiago airport capacity 40% expansion will handle 14 million annually

  

  Santiago de Chile’s airport is about to be expanded to accommodate millions of more travellers. The crowds of people in the airport have been steadily growing, adding hours of travel time to passengers arriving to and leaving from Chile.

• Thursday, December 2nd 2010 - 04:15 UTC

  Cruise industry blasts latest IMO environmental rules

  

  One of the cruise industry's top executives this week openly criticized new environmental rules that he says will have a profound impact on cruise lines.