Breakaway about to undergo sea trials

Air Canada has a new top tier reward programme, which went into effect on March 1.

Air Canada Altitude is designed to reward its most frequent flyers with a range of premium products and services, some of which include priority airport services, lounge access and upgrades.

At the most basic level, it will give complimentary access to preferred seats and waived handling fees for sports equipment. For more details go to the new website https://altitude.aircanada.com

Carlson free points

Those who are fans of the Carlson hotel chain can earn 1,000 free bonus points just for liking its Facebook page (Facebook.com/clubcarlson) The offer runs until March 31, 2013 and the award is limited to one per person.

It should take you two to three weeks to get your account credited. Hotels in the chain include Radisson, Radisson Blu, Park Plaza, Park Inn and Country Inns & Suites.

Quantum of the Seas

Royal Caribbean has named its latest class of ship Quantum.

The new ship will begin service in the fall of 2014. Kristin Chenoweth will be the godmother for the Quantum. She was on the red carpet for the Oscars for ABC TV two weeks ago and is known for her over the top cameo role as April Rhodes in Glee and appeared in such movies as The Pink Panther, Bewitched and Hit and Run.

Norwegian Breakaway

The ship, which will be making its debut in Bermuda in May, was floated out of dock in Germany last week. It is the largest ship ever built in that country. Crew members moved aboard the ship this week and it is expected to test her seaworthiness in the North Sea on March 10.

The Breakaway will hold just over 4,000 passengers at double occupancy.

Antigua

WestJet will be extending its schedule into Antigua and Barbuda into the summer months and will now operate its flight from Toronto all year long.

It only flies to Antigua on Wednesdays and Sundays and will continue this frequency through April 28, 2013. After that it will only fly on Saturdays but use a bigger, 174-seat plane.

UK cruising

Could cruise ships start skipping the UK as part of its itineraries?

Warning shots have been fired about the long delays it is taking for passengers on cruise ships doing day trips in the UK to pass through border control.

Cruise Britain say the delays, which can be up to several hours to get off the ship, are unreasonable and is costing the country money.

Cruise Britain estimates the average passenger spends $123 for a four to eight hour day trip and each 2,000 passenger ship is worth $246,000 in visitor spending.

Penny Guy of the Passenger Shipping Association, told Travel Mole: “The cruise ships have the option to visit any ports they wish and if they feel the passenger’s experience is not as enjoyable then they have the choice to go to other ports.”