Holiday News - Direct

The Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has announced its new F3 ships will include the first ever ice bars on a cruise ship. The F3 ships will feature many other amenities that are new and unique to cruise ships.

People planning a cruise holiday want the possible cruises represented by destinations rather than by ship, P&O Cruises has found after customer and agent research. Therefore its new cruise brochure will revamped to please customers more.

All-inclusive Barbados resort Mango Bay expects 89% occupancy during June 2008 despite it being an off-season month in the Caribbean. Holidays in Barbados are very popular during the high season, but the Mango Bay resort has managed to increase its occupancy in off-season months in the past few years. This year it will have a record high number of people staying for the month of June.

Singapore has been getting ready for the first ever Formula 1 race to take place at night. The city is expected fill up with tourists coming to follow the special event – Indonesia’s industrial island Batam is even expected to provide accommodation for F1 fans.

Most British holidaymakers cannot be bothered to learn even the most basic words and phrases in the language used in their holiday destination, and 81% refuse to take a phrase book or dictionary with them, while one third rely on the locals being able to speak English.

The Maldives government has announced that 19 uninhabited islands in the island group are to be leased to developers to create more luxury holiday hideaways.
The country has become one of the richest in the region thanks for the exotic and exclusive resorts where holidaymakers enjoy the clean, blue ocean and privacy.
There are also plans to […]

Members of the public have the opportunity to voice their thoughts on plans for a 90-room horel in the village of Les Praz, near ski resort Chamonix in the French Alps.
Full details of the planning application for the hotel are available for viewing until the end of the month.
If the application is passed the new […]

VisitBritain, the UK’s national tourist body is enlisting the help of comedy heroes, such as John Cleese to promote holidays in Britain.
The six-month promotional campaign will feature “local comedy hereos”, such as the hapless hotelier Basil Fawlty and Laurel & Hardy.
VisitBritain says the campaign will encourage tourists to “explore English destinations linked to our rich […]

Sri Lankan Airways has announced that it is adding new direct flights to the Maldives from London Heathrow later this year.
There will be four weekly flights from Heathrow to Male starting in October. The airline says there will be further service announcements.
Chanaka Olagama, manager of Sri Lankan Airlines’ UK and Ireland operations, said: […]

A money saving website has issued a strong warning to travellers about the hidden charges of using cash machines abroad.
Moneyexpert.com says that £284 million in unnecessary fees is being spent every year by British holidaymakers abroad in Europe and beyond.
A MoneyExpert.com spokesman said: “Withdrawing cash from an ATM or over the counter whilst abroad can […]

Etihad Airways are to add a third daily service between Heathrow Airport and their central hub at Abu Dhabi.
The new service will begin in October and will give passenger more choice of connections to the other destinations in Etihad’s network - Bangkok, Singapore and Sydney.
The airline hopes to get more slots from Heathrow Airport, with […]

There are plenty of major arts and sports events taking place in New York this summer and Autumn, so bear these dates in mind if you are planning a New York holiday this year.
SummerStage: Performing Arts festival, Central Park 13th June to 17th August.
Jeff Koons exhibition: Metropolitan Museum of Art - until 26th […]

£2 million will be invested in improvements to Birmingham Airport’s parking facilities, officials have announced.
The key focus is on improving the traffic flow for drivers who drop off and pick up passengers at the increasingly busy airport.
Already the “drop and go” are has been expanded and more parking spaces have been made available.
The airport’s plans […]

Life Books has compiled a list of the top 10 romantic holiday destinations around the world.
The “Dream Destinations” are -
1. Wildflower Hall, India.
Set at a high altitude and in dense forests, the spa resort was once the estate of Lord Kitchener.
2. The Camargue, France.
Home to famous white ponies and pink flamingoes, medieval […]

A national newspaper has named Spain as the “all-time favourite destination for Scots”.
The Daily Record reports that Spain is “ideal for a dream break” and “you can never go wrong with Spain”, highlighting the country’s combination of sunshine, beaches and culture.
Majorca was named as a top family holiday destination, partly due to the wide variety […]

A new indoor, all-year-round ski resort is being built at a popular tourism centre in Israel.
The Sha’ar Gilboa ski resort at Mount Gilboa was approved by government ministers on Wednesday and will offer beginner skiing opportunities as well as skiing for experts.
The plans, which have been described as “sci-fi and grandiose”, include 320 metres of […]

The strong performance of the Euro against the Dollar may be putting some American tourists off taking a European vacation, but travel experts are seeing that cannier Americans are boosting the popularity of Eastern European cities as they bid stretch out their holiday Dollars.
“Eastern Europe has been rising in popularity as a destination for its […]

A budget hotel chain is launching a trial “a-room-atherpy” in selected hotels. Sheets will scented with smells that a “Senses Census” found to be the most relaxing.

A new international survey has found that taking a holiday makes 40% of British couples squabble over something. Either over their partner’s flirting, or everyday issues over weather or food.

Holidays in Spain and in Portugal will be marketed as one holiday destination, after a new co-op programme was agreed upon by both countries’ tourism bodies.