WORLD ROUTES: Celebrity Cruises Help Canadians Beat the Deep Freeze

There’s good news for sun-starved travellers looking to escape another potential polar vortex - if only for a week at a time. Two Vantage Airport Group network airports are set to welcome expanded warm-weather travel options this winter, thanks to popular all-inclusive Caribbean cruise packages operated by Celebrity Cruises out of Port Miami.

Travellers departing from a handful of select Canadian airports, including John C. Munro International Airport (YHM) in Hamilton, Ontario and Greater Moncton International Airport (YQM) in Atlantic Canada, can enjoy these week-long excursions. Competitively priced and including everything from airfare and transfers to onboard dining, cocktails and entertainment, it’s no wonder that these packages were very popular last winter.

“Canadians have long been big fans of inclusive travel and non-stop flights,” said Ken Brooks, Director of Sales, Celebrity Cruises Canada. “Celebrity is ground-breaking in bringing the enjoyment of all-included cruising and non-stop flights from exclusive departure cities across the country.”

Non-stop flights depart Hamilton International for Miami every Saturday and Sunday from February 7, 2015 to April 12, 2015. Meanwhile, travellers from Atlantic Canada can fly non-stop from Moncton International to Miami every Sunday between February 8, 2015 and April 12, 2015.

From coast to coast, leisure travel is doing brisk business across Canada. And regional airports are getting noticed by airlines and travel companies alike, all looking to grab a piece of the winter getaway business, build capacity and put passengers in seats - and on ships, in some cases.

Along with Celebrity’s all-inclusive cruise vacations, Hamilton International offers travellers non-stop service to a handful of other enticing holiday spots, including weekly service to five destinations with Air Transat: Cancun, Mexico; Varadero, Cuba; Montego Bay, Jamaica; Punta Cana, Dominican Republic and new this year, Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic.

Sunwing Vacations has also ramped up service, with a new weekly frequency to Punta Cana in addition to existing Varadero service. And Canadian favourite WestJet rounds out the leisure schedule with service to Cancun, Punta Cana and Orlando, Florida.

These recent sundrenched additions to Hamilton’s flight schedule are a promising sign of sustainable growth for this regional airport serving Southern Ontario. Centrally located between the Toronto and Niagara Falls markets, YHM serves one of the largest and most populated urban regions in North America.

According to Lauren Yaksich, Director of Marketing and Communications, YHM routinely gets top marks for convenience. “For many of the eight million Canadians living in this populated catchment area, Hamilton International is an ideal option for those who want to start their holiday sooner. With a one-minute walk from the parking lot to the terminal and minimal lineups as well as great food and drink options, we offer a great value to our customers, enhancing their overall experience.”

Meanwhile, Greater Moncton International: Atlantic Canada’s fastest growing airport is also experiencing something of a boom, with two new routes via Sunwing Vacations next winter: Orlando International (for the Disney World-bound) and Jardines del Ray International Airport on the Cuban island of Caya Cocoa. Located centrally in the Maritimes, YQM draws travellers from Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, in addition to residents of its home province of New Brunswick.

“We are very excited to add Celebrity Cruises and a direct flight from Greater Moncton to Miami to our wide array of southern destinations next winter,” said Johanne Gallant, interim President and CEO of the Greater Moncton International Airport Authority. “We know that Caribbean cruises are just the cure people need to get through those long, cold winter months. Celebrity Cruises’ desire to partner with us is a testament to the strength they see in our market.”