Winter Archives - Page 2 of 3

Air Caraïbes Expands Winter Schedule Between Paris and the Caribbean

October 1, 2026 by Amara Nambinga

Air Caraïbes renforce son programme au départ de Paris-Orly vers les Antille - Depositphotos.com @Boarding2Now

CroisiEurope

For the winter season 2026-2027, Air Caraïbes plans to strengthen its offering between Paris-Orly, the Antilles, and French Guiana and several Caribbean destinations.
The airline notably announces up to 21 weekly flights to Pointe-à-Pitre, 18 to Fort-de-France and 6 to Cayenne.
Among the main changes to the program, Air Caraïbes intends to resume the Paris-Orly – Saint-Martin Juliana (SXM) link on October 15, 2026, at a rate of two flights per week. The route will be operated with an Airbus A350, a first for the company on this connection.

Air Caraïbes: Punta Cana served daily

Air Caraïbes also strengthens its offering to sun destinations. In the Dominican Republic, Punta Cana will move to daily service starting December 12, 2026, i.e., up to seven flights per week.

The airline also maintains three weekly flights to Santo Domingo. These rotations are organized as triangular connections with Samaná, served twice a week, and San Salvador once a week. The Samaná service will resume on January 4, 2027, with two frequencies per week.

To the Bahamas, San Salvador will return to the schedule on October 22, 2026, with one flight per week. In Mexico, Air Caraïbes maintains up to three weekly flights to Cancún.

A strengthened regional offer in the Caribbean

On the inter-island network, Air Caraïbes plans up to seven daily flights between Pointe-à-Pitre and Fort-de-France and up to six daily flights between Pointe-à-Pitre and Saint-Martin Grand-Case.

The direct Fort-de-France – Saint-Martin Grand-Case link will also be strengthened during periods of high demand, with up to three direct flights per week, up from two previously.

Outside of these periods, Saint-Martin will remain accessible via Pointe-à-Pitre, with up to six daily flights on that route.

Published by Amelia Brille TourMaG.com Editor
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Transavia: No Capacity Cuts, 10% Growth This Winter

September 30, 2026 by Amara Nambinga

Hub à Orly : "Nous ne bâtissons pas notre programme dans un objectif de connectivité" - Depositphotos

CroisiEurope

TourMaG – Dans un contexte très particulier, comment s’est passé l’été pour Transavia ?

Julien Mallard : We are very satisfied, both commercially and operationally. In July and August, we transported more than 4 million people, representing a growth of over 13% compared with last year. We also managed to operate more than 400 flights per day, which is a record for Transavia.

All of this occurred in a context where we improved punctuality and the consistency of our operations, despite external events such as Etna or various strikes.

We were able to maintain our offer during the peak of the summer.

We also worked to be highly responsive and to reallocate our capacity from the Middle East to other destinations. This allowed us to meet a growing demand from passengers wishing to travel to Southern Europe or North Africa, notably to Italy, Spain, Morocco and Tunisia.

All in all, it was a summer that went fairly well from a commercial and operational standpoint.

Transavia: “Autumn is fairly dynamic”

TourMaG – Like your peers, the summer was also marked by late bookings, I suppose?

Julien Mallard : Indeed, we have observed an acceleration in bookings, with a certain degree of caution. Customers were more attuned to price, destinations and the security situation.

Since spring, we have seen bookings become increasingly late, with customers able to book July or August holidays at the last minute.

This is something we also notice at the end of summer, in September and October, with short-term dynamics much stronger than in previous years.
TourMaG – How do the off-season and year-end look for Transavia?

Julien Mallard : For the moment, autumn is quite dynamic. The momentum we saw this summer is also taking shape in September and October.

The big novelty this summer for Transavia was also the resumption of domestic routes to Toulouse, Nice and Marseille. From a commercial and load factor standpoint, these routes are quite successful.

We have already carried 750,000 people on the first four months of operation of these three destinations, with load factors above 85%, in line with our initial targets at the start of operations.

This will allow us to approach the end of the summer season and the start of winter quite solidly.

We will maintain the planned frequencies and we will even increase them on Toulouse, up to nine flights per day. The aim is notably to meet business customer needs, with more travel options, especially in the late afternoon.

Transavia: “The 5 Airbus A321neo will all be in operation in summer 2027”

Le Wi-Fi dans les avions Transavia : "c'est un sujet en réflexion" - RP

TourMaG – 2026 est aussi synonyme de livraisons et d’entrée en fonction des Airbus A321neo.

Julien Mallard : This new product will be available from March 2027 and will be rolled out on these domestic routes. We plan to receive five by next spring. All five aircraft will be in operation by the summer of 2027.

They will offer 232 seats, compared to 189 for the Boeing 737-800 and 186 for the Airbus A320neo.

For the customer, this means more comfort, modern aircraft and especially more space for cabin baggage.

This is an important point for this type of clientele. We will have almost 40% more cabin baggage space, which will make life easier for frequent travelers on these routes.

We will notably deploy them on Toulouse, Nice and Marseille. It is also an aircraft that helps save 15 to 20% in kerosene.

TourMaG – With domestic-route customers, will the topic of Wi-Fi on Transavia aircraft arise? For now, these are still topics under consideration. We see the market evolve, as do customer expectations.

Our flight durations are generally shorter than those of Air France, but we feel this could become an important element for customers in the coming years. It is therefore an innovation we are working on and studying.

TourMaG – Since March 29, Transavia has been alone, at least without Air France, in Orly. You now have a hub. Does this fundamentally change the way you work and market? Not fundamentally, because we mainly build our program to meet the needs of point-to-point customers.

We do not build our program with a connectivity objective, as that would impose other constraints, particularly on aircraft usage. We do, however, have a tool called Transavia Connect for customers who wish to use Transavia as part of a connection.

With an increasingly dense network, it becomes more and more interesting to compose certain itineraries, for example a Berlin-Agadir. But our priority remains point-to-point traffic, to and from Paris.

Transavia : “gagner en efficacité,” plutôt d’augmenter les prix

TourMaG – This business traveler arriving at Transavia, with Air France lines being moved, could appreciate this kind of product…

Julien Mallard : We offer this clientele the possibility to work in our lounge.

We opened it at Orly last July. It found its audience and the feedback is very positive. Some customers are surprised that a low-cost company can offer this kind of service. Air France customers, on the other hand, find themselves returning to certain habits in a lounge that has been renovated.

It is a lounge operated by Transavia, with a Transavia service, which we have tried to design for business travelers and our frequent customers. In fact, we realize they expect to find this type of service.

This allows the customer to work before departure. The lounge is located right next to the domestic departures, which makes it easy to reach their flight at the last moment.

What is important for us is to listen to what the customer seeks and expects.

On these new domestic destinations, there was indeed a strong expectation for this type of service. Our objective is to find the most efficient way to offer the product, and especially to offer it à la carte.

We do not want all our customers to pay for a lounge if they do not wish to use it. So we must find flexible ways of delivering the service.

In Orly, we have a very significant base, it is our base. It was therefore logical that we operate this lounge ourselves.

TourMaG – Are there new routes planned for the winter?

Julien Mallard : We will open several destinations from the provinces, notably toward areas where we sense demand and curiosity among the French.

I am thinking especially of Egypt, with the opening of Bordeaux-Cairo and Nantes-Cairo. We will also open a new destination to Cape Verde from Nantes.

There are also destinations more oriented toward the off-season and which perform well, notably Seville, with the opening of Brest-Seville and Rennes-Seville.

Transavia : “Nous prévoyons une croissance de plus de 10 % cet hiver”

TourMaG – TourMaG — Is there any topic around upcoming price increases? Michael O’Leary, head of Ryanair, mentioned a possible rise in fares if kerosene stays at a very high level. Is that a concern for Transavia?

Julien Mallard : For us, the issue is primarily to gain efficiency. Cost increases pose a real challenge. We must work on everything that can be controlled directly by the company.

One of the first levers is operational performance.

Getting aircraft on time and avoiding cancellations is one of the main levers for reducing costs. That is what we are striving to optimize.

We also aim to optimize our commercial offer and reposition flights where it makes sense, in order to improve our efficiency.

These are two levers we can act on to partially absorb this cost increase, which is significant for airlines.

TourMaG – Does this affect your upcoming winter programme?

Julien Mallard : We built our winter program taking into account the fuel situation observed in spring and summer.

So we have already integrated different hypotheses into our planning, which allows us to guarantee and maintain as much of our offer this winter as possible.

We expect growth of more than 10% this winter, particularly thanks to the resumption of domestic routes, which accounts for a large part of this progression.

We want to stay as responsive as possible to the situation in the Middle East. Adjustments may be necessary, but our objective remains a growth of more than 10% this winter.

Back to School: Get Ready for Winter with CATLANTE

September 28, 2026 by Amara Nambinga

CroisiEurope

A successful season that CATLANTE owes in part to its partners.

Before discussing the autumn comeback and upcoming destinations, the entire team wishes to thank travel agencies and tour operators who trusted them, recommended their cruises, and sent their clients aboard.

Now, heading for the Tropics!

The start of the year has not been smooth sailing for tourism. Geopolitical uncertainties, rising fuel prices, and, more broadly, the cost of living increases have weighed on decisions.

Many travelers chose to wait, postpone their plans, or simply take more time before booking.

But travel desires have not vanished.

And September traditionally marks a fresh start. Summer holidays are behind us, winter plans become concrete, and clients are once again looking seriously toward the sun.

CATLANTE has solid assets to support this rebound: a rich program in the Caribbean and Seychelles, three catamaran ranges to meet different budgets and comfort levels, three Catlante NEO models, and several commercial offers designed to facilitate bookings.

From the Caribbean to the Seychelles, winter 2026-2027 is shaping up to be rich in opportunities. The time has come to turn travel cravings into departures.

From the Caribbean to the Seychelles: winter with CATLANTE

This winter again, CATLANTE unveils a broad tropical program, with several itineraries and three catamaran ranges to satisfy the diverse wishes of clients.

In the Caribbean, the Grenadines remain naturally one of CATLANTE’s flagship destinations.

From Tobago Cays to Saint-Vincent via Bequia, Mayreau and Union, travelers sail island-hopping for a week or even 11 days. They encounter the charm of the archipelago: stunning moorings, beaches, Caribbean villages, and that wonderful sense of freedom inherent to cruising on a catamaran.

Departures from Saint-Martin bring a change of ambiance with a cruise between Anguilla and Saint-Barth: white-sand beaches, small islands, and chic stops make for a very different journey, particularly suited to clients who already know the French Caribbean and are seeking a new experience.

Between Martinique and Guadeloupe, CATLANTE one-way cruises connect the two islands via Dominica, the Saintes, and Marie-Galante. A format easy to combine with a few days on land before and after the cruise, to build a beautiful trip across the Antilles.

And in the Indian Ocean, the Seychelles remain CATLANTE’s other major winter destination. Mahé, Praslin, La Digue, Curieuse and the archipelago’s small islets are ideally discovered from the sea. Distances are short, and the catamaran lets you hop from island to island without multiplying transfers, hotels, and suitcases.

From the Caribbean to the Seychelles, CATLANTE’s winter thus offers agencies a beautiful range of destinations, itineraries, and levels of comfort to offer their clients.

After the Mediterranean, the three Catlante NEO set course for the tropics

After the summer season in the Mediterranean, the three Catlante NEO continue their journey this winter in the tropics.

Dès novembre, les deux derniers nés, Orion et Lyra, rejoindront les Grenadines, l’une des destinations emblématiques de CATLANTE. Le troisième, Sirius, mettra le cap sur les Seychelles, avec une première croisière programmée fin janvier 2027 et des réservations déjà ouvertes.

Avec seulement 12 passagers, de vastes espaces de vie, des cabines spacieuses et climatisées, trois membres d’équipage, les Catlante NEO incarnent la gamme Prestige de CATLANTE.

Une gamme pensée pour les clients les plus exigeants, qui souhaitent vivre pleinement l’expérience de la croisière en catamaran sans faire de compromis sur leur confort. Plus d’espace, plus d’intimité, un équipage renforcé et un service plus personnalisé : les Catlante NEO permettent ainsi à CATLANTE de proposer une expérience résolument haut de gamme sous les tropiques.

Offers to boost winter sales

Because a good offer can also help a client decide, CATLANTE is offering several commercial opportunities for its winter cruises.

Solo travelers: only 25% single supplement

A real good news for solo travelers: during certain periods, the single supplement drops from 75% to just 25%, on several cruises departing from Martinique, Guadeloupe, and Saint-Martin.

In the Grenadines, the 3rd passenger is offered

On departures on Thursdays and Fridays, the third traveler sails free in a triple-occupancy cabin aboard the Catlante 600 from the Comfort range. This offer is especially appealing for families with a teen, a parent with two children, or three friends traveling together.

Up to -15% on certain one-way cruises

Some dates also benefit from 15% off on cruises between Martinique and Guadeloupe, or the reverse direction. An opportunity to build a superb Antillean trip by combining the cruise with a few days on land on either side.

Three offers that cater to different traveler profiles and give agencies new reasons to boost Antilles sales for the autumn season.

Costa Cruises Expands Its Caribbean Offering for Winter 2026-2027

September 27, 2026 by Amara Nambinga

Costa Croisières prépare la saison hiver 2026-2027 dans les Caraïbes - Depositphotos.com @ dbvirago

Climats du Monde

À l’occasion de son roadshow annuel organisé les 8 et 9 septembre en Guadeloupe et en Martinique, Costa Croisières a présenté son programme pour la saison hiver 2026-2027 dans les Caraïbes.

Two ships will be positioned in the region: the Costa Favolosa, which will offer departures from Pointe-à-Pitre and Fort-de-France, and the Costa Fascinosa, deployed from Pointe-à-Pitre and La Romana in the Dominican Republic.

Après un passage en cale sèche, le Costa Favolosa entamera la saison avec plusieurs espaces rénovés. Les travaux portent notamment sur les cabines Balcon, Suites et Grand Suites, les salles de bain ainsi que certains espaces dédiés aux enfants, aux excursions et au bien-être.

Côté itinéraires, le navire fera notamment escale en Martinique, Guadeloupe, Saint-Kitts, Antigua, Tortola, République dominicaine et Sainte-Lucie.

À bord, le navire propose notamment un Solemio Spa de 6 000 m², un Aqua Park ainsi qu’une piscine arrière offrant une vue panoramique sur la mer.

New Experiences Onboard

Costa Croisières entend également enrichir sa programmation avec plusieurs nouveautés. Parmi elles, l’Archipelago propose une expérience gastronomique autour d’un menu dégustation en 12 plats imaginé par les chefs Bruno Barbieri, Hélène Darroze et Ángel León.

La compagnie introduit également la “Black Night”, une soirée immersive organisée autour d’un dress code noir et d’une programmation spécifique mêlant gastronomie, animations, shopping et spectacles.

Autre axe mis en avant : la valorisation de la culture caribéenne. Le concept “Saveur Créole”, lancé il y a deux ans pour répondre notamment aux attentes de la clientèle locale, sera reconduit à bord du Costa Favolosa. Il associera spécialités culinaires antillaises, musique et animations avec la participation d’artistes locaux.

Pour les fêtes de fin d’année, la programmation intégrera notamment des concerts de Chanté Nwèl, avec les groupes Kasika et ID’Or, ainsi que plusieurs spécialités traditionnelle antillaises proposées dans les restaurants du navire sans supplément.

“Sea & Land Destinations” Highlight the Calls

Costa Croisières poursuit par ailleurs le développement de son concept “Sea & Land Destinations”, qui associe les expériences proposées lors des escales à des animations organisées à bord pendant la navigation.

La compagnie cite notamment le Martinique Fest Tribute, organisé dans la baie de Martinique. Cette soirée doit recréer à bord l’ambiance du carnaval martiniquais à travers des costumes, des percussions, un DJ set et une parade finale.

Pour accompagner le lancement de la saison, Costa Croisières propose jusqu’au 30 septembre une offre sur certaines croisières Caraïbes à bord du Costa Favolosa, au départ de Pointe-à-Pitre et de Fort-de-France.

Les clients peuvent bénéficier de 50 % de réduction sur les forfaits boissons My Drinks et My Drinks Plus.

Les croisières de sept nuits sont proposées à partir de 579 € TTC par personne, sur la base d’une cabine intérieure double en tarif My Cruise. Les départs de Fort-de-France débutent à partir du 25 novembre, tandis que ceux de Pointe-à-Pitre sont programmés à partir du 26 novembre.

Published by Amelia Brille TourMaG.com Editor
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Heading for the Far North: Get Ready for Winter with Civitatis’ Exceptional Campaign

September 23, 2026 by Amara Nambinga

Climats du Monde

The off-season is a pivotal period for travel agencies. It is precisely the moment when travelers begin planning their winter getaways to experience the magic of Christmas under the snow, marvel at the Northern Lights, or treat themselves to a genuine disconnect in the pristine landscapes of the High North. The profile of these travelers has evolved as well: they no longer seek merely a flight and a hotel, but authentic immersive experiences to create lasting memories.

From Finnish Lapland to the Norwegian fjords, and extending across the lands of fire and ice in Iceland, demand for Nordic destinations continues to rise. To turn this enthusiasm into commercial success, anticipation is your best ally. Booking early not only guarantees spots on highly sought-after activities, but also provides total peace of mind for your clients.

A campaign designed to highlight your expertise

To support travel agencies during this period of high demand, Civitatis unveils a special campaign active from September 1 to October 31.

The objective? To enable you to capitalise on this strategic booking window. By reserving activities in Nordic destinations on the B2B platform during these two months, you benefit from special and significantly improved selling conditions. It’s the ideal opportunity to enrich your clients’ itineraries with memorable experiences, while optimizing the profitability of every winter dossier. This initiative reflects Civitatis’ commitment to staying close to travel agents’ concerns, equipping them with the best tools to boost their turnover during the cold season.

Why include Civitatis activities in your Nordic itineraries?

The success of a trip to the Great North largely depends on the experiences that punctuate it. The weather conditions and the sometimes complex logistics of these destinations make supervised activities essential and highly reassuring for a discerning French clientèle.

Here is what you can offer to your clients in just a few clicks:

● The chase for the Northern Lights: optimized excursions with expert guides to maximize the chances of sightings in Iceland or Norway.

● The magic of Christmas in Lapland: the must-see visit to Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi, ideal for families seeking enchantment, with the official meet-and-greet and the Arctic Circle crossing.

● Snowy thrills: snowmobile rides, dogsledding, or reindeer sleigh rides through the heart of snowy forests, all supervised by professional mushers.

● Absolute relaxation: access to the renowned Icelandic thermal baths, such as the Blue Lagoon or Sky Lagoon, perfect for recharging after a day of chilly exploration.

Civitatis’ promise for travel professionals

In addition to these temporary advantageous conditions, Civitatis remains the trusted partner for agencies thanks to:

● A rich and carefully curated catalog offering numerous activities in French, to erase the language barrier.

● A fluid, fast, and intuitive booking platform, designed specifically to save you time at the counter.

● Flexible cancellation terms, a major reassurance argument for clients who are still hesitant to commit.

● A dedicated customer support, available 24/7 in French, ready to assist at any question.

Don’t miss the season! It’s the moment to offer your clients the experiences they dream of for this winter and to enjoy your exclusive benefits.

Discover the offers and take advantage of the campaign now on the dedicated page: discover the Nordic destinations with Civitatis

Contact Civitatis

Cap sur le Grand Nord : anticipez l’hiver avec la campagne exceptionnelle de Civitatis !

If you wish to access Civitatis’ carefully selected activity catalog, do not hesitate to contact our team who will be delighted to assist you.

Georges Sans

France Development Director

[email protected]

+33 647 183 112

Dedicated Service for Travel Agencies

[email protected]

Boomerang Voyages Expands Its Winter Offering With 14 New Clubs

September 23, 2026 by Amara Nambinga

Boomerang Voyages enrichit sa production pour la saison hivernale - Depositphotos.com, mblach

Climats du Monde

Boomerang Voyages étoffe son catalogue hivernal avec de nouvelles adresses pour ses marques Kappa Club et Club Coralia, ainsi qu’une offre de circuits en étoile.

The Kappa Club brand is adding seven new openings this season. Among the major new developments is the brand’s arrival in Malaysia, with the Kappa Club Rebak Island Resort & Marina 5*.

The program also expands to Vietnam and Mauritius, with the Kappa Club Wess Les Salines 5*.

Panama also returns to the collection, while new addresses are offered in Tunisia, Mexico and the Dominican Republic.

Club Coralia continues its development

Club Coralia accueille également sept nouvelles adresses. La marque renforce notamment sa présence aux Canaries avec une implantation à Lanzarote, après Tenerife et Grande Canarie. Le groupe est également présent à Fuerteventura avec un Club Eldorador.

Autre nouveauté : Club Coralia fait ses premiers pas au Sri Lanka. Le Club Coralia Laponie Ivalo 4*, déjà proposé lors de précédentes saisons, fait également son retour pour la saison hivernale.

Boomerang Voyages lance parallèlement une nouvelle offre de plus de 30 circuits en étoile répartis sur 15 destinations, parmi lesquelles le Maroc, Zanzibar et la Thaïlande.

Le principe consiste à conserver un même hôtel comme point de départ pendant toute la durée du séjour, tout en permettant aux voyageurs d’explorer une région à travers plusieurs excursions. Une formule qui vise notamment à éviter les changements d’hébergement et les déplacements avec bagages entre chaque étape.

Publié par Amelia Brille Rédactrice TourMaG.com
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Mondial Tourisme Expands Mondi Club in the Canary Islands and Targets Egypt for Winter 2026–2027

September 19, 2026 by Amara Nambinga

Mondial Tourisme renforce ses Mondi Club aux Canaries - Depositphotos.com, DI-blr

MSC Croisières

The new Winter 2026-2027 brochure from Mondial Tourisme is now being distributed to travel agencies and is available online.

For this new season, the tour operator continues to develop its in-house clubs while expanding its long-haul offerings and the options for departures from the provinces.

But before addressing the winter schedule, Mondial Tourisme also draws a few lessons from the summer of 2026.

While Tunisia and the Canary Islands stood out as some of the best-performing destinations, the summer period was mainly characterized by a shift in customer behavior.

According to Laure Chevrinais, head of communications at Mondial Tourisme, the traditional July-August peak is losing ground to the shoulder seasons. “We are increasingly realizing that July-August is no longer the peak season as we used to know it“, she explains.

The summer of 2026 was also marked by geopolitical tensions and concerns about air travel.

Announcements about possible fuel supply difficulties or flight disruptions may have contributed to delaying decision-making. Some customers reportedly favored waiting to book later, pushing more bookings to the last minute.

Three New Mondi Clubs in the Canaries

For the winter, one of the main development axes focuses on the Canaries. Mondial Tourisme unveils three new Mondi Clubs, bringing the brand’s total number of properties on the archipelago to seven.

In Lanzarote, the operator offers notably the Mondi Club Galeon Playa 3*, labeled Relax and available on a half-board basis, as well as the Mondi Club Beatriz Playa & Spa 4*, in all-inclusive format. In Tenerife, the Mondi Club Grand Muthu Golf Plaza 4* completes this new lineup.

This expansion follows a logic of growth in a destination capable of operating beyond the mere summer season.

“The Canary Islands are indeed a destination that works year-round, both in summer and in winter. That’s why we want to strengthen a little more in this destination“, emphasizes Laure Chevrinais.

With these new addresses, Mondial Tourisme aims to consolidate a destination already well established in its portfolio and to offer more choices to agencies and clients.

Tunisia Remains the Operator’s Leading Destination

Tunisia remains the Mondial Tourisme’s main market. The tour operator claims more than 100,000 passengers per year to the destination, which is one of its historical focal points.

For the winter 2026-2027, the operator notably expands its lineup with the Welcome Meridiana 4* in Djerba. Already present in Mondial Tourisme’s programming, the property is now part of the Mondi Club range after several renovations.

The destination also benefits from a positioning particularly suited to the winter season, with a long-stay offer allowing travelers to chase sunshine a few hours from France.

Egypt Aims to Confirm Its Restart

Another market under close watch for the upcoming season is Egypt. Mondial Tourisme broadens its program with a new seven-night package titled “Treasures of the Nile to the Pyramids of Cairo“.

The product combines Cairo sightseeing and a Nile cruise, in a shorter format than the nine-night package “From the Pyramids to the Red Sea” that is offered elsewhere. The stay is marketed from €1,289 per week.

For Mondial Tourisme, Egypt had been one of the destinations showing signs of recovery before the recent slowdown linked to geopolitical context.

“Before the conflict, it was really a destination that was rebounding very well. There was a small pause, but we hope it will start up again“, says Laure Chevrinais.

The choice of a new seven-night format should particularly help meet clients looking to combine several experiences without devoting too long to the trip.

Lapland: Regional Departures Reconfirmed

The Lapland is also among Mondial Tourisme’s bets for the winter.

Building on the success of the previous season, the operator is renewing departures to Finnish and Swedish Lapland from several French cities. Flights are scheduled from Deauville, Nantes, Lille, Strasbourg, Lyon, Toulouse, Bordeaux and Marseille, in addition to Paris.

The Mondi Club Sodankylä in Finnish Lapland remains at the heart of the program, with stays that incorporate the main Arctic experiences: dogsledding, snowmobiling, meeting reindeer, ice fishing, and the aurora borealis.

This regional departure strategy already appears to be paying off. “We can already see that it’s working very well“, confirms Laure Chevrinais.

MSC Cruises: MSC World Europa in the Mediterranean and MSC World Asia in the Caribbean for Winter 2027-2028

September 12, 2026 by Amara Nambinga

Le MSC World Asia proposera lors de l’hiver 2027-2028 des croisières de sept et quatorze nuits au départ de Fort-de-France, Pointe-à-Pitre et Bridgetown @MSC

Hurtigruten

The MSC World Europa will not be heading to the Middle East during the 2027-2028 winter season. MSC Cruises has decided to keep its vessel in the Western Mediterranean, where it will offer seven-night itineraries.

The company is thus making a substantial adjustment to its original program. Marseille will be among the embarkation ports for the MSC World Europa, alongside calls planned in Barcelona, Genoa, Civitavecchia, Messina, and Valletta.

This retention strengthens MSC Cruises’ winter offering from France. It also confirms the company’s intention to operate one of its newest ships in the Mediterranean year-round, a vessel that entered service in 2022.

The MSC World Asia will serve the French Antilles

The scope of movement is not limited to the Mediterranean. The MSC World Asia, due to enter service in December 2026, will head to the southern Caribbean for the winter of 2027-2028.

The new vessel will offer seven- and fourteen-night cruises from Fort-de-France, Pointe-à-Pitre, and Bridgetown.

The itineraries may notably include calls in Saint Lucia, Grenada, Saint Martin, Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Dominica, as well as Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

This positioning will give French and Caribbean markets direct access to MSC Cruises’ new flagship. The MSC World Asia will notably incorporate some elements already present on other ships in the World class, to which will be added new attractions such as Cliffhanger, a swing installed above the sea.

Bookings initially made aboard the MSC Meraviglia will be transferred to the MSC World Asia. Customers will be contacted individually if this substitution also affects their itinerary.

Explora Journeys Cancels Middle East Cruises for Winter 2027-2028

September 12, 2026 by Amara Nambinga

Hurtigruten

Explora Journeys (groupe MSC) renounces positioning its ships in the Middle East and the Red Sea during the winter of 2027-2028.

The luxury cruise line says it has conducted a reevaluation of its deployment schedule, taking into account developments in the region, according to Cruise Industry News.

Explora I was to sail in the Gulf from November 2027 to February 2028, with calls in several countries in the region. Explora V, which is due to enter service at the end of 2027, was planned to operate in the Red Sea between late January and mid-March 2028.

Repositioning of the Explora I and Explora V ships

Explora Journeys now plans to completely overhaul the itineraries for both ships. Explora I will be assigned to South America, while Explora V will operate in the Mediterranean.

The company says it has made this decision sufficiently in advance to provide greater clarity to customers and travel professionals planning their reservations for 2027-2028.

Passengers who have already booked an itinerary affected by these cancellations will see their booking automatically canceled and will receive a full refund of the cruise fare. Explora Journeys also plans a 250-euro credit per person, limited to two travelers, usable for a new booking made within one year.

The new itineraries for Explora I and Explora V are expected to be announced and opened for bookings on September 9, 2026, according to Cruise Industry News.

This decision follows a similar announcement from MSC Cruises, which has also revised the winter 2027-2028 schedule for the MSC World Europa. The vessel, initially planned for the Middle East, will ultimately remain in the Western Mediterranean during that period.

Costa Cruises Launches Winter Promo: 50% Off Beverage and Excursion Packages

September 7, 2026 by Amara Nambinga

Costa Croisières lance sa « Super promo d’hiver » - Depositphotos.com, maudanros

Hurtigruten

Costa Croisières launches its marketing campaign “Winter Super Promo”.

Valid for any booking made by October 28, 2026 inclusive, this offer for the first time features a 50% discount applied simultaneously to the My Drinks beverage packages and the My Lands excursion packs.

The goal for the cruise line is to make onboard services and onshore stops more affordable, while enabling passengers to tailor their stay across a wide range of itineraries.

Integration of the “Sea & Land” concepts and Mediterranean itineraries

The promotion also applies to the new versions of the “Sea & Land” offers, which pair land-based calls with sea experiences, themed around regional motifs (Dolce Vita, The Golden Islands, Lights of the Mediterranean, or Icons of the Aegean).

Among the proposed itineraries, the Costa Toscana will operate a 7-night Western Mediterranean loop departing from Marseille from October 3 to 10, 2026, with calls in Barcelona, Cagliari, Naples, Civitavecchia and Genoa.

The following spring, the Costa Fascinosa will offer a 6-night itinerary named Dolce Vita departing from La Seyne-sur-Mer from May 1 to 7, 2027, heading to Saint-Tropez, Savona, Civitavecchia, Salerno and Messina.

Deployment of the offer on Caribbean and Canary routes

The pricing scheme also covers the long-haul connections scheduled for the winter season.

The Costa Favolosa will thus undertake 7-night Caribbean cruises departing Pointe-à-Pitre from December 2 to 9, 2026, with daily calls planned at Fort-de-France, Basseterre, St. John’s, Road Harbour and Santo Domingo.

On the Atlantic leg, the Costa Smeralda will undertake a 12-night itinerary to the Canary Islands and Madeira departing from Barcelona from November 14 to 26, 2026, serving notably Málaga, Cádiz, Las Palmas, Funchal, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Puerto del Rosario and Arrecife.