February has been an even more romantic month than usual this year. Not only did countless couples celebrate their love in dream destinations on Valentine’s Day – one couple became the first to be united in matrimony on the White Continent.
On an Atlas Ocean Voyage to Antarctica – that even departed on February 14,, 2022 – Valentine’s Day! Bride Courtnie Dodson and Groom Brody Vermillion exchanged vows on Danko Island during a 15-minute ceremony, officiated by British Antarctic Territory-registered Marriage Officer Bryan Clark.
The ceremony was witnessed by eight additional cruise guests – plus some curious penguins who appeared to follow the tuxedo dress code for the wedding!
In fact, that first-ever wedding on the 7th continent was one of four extraordinary weddings and three vow renewal ceremonies during the nine-night cruise to the Antarctic on the luxury expedition cruise line’s first ship World Navigator.
Atlas Ocean Voyages bills its destination wedding program “Happy Ever Atlas.” It was complimentary for guests who registered for the wedding or vow renewal program in advance.
The weddings weren’t just ceremonial – they were the first legal weddings on the continent. Each couple received an official U.K. wedding license, which is also recognized in many other countries, including the U.S.
World Navigator hosted a ship-wide wedding reception, as well as held separate bachelorette and bachelor group-parties, for an unforgettable wedding week for the couples. The cruise destination wedding program also included a wedding cake, photos, gift bag, custom wedding announcements and Thank You cards.
Now the ‘ice is broken’ so to speak, we’re sure many other couples will start thinking about the ultimate destination wedding.
A small, luxury expedition cruise might be tailor made for a one-of-a-kind destination wedding. The World Navigator’s size – only 98 suites, solo suites and staterooms – makes for an intimate luxe-adventure. Especially the adventure of starting your new life together!
World Navigator will cruise the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, and Iceland, Greenland and The Arctic in summer 2022; Central and South America in the autumn; and return to Antarctica for her winter 2022-23 season.
The ship’s small size allows it to reach smaller, authentic and exclusive locales where larger ships cannot sail. A second, sister ship to the World Navigator, World Traveller, launches in November 2022. Three additional sister ships, World Seeker, World Adventurer and World Discoverer, join the fleet through 2024.
Giving couples looking for the most unique, out-of-the-way or exotic wedding or vow renewal destination a world of options.
Congratulations to the first Antarctic newlyweds!
Start Your Milestone Trip!
Images courtesy Atlas Ocean Voyages
by Lynn Elmhirst
on 12/20/2022
As the world opens back up again, we hope this magazine helps inspire you and your family as you look to book your next vacation. Once you take a look, please feel free to give us a call or send us a message with your ideas and let us help you create that special family holiday you've been dreaming of over the past two years!
by Ian Elliott
on 10/25/2021
Airports: Focus on enhanced cleaning to include self-service equipment, baggage trolleys, counters, buggies, security checkpoints, washrooms, elevators, handrails, boarding areas, and common areas with a specific focus on high-frequency touch points; provide personal protection equipment (PPE) to staff, such as masks; add new signage and announcements to limit interaction and queuing at touchpoints; develop possible pre-arrival health risk assessment to prevent delays upon arrival; reduce passenger touchpoints through online check-in before departure, use of self-check in kiosks and bag drop, home-printed bag tags, greater use of biometric e-gates and boarding card reading at gates; if entry-exit screening is mandated, make sure it is carried out in a non-intrusive, walk through manner, through full body infrared scanners using handheld infrared thermometers, and ear gun thermometers; enhance food safety and hygiene at restaurants, with pre-packed foods to avoid handling of food at buffets; redesign immigration halls together with governments and airlines to speed up procedures; if declarations are required upon arrival, electronic options should be used to minimize contact, ideally using contactless processes.
Airlines: Provide personal protection equipment (PPE) to staff such as masks; reduce passengers’ touchpoints through online check-in before departure, use of self-check in kiosks and bag drop, home-printed bag tags, greater use of biometric e-gates and boarding card reading at gates; provide approved hand sanitizers as appropriate based on high-traffic areas, such as check-in and boarding areas; revisit guidance for cleaning teams for all areas of the plane, including washrooms, as well as check in and boarding areas, with a specific focus on high-frequency touch points; consider boarding from back of the plane to the front, window to aisle; limit movement in the cabin as much as possible; retrain crew and frontline staff regarding infection control and hygiene measures.
Tour Packages: Enhanced sanitation, disinfection, and deep cleaning practices for coaches and other vehicles; focus cleaning on high-frequency touch points, including handrails, door handles, tables, onboard toilets, air conditioning filters, overhead lockers and headsets; pre-allocated seating plans with no rotation; limit physical contact and queuing where possible; explore staggered timing for access to venues, hotels and restaurants among others; develop health, sanitation, disinfection, and hygiene and food safety protocols at partner restaurants; establish protocols with partners and suppliers, including shops, showrooms, tasting venues and shops, museums, shows theatres, concert halls, factories and farms.
Cruiselines: At the moment, specific guidance on cruising has not been released by the governing bodies but it is important to note that cruiselines have always had stringent cleaning, sanitation and disinfection protocols to manage outbreaks on their ships, specifically norovirus. We expect most of the major lines will all release their own protocols very soon. Norwegian Cruise Line, for example, has released newly enhanced health and safety protocols which include the installation of medical-grade air-filters, H13 HEPA, that removes 99.95% of airborne pathogens as well as enhanced screening protocols. These include touchless temperature checks and continuous monitoring of guests and crew throughout the voyage. NCL reports increased sanitation measures including 'fogging' before and after each embarkation and debarkation with an increased frequency of stateroom cleanings and sanitizations throughout the cruise.
Do you have questions about travelling in the next year? Contact us so we can help!
by Ian Elliott
on 06/29/2020
We are pleased to announce that we now offer our customers high quality, reusable and sustainable face masks from Canadian brand Face Forward in an effort to ensure safe practices, while keeping certified medical PPE in the hands of front-line heroes.
“As a leader in the travel sector, protecting our advisors and customers--and further our community--has always been top of mind,” states Gregory Luciani, President & CEO of TravelOnly. “After immense research on the best non-medical face masks, we’re proud to begin this partnership with Face Forward, offering the best customizable masks, using the most advanced materials, while donating a portion of the proceeds to Food Banks Canada”
Face Forward, a division of Caulfeild Apparel Group Ltd, worked in partnership with a US colleague who specializes in textile application for front line workers and is developing fabrics for NASA to produce the most advanced, non-medical mask available.
As a result, Face Forward masks consist of a water repellant polypropylene outer shell, an internal layer of Antimicrobial ACTIVATED CARBON to filter pathogens, and a moisture wicking, comfort cotton liner to keep the wearers face dry and comfortable. Air transfer is further controlled through mouldable nose pieces, diverse size ranges and elasticized ear loops to ensure the perfect fit and maximum protection for everyone from small children to adults.
Click here to purchase your masks and get 10% off your order by using the code:
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by Ian Elliott
on 05/25/2020
Sue Lamb