Monthly Archives: January 2021

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Private Islands, Richard Vanhoff, has had diverse business background with his early career starting in the media working with one of Australias leading TV stations and then eventually moving to radio. Through these two major media agencies, Richard met the crme of international artists and personalities.

This provided access to the rich and famous, which brought with it a plethora of contacts that inspired the development of his real estate career with his wife Narelle.

Richard and Narelle lived on one ofAustralias best-known resorts, Hamilton Island, for over 17 years with the Beatles George Harrison as one of their neighbours on Hamilton Island. Richard again was introduced to some of the worlds best musicians and international celebrities. This furthered his and Narelles passion for sales and in particular islands and island resorts, using these well-established contacts over the last 20 years as a foundation of their client network.

Richard and Narelle have received many international and Australian awards for achieving the highest gross commission sales, which included the sale of Great Keppel Island, Pumpkin Island, Long Island & Bamborough Island just to name a few. As a single real estate agent, Richard can comfortably state that he has sold and negotiated the sale of some of themost exotic island properties in the Pacific.

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Private Islands Online Australia

We recently released our annual travel industry trends forecast, Skift Megatrends 2025. Because of the havoc that the pandemic triggered, we wrote Travel Megatrends 2025 as a vision of how travel industry dynamics could play out five years from now. You can read about each of the trends on Skift, or download a copy here.

Years after overtourism became a pressing issue, followed by the cruise-shaming trend that emerged post-Covid, crowds are back on megaships in 2025, and cruise lines returned to generating billion-dollar earnings. But the nature of the cruise industrys business model had to undergo major shifts to make that happen.

The worlds biggest cruise companies have been recouping their extensive losses up until this point by merging with other lines for greater efficiency. The result? Big ships offer roller coasters on their decks and additional outsized activities continue to surface to help drive up onboard revenue. Ports of call are fewer, as cruise lines reduce their dependence on them, and instead focus on the growth of their private islands, particularly in the Caribbean.

Why offer shore excursions when one can sail to ones own private beaches while keeping 100 percent of the revenue in cruise coffers? Besides, the lines still lure cruisers with the promise of safety bubbles on these private islands, and many prefer staying put at sea rather than venturing into multiple ports.

Destinations that were once heavily dependent on big ships are dealing with fewer port calls, and focusing on niche offerings from smaller lines. These niche cruise players emerged from the cheap post-Covid divestiture and sale of older ships that debuted in the 2000s. Its a repeat of what we saw in the 1990s, when there were some upstarts bringing on vintage ships and offering niche kinds of products, said Ross Klein, a veteran cruise industry expert and professor at Memorial University of Newfoundland.

The travel bucket list isnt going anywhere port cities that faced overtourism pre-Covid continue to face the conundrum of whether to reject tourist crowds in 2025 after suffering a debilitating multiyear downturn. Theyre using innovative ways to control the crowds, such as higher day-tripper fees like the ones Venice approved back in 2020.

Whats for sure? 2025 is greener. More people are willing to be sensitive to environmental issues and not rebel at the notion that perhaps theres something wrong with cruising and it has a negative effect on the environment, said Jim Walker, a Florida-based maritime attorney who runs Cruise Law News. One of the biggest environmental fights that cruise lines continue to face in 2025 is their use of scrubbers, long found to cause cancer-linked discharge in ports, pollute waters, and otherwise negatively impact marine life.

Port citizens in North America and Europe, in particular, with localized movements and solid political partnerships, are making more headway in the passing of environmental legislation banning scrubbers. But the influence of broad-based coalitions such as the Global Cruise Activist Network, born during Covid, remains uncertain.

If past history is an insight, the activism will continue losing some of its potency, Klein said, explaining the power of the cruise industry to push back against these efforts. After all, Key West, Floridas big win against mass cruising back in 2020 resulted from decades of militant activism that began in 2003.

Meanwhile, 2025s headlines report that the cruise industrys major players are making financial gains. Those funds will come in handy for the heap of looming environmental bans and regulations, potentially signaling the beginning of the end of megaships.

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Skift Megatrends 2025 is made possible by our parters: Abu Dhabi Convention & Exhibition Bureau, Accor, and American Express.

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Photo Credit: Windstar Cruises crew source vegetables at a market in Mallorca, Spain. Windstar Cruises

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Travel Megatrends 2025: Cruise Lines Take Refuge in Their Private Islands - Skift

The MSC Grandiosa will set sail again in the western Mediterranean on Sunday, January 24th, following a month-long pause. The ship was the first to start operating in southern Europe last August, but was forced to take a break when the Italian government tightened travel restrictions in the pre-Christmas period.

As the number of active cases in Italy has declined in recent weeks, the government has loosened the rules again.

A press statement from MSC Cruises read: Following the latest ministerial decree issued by the Italian government and related updated health measures, the companys flagship will resume her planned weekly cruises leaving every Sunday from Genoa, Italy and calling on other Italian ports of Civitavecchia, Naples, and Palermo, as well as Valetta in Malta.

While cruises departing from North American ports have been suspended since March 2020, MSC was able to restart last summer with two Italy-based ships. The line worked closely with government officials to develop comprehensive health and safety protocols, both on the ship and during shore excursions.

READ MORE: Europe-Based MSC Cruises Plans Cruisings Biggest Expansion

The latest ministerial decree authorised the resumption of cruise operations under the protection of the unique health and safety protocol that had been developed with and authorised by the Italian health, transport and safety authorities last summer, the MSC statement added. Since then, MSC Cruises has safely welcomed over 30,000 guests on board its two ships based out of Italy.

As the worlds largest privately-owned cruise line and one with a massive expansion plan over the next several years MSC hopes to use the knowledge gained in Europe to streamline its North American restart once guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention are finally made clear.

Were leveraging the fact that we were the first ones to start operating in Southern Europe to set the tone on how to operate a safe cruise, Ken Muskat, EVP and COO of MSC Cruises (USA) told Cruise Industry News.

It is expected that many of the initiatives MSC has taken, including universal testing, social distancing, closely-monitored excursions, and shorter itineraries, will be part of North American rules as well.

READ MORE: 15 Tips for Visiting Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve

When it can restart here, MSC will have three ships based in the Florida ports of Miami and Port Canaveral. Initial plans are for short cruises of three, four, and seven nights, with MSCs private destination Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve playing a key role. The line says the same health and safety protocols will be in place on the island as they are on its ships.

Unlike some other private islands, Ocean Cay, which opened in December 2019, features programming that extends late into the evening, adding diversity to the experience. As well as sunning, swimming, and water sports during the day, evening events including a Bahamian-style Junkanoo parade and a dazzling light show projected from the islands lighthouse.

READ MORE: MSC Cruises Releases Summer 2022 Schedule

Geneva, Switzerland-based MSC Cruises is planning the largest single expansion in the industry, with a dozen ships on order from 2021-2027. These include four 5,400-passenger, liquefied natural gas-powered mega-ships, the largest ever for a Europe-based cruise line. The plan represents a massive investment of $11.3 billion dollars and will add nearly 45,000 berths to the lines fleet.

Late this year, MSC plans to begin sailing the MSC Seashore from Miami. The brand-new, 4,560-passenger ship promises the highest ratio of outdoor space per guest in the companys fleet.

MSC has suspended cruises from U.S. ports through March 31, 2021. At present, its first scheduled voyage is a three-night sailing out of Port Canaveral on April 1, with a stop at Ocean Cay.

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MSC Grandiosa to Resume Cruising Southern Europe on January 24 - Cruise Radio

The shuffling of diplomats around the UKs Caribbean territories rarely makes much of a splash. But Gus Jaspert ensured his last days as governor of the British Virgin Islands would be remembered.

In an emotional Facebook video post to the BVIs 30,000 inhabitants, he accused the countrys government of overseeing a plague of corruption, interfering in the criminal justice system and attempting to silence anyone who raised concerns about the misuse of funds, including 30m given by the UK to help the islands fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

Jaspert claimed that the BVI government had deliberately delayed legal reforms and hindered local inquiries into a string of corruption allegations including 5m spent on a non-existent airline and nearly 1m on building a short wall around a school. Tens of millions more spent on a hospital and a cruise ship dock are in question. Citing concerns about organised crime, he mentioned $250m (180m) of cocaine seized from the home of a police officer last year.

Amid reports that the EU is getting ready to blacklist the BVI as a tax haven, the career civil servant who for a time served as private secretary to Britains former prime minister David Cameron had a message for BVIs citizens: Your voices have been heard. We have received the message loud and clear the people of BVI want better.

The allegations will now be examined in a commission of inquiry, a formal process overseen by a British high court judge. Jaspert is acting with the backing of Dominic Raab, the British foreign secretary, who issued a written statement saying the UK had a constitutional and moral duty to protect the interests of the people of BVI.

The surprise move has plunged the BVI into a constitutional crisis, and the coming months could determine whether these islands sever the last of their ties with the British crown.

The BVI exports rum and fruit, and hundreds of thousands of tourists disembark each year from yachts and cruise liners to bask on its white sand beaches, but more than half of government receipts come from the financial sector.

Around 400,000 offshore companies are registered in the BVI. While most ordinary citizens will never need to park money in a tax haven, the Panama Papers and successive data leaks have revealed just how widely used they are by the rich and famous. The anonymity they provide also appeals to shady oligarchs and corrupt despots.

BVI businesses are black boxes, with no public register of their owners and no duty to publish accounts or pay taxes. Many hold property. In London alone, the real estate held by BVI shells is worth billions of pounds.

The BVI is an overseas territory, where the Queen remains head of state and the judicial committee of the privy council in London is still the court of final appeal. Following recent clashes over UK legislation designed to limit its activities as a tax haven, the number of incorporations has plummeted and many on these islands are now calling for greater independence.

Is this a prelude on a pre-step to the United Kingdom coming in and taking over? Claude O Skelton-Cline, a well-known BVI talk radio host, asked last week. A paid government consultant, Skelton-Clines views are though to be aligned with many of those in the higher echelons of BVI politics.

His fears are not unfounded. In 2009 the UK suspended the constitution of the Turks and Caicos and assumed day-to-day control, after a commission of inquiry found widespread corruption.

Victor Bulmer-Thomas, a fellow at Chatham House and Caribbean expert, said the situation looks very much like a rerun of the Turks and Caicos crisis a few years ago and is a reminder of how vulnerable the overseas territories are to the actions of unscrupulous individuals.

He believes Westminster may have been prompted to intervene by reports that the EU plans to exploit Brexit by adding the nation to its list of tax havens. The sanction is largely symbolic, although banks could in future be reluctant to hold accounts for companies in blacklisted jurisdictions.

As Brexit continues to shake the foundations of Britains foreign relations, its ability to protect its territories from censure has been diminished. The onus is now on Raab to convince the EU that corruption will be stamped out.

Sir Gary Hickinbottom, whose experience includes a period as a supreme court judge in the Falkland Islands, has been chosen as the man for the job. He has already arrived on the main island of Tortola, where he gave a press conference on Friday. He has until July to make recommendations for action, including whether criminal proceedings should be brought against individuals.

For its part, the BVI government had been due to review its constitutional relationship with the UK later this year. Officials had talked of moving to a model of free association with the old colonial power, which would mean having a political alliance with the UK but more independent governance.

In 2018 a cross-party coalition of Westminster MPs led by the Labour politician Margaret Hodge and her Conservative colleague Andrew Mitchell won parliamentary support for legislation obliging the BVI and other UK dependencies to publish the names of shell company owners in public registers.

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Islanders took to the streets in protest, branding Hodge a modern-day imperialist. The slogans held aloft by the crowd made no bones about it: No imperial legislation; You chained us, didnt sustain us, now you constrain us; and Racist UK.

This weeks shocking revelations that corruption may be rife in the BVI are a shameful indictment of the tax haven model, Hodge said. It is clear that an economy based on secrecy and low taxes is a recipe for bad governance, corruption, and criminality.

In a statement, the BVI premier, Andrew Fahie, said he welcomed the commission of inquiry, but appeared to suggest local inquiries into the allegations should be completed before the Hickinbottom investigation can begin. It is only after these stages of the process are completed and investigations deemed inconclusive would the way be paved for a commission of inquiry. This has always been the process followed because it is the only process that allows for good governance to function in a manner that keeps the tenets of democracy sacred, he said.

Jaspert is being replaced this month by the governor of Bermuda, after four years in post. Signing off from his Facebook video address before packing up his bags in Government House, the official residence of the governor, he implored islanders to get involved with the inquiry. It will be your opportunity to shape the way things are done and help put things right for the next generation.

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British Virgin Islands at a crossroads as outgoing governor decries corruption - The Guardian

Jan. 23, 2021Updated: Jan. 23, 2021 11p.m.

The Islands of Rockport offers luxury waterfront living with views, amenities. Located on Estes Flats, one of the most famous fishing waters on the Gulf Coast and directly on the Intracoastal waterway, world-class fishing and boating is right outside residents back doors.Within proximity to the culturally rich downtown Rockport, The Islands of Rockport offers modern luxury.

At the Islands of Rockport, home-side private docks and wide canals provide residents instant access to the waters of Estes Flats/Redfish Bay. Located directly on the Intracoastal waterway and within proximity to the open waters of the Gulf, every home is custom-built with a southern coastal architectural design creating the casual, relaxed elegance of the community.

Spacious private boat docks, a clubhouse and pool are nestled in the serene gated community. Brought together by a common vision of the good life, residents of The Islands of Rockport enjoy living among water-loving neighbors who happily open their doors and docks to enjoy food and drinks as they share the days fish tales. Good neighbors become great friends, connected by water and brought together by the shared experience of living the coastal lifestyle in a gated community.

The Development was designed with the highest quality canal system, high property elevations and pristine water quality. A boating and birding paradise, Phase I is finalizing completion and in 2021 The Islands of Rockport is rolling out Phase II expanding the community.

Open seven days a week. Call 361-255-3223 to make an appointment for a private tour or visit http://www.TheIOR.com for more information.

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The Islands of Rockport spotlights modern luxury (Sponsored) - Chron

There are fewer Bentleys parked up in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea this January proof, if it were needed, that the one per cent are locking down elsewhere. Fairy lights still twinkle in some windows, a mark of those who escaped before Christmas and havent come back; unlike the first shutdown in March, when Covid scared the super-rich into submission, this time theyre refusing to let the virus spoil their fun. Last time they sacrificed their staff and had to log on to online classes showing them how to do basic tasks such as changing sheets and using an iron, explains Jess Simpson, founder of Jess Simpson Property Search. Now, they are determined to make the experience as comfortable as possible.

For many this means retreating to a country pile either their own, or one they have rented specifically for lockdown complete with furniture and staff. And while little may happen in the countryside in January at the best of times, Covid evacuees are keeping things interesting: booking top name restaurant chefs to cook them dinner through new online platform Sprout At Home when luxury groceries from readymade meals from Harrods, Hakkasan and The Delaunay wont do, and unwinding with virtual yoga with Tara Nash.

Indeed this lockdown has been a useful opportunity for self-improvement, explains Martin Reith, chairman of luxury PR firm Luchford, who is locked down at Essenden, his country estate. I am doing a course in Bitcoin and Ive got fitness training [online] with Doug Tannahill at [boutique gym] BXR London, he says. Ive lost weight and have started shopping at Mr Porter. In the evenings he has been steadily working his way through the wine list from Hedonism, a fine wine boutique. What an amazing way to travel the world in lockdown, he says.

While the Government has continued to make international replete with as many roadblocks as possible many one per centers, unable to deal with the bleak British weather, have circumnavigated restrictions in search of the sun. Theyve been using private jets where they still have a justifiable work excuse, Simpson explains.Most of our clients at this level have multiple international business interests.

Antigua is one of the Caribbean islands still accepting British citizens and it is from here that one particular British property developer has been posting unashamed snaps from the golf course, alongside images of himselfand his girlfriend drinking ros on the beach. According to Work Mango, a concierge service that has been helping British high net worth individuals to relocate during lockdown, a villa at Antiguas Jumby Bay an exclusive island two miles off the mainland currently rents out for 92,000 per week with private chef, kitchen staff, butlers, housekeepers and gardeners. With Virgin and BA still flying there direct, and testing in place before reaching the island and once on it, British jet-setters can make the most of restaurants et al being open until 11pmand hotels free of curfew.

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I explore a new beach every day: How the one per cent are doing Lockdown 3 - Telegraph.co.uk

Northern Italy is home to some of Europe's most romantic cities and when it's safe for us to travel again, there's no place we'd rather fall in love with again than Venice.

For a fantastic return to Europe after lockdown, Country Living is inviting you to join us on a celebrity-led tour of the Italian city's cultural treasures, where you'll meet Grand Designs presenter Kevin McCloud and ride the iconic Venice Simplon-Orient-Express train.

JOIN CL IN VENICE

During this adventure in late August 2021, youll explore some of Italy's best bits, with three unique experiences: soaking up the charm of Venice on a lagoon cruise, relaxing on the beautiful private islands of Lake Garda, and riding the luxurious Venice Simplon-Orient-Express train.

What makes this delightful 12-day itinerary extra special is that in Venice youll be joined by celebrity designer Kevin McCloud for a tour of the city and a talk from the star about the inspirational architecture surrounding you.

Bringing together three different ways to travel in style, high-class cuisine and exclusive events, this is set to be the trip weve all been waiting for. Andiamo!

Italy has enchanted visitors for centuries with its unique canals, classical palaces and cobbled streets. On our exclusive trip, not only will you have the chance to get lost in the magic of the floating city, but youll be able to visit the islands of the Venetian Lagoon by boat.

As you tour the famous sites of Rialto Bridge and Fondaco dei Tedeschi, Kevin McCloud will be on hand to add extra insights from his knowledge of classical architecture and design. Hell also answer your questions.

Cruising Uniworld's S.S. La Venezia ship for seven nights, youll see the best of the Veneto region, including Venice and the nearby cities and colourful islands of Chioggia and Burano. Returning to the ship, there will be time to pamper yourself in the spa, or relax in the library, lounge and bar, with views that youll fall in love with straight away.

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A visit to Padua, Bologna or Ferrara wouldn't be complete without sampling iconic regional dishes, such as rag Bolognese, mortadella bigoli - fat spaghetti - with duck sauce, and cappellacci - a pasta shaped in the style of the hats Ferraras peasants wore.

Plus, on S.S. La Venezia, youll have the choice of three brilliant dining venues, all serving delicious fresh dishes.

Lake Garda is the next destination and offers a whole host of treats. Spectacular vineyards, ancient abbeys, glamorous private islands, charming villa gardens and family-run wineries are around every corner.

Youll experience them on exciting excursions, including a private visit to Isola del Garda and its villas exotic gardens, where youll meet the owners, and have a wine tasting at a family-run winery in the heart of Valpolicella.

Plus, youll have lots of free time to enjoy the fresh lakeside air and peaceful atmosphere of this irresistible Italian region.

Another highlight of this trip is the grand voyage back to the UK in Art Deco style - on the stunning heritage carriages of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express.

Youll enjoy sophisticated cuisine in the trains gorgeous dining carriages, and sleep in ornate cabins of polished cherry wood, with views of forests, lakes and mountains through the windows to make this glamorous journey all the more special.

Book your place on a dreamy 12-day tour of Northern Italy with celebrity architect Kevin McCloud.

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Join Kevin McCloud in Italy and ride the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express - Countryliving (UK)

By the end of this year, Disney fans will be able to explore every continent on Earth with the kid-friendly brand.

Last week, Adventures by Disney announced the launch of cruises to Antarctica and the Galapagos Islands. The first Antarctica tour is scheduled to depart this year, while the cruises to the Galapagos will begin in 2022.

The introduction of "expedition" cruises marks Disney's third type of cruise service, alongside its Disney Cruise Line vacations and European river cruises.

The 12-day Antarctica cruise is scheduled to stop at 16 sites in Patagonia, the Drake Passage and the Antarctic Peninsula.

The tour begins with two nights in Argentina first in Buenos Aires, followed by a flight to the town of Ushuaia, on the southern tip of South America. From there, guests explore Patagonia's Tierra del Fuego National Park by train and Patagonia's waterways via catamaran.

Once aboard Le Boreal, a ship operated by French cruise ship company Ponant, cruise passengers will cross the Drake Passage to reach the Antarctica Peninsula. This crossing ranges from smooth to terrifying, depending on the weather.

The Antarctic Peninsula is the closest part of Antarctica to the southern tip of South America, shown here via two angles.

L: Leonello Calvetti | Science Photo Library | Getty Images; R: FrankRamspott | E+ | Getty Images

Like most Disney tours, the cruise is marketed to families, albeit ones with older children. Adventures by Disney recommends kids be 12 years and older to join and doesn't allow children younger than 10 years old due to "the duration of the trip, potential for extreme weather or sea conditions and the amount of physical activity involved," according to the company's website.

Weather permitting, travelers will embark on two cruise excursions per day. These range from kayaking and hikes along Antarctica's shoreline to orca spotting and walks to see the continent's penguin colonies.

Back on the ship, there are Disney movie nights for the kids and cocktail-making classes for the adults. Naturalists, photographers and other special guests are to give talks and conduct workshops as well.

Le Boreal, a cruise ship from Ponant, has two restaurants, a heated saltwater pool and spa.

Arterra | Universal Images Group | Getty Images

Le Boreal is an intimately-sized ship with two restaurants, six guest decks, a heated saltwater pool and spa. The 466-foot ship has 132 staterooms and suites and is able to hold 264 guests and 140 crew members, according to Ponant's website.

There is no formal dress code onboard the ship, and the vibe is "casual." The cruise includes water-resistant parkas and rubber boots for passengers.

Prices for the December Antarctica cruise start around $11,500 for children and $12,800 for adults for a 200-square-foot "deluxe stateroom" with a private deck. Prices more than double to stay in the "owner's suite," which is nearly $27,500 per adult. Airfare to and from Buenos Aires is not included in the price.

A second cruise, departing on Jan. 30, 2022, is slightly cheaper with rates starting at $11,200.

For Disney fans who prefer warmer weather, Adventures by Disney also announced it will operate five new cruises to the Galapagos Islands starting next year.

Disney's Galapagos Islands expedition tour gives guests the chance to see marine iguanas, sea lions and giant land tortoises.

Westend61 | Westend61 | Getty Images

The first of the nine-day expedition cruises, which include ocean snorkeling, island hikes and excursions led by naturalists, is scheduled to depart on Feb. 9, 2022.

Travelers who book by April 11 can secure early booking discounts, with rates starting around $5,600 for children and $6,300 for adults about half the cost of Disney's Antarctica cruises.

Bookings for both expedition cruises open this week on Jan. 22, though previous Adventures by Disney guests and members of other Disney clubs can book as early as Jan. 19.

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Here's what it costs to book Disneys new cruises to Antarctica and the Galapagos Islands - CNBC