By Judy Newell
Mexico News
Andrea Bocelli live
The world’s greatest tenor, Andrea Bocelli, will perform at the Playa Maroma Beach Club in Playa del Carmen on Saturday, February 26, 2022, at 8pm, accompanied by 80 musicians on stage. The Playa Maroma Beach Club is one of the city’s leading venues with an amazing atmosphere and great views from every section.
Demand for this event is high and there is limited availability. Remaining tickets range from 7,509 pesos per person to 11,590 pesos per person.
Mexico Open golf tournament to be part of PGA Tour
There will now be a PGA Tour event on both the Caribbean and Pacific coasts.
Good news for Mexican golf: its most historic tournament will join the Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) Tour for 2022.
The contest is set for April 28-May 1 at the Vidanta Vallarta golf course in Nuevo Vallarta, Nayarit. The annual competition already existed as the Mexico Championship on the PGA calendar but has been promoted to an Open event.
It joins the World Wide Technology Championship at El Camaleón golf course near Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, as a PGA Tour event.
The Nayarit tournament will offer a purse of US$7.3 million to 132 players, of whom a minimum of four will be from Latin America.
International News
One week in Greece for less than US$1000
Athens | Mykonos | Santorini
Small Group Special ‒ US$995 for either option
Mykonos and Athens ‒ 5 nights
2 nights Athens, 3 nights deluxe hotel Mykonos, breakfast daily, transfers, ferry crossing
Mykonos and Santorini ‒ 5 nights
2 nights Santorini, 3 nights deluxe hotel Mykonos, breakfast daily, transfers, ferry crossing
April and October departures at US$995. Pre- and post-stays available.
Minimum passengers: 15
Low-cost international airfare available.
Cruise News
Pandaw ceases river cruise operations
Southeast Asia river cruise operator Pandaw has shut down, citing the continuing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on international leisure travel.
Pandaw said that the continued closure of its destinations in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and India, as well as the political situation in Myanmar, gave the company “no alternative but to cease its river cruise operations due to the lack of financial liquidity and failure to find additional funding in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis.”
The river cruise line said that forward bookings for 2022 had been strong, but that it lacks the funding to continue the lay-up of its 17 ships for another year, and for what would be essential refurbishments to prepare to resume operations.
Travel advisors and former Pandaw guests took to social media to lament that, after more than 25 years on the rivers, the Asia-based line would cease operations.
World’s most luxurious cruise ship returns to service
For the first time since the voluntary industry-wide stop in operations, Seven Seas Explorer has welcomed cruisers back on board. Excited passengers boarded the ship, dubbed “the most luxurious ever built,” in Trieste, Italy, on October 15 for a memorable cruise through Italy, Croatia, and Greece, while receiving the finest levels of service in lavishly designed rooms, restaurants, bars, and lounges.
Seven Seas Explorer is the second ship in the Regent Seven Seas Cruises fleet to return, joining the newest ship Seven Seas Splendor, which has been sailing with the cruise lines enhanced SailSAFE Health and Safety Program since September and includes 100 percent vaccination of both guests and crew.
Seven Seas Mariner and Seven Seas Navigator, both from Miami, Florida, will be the next ships in the World’s Most Luxurious Fleet to resume sailing on December 18, 2021, and January 6, 2022, respectively.
Regent’s last ship to return to service will be Seven Seas Voyager and will depart Barcelona, Spain, on February 15, 2022.
Judy Newell, an international travel consultant for 50 years, heads Perfect Journeys and specializes in unique travel experiences to destinations around the world. She custom designs journeys that are tailored to suit client’s interests, physical abilities and budget. Please contact Judy for further information on Travel News topics and around-the-world travel. Cell phone 415-111-8765, Vonage 949-300-3682; email judynewell@perfectjourneys.net.
Sources: Playa Maroma Beach Club, Mexico News Daily, Homeric Tours, Travel Weekly, Cruise Fever, Seabourn
