Travel Tuesday: Cunard’s 2024 itineraries, Las Catalinas’ Beach Town, Montréal en Lumière, Sundance Mountain Resort & Niagara Falls Winter Festival of Lights

by W. Andrew Powell
Travel Tuesday

Happy Travel Tuesday! The latest news includes Cunard’s 2024 summer and fall program and itineraries, Las Catalinas announced the completion of the car-free Beach Town Neighborhood in Costa Rica, the 24th edition of the Montréal en Lumière revealed details for Air France Finest Tables dining event, Sundance Mountain Resort will open early this year, and Niagara Falls Winter Festival of Lights celebrates their 40th anniversary.

Cunard reveals 2024 itineraries

Cunard's Queen Anne
Cunard’s Queen Anne

Starting on December 6 for Cunard World Club Members, and December 7 for the public, Cunard announced their latest itineraries for April 2024 until January 2025, with over 190 new voyages, including the maiden season of the new Queen Anne.

Itineraries include Mediterranean and Scandinavia, with 133 destinations in 45 countries, and the first stop in Nordfjordeid, Norway.

The Queen Anne will visit the Norwegian Fjords, Scandinavia, British Isles, and the Mediterranean, with voyages ranging from two to 19 nights. Highlights for the new ship include a 14 night Western Mediterranean cruise departing Southampton on July 28, and a 7 nights Norwegian Fjords cruise departing Southampton on September 1.

Meanwhile the Queen Mary 2 will offer 22 signature Transatlantic Crossings, and other voyages range from two to 30 nights departing from New York, Hamburg, Québec, Le Havre, and Southampton. Or explore Canada and New England on a 14 night sailing roundtrip from New York in September that includes stops in Boston, Penobscot Bay in Maine, and an overnight call in Québec City.

For full details visit cunard.com.

Las Catalinas announces completion of Beach Town Neighborhood

Beach Town in Las Catalinas
Beach Town in Las Catalinas

Guanacaste, Costa Rica has new car free seaside town with the completion of Beach Town in Las Catalinas.

The plan began in 2006 to develop a 200 acre property on the northwestern province of Costa Rica, and after 16 years of development and construction, the neighbourhood has been finished.

The mixed-use neighbourhood includes 150 single family residences, commercial and civic buildings, and two hotels for visitors, and it’s meant to combine leisure and urban living in a beautiful oasis.

Beach Town offers two beaches, there are more than 30 miles of nearby hiking and bike trails, eight restaurants, shopping, offices, and a focus on sustainable living.

The Santarena Hotel and Posada San Rafael offer a variety of rooms, or visitors can arrange for stays at villa or flats with up to to five bedrooms.

For more details on Beach Town visit lascatalinascr.com, or to learn about the residences visit lantanaresidences.com.

Montréal en Lumière festival from February 16 to March 5, 2023

Montréal en Lumière
Montréal en Lumière

Under the theme of Discover the best of Montreal in winter, Montréal en Lumière revealed their 2023 dates, running from February 16 to March 5, and featuring the return of the Air France Finest Tables program.

The 24th edition of the festival will offer ice skating high above Place des Festivals once again, light installations, free activities, and rides on the Grande roue, as well as the 20th anniversary of Nuit blance.

For the latest Gastronomy programming, 40 Montréal restaurants and venues will welcome a range of international and local chefs and producers from around the world for Air France Finest Tables. Included among them are wine growers, and Chefs Benoit Neusy (l’Impératif au Domaine d’Arondeau, France), Romain Meder (Domaine de Primard, Guainville, France), Ina Niiniketo (Sikke’s, Helskinki), and Lionel Lévy (InterContinental Marseille).

For the full list of participating restaurants, events, and more details visit montrealenlumiere.com.

Sundance Mountain Resort celebrates early opening

After ideal conditions, including snowfall in November, Sundance Mountain Resort announced that they will open early on Saturday, December 3.

Outlaw Express from the midway station, Jake’s Lift, and the beginner area including all magic carpets will open starting at 9:00 AM that day, while some snowmaking operations will continue in other areas.

Starting on December 17, night skiing will begin, and the new Wildwood area and back mountain will open once conditions allow.

For the latest conditions, lift status, and to book your trip visit sundanceresort.com.

Niagara Falls celebrates 40th anniversary of Winter Festival of Lights

Niagara Falls is celebrating the anniversary of the Winter Festival of Lights that runs until February 20, 2023. The 101 nights of twinkling lights features more than 3 million lights, displays, and events that transform the city.

Beyond the lights and displays, WFOL40 features 40 nights of family entertainment and children’s performers on weekends and throughout the December holidays, plus there are dozens of other events and activities.

Visit the Niagara Falls Christmas Market until December 18, the Fallsviews Crafty Christmas on December 4, live shows like Christmas On Ice at Fallsview Casino until December 9, and the Shaw Festival productions of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol and Irving Berlin’s White Christmas in Niagara-On-The-Lake, to name a few.

For all of the details and to discover more of what’s happening in Niagara Falls this holiday season, visit wfol.com, and niagarafallstourism.com.


Travel Tuesday is a semi-monthly roundup of interesting travel stories from our favourite destinations, operators, and industry. For more news and reviews, read The GATE’s latest travel stories.

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