Non-stop service to London to operate year-round from Calgary and Toronto
WestJet announces year-round service to Europe
WestJet today announced it is extending two of its new non-stop transatlantic services to London (Gatwick) from seasonal to year-round. Flights from Calgary and Toronto to London will now operate on a year-round basis, three times weekly and daily respectively through the winter, while service from Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg and St. John’s will operate seasonally as announced in September 2015.
“Today’s announcement is another important step in the international expansion of WestJet,” said Chris Avery, WestJet Vice-President, Network Planning, Alliances and Corporate Development. “Year-round service to and from Europe on board our fleet of Boeing 767-300 extended-range aircraft offers our business and leisure guests the opportunity to take advantage of our low fares, high value and remarkable guest experience on both sides of the Atlantic whenever it suits their schedule.”
As part of a major system-wide seat sale, one-way fares to London (Gatwick) are available starting from:
Departing
Arriving
Air transportation charges (ATC)
One-way taxes, fees and charges
Total one-way price from
One-way base fare from
One-way other ATC
Toronto
London Gatwick
$209
$7.50
$54.50
$271 CAD*
Vancouver
London Gatwick
$269
$7.50
$46.50
$323 CAD*
Calgary
London Gatwick
$284
$7.50
$57.50
$349 CAD*
Edmonton
London Gatwick
$284
$7.50
$57.50
$349 CAD*
Winnipeg
London Gatwick
$258
$7.50
$52.50
$318 CAD*
St. John’s
London Gatwick
$181
$7.50
$59.50
$248 CAD*
*Some restrictions apply. Please see westjet.com/londongatwick for details. Advertised taxes and fees may fluctuate without notice.
One-way fares from London (Gatwick) are available starting from:
Departing
Arriving
Air transportation charges (ATC)
One-way taxes, fees and charges
Total one-way price from
One-way base fare from
One-way other ATC
London Gatwick
Toronto
£100.00
£4.00
£86.00
£190 GBP*
London Gatwick
Vancouver
£128.00
£4.00
£86.00
£218 GBP*
London Gatwick
Calgary
£146.00
£4.00
£86.00
£236 GBP*
London Gatwick
Edmonton
£146.00
£4.00
£86.00
£236 GBP*
London Gatwick
Winnipeg
£140.00
£4.00
£86.00
£230 GBP*
London Gatwick
St. John’s
£87.00
£4.00
£86.00
£177 GBP*
*Some restrictions apply. Please see westjet.com/londongatwick for details. Advertised taxes and fees may fluctuate without notice.
Service dates for WestJet’s non-stop flights to London are:
2015 Rocky Mountaineer Vacation Packages – itineraries, rates and dates
Rocky Mountain Holidays have just posted all 2015 Rocky Mountaineer vacation packages for 2015. There are significantly more packages available with the welcomed addition of some old favourites such as the “at leisure” packages, which give you more time in the Canadian Rockies. There are now 129 Rocky Mountaineer Canadian vacation package options to choose from.
All vacation packages were always available through customisation, although the addition of these extended packages make it much easier for guests to view itineraries and prices at a glance. Rocky Mountain Holidays also have a useful vacation search tool which assists you in finding the perfect vacation package with Rocky Mountaineer (featured below):
For 2015, at time of press, all new Rocky Mountaineer Vacation packages will be subject to a 20% non-refundable deposit. In the past, guests took advantage of the low deposits to secure their vacations in advance. For now, any guests booking 2015 will have to be a little more committed – we always recommend you take out adequate travel insurance to protect you against unforeseen circumstances.
Changes to 2015 Alaska cruise out of Vancouver
It’s goodbye to NCL in 2015 and the relationship with Holland America continues to grow strong for the 2015 season. Having travelled onboard Holland America’s ms Zuiderdam myself out of Vancouver on their 7 night round-trip Alaska cruise, I have to say it was an excellent cruise ship and perfect for the Alaskan climate with not too much outside deck.
In 2015, the ms Zuiderdam’s route will be replaced by the returning ms Noordam. The itinerary will remain the same. This ship is a Vista-class ship like the Zuiderdam and was the last built of the Vista Class ships (Zuiderdam being the first). As this is a newer ship, Holland America made some improvements. The consensus is that this is a better ship with some slight changes – it is a sister ship to ms Zuiderdam and has mostly identical features. So, this is a really positive change for the rail and cruise packages in 2015. We are already off to a great start!
Here is a nice photo I took from onboard the ms Zuiderdam as we cruised Glacier Bay National Park – just breath taking.
Photo taken from onboard Holland America’s Zuiderdam as we cruised Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska. The Zuiderdam is the sister cruise ship to ms Noordam.
Holland America’s ms Westerdam will be the cruise ship of choice out of Seattle again in 2015 and ties in nicely with the Coastal Passage route which connects Seattle to Vancouver and the Canadian Rockies.
Rocky Mountaineer’s research with guests and potential guests indicated that future guests are seeking more days onboard the train. To accommodate this growing demand for circle trips, Rocky Mountaineer introduced the new shorter-duration 6 night “Taste of the Rockies” Circle package.
Itinerary and map of the new 2015 “Taste of the Rockies” Circle Vacation with Rocky Mountaineer.
This rail vacation package includes both the Rocky Mountaineer’s best-selling First Passage to the West and Journey through the Clouds routes, plus a motorcoach tour along the Icefields Parkway connecting Banff and Jasper National Parks. The journey can also be extended to begin and/or end in Seattle instead of Vancouver by adding Coastal Passage, or combined with pre- or post-tour cruise options onboard the ms Noordam out of Vancouver.
Canadian Rockies Adventures
Canadian Rockies Adventure Vacation Package in 2015 with Rocky Mountaineer
During my years of guiding in Banff National Park, the Icefields Parkway was one of my favourite places to take guests and the scenery never failed to disappoint. This route is only accessible by road and is a favourite of many Rocky Mountaineer guests too. With this in mind, the “Canadian Rockies Adventures” vacation package was introduced for 2015. It extends guests’ stays in Lake Louise and Banff to two nights, to allow for more time to include this spectacular highlight in their itineraries while at the same time, slowing the pace making this holiday more relaxing over 7 nights.
Please note that this package is not the same as the one with the same name sold until 2012 as the old itinerary did not include lunch on the Icefields Parkway tour or the helicopter flight at Cline River. A 7 night round-trip Alaskan cruise out of Vancouver onboard ms Noordam can also be added before or after this package.
Canadian Rockies at Leisure and Northern Rockies at Leisure
Due to increased demand of vacation packages in the Canadian Rockies with longer durations, the “Canadian Rockies at Leisure” (9 nights) and “Northern Rockies at Leisure” (10 nights) have been re-introduced. These itineraries are very similar to the best selling Western Explorer package and the Northern Explorer package, but with two night stays in Banff and Lake Louise, as well as in Jasper. A 7-night round-trip Vancouver cruise onboard ms Noordaman can also be added to either of these packages (at the start or the end).
Coastal Passage Packages
We were some of the lucky ones to be invited onboard for the inaugural departure in August 2013 and we were certainly impressed by this new exciting route, connecting Seattle to Vancouver and the Canadian Rockies.
Back in February 2014, Rocky Mountaineer vastly expanded the number of Coastal Passage packages available, making a total of 41 package options to choose from which include this route. For 2015, these packages will also be available with cruises from Holland America (ms Westerdam, before or after your rail tour)
As in 2014, the Coastal Passage add-on is available to begin or end any Rocky Mountaineer package in Seattle, it can not be taken as a stand-alone.
Is that all the changes for 2015?
Yes, as far as we can see. Apart for some minor tweaks on some existing packages, such as the Summit Helicopter tour removal from the Canadian Rockies Getaway, Grand Rail Circle, Trans-Canada Rail Adventure, and Coast to Coast by Rail, no other major changes to report.
We are delighted about the changes we have seen for the 2015 season…it will be here before we know it!
To celebrate Canada’s upcoming birthday, Rocky Mountain Holidays and Rocky Mountaineer are giving away 2 FREE dome service tickets onboard the Rocky Mountaineer train, return, between Vancouver and Whistler. Currently at time of this post, the odds of winning are 1 in 22!
I can’t tell you how many calls and emails we have received over the past few weeks from return and new guests regarding the Kicking Horse Powder Express. There seems to be a lot of confusion over what the Kicking Horse Powder Express is this season. Where has it gone? What has replaced it? How much does it cost? We have already spent a lot of time answering these questions and to make it easier and to save us some time answering individual calls and emails regarding this topic, here are some questions and answers below.
All of our guests seem disappointed and frustrated about these changes. Feel free to comment on this post as we would like to hear your thoughts.
Okay, let’s start with the questions and answers below:
1) Is the Kicking Horse Powder Express operating this season?
The Kicking Horse Powder Express with the dedicated return transportation and lift pass included at a rate of about $100 including all tax is no more.
2) Is there a replacement to this service?
Yes. There is a scheduled service which is about $100 plus tax return for just the transportation and in addition to this, you must purchase the lift pass. There is no discount on the lift pass – you must pay full price making this ski-away day quite pricey compared to the old service.
3) How is this service different?
This service is not a dedicated Powder Express ski shuttle as in previous seasons. It is a scheduled service connecting Canmore, Banff, Lake Louise, Golden and Kicking Horse Mountain Resort. The advantage of the scheduled service means that minimum numbers are not required.
The return time of 3:30pm means that you do not get to enjoy a full ski day on the mountain but you do have the convenience of catching a one way shuttle for a reasonable price.
4) What is the schedule for this new service?
This is the new schedule correct as of today:
FROM CANMORE / BANFF / LAKE LOUISE / GOLDEN TO KICKING HORSE
Depart Canmore 5:30 Arrive in Banff 6:00
Depart Banff 6:15 Arrive in Lake Louise 7:15
Depart Lake Louise 7:30 Arrive Golden (Prestige Inn) 8:50
Depart Golden 9:00 Arrive Kicking Horse (Glacier Mountain Lodge) 9:30
FROM KICKING HORSE TO GOLDEN TO LAKE LOUISE / BANFF / CANMORE
Daily: December 20th, 2011 through March 31st, 2012.
6) Are there other ski-away options out of Banff?
Yes, the Panorama ski bus is operating again this season with a minimum of 4 required to guarantee a departure. We are finding most guests are booking this ski-away day instead this season to experience another ski resort in the Canadian Rockies at a fraction of the cost.
7) Will the original Kicking Horse Powder Express be offered for the 2012-2013 season?
We have no idea but hope so! If it does, we will be sure to get the word out!
Happy Holidays to you all and thanks for reading. We hope that we have answered your questions okay? Remember to visit www.SkiHolidaysCanada.co.uk for ski package deals and specials.
Rocky Mountain Holidays now have all 2012 Rocky Mountaineer packages available for download. We are glad to see they have kept most of the packages the same with some of the popular packages having additional cruise ship departures added. One new route we are excited about is the “Coastal Passage” route which connects Seattle and Vancouver with the Rocky Mountaineer Train. The Whistler Mountaineer will no longer have dome service available for 2012. The dome trains used on the Vancouver to Whistler route will now be used for the new SilverLeaf service in 2012 which was introduced this year. For your convenience, we have provided links to all of the packages below. Alternatively, you can visit Rocky Mountain Holidays direct for their Rocky Mountaineer package download page.
What a great start we have had to 2011 with about a metre of snow received by the ski resorts across Western Canada over the past week! Now that we are into 2011, the busy summer season does not seem so far away. With the early-bird deals starting to “fizzle” out or become less attractive for the summer, especially with the Rocky Mountaineer train packages, now is a good time to get a good deal on a 2011 spring, summer or autumn/fall package. Rocky Mountain Holidays have brochure downloads in PDF (Portable Document Format) and as always, we have provided the links below for easy reference. These packages can be easily customised based on your preferences (as long as the changes fit in with the rail or cruise schedule). Be sure to take advantage of specials such as free nights and activities in Vancouver – value added rather than discounts are the way to go.
Self-drive holidays are becoming increasingly popular in the Canadian Rockies as it gives you the independence but you also have full support when you are out here and the peace of mind that you won’t struggle to find accommodation during the peak season months in the Canadian Rockies. When booking a self-drive package, check to see if you have Loss Damage Waiver insurance coverage with your credit card provider as this can save you about $30 per day. Also, check out what the one way drop-off fees are from Vancouver to Calgary for example. When you book independently they can be as much as several hundred dollars whereas through a tour operator, typically the rates are about $75-$100.
Other things to look out for if you are shopping around are hidden fees such as “credit card surcharges”. This is a common technique used by some companies to squeeze some extra cash out of you after you have already agreed to the booking. It is also good to ask the straight question – “what extra costs will I have to pay in additional to the package price?”. Any good tour operator will be able to list these for you immediately so you know where you stand with the total of your holiday cost.
Here are the holiday brochures for 2011 – available for download through RockyMountainHolidays.com.
A sample 7-day itinerary from Vancouver with rocky-peak Holidays which takes advantage of current travel specials. This itinerary can be completely customised and you can easily upgrade to a luxury package.
SAT AUG 15
Arrive Vancouver. Overnight Vancouver.
SUN AUG 16
Overnight Train to Jasper departs 20:30.
MON AUG 17
Train arrives Jasper 16:00. Overnight Jasper.
TUE AUG 18
Jasper to Banff along the spectacular Icefields Parkway. Snowcoach onto Athabasca glacier included. Overnight Banff.
WED AUG 19
Banff Sightseeing Trip – AM / Lake Louise & Moraine Lake Sightseeing Trip – PM. Overnight Banff.
THU AUG 20
Depart Banff onboard the Rocky Mountaineer Train, RedLeaf Service, to Kamloops. Overnight Kamloops.
FRI AUG 21
Rocky Mountaineer RedLeaf Service to Vancouver. Overnight Vancouver.
SAT AUG 22
Victoria Day Trip from Vancouver. Full day. Overnight Vancouver.
Package Includes:
– 1 night Vancouver – Mid-Range (moderate) Hotel
– Overnight Train to Jasper – Economy (Seat)
– 1 night Jasper – Mid-Range (moderate) Hotel
– Jasper to Banff with Snowcoach onto Glacier included
– 2 nights Banff – Mid-range (moderate) Hotel
– Banff Sightseeing Group Tour
– Lake Louise and Moraine Lake Sightseeing Group Tour
– Rocky Mountaineer Train, RedLeaf Service to Kamloops
– 1 night Kamloops (moderate) Hotel
– Rocky Mountaineer Train, RedLeaf Service to Vancouver
– 2 nights Vancouver – Mid-Range (moderate) Hotel
– Victoria Day Trip (includes return ferry, Butchart Gardens admission, Royal London Wax Museum admission & return transportation from you Vancouver hotel)
Total Discounted Package Price for 2 Adults = CDN$3,990 ($1,995 per person). This rate includes ALL taxes, promotions and discounts. Price will be confirmed at time of booking.
