FX Excursions

FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.

Cruise Lines Set an Example with More Female Captains at the Helm

by Becca Hensley

Sep 26, 2023

PHOTO: © EXPLORA JOURNEYS

September 2023

© FRASER YACHTS

According to various published reports, females make up merely 2–3 percent of ship captains worldwide. So it’s no wonder guests on board a cruise or yachting expedition feel surprised to find a woman in charge of their sailing ship. San Diego native Christiana Virgilio, captain of BIG EAGLE with Fraser Yachts for 17 years, has grown used to people stopping her to ask for access to the captain, never expecting she is the one who helms the ship. “Whenever someone asks me to speak with the captain,” she said, “I always smile, then say, ‘Sure, how can I help?’”

PHOTO: © EXPLORA JOURNEYS

Hailing from Italy, Capt. Serena Melani, the new master of EXPLORA I (the first ship of Explora Journeys’ luxury fleet that launched this summer) was the world’s first female captain to bring a cruise ship out of a shipyard in 2020. She looks back at the beginning of her career as challenging. “It was difficult to find my first job on board a ship, and I can still remember being the only woman on board. Today, I’m thankful to see there are more and more opportunities open to women in the industry,” she said.

© WINDSTAR CRUISES,

Windstar Cruises’ Capt. Belinda Bennett agrees change is afoot but points out it has been slow sailing. From remote Saint Helena, a 47-square-mile island and a British Overseas Territory, she not only reigns as Windstar’s first (and only) female captain, currently in charge of Wind Spirit, but she also boasts honors as the first Black woman to work as a captain on a cruise ship. “I’ve run into both racism and sexism over the years, but I have never let it be an issue. It’s not my problem, it’s theirs,” she said, noting she’s refused to be broken, never fearing working harder than her male colleagues. “Don’t be afraid to come to sea,” she advised water- loving women considering a career as a captain. “You get to see the world and be paid for it.” She urges would-be female captains to “work hard, be strong and don’t let anything deter you.”

Introducing

FX Excursions

FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.

Explore Excursions

#globility

Insta Feed
Daily
Sep 6, 2024

Indio, California is “Hot” Right Now, and We’re Not Talking About the Weather

Although most travelers are familiar with the name Palm Springs, the oldest city in the Greater Palm Springs region is Indio, California, Coachella Valley's "City of Festivals,” which has been experiencing an exciting downtown revitalization.

Share Miles with Family and Friends with United Airlines

As you look ahead to winter travel, United Airlines and its MileagePlus loyalty program introduced MileagePlus miles pooling, which allows members to contribute and combine miles into a joint account. Groups of up to five members can now share and redeem miles in one linked account. As the first and only major U.S. airline to offer this feature, United also allows any MileagePlus member, whether relatives or close friends, to be in a pool with other members.

September 2024
Sep 6, 2024

Escape to Tahiti for a Captivating Island-Hopping Cruise

The 118 islands of French Polynesia reveal themselves layer by fascinating layer, with the spirit of mana (vital force) linking them all the way from Tahiti to the remote reaches of the Marquesas. This is part of the world best savored on a journey that dives as deep into culture as natural beauty, both above and below the water’s surface. A cruise makes it easy to cover a lot of ground while unpacking just once (and sneaking in some work done in comfort, too, during at-sea days). And cruising offers particular appeal within this semi-autonomous French territory sprawling across nearly 2 million square miles of ocean and covering five archipelagos.

Daily
Sep 6, 2024

Experience the Awe of Fall Foliage at These 5 U.S. Hotels

‘Tis the season for flannels, pumpkin spice and beautiful fall colors. With seasons changing, leaves turn to stunning gold, red, orange and yellow, making it the perfect time for travelers to hit the open road and explore five fall foliage hotels in the United States.

Sunflower Accessibility Program Featured at O’Hare and Midway Airports

Travelers with invisible disabilities passing through O’Hare and Midway International Airports can now discreetly signal they need assistance thanks to a new Chicago Department of Aviation partnership that helps create more accessible and inclusive spaces.

Daily
Sep 6, 2024

Finnair Celebrates 5 Years of Platinum Wing Lounge

Finnair’s exclusive Platinum Wing lounge in Helsinki opened in summer 2019 and recently celebrated its fifth anniversary. Open to Finnair and oneworld’s top-tier customers, the lounge offers travelers a place to drink, dine and unwind pre-flight. Featuring Nordic-inspired design, the lounge offers areas for working, relaxing and dining, accommodating up to 155 customers at a time.

eFlyer Reviews
Sep 4, 2024

The Shelbourne Review

Facing the vast St. Stephen’s Green in the heart of Dublin sits the iconic and historic The Shelbourne. Few hotels master the perfect blend of history and luxury, but The Shelbourne gets it right. The site of the signing of the Irish Constitution in 1922 granting the Republic of Ireland its freedom from England, The Shelbourne has hosted its fair share of notable figures, from Michael Collins to Princess Grace Kelly to John Ford, the latter of which was the name of my suite.

Daejeon Prepares for Its Iconic Zero O’Clock Festival

Daejeon, South Korea, looks forward to August 2024 and the return of its iconic tradition, the Zero O’Clock Festival. This year, the event is held Aug. 9 –17 with a time travel theme featuring past, present and future zones. Find events pertaining to each zone’s characteristics in the area of Jungang-ro Street, from Daejeon Station to the former site of the South Chungcheong Provincial Office. These streets will be free of vehicles, and public transportation is highly recommended.

eFlyer News
Sep 4, 2024

Illinois Becomes First Great Lakes State to Ban Certain Single-Use Plastic Bottles in Hotels

All hotels in Illinois with 50 or more guestrooms are now required to eliminate the use of small, single-use plastic bottles containing personal care products in individual rooms and public bathrooms beginning July 1, 2025. By Jan 1, 2026, all hotels are expected to make this transition.