CRYSTAL WANTS THE UNITED STATES

Crystal Cruises has taken an option to rehabilitate the SS United States, that’s been rusting at a dock for a couple of decades. It was the fastest passenger vessel in the world when it was launched in 1952, but the U.S. flagged ship fell victim to jet travel and a number of schemes to renovate the ship failed over the years.

One would expect that the low price of oil would benefit the travel industry, yet a number of factors appear to be affecting tourism in a negative way particularly south of the border. Last week stocks linked to tourism fell, with those in the hotel, resort and cruise sectors suffering a greater loss than the broader market.

A commercial flight headed to Los Angeles filled with smoke, turned around and made an emergency landing in Tucson, Arizona, where some passengers had to jump from the airplane to the runway.

A winter storm with hurricane-force winds and huge waves battered Britain's coastline Monday, cutting power to thousands and disrupting travel across the country. More than 15,000 homes were without power as Storm Imogen hit Ireland, Wales and southern England.

Blizzard conditions from an East Coast storm that cancelled flights and closed schools in parts of the Maritimes shifted into Newfoundland and Labrador early today.

Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas ran into high winds and rough seas in the Atlantic Ocean on Sunday, forcing frightened passengers into their cabins overnight as their belongings flew about, waves rose as high as 30 feet, and winds howled outside.

Actor and marijuana advocate Woody Harrelson was one of nearly 60 applicants to apply to open one of Hawaii's first medical marijuana dispensaries. Harrelson applied for a license in Honolulu County under his company, Simple Organic Living.

US Sen. Bill Nelson is meeting with Florida's airport directors as part of a push to garner support for new technology that could protect airports and other sensitive areas from drones.

Schools are announcing closures and airlines are asking passengers to reschedule their flights as Environment Canada warns a major storm is on its way to Atlantic Canada today.

As concerns about the Zika virus, both real and exaggerated sweep the industry, Ontario travel agents and tour operators are concerned that they are the ones being made responsible for alerting customers to potential dangers even when none might exist. “The Caribbean, Mexico, South and Central America all are suddenly suspect,” one industry professional told us, likening the situation to past warnings advising passengers, “don’t go to Vancouver because there’s a SARS outbreak in Toronto”.

Germany is the best country in the world, according to new analysis unveiled Wednesday at the World Economic Forum in Davos. The first-ever Best Countries report awarded Germany the top spot “in part because of its strong economy, world influence and its focus on key global issues, such as the migrant crisis and eurozone unity.”