Regent Seven Seas Cruises Invites Guests to Sail the 2021 Holiday Season in Style

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Line Unveils an Unrivaled Festive Experience with Voyages Cruising Africa, the Americas, Asia, Australia & New Zealand and the Caribbean  

Regent Seven Seas Cruises, the world’s leading luxury ocean cruise line, invites discerning travelers to embark on one of several festive voyages in 2021, which not only showcase a range of unique global destinations, but spread the holiday spirit through a myriad of specially-crafted menus, dazzling decorations and joyous onboard activities.   

Ranging between 10 and 34 nights, Regent’s holiday cruises run throughout December 2021 across the line’s spacious and stylish ships including the most luxurious ship ever built, Seven Seas Explorer®, and the ship that embodies luxury perfected, Seven Seas Splendor®. Destinations include Africa, the Americas, Asia, Australia & New Zealand and the Caribbean. 

Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ 2021 Holiday Cruise Highlights  

For those looking to escape and experience something more exceptional for next year’s holidays, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, offers seasonal vacations with all the luxuries, discoveries and adventures needed to make the 2021 festive period truly unforgettable. 

Seven Seas Explorer will be sailing a collection of local cruises across Australia and New Zealand for the first time, at the end of 2021. Departing Singapore on December 2, 2021, the Bali, the Outback & New Zealand itinerary discovers the best of Asia, Australia and New Zealand over 34 incredible nights.  

Christmas Eve night and Christmas Day will be spent in the bustling harbor city of Hobart, where guests can explore colonial-era cottages, indulge in farm-fresh Tasmanian oysters and sip on award-winning wines. From Hobart, Seven Seas Explorer will make her way to New Zealand, where she will ring in the New Year in the scenic towns of Wellington and Napier before heading to Auckland, where guests disembark. 

Regent’s Caribbean Holidays voyage departs December 7, 2021, where Seven Seas Splendor will complete a 20-night journey to tropical destinations in the Caribbean and Central America, including St Barts, the Bahamas, Dominica and Antigua. On Christmas Eve, guests can explore the quaint coastal town of Santo Tomas de Castilla, Guatemala and treat themselves to tours of an ancient Mayan ruin, lush rainforests and crystal-clear natural springs. Travelers will then spend Christmas Day in the mesmerizing beach town of Costa Maya, Mexico before returning to Miami. 

Meanwhile, the remaining Regent fleet will also be cruising incredible destinations over Christmas and New Year. Seven Seas Mariner® will discover the Caribbean and Central America, Seven Seas Voyager® will explore Africa and South America and Seven Seas Navigator® will venture to South America and Central America.  

An Unrivaled Festive Experience 

When travelers explore the world with Regent Seven Seas Cruises during the holiday season, the festive spirit is present throughout their entire experience – from start to finish. 

Depending on the ship, guests are often greeted by Santa before stepping aboard, where they are welcomed with a customary glass of Champagne and a magnificent four-meter-high Christmas tree in the atrium. In addition to this striking centerpiece, Regent Seven Seas Cruises also adorns the entire fleets’ public areas with smaller, exquisitely presented Christmas trees, festive flower arrangements and Hanukkah ornaments.  

“Our beautifully decorated ships are guaranteed to impress our guests. Typically consisting of 22 hand-crafted houses and 75 divine figurines, one of the most extraordinary installations that can be found onboard is the delectable gingerbread-house village located in the atrium. Smaller gingerbread houses are also dotted around the ship, so guests can enjoy the craftsmanship throughout,” said John Barron, Cruise Director, Regent Seven Seas Cruises.   

“Regardless of which incredible destination they are exploring, travelers will feel as though they are walking in a winter wonderland when they sail with us over the holidays,” Barron continued. 

On Christmas Eve, an extravagant feast of traditional European dishes are featured in a sumptuous menu courtesy of Regent’s Bernhard Klotz, vice president food and beverage, and his expert culinary team. Nordic Gravlax with honey mustard sauce for the entree; roasted German Christmas goose with braised red cabbage, potato dumplings and an Armagnac-soaked prune gravy for the main; and a classic English Christmas pudding with a vanilla and whiskey sauce are just some of the delights for diners to enjoy. Traditional Christmas cookies will also be delivered to children’s suites in the evening to ensure they have something to gift Santa when he comes to visit.  

The festivities are elevated further on Christmas Day, where eggnog is served at every bar, and a Christmas lunch featuring decadent baked ham and delicious sides is dished up at Compass Rose. For Christmas dinner, guests will be captivated by Chef Klotz’s unique American-inspired menu with dishes including lump crab martini with vodka and spices for starters; roasted turkey with chestnut-stuffing, giblet gravy, sweet potatoes rosette and green beans for main; and pumpkin pie with cranberries and a cinnamon-vanilla sauce for dessert. 

There is no shortage of entertainment available onboard during the holidays, with both traditional and jovial options on offer. Classic Christmas and Hanukkah services can be enjoyed by guests who wish to join in on prayers and hymns during their holiday cruise. For those who are wanting to experience some light-hearted entertainment, festive-themed trivia nights and other joyful activities will be on offer. Another favorite of many guests is the Christmas Gala Teatime, where they can enjoy an array of holiday delights and tempting treats prepared by Regent’s expert pastry chef. 

For more information please visit www.rssc.com, call 1-844-4REGENT (1-844-873-2381) or contact a professional travel advisor.   

Five Ways to Gift this Holiday Season with Hilton Honors

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Hilton Honors surprises top elite members with special gift, plus easy ways to earn and redeem Points for gifting



While this year has been unpredictable, there are lots of reasons and creative ways to celebrate the holidays. Whether that means enjoying cherished traditions at home, virtually connecting with family, taking a road trip to spend quality time with loved ones or giving a friend the perfect gift, the holiday season provides a fresh opportunity for reconnections to create new memories.

Hilton Honors, the award-winning guest loyalty program for Hilton’s 18 hotel brands, including Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts and DoubleTree by Hilton, is spreading holiday cheer by helping members make the most of their hard-earned Hilton Honors status and Points this season. This week, Hilton Honors also surprises its Diamond members with a special gift.

Check out the following five ways to gift this season with Hilton Honors.


1. Gift Hilton Honors Elite Status to a loved one. To thank its most elite members for their continued loyalty, Hilton Honors is extending a one-time special gift to its global Diamond and Lifetime Diamond members. Beginning this week, these Elite members will be able to gift status for one year to a family member or friend. Typically the Elite Status Gifting benefit is reserved for members who complete a standard, annual night requirement. Diamond members will receive an email with instructions on how to gift Gold status and Lifetime Diamond members will be able to gift Diamond status. For members who earned Status Gifting through their 2020 nights, this is an extra opportunity to gift to someone new.

2. Give the gift of a holiday staycation by redeeming Hilton Honors Points. Treat yourself and a loved one to a holiday staycation with great deals to be found at many Hilton hotels in Asia Pacific and many hotels offering spirited holiday decorations. Points Explorer is a helpful tool to search destinations and the number of Hilton Honors Points needed for a stay this season and into the new year. Another useful tool is the award-winning Hilton Honors app. In addition to booking a stay with Points, the app provides guests with a contactless arrival experience including access to Digital Check-In, Choose Your Room and Digital Key at 5,000 Hilton properties.

3. Give the gift of a future cultural, dining or spa experience by redeeming Hilton Honors Points.

Throughout the year, Hilton Honors members can redeem their Points for a range of exciting experiences through the Hilton Honors Experiences platform. This specially curated collection of experiences ranges from rejuvenating wellness experiences available across Singapore, Bali, Bangkok, Maldives and Manila, connecting with nature by exploring the Divar Island in Goa, India, to a unique self-guided wine-and-dine experience in Darwin, Australia.

4. Gift Hilton Honors Points for a future trip or dream vacation. While the pandemic has impacted many vacation plans this year, pent up consumer demand for travel has bookings on the rise for 2021. And with the holidays quickly approaching, Hilton Honors members can purchase (and gift!) Points* through the Hilton.com ‘Buy More Points’ page and receive a 100 percent bonus until December 31, 2020. Members can also gift Points by transferring their own Hilton Honors Points to a family member or friend.

5. Give back to a favorite cause by donating Hilton Honors Points. The holidays are a great time to give back and Hilton Honors members can donate to various accredited nonprofits on issues ranging from COVID-19 community relief to the environment to hunger. Upon linking their Hilton Honors and PointWorthy accounts, members can redeem Points to make a donation.

As we head into a new year, the award-winning Hilton Honors program remains committed to providing maximum flexibility, access and value to all members – from program adjustments and extensions to meaningful ways to use Hilton Honors benefits.

Hilton Honors wishes everyone a safe, relaxing and healthy holiday, wherever you’ll be celebrating this year.




Not a Hilton Honors member? Enroll for free and learn more at HiltonHonors.com to receive instant benefits, exclusive discounts and more.




*Minimum purchase required.

Food Sheds Are Helping Negrense Farmers Support the People of Negros

Wazzup Pilipinas!


Negrense women outside their foodshed in rural Negros Occidental back in 2019.Negrense farmers will be supplying crops for a cash and food subsidy program led by the Department of Agriculture, enabled in part by their community food sheds. Photograph © Alo Lantin / WWF-Philippines

Bacolod - Farmers have come through to aid other Filipinos – with the help of their communal food sheds.

On the 9th of December, Negrense farmers were recognized as supplies of a cash and food subsidy program were being rolled out by the Department of Agriculture (DA) across Negros Occidental.

Among those supplying food to the program are a number of communities under the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines’ Sustainable Food Systems program. The program brings farming communities together through the establishment of village banks and agri-business enterprises. These enterprises are designed to bring both food and livelihood to low-income communities, while supplying the surrounding population with nutritious food.

Nine months into the coronavirus pandemic, and these agri-enterprises have found new calling as the backbone of the DA’s food subsidy program.

“You cannot have a food program if you do not have someone to produce the food. That’s the role our communities play. They are the ones who help feed our nation during troubled times, as we are seeing today,” said WWF-Philippines Project Manager Monci Hinay.

Over the past two years, the Sustainable Food Systems program has been helping communities put up communal food sheds, the first ones having been built in Negros Occidental. A multi-storey structure, each shed increases the agricultural productivity of the host community – giving them more to eat, and more to sell at the market.

The DA is now mobilizing this market surplus as a means to keep farming and fishing communities well-fed. The program will be providing social support to 35,544 fishers and farmers from Negros Occidental. The first recipients received their relief aid on the 8th of December.

Throughout 2021, the DA plans on bringing food and financial relief to 117,435 fishers and farmers across Western Visayas.

“Healthy farmers means healthy communities and a healthy country. Our partner farmers stand ready to help their fellow Filipinos. With their food sheds and together with their neighbors, they are able to help,” added Hinay.

WWF-Philippines plans on having 48 food sheds constructed in rural communities across the country by the end of 2021.

As the year winds down, preparations are in place to provide aid to those in need throughout 2021. Equipped with the skills and capacities to lend a helping hand, WWF-Philippines’ partner communities – and their innovative food sheds – stand ready to provide support. WWF-Philippines and its partners are working to #ChangeTheEnding of this ongoing crisis. 

A Negrense woman waters crops in her community’s food shed. WWF-Philippines aims to have food sheds constructed across the country this coming 2021, to support rural livelihood and food security under pandemic times. Photo taken in 2019. Photograph © Alo Lantin / WWF-Philippines

A group of Negrense women carry a sack of bird feed into their food shed. Each food shed is managed and maintained by the community, providing them both with a source of nutritious food and livelihood. Photo taken in 2019. Photograph © Alo Lantin / WWF-Philippines