Alaska 2027 Gets Its Land-and-Sea Packages as Dubai Recovers and U.S. Inbound Slips

Seabourn has opened 18 Alaska/British Columbia departures on Seabourn Encore, running May through September 2027, with a new seven-night pre-cruise Denali program. It bundles flightseeing, a private wildlife experience, hotels, meals and transfers. Every guest receives a Helly Hansen jacket, and Premium Suite guests also get Swarovski binoculars. It is a ready-made land-plus-sea sale, and ultra-luxury Alaska inventory is limited, so early holds matter.

At the private end, EYOS Expeditions pairs a three-to-four-day exclusive buyout of Sheldon Chalet, a helicopter-only, five-bedroom property near Denali, with a charter of the seven-stateroom, 157-foot Hanse Explorer. It is high-ticket, low-inventory group product with a full-service DMC layer behind it. Together they give advisors a tiered Alaska offer: a structured package for suite clients and an exclusive-use option for UHNW families or groups.

• Seabourn Encore: 18 departures, May–September 2027; 7-night Denali land program
• EYOS: Sheldon Chalet buyout (3–4 days) plus 157-foot, seven-stateroom Hanse Explorer

Windstar's 224-guest, all-suite Star Explorer begins European service on Dec. 28, 2026 from Barcelona. Complimentary private events for 2027 include the Tower of London after hours with a Crown Jewels viewing, Fortezza Vecchia in Livorno and a Dominican cloister in Dubrovnik. The included access is a real selling point for small-ship Europe clients, though Windstar sits below the ultra-luxury tier.

On the river side, Aqua Expeditions has named Benjamin Cross consulting chef for Aqua Mekong. He developed more than 160 recipes at Aqua Blu. New menus begin in late 2026, and chef-hosted departures are planned for 2027, with details still to come. Itineraries run through Cambodia and Vietnam. Commercial detail is thin, but it gives culinary-minded clients a reason to consider the product once dates are released.

Dubai's occupancy reached 66% in August, up from 36% in March, when drone strikes near DXB disrupted aviation. August drew about 869,000 international overnight visitors, the strongest month since February. Western Europe accounts for 20% of visitation and the Americas 7%.

The figures come from the tourism authority itself, so read them as the destination's own account of its recovery. For advisors, they are still concrete numbers to put in front of clients hesitant about the Gulf. Occupancy remains below last year, so negotiating leverage on winter bookings may persist.

International arrivals to the U.S. fell 11.8% in August after a 7% drop in July, with declines across all regions. Western Europe was down 14.8%. World Cup visitor numbers fell short of expectations.

Weekly CoStar data for the week ending Sept. 12 shows a split market. New York ADR rose 7.1% to $435, with RevPAR up 11.5%. Las Vegas ADR fell 20.2%. For advisors selling inbound U.S. luxury, softer rates may be available outside the gateway cities. Those working with international clients should expect weaker demand and possible deals.

Melissa Krueger is leaving as CEO of Classic Vacations after 13 years. CFO Sharon Conway has been named interim CEO.

Classic is a major luxury tour operator and a preferred-partner channel for many advisors. A leadership change can precede shifts in supplier programs, commission structures or advisor support. Details are thin. If you route high-end island and resort bookings through Classic, watch for any partner communications and confirm your current terms.