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After strong first game under new coach, Blues meet red-hot DevilsBy Jennifer Allen Between cooking, cleaning and hosting, the familiar hustle of the holiday season can sometimes feel more hectic than heartwarming. But what if there were a way to embrace the season while leaving the chaos behind? Holiday cruises make all of this possible, offering the perfect getaway that can be tailored to any vibe – blending festive traditions with the excitement of travel. Imagine sipping hot chocolate in the background of the Northern Lights, exploring sun-drenched islands or maybe enjoying a festive dinner on the sea. Whether looking for family-friendly fun, romance for two or peaceful solo travel, holiday cruises deliver a unique celebration unlike any other. Do you want to skip the stress of the season but don’t want to miss out on the holiday cheer? Rest assured, among the most well-known cruise lines, most of them host elaborate holiday festivities that transform their ships into winter wonderlands complete with decorations, entertainment and activities fit for Santa Claus himself. Instead of buying gifts, stressing over what to cook or bake and cleaning over the holidays, Michelle Price of Honest and Truly prefers a holiday cruise for her family. “The ship takes care of everything, from making the beds in the morning to prepping our meals throughout the day. And they have various fun activities to keep us busy,” she says. From towering Christmas trees in the atrium to twinkling lights on every railing, cruises at this time of year are very creative with their festive splendor. Cruises will also complement their aesthetics to match entertainment, including tree-lighting ceremonies, live caroling and holiday movie nights under the stars. Depending on the cruise, you can expect a robust calendar of events with activities like ugly sweater parties, holiday trivia, Santa appearances and even onboard Christmas markets. The holiday wouldn’t feel complete without the food to match, and cruise lines deliver. You can enjoy lavish holiday dinners complete with everything, from the traditional turkey to international Christmas dishes. Some cruises even offer themed buffets with everything, from a turkey carving station to hot and creamy chowders , holiday cocktails, gingerbread-making workshops and seasonal dessert tastings to add fun to the feasts. Cruises cater to various travelers and take the guesswork out of planning a holiday. Unlike a traditional vacation where you are responsible for your own itinerary, cruises do the hard work for you by planning destinations, offering a wide variety of on-board activities and providing varied experiences that appeal to all. A 2024 survey by Expedia Cruises concluded that 82% of travelers who have cruised before say they would do it again. Traveling with the whole family can often feel like an exercise in logistics that leaves you more stressed than you were before your holiday. Holiday cruises simplify this, offering multigenerational activities, family-friendly dining options and flexible accommodations. The Disney Cruise Line, which includes the Very Merrytime Cruises for the holiday season, is popular for offering exciting kid-centric activities like themed crafts, holiday scavenger hunts and character meet-and-greets. These endless options paired with the kids’ or teens’ clubs keep younger travelers entertained while giving their parents peace of mind. When traveling with older family members, consider reaching out to the cruise ahead of time to find out what accessible options they offer. Cruise lines can sometimes accommodate requests that might be better suited for older folks like avoiding stairs or long walks to reach their room. Couples can rediscover their magic on holiday cruises that offer intimate moments and tailored experiences. The Romantic Cruises by Princess Cruises stand out because of their private balcony dining and couples’ activities like wine tastings or cooking classes to make hors d’oeuvres . However, many holiday cruises offer specialty experiences like date-night-worthy restaurants, sunset strolls on the deck and shared excursions that are sure to create lasting memories. For couples looking to rest and relax, holiday cruises can provide serene spaces, spa suites and infinity verandas that are perfect for unwinding together. Cruises provide the perfect atmosphere for singles to mingle and enjoy the holiday season with company. Social events like trivia nights, dance parties and holiday mixers encourage connection and camaraderie. Certain cruises, like the Norwegian Cruise Line and the Virgin Voyages’ Holiday Cruises, cater specifically to solo travelers. These cruises include adult-only entertainment, curated activities and a vibrant nightlife. Rest assured, these cruises provide plenty of holiday entertainment and seasonal activities that ensure you enjoy yourself while staying close to your holiday traditions. With over 323 cruise ships currently in operation serving 36 million passengers this year alone, according to photoAiD , how do you choose if you’re a first-time cruiser ? Start by confirming that the cruise is appropriate for the needs of your traveling group. Often, experiences that are tailored for a specific group, whether kids or couples, will be described in the cruise line’s name – take for instance, the Disney Cruise Line. You can also check out the on-board activities available to make sure that there are plenty of options for your company. Related Articles Travel | California’s sunny Huntington Beach makes a great weekend getaway Travel | Top travel destinations for 2025 include a real-life Land of the Lotus Eaters Travel | New York state highlights can’t-miss holiday sites and attractions Travel | Holiday travel: Tahoe’s Truckee is a magical, cozy winter destination Travel | Election results are impacting travelers’ 2025 international trip plans Next, consider your budget. Holiday cruises make luxury accessible without breaking the bank, with options as low as $300 for shorter voyages. Cruises will often provide all-inclusive packages that bundle accommodations, dining, entertainment and travel into a single cost-effective experience. The Carnival Cruise line remains a favorite for budget-conscious travelers because of its fun festivities and great dining options. However, even high-end experiences, like the MSC Cruises’ Yacht Club, which includes amenities like private pools, lounges and butler services come at a fraction of the cost of traditional luxury resorts. Lastly, ask yourself what holiday vibe you’re going for. Are you dreaming of a sunny tropical Christmas or perhaps frosty landscapes? Either way, with thousands of options in December alone, as cataloged by CruiseBooking.com , there’s a cruise waiting for you. The Norwegian Cruise Line’s Caribbean Cruises stop at destinations like the Great Stirrup Cay, while Hurtigruten’s Arctic Expeditions sail through breathtaking fjords and snowy landscapes. Holiday cruises offer a unique way to celebrate the season that’s a guaranteed hit without breaking the bank. Consider leaving behind the stress of hosting and planning; step aboard a ship where every detail has been curated to bring enjoyment and relaxation. With the holidays calling, will you answer with a ticket to set sail? Jennifer Allen is a retired professional chef and long-time writer. Her writing appears in dozens of publications, and she has two cookbooks, “Keto Soup Cookbook” and “Keto Diabetic Cookbook and Meal Plan.” These days, she’s busy in the kitchen, developing recipes for various publications and traveling, and you can find all her best recipes at Cook What You Love .What Did Miley Cyrus Say About Her Relationship With Boyfriend Maxx Morando? By dished what works for her and her Gen Z boyfriend ‘s private relationship in her new Harper’s Bazaar cover story. The former Disney star dwelled on their age gap, given she is 32 while he is 26, placing him in a whole different generation. Cyrus discussed the impact of social media on her boyfriend’s life compared to hers, admitting that she doesn’t even have her Instagram password. She began dating the musician in 2021 more than a decade after her highly-publicized relationship with ex-husband Liam Hemsworth. Miley Cyrus reveals what works for her and boyfriend Maxx Morando miley cyrus and maxx morando ✨ In her new December/January cover story for , Miley Cyrus admitted that she and her boyfriend, Maxx Morando, are “very similar.” She noted, “We just don’t take life too seriously,” However she admitted that he “looks at life really differently than I do.” Morando, who is six years younger than her, “grew up with a laptop,” she said, contrary to the desktop computer she shared with her siblings growing up. The singer even confessed that they share a dog whom Morando “raised our dog off Reddit,” pointing at notable differences between her millennial practices and his Gen Z approaches. Cyrus then recalled questioning his methods, “I’m like, Are you sure we’re supposed to be doing this? And he’s like, On Reddit it says blah, blah, blah.” In addition, she disclosed in the cover story that receiving memes from her boyfriend is the only time she is active online. Miley Cyrus admitted that Maxx Morando, a producer and member of the band Liily, has introduced her to different kinds of music. They even worked together on her new album, with Morando producing several songs and helping her word the lyrics to the title track, “Something Beautiful.” Not only that, Cryus and her boyfriend often collaborate, with her professing, “Maxx just inspires me so much.” Besides talking about new music and her beau, the Grammy winner also posed for glamorous cover story photos for Harper’s Bazaar. . Share article
NoneDejounte Murray is rejoining the Pelicans vs. Toronto and drawing inspiration from his mother
The Albanese Government has dumped its controversial misinformation and disinformation bill on the back of fierce opposition to the proposed laws, which had been slammed as an attempt by Labor to censor the internet. It came as part of a series of backflips as part of pre-Christmas clean-up of the Labor Government’s agenda, with plans to put a ban on gambling ads to Parliament this week also ditched, as well as any prospect of a compromise with the Greens over housing initiatives. The legislation would have required social media companies to have systems for dealing with false information and bad actors seeking to spread it on their platforms and given users more power to challenge content moderation decisions by tech companies. But the proposed bill — which also threatened to fine digital platforms up to five per cent of their revenue if they breached the laws — sparked widespread fears the Government was seeking to censor the internet. Communications Minister Michelle Rowland conceded on Sunday the legislation was friendless in the Senate, with opposition from the Coalition, Greens and crossbench. Shadow minister Michaelia Cash welcomed the abandonment of the proposed laws. Katina Curtis Dylan Caporn “This bill is not about misinformation and disinformation. This bill is about the Albanese government silencing the Australian people,” she said. The Coalition has long opposed the legislation while the Greens turned on it late last week. Nor did Labor find backing from Senate crossbenchers. “Based on public statements and engagements with senators, it is clear that there is no pathway to legislate this proposal through the Senate,” Ms Rowland said in a statement. Her shadow counterpart David Coleman said the bill never should have been put forward in the first place. “Today, all supporters of free speech can celebrate that the Albanese Government’s misinformation bill is now in the bin, where it belongs,” he said. Ms Rowland urged all parliamentarians to work on other proposals to keep Australians safe online and strengthen democratic institutions while safeguarding free speech. What on earth does this Prime Minister stand for? What is the point of the Albanese Government. “It is incumbent on democracies to grapple with these challenges in a way that puts the interests of citizens first,” she said. The Government will now focus on making tougher offences for sharing non-consensual deep fake porn, enforcing truth in political advertising in elections and regulating artificial intelligence. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton demanded the Government rule out any future iteration of the legislation. He also labelled the backdown on the gambling ad ban a “cowardly and craven capitulation”. “This is a government that is lurching from one disaster to the next and limping to the next election,” he said. “What on earth does this Prime Minister stand for? What is the point of the Albanese Government.” There are some 30 bills on the Senate’s agenda for the year’s final sitting. Katina Curtis Cabinet minister Murray Watt said it would be “a real test for Peter Dutton and for the Greens party about whether they’re prepared to help Labor build Australia’s future, or whether they’re going to continue the blocking and destructive negativity”. Top of his Christmas list for passage were the two housing bills and another that boosts childcare educator wages. But the Government has rejected a further compromise from the Greens on the legislation to establish a shared equity scheme like WA’s Keystart, and for incentives to build affordable rental properties. However, it still hopes to legislate a new age limit on social media and overhaul electoral funding with support from the Coalition during this final sitting week for the year. Treasury and Housing Australia have advised the Greens’ proposal to fund 25,000 housing projects previously rejected for Government funding was both unlawful and would cost $20 billion. Other changes to the build to rent scheme would have rendered it ineffective. Housing Minister Clare O’Neil said the minor party was running a “contentious charade” and dabbling in “the crassest form of politics”. “You get the distinct impression the Greens want Australians to continue to be in housing distress, so Adam Bandt can try to harvest those grievances into votes,” she said. Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young, the longest-serving member of the Greens’ party room, insisted the party was trying to be pragmatic and get outcomes. “I don’t want to vote things down. I want to get things done,” she said.Amazon has this Breville espresso machine on sale for a massive $250 off in a leftover Black Friday deal
TORONTO — Canada's main stock index ended Tuesday narrowly in the red, weighed down by losses in energy and base metals stocks, while U.S. markets moved higher. Investors digested the latest news from U.S. president-elect Donald Trump, who threatened sweeping new tariffs of 25 per cent on products from Canada and Mexico. The “sizable” tariff promise likely shocked markets somewhat right off the bat, said Mike Archibald, vice-president and portfolio manager with AGF Investments Inc. “But I think as people have kind of digested they've thought that this is probably a starting position from a bargaining standpoint,” he said. The announcement was in line with Trump’s tactics used during his first presidency, said Archibald. The S&P/TSX composite index closed down 5.21 points at 25,405.14. In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 123.74 points at 44,860.31. The S&P 500 index was up 34.26 points at 6,021.63, while the Nasdaq composite was up 119.46 points at 19,174.30. A few Canadian companies saw their share prices drop because of the outsized impact such a tariff could have on certain sectors, said Archibald. These included Bombardier, BRP, Linamar and Magna International. “You can see the biggest losers on the market today are generally those that manufacture in either Canada and/or Mexico,” he said. But higher tariffs could also be inflationary for the U.S., said Archibald. Markets have been paring back their bets for interest rate cuts in the U.S. in the wake of the election in anticipation of potentially higher inflation. “It’s a bit too early to know,” said Archibald. Despite the uncertainty, he said markets are still poised to do well in the coming months thanks to Trump’s overall pro-business bent. “I still think the market is in a very good position to rally ... into the end of the year,” he said. “The S&P 500 is still going to do fairly well relative to other markets around the world.” The loonie fell to a four-year low before clawing back some of its losses later in the day, he noted. The Canadian dollar traded for 71.01 cents US compared with 71.53 cents US on Monday. The January crude oil contract was down 17 cents at US$68.77 per barrel and the January natural gas contract was up three cents at US$3.47 per mmBTU. The December gold contract was up US$2.80 at US$2,621.30 an ounce and the March copper contract was down four cents at US$4.12 a pound. — With files from The Associated Press This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 26, 2024. Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD) Rosa Saba, The Canadian Press