August 30, 2007 • 11:39 am
Carnival Cruise Lines ship, the Inspiration will soon enter a month long dry dock to be completed in early October. A new adults-only area called “Serenity” will be created. It will be located in an aft area of the ship and will feature chaise lounges, chairs, oversized umbrellas and two whirlpools. “Serenity” areas are just part of Carnival’s $250 million “Evolution of Fun” enhancements that will take place on Carnival’s Fantasy-class ships. more…
Carnival Cruise Line on newpaltztravel.com
Filed under: Carnival Cruise Line, Cruise Industry, caribbean cruises, cruise agency, cruise group, cruises, honeymoons
August 23, 2007 • 10:22 pm
The backlog of unprocessed passport applications is now in the millions so the State Department has created an interim regulation that allows for extra time in processing expedited passport applications.
From the U.S. Department of State website:
‘If you apply at a Passport Acceptance Facility or by mail (for renewal, additional pages, and amendment) and choose routine service, you will receive your passport within about 10-12 weeks.
If you apply at a Passport Acceptance Facility or by mail (for renewal, additional pages, and amendment) and choose Expedited Service plus overnight delivery service for sending your application and returning your passport to you, you will receive your passport within about 3 weeks (door-to-door.)’
For more information…
Filed under: Air Travel, Travel Industry, passport applications
August 20, 2007 • 12:09 am
Women are traveling more often. A growing number of women are seeking out travel packages that allow them to pursue interests in a women only travel setting. Some package examples are cooking classes and wine tasting, garden tours, spa trips and historic home tours.
1) Look for value. Book a package. Review trip features and note what is included in the trip. If you purchase each trip feature individually and do it on your own, you often spend more.
2) Make two copies of your passport. One copy should be packed separately from your passport, one should be left with friends or family at home.
3) Other ideas include using only one credit card while traveling and keeping cash in at least two separate areas. Prepaid credit cards are also available and can be loaded with set amounts. Cards can be purchased from a bank or through American Express.
4) Let a friend or family member know what your itinerary is. Make sure your newspaper and your mail is collected and placed safely for you until your return.
5) Make up your own small first aid kit and put it in your carry on. Antacid, antibiotic ointment, bandaids, moleskin for blisters, aspirin or ibuprophen or Tylenol, anti diarrhea medication are just a few items that are useful. A mini sewing kit is also an invaluable item to have on vacation.
6) Try to blend in. Dress appropriately. Clothing that is fashionable and appropriate in the USA may project a negative or provocative image in another culture. Leave revealing clothing at home.
One of the companies we use for trips for women is Gutsy Women.
Filed under: women only travel, women's travel
August 13, 2007 • 12:58 pm
I recently came across two pages on the TSA.gov website that refer to the 3-1-1 rule and how it will apply to international passengers. One page announces new regulations regarding liquids in carry on bags and the effect on duty free purchases and the other announces the “International Harmonization” security measures that will be implemented on November 6, 2007.
All duty-free items purchased in European airports will be placed in sealed tamper-evident bags and they will be permittted through the European security check points. Duty-free liquids purchased in US airports will be permitted only if the passenger flies nonstop to Europe. If the passenger is connecting to another flight in a European airport, US duty-free purchases will not be allowed through security because those items will not be in a tamper-evident bag.
30 countries will have similar security measures in place regarding liquids in carry on bags. The statistic that approximately one half of the world’s travelers will follow the 3-1-1 rule is impressive.
As for the duty-free prohibition on US purchases because of a connection, why aren’t US duty-free shops placing these purchases in the same or similar tamper-evident bags? It just doesn’t make sense.
These two pages aren’t linked and are found in different headings on the TSA.gov website. I found them by accident. I think the TSA.gov website very difficult to navigate through and pages like these should be linked. A redesign and reworking of this site is in order.
International Passenger Travel Alert
International Harmonization of Security Measures
Filed under: airline industry, airport security, airports, international travel security, tsa
Governor Eliot Spitzer announced on August 2, 2007 that he signed an airline passenger bill of rights into law. The law is scheduled to take effect in January of 2008. New York claims to be the first state to enact this type of law. The law provides for some mandatory basic services if a flight is severely delayed. The law will require that food, water, fresh air and working restrooms be available to passengers on any flight that has left the gate and has been delayed on the tarmac for three hours or longer. The law will also enact consumer protection guidelines that will:
1) Create a consumer bill of rights for airline passengers.
2) Establish the Office of the Airline Consumer Advocate within the Consumer Protection Board to oversee compliance with the airline passenger bill of rights.
3) Mandate that all air carriers provide consumers with notice of complaint contact information to be posted at all service desks and other appropriate areas.
4) Provide the public with a New York State-based consumer advocate and contact person who can help to coordinate with the appropriate airline industry officials, federal agencies and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey in the event an incident occurs.
The Air Transport Association commented that this law ignores existing federal law regarding customer service. Options, including a possible legal challenge will be considered.
Additional bills have been introduced in the House and Senate that if passed will create a national airline passenger bill of rights.
The airline industry has never been held accountable for decisions made by management regarding delays and cancellations. It is unfortunate that a lack of forward thinking strategies and a serious attempt to create a high customer service strategies has eluded the airline industry for over a decade while CEOs recived millions in compensation, employees gave back salary and pension benefits and the United States Government gave billions of dollars to U.S. Airlines in the wake of 9/11.
New York Governor’s press release
Aviation Week article
Business Travel News story
Filed under: Air Travel, airline, airline industry
This bill, S. 966, was signed into law by President Bush on July 30, 2007. This law will help to ease the horrific backlog of passport application processing. The law, sponsored by Senator Charles Schumer of NY and Cosponsored by Senator Joseph Biden, Senator Norm Coleman and Senator Chuck Hagel allows the State Department to temporarily rehire Foreign Service retirees to assist with application processing.
We hope to see the backlog dramatically decrease once the extra staffers are in place.
White House Press Release
The Library of Congress
midhudsonews.com
Filed under: Air Travel, Foreign Travel, Travel Industry
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