Cruiselines launch new “ChoiceAir” option for Cruise Passengers

Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, and Azamara Cruises announced the joint launch of ChoiceAir, a convenient new way for guests to purchase air transportation to and from their cruise. With ChoiceAir, guests will enjoy greater peace of mind; be able to select their preferred airline and a specific itinerary; and shop for the best prices among published fares and exclusive ChoiceAir specials.Unlike traditional programs, guests will know their airline itinerary as soon as they are ready to choose it, and – as with traditional air programs – there is a support team available to support guests before, during, and after they travel. ChoiceAir will be available to guests from the US and Canada beginning August 3, 2009.

“The new ChoiceAir is a best-in-class program that will provide guests with convenience, flexibility, value, and support when it comes to the air transportation portion of their vacation,” said Doug Santoni, senior vice president of revenue management, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. “Our guests and our travel partners have told us they value the support we provide as part of our traditional air programs, but that they would also like a full choice of competitive air fares and schedules, and to be able to select their itinerary at the time they book their cruise. With ChoiceAir, we are responding to our customers’ wishes.”

 

Guests will be able to purchase ChoiceAir through a travel agent.  A cost of $15 per person for domestic and $25 per person for international air travel will apply to ChoiceAir bookings, and will include access to the ChoiceAir support desk, aid in cases of flight delays, and assistance in making alternative flight arrangements in the event of missed embarkation. Guests’ cruise and air arrangements will both be present in a single consolidated booking record, creating greater convenience for travel agents, who would no longer need to manage two separate and independent bookings.

Great Deals Making Summer Travel Very Affordable!

This summer’s travel outlook is looking much cheaper and easier for the summer vacation traveler.  Huge price cuts by hotels, resorts, airlines, car rental companies and cruiselines during the current weak economy are creating very affordable summer travel opportunities.   

Vacationers have suffered several years of summer frustrations, from airline delays and hassles to last year’s staggering oil-induced price rises. However this year, the “stay-cation” may be  a thing of the past because the outlook for summer travel is smoother and cheaper than in recent years.  Gone are the fuel surcharges and higher prices from last summer, along with the fantastic deals from travel providers looking to fill hotel rooms, airline seats, and cruise ship cabins making prices this summer much more affordable for the summer traveler in 2009.  The grounding of airplanes has eased congestion and led to easier trips, with planes running on time more often and lines at airports reduced.  To fill seats, airlines are cutting prices drastically, and shoppers are being picky about what they pay.

Another way to make your summer travel better are by scoring some significant upgrades.  Upgrades are much easier to get these days with frequent-flier miles because airlines aren’t selling the seats, and some business-class fare sales are significantly lower.  Cruiselines are also playing the “upgrade” game to get consumers back onto cruise ships.  I’ve seen cruiselines offering as much as 2 catagory upgrades and significant cash back to lure vacationers. 

Luxury hotels have been hit hardest and have seen the sharpest price reductions, with room rates much lower than last year in the latest weekly survey. To stem further price reductions, some hotels are trying specials like buy two nights, get a third night free, or specials on show tickets, theme-park admission, room upgrades, free breakfast and other free add-ons.

Experts say summer vacationers are focusing more on domestic destinations, with international bookings dropping more sharply. Flu outbreaks and household penny-pinching have led more Americans to travel closer to home.  Although, this year may be a very good time to go to Europe if you’ve ever wanted to visit Europe.  The dollar has regained some strength against the Euro and the British Pound, and crowds will likely be a bit smaller because of reduced intra-European travel and fewer inbound travelers from Asia, Russia and other places hit hard economically.

Two major cruise companies will be debuting new ships this year.  Carnival Corporation is debuting their new 130,000 ton Carnival Dream in September 2009.  And Royal Caribbean will sail their newest mega-ship, the 220,000 ton Oasis of the Seas in December 2009.  This increase in capacity will mean great deals from the cruiselines to fill these new ships, as well as their current fleet of mega-ships.  These great deals are likely to extend through the summer and last well into the fall and winter as the US economy recovers.

This summer’s travel is truly going to be a “buyers” market for those travelers looking for bargins.  A close watch of the fares and rates by the savvy traveler can mean significant savings and upgrades this year.  Enjoy and have safe travels this year!

Airlines, Cruiselines and Tour Operators Respond to Swine Flu Worries

Though the US has not issued any travel warnings related to the swine flu outbreak in Mexico, several of the major legacy airline carriers are responding to customer worries by waiving fees for passengers who want to change their tickets to Mexico.

Continental Airlines said it will allow passengers to reschedule or reroute their travel, without penalty, if they are scheduled to fly to Mexico through May 6.

American Airlines also is allowing customers to change their flights without penalty if they are flying to Mexico through May 6.

United Airlines is issuing a travel waiver to customers traveling to, from or through Mexico through May 6. The waiver allows travelers to make one change to their travel plans without change fees.

Delta Air Lines is waiving the change fee for customers traveling to Mexico through May 4. New travel must originate on or before May 12.

US Airways will waive the standard change fee, advance reservation and ticketing requirements for customers traveling to Mexico through April 30. Customers can move their itinerary up to seven days before or after the scheduled origination date, or apply the full value of the wholly unused tickets toward the purchase of a ticket to an alternate destination (new travel must originate within seven days of scheduled origination date).

Funjet, Apple Vacations and Travel Impressions all announced that they are working to accommodate US tourist with vacations booked to Mexico. 

The Ministry of Tourism and the Mexico Tourism Board issued a press statement to reassure travel agents and travelers that travel and tourism to Mexico continues to flow as usual and, as of now, there are no restrictions or travel alerts related to the Swine Flu.

As if the flu scare were not enough for Mexico tourism, a 5.6 magnitude earthquake hit central Mexico some 50 miles west of ACapulco and 130 south of Mexico City. The government said there were no immediate reports of deaths or major damage.

According to the Mexico Tourism Board, both the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have confirmed that any American planning to visit Mexico, for leisure or business, can do so without any restrictions. According to the Web site of the Centers for Disease Control, the CDC has NOT recommended that people avoid travel to Mexico at this time. The CDC advises travelers to follow its recommendations to avoid the flu. Visit wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/contentSwineFluMexico.aspx and www.travel.state.gov.

With no reports of Swine Flu yet reported on cruise ships, all major cruise lines are continuing with scheduled port calls to Mexico, although each line is closely monitoring the situation.

“Fortunately, there currently is no evidence of a swine flu pandemic and there have been no reports of guests exhibiting symptoms of swine flu on Carnival’s ships,” said a spokesperson for Carnival Cruise Line. “Please be assured that Carnival enforces the highest standards of cleaning and sanitation on all of our ships to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. We are monitoring the situation in Mexico… We do not anticipate that your cruise experience will be impacted by this type of illness.”

Michael J. Sheehan, associate vice president of corporate communications for Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., said that the swine flu will not impact any RCCL cruise itineraries that include stops in Mexico.

Six Princess ships are currently scheduled for calls in Mexican ports, and according to a spokesperson, “As of now we have not made the decision to modify our itineraries, as no travel warnings to Mexico have been issued by the CDC.” However, Princess is taking some actions onboard its ship to ensure the safety of its passengers. The line is enhancing its screening practices for passengers and crew embarking its ships and are adhering to CDC guidelines for reporting and treatment of persons with suspect swine flu. Anti-viral medications that effectively treat the swine flu are currently available onboard Princess ships.

A Holland America spokesperson said, “At Holland America Line the safety, security and comfort of our guests and crew are our top priorities. There have not been any reports of people exhibiting symptoms of swine flu on any of Holland America Line’s 14 ships. No itineraries have been changed.”

A spokesperson for Norwegian Cruise Line said the line has completed its Mexican Riviera season for this year, so is currently no longer making calls in Mexico.

Top 10 Silly FAQs for Cruise Ships!

One of my favorite parts of traveling, especially cruise travel, is people watching.  I am regularly fascinated by just sitting and watching people, especially people who are on vacation.  People on a cruise vacation tend to lose some of their inhibitions, and allow themselves a little leeway in having fun onboard, and why not, it’s not like they are ever going to see any of the people on the cruise ship again!  Except for the possibility of an embarrasing clip showing up on YouTube.com!

Not only do I like to people watch, I also like to “people listen”.  This doesn’t mean I eavsdrop on other people’s private conversations, but being on a cruise ship with a couple of thousand of my fellow cruisers, I can’t help but occasionally overhear peoples comments, complaints and questions to staff and crew when standing in a line or while siting at the bar in a lounge or public area.  I already told the story in a previous post about the woman I was standing behind in a line waiting to get off the ship on an Alaska cruise and heard her ask a crewmember where she could exchange her US dollars for “Alaskan money”!  You can’t help but chuckle a little!  So I thought I’d take the top ten silliest questions I have heard asked onboard a cruise ship, and try to answer them for you.  I was always told “There is no such thing as a silly question”, you might rethink that after you read some of these doozies!

Number 10 – Does the crew sleep onboard?

That would be one heck of a commute if they didn’t huh?  Yes, there are crews quarters onboard all cruise ships, but don’t expect to see them while on your cruise.  The crew’s quarters and crew areas are offlimits to fare paying passengers.

Number 9 – Does the ship generate it’s own power?

I don’t think they make extension cords long enough to reach all the way back to Miami!  In reality, cruise ships have multiple engines onboard, and run seperate generators that provide power to the ship.  Some ports, however, do provide shore power (at a price) to cruise ships while docked so the ship doesn’t have to run it’s engines and burn fuel.

Number 8 – Is there cable TV in my cabin?

Of course, the cable is attached to the extension cord that runs back to Miami.  Really, most ships do have some sort of TV entertainment in the cabins, be it onboard closed circuit TV or some TV channels through a satellite connection.

Number 7 – How do I know which pictures in the photo gallery are mine?

One crewmember I saw assigned to the photo gallery had a great comeback for this question.  He would hand the passenger a small mirror, and tell them to hold the mirror up to each photo, look at the photo and then into the mirror, if what they saw matched, that was indeed the passenger’s photo!

Number 6 – Do these stairs (or elevator) go to the front of the ship?

They really only go up or down, not side to side.  I’m sure what these passengers where really asking was if that particular set of stairs or the elevator was located in the front of the ship.  Larger cruise ships will have multiple banks of elevators and sets of stairs throughout the ship to allow passengers the ability to move throughout the ship easily.

Number 5 – How small does my head have to be to get the “mini-facial” at the spa?

I don’t think that is what the spa menu was referring to!

Number 4 – What does the crew do with the ice carvings after they’ve melted?

Where do you think they get the bottled water they sell you while you’re getting off the ship in port?

Number 3 – Is the water in my cabin toilet salt or fresh water?

I really don’t know, and I really don’t care!  If you are brave enough to find out on your next cruise, let me know and I’ll update this post.

Number 2 – What religion are all those people with the patches behind their ears?

I think they are called “patchies”!  If you want to convert, they give the patches away for free at the medical office or the pursers desk I believe.  For some reason or another, those “patchies” never seem to get sea sick!?

Number 1 – What time is the midnight buffett?

The key word in that question being “midnight” I believe!  In reality, most cruise ships have done away with the midnight buffett to save money and stop excessive food waste.  Those cruise ships that do still have them, usually start around 11:30pm.

All questions are just in the spirit of fun.  Enjoy your next cruise and happy travels to you!

Cruise Safety Bill Introduced in Congress

Congresswoman Doris Matsui, a Democrat from Sacremento, CA and Senator John Kerry, a Democrat from MA have introduced a new cruise safety bill in Congress this past week.  The office of U.S. Representative Doris Matsui released the following statement concerning the  Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act of 2009. “We have now held two House hearings and one Senate hearing on crimes aboard cruise ships, and this legislation will ensure that those who have bravely stepped forward to tell their story will not have done so in vain,” Matsui said. “For far too long, American families have unknowingly been at risk when they have embarked on what should have been relaxing sea voyages.”  The legislation would also mandate that guard rails reach 54 inches in height, and that entry doors of staterooms would have peep holes, security latches and time-sensitive key technology.  Ship owners would be required to implement technology to detect when a passenger falls overboard.

Why are Members of Congress bringing this subject up again?  Is it because there has been a dramatic rise in cruise ship crime since the hearings were held last year? No.  Is it because three past congressional hearings on exactly the same topics with exactly the same witnesses reciting exactly the same testimony is still not enough?  Gee, I hope not.

Is it because our nation has become so economically stable this year that regardless of a dropping stock market, record mortgage foreclosures, 8.1% unemployment, and as well as fighting 2 wars overseas that our lawmakers have plenty of time to devote to fine tuning every safety factor of world society – even those that happen far away from Congresswoman Matsui’s own district, actually in international waters? I’m sure that is a big NO!

Is it because Sacramento itself has become such a bastion of human kindness that Congresswoman Matsui deserves to serve as the world ambassador for freedom from societal crime? I haven’t been to Sacreamento for many years, but I don’t think so!

What is the basis for the statement “American families have unknowingly been at risk when they have embarked on what should have been relaxing sea voyages”?  I understand that members of Congress must respond to the needs of their constituents, and Congresswoman Matsui’s interest in this is due to one of her constituents who claimed to be sexually assaulted while on a cruise ship in 2006.  Some 36 million cruises have been taken in just the last three years by Americans alone. A number almost equal to the population of the state of California. Yet Congresswoman Matsui cites the same case from Feb. 2006 used in all of the previous hearings as the reason for bringing these hearings back yet again.  To be precise, this will be the fourth time this case has been cited as the main reason for holding Congressional hearings on cruise ship crime.   I don’t know about you, but I really don’t see the crime wave here.  Congresswoman Matsui did make this statement, “Going on a cruise ship is not like being at home in your city,” Matsui said. “Any person who goes on a cruise ship should feel as safe as they can be. We want to ensure that it really is safe.”

Well, let’s look at Congresswoman Matsui’s own home town of Sacramento, CA. In the three years 2006-2008 in her town of only about 455,000 residents there were 558 arrests for forcible rape. I’m no math genious, but it seems that the rate of rape is magnitudes higher per person in Sacramento than it is on cruise ships.

In Sacramento alone in 2006 she could have picked from any one of 196 rapes, from 2007 any one of 194 rapes, in 2008 any one of 168 rapes, in a town of only 455,000 residents.

Considering the statistical averages of about 190 rapes per year in Sacramento vs. a cruise fleet that carries 12,000,000 Americans each year shouldn’t there be tens of thousands of new cruise crime cases to consider? This is 2009, after all. Where are the new cases?  Where is the crime wave our Members of Congress are spending their precious time to hold hearings and craft legislation to stop instead of solving the serious REAL problems our nation faces?

The Cruise Lines International Association released the following statement in response to the proposed legislation: “The safety and security of cruise line passengers is the top priority of CLIA-member cruise lines. Serious crime aboard cruise ships is very rare, however, even one incident is one too many. We have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to crime and have comprehensive policies and procedures in place to ensure that passengers are safe while enjoying their cruise vacation. The cruise line industry is required by law to report serious crimes if they occur. Additionally, the industry has an agreement with the FBI and U.S. Coast Guard to report all alleged crimes involving U.S. citizens while at sea. When an alleged crime is reported, highly trained security personnel of the cruise lines handle these situations with professionalism. Millions of passengers each year enjoy a cruise vacation, and while serious incidents are rare, we say again, one is one too many. In recent years, Congress has held numerous hearings on this matter. During those proceedings and still today, we remain committed to working with lawmakers to address this important issue. Cruise lines endeavor to make cruise ships safe and secure environments with 24-hour security personnel on duty who are trained to respond to a variety of emergencies or alleged crimes. Cruise ships are designed to comply with all federal and international passenger safety codes and regulations which maximize passenger safety and are subjected to oversight and inspection by U.S. federal agencies and others.”

Cruise vacations have been statistically proven to be the safest vacation possible.  Rest assured that while you are on your cruise vacation, you are safe.  That is not to say there isn’t crime on cruise ships, but most crime on cruise ships tends to be petty crime, like simple theft.  Common sense will keep you safe onboard a cruise ship.  Keep your valubles in your cabin safe, don’t wander off to unknown parts of the ship with strangers, make sure you know where everyone in your party is and they know where you are, and don’t get SO drunk that you lose your common sense or make yourself vulnerable and unable to defend yourself.

I believe Congresswoman Matsui and Senator Kerry would do well to serve our nation by focusing on the real problems we face in these troubled times, and leave the cruise industry alone.  As much as our leaders have tried to in other areas, you cannot legislate away stupidity.

Why using a Professional Travel Agent is preferred to booking travel online.

I have been hearing more stories than usual about the frustrations of online travel engines’ customers lately.  Some of the horror stories I have read about include two couples that faced dropped bookings when they arrived at the airport.

One had booked a flight and the other a whole vacation package and both were told that there was no record of payment (even with a confirmation number!) and they would have to pay for their trips again.    The details of their efforts to recoup their cash after the trip are a nightmare of frustration, inept and rude customer service and stonewalling. One story stretched over several months.

So I was not especially surprised when I read some recent reports by eMarketer (a market researcher about Internet commerce), travelsense.org, and the Wall Street Journal’s Smartmoney.com about the decline in the number of people booking online and the increase of people booking through travel agents.

Proof of this can be seen by the Expedia Corporation’s 4th quarter earnings report for 2008 which showed a $2.76 billion loss!  To understand why those booking through online engines (i.e. Expedia, Hotwire and Orbitz to name a few) is so risky for the traveler, you need to understand just how they work and what happens to YOUR money when you book online.

A typical online travel site operates through exclusive contracts with various travel suppliers.  A travel supplier is an airline, car rental company, hotel,  resort chain, or a cruiseline.  The online site agrees to supply a specified quota of passengers for a specified period of time.  As long as they make that quota, the online site receives the airline seat or hotel room at a lower specified rate, and isn’t required to make payment usually until after you have traveled. 

The online site will almost always require you to provide full payment upfront.  So, you might ask, if I’m required to make full payment upfront and the online site doesn’t pay until after I travel, what happens to my money?  One of 2 things happens to your payment, it either goes in the bank and earns interest for the travel site company, or it is used to pay the invoices of those that have traveled before you.

Two major developments have happened that has put the online travel industry into serious trouble, and thus the innocent traveler that believes he or she has gotten that great travel deal.  First, the trend of more and more travelers switching back to real professional travel agents, which I just pointed out a few paragraphs above.  These sources are reporting that online travel bookings are down as much a 28% in 2008 compared to 2007, and travel agent bookings have risen by as much as 20% in the same time period.

The second is the current economic downturn we are experiencing in the United States.  When fewer travelers are booking trips, and even fewer of those are booking online, you can see why Expedia has an almost $2.8 billion loss.  When any online travel site company begins operating at such big losses, and the aforementioned contract passenger quotas are not being met, the traveler that books online is putting themselves at a great risk of the travel supplier cancelling their contracts with the online travel site, and thus cancelling the traveler’s reservations which the traveler has already paid in full!

As a professional travel agent,  I don’t have quotas or contracts, I search for the best price at the open market rate with numerous tour operators, cruiselines and travel suppliers to provide our customers a worry-free travel experience at the best price.  People who book with me know that I back up the travel packages I sell and should there be any problems (like canceled or delayed flights or missing reservations) I fix them.  I only book my clients through reputable tour and cruise operators (like Apple Vacations and others) that are stable and provide excellent service.  My clients know that when they provide payment for a travel package, their money goes straight to the travel supplier, and their booking is secured.  Their money isn’t used to pay for others travel, or held to make interest.

Here are 10 good reasons why you should use a professional travel agent.

1. The best value for money

Travel agents tell you about all available choices, about special promotions and advise on the quality and value of a particular product.

2. Maximum choice

Travel Agents give you a wide variety of travel options and quotes from competing travel suppliers.

3. Convenient one-stop shopping

Travel agents save you time and money by handling all aspects of your trip from air tickets to car rentals, coach and train reservations, accommodation and activities.

4. Customer advocate

If you experience any problems during your trip, a travel agent will act on your behalf to put it right.

5. Expert Guidance

Travel agents are experts in understanding the intricacies of the travel business and will ensure you get maximum advantage of what’s on offer

6. Personalised services

A real professional travel agent is not some impersonal voice which might be hundreds of miles away. We understand what you want and provide value.

7. Professional advice

Our job is to make sure you get where you want to at the best price and in the most pleasant way.

8. Timing savings

Travel agents have all the information at our fingertips and can pull up all your travel-related options in seconds.

9. Trust

A professional travel agent is not some anonymous website. We’re a local business. You know how to reach us and who we are.

10. Satisfaction

Unbiased information. Travel agents work for you, the consumer, not for the airline or any other travel supplier. Our only objective is to get you the best value and satisfy you completely so you will come back and see us again!

Before your next vacation, call a professional travel agent!  You don’t want to show up at the airport and find your reservation isn’t valid!  Because without a travel agent, you’re on your own!

Royal Caribbean International Enhances Programs for Suite Guests.

The following is a release from Royal Caribbean International.

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RCI Enhances Programs for Suite Guests.

Royal Caribbean International announced a comprehensive enhancement to the cruise line’s program for guests booked in suite category staterooms. The new suite program is designed to focus on distinctive and personalized service and touch every aspect of the guests’ experience from arrival through departure, with the higher category suite guests getting the most personalized service.

Royal Caribbean is also upgrading furnishings in all suite category staterooms. The installation of new plush sofa-beds, elegant deckchairs and tables and state-of-the-art entertainment systems with flat-panel TVs and CD/DVD will be completed by 2010.

Suite guests will get special privileges and upgraded amenities along with Gold Anchor Service. The new suite program will be implemented fleetwide in March.

“The new suite program allows Royal Caribbean to provide our guests with a premium vacation that is personalized and seamless,” said Lisa Bauer, senior vice president, Hotel Operations for Royal Caribbean International. “With more than 2,000 suites across the fleet, Royal Caribbean is one of the largest suite operators in the hospitality industry.”

On arrival at the pier, guests booked in the Presidential Family Suite, Royal Suite, Royal Family Suite, Owner’s Suite and Grand Suite have access to dedicated security (where available) and check-in lines through the embarkation process and directly to their suites. Additionally, guests booked in the Royal Suite and Presidential Family Suite are personally welcomed by a senior officer at the cruise terminal and escorted to their suite.

Also upon check-in, all guests booked in Grand Suites or higher category staterooms receive gold SeaPass cards, which enable ship crew and staff to provide them with the personalized service and offerings available to suite guests throughout their cruise.

On arrival in their suites, guests will find complimentary water and a fruit plate, complimentary slippers, luxury spa bathrobes and RCI’s exclusive range of Vitality bathroom amenities. In the evenings, suite guests are treated to Ghirardelli chocolates at turndown and can choose from a special pillow menu to ensure a perfect night’s rest.

Other special amenities for suite passengers include a dedicated suite attendant, a pre-dinner cheese presentation on the first formal evening of the cruise, a petits fours turndown plate on the second formal or final evening of the cruise, complimentary 24-hour room service and coffee and tea service throughout their cruise, and the exclusive privilege of ordering from the main dining room’s full breakfast, lunch or dinner menus for in-room dining.

Other special privileges and access for guests booked in the Grand Suite or higher category staterooms include: an invitation to an exclusive private cocktail reception hosted by the Captain of the ship; reserved VIP seating in the main theater for entertainment shows; and priority bookings for appointments in the salon and spa, as well as for tendering and shore excursion tickets.

Guests occupying Junior Suite category staterooms receive a silver SeaPass card and enjoy many onboard benefits including a dedicated suite attendant, complimentary Vitality bathroom amenities, coffee and tea service ensuite, terrycloth bathrobes for use onboard and RCI’s plush duvet and bedding.

Do I need a U.S. passport?

One of the most frequently asked questions a travel agent faces from potential U.S. travelers is “do I need a passport?”  The answer is almost always……”it depends.” 

First, if you are traveling within the confines of the United States, you obviously do not need a passport if you are a U.S. citizen or legal resident.  Proof of identity is the only thing required if traveling by air.  For those of you that may be “geographically challenged”, Alaska and Hawaii ARE states in the union and do not require a passport.  It has brought a chuckle to me more than once when a customer swears to me he or she cannot travel to Hawaii because they don’t have a passport!  I was on an Alaska cruise a couple of years ago when I had a good laugh at the woman in front of me in line getting off the ship at an Alasakan port when she asked one of the crew members where she could exchange her U.S. dollars for Alaskan money!

The U.S. Government recognizes 3 different forms of travel; air, land, and sea.  As of now, the most restrictive is air travel.  All persons traveling outside the United States by air must present a passport or other valid travel document to enter or re-enter the United States.  Currently, land and sea travel have differnet requirements.  All U.S. citizens traveling by land and sea must show proof of identity and proof of U.S. citizenship when entering the United States from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the countries of the Caribbean by land or sea.  U.S. citizens who do not have a single document verifying identity and citizenship (i.e. U.S. Passport) must present both an identification and citizenship document; for example, a driver’s license and a copy of a birth certificate or naturalization certificate.  This will change on June 1, 2009, when the U.S. Government will fully implement the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI).

 The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) is a result of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (IRTPA), requiring all travelers to present a passport or other document that denotes identity and citizenship when entering the U.S.   The goal of the initiative is to strengthen U.S. border security while facilitating entry for U.S. citizens and legitimate foreign visitors by providing standardized documentation that enables the Department of Homeland Security to quickly and reliably identify a traveler.

On June 1, 2009, the U.S. government will implement the full requirements of the land and sea phase of WHTI. The rules require most U.S. citizens entering the United States at sea or land ports of entry to have a passport, passport card, or other travel document approved by the Department of Homeland Security.  U.S. citizen children under the age of 16 will be able to present the original or copy of their birth certificate, or other proof of U.S. citizenship such as a naturalization certificate or citizenship card.  Groups of U.S. citizen children ages 16 through 18, when traveling with a school or religious group, social organization, or sports team, will be able to enter under adult supervision with originals or copies of their birth certificates or other proof of citizenship.

The only accepted document for travel by air outisde the U.S., regardless of age, is a U.S. Passport.  The accepted documents for land and sea travel on June 1, 2009 are:

• U.S.Passport
• U.S. Passport Card
• WHTI-Compliant Travel Documents for U.S. citizen travel:
  • Trusted Traveler Cards (NEXUS, SENTRI, or FAST)
  • State Issued Enhanced Driver’s License (when and where available)
  • Enhanced Tribal Cards (when and where available)
  • U.S. Military Identification with Military Travel Orders
  • U.S. Merchant Mariner Document when traveling in conjunction with official maritime business
  • Native American Tribal Photo Identification Card
  • Form I-872 American Indian Card

So, the short answer is, if you are traveling outside the United States, regardless of by air, land or sea, you will need a passport or U.S. Passport Card.  If you still have questions, need more information, or need to start your passport application process, here are a couple of websites that can help.

U.S. Department of Homeland Security:  www.getyouhome.gov

U.S. Department of State:  travel.state.gov

Happy travels to you and your family!

Cruiselines to Refund Fuel Surcharges

Florida’s attorney general has reached a settlement with Oceania Cruises and Classic Cruise Holdings, which does business as Regent Seven Seas Cruises, over a retroactively imposed fuel surcharge on cruise passengers, according to an article in the South Florida Business Journal.Both cruise lines have agreed to refund approximately $3 million to US consumers who were charged the fuel surcharge after they had booked their cruises. A small portion of the refunds may be in the form of onboard credits for guests who have not yet sailed. In addition, in the future the cruise lines must ensure “clear and conspicuous disclosure” of any fuel supplement charges at the time the reservations are made, as well as in their advertisements.

Customers eligible for refunds will be contacted by the cruise lines.

The Biggest and Newest Trends in Air Travel you can Expect in 2009

Big changes in the world of air travel are coming in 2009. From merger mania to airport security adjustments, here’s what the biggest and newest trends will be in the year ahead.

Airport Security Update

Air travelers, say good-bye to your plastic baggies and tiny bottles of shampoo. The 3-1-1 rule may be discontinued in 2009 as new X-ray technology is introduced at airports around the country. The new technology can detect differences between benign liquids such as hair gel or juice boxes and potentially dangerous liquids used in bomb
The TSA expects to have as many as 900 machines in place by the end of the year, so the 3-1-1 rule will be phased out and eventually halted altogether in the near future.

Merger Mania

Late in October, Delta’s merger with Northwest was approved by the U.S. Department of Justice, and the airlines will enter full-blown merger mode in early 2009. The tie-up may not be fully complete until 2010, but you can expect Northwest’s name and brand to be phased out in 2009. The SkyMiles and WorldPerks frequent flyer programs will be merged towards the end of this year.

Of course, there’s always the possibility that the Delta/Northwest merger will spark other mergers. As a recent Reuters report predicted, “The answer is likely to be yes in an industry that clearly has excess capacity, is adding surcharges despite a retreat in fuel prices, and is facing international competitors that are expected to consolidate in the coming year.”

 Airlines Introduce A-La-Carte Pricing

Despite protests from travelers, American and Frontier are set to introduce a-la-carte pricing in 2009. As of the time of this writing, American Airlines had not announced full details of its new fare structure, although it may use Air Canada as a model.

In December, Frontier Airlines announced details of its new AirFairs fare structure. Economy fares are bare-bones, no-frills tickets; Classic fares include seat assignments, checked bags, DirecTV, and frequent flyer miles; and Classic Plus tickets are fully refundable and changeable with lots of extras.

If these new ventures from Frontier and American prove successful, other airlines may adopt similar fare structures, similar to the avalanche of new fees introduced in 2008. Whether that will be a good thing for travelers remains to be seen.

In-Flight Internet Service Expands

Expect Internet access to be available on many more flights in 2009. American, Delta, and Virgin America all introduced Internet service on some flights in 2008, and will likely expand the service to more planes this year. Delta plans to add service to a new plane every few days, with the goal of outfitting all its aircraft with Internet by the end of the year, and will also begin to add the service to Northwest’s planes.

Other airlines, including Air Canada, Alaska, and Southwest plan to test Internet service this year as well.

Paperless Boarding Passes

Paperless boarding passes are the wave of the future, and will become more widespread this year. You’ll soon be able to download a boarding pass to your PDA or cell phone, and scan the barcode at an airport security checkpoint scanner, eliminating the need for a physical printout.

Continental was the first U.S. airline to test paperless boarding passes in late 2007, and has since expanded its Mobile Boarding Pass option for departures from Austin, Boston, Cleveland, Houston, New York’s LaGuardia airport, Newark, San Antonio, and both Reagan and National airports in Washington, D.C.

Other carriers, including Air Canada, Alaska, American, Delta, and Northwest, are also beginning to introduce paperless boarding options for travelers.