Hello Betty,

Expressing Gratitude

Many of you know that every year our parent company, First Travel Alliance, puts on a travel training conference called Bootcamp. Bootcamp consists of goal setting, meetings with our suppliers, and discussions with our fellow travel advisors. In addition, First Travel Alliance ends Bootcamp with an awards ceremony. Because of you, our clients and friends, and out of almost 400 First Travel Alliance travel advisors, we were awarded First Place in Virgin Voyages sales, First Place in Princess Cruises sales, Second Place in Norwegian Cruise Line sales, and Second Place in Chubb Travel Insurance sales. We are humbled by the confidence you have placed in us to provide our services for your travel adventures. Thank you!

Planning to visit Mexico soon? Be careful about how many electronic devices you pack! Mexico allows tourists to bring only “one laptop, notebook, Omnibook, or other portable computing device” on a tax-free basis, according to the Mexican Consulate General. In other words, customs officials may consider your laptop and iPad to be two separate portable computing devices and charge you tax on the value of one of them. This is more than theoretical—it’s happening to tourists every day, especially at Cancun International Airport (CUN), Mexico’s largest airport. After finding an iPad and MacBook Pro in a woman’s luggage, the agent demanded that she pay 3,690 Mexican pesos (or about $190 USD) in duty for the laptop—or kiss it goodbye. She signed an official form in Spanish acknowledging the duty and promptly paid it.

For quite some time, we have provided updates on the various forms of entry requirements. The British government has rolled out a new requirement for travelers hoping to visit this country. An "Electronic Travel Authorization" (ETA) has been implemented that digitizes tourists' requests to visit the country while paying a fee of about $13. "Everyone wishing to travel to the U.K. – except British and Irish citizens – will need permission to travel in advance of coming here," says the United Kingdom government’s site. The ETAs are linked to a traveler’s passport in an effort to provide smooth security checks and "prevent abuse" of the immigration system. An online form will be made available asking for valid passport information, travel details, an email address and a credit or debit card, along with "suitability questions." The ETA applies to anyone visiting for up to six months for tourism, to see family and friends, for business or for short-term study. The ETA will be required for everyone wishing to visit the UK beginning in April, 2025

Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has just unveiled details of its newest Prima Class ship, the Norwegian Luna. Its inaugural Caribbean cruise season is now open for sale beginning April 4, 2026 through November 2026. In addition, NCL has announced the first in its Prima Plus class ship, the Norwegian Aqua. The Aqua will have a capacity of 3,571 passengers and should be ready to sail in April, 2025. We watched a video on the Aqua while in Bootcamp, and it is stunning. Yes, we can make reservations on it for you now.

For you Carnival fans, its private island, Celebration Key, will open in July, 2025. The existing dock will hold two ships though the expansion to hold two of its 8000 passenger Excel Class ships is underway. The expansion of Celebration Key is also underway to accommodate the increased number of guests.



Virgin Voyages will not be left out of the total eclipse of the sun voyages. Its August 5, 2026, 15-night voyage from Portsmouth to Edinburgh doesn’t just bring you on a grand tour of Dublin, Glasgow, Stornoway, Edinburgh, and Iceland, it also provides the perfect dramatic backdrop for viewing the solar eclipse. Virgin Voyages has also announced its Status Match program. Provide Virgin Voyages with proof of your highest status with any major cruise line, and Virgin will match it in its loyalty program.

In addition to the many travel adventures already announced, we are pleased to add a Holland America, 7-Day Round-Trip Seattle cruise from August 17-24, 2025. Alaska tourism is booming. Have you seen its natural wonders?

So, Where in the World Do You Want to Go?

Betty & Frank Villani

909-980-6040

7 Day Bermuda Cruise

Round Trip : New York

July 6 -13, 2025

Norwegian Getaway

Join Us!

We're off to beautiful Bermuda again and hope you'll Join Us for this amazing cruise from New York. Enjoy 2 nights docked at the Royal Naval Dockyard - our home base as we explore the sites on this spectacular island.

12 Day British Isles Cruise

with Military Tattoo

Round trip : London (Southampton)

August 13 - 25, 2025

Regal Princess

This cruise includes the world famous Military Tattoo at Edinburgh Castle. Be sure to see this spectacular event as well as these stunning ports:

Southampton (for London), England; Cork, Ireland (Cobh - For Blarney Castle) Dublin (Dun Laoghaire), Ireland' Belfast, Northern Ireland' Liverpool, England; Glasgow (Greenock), Scotland; Glasgow (Greenock), Scotland; Orkney Islands (Kirkwall), Scotland; Edinburgh (South Queensferry), Scotland; Le Havre (for Paris/Normandy), France; Southampton (for London), England.

7 Day Alaska Cruise

Round trip: Seattle

Holland America Westerdam

August 17 - 25, 2025

Discover the last frontier and visit these beautiful sites: Seattle, Puget Sound, Stephens Passage (scenic cruising), Juneau, Endicott Arm/Dawes Glacier (scenic cruising), Sitka, Ketchikan and Victoria, BC.

Cities of Light River Cruise

Prague to Paris

November 19 - 30, 2025

Viking Alsvin

Sail away on the beautiful Viking Alsvin from Prague to Paris, visiting spectacular ports in the Czech Republic, Germany and France.