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Hello Betty,
Summer is Sizzling!
Travel Insurance Importance
We have received many questions about travel insurance. Most of you know that we will not leave home without it. We have seen passengers airlifted off cruise ships, we have seen passengers offloaded from a cruise ship to an emergency medical boat, and we have witnessed fellow travelers paying a visit to a local hospital due to falls. Travel insurance covers a wide range of situations and much more. Medical evacuation and, unfortunately, repatriation of remains are two of the most expensive items included in travel insurance. These can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.
A less understood benefit is “vendor default. Recent developments highlight the importance of this benefit. Silver Airways, a regional airline based in Florida, abruptly canceled all flights on Wednesday, June 11, leaving travelers stranded after the company announced bankruptcy. "We regret to inform you that we are ceasing operations as of today, June 11, 2025," the Fort-Lauderdale-based company posted on its social media pages. "In an attempt to restructure in bankruptcy, Silver entered into a transaction to sell its assets to another airline holding company, which, unfortunately, has determined not to continue Silver’s flight operations." The announcement continued by informing its passengers that the cost of their flight would be reimbursed. Well, that’s fine if you haven’t left home. What about Silver Airways’ clients who were left stranded away from home? Who pays for any hotel rooms that might be required? Who pays for a new airline ticket? Who pays for additional expenses?
As long as travel insurance is obtained within 14 days of the initial deposit in some states, or 21 days in other states (we always notify you), you receive two extremely important benefits: pre-existing condition coverage and vendor default protection.
We strongly believe in travel insurance, and we request a signed waiver from any client who chooses to decline the insurance.
Airline Updates
There is some good news for frustrated Newark air travelers. Runway construction, which has compounded problems at the beleaguered Newark Liberty International Airport, has been completed. This is intended to partially alleviate congestion at the airport, where a flight cap has been imposed due to air traffic control staffing shortages and technical issues. Flight limits are expected to rise slightly from 28 to 34 departure flights per hour.
For the first time in two decades, a direct scheduled flight from a US airline has landed in Greenland. A United Airlines-operated Boeing 737 Max 8 landed in Nuuk from Newark International Airport. United’s new service runs twice weekly from June to September. Other flight options from the US involve a connection via Iceland.
Three airlines are improving the Economy Class Experience! All Nippon, Swiss Air, Qantas: wider seats and more legroom on long-haul flights. However, it seems that there are glimmers of hope on the horizon for economy class passengers. A few airlines have made changes to their long-haul international economy cabins, increasing the amount of legroom each seat is allotted. "Airlines have realized what customers really want: comfort," Anthony Harcup, founder and CEO of aviation interior design firm DeepBlue Studios, said recently on the Aircraft Interiors podcast.
Cruise News
The summer sailing season is in full swing, and the cruise lines are all offering last-minute incentives. We received the following from Uniworld: “There's nothing like getting out and exploring the world on your own, especially with Uniworld Boutique River Cruises. With our all-inclusive amenities and service-driven approach, your every need will be taken care of, leaving you free to immerse yourself in enticing destinations and forge real connections along your journey. We've just added several new 2025 dates to our list of departures, offering 100% Waived Single Supplements*—combinable with all other public offers, including your past guest benefit of up to $500!** Give us a call, so we can let you know the details.
Hurtigruten's Annual Summer Sale is live—up to 50% off!
Signature Voyages: The Svalbard Line and North Cape Line: Save up to 30%
Original Voyages: The Coastal Express: Save up to 50%
These offers began on June 16, 2025. They include up to 50% off select sailings! Call us for complete details.
Uniworld has announced the newest ship in its fleet, the SS Emilie. Swathed in jewel tones and lush gold accents to evoke the Art Nouveau glamour of Austrian painter Gustav Klimt, this ship will dazzle guests on Central European river cruises. The inaugural sailing will begin on March 21, 2026, on the Amsterdam to Antwerp itinerary. An early booking bonus of 20% increases the enticement to sail with Uniworld’s CEO, Ellen Bettridge.
Royal Caribbean is tripling the adventure in 2026 with the debut of three newly amplified vacations aboard Ovation, Harmony, and Liberty of the Seas. The popular ships are set to be reimagined with fresh experiences and features while visiting destinations across Alaska, Europe, and the Caribbean. Royal Caribbean says clients will have more choices than ever before for adventures starting in spring 2026 and can book the vacations now.
"Royal Caribbean continues to raise the bar on delivering the best of every vacation with revolutionary ships and top-rated exclusive destinations. The Royal Amplified program gives our guests the best of Royal Caribbean with new-to-class culinary options and experiences, entertainment, and thrilling adventures, paired with the hospitality and service Royal Caribbean is known for," said Jay Schneider, chief product innovation officer at Royal Caribbean. "After seeing incredible success and guest satisfaction with the amplification of Allure of the Seas, we're excited to bring three new amplifications to our fleet in 2026."
Get ready for all-new Celebrity experiences you’ve never seen before that completely renew the classic ships you already love. New ways to soak up the great outdoors. A new lineup of shows and activities. New flavors you’ll never forget. We’re just getting started. No ship of ours is going to be yesterday’s news. Celebrity Solstice is the first of many classics to be made new again, so Nothing Comes Close to Celebrity Cruises.
Tax the Tourist
The” Tax-the-Tourist” movement continues unabated, as Norway has announced a 3% tax on overnight stays in “areas particularly impacted by tourism.” Officials state that the tax will help fund tourist infrastructure such as bathroom facilities and parking lots. According to Visit Norway’s official site, “top summer attractions for tourists are places for hiking, places to experience nature such as fjords and mountains, and beaches.” The tax will be applied to land tours and cruise ship passengers; it is slated for implementation in 2026.
Travel Advisory
On May 29, the U.S. Department of State lowered Jamaica’s travel advisory rating from Level 3, which means travelers should reconsider travel to the country, to Level 2, which recommends increased caution and possibly heightened risk. The primary considerations driving the evaluation of Jamaica are crime and healthcare. “While violent crime in Jamaica has decreased since 2024, it remains statistically high throughout the country. Tourist areas generally see lower rates of violent crime than other parts of the country,” the travel advisory for Jamaica states. “The homicide rate reported by the Government of Jamaica is among the highest in the Western Hemisphere. Armed robberies and sexual assaults are common.”
A new study shows that the travel industry is one of the biggest targets for fraud and scams. The Mastercard Economic Institute examined aggregated and anonymized transaction data from Mastercard and found that "the travel industry ranks among the sectors most susceptible to fraud attacks." How? The data shows that fraud reports jump by 18% at popular destinations during peak summer travel and by more than 28% at cold-weather destinations during the winter travel season. "Popular tourist destinations, particularly those that attract large crowds, are prime targets for fraudsters due to the high concentration of visitors and the increased volume of transactions," the report says.
Which travel hot spots are some of the most susceptible? Cancun, Mexico; Hanoi, Vietnam; Dhaka, Bangladesh; and Bangkok, Thailand are some of the hardest-hit. Lower rates of travel fraud are detected in San Francisco, Dublin, Seoul, Budapest, and Edinburgh—in case you're on the hunt for low-key locales.
Calling All Parrot Heads
Jimmie’s laid-back persona exudes on both Margaritaville at Sea ships, with three new ships in the planning stages. We hope you will Join Us! on the Sea Islander, which is a completely new way to float into an island state of mind, where the journey is as much fun as the destination. Featuring innovative and favorite eateries, uniquely themed bars and lounges, the first three-story poolside LandShark Bar, The Tiki Bar adult outdoor lounge and pool, a soaring 14-story tropical atrium, Caribbean Amphibian Splash and Slide, and more, the Islander will set a new course for the fun and escapism of Margaritaville. See the cruise dates later in this newsletter.
So, where in the world do you want to go?
Betty & Frank Villani
909-980-6040
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