The package is specific to each hotel and includes two drink coupons and a choice of restaurants, many of them award-winning, such as Azure, Mai Tai Bar, Rumfire, Beachhouse at the Moana and Veranda at the Beachhouse.
The package is valid for select premium categories. The stay must take place through Dec. 18, with the exception of the Royal Hawaiian which ends Jan. 5, 2024.
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Carnival Cruise Line is beefing up security in response to what it says is an increase in unruly behavior. In a YouTube video released last week, Carnival president Christine Duffy said the line has added more security personnel to all of its ships over the past six months. While Duffy said the increase is in reaction to people behaving badly at sporting events, theme parks and other public places, she said it's happening on cruise ships, too. Carnival ships were the site of several fights that went viral on social media last year. In the video, she also noted that the line is using drug-sniffing dogs during both routine and random searches at homeports and at destination ports.
Although marijuana or cannabis products are legal in many states, they remain illegal under federal law, which cruise lines must adhere to, said Duffy. That includes medical marijuana, she said. Violations of the line's code of conduct may result in a $500 charge per violation, confinement in their stateroom or disembarkation of all guests in the stateroom without a refund. Guests may be prohibited from sailing with Carnival in the future. Guests must now acknowledge and agree to the code of conduct during embarkation, Duffy said. The line has also introduced a policy requiring guests to wear a shirt or coverups everywhere except in hot tubs, pools and sunning areas. The line has also imposed a curfew requiring guests under 18 years old be clear of public areas by 1 a.m. unless accompanied by an adult in their traveling party at least 21 years old or are participating in a Carnival youth program activity.
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Machu Picchu reopened on Wednesday after being closed for three weeks amid antigovernment protests, Peru's culture ministry announced. The decision was an agreement between authorities, social groups and the local tourism industry to guarantee the security of the tourist attraction and transport services. Protests calling for the resignation of President Dina Boluarte and members of Peru's Congress have shaken the region, including Cusco, for more than two months. The demonstrations caused a blockade of the train tracks leading to Machu Picchu. The protests have led to 60 deaths: 48 civilians who died in clashes with security forces, 11 civilians killed in traffic accidents related to road blockades and one policeman who died inside a patrol car when it was set on fire, according to data from the Ombudsman's Office. The closure of Machu Picchu on Jan. 21 forced the government to airlift more than 400 tourists from Machu Picchu to the city of Cusco by helicopter.
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Some of Venice's smaller canals have practically dried up due a prolonged spell of low tides, frustrating boat crews and bewildering tourists. The prolonged stretch of ebb tides is linked to a lingering high-pressure weather system over much of Italy, experts say. Since the canals essentially serve as streets in car-less Venice, the phenomenon of the last days has added to the challenges of every-day life in the lagoon city. Ambulance boats in some cases have had to tie up farther from their destination, forcing medical crews to sometimes hand carry stretchers over long distances since their vessels can't progress up canals reduced to a trickle of water and muck. For tourists, it meant gondolas couldn't navigate some secondary waterways that run under Venice's many picturesque bridges. In mid-winter, high atmospheric pressure combined with the lunar cycle produces the ultra-low water levels during ebb tide. Navigation continued on the wider, main waterways, including the Grand and Giudecca canals.
Separately, the same high pressure system compounded by scarce Alpine snow melt this year has been a factor for the shriveling of lakes and rivers in northern Italy in recent weeks. This month, an isthmus linking the shores of Lake Garda to a small island has re-emerged, delighting visitors who were able to, in effect, walk part-way across the middle of the lake.
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For current travel restrictions for Europe:
