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Hello Betty,
Rhythms of Summer
For many families, this is the time to plan that summer vacation. The children are out of school, and the rhythm of life changes. As E. B. White wrote, “Summertime, oh summertime, pattern of life indelible….” What are your fondest summer vacation memories?” Is it time to create similar memories for your children or grandchildren? We are here to help you do just that!
CRUISE NEWS
It's time to get your first look at Carnival Festivale. Their next Excel-class ship, named after one of their classics, was inspired by the sounds that move us: music! In 2027, passengers will cruise to a whole new beat from Port Canaveral, with three brand-new zones packed with immersive experiences, including a reimagined top deck made with family fun in mind, amazing entertainment, new flavors from Emeril, and more.
Norwegian Cruise Line has officially christened its newest ship, Norwegian Aqua™, which is now sailing and ready to welcome guests! Purposefully designed to elevate the cruising experience, Norwegian Aqua delivers cutting-edge amenities, immersive entertainment, and thoughtful innovation.
Finally, in cruise news, according to Azamara: “Destination Immersion® Elevated marks the evolution of our industry-leading offerings and solidifies our promise to offer transformative, authentic experiences in the heart of each port. Key program updates include 34 NEW AzAmazing evenings, 150 new destination entrees, 25 new ports of call, 14 new city stay programs, new voyages across Asia and South America, and a brand-new elevated evening tour program.”
FEES
Fees, fees, and more fees! Starting next year, cruises to Hawaii are going to become a little more costly. The Hawaii State Legislature passed a bill to increase the transient accommodations tax, which for the first time, will include cruise ship visits. Around one million visitors arrive by cruise ship but haven’t been subject to the tax before. It is currently payable for stays at hotels and short-term rentals. The fees go into effect on January 1, 2026, Cruise lines will be charged a pro-rated fee based on the basic cruise fare and time spent in port.
Whether just passing through a UK airport or planning a stay of six months or less—for tourism, family visits, business meetings, conferences, or study abroad—visitors will have to fill out an online form (available here: How to apply – Apply for an ETA to come to the UK – GOV.UK) and pay a £10 fee (about $12.75). Then, as you prepare to board a plane, gate agents will verify your ETA status via a digital link to your passport. The ETA is required now. Once issued, an ETA is valid for two years or until the traveler’s passport expires, whichever comes first.
TRAVEL WARNINGS
A couple of new travel warnings. Travelers need to take extra caution before traveling to a popular Asian country famous for its beaches, according to a new government alert. The U.S. State Department recently issued a Level 2 advisory for Indonesia, which is the level of "exercise increased caution." The agency cites "terrorism and natural disasters" as reasons for the advisory. "Terrorists continue plotting possible attacks in Indonesia,” the advisory states. “Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting police stations, places of worship, hotels, bars, nightclubs, markets/shopping malls, and restaurants."
In another travel warning, the United States Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs recently issued a Level 2 travel advisory for the island of Cuba due to crime and unreliable electrical power. The advisory, which was published on May 7, says that petty crime, violent crime, armed robbery, and homicide are on the rise in Cuba.
VENICE RESTORATION
We are delighted to report that one of Venice’s most historical buildings is getting a new lease on life as a modern arts center. The second floor of the Procuratie Vecchie, a building running along one side of St. Mark’s Square, is now open to the public for the first time in 500 years in its new form as the San Marco Arts Centre (SMAC).
AIRLINE UPDATES
Airline difficulties continue to dominate travel news. In a sure hint of crowded skies ahead and an effort to maintain on-time arrivals, United Airlines is asking domestic travelers to leave for the airport a few minutes earlier this summer. Starting June 3, it will require passengers to be through check-in 45 minutes before departure, whether they are checking a bag or not and whether or not they are at their gate. International travelers must be checked in 60 minutes in advance. Delta Airlines has already initiated that policy as has American, and JetBlue. The airlines states, “Anyone who misses the cutoff can—and likely will—be denied boarding.”
JOIN US
We have received a couple of calls wanting to know if we really have planned a cruise for January, 2027. The answer is YES. We hope you will Join Us! for some fun in the Caribbean. We will also plan some time in Miami pre-cruise.
We are adding a Costa Rica land tour for February 26 – March 5, 2026, and hope you will Join Us!. However, we must caution that space is extremely limited, so if this is of interest to you, you must act immediately. See the details later in the newsletter.
So, where in the world do you want to go?
Betty & Frank Villani
909-980-6040
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