Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Atlantic City Has Full Roster of Summer Events
Atlantic City offers free concerts, sporting events or festivals this summer. Performers appearing there include Fleetwood Mac, “American Idol” top contestants from 2008 and Jimmy Buffet and the Coral Reefer Band. The Absecon Lighthouse’s Annual Golf Tournament takes place at McCullough’s Emerald Golf Links in Egg Harbor Township on Friday, June 5. Great American Volleyball returns to Atlantic City on Saturday and Sunday, June 6 and7, with the Great American Volleyball Atlantic City Open, taking place on the beach in front of Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino next to the Trump Plaza Beach Bar. Admission is free for all spectators. There’s Formula X racing at the New Jersey Motorsports Park, the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) American Superbike and Daytona Sportbike classes and the 25th annual Ladies Invitational Bluefish Tournament takes place on Saturday, June 20, and features only women to fish to raise money for the R.N.S. Mobile Mammography Unit. At the 86th Annual National Marbles Tournament in Wildwood, marbles champions, ages 8 to 14, will compete for scholarships, prizes, and the coveted titles of King and Queen of Marbles. For more information, visit www.atlanticcitynj.com.
Grande Lakes Orlando Unveils Adventure Course
Located at the headwaters of the Florida Everglades, the latest addition to the Grande Lakes Adventure Experiences Program is the Grande Lakes Adventure Course, a multi-level structure consisting of poles, cables, and platforms with 25 unique traversing and climbing elements. The course allows guests to choose their personal level of challenge (adults and children above the age of 10), as they climb up 15 to 55 feet in the air and navigate through a course with 600-foot zip lines and a 40-foot giant swing. For approximately two to three hours (depending on package purchased), guests will explore an action-packed excursion taking in the sights and sounds of nature.
The Open Session Adventure sessions are 2.5 hours and can accommodate up to 30 guests. These are available most Saturdays, Sundays and holidays and cost $60 per adult and $45 per child between the ages of 10 and 16. Also available are private adventures for groups of up to eight family members and friends. Rates start at $850 for two hours. Additionally, guests can choose from climbing and rappelling class. The course is also open to individuals. The Adventure Course schedule varies throughout the year and is subject to change.
The Open Session Adventure sessions are 2.5 hours and can accommodate up to 30 guests. These are available most Saturdays, Sundays and holidays and cost $60 per adult and $45 per child between the ages of 10 and 16. Also available are private adventures for groups of up to eight family members and friends. Rates start at $850 for two hours. Additionally, guests can choose from climbing and rappelling class. The course is also open to individuals. The Adventure Course schedule varies throughout the year and is subject to change.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Bellagio, MGM Grand, Skylofts Brands Planned for Dubai
MGM Mirage and Pearl Dubai said they plan to develop Bellagio, MGM Grand and Skylofts hotels, as well as branded residences at Dubai Pearl, the $4 billion luxury development in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The hotels are expected to be operational in 2013. Pearl Dubai will own and finance a 250-room Bellagio hotel, a 350-room MGM Grand hotel and a 30-suite Skylofts hotel, while MGM Mirage Hospitality will manage and provide technical services for the three new ventures. The agreement includes the development of Bellagio-branded luxury residences, in addition featuring dining, entertainment, spa and convention facilities. The partnership between the two companies will see the Dubai Pearl project getting Dubai’s first hotel and residences brands under the MGM Mirage portfolio.
Located opposite the Palm Jumeirah Island in the heart of the Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone, Dubai Pearl is planned as a landmark destination designed to offer spectacular views of the Arabian Gulf. It will offer a pedestrian friendly, 24-hour living city with a spectrum of commercial, retail, residential, hospitality and leisure components. Dubai Pearl will also have a 2,000-seat performing arts theater aimed at meeting the needs of Dubai’s growing cultural calendar and complementing the project’s entertainment offering.
Located opposite the Palm Jumeirah Island in the heart of the Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone, Dubai Pearl is planned as a landmark destination designed to offer spectacular views of the Arabian Gulf. It will offer a pedestrian friendly, 24-hour living city with a spectrum of commercial, retail, residential, hospitality and leisure components. Dubai Pearl will also have a 2,000-seat performing arts theater aimed at meeting the needs of Dubai’s growing cultural calendar and complementing the project’s entertainment offering.
Universal Orlando Resort Package Deal
Universal Orlando Resort is offering a value-driven vacation offer. For less
than $34 per person, per night, guests can take advantage of a new Kids Free
Package, which gives kids free, unlimited theme park admission with a minimum
stay of four nights or more at a hotel near Universal. Complimentary
transportation to Universal's theme parks also is included.
For $28 more per person, per night (or a total of $62) guests can upgrade to
an on-site hotel and receive complimentary Universal Express access to skip
the regular lines at theme park rides and attractions just by showing their
hotel room key.
Both offers must be booked by July 31 for travel through Oct. 8.
Guests booking vacation packages through Universal Parks & Resorts Vacations
for three nights or more also will receive Vacation Protection Plan coverage,
which protects them in the event of involuntary job loss and other unforeseen
events, at no additional cost. To take advantage of this special offer, use
promotion code UNIGO and book by June 30, for travel through Oct. 8.
Call Supreme Clientele Travel at (407)413-9578 for package information and brochures.
than $34 per person, per night, guests can take advantage of a new Kids Free
Package, which gives kids free, unlimited theme park admission with a minimum
stay of four nights or more at a hotel near Universal. Complimentary
transportation to Universal's theme parks also is included.
For $28 more per person, per night (or a total of $62) guests can upgrade to
an on-site hotel and receive complimentary Universal Express access to skip
the regular lines at theme park rides and attractions just by showing their
hotel room key.
Both offers must be booked by July 31 for travel through Oct. 8.
Guests booking vacation packages through Universal Parks & Resorts Vacations
for three nights or more also will receive Vacation Protection Plan coverage,
which protects them in the event of involuntary job loss and other unforeseen
events, at no additional cost. To take advantage of this special offer, use
promotion code UNIGO and book by June 30, for travel through Oct. 8.
Call Supreme Clientele Travel at (407)413-9578 for package information and brochures.
Six Flags Magic Mountain Unveils "Terminator" Coaster
Six Flags Magic Mountain unveiled its newest roller coaster, “Terminator Salvation: The Ride.” The attraction opened to the public on May 23, combining thrill technology with the signature science fiction punch of the Terminator Salvation brand. The newest addition to the park’s coaster collection coincides with the release of the McG directed film, “Terminator Salvation,” and introduces fans to an entirely new universe inspired by the film’s post-apocalyptic setting. Developed by the same team that produced last year’s new X2 experience, “Terminator Salvation: The Ride” will feature synchronized on-board audio, a loading station “fly-thru,” two tunnels and fire and fog special effects. There is also a pre-show featuring stars Common and Moon Bloodgood that was produced exclusively for the ride and shot by the director of photography for “Terminator Salvation,” Shane Hurlbut.
The $10 million coaster, engineered exclusively for the Valencia theme park by Great Coasters International Inc., “Terminator Salvation: The Ride” will feature Millennium Flyer coaster trains that zip through five belly-flopping hills and six high-speed banked turns over 2,850 feet of track to create a ride that delivers the acrobatic thrills of a modern roller coaster while retaining the nostalgic look and feel of a classic “woodie.” “Terminator Salvation” is the fourth installment in the series and stars Christian Bale, Sam Worthington, Moon Bloodgood, Bryce Dallas Howard, Common and Helena Bonham Carter.
The $10 million coaster, engineered exclusively for the Valencia theme park by Great Coasters International Inc., “Terminator Salvation: The Ride” will feature Millennium Flyer coaster trains that zip through five belly-flopping hills and six high-speed banked turns over 2,850 feet of track to create a ride that delivers the acrobatic thrills of a modern roller coaster while retaining the nostalgic look and feel of a classic “woodie.” “Terminator Salvation” is the fourth installment in the series and stars Christian Bale, Sam Worthington, Moon Bloodgood, Bryce Dallas Howard, Common and Helena Bonham Carter.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Tougher ID requirements begin June 1 for citizens returning to the U.S.
On June 1, U.S. citizens returning from Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and parts of the Caribbean by land or sea will face stiffer documentation requirements.
Passports, passport cards, Enhanced Driver's Licenses or "trusted traveler" cards will have to be shown, unless voyagers are youngsters or on certain exempt cruises.
(U.S. citizens already need a passport to return via air from Mexico, Canada, Bermuda and Caribbean islands except Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.)
The stepped-up requirements are the final phase of a Department of Homeland Security/State Department anti-terrorism policy called the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, which took effect in January 2007 with passports required to fly back from neighboring countries.
"The mission is to strengthen border security while facilitating legitimate travel," says Joanne Ferreira, a spokeswoman for U.S Customs and Border Protection.
The various entry cards and information on how to get them are detailed on the agency's website getyouhome.gov.
Passport cards, which look like driver's licenses, have been offered since July and can be used to drive or walk across the border from Canada or Mexico or to take ferries or cruises. They're not accepted for international air travel.
Enhanced Driver's Licenses, embedded with technology that refers border agents to a stored record in a government database, are currently being issued by only four states: New York, Vermont, Michigan and Washington State.
Other forms of acceptable land-and-sea border crossing documentation: "trusted traveler" cards such as SENTRI, NEXUS and FAST (for truckers), which require more screening to obtain. Those with passport cards, enhanced licenses and other cards embedded with identity information can use scanners to speed their trip through some checkpoints.
Those under 16 or teens 16 to 18 who are traveling with an organized group to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean will need only a birth certificate, the Customs and Border Protection agency says.
The new rules were to have kicked in January 2008, but they were postponed in part by fears that they would hinder trade and tourism.
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano told reporters this week that she knows some Americans are unaware of the new requirements or haven't gotten around to getting a passport. The process can take a month or more.
"We'll work with them at the border," she said. That may involve being pulled aside while border agents confirm identity and citizenship.
Cruising already is a sea of confusion.
For instance, cruisers who begin and end their trips in the same U.S. port are not required to show passports under the new law. Technically, they can use a driver's license and birth certificate.
The Cruise Lines International Association says individual carriers reserve the right to require certain identification, including passports and that would-be cruisers check with individual cruise lines when booking.
It's too early to say whether the new rules will further slow travel and harm tourist-dependent areas such as Mexican border towns.
A record 30% of Americans hold passports, the State Department says. But applications, which had been rising, are down in this recessionary year (7.1 million issued through April, vs. 10.3 million in the same period last year).
The cost for an adult passport ($100 purchased in person; $75 by mail) and $45 passport card for first-time adult purchasers ($20 by mail) may deter some vacationers. As might the wait to get them.
So who might profit from the new rules?
Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands — St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix — are United States territory and continue to be passport-free zones.
Passports, passport cards, Enhanced Driver's Licenses or "trusted traveler" cards will have to be shown, unless voyagers are youngsters or on certain exempt cruises.
(U.S. citizens already need a passport to return via air from Mexico, Canada, Bermuda and Caribbean islands except Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.)
The stepped-up requirements are the final phase of a Department of Homeland Security/State Department anti-terrorism policy called the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, which took effect in January 2007 with passports required to fly back from neighboring countries.
"The mission is to strengthen border security while facilitating legitimate travel," says Joanne Ferreira, a spokeswoman for U.S Customs and Border Protection.
The various entry cards and information on how to get them are detailed on the agency's website getyouhome.gov.
Passport cards, which look like driver's licenses, have been offered since July and can be used to drive or walk across the border from Canada or Mexico or to take ferries or cruises. They're not accepted for international air travel.
Enhanced Driver's Licenses, embedded with technology that refers border agents to a stored record in a government database, are currently being issued by only four states: New York, Vermont, Michigan and Washington State.
Other forms of acceptable land-and-sea border crossing documentation: "trusted traveler" cards such as SENTRI, NEXUS and FAST (for truckers), which require more screening to obtain. Those with passport cards, enhanced licenses and other cards embedded with identity information can use scanners to speed their trip through some checkpoints.
Those under 16 or teens 16 to 18 who are traveling with an organized group to Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean will need only a birth certificate, the Customs and Border Protection agency says.
The new rules were to have kicked in January 2008, but they were postponed in part by fears that they would hinder trade and tourism.
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano told reporters this week that she knows some Americans are unaware of the new requirements or haven't gotten around to getting a passport. The process can take a month or more.
"We'll work with them at the border," she said. That may involve being pulled aside while border agents confirm identity and citizenship.
Cruising already is a sea of confusion.
For instance, cruisers who begin and end their trips in the same U.S. port are not required to show passports under the new law. Technically, they can use a driver's license and birth certificate.
The Cruise Lines International Association says individual carriers reserve the right to require certain identification, including passports and that would-be cruisers check with individual cruise lines when booking.
It's too early to say whether the new rules will further slow travel and harm tourist-dependent areas such as Mexican border towns.
A record 30% of Americans hold passports, the State Department says. But applications, which had been rising, are down in this recessionary year (7.1 million issued through April, vs. 10.3 million in the same period last year).
The cost for an adult passport ($100 purchased in person; $75 by mail) and $45 passport card for first-time adult purchasers ($20 by mail) may deter some vacationers. As might the wait to get them.
So who might profit from the new rules?
Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands — St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix — are United States territory and continue to be passport-free zones.
Hotels placing room service menus online
Add the room service menu to the list of hotel items collecting dust. A growing number of hotels are using online menus, allowing guests to order via smartphones or laptops.
Online menus offer more detailed information about food choices, including photos and daily specials, and allow guests to bypass phone chats with kitchen attendants. For hotels, the new technology means freeing employees from the phones for other chores and creates opportunities for "upselling" with recommendations.
Generally, the system works like this: A guest uses Wi-Fi to download an Internet page that contains the hotel's online menu. Once the order is placed, the system directly bills the room or the credit card. Some hotels also allow housekeeping, valet and requests for services such as additional towels or wake-up calls to be ordered online.
Omni Hotels has been testing an online order application at Omni Mandalay in Irving, Texas, since last year. Developed by Vancouver, Wash.-based GBCblue, the system will be expanded to several other Omni properties in coming months. The company hopes to install it chain-wide by the end of the year, says Kerry Kennedy, Omni's director of e-commerce.
Starwood Hotels has approved GBCblue's technology for all of its hotels, says Joe Adkisson of GBCblue.
Among other hotels that offer a similar service: Hyatt Regency Monterey, Calif.; Grand Hyatt San Francisco; Casa del Mar in Santa Monica, Calif.; Westin Maui; and Westin-Kierland in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Omni and GBCblue are developing a mobile menu "app" — or a software application — for iPhone and Blackberry users that can be downloaded to the phone directly and bypass the Internet browser.
To encourage more online orders, Malibu Beach Inn distributes Apple's iTouch to customers if they don't have their own Internet devices. GBCblue is working with a hotel in Hawaii for a similar project to distribute iTouch to guests sitting poolside.
For now, online orders are used mostly for room service. Once Malibu Beach Inn started using online menus last year, it saw a 25% increase in room service orders in the first six months, says Matt Allard of service creator Runtriz. GBC says Omni Mandalay's orders have similarly risen.
Omni Mandalay also has noticed that guests spend more — by about $3 an order — when ordering online. Omni plans to add a function that will recommend accompaniments to go along with the item ordered.
"If someone ordered just steak, we can remind them of the drink," Kennedy says. "We can have it set up to recommend the right wine."
Online menus offer more detailed information about food choices, including photos and daily specials, and allow guests to bypass phone chats with kitchen attendants. For hotels, the new technology means freeing employees from the phones for other chores and creates opportunities for "upselling" with recommendations.
Generally, the system works like this: A guest uses Wi-Fi to download an Internet page that contains the hotel's online menu. Once the order is placed, the system directly bills the room or the credit card. Some hotels also allow housekeeping, valet and requests for services such as additional towels or wake-up calls to be ordered online.
Omni Hotels has been testing an online order application at Omni Mandalay in Irving, Texas, since last year. Developed by Vancouver, Wash.-based GBCblue, the system will be expanded to several other Omni properties in coming months. The company hopes to install it chain-wide by the end of the year, says Kerry Kennedy, Omni's director of e-commerce.
Starwood Hotels has approved GBCblue's technology for all of its hotels, says Joe Adkisson of GBCblue.
Among other hotels that offer a similar service: Hyatt Regency Monterey, Calif.; Grand Hyatt San Francisco; Casa del Mar in Santa Monica, Calif.; Westin Maui; and Westin-Kierland in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Omni and GBCblue are developing a mobile menu "app" — or a software application — for iPhone and Blackberry users that can be downloaded to the phone directly and bypass the Internet browser.
To encourage more online orders, Malibu Beach Inn distributes Apple's iTouch to customers if they don't have their own Internet devices. GBCblue is working with a hotel in Hawaii for a similar project to distribute iTouch to guests sitting poolside.
For now, online orders are used mostly for room service. Once Malibu Beach Inn started using online menus last year, it saw a 25% increase in room service orders in the first six months, says Matt Allard of service creator Runtriz. GBC says Omni Mandalay's orders have similarly risen.
Omni Mandalay also has noticed that guests spend more — by about $3 an order — when ordering online. Omni plans to add a function that will recommend accompaniments to go along with the item ordered.
"If someone ordered just steak, we can remind them of the drink," Kennedy says. "We can have it set up to recommend the right wine."
Friday, May 22, 2009
JetBlue Plans New York JFK-Jamaica Service this Fall
JetBlue Airways has announced plans to begin new service to Kingston, Jamaica -- its 14th international destination -- this fall. The airline expects to serve Kingston's Norman Manley International Airport with daily nonstop service to/from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, with onward connecting service available to cities across the United States. JetBlue's flights to the Jamaican capital are expected to go on sale in June at www.jetblue.com, subject to receipt of government operating authority. Kingston will be JetBlue's second destination in Jamaica; it just kicked off daily nonstop service between New York (JFK) and Montego Bay. For more information, visit www.jetblue.com.
Miami Beach's Palms Hotel Unveils New Aveda Spa
The Palms Hotel & Spa officially open its doors to Aveda's only luxury beach spa in Florida. The Palms Spa nurtures and rejuvenates by pairing Aveda's high performance, natural and botanically-derived products with the ancient science of Ayurveda and the latest in spa technology. In celebration of the opening, the hotel is offering a "Stay, Spa & Dine" package. Guests who book a minimum of three nights can enjoy 20 percent off all spa services and 20 percent off dinner at the recently launched Essensia restaurant and lounge. The offer valid from May 1 through July 31 and may not be applied to prior bookings and is not commissionable to travel agents. The 5,000 square foot spa offers a wide range of massage, skin care, and body treatments, in addition to signature nail care, hair care, waxing and make-up services. Spa treatment facilities include four indoor multi-purpose rooms, one couple's suite with experience snail shower, one hydrotherapy room and four outdoor Tiki Cabanas. Rooms are equipped with docking stations for iPods and individual music channel controls so that guests can customize their sound choice for each treatment.
The spa also has an airy indoor/outdoor relaxation area with a co-ed steam room and custom ice fountain, overlooking a streaming waterfall and connecting to the hotel's botanical gardens and pool area. Spa guests are granted full access to the resorts pool, beach, restaurant and bar facilities. The Palms Spa is also one of only two spas in the area utilizing Hydrotherm's Time Capsule, named the HydroCapsule at The Palms, a personal pod-like chamber, which allows body treatments to be self-contained for privacy and cleanliness which includes a Vichy shower system to wash off scrubs, creams and essential oils along with steam, aroma, and light therapy features. The Palms Spa also features a full service beauty salon and retail area, offering the complete line of Aveda hair, skin, lifestyle and make-up products, along with the vegan luxury nail care line SpaRitual. Spa guests can further enhance their experience with specialty spa menu selections from the recently launched Essensia restaurant & lounge, featuring natural gourmet cuisine and spa-friendly dishes.
The spa also has an airy indoor/outdoor relaxation area with a co-ed steam room and custom ice fountain, overlooking a streaming waterfall and connecting to the hotel's botanical gardens and pool area. Spa guests are granted full access to the resorts pool, beach, restaurant and bar facilities. The Palms Spa is also one of only two spas in the area utilizing Hydrotherm's Time Capsule, named the HydroCapsule at The Palms, a personal pod-like chamber, which allows body treatments to be self-contained for privacy and cleanliness which includes a Vichy shower system to wash off scrubs, creams and essential oils along with steam, aroma, and light therapy features. The Palms Spa also features a full service beauty salon and retail area, offering the complete line of Aveda hair, skin, lifestyle and make-up products, along with the vegan luxury nail care line SpaRitual. Spa guests can further enhance their experience with specialty spa menu selections from the recently launched Essensia restaurant & lounge, featuring natural gourmet cuisine and spa-friendly dishes.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
RCI Adds Dance Program to Fleet
Royal Caribbean International (RCI) has added a new hip hop dance program to its ships. Gotta Dance offers guests the opportunity to "wow" their cruisemates with cool new dance moves. The guest-participatory experience is being offered exclusively by RCI and will be offered fleetwide in summer 2009.
"Gotta Dance is the newest Royal Caribbean International program that offers guests an opportunity to try something different on their vacation regardless of age and experience," said Peter Compton, vice president, entertainment for RCI. "Every age is welcome and no experience is necessary. As with many of our onboard programs, Gotta Dance helps bring families closer together and build lasting relationships among guests for an unforgettable cruise vacation."
Gotta Dance is based on the documentary film by Dori Berinstein that chronicles the first-ever senior-citizen, hip hop dance troupe for the New Jersey Nets basketball team. The film opens in July 2009.
Kicking off each cruise will be a special screening of the film. Participants will then be divided into teams and, over the course of their vacation, will learn choreographed routines with a member of the Royal Caribbean dance team in rehearsals during sea days. The program culminates with a farewell show on the last evening of the cruise, whereby each of the teams performs their routine in the ship's main theater.
"Gotta Dance is the newest Royal Caribbean International program that offers guests an opportunity to try something different on their vacation regardless of age and experience," said Peter Compton, vice president, entertainment for RCI. "Every age is welcome and no experience is necessary. As with many of our onboard programs, Gotta Dance helps bring families closer together and build lasting relationships among guests for an unforgettable cruise vacation."
Gotta Dance is based on the documentary film by Dori Berinstein that chronicles the first-ever senior-citizen, hip hop dance troupe for the New Jersey Nets basketball team. The film opens in July 2009.
Kicking off each cruise will be a special screening of the film. Participants will then be divided into teams and, over the course of their vacation, will learn choreographed routines with a member of the Royal Caribbean dance team in rehearsals during sea days. The program culminates with a farewell show on the last evening of the cruise, whereby each of the teams performs their routine in the ship's main theater.
Norwegian Epic Reveals: Blue Man Group, Epic Casino and a Big Top at Sea
Norwegian Cruise Line continues to "break the mold" of the onboard cruise experience.
At its latest, and final, announcement here regarding its upcoming Norwegian Epic cruise ship, the cruise line announced the line-up of onboard entertainment options, which will include a full-length Blue Man Group show, an interactive Cirque Dreams and Dinner show, and more.
"The face of Norwegian entertainment is obviously blue," said Andy Stuart, executive vice president of global sales and passenger services for Norwegian, explaining the process the line took when looking for the right partner to represent the face of Norwegian Cruise Line's entertainment.
According to Stuart, Norwegian Cruise Line's executives looked at entertainment offerings in New York City's Broadway, the Las Vegas Strip and London's West End, all revealed one thing -- Blue Man Group, no matter where its staged, is one of the most popular show productions out there. Furthermore, Stuart said, the Blue Man theater company and Norwegian are aligned in "our idea of breaking the mold" of traditional cruise ship entertainment.
"They're all about innovation and we're all about innovation... it was a meeting of the minds," he said.
Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line's CEO, added: "Having a world class creative organization like Blue Man Group headline the entertainment on Norwegian Epic will provide our guests with a sensory experience unlike any other at sea."
The Blue Man Group, which incorporates music, comedy and multimedia theatrics, will perform eight full-scale productions a week in the ship's 685-seat Epic Theater. According to Phil Stanton, one of the three founding members of Blue Man Group, each Blue Man production is site specific, so parts of the Norwegian Epic's show will involve being on a ship.
'Big Top' at Sea
In yet another first for the cruise line, Norwegian Epic will be the first ship to feature a Spiegel Tent, or "big top" at sea. Housing a 265-seat theater-in-the-round, the big top will feature Cirque Dreams and Dinner.
The two-hour, one-of-a-kind interactive, theatrical, dining experience will offer aerialists, acrobats and contortionists performing in mid-air and juggling of dinner courses, among other feats.
According to Neil Goldberg, producer/director of Cirque Dreams, contortionists will be cocktail waitresses bending over backwards to pick up a guest's napkins and aerialists will drop from the sky to fill their water glasses.
The Second City, Norwegian's popular comedy act that currently plays limited shows on every sailing, will be given a dedicated home onboard the Epic -- the Headliners Comedy Club. The 280-seat comedy club will enable The Second City to perform their improvisational comedy act every night.
Fat Cats, a 200-seat jazz club, will feature nightly live blues and jazz performances. The venue is designed to be as laid back as jazz, with a hint of Memphis in its décor.
Not quite as laid back will be the Epic Casino, Norwegian Cruise Line's largest casino.
The Epic Casino will span more than 13,000-square feet, feature a Monte Carlo-inspired theme and offer 340 slot machines, as well as numerous table games. The Casino will be open to Taste, the Atrium restaurant below it, and open to Bar Central above it.
Open for Bookings
Norwegian Epic's 2010 inaugural sailings are now open for individual bookings, with cruise fares starting at $699 per person. The first Eastern Caribbean sailing from Miami (its year-round homeport) is scheduled for July 17, 2010, and the ship's alternating Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries are available through April 2011.
At its latest, and final, announcement here regarding its upcoming Norwegian Epic cruise ship, the cruise line announced the line-up of onboard entertainment options, which will include a full-length Blue Man Group show, an interactive Cirque Dreams and Dinner show, and more.
"The face of Norwegian entertainment is obviously blue," said Andy Stuart, executive vice president of global sales and passenger services for Norwegian, explaining the process the line took when looking for the right partner to represent the face of Norwegian Cruise Line's entertainment.
According to Stuart, Norwegian Cruise Line's executives looked at entertainment offerings in New York City's Broadway, the Las Vegas Strip and London's West End, all revealed one thing -- Blue Man Group, no matter where its staged, is one of the most popular show productions out there. Furthermore, Stuart said, the Blue Man theater company and Norwegian are aligned in "our idea of breaking the mold" of traditional cruise ship entertainment.
"They're all about innovation and we're all about innovation... it was a meeting of the minds," he said.
Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line's CEO, added: "Having a world class creative organization like Blue Man Group headline the entertainment on Norwegian Epic will provide our guests with a sensory experience unlike any other at sea."
The Blue Man Group, which incorporates music, comedy and multimedia theatrics, will perform eight full-scale productions a week in the ship's 685-seat Epic Theater. According to Phil Stanton, one of the three founding members of Blue Man Group, each Blue Man production is site specific, so parts of the Norwegian Epic's show will involve being on a ship.
'Big Top' at Sea
In yet another first for the cruise line, Norwegian Epic will be the first ship to feature a Spiegel Tent, or "big top" at sea. Housing a 265-seat theater-in-the-round, the big top will feature Cirque Dreams and Dinner.
The two-hour, one-of-a-kind interactive, theatrical, dining experience will offer aerialists, acrobats and contortionists performing in mid-air and juggling of dinner courses, among other feats.
According to Neil Goldberg, producer/director of Cirque Dreams, contortionists will be cocktail waitresses bending over backwards to pick up a guest's napkins and aerialists will drop from the sky to fill their water glasses.
The Second City, Norwegian's popular comedy act that currently plays limited shows on every sailing, will be given a dedicated home onboard the Epic -- the Headliners Comedy Club. The 280-seat comedy club will enable The Second City to perform their improvisational comedy act every night.
Fat Cats, a 200-seat jazz club, will feature nightly live blues and jazz performances. The venue is designed to be as laid back as jazz, with a hint of Memphis in its décor.
Not quite as laid back will be the Epic Casino, Norwegian Cruise Line's largest casino.
The Epic Casino will span more than 13,000-square feet, feature a Monte Carlo-inspired theme and offer 340 slot machines, as well as numerous table games. The Casino will be open to Taste, the Atrium restaurant below it, and open to Bar Central above it.
Open for Bookings
Norwegian Epic's 2010 inaugural sailings are now open for individual bookings, with cruise fares starting at $699 per person. The first Eastern Caribbean sailing from Miami (its year-round homeport) is scheduled for July 17, 2010, and the ship's alternating Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries are available through April 2011.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
SeaWorld Orlando to Welcome New Manta Attraction
SeaWorld's Manta -- a blend of up-close animal encounters with a head-first, face-down thrill ride -- is the top new attraction in Orlando this summer. The only flying roller coaster of its kind in the world, SeaWorld's ride and animal experts designed Manta to have thrills for the whole family, at every age level. For guests too young to ride roller coasters - or those who like their adventures a little less extreme - the Manta experience includes incredible views into 10 all-new aquariums, home to more than 3,000 creatures in all. Never before has SeaWorld had such a diverse display of ocean animals. And never before have non-riders been so much a part of a thrill ride's experience. Those who take their excitement flying head first at 56 mph will crown Manta as one of the world's top coasters. A track-twisting pretzel loop, in-line spins, a waterfall close call and a wing dip just inches from the water add up to a flying roller coaster ride never before seen, let alone experienced. Climbing into what look like traditional seats and harnesses, riders soon notice what makes this kind of coaster so special: The entire seating assembly rotates forward, positioning riders horizontally, or face down in a prone position. It's like flying. Or even better, it's like riding on the belly of a massive 12-foot-wide manta ray as it glides and twists and soars above the ocean. Explore more at www.DiveDeepFlyHigh.com.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Nuggets, WWE in smackdown over arena conflict
Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers are scheduled to be at the Pepsi Center in Denver next Monday night.
Problem is, so are John Cena and a bunch of wrestlers — and they called it first.
World Wrestling Entertainment said it is booked at the arena for an episode of Monday Night Raw, the same night the Nuggets are slated to host the Lakers in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals.
WWE chairman Vince McMahon told the Associated Press he doesn't believe there was "any malice, just ineptness," on the part of Kroenke Sports, which owns the team and the building, but can't tolerate the company "just simply throwing us out on our ear."
Without a quick resolution, McMahon plans to send his trucks to Denver.
FIND MORE STORIES IN: United States | Louisville | Denver | Los Angeles Lakers | Kobe Bryant | Houston Rockets | Pepsi Center | World Wrestling Entertainment | Vince McMahon | John Cena | WWE Raw
"That's what we intend to do," he said. "We're going to show up."
WWE spokesman Robert Zimmerman said the organization secured the Pepsi Center last Aug. 15 and has already sold more than 10,000 tickets for the event. He says the organization expects a sellout, with tickets ranging from $20 to $70.
McMahon blamed Kroenke for not believing his team was good enough to still be playing in mid-May.
"The fans in Denver had a lot more faith in making the playoffs than the owner," he said in a phone interview from Louisville, where Raw was taking place later Monday night.
Denver is usually done with basketball by now. The Nuggets had lost in the first round five straight years, but as the No. 2 seed in the West are in the conference finals for the first time since 1985.
The Nuggets referred comment to the NBA, which handles scheduling during the playoffs. Kroenke Sports also had no comment.
However, the league is leaving it up to the team and the WWE to figure things out.
"The Nuggets and the WWE understand that the date of Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals cannot be changed," NBA senior vice president Mike Bass said. "We are confident that the Pepsi Center and the WWE will resolve their scheduling conflict."
Zimmerman said the Pepsi Center confirmed in March with the WWE that the organization wanted to keep the May 25 date, and sent a contract on April 15 — the final night of the regular season — which WWE signed and returned. Tickets went on sale April 11.
The conflict didn't arise until Sunday, when the Lakers beat the Houston Rockets in Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals. Had the Rockets won, Denver would have had home-court advantage in the next round, hosting Games 1 and 2 and putting the May 25 game in Houston.
As of Monday afternoon, the schedule on the Pepsi Center's website listed WWE for 6:30 p.m. local time and Western Conference finals Game 4 at 7 p.m. Tickets for the wrestling event could still be purchased online.
McMahon said he couldn't guess how much he would make from the show, but that canceling wasn't easy because of how much is involved in moving his equipment, plus filling its obligated time slot on USA Network. Litigation is likely — but he plans to be putting on a card.
"When you do have a date, you plan everything around it," he said, adding, "we may be holding an event in a parking lot somewhere."
Problem is, so are John Cena and a bunch of wrestlers — and they called it first.
World Wrestling Entertainment said it is booked at the arena for an episode of Monday Night Raw, the same night the Nuggets are slated to host the Lakers in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals.
WWE chairman Vince McMahon told the Associated Press he doesn't believe there was "any malice, just ineptness," on the part of Kroenke Sports, which owns the team and the building, but can't tolerate the company "just simply throwing us out on our ear."
Without a quick resolution, McMahon plans to send his trucks to Denver.
FIND MORE STORIES IN: United States | Louisville | Denver | Los Angeles Lakers | Kobe Bryant | Houston Rockets | Pepsi Center | World Wrestling Entertainment | Vince McMahon | John Cena | WWE Raw
"That's what we intend to do," he said. "We're going to show up."
WWE spokesman Robert Zimmerman said the organization secured the Pepsi Center last Aug. 15 and has already sold more than 10,000 tickets for the event. He says the organization expects a sellout, with tickets ranging from $20 to $70.
McMahon blamed Kroenke for not believing his team was good enough to still be playing in mid-May.
"The fans in Denver had a lot more faith in making the playoffs than the owner," he said in a phone interview from Louisville, where Raw was taking place later Monday night.
Denver is usually done with basketball by now. The Nuggets had lost in the first round five straight years, but as the No. 2 seed in the West are in the conference finals for the first time since 1985.
The Nuggets referred comment to the NBA, which handles scheduling during the playoffs. Kroenke Sports also had no comment.
However, the league is leaving it up to the team and the WWE to figure things out.
"The Nuggets and the WWE understand that the date of Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals cannot be changed," NBA senior vice president Mike Bass said. "We are confident that the Pepsi Center and the WWE will resolve their scheduling conflict."
Zimmerman said the Pepsi Center confirmed in March with the WWE that the organization wanted to keep the May 25 date, and sent a contract on April 15 — the final night of the regular season — which WWE signed and returned. Tickets went on sale April 11.
The conflict didn't arise until Sunday, when the Lakers beat the Houston Rockets in Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals. Had the Rockets won, Denver would have had home-court advantage in the next round, hosting Games 1 and 2 and putting the May 25 game in Houston.
As of Monday afternoon, the schedule on the Pepsi Center's website listed WWE for 6:30 p.m. local time and Western Conference finals Game 4 at 7 p.m. Tickets for the wrestling event could still be purchased online.
McMahon said he couldn't guess how much he would make from the show, but that canceling wasn't easy because of how much is involved in moving his equipment, plus filling its obligated time slot on USA Network. Litigation is likely — but he plans to be putting on a card.
"When you do have a date, you plan everything around it," he said, adding, "we may be holding an event in a parking lot somewhere."
New amusement park attractions take interactivity 'to the next level
A roller coaster where riders can pick a personal soundtrack, a pirate ride with water gun fights, the tallest water ride in the world, and a walkway that sparkles at night with a million lights are some of the most exciting new attractions at amusement parks this year.
Other theme park news includes a ride based on the new Terminator movie at Six Flags Magic Mountain near Los Angeles; the new Diamondback coaster at Kings Island in Ohio, with speeds up to 80 mph on a mile-long track; and the reopening of the failed Hard Rock Park in Myrtle Beach, S.C., as a more family oriented attraction called Freestyle Music Park.
The unique lighted walkway, Starlight Experience, debuts at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. Holiday World & Splashin' Safari in Santa Claus, Ind., is home to the massive water ride Pilgrims Plunge, where a boat drops 131 feet at a 45-degree angle, creating a wall of water 45 feet high.
The coaster with customized music, the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit at Universal in Orlando, exemplifies a continuing theme park trend of "interactive experiences that can change based on guests' participation," said David Mandt, spokesman for the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions. "These started with the shooting gallery type of experience where guests could ride through an attraction, aim at a target and score points."
This season's attractions "take that interactivity to the next level where you can choose the outcome or features of the ride that will make each experience different," he said.
Other examples: A new Six Flags attraction, Buccaneer Battle, lets you have a dynamic water battle that's like being in a video game come to life. Eight people on each boat are armed with Super Soaker cannons. You hit other riders and targets, some of which blast water back or squirt from the ground. Meanwhile, park visitors randomly passing by shoot at the boats using land-based guns, and riders can shoot back.
"You're actually part of the ride," said Six Flags spokeswoman Brooke Gabbert. "You're engaged the whole time." Kids as small as 36 to 48 inches can ride with an adult, but all ages enjoy it: "We had a grandpa on the ride and he was having a blast."
Riders do get wet, though, so the park has a new "people dryer," which blasts hot air for three minutes for $5 and fits up to five people. "It takes the chill off," Gabbert said.
At Freestyle park in Myrtle Beach, "The Time Machine" coaster has multiple soundtracks so you can hear a different song each time you ride. "It's a reward for doing it more than once," Mandt said.
Big new rides are what teenagers and other coaster fans look forward to, but some parks are also adding play areas for younger kids. "We continue to see new products added designed to appeal to all ages," Mandt said.
Freestyle is opening 11 attractions in a new themed area called Kids in America, aimed at younger guests. Busch Gardens Europe in Williamsburg, Va., is adding a new Sesame Street Forest of Fun with junior rides.
Here is a list of these and some of the other new attractions around the country this year, with details provided by IAAPA and the parks:
Northeast/Mid-Atlantic
Six Flags: Rethemed coasters in two parks, Medusa at Great Adventure in Jackson, N.J., and Superman in Agawam, Mass., now called Bizarro after the DC Comics villain, with custom-built audio in each rider head rest, fog banks and fire bursts; sixflags.com/greatadventure and sixflags.com/newEngland.
Six Flags Great Escape, Lake George, N.Y.: New Sasquatch drop tower, park's tallest ride at 19 stories tall; sixflags.com/greatEscape.
Hersheypark, Hershey, Pa.: New to Boardwalk area, The Shore wave pool, and Intercoastal Waterway lazy river; hersheypark.com.
Busch Gardens Europe in Williamsburg, Va.: New Sesame Street Forest of Fun, with four new rides including junior coaster and log flume; buschgardens.com/BGW2.
Kings Dominion, Doswell, Va.: New Americana, a 110-foot Ferris wheel, and El Dorado, a swinging pendulum ride; kingsdominion.com.
South
Freestyle Music Park, Myrtle Beach, S.C.: Revamped version of Hard Rock Park, with more family attractions; freestylemusicpark.com.
Dollywood, Pigeon Forge, Tenn.: New zipline ride and new shows: Sha-Kon-O-Hey! Land of Blue Smoke, part of Dollywood's celebration of 75th anniversary of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and Imagine, aerial-trapeze show headlining Dollywood's annual Festival of Nations; dollywood.com.
Carowinds, Charlotte: New 125-feet-tall "Carolina Cobra" steel coaster; carowinds.com.
SeaWorld Orlando: New steel roller coaster Manta; seaworld.com/orlando.
Universal Orlando: Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit coaster with customized soundtracks; universalorlando.com.
Walt Disney World: The American Idol Experience show (since February) at Disney's Hollywood Studios (in Florida); disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/hollywood-studios.
Midwest
Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio: Starlight Experience, themed lighted walkway with over a million LED lights, music, displays with colored lights themed to the changing seasons; cedarpoint.com.
Kings Island, Kings Island, Ohio: Diamondback steel coaster with open-air stadium-style seats, two helix twists, mile-long track, speeds up to 80 mph, 215-foot plunge; visitkingsisland.com.
Holiday World & Splashin' Safari, Santa Claus, Ind.: Pilgrims Plunge, with riders' boat plunging 131 feet, creating wall of water 45 feet high and 90 feet wide; holidayworld.com.
Six Flags Great America, Gurnee, Ill.: Buccaneer Battle, pirate-themed interactive water attraction; sixflags.com/greatamerica.
California
Six Flags Magic Mountain, Valencia, Calif.: New Terminator Salvation: The Ride wooden coaster with high-tech special effects, five hills and six high-speed banked turns, themed on new Terminator Salvation movie; sixflags.com/magicmountain.
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, Calif.: Odin's Temple of the Tiger, tiger exhibit and show; sixflags.com/discoverykingdom.
Disneyland, Anaheim, Calif.: New fireworks show, Magical with flying Dumbo puppet; new characters in Fantasmic! show on Rivers of America, along with HD projection and 40-foot-tall dragon; new floats and lighting for Electrical Parade; new street show, Celebrate! A Street Party, where guests can interact with characters; disneyland.com.
Universal Studios Hollywood: New live show based on classic horror movie Creature from the Black Lagoon; Simpsons Summer Celebration, and hi-definition, flat-screen monitors on all Studio Tour trams; UniversalStudiosHollywood.com.
Legoland, Carlsbad, Calif.: New Bob the Builder In 4-D: Bob the Builder and the Roller Coaster 4-D film; legoland.com/california.
Other theme park news includes a ride based on the new Terminator movie at Six Flags Magic Mountain near Los Angeles; the new Diamondback coaster at Kings Island in Ohio, with speeds up to 80 mph on a mile-long track; and the reopening of the failed Hard Rock Park in Myrtle Beach, S.C., as a more family oriented attraction called Freestyle Music Park.
The unique lighted walkway, Starlight Experience, debuts at Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. Holiday World & Splashin' Safari in Santa Claus, Ind., is home to the massive water ride Pilgrims Plunge, where a boat drops 131 feet at a 45-degree angle, creating a wall of water 45 feet high.
The coaster with customized music, the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit at Universal in Orlando, exemplifies a continuing theme park trend of "interactive experiences that can change based on guests' participation," said David Mandt, spokesman for the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions. "These started with the shooting gallery type of experience where guests could ride through an attraction, aim at a target and score points."
This season's attractions "take that interactivity to the next level where you can choose the outcome or features of the ride that will make each experience different," he said.
Other examples: A new Six Flags attraction, Buccaneer Battle, lets you have a dynamic water battle that's like being in a video game come to life. Eight people on each boat are armed with Super Soaker cannons. You hit other riders and targets, some of which blast water back or squirt from the ground. Meanwhile, park visitors randomly passing by shoot at the boats using land-based guns, and riders can shoot back.
"You're actually part of the ride," said Six Flags spokeswoman Brooke Gabbert. "You're engaged the whole time." Kids as small as 36 to 48 inches can ride with an adult, but all ages enjoy it: "We had a grandpa on the ride and he was having a blast."
Riders do get wet, though, so the park has a new "people dryer," which blasts hot air for three minutes for $5 and fits up to five people. "It takes the chill off," Gabbert said.
At Freestyle park in Myrtle Beach, "The Time Machine" coaster has multiple soundtracks so you can hear a different song each time you ride. "It's a reward for doing it more than once," Mandt said.
Big new rides are what teenagers and other coaster fans look forward to, but some parks are also adding play areas for younger kids. "We continue to see new products added designed to appeal to all ages," Mandt said.
Freestyle is opening 11 attractions in a new themed area called Kids in America, aimed at younger guests. Busch Gardens Europe in Williamsburg, Va., is adding a new Sesame Street Forest of Fun with junior rides.
Here is a list of these and some of the other new attractions around the country this year, with details provided by IAAPA and the parks:
Northeast/Mid-Atlantic
Six Flags: Rethemed coasters in two parks, Medusa at Great Adventure in Jackson, N.J., and Superman in Agawam, Mass., now called Bizarro after the DC Comics villain, with custom-built audio in each rider head rest, fog banks and fire bursts; sixflags.com/greatadventure and sixflags.com/newEngland.
Six Flags Great Escape, Lake George, N.Y.: New Sasquatch drop tower, park's tallest ride at 19 stories tall; sixflags.com/greatEscape.
Hersheypark, Hershey, Pa.: New to Boardwalk area, The Shore wave pool, and Intercoastal Waterway lazy river; hersheypark.com.
Busch Gardens Europe in Williamsburg, Va.: New Sesame Street Forest of Fun, with four new rides including junior coaster and log flume; buschgardens.com/BGW2.
Kings Dominion, Doswell, Va.: New Americana, a 110-foot Ferris wheel, and El Dorado, a swinging pendulum ride; kingsdominion.com.
South
Freestyle Music Park, Myrtle Beach, S.C.: Revamped version of Hard Rock Park, with more family attractions; freestylemusicpark.com.
Dollywood, Pigeon Forge, Tenn.: New zipline ride and new shows: Sha-Kon-O-Hey! Land of Blue Smoke, part of Dollywood's celebration of 75th anniversary of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and Imagine, aerial-trapeze show headlining Dollywood's annual Festival of Nations; dollywood.com.
Carowinds, Charlotte: New 125-feet-tall "Carolina Cobra" steel coaster; carowinds.com.
SeaWorld Orlando: New steel roller coaster Manta; seaworld.com/orlando.
Universal Orlando: Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit coaster with customized soundtracks; universalorlando.com.
Walt Disney World: The American Idol Experience show (since February) at Disney's Hollywood Studios (in Florida); disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/hollywood-studios.
Midwest
Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio: Starlight Experience, themed lighted walkway with over a million LED lights, music, displays with colored lights themed to the changing seasons; cedarpoint.com.
Kings Island, Kings Island, Ohio: Diamondback steel coaster with open-air stadium-style seats, two helix twists, mile-long track, speeds up to 80 mph, 215-foot plunge; visitkingsisland.com.
Holiday World & Splashin' Safari, Santa Claus, Ind.: Pilgrims Plunge, with riders' boat plunging 131 feet, creating wall of water 45 feet high and 90 feet wide; holidayworld.com.
Six Flags Great America, Gurnee, Ill.: Buccaneer Battle, pirate-themed interactive water attraction; sixflags.com/greatamerica.
California
Six Flags Magic Mountain, Valencia, Calif.: New Terminator Salvation: The Ride wooden coaster with high-tech special effects, five hills and six high-speed banked turns, themed on new Terminator Salvation movie; sixflags.com/magicmountain.
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo, Calif.: Odin's Temple of the Tiger, tiger exhibit and show; sixflags.com/discoverykingdom.
Disneyland, Anaheim, Calif.: New fireworks show, Magical with flying Dumbo puppet; new characters in Fantasmic! show on Rivers of America, along with HD projection and 40-foot-tall dragon; new floats and lighting for Electrical Parade; new street show, Celebrate! A Street Party, where guests can interact with characters; disneyland.com.
Universal Studios Hollywood: New live show based on classic horror movie Creature from the Black Lagoon; Simpsons Summer Celebration, and hi-definition, flat-screen monitors on all Studio Tour trams; UniversalStudiosHollywood.com.
Legoland, Carlsbad, Calif.: New Bob the Builder In 4-D: Bob the Builder and the Roller Coaster 4-D film; legoland.com/california.
Carnival, Royal Caribbean Plan Return to Mexico
Carnival Cruise Lines and Royal Caribbean International will resume visits to Mexican ports of call since the Centers for Disease Control is no longer recommending against non-essential travel to the country. Voyages with previously modified itineraries will continue and revert to their original routes in Mexico; most itineraries were modified through mid-June with the exception of the Holiday which was modified through late May. A ship-by-ship listing, including dates for when each vessel will resume its original itinerary, is available at www.carnival.com/cms/fun/cruise_control/itinerary_updates.aspx.
Meanwhile, Royal Caribbean will resume its port calls in Cozumel beginning with sailings that depart on or after May 24. Ships with Cozumel port calls include Freedom of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas, and Enchantment of the Seas. Mariner of the Seas will continue its modified Pacific Northwest itinerary, up to and including, its June 14 sailing. Several other lines that operated Mexico itineraries this past winter have since repositioned ships to Alaska for the summer.
?We are very pleased to resume our previous itineraries to Mexico, one of the cruise industry?s most popular destinations, and we thank those guests who were impacted by the modified schedules in recent weeks for their understanding and patience,? said Gerry Cahill, Carnival president and CEO. ?The health and well-being of our guests and crew is our highest priority and we are returning to Mexico after careful evaluation and consultation with the CDC. It is important to note that the concentration of H1N1 flu cases in Mexico has been inland rather than in the coastal resort areas where our ships visit.
As the cruise lines announced their return to Mexico, Puerto Costa Maya President Teofilo Hamui noted that ?neither Costa Maya nor Mahahual, its neighboring fishing village, have had any reported cases of the H1N1 virus, which further solidifies this region as a safe place for travelers. With Costa Maya located in a remote and pristine area on the Yucatan Peninsula, we have remained unaffected by the virus that had hit other parts of our country and the world. We hope cruise ships and passengers returning to our shores will feel secure knowing that they can enjoy our destination once again without concern for their health and well-being.
Carnival and Royal Caribbean both said they will continue to follow CDC guidelines, which include pre-boarding health questionnaires, sanitizing, and stocking of influenza test kits and anti-viral medications. ?Mexico has so many wonderful sites and attractions and feedback from our customers suggests that the majority support a resumption of port calls in Mexico, Cahill said. ?We know that they and our port destination partners are very much looking forward to our return.
Meanwhile, Royal Caribbean will resume its port calls in Cozumel beginning with sailings that depart on or after May 24. Ships with Cozumel port calls include Freedom of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas, and Enchantment of the Seas. Mariner of the Seas will continue its modified Pacific Northwest itinerary, up to and including, its June 14 sailing. Several other lines that operated Mexico itineraries this past winter have since repositioned ships to Alaska for the summer.
?We are very pleased to resume our previous itineraries to Mexico, one of the cruise industry?s most popular destinations, and we thank those guests who were impacted by the modified schedules in recent weeks for their understanding and patience,? said Gerry Cahill, Carnival president and CEO. ?The health and well-being of our guests and crew is our highest priority and we are returning to Mexico after careful evaluation and consultation with the CDC. It is important to note that the concentration of H1N1 flu cases in Mexico has been inland rather than in the coastal resort areas where our ships visit.
As the cruise lines announced their return to Mexico, Puerto Costa Maya President Teofilo Hamui noted that ?neither Costa Maya nor Mahahual, its neighboring fishing village, have had any reported cases of the H1N1 virus, which further solidifies this region as a safe place for travelers. With Costa Maya located in a remote and pristine area on the Yucatan Peninsula, we have remained unaffected by the virus that had hit other parts of our country and the world. We hope cruise ships and passengers returning to our shores will feel secure knowing that they can enjoy our destination once again without concern for their health and well-being.
Carnival and Royal Caribbean both said they will continue to follow CDC guidelines, which include pre-boarding health questionnaires, sanitizing, and stocking of influenza test kits and anti-viral medications. ?Mexico has so many wonderful sites and attractions and feedback from our customers suggests that the majority support a resumption of port calls in Mexico, Cahill said. ?We know that they and our port destination partners are very much looking forward to our return.
State Dept., CDC Lift Mexico Travel Warning
The U.S. Department of State late Friday lifted its travel alert for Mexico due to the H1N1 influenza outbreak. The announcement was made right after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lifted its own travel warning against all nonessential travel to Mexico. The CDC announced that the "warning" was downgraded to a "travel health precaution," which is directed at those who are at high risk of complications due to any kind of influenza.
Daniel Jernigan, deputy director of the CDC's influenza division, said that there is no evidence that the Influenza A (H1N1) virus is becoming stronger. "Mexico's government and tourism authorities are very satisfied with the decision taken by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and consequently, the U.S. Department of State, to lift the H1N1 influenza alert against nonessential travel to Mexico,said Rodolfo Elizondo, Mexico?s minister of tourism. ?Our main priority continues to be the safety of our citizens and visitors, and with evidence that the flu appears to be less threatening than originally thought, Mexico is ready to welcome back all of its visitors and offer them the hospitality and services that have always distinguished us.
According to the CDC, the increasing number of cases that are being seen in the United States and other countries are not directly associated with travel to Mexico. Countries such as Argentina, Peru, Ecuador, Uruguay, Italy, Austria, Belgium, United Kingdom and Switzerland have also lifted their advisories against travel to Mexico and have resumed all commercial flights to the country. Carnival Cruise Lines also has announced that it will resume all scheduled port calls to Mexico once all previously modified trips are completed. ?There is no doubt that the H1N1 has hit our country very hard; specially the tourism sector, an essential part of our economy,? said Oscar Fitch, CEO of the Mexico Tourism Board. ?Mexico is known for its capacity of coming out of tough situations even stronger, and this will not be the exception. The travel industry -- at all levels -- is ready to offer its visitors what they come here for: diversity, culture, relaxation, luxury, adventure, world class infrastructure and most importantly, the best service in the world.?
Daniel Jernigan, deputy director of the CDC's influenza division, said that there is no evidence that the Influenza A (H1N1) virus is becoming stronger. "Mexico's government and tourism authorities are very satisfied with the decision taken by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and consequently, the U.S. Department of State, to lift the H1N1 influenza alert against nonessential travel to Mexico,said Rodolfo Elizondo, Mexico?s minister of tourism. ?Our main priority continues to be the safety of our citizens and visitors, and with evidence that the flu appears to be less threatening than originally thought, Mexico is ready to welcome back all of its visitors and offer them the hospitality and services that have always distinguished us.
According to the CDC, the increasing number of cases that are being seen in the United States and other countries are not directly associated with travel to Mexico. Countries such as Argentina, Peru, Ecuador, Uruguay, Italy, Austria, Belgium, United Kingdom and Switzerland have also lifted their advisories against travel to Mexico and have resumed all commercial flights to the country. Carnival Cruise Lines also has announced that it will resume all scheduled port calls to Mexico once all previously modified trips are completed. ?There is no doubt that the H1N1 has hit our country very hard; specially the tourism sector, an essential part of our economy,? said Oscar Fitch, CEO of the Mexico Tourism Board. ?Mexico is known for its capacity of coming out of tough situations even stronger, and this will not be the exception. The travel industry -- at all levels -- is ready to offer its visitors what they come here for: diversity, culture, relaxation, luxury, adventure, world class infrastructure and most importantly, the best service in the world.?
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Border crossings ready for new rules
The scanners and the new computer systems are in place at Vermont's largest border crossing with Quebec and people in both the United States and Canada are starting to get identification cards that makes it easier for them to cross the border.
There are still a few loose ends, but officials with U.S. Customs and Border Protection say they will be ready on June 1, the day the United States fully implements the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative.
And people in both countries know the pre-9/11 days are gone when they could simply tell a border agent who they were and go from one country to another. Most people crossing the border now already have all the required documents, officials said.
The travel initiative requires everyone entering the country to have specialized documents, like passports or special driver's licenses, that prove who they are and where they're from.
Unlike the run-up to the Feb. 1, 2008 date when the U.S. stopped letting people enter based solely on their word, there is little concern the new rules will stifle trade and tourism between Vermont and Quebec and the U.S. and Canada.
"When I look back at where we were a couple of years ago when they were going to roll this out, there's no way they were ready for it," said Bill Stenger, the president of the Jay Peak ski resort, just south of the border, which relies heavily on Canadian skiers and summer tourists.
Homeland Security had intended to require the complete documentation on June 1, 2008, but delayed the implementation after howls of complaints from officials in border states.
Vermont CBP representatives said the extra time was a good thing.
"I think it's been very helpful for everybody involved," said James McMillan, the CBP port director for Highgate Springs, at the top of Interstate 89.
In the last year, CBP installed scanners at most of Vermont's border crossings that can read chips in enhanced driver's licenses — issued by more and more states and provinces — and special passport cards, which are much less expensive than traditional passports. The scanners shave seconds off the time every person spends at the border, McMillan said.
"At the same time it's also given the public a chance to get accustomed to having to carry certain documents," McMillan said.
U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., helped pass the legislation that delayed full implementation.
"The extra time has helped avert a major mess at the border," Leahy said. "That would have been an economic shock wave that would have hurt Vermont and other border states. Federal agencies today are better prepared and more Canadian visitors are aware that the change is coming."
The key to the quicker border crossing is the radio frequency identification tag in the enhanced driver's licenses that Vermont started issuing to the general public in February. The cards are linked to a database that will prove the identity of the holder.
Extra documentation and an interview is required to get the special Vermont license, but they are considered secure. A tag in the card will transmit information to a sensor at a border crossing that will enable a computer to pull the details of the traveler, such as name, age, and hometown.
The system can save seconds for each person visiting the border. It might not sound like much, but over the course of several hours, the time savings can be significant, said John Makolin, the CBP area port director for Vermont and New Hampshire.
"It does add up and it may seem incidental, but as time goes on and the document gets out there, it's quicker, quicker, quicker," Makolin said.
Stenger praised the local CBP officers for working hard to make sure the crossings were as easy as possible.
He said that June was a good time to roll out a new border policy. But it will be quickly tested. The Quebec holiday of St. Jean Baptiste Day is in late June and Canada Day is in early July, both of which traditionally bring Canadian travelers into the United States.
"Quite selfishly, I want to make sure our Canadian neighbors have an affordable way to enter the United States," Stenger said. "The border economy of Vermont relies heavily on smooth and easy processing of guests coming to Vermont."
There are still a few loose ends, but officials with U.S. Customs and Border Protection say they will be ready on June 1, the day the United States fully implements the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative.
And people in both countries know the pre-9/11 days are gone when they could simply tell a border agent who they were and go from one country to another. Most people crossing the border now already have all the required documents, officials said.
The travel initiative requires everyone entering the country to have specialized documents, like passports or special driver's licenses, that prove who they are and where they're from.
Unlike the run-up to the Feb. 1, 2008 date when the U.S. stopped letting people enter based solely on their word, there is little concern the new rules will stifle trade and tourism between Vermont and Quebec and the U.S. and Canada.
"When I look back at where we were a couple of years ago when they were going to roll this out, there's no way they were ready for it," said Bill Stenger, the president of the Jay Peak ski resort, just south of the border, which relies heavily on Canadian skiers and summer tourists.
Homeland Security had intended to require the complete documentation on June 1, 2008, but delayed the implementation after howls of complaints from officials in border states.
Vermont CBP representatives said the extra time was a good thing.
"I think it's been very helpful for everybody involved," said James McMillan, the CBP port director for Highgate Springs, at the top of Interstate 89.
In the last year, CBP installed scanners at most of Vermont's border crossings that can read chips in enhanced driver's licenses — issued by more and more states and provinces — and special passport cards, which are much less expensive than traditional passports. The scanners shave seconds off the time every person spends at the border, McMillan said.
"At the same time it's also given the public a chance to get accustomed to having to carry certain documents," McMillan said.
U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., helped pass the legislation that delayed full implementation.
"The extra time has helped avert a major mess at the border," Leahy said. "That would have been an economic shock wave that would have hurt Vermont and other border states. Federal agencies today are better prepared and more Canadian visitors are aware that the change is coming."
The key to the quicker border crossing is the radio frequency identification tag in the enhanced driver's licenses that Vermont started issuing to the general public in February. The cards are linked to a database that will prove the identity of the holder.
Extra documentation and an interview is required to get the special Vermont license, but they are considered secure. A tag in the card will transmit information to a sensor at a border crossing that will enable a computer to pull the details of the traveler, such as name, age, and hometown.
The system can save seconds for each person visiting the border. It might not sound like much, but over the course of several hours, the time savings can be significant, said John Makolin, the CBP area port director for Vermont and New Hampshire.
"It does add up and it may seem incidental, but as time goes on and the document gets out there, it's quicker, quicker, quicker," Makolin said.
Stenger praised the local CBP officers for working hard to make sure the crossings were as easy as possible.
He said that June was a good time to roll out a new border policy. But it will be quickly tested. The Quebec holiday of St. Jean Baptiste Day is in late June and Canada Day is in early July, both of which traditionally bring Canadian travelers into the United States.
"Quite selfishly, I want to make sure our Canadian neighbors have an affordable way to enter the United States," Stenger said. "The border economy of Vermont relies heavily on smooth and easy processing of guests coming to Vermont."
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
AirTran to offer Wi-Fi on all flights
In a bid to win over Internet-savvy travelers, AirTran Airways (AAI) this summer will become the first large U.S. airline to offer wireless Internet access on every flight nationwide.
AirTran plans to have all 136 of its Boeing 737 and 717 jets equipped with in-flight wireless service by late July, CEO Bob Fornaro said Monday.
For a fee, the Orlando-based, low-fare carrier will offer Wi-Fi for passengers' wireless-enabled laptops, smartphones and personal digital assistants. The airline plans to make the announcement today.
AirTran began equipping its jets last month at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta, its largest hub airport. Fornaro would not divulge the size of AirTran's investment or the revenue it could generate from the service.
"We think this is going to become a necessity" for airlines, Fornaro said. "Some carriers have it on some flights. We're going to offer passengers certainty, and I think that will give us a leg up."
Airborne wireless service is gaining traction across the airline industry, which is going from experimentation to installation as it searches for new sources of revenue and a competitive edge.
AirTran's decision to put it in fleetwide could accelerate adoption of the new service, which lets fliers access the Web from a handheld device or laptop for $7.95 to $12.95 a flight, depending on the device and the length of the flight.
According to Aircell, the Chicago-based provider of the Gogo wireless service, more than 1,000 jets from several North American carriers will be Wi-Fi-equipped by year's end, up from about 30 at the end of 2008.
"That will be a huge sea change," says Aircell CEO Jack Blumenstein.
He says a typical narrow-body jet can be equipped with the 125 pounds of necessary equipment and fiber-optic cable during an overnight stay at an airport for about $100,000.
Once it's installed, air passengers will see a pop-up on their laptop, smartphone or PDA screen at 10,000 feet and connect to the Web through Gogo by providing their credit card information.
Other carriers are at various stages of adoption. San Francisco-based start-up Virgin America says it will have Wi-Fi service on all 28 of its planes by May 25.
Several of the USA's biggest carriers, including No. 1 Delta Air Lines (DAL) and No. 2 American Airlines (AMR), have begun equipping their fleets with Wi-Fi but won't be able to guarantee it on every domestic flight for some time.
Delta said Monday that it has equipped 139 — or about half — of its domestic jetliners and expects to have all 300 full-size domestic jets equipped by September, but Delta's large regional jet fleet will not be.
In June, Delta will start selling Wi-Fi passes that are good for a month. Delta acquired Northwest Airlines last year, and 200 old Northwest jets will be undergoing installation next year.
American said in March it planned to equip more than 300 of its narrow-body domestic jets with Gogo wireless during the next couple years.
Since August, American has tested wireless service on 15 wide-body Boeing 767s used on transcontinental flights and now plans to install Gogo on its narrow-body fleet.
United Airlines (UAUA) and Air Canada also have plans to begin installing Wi-Fi capability later this year.
AirTran plans to have all 136 of its Boeing 737 and 717 jets equipped with in-flight wireless service by late July, CEO Bob Fornaro said Monday.
For a fee, the Orlando-based, low-fare carrier will offer Wi-Fi for passengers' wireless-enabled laptops, smartphones and personal digital assistants. The airline plans to make the announcement today.
AirTran began equipping its jets last month at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta, its largest hub airport. Fornaro would not divulge the size of AirTran's investment or the revenue it could generate from the service.
"We think this is going to become a necessity" for airlines, Fornaro said. "Some carriers have it on some flights. We're going to offer passengers certainty, and I think that will give us a leg up."
Airborne wireless service is gaining traction across the airline industry, which is going from experimentation to installation as it searches for new sources of revenue and a competitive edge.
AirTran's decision to put it in fleetwide could accelerate adoption of the new service, which lets fliers access the Web from a handheld device or laptop for $7.95 to $12.95 a flight, depending on the device and the length of the flight.
According to Aircell, the Chicago-based provider of the Gogo wireless service, more than 1,000 jets from several North American carriers will be Wi-Fi-equipped by year's end, up from about 30 at the end of 2008.
"That will be a huge sea change," says Aircell CEO Jack Blumenstein.
He says a typical narrow-body jet can be equipped with the 125 pounds of necessary equipment and fiber-optic cable during an overnight stay at an airport for about $100,000.
Once it's installed, air passengers will see a pop-up on their laptop, smartphone or PDA screen at 10,000 feet and connect to the Web through Gogo by providing their credit card information.
Other carriers are at various stages of adoption. San Francisco-based start-up Virgin America says it will have Wi-Fi service on all 28 of its planes by May 25.
Several of the USA's biggest carriers, including No. 1 Delta Air Lines (DAL) and No. 2 American Airlines (AMR), have begun equipping their fleets with Wi-Fi but won't be able to guarantee it on every domestic flight for some time.
Delta said Monday that it has equipped 139 — or about half — of its domestic jetliners and expects to have all 300 full-size domestic jets equipped by September, but Delta's large regional jet fleet will not be.
In June, Delta will start selling Wi-Fi passes that are good for a month. Delta acquired Northwest Airlines last year, and 200 old Northwest jets will be undergoing installation next year.
American said in March it planned to equip more than 300 of its narrow-body domestic jets with Gogo wireless during the next couple years.
Since August, American has tested wireless service on 15 wide-body Boeing 767s used on transcontinental flights and now plans to install Gogo on its narrow-body fleet.
United Airlines (UAUA) and Air Canada also have plans to begin installing Wi-Fi capability later this year.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Worldwide flu cases top 700
The world still lingers just shy of a full-out pandemic, according to World Health Organization officials. While confirmed cases of a new influenza strain and related hospitalizations in the United States continue to rise, no new deaths have been reported.
"This is the time for us to prepare and be ready," said Michael Ryan, WHO's director of Global Alert and Response, at a press briefing this morning in Geneva.
Ryan shared updates on the international portrait of the current H1N1 influenza outbreak, saying that confirmed cases continue to grow worldwide. Ryan said the illness has struck 15 countries, with a total of 615 cases and 17 deaths.
WHO is calling the virus by its scientific name rather than the nickname "swine flu." The virus has mutated into a form that is unrelated to animals and passes easily from person to person.
WHO's global alert remains at level 5, which is characterized by human-to-human spread of the virus into at least two countries in one WHO region. While most countries will not be affected at this stage, the declaration of Phase 5 is a strong signal that a pandemic is imminent and that the time to finalize the organization, communication, and implementation of the planned mitigation measures is short.
The highest level is Phase 6, which indicates that a global pandemic is underway.
At a noontime press conference in Atlanta, Anne Schuchat, interim deputy director for Science and Public Health Program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said there are 160 confirmed U.S. cases in 21 states. The median age is 17, but flu patients range in age from 1 to 81 years. Schuchat said the majority of cases are younger than 20. She also confirmed that there have been a total of 13 hospitalizations.
The Associated Press is reporting a higher number of cases, based on information from a variety of sources: 717 worldwide and 172 in the United States.
Schuchat says caution is advised, even though no more than one death in the last week has been reported in the United States. "While reports are optimistic somewhat, we can't let down our vigilance down," she said. "We are acting actively and aggressively. Our highest priority is the health and safety of the American population."
Answering a query that's been thrown out to the CDC again and again this past week, Schuchat said about one-third of cases are linked to Mexico. "The majority aren't linked to Mexico. We do think there's sustained transmission," she said.
Health officials are still unable to say how severe or mild this pandemic may be, WHO's Ryan says that based on the disease activity of past outbreaks, it appears "like a patchwork" and that development in any given country at any given time can vary.
Schuchat echoed some of Ryan's comments today, saying that local health officials will be calling the shots at the community and regional levels. "We want to respect school authorities" and other leaders at the local levels," said Schuchat.
Ryan said, "Each country will take their own actions." He said the WHO is in the process of developing guidelines for local leaders to help them determine if mass gatherings — such as conferences, sports events, and concerts — are advisable in their areas.
More medication is on the way to those in need, or who may have potential needs. The WHO, working with partners around the world, has begun to dispatch 2.4 million doses of antiviral medications to 72 countries, Ryan said. "We target the poorest countries with the greatest need," Ryan said. "We believe at this point it's important all countries have access to antiviral treatment."
Ryan said his staff is tired, but they are getting the needed rest to stay on top of issues. "This does create stress. We are resting our staff. We know this may be a long haul," he said.
Both the WHO and CDC continue to work with health officials at all levels to evaluate the disease's severity and spread, said Ryan. "Good preparedness will help us mitigate a possible pandemic's effects," Ryan said.
Developments around the world include:
•No new deaths from swine flu were reported overnight in Mexico's capital for the first time since the emergency was declared a week ago, said Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard.
Ebrard said the city had expected exponential growth in the number of persons complaining of swine flu symptoms, and that the outbreak seems to be slowing instead.
•In Hong Kong, officials quarantined 350 people inside a hotel after a guest came down with the first reported case of the virus in Asia. The ailing guest, a tourist from Mexico, was hospitalized in stable condition.
•South Korea reported Asia's second confirmed case — a woman just back from Mexico.
•France reported its first two confirmed cases on Friday. French Health Minister Roselyne Bachelot said the patients, a 49-year-old man and a 24-year-old woman, both recently returned from Mexico. They have been hospitalized at two Paris hospitals and are doing well, she said.
Bachelot also said another patient hospitalized at a third Paris hospital likely has the virus, but it has not been officially confirmed yet. Bachelot said all three had received anti-viral treatments.
WHO is working on creating a vaccine against the H1N1 virus, says Marie-Paul Kieny, WHO's Director of the Initiative for Vaccine Research.
"Vaccines are an extremely effective protection against influenza," she says. In the case of seasonal influenza, vaccines protect millions of people each year against death. Therefore, it is "critically important" to create a vaccine against the H1N1 virus, she says.
However, that takes time. Testing by the CDC has shown that the flu virus for next year's seasonal influenza, which is currently in the early stages of production, does not provide protection against this newly-evolved strain.
Creating a new flu vaccine from scratch will take between four to six months and there's really no way to speed up the process and still make it safe and ensure the vaccine is effective, Kieny says.
"This is the time for us to prepare and be ready," said Michael Ryan, WHO's director of Global Alert and Response, at a press briefing this morning in Geneva.
Ryan shared updates on the international portrait of the current H1N1 influenza outbreak, saying that confirmed cases continue to grow worldwide. Ryan said the illness has struck 15 countries, with a total of 615 cases and 17 deaths.
WHO is calling the virus by its scientific name rather than the nickname "swine flu." The virus has mutated into a form that is unrelated to animals and passes easily from person to person.
WHO's global alert remains at level 5, which is characterized by human-to-human spread of the virus into at least two countries in one WHO region. While most countries will not be affected at this stage, the declaration of Phase 5 is a strong signal that a pandemic is imminent and that the time to finalize the organization, communication, and implementation of the planned mitigation measures is short.
The highest level is Phase 6, which indicates that a global pandemic is underway.
At a noontime press conference in Atlanta, Anne Schuchat, interim deputy director for Science and Public Health Program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said there are 160 confirmed U.S. cases in 21 states. The median age is 17, but flu patients range in age from 1 to 81 years. Schuchat said the majority of cases are younger than 20. She also confirmed that there have been a total of 13 hospitalizations.
The Associated Press is reporting a higher number of cases, based on information from a variety of sources: 717 worldwide and 172 in the United States.
Schuchat says caution is advised, even though no more than one death in the last week has been reported in the United States. "While reports are optimistic somewhat, we can't let down our vigilance down," she said. "We are acting actively and aggressively. Our highest priority is the health and safety of the American population."
Answering a query that's been thrown out to the CDC again and again this past week, Schuchat said about one-third of cases are linked to Mexico. "The majority aren't linked to Mexico. We do think there's sustained transmission," she said.
Health officials are still unable to say how severe or mild this pandemic may be, WHO's Ryan says that based on the disease activity of past outbreaks, it appears "like a patchwork" and that development in any given country at any given time can vary.
Schuchat echoed some of Ryan's comments today, saying that local health officials will be calling the shots at the community and regional levels. "We want to respect school authorities" and other leaders at the local levels," said Schuchat.
Ryan said, "Each country will take their own actions." He said the WHO is in the process of developing guidelines for local leaders to help them determine if mass gatherings — such as conferences, sports events, and concerts — are advisable in their areas.
More medication is on the way to those in need, or who may have potential needs. The WHO, working with partners around the world, has begun to dispatch 2.4 million doses of antiviral medications to 72 countries, Ryan said. "We target the poorest countries with the greatest need," Ryan said. "We believe at this point it's important all countries have access to antiviral treatment."
Ryan said his staff is tired, but they are getting the needed rest to stay on top of issues. "This does create stress. We are resting our staff. We know this may be a long haul," he said.
Both the WHO and CDC continue to work with health officials at all levels to evaluate the disease's severity and spread, said Ryan. "Good preparedness will help us mitigate a possible pandemic's effects," Ryan said.
Developments around the world include:
•No new deaths from swine flu were reported overnight in Mexico's capital for the first time since the emergency was declared a week ago, said Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard.
Ebrard said the city had expected exponential growth in the number of persons complaining of swine flu symptoms, and that the outbreak seems to be slowing instead.
•In Hong Kong, officials quarantined 350 people inside a hotel after a guest came down with the first reported case of the virus in Asia. The ailing guest, a tourist from Mexico, was hospitalized in stable condition.
•South Korea reported Asia's second confirmed case — a woman just back from Mexico.
•France reported its first two confirmed cases on Friday. French Health Minister Roselyne Bachelot said the patients, a 49-year-old man and a 24-year-old woman, both recently returned from Mexico. They have been hospitalized at two Paris hospitals and are doing well, she said.
Bachelot also said another patient hospitalized at a third Paris hospital likely has the virus, but it has not been officially confirmed yet. Bachelot said all three had received anti-viral treatments.
WHO is working on creating a vaccine against the H1N1 virus, says Marie-Paul Kieny, WHO's Director of the Initiative for Vaccine Research.
"Vaccines are an extremely effective protection against influenza," she says. In the case of seasonal influenza, vaccines protect millions of people each year against death. Therefore, it is "critically important" to create a vaccine against the H1N1 virus, she says.
However, that takes time. Testing by the CDC has shown that the flu virus for next year's seasonal influenza, which is currently in the early stages of production, does not provide protection against this newly-evolved strain.
Creating a new flu vaccine from scratch will take between four to six months and there's really no way to speed up the process and still make it safe and ensure the vaccine is effective, Kieny says.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Momentum is building' for legal U.S. tourism to Cuba
Anticipation that the U.S. government officially will let its citizens vacation in Cuba is expected to infuse next week's International Tourism Fair there.
The trade show, which starts Monday and will showcase the largest Caribbean island for tour operators, travel agents, airline and cruise representatives from around the world, comes as President Obama has loosened restrictions on Cuban-Americans visiting family back home and Congress considers bills that would open the country to U.S. tourists after a 47-year trade embargo.
"I'm very involved trying to get a law passed to lift the travel ban, and we have lots of (bipartisan) sponsors," United States Tour Operators Association president Bob Whitley says. "I feel it will pass; the key is whether Obama will let it."
Says Christopher P. Baker, author of the Moon travel guide to Cuba, who has visited the country more than 30 times: "Momentum is definitely building." He expects to see U.S. firms at next week's fair, and "I'm feeling optimism" that Cuba — about 90 miles south of Key West — will again become a sanctioned destination for Americans and their dollars.
Perhaps 40,000 slip into Cuba annually via Mexican or Canadian airports. (The Cuban government says it does not have statistics.) With an ailing Fidel Castro stepping down as president last year and replaced by brother Raul ("more of a pragmatist," Baker says), observers say Cuba is more receptive to an influx of American hotels and cruise lines.
"There is demand. A lot of (Americans) want to see Cuba," Whitley says.
Many Cubans see the trade embargo — called el bloqueo— "as the main barrier to their advancement," says Brendan Sainsbury, author of the current Lonely Planet guides to Cuba and Havana, who's just back from a visit. "Americans have always been heartily welcomed."
Cuba reported 2.3 million tourists last year vs. 3.4 million for the popular nearby Dominican Republic. Most were Canadians and Europeans. "A large tourist infrastructure does exist," Sainsbury says, especially four dozen mainly all-inclusive resorts on Varadero Beach.
But the facilities — save for some up-to-date resorts and a few contemporary Havana hotels — pose challenges for demanding Americans, experts say.
Cubans own the hotel real estate, "and (foreign) hoteliers don't have free rein to manage as they wish," Baker says. Bad service and food are common. "Communism and good service don't go together," he says. Cuba does not get a high percentage of repeat visitors, he says.
While Cuba is expanding tourist facilities, occupancy has run at 78% to 80%, Whitley says, and demand may exceed hotel supply if the embargo is lifted. U.S. chains won't discuss specific plans, but Whitley says he has heard from the president of a major U.S. brand who said that without a doubt he's interested in moving in.
"I suspect that the likes of Starwood and Ritz-Carlton will one day be in Cuba," Baker says. "But probably not until they can take control of their product."
Cruise lines are already poised to add Cuban ports of call, experts say. Whitley says U.S. tour operators could organize Cuban vacations in six months or fewer.
"There is a mystique" about Cuba, he says. "A lot of people want to see it because we've been denied the right."
"The main plus of Cuba is its uniqueness," Sainsbury says. "Due to its isolation over the last 50 years, it has developed in a totally different way."
The country's "flavor, sensuality" and rich culture are attractions, Baker says.
For its part, Cuba has "never put any restriction on visitation from North American tourists," says Alberto Gonzalez Casals, first secretary of the Washington, D.C., Cuban Interests Section. U.S. tourists "are welcome in Cuba, like all the tourists in the world."
Whitley says legislation allowing U.S. tourism "could pass this year. In time, Cuba is going to be one of the major destinations in the Caribbean."
The trade show, which starts Monday and will showcase the largest Caribbean island for tour operators, travel agents, airline and cruise representatives from around the world, comes as President Obama has loosened restrictions on Cuban-Americans visiting family back home and Congress considers bills that would open the country to U.S. tourists after a 47-year trade embargo.
"I'm very involved trying to get a law passed to lift the travel ban, and we have lots of (bipartisan) sponsors," United States Tour Operators Association president Bob Whitley says. "I feel it will pass; the key is whether Obama will let it."
Says Christopher P. Baker, author of the Moon travel guide to Cuba, who has visited the country more than 30 times: "Momentum is definitely building." He expects to see U.S. firms at next week's fair, and "I'm feeling optimism" that Cuba — about 90 miles south of Key West — will again become a sanctioned destination for Americans and their dollars.
Perhaps 40,000 slip into Cuba annually via Mexican or Canadian airports. (The Cuban government says it does not have statistics.) With an ailing Fidel Castro stepping down as president last year and replaced by brother Raul ("more of a pragmatist," Baker says), observers say Cuba is more receptive to an influx of American hotels and cruise lines.
"There is demand. A lot of (Americans) want to see Cuba," Whitley says.
Many Cubans see the trade embargo — called el bloqueo— "as the main barrier to their advancement," says Brendan Sainsbury, author of the current Lonely Planet guides to Cuba and Havana, who's just back from a visit. "Americans have always been heartily welcomed."
Cuba reported 2.3 million tourists last year vs. 3.4 million for the popular nearby Dominican Republic. Most were Canadians and Europeans. "A large tourist infrastructure does exist," Sainsbury says, especially four dozen mainly all-inclusive resorts on Varadero Beach.
But the facilities — save for some up-to-date resorts and a few contemporary Havana hotels — pose challenges for demanding Americans, experts say.
Cubans own the hotel real estate, "and (foreign) hoteliers don't have free rein to manage as they wish," Baker says. Bad service and food are common. "Communism and good service don't go together," he says. Cuba does not get a high percentage of repeat visitors, he says.
While Cuba is expanding tourist facilities, occupancy has run at 78% to 80%, Whitley says, and demand may exceed hotel supply if the embargo is lifted. U.S. chains won't discuss specific plans, but Whitley says he has heard from the president of a major U.S. brand who said that without a doubt he's interested in moving in.
"I suspect that the likes of Starwood and Ritz-Carlton will one day be in Cuba," Baker says. "But probably not until they can take control of their product."
Cruise lines are already poised to add Cuban ports of call, experts say. Whitley says U.S. tour operators could organize Cuban vacations in six months or fewer.
"There is a mystique" about Cuba, he says. "A lot of people want to see it because we've been denied the right."
"The main plus of Cuba is its uniqueness," Sainsbury says. "Due to its isolation over the last 50 years, it has developed in a totally different way."
The country's "flavor, sensuality" and rich culture are attractions, Baker says.
For its part, Cuba has "never put any restriction on visitation from North American tourists," says Alberto Gonzalez Casals, first secretary of the Washington, D.C., Cuban Interests Section. U.S. tourists "are welcome in Cuba, like all the tourists in the world."
Whitley says legislation allowing U.S. tourism "could pass this year. In time, Cuba is going to be one of the major destinations in the Caribbean."
Govt. officials confirm 592 swine flu cases worldwide
The worldwide tally for the fast-spreading swine flu, or H1N1 influenza, virus reached 592 cases in 14 countries, government officials said Friday.
A Mexican tourist visiting Hong Kong was diagnosed with the H1N1 strain of flu Friday and has been isolated in a hospital there in stable condition. This is the first case of the strain in Asia.
France reported its first two confirmed cases of swine flu on Friday.
Speaking on TF1 television, French Health Minister Roselyne Bachelot said the patients, a 49-year-old man and a 24-year-old woman, both recently returned from Mexico. They have been hospitalized at two Paris hospitals and are "doing well," she said.
Bachelot also said another patient hospitalized at a third Paris hospital likely has the virus, but it has not been officially confirmed yet. Bachelot said all three had received anti-viral treatments.
She said the "form (of the virus) in our country appears benign" but did not rule out that the French cases could prove more serious. "This virus has killed (people) in Mexico. ... Therefore we must take all necessary precautions."
In the United States, President Obama closed out a meeting with cabinet members that was devoted to swine flu, saying it was not clear that the swine flu was any more serious than any other form of flu, but added that federal agencies were preparing for the worst. Even if the new flu "is relatively mild on the front end, it could come back in a more virulent form during the actual flu season," the president said.
He added, "I'm optimistic that we're going to be able to manage this effectively."
Schools across the country continued to close because of concerns over actual or suspected cases. About 433 schools were closed as of Friday, affecting as many as 250,000 student in Texas, Alabama, New York, California, South Carolina, Connecticut, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Arizona, Ohio, Utah, Washington state, Michigan, Maine and Maryland.
A flight from Germany to Washington was diverted to Boston because a passenger complained of flu-like symptoms.
Airport spokesman Phil Orlandella says United Airlines Flight 903 was being diverted Friday afternoon after a 53-year-old female passenger told flight attendants about her symptoms. He said the flight from Munich had 245 passengers and six crewmembers. The flight had been scheduled to land at Washington Dulles International Airport later Friday.
It isn't yet clear what caused the woman's symptoms or whether she might be suffering from swine flu.
Still, the flu was beginning to look a little less ominous. New York City officials reported Friday that the virus still has not spread beyond a few schools.
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the illness so far had proven to be "a relatively minor annoyance." City health officials said they have found few signs that the local outbreak of swine flu is spreading beyond a few pockets or getting more dangerous. The city has 50 cases, the most of any city in the United States.
Meanwhile, prescriptions for antiviral, flu-fighting drugs increased nine-fold on Monday compared to daily sales for the previous month, according to the healthcare information company SDI. Sales began to go up on Friday, April 24, the day after the CDC reported cases of the H1N1 influenza in the United States. They have remained high since then, SDI reports.
Clinics and hospital emergency rooms in New York, California and some other states are seeing a surge in patients with coughs and sneezes that might have been ignored before the outbreak.
The World Health Organization is working on creating a vaccine against the H1N1 viru, says Marie-Paul Kieny, WHO's Director of the Initiative for Vaccine Research.
"Vaccines are an extremely effective protection against influenza," she says. In the case of seasonal influenza, vaccines protect millions of people each year against death.
Therefore, it is "critically important" to create a vaccine against the H1N1 virus, she says.
However, that takes time. Testing by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has shown that the flu virus for next year's seasonal influenza, which is currently in the early stages of production, does not provide protection against this newly-evolved strain.
Creating a new flu vaccine from scratch will take between four to six months and there's really no way to speed up the process and still make it safe and ensure the vaccine is effective, Kieny says.
"We think 600 million doses is achievable in a six-month time frame" from that fall start, Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary Craig Vanderwagen told lawmakers.
"I don't want anybody to have false expectations. The science is challenging here," Vanderwagen told reporters. "Production can be done, robust production capacity is there. It's a question of can we get the science worked on the specifics of this vaccine."
Worldwide, the number of confirmed cases reached 592, according to the Associated Press, citing data from the Centers for Disease Control, WHO and government officials. Officially, the WHO lists the worldwide count of confirmed swine flu cases at 331.
In the U.S., the confirmed number of swine flu cases has topped 100. The CDC confirms 109, and states are confirming another 23.. Cases now are confirmed in New York, Texas, California, South Carolina, Kansas, Massachusetts, Indiana, Ohio, Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, Delaware, Maine, Colorado, Georgia and Minnesota.
A survey by the Harvard Opinion Research Program at the Harvard School of Public Health shows Americans appear to be responding to calls to increase hand washing. Fifty-nine percent of Americans said they were washing their hands or using hand sanitizer more frequently.
Despite public health officials' messages that only people who are sick with flu-like symptoms need to stay home, 15% of Americans said they were avoiding areas where many people are gathered, such as sporting events, malls or public transportation.
Other responses include 8% who said they were wearing face masks; 4% who have kept children home from school or daycare; and 1% who said they were getting a prescription for antiviral medications.
In terms of transmission, 13% of Americans believed, incorrectly, that it is possible to get the H1N1 virus or swine flu, from eating pork.
Some public health officials have begun to call the virus by its more official scientific name, H1N1, because of concern that the public will mistakenly believe that its common name, swine flu, means it can be transmitted by eating pork. It was actually called swine flu because the virus originally came from pigs, but has now mutated into a form that passes easily between people with no pigs involved.
However the change has not yet spread widely in public awareness, the survey found. A majority of Americans, 55%, have not heard of the term "H1N1" virus and only one in five thought it meant the same thing as swine flu.
The survey was conducted on Wednesday, April 29, on a representative national sample of 1,067 adults. The margin of error was plus or minus 3.6 percentage points.
In global news:
No new deaths from swine flu were reported overnight in Mexico's capital for the first time since the emergency was declared a week ago, said Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard.
A Mexican tourist visiting Hong Kong was diagnosed with the H1N1 strain of flu Friday and has been isolated in a hospital there in stable condition. This is the first case of the strain in Asia.
France reported its first two confirmed cases of swine flu on Friday.
Speaking on TF1 television, French Health Minister Roselyne Bachelot said the patients, a 49-year-old man and a 24-year-old woman, both recently returned from Mexico. They have been hospitalized at two Paris hospitals and are "doing well," she said.
Bachelot also said another patient hospitalized at a third Paris hospital likely has the virus, but it has not been officially confirmed yet. Bachelot said all three had received anti-viral treatments.
She said the "form (of the virus) in our country appears benign" but did not rule out that the French cases could prove more serious. "This virus has killed (people) in Mexico. ... Therefore we must take all necessary precautions."
In the United States, President Obama closed out a meeting with cabinet members that was devoted to swine flu, saying it was not clear that the swine flu was any more serious than any other form of flu, but added that federal agencies were preparing for the worst. Even if the new flu "is relatively mild on the front end, it could come back in a more virulent form during the actual flu season," the president said.
He added, "I'm optimistic that we're going to be able to manage this effectively."
Schools across the country continued to close because of concerns over actual or suspected cases. About 433 schools were closed as of Friday, affecting as many as 250,000 student in Texas, Alabama, New York, California, South Carolina, Connecticut, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Arizona, Ohio, Utah, Washington state, Michigan, Maine and Maryland.
A flight from Germany to Washington was diverted to Boston because a passenger complained of flu-like symptoms.
Airport spokesman Phil Orlandella says United Airlines Flight 903 was being diverted Friday afternoon after a 53-year-old female passenger told flight attendants about her symptoms. He said the flight from Munich had 245 passengers and six crewmembers. The flight had been scheduled to land at Washington Dulles International Airport later Friday.
It isn't yet clear what caused the woman's symptoms or whether she might be suffering from swine flu.
Still, the flu was beginning to look a little less ominous. New York City officials reported Friday that the virus still has not spread beyond a few schools.
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the illness so far had proven to be "a relatively minor annoyance." City health officials said they have found few signs that the local outbreak of swine flu is spreading beyond a few pockets or getting more dangerous. The city has 50 cases, the most of any city in the United States.
Meanwhile, prescriptions for antiviral, flu-fighting drugs increased nine-fold on Monday compared to daily sales for the previous month, according to the healthcare information company SDI. Sales began to go up on Friday, April 24, the day after the CDC reported cases of the H1N1 influenza in the United States. They have remained high since then, SDI reports.
Clinics and hospital emergency rooms in New York, California and some other states are seeing a surge in patients with coughs and sneezes that might have been ignored before the outbreak.
The World Health Organization is working on creating a vaccine against the H1N1 viru, says Marie-Paul Kieny, WHO's Director of the Initiative for Vaccine Research.
"Vaccines are an extremely effective protection against influenza," she says. In the case of seasonal influenza, vaccines protect millions of people each year against death.
Therefore, it is "critically important" to create a vaccine against the H1N1 virus, she says.
However, that takes time. Testing by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has shown that the flu virus for next year's seasonal influenza, which is currently in the early stages of production, does not provide protection against this newly-evolved strain.
Creating a new flu vaccine from scratch will take between four to six months and there's really no way to speed up the process and still make it safe and ensure the vaccine is effective, Kieny says.
"We think 600 million doses is achievable in a six-month time frame" from that fall start, Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary Craig Vanderwagen told lawmakers.
"I don't want anybody to have false expectations. The science is challenging here," Vanderwagen told reporters. "Production can be done, robust production capacity is there. It's a question of can we get the science worked on the specifics of this vaccine."
Worldwide, the number of confirmed cases reached 592, according to the Associated Press, citing data from the Centers for Disease Control, WHO and government officials. Officially, the WHO lists the worldwide count of confirmed swine flu cases at 331.
In the U.S., the confirmed number of swine flu cases has topped 100. The CDC confirms 109, and states are confirming another 23.. Cases now are confirmed in New York, Texas, California, South Carolina, Kansas, Massachusetts, Indiana, Ohio, Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, Delaware, Maine, Colorado, Georgia and Minnesota.
A survey by the Harvard Opinion Research Program at the Harvard School of Public Health shows Americans appear to be responding to calls to increase hand washing. Fifty-nine percent of Americans said they were washing their hands or using hand sanitizer more frequently.
Despite public health officials' messages that only people who are sick with flu-like symptoms need to stay home, 15% of Americans said they were avoiding areas where many people are gathered, such as sporting events, malls or public transportation.
Other responses include 8% who said they were wearing face masks; 4% who have kept children home from school or daycare; and 1% who said they were getting a prescription for antiviral medications.
In terms of transmission, 13% of Americans believed, incorrectly, that it is possible to get the H1N1 virus or swine flu, from eating pork.
Some public health officials have begun to call the virus by its more official scientific name, H1N1, because of concern that the public will mistakenly believe that its common name, swine flu, means it can be transmitted by eating pork. It was actually called swine flu because the virus originally came from pigs, but has now mutated into a form that passes easily between people with no pigs involved.
However the change has not yet spread widely in public awareness, the survey found. A majority of Americans, 55%, have not heard of the term "H1N1" virus and only one in five thought it meant the same thing as swine flu.
The survey was conducted on Wednesday, April 29, on a representative national sample of 1,067 adults. The margin of error was plus or minus 3.6 percentage points.
In global news:
No new deaths from swine flu were reported overnight in Mexico's capital for the first time since the emergency was declared a week ago, said Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard.
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