Friday, December 14, 2012

Royal Caribbean Launches New All-Inclusive Beverage Packages

Royal Caribbean International has introduced two new beverage packages, joining other lines that offer similar inclusive deals. The Classic Beverage Package costs $45 per guest, per day, for beer, house wines by the glass, non-alcoholic cocktails, fountain soda and juices. The Premium Beverage Package costs $55 per guest, per day, and includes the afore-mentioned, as well as frozen drinks and all cocktails including premium brands. Both package prices include service charges. Beverage packages are available for purchase on all seven-night or longer sailings and must be purchased on the first day. Guests choosing either package also must purchase the package for guests 21 years old or older sailing in the same stateroom. Packages are currently available on 13 ships and will be available on the remaining ships with seven-night or longer itineraries by early 2013.

For more information contact TheCruiseOutlet.com at 203-288-1884 or info@thecruiseoutlet.com

Friday, December 7, 2012

Some driver's licenses might not pass TSA requirements

Some travelers might discover that the driver's licenses they've been using to get through airport security won't be an acceptable form of identification after Jan. 15, 2013. The final implementation of the Real ID Act of 2005, passed as part of recommendations made by the 9/11 Commission, is scheduled to go into effect Jan. 15. Many states have not yet met the standards the act requires of state driver's licenses when used as identification when flying. Previously the Department of Homeland Security has delayed implementation of this final rule, but it is not commenting what it will do about this latest deadline. The act set new standards for state driver's licenses, but more than a dozen states have passed laws against the standards. One group of states has passed legislation calling the mandate a cost-prohibitive and unfunded mandate, according to Andrew Meehan, a policy analyst for the Coalition for a Secure Driver's License. A second group has passed legislation saying that they recognize that it is a federal law but they don't like it. And a third group of states have passed legislation saying that they will not comply with the law. That means that when the final standards go into effect -- and implementation has already been delayed at least three times -- people carrying cards from noncompliant states will have to go through additional screening. The Department of Homeland Security does not prohibit travelers from boarding flights without ID, but they do require such travelers to go through secondary screening. To be compliant, driver's licenses must have overt, covert and forensic security features. Overt would be something visible to the naked eye, such as a watermark. Covert would be something readable only by machine or with a magnifying glass. And forensic would be something embedded in a card that would show whether the card had been tampered with.

Monday, December 3, 2012

Princess ends unlimited Internet for suite passengers

With limited bandwidth at sea in an era in which people are increasingly online with more devices --- handhelds, tablets and laptops -- Princess has ended its policy of offering unlimited Internet for its suite passengers. The policy ended last month, although passengers with suites booked before July 15 will still be entitled to the unlimited bandwidth. Princess will continue to provide its suite passengers with other amenities including a special breakfast for suite passengers at Sabatini's, the line's Italian restaurant; a dedicated priority line for suite passengers at the Passenger Services desk; and fee-free dining at a specialty restaurant on the day of embarkation, among others services. In addition, Platinum and Elite Captain's Circle members qualify for a complimentary Internet use package: 150 minutes for cruises seven days and under, 250 minutes for cruises of eight to 20 days and 500 minutes for cruises 21 days or longer.