Travel

Jul
26
2021
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By Troy Warren
Hawaii’s Safe Travels Program Won’t Likely Be Lifted Anytime in 2021

Hawaii’s Safe Travels Program Won’t Likely Be Lifted Anytime in 2021

Travel,
LAURIE BARATTI | TravelPulse.Com Troy Warren for CNT Hawaii’s Governor David Ige has been criticized for insisting that the state’s Safe Travels program remain in effect until at least 70 percent of Hawaii’s population has been inoculated against COVID-19. Since COVID-19 vaccines aren’t approved for use in kids under age 12, that benchmark actually translates to something more like 82 percent of the residents who are eligible for vaccination. While that bar might’ve already seemed difficult to reach, two Hawaii epidemiologists believe that even achieving those vaccination numbers won’t be enough to stop the spread of the highly communicable Delta variant. They…
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Jul
25
2021
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By Troy Warren
Florida Appeals to Supreme Court Over Cruise Regulations

Florida Appeals to Supreme Court Over Cruise Regulations

Business, Travel, ,
RICH THOMASELLI | TravelPulse.Com Troy Warren for CNT   The State of Florida is taking its fight with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to the Supreme Court. Florida's attorney general asked the Supreme Court on Friday to step in on an emergency basis to block COVID-19 protocols put in place by the CDC requiring the cruise lines to meet certain conditions before they can sail again. Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody initially won a court ruling when it was determined the CDC protocols for returning cruise ships to the sea were beyond its authority. But when a federal appeals court…
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Jul
24
2021
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By Troy Warren
Disney Cruise Line Returning to US Sailings in August

Disney Cruise Line Returning to US Sailings in August

Travel,
DONALD WOOD | TravelPulse.Com Troy Warren for CNT   Disney Cruise Line announced it would return to sailings from the United States on August 9. Disney Dream is scheduled to usher in the cruise line’s long-awaited return to cruising from the U.S. with tropical voyages to the Bahamas departing from Port Canaveral, Florida, on three- or four-night cruises featuring a stop at DCL’s private island, Castaway Cay. Disney Cruise Line officials said the company is working hard to get ready for the return of passengers by incorporating enhanced health and safety measures to promote wellness for guests and crew members. Disney…
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Jul
23
2021
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By Troy Warren
Caribbean Tourism Organization Expresses Optimism Regarding Travel This Summer and Beyond

Caribbean Tourism Organization Expresses Optimism Regarding Travel This Summer and Beyond

Travel, ,
CLAUDETTE COVEY | TravelPulse.Com Troy Warren for CNT   The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) said it is “guardedly optimistic” about an upswing in visitor numbers this summer and beyond. “With the 2021 summer season underway, there is increasing evidence in the marketplace that pent-up demand is roaring back much earlier and at a much quicker pace than forecasters had predicted,” the CTO said. “Although on the surface, a 60 percent decline in the first quarter of 2021, compared to the same period last year, may not seem encouraging, a closer examination would suggest that the Caribbean is beginning to reverse the slide…
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Jul
22
2021
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By Troy Warren
US Government Extends Land Border Closures With Canada, Mexico

US Government Extends Land Border Closures With Canada, Mexico

COVID-19, Travel, , ,
DONALD WOOD | TravelPulse.Com Troy Warren for CNT   The United States government extended the closure of land borders with Canada and Mexico to non-essential travel through August 21. According to Reuters.com, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the latest 30-day extension just days after Canada revealed it would welcome fully vaccinated U.S. visitors on August 9 for non-essential travel. DHS said the agency is “in constant contact with Canadian and Mexican counterparts to identify the conditions under which restrictions may be eased safely and sustainably.” The U.S. has continued to extend the restrictions on Canada and Mexico on a monthly basis since March…
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Jul
21
2021
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By Troy Warren
Europe Regaining Its Spot as Most Desired Travel Destination for Tourists

Europe Regaining Its Spot as Most Desired Travel Destination for Tourists

Travel, , ,
CLAUDETTE COVEY | HollywoodReporter.Com Troy Warren for CNT   Europe has reprised its position as the leading destination for U.S. travelers for the first time since the onset of the pandemic, according to Squaremouth.com, a travel insurance comparison site. “May marked the first month Europe regained its spot as the top destination for U.S tourists, with 22 percent of bookings,” Squarmouth.com said. “By June, this rose to nearly 30 percent the highest percentage of sales in 13 months.” In still more good news, “as many as 54 percent of travelers are heading to Europe next summer, the highest percentage” Squaremouth said…
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Jul
20
2021
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By Troy Warren
This Luxurious 132-night World Cruise Costs $73,000 a Ticket — and It Sold Out Within 3 Hours

This Luxurious 132-night World Cruise Costs $73,000 a Ticket — and It Sold Out Within 3 Hours

Editors Picks, Travel, , , ,
By Cailey Rizzo | FoodAndWine.Com Troy Warren for CNT "This outstanding response has surpassed all expectations and is without a doubt our strongest world cruise launch day ever," Regent Seven Seas Cruises' CEO said. A cruise with fares starting at just over $73,000 per person completely sold out in less than three hours last week, proving that passengers are desperate to get back to the high seas after the COVID-19 pandemic halted cruising.  Regent Seven Seas Cruises' 2024 World Cruise voyage sold out at around 11 a.m. ET on July 14, after having been made available only at 8:30 a.m. that day, according to a…
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Jul
20
2021
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By Troy Warren
Passport Application Wait Times Are Taking Up to 18 Weeks, State Department Says

Passport Application Wait Times Are Taking Up to 18 Weeks, State Department Says

Travel,
By Alison Fox | FoodAndWine.Com Troy Warren for CNT "The pandemic's disruptions continue to have a ripple effect on all steps of the passport process, including the amount of time it currently takes us to process a passport application." Passport applications are currently taking up to 18 weeks to process and the State Department says it "will take time" before that long waiting period eases. The State Department currently has an application backlog of between 1 and a half million to 2 million applications, which is "somewhat higher" than normal, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Passport Services Rachel Arndt told reporters in a…
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Jul
19
2021
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By Troy Warren
Florida Keys Packed With Tourists, Seeing Record Summer Crowds

Florida Keys Packed With Tourists, Seeing Record Summer Crowds

Travel, ,
LAURIE BARATTI | TravelPulse.Com Troy Warren for CNT   Typically, tourism in the Florida Keys is slower during summer months, before the snowbirds arrive, allowing many Floridians to enjoy a close-to-home escape that’s easily accessible, budget-friendly and relaxing—but not this summer. This year, it’s quite a different story for the string of tropical islands scattered off the Sunshine State’s southern tip. Non-local visitors are flocking to the Florida Keys for their post-pandemic domestic vacations, sending hotel rates soaring and creating long lines at landmarks, attractions and restaurants. “Every tourist attraction has a long line,” Boca Raton resident Dara Krauss, who visited Key West and Islamorada…
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Jul
18
2021
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By Troy Warren
Preferred Hotel Group Unveils Updates To I Prefer Hotel Rewards Program

Preferred Hotel Group Unveils Updates To I Prefer Hotel Rewards Program

Travel,
Troy Warren for CNT   Preferred Hotel Group – which operates Preferred Hotels & Resorts and the newly launched Beyond Green – today announced a series of much-anticipated updates to its I Prefer Hotel Rewards loyalty program. From the brand-new Explorer and Authority membership tiers and new earning and redemption options to a selection of new independent hotel experiences and a first-time Refer-A-Friend bonus offer, these latest developments address the shifting demands of today’s travelers and the continued evolution of the program. “Over the past year, our loyal I Prefer Hotel Rewards members have shared consistent feedback requesting greater value and differentiation in…
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