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December 2011
Demand is exceeding expectations for Cuba Travel New Fast Ferry Service to Grand Bahama Island Nassau Opens New Straw market Dec. 16th
A new $12 million straw market will open to vendors, tourists and residents in Nassau, Bahamas, following 10 years at a temporary site. The new facility will be operated by the Bahamas government.
Vendors had been working at the temporary facility, located under a tent on downtown’s Bay Street, since the original market was destroyed in a 2001 fire. The temporary site was itself damaged in August by Hurricane Irene, leading vendors to set up shop under hastily built tents on Prince George Wharf. The straw market, which will now house up to 500 vendors, has long been a popular attraction for Nassau visitors and residents.
Interest in the travel to Cuba is coming from all areas of the U.S. Although more departures are being added, the lack of
accommodations in Cuba, keeps a lid on the number of Departures. All travel to Cuba must be booked through an approved
tour company. Contact Us For Details
Bahamas Express has launched a new ferry service from Ft. Lauderdale to Grand Bahama Island daily except Wednesdays. The schedules allow the opportunity to make it a day trip. The one way trip
takes 2.5 hours. Passports are required. For more details see their website
Celebrity Offers New Theme Cruises with Culinary Team
Celebrity Cruises has created food-and-wine-themed cruises hosted by members of its own culinary team, including Jacques Van Staden, the line’s vice president of culinary operations and a James Beard Foundation Award nominee. The first “Excite the Senses Culinary Theme Cruises” -- named after the line’s new lifestyle book, “Excite the Senses -- is a seven-night Celebrity Eclipse sailing departing on March 24, which will be hosted by Van Staden.
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Blockbuster order will make Southwest first to fly 737 MAX
Southwest announced a blockbuster aircraft order this morning that's being called the biggest in Boeing's history. The order also will make Southwest the launch customer for Boeing's newest version of its 737, known as the "737 MAX." Southwest is now slated to become the launch customer for the 737 MAX, the first of which is scheduled to be delivered to the airline in 2017. Norwegian Cruise Line heading back to Mexican Riviera Cruise Line will resume regular cruises to the Mexican Riviera in late 2013, ending a two-year absence from the region. The 11-ship cruise line announced plans to offer seven-night sailings to the Mexican Riviera out of Los Angeles between December 2013 and April 2014.The trips will take place on the 2,348-passenger Norwegian Star, which also will operate a number of 14-night Panama Canal voyages between Los Angeles and Miami during the 2013/2014 winter season.
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Royal Caribbean International Announces New Dining Packages
Royal Caribbean International has announced seven dining packages that include its Specialty restaurants available aboard the Oasis of the Seas, the Allure of the Seas, the Radiance of the Seas and the Splendour of the Seas. Package prices range from $50 to $120 per guest for a savings of at least 25 percent total. Additionally, the Oasis of the Seas and the Allure of the Seas are offering reservation-only theme parties for special occasions, such as anniversaries and birthdays. To reserve any specialty dining package or theme party, visit www.royalcaribbean.com/precruiseplanner
Disney's newest resort
The Art of Animation is scheduled to open in phases begining in May 2012.
The Resort has 10 buildings clustered around four large courtyards, and each courtyard (with its surrounding buildings)
has been themed to a different movie: "Cars," "The Lion King," "Finding Nemo," and "The Little Mermaid."
Suites are available in the Lion King, Cars, and Nemo areas, while Little Mermaid offers individual rooms.
Guests will get to experience a Disney vacation in a way they never have before thanks to the creative
imagineering staff.
High Tech on the High Seas - an iPad in every stateroom
Cruise lines are always trying to outdo each other on the amenities that they offer to guests.
Now a major cruise line is equipping every stateroom on a ship with an iPad.
Royal Caribbean's 2,074-passenger Splendor of the Seas is currently in dry dock being refurbished,
and one of the new additions to the ship will be an iPad for every stateroom.
The idea is to give guests a new way to get information.
The daily Cruise Compass newsletter will be accessible from the iPad,
providing a list of events and activities, personal daily itineraries, and shore excursions.
Guests can also watch movies or surf the Internet.
Want to look at a restaurant menu or check your ever-growing bar tab? There's an iPad for that.
Guests will be able to take the iPads around the ship, accessing information from staterooms
and any location with a good connection to the ship-wide Wi-Fi network.
How Royal Caribbean plans on keeping the iPads from going home with the passengers is a question that needs to be answered.
Each device may be outfitted with an RFID tag to keep it from going ashore with guests.
Splendour's sister ships in the Vision class -- Vision, Grandeur, Rhapsody, Enchantment, and Legend of the Seas --
are expected to take on iPads as regular travelers as they also go through renovations over the next two years.
Planning your next family reunion?
A cruise may be the perfect destination.
Many people choose to stage their family reunions a massive vacations where the whole family travels together. However, visiting a city or other common vacation destination with the entire extended family poses some issues. How to make sure everyone stays together? And how to plan activities that everyone will enjoy? Grandma might be able to stay at a museum all day, but a four-year-old nephew likely won't last five minutes. Conversely, elderly travelers won't get much out of an amusement park.
The answer for many families is a cruise. Cruises are a great way to plan a family reunion because it ensures that there's something for everyone. Many of the adults will be happy relaxing by the pool and exploring the many different destinations. Kids will love the bevy of activities that most cruises aim at youngsters.
Best of all, cruises allow families to pursue their own interest while still sitting down for a nice family dinner at the end of the day. The kids can swim in the pool while the adults go shopping, but everyone can meet for a family meal in the dining room when all is said and done. Cruise lines are well equipped to serve large groups, and everybody will have their own choice of dining option- not to mention that meals are included.
For a hassle-free family reunion vacation, it's tough to beat the convenience and variety of taking a cruise.
If you have any comments , please email them to us at info@jdktravel.com
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