Thursday, December 27, 2018

Hard Rock Opens a New Water Park in Riviera Maya


 Rockaway Bay The Brand New Water Park at 
Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya opens December 28th 2018. 

Paired with Woodrow Hard Rock Riviera Maya is poised to be one of the top destinations in 2019. 

HOURS OF OPERATION*:

  • 10:00am - 6:00pm
  • Snack bar: 11:00am - 5:00pm

*Times are subject to change based on occupancy




Contact the Matty K Travel Group for more information.
516.366.9008
www.mattyktravel.com

Wednesday, December 26, 2018

American Airlines Resumes Service to St. Marteen and St. Thomas



12/26/2018

American Airlines is resuming service from New York Kennedy and Philadelphia to St. Thomas and St. Maarten this week, ending a 15-month hiatus caused by Hurricane Irma in September 2017. 
Flights from Philadelphia resumed Wednesday and flights from New York launch Saturday. 
American flies year-round daily service from Philadelphia to St. Maarten and four times per week year-round from Philadelphia to St. Thomas.
From Kennedy, the carrier operates a Saturday flight year-round to St. Thomas and Saturday winter seasonal service to St. Maarten.

Contact The Matty K Travel Group for all your travel needs
www.mattyktravel.com
www.castlevacations.com
www.longislandloyaltytravel.com

Thursday, December 20, 2018

Travel Agents Aren’t Only Surviving, They’re Thriving

by Cheryl Rosen 
A large study from Phocuswright foresees five years of sales growth by U.S. travel agencies. Photo: Shutterstock.com

The annual prediction that computers will replace travel agents surfaced again in November — and was quickly picked up by travel professionals fighting back on Facebook. Then came the facts: A large study from Phocuswright foresees five years of sales growth by U.S. travel agencies. 
It started with a blog titled, “25 Dying Professions You Should Avoid,” which named travel agent as the number one job to avoid, generating heated comments from travel professionals on Facebook.
That same week, Phocuswright issued a report titled, “U.S. Travel Agency Distribution Landscape 2016-2021: From ‘Survivor’ to ‘The Bachelorette,’” which found that, "Travel agents aren't only surviving; they're being courted. Suppliers, consortia and host agencies are trying to attract travel agents to their products.”
U.S. travel agency sales will grow nearly 13 percent, from $112.8 billion in 2017 to $127 billion in 2021, according to data culled by Phocuswright from air, car, hotel, cruise and tour suppliers, the report said. “Leisure agents are specialists; they are entrenched in certain consumer groups and are communicating constantly with their customer network via mobile devices, social media, whatever works. Personal networks and relationships are playing into agents' hands, since this shows they're truly the keepers of the keys to lucrative leisure travelers."
Travel agents cite big numbers
"I believe that being a travel advisor is not only becoming a more desirable profession, but it has remarkable potential, especially for a luxury leisure advisor,” said Kimberly Wilson Wetty, co-president of Valerie Wilson Travel in New York. “Very few careers give the ability to truly make a difference in people's lives. You become a valuable resource for clients on how and where they spend their hard-earned vacation time. Additionally, being a travel advisor has many benefits, such as the ability to travel and build friendships around the work. In my mind ... not a dying career.”
Debbie Fiorino, senior vice president of Dream Vacations, CruiseOne and Cruises Inc., also expressed a positive outlook: "There has never been a better time to become a travel agent. The vacation booking process has become more complex and the internet further complicates the planning process by providing thousands of search results and recommendations. Travel agents are able to not only qualify consumers into selecting the right vacation to meet their needs and exceed their expectations, but can also provide personal recommendations based on their own travels and industry training.”
And, a sea of travel agents agreed.
“My dying profession has grown steadily every single year since 2011 (when I started my travel agency). It has always seen double-digit annual increases, and my sales are currently up 30 percent over this time last year,” said Karen Coleman-Ostrov, owner of a Dream Vacations franchise in Gilbert, Arizona. 
Caryn Berla, at ABC Family Cruising & Travel in West Windsor, New Jersey, said: “I started in 2011 and have seen double-digit growth every year, including this year (up 35 percent).”
Kristina Raykinstein, owner of KVR Travel Group in suburban Detroit, scoffed: “This is my fourth year, and I went from 0 to $1.3 million in sales … yep, definitely a dying breed.”
“This made me spit out my coffee,” said MaryAnn Fusco at MSW Travel in Uniondale, New York, citing “33 years, 21 ICs, most with me, 25 years. You don’t make six figures and travel in luxury in a dying profession.”
Dream Vacation Franchise Owner Wendy Montebello chimed in with: “My numbers doubled in 2017 and again in 2018. Just try booking a trip on your cell phone. In this Door Dash world, why go get McDonalds when you can have it delivered? It’s all about having someone do tasks for you.”
Tammy Jones-Deem, at TJ’s Travel LLC in Tyler, Texas, had this to say: “I’m currently looking at my best year in 35 years in the industry. A quality travel counselor is fast becoming more and more valuable. I’ve had clients tell me I’m on their speed dial, along with their accountant and attorney.”
And Teri Hurley, of Endless Love Travel, said: “Those custom FITs, especially those who aren’t looking to do two weeks on $3,000, come to us. In droves. As do those whose lives are enabled by support services such as yard care and pet sitters. They are busy and they need it to be the best it can be.”
The future looks bright for Suzanne Haire, of All Travel Company in Indianapolis. In her fourth year in business, with sales of over $1 million, she said: “I have more Millennial and Gen Z clients than Boomers and Gen X. My business is on the rise; the younger generations want direction and inclusion of information that will lead them to experiences. They do not want click and order and hope for the best.”
In short, said Geoff Millar at Ultimate All Inclusive Travel Inc., “I attribute our success to the fact that we specialize. Travel is not a unique product. Your in-depth knowledge and your experience are the unique products you sell.”

Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Delta Launches New Branded Boarding

Delta Launches New Branded Boarding
PHOTO: Delta branded boarding

Delta Air Lines is making zoned boarding a thing of the past.
Starting on January 23, 2019, boarding with Delta will be by branded fare purchased.
The new boarding structure builds on Delta’s progress to provide consistency, simplicity and clarity to the gate and boarding experience, which have, so far, delivered all-time high customer experience scores.

The new boarding process will continue to give priority to SkyMiles Medallion Members and eligible Delta SkyMiles American Express Credit Card Members.
Delta will introduce new branded boarding that distinguishes new color accents for each of Delta’s fare products. Basic Economy, Main Cabin, Delta Comfort plus, Delta Premium Select/First Class and Delta One will each have a complementary color from booking through boarding.

“Every customer values consistency and a sense of knowing what to expect when they’re traveling,” said Tim Mapes, Delta’s senior vice president and chief marketing officer. “We have been listening to our customers about the stress they often feel at the gate before boarding, and implementing small changes for years. This latest enhancement further refines how Delta’s process works and is designed to better link the Delta product they purchased to differentiated experiences throughout their journey.”

In January, boarding zones for Delta-operated flights will be renamed from numbers to the branded fare purchase but will also still reflect customer loyalty. This will lead to an increased number of boarding zones, which also means fewer people will be lining up at the gate area at one time.

The boarding order is as follows:
Delta One
Delta Premium Select or First Class
Delta Comfort plus
Sky Priority
Main Cabin 1
Main Cabin 2
Main Cabin 3
Basic Economy


Matty K Travel is a full service travel agency which also has Castle Vacation, a Disney Inspired Agency and Long Island Loyalty Travel, an agency that rewards shopping local.

Norwegian Cruise Line’s Winter 2020/2021 Itineraries Now on Sale

        Norwegian Breakaway debuts in New Orleans (Courtesy Norwegian Cruise Line)


Norwegian Cruise Line announced Tuesday its winter 2020/2021 itineraries are now on sale.
For travelers who love the Caribbean, the Norwegian Joy will set sail from Miami for the first time and cruise a mix of five-to-seven-day Western and Eastern Caribbean voyages. In addition, the Norwegian Encore will return to Miami to sail seven-day cruises to the Western Caribbean with calls to Roatan Island, Honduras; Harvest Caye, Belize; and Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico.

The Norwegian Escape will homeport in Port Canaveral, sailing five-and-seven-day Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries with calls to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; Tortola, British Virgin Islands; Great Stirrup Cay, Bahamas; Cozumel, Mexico; George Town, Cayman Islands; and Ocho Rios, Jamaica.
As for the Norwegian Breakaway, the ship will return to New Orleans and sail seven-day voyages to the Western Caribbean, while the Norwegian Epic will sail seven-day cruises to the Southern Caribbean from San Juan, Puerto Rico.

In other sailings, the Norwegian Getaway will sail select seven-and-eight-day cruises to the Bahamas and Florida from New York, the Norwegian Gem will host a variety of Southern Caribbean voyages and the Norwegian Jade will sail a variety of Western and Southern Caribbean cruises through April 11.

“We are so pleased with the variety of itineraries we are providing, including positioning sister ships, Norwegian Joy and Norwegian Encore, to sail from the Cruise Capital of the World, where we can showcase the ship’s stand-out amenities to thousands of guests each week,” Norwegian Cruise Line CEO Andy Stuart said.

For those who prefer to sail the Mexican Riviera, the Norwegian Bliss will return to Los Angeles to sail an array of voyages including five-to-seven-day cruises with visits to Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta and Ensenada, beginning October 18.
The Norwegian Jewel will embark on Australia and New Zealand cruises starting October 9, with stops in Milford Sound, Doubtful Fjord, Dusky Fjord, Dunedin, Picton, Wellington, Napier, Tauranga, Bay of Islands and Auckland.

As for the Norwegian Star, it will sail 14-day South American cruises with calls to Montevideo and Punta Del Este, Uruguay; Puerto Madryn, Argentina; Stanley, Falkland Islands; Ushuaia, Argentina; Punta Arenas, Cape Horn, Puerto Chacabuco and Puerto Montt, Chile, beginning on December 19.


All itineraries are open for sale with the exception of the Norwegian Jewel, Pearl and Star sailings which will open for sale on December 21.

Call us today for exclusive pricing and amenity offerings. 516.366.9008
www.mattyktravel.com

Disney Offering Four-Park Magic Tickets for 2019

Cinderella's Castle at Sunset in Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World (Photo by Lauren Bowman)

12/19/2018
Visiting Walt Disney World is a dream vacation for any family, and the theme park company is offering special 4-Park Magic Tickets for 2019.
Beginning January 18, travelers will be able to purchase four-day, 4-Park Magic Value Ticket for $85 per day (plus tax) for a total price of $340 (plus tax). The tickets include one day of admission to the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios and the Animal Kingdom, for a total of four admissions over four separate days.
The ticket packages are seasonally priced for varied usage between January 18 and September 30, as follows: 

Four-Park Magic Value Ticket: Valid for admission January 18 - March 1; must be used within seven days from first use, or by March 1, whichever comes first:

—Adult: $85 per day, plus tax ($340 total, plus tax) 

—Child: $80 per day, plus tax ($320 total, plus tax) 

Four-Park Magic Select Ticket: Valid for admission March 2 - March 14; March 27 - April 9; April 27 - May 27; and August 19 - September 30; must be used within seven days from first use, or by September 30, whichever comes first:

—Adult: $89 per day, plus tax ($356 total, plus tax) 

—Child: $84 per day, plus tax ($336 total, plus tax) 

Four-Park Magic Summer Ticket: Valid for admission May 28 - August 18; must be used within seven days from first use or by September 30, 2019, whichever comes first:

—Adult: $95 per day, plus tax ($380 total, plus tax) 

—Child: $90 per day, plus tax ($360 total, plus tax)

Travelers visiting Disney in 2019 should be aware of the new shows, parties and character experiences coming to all four theme parks, including Mickey & Minnie’s Surprise Celebration at Magic Kingdom; the Hakuna Matata Time Dance Party at Animal Kingdom; the Epcot International Festival of the Arts and more.

When booking now through January 2, families can save up to 25 percent on rooms at select Disney World hotels for stays most nights January 1 - April 27.

Tuesday, December 18, 2018

Delta Bans Emotional Support Animals from Longer Flights

Delta Bans Emotional Support Animals from Longer Flights

Delta Air Lines announced Monday it would be updating its policies to ban emotional support animals from flights scheduled to last longer than eight hours.
In addition, Delta also revealed it will no longer allow service and support animals that are less than four-months-old on any flight. 
The new rules and regulations apply to travelers purchasing tickets on or after December 18, with customers purchasing tickets before that date being permitted to still travel with their animal.
Starting February 1, the ban on emotional support animals on longer flights and animals less than four-months-old will be in effect for all customers, regardless of booking date. As a service to valued customers, Delta’s Reservations and Customer Care team will contact impacted travelers to adjust reservations.
“We will continue to review and enhance our policies and procedures as health and safety are core values at Delta,” senior vice president John Laughter said in a statement. “These updates support Delta's commitment to safety and also protect the rights of customers with documented needs – such as veterans with disabilities – to travel with trained service and support animals.”
Delta’s decision to update its policy again comes after an 84 percent increase in reported incidents involving service and support animals since 2016. The issues include urination, defecation, biting and even a widely reported attack by a 70-pound dog.
The changes were influenced by the animal vaccination policy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the principles outlined in the United States Department of Transportation’s Air Carrier Access Act.

Monday, December 17, 2018

PHOTO: United Boeing 787 Dreamliner. (photo courtesy of United Airlines)

United Airlines announced its largest ever international network expansion from its hub at San Francisco International Airport on Wednesday.
Starting next year, the Chicago-based carrier will offer nonstop year-round service to Toronto and Melbourne, Australia as well as seasonal service to New Delhi, India.
United will also launch a second daily flight between San Francisco and Seoul, South Korea. What's more, 2019 will see the carrier begin new year-round nonstop service between San Francisco and Auckland, New Zealand, Tahiti, French Polynesia and Amsterdam.
Subject to government approvals, United's new twice-daily nonstop year-round service between San Francisco and Toronto is scheduled to begin March 31, 2019, while the carrier's new nonstop year-round service between San Francisco and Melbourne three times per week is slated to start October 29, 2019. United's new seasonal service between San Francisco and New Delhi will begin December 5, 2019.
Beginning March 30, 2019, United will become the first U.S. carrier to fly between California and Amsterdam. Two days later on April 1, 2019, the airline will begin operating a second daily flight between San Francisco and Seoul.
Finally, the airline's year-round service between San Francisco and Papeete, Tahiti on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and year-round service between San Francisco and Auckland three-times-weekly begins March 30, 2019.
"This route expansion solidifies United's position at San Francisco as the gateway airline serving destinations across the Pacific, the continental United States, as well as to Europe and beyond," said the airline's CEO Oscar Munoz in a statement. "It serves as a fitting capstone to all our efforts that made 2018 a breakthrough year for United, from delivering strong financial performance to currently leading in on-time departures for the second year in a row."
In her own statement, U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein said the "new routes will expand international travel to and from San Francisco International Airport, helping us forge stronger connections between our city and other major destinations around the globe."
United has added a dozen new international destinations from San Francisco since 2013, serving 29 international destinations total and operating more than 300 daily flights in all.
Wednesday's announcement comes just two days after Delta Air Lines announced significant expansion from Boston's Logan International Airport.

Sunday, December 16, 2018




Guests can ride Toy Story Land’s Slinky Dog Dash with little-to-no wait during After Hours events at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Credit: 2018 Courtesy of Walt Disney World Resort


The success of Disney After Hours events at Walt Disney World in Florida has shown that being inside a Disney theme park after hours is a bucket-list-worthy experience for true fans. Luckily, there will be even more chances in 2019, as Disney announced it will add more dates in Magic Kingdom, as well as offer the option at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom. 

The separately ticketed events not only give clients the opportunity to spend time in the parks after hours, but also there are little-to-no waits for classic attractions such as Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean and Space Mountain, as well as new favorites including Toy Story Land’s Slinky Dog Dash and those in Pandora – The World of Avatar. 


Saturday, December 15, 2018

PHOTO: Festival of Lights at the Washington DC Temple in Kensington, Maryland. (photo via PBallay/iStock/Getty Images Plus)

As people prepare for the holiday season, AAA is forecasting a record-breaking 112.5 million travelers will take to the nation’s runways, roads and rails during the year-end holidays.
The estimated 112.5 million travelers would represent a 4.4 percent increase over last year and the most since AAA has been tracking holiday travel. 
In total, more than 102 million people who will pack up their cars for the 11-day, year-end holiday travel period between December 22 and January 1, 2019, a 4.4 percent increase from last year.
Another 6.7 million people will fly to their destinations this year, a 4.2 percent increase and the highest number in 15 years. As for those traveling on a train, bus or cruise ship, a total of 3.7 million passengers will be utilizing these other means of transportation. 
“’Tis the season for holiday travel, and more Americans than ever will journey to spend time with friends and family or choose to take a vacation,” AAA Travel managing director Bryan Shilling said. “Strong economic growth fueled by robust consumer spending continues to drive strong demand for seasonal travel. With a record-breaking one-third of the country choosing to travel this holiday, roadways and airports are sure to be busy.”
Driving this year could be a headache, as the most congestion on the roads will come before the holiday week, starting on December 19. Drivers in Atlanta, New York City, Boston and Houston will see travel times more than three times a normal trip.
As for fuel prices, a recent drop resulted in the cheapest national gas price averages of the year at $2.46 for the first week of December, which is two cents per gallon less than one year ago.
For those looking to avoid the busiest travel times at the airport, December 22, December 23 and December 26 will be the most congested days in the skies, while Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are the lightest travel days around the holidays.
Daily rates for car rentals have increased three percent over the last year, averaging $76 per day, making it the most expensive rate of the last 10 years. On the other hand, the average price of a AAA Three Diamond hotel fell three percent.
AAA also provided a list of the top 10 most popular holiday destinations, including:
1. Orlando, Florida
2. Cancun, Mexico
3. Anaheim, California (Disneyland)
4. Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
5. Montego Bay, Jamaica
6. Honolulu, Hawaii
7. New York, New York
8. Kahului, Hawaii (Maui)
9. Fort Lauderdale, Florida
10. Miami, Florida

Friday, December 14, 2018

Travelers Sing National Anthem at Nashville Airport to Honor Gold Star Children

Proud saluting soldier on American flag background. (photo via Anchiy / iStock / Getty Images Plus)

Traveling during the holidays can be a major headache, but passengers waiting for their flights in Nashville proved there is still good in this world when the entire airport honored the children of soldiers who had died.
According to The Tennessean, a video was shared online Monday that showed people waiting for their flights at Nashville International Airport as a group of more than 100 children who lost a parent in combat prepared to board a plane to Disney World.
As word spread around the facility about why the group was together, the vast majority of people inside the facility began singing the national anthem as a way to show solidarity and honor the children.
Traveler Jen Tringale was at the airport and filmed the moment.
“When they announced them over the loud speaker and they lined up to board the plane, the whole airport literally stopped and sang the national anthem with military present in salute,” Tringale told The Tennessean.
“Most every person standing around, myself included was bawling at the sight of these kids and spouses who have paid so great a price for our country,” Tringale continued. “To see all of this at Christmas time was so humbling. Seeing the general public in an airport stand still to honor these kids was simply beautiful.”
The children were being flown to Disney World as part of the Snowball Express, which flies more than 1,000 Gold Star children to the theme park as part of a partnership with American Airlines.
The Snowball Express is part of the Gary Sinise Foundation, which says the goal of the program is for “our Gold Star families to feel remembered and for them to see that they are not alone. It's something I feel is incredibly important for our nation, letting the children know that we do not forget their sacrifices and we honor them. And it's such a great feeling to see them healing, smiling, and having fun.”

Carnival Cruise Line's Mardi Gras to Feature First-Ever Roller Coaster at Sea

PHOTO: Rendering of BOLT: Ultimate Sea Coaster aboard Carnival Cruise Line's Mardi Gras. (photo courtesy of Carnival Cruise Line)

Thursday, December 13, 2018

Royal Caribbean Oasis coming to NYC in 2020

PHOTO: Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas Cruise Ship. (Photo via RobertsGalleries / iStock Editorial / Getty Images Plus)


Royal Caribbean International is charting a new course with its 2020-21 deployment plans, touting a fleet of Royal Amplified ships sailing to exciting destinations. An amped up Oasis of the Seas will greet Lady Liberty and deliver new vacations from the Northeast with seven-night Caribbean itineraries that include an unforgettable day at the cruise line’s highly anticipated private island destination, Perfect Day at CocoCay, The Bahamas.
Oasis will be the first ship in her class and the world’s largest to sail from the Northeast. For the first time since 2015, Anthem of the Seas will return to the U.K. to sail alongside Independence of the Seas, marking the cruise line’s biggest presence in the region to-date.
Celebrating its one-year anniversary in summer 2020, Perfect Day at CocoCay will welcome 10 ships from more ports than any previous deployment, including newly added Galveston, Texas, as well as Barcelona, Spain on Allure and Rhapsody of the Seas’ transatlantic sailings in November 2020.
Adventure seekers from around the world will have more opportunity than ever to discover the thrill and chill experiences that await the whole family, including the tallest waterslide in North America, the Caribbean’s largest wave pool, and the highest vantage point in The Bahamas from a helium balloon that rises 450 feet in the air. Delivering on its promise of creating memorable vacations on land and on board, Royal Caribbean will tout seven ships in 2020-21 that have emerged from the global cruise line’s $1 billion Royal Amplified modernization program launched in 2018, introducing a wide range of bold, new adventures designed to appeal to all ages.
The Perfect Vacation for all Seasons: Caribbean & Northeast
Big news for the Big Apple – Oasis of the Seas, the ship that revolutionized cruise vacations in 2009 with game-changing industry firsts, from the unique seven-neighborhood concept to the iconic AquaTheater performance venue, will undergo a bow-to-stern transformation in 2019 and become the first Royal Amplified ship to sail from Cape Liberty in Bayonne, N.J., starting in May 2020. Oasis of the Seas will transport travelers to the clear blue waters of The Bahamas all summer with seven-night itineraries, as well as a select number of short cruises north to New England and Canada.

Adventure of the Seas will return to Cape Liberty, sailing a variety of five- and nine-night summer and fall itineraries to Bermuda, New England and Canada, The Bahamas and the Caribbean. Travelers can extend leaf peeping season on Vision of the Seas, which will offer three 10- to 11-night open-jaw itineraries between Bayonne and Quebec City with an overnight in Quebec’s capital–a UNESCO World Heritage treasure and North America’s only fortified city.
Symphony of the Seas and sister ship Harmony of the Seas, the ultimate family ships, will return to PortMiami and Port Canaveral, Fla., respectively, offering seven-night itineraries to the Eastern and Western Caribbean. Both ships will feature visits to Perfect Day at CocoCay, the ultimate destination for thrill and chill, on nearly all sailings.
Brilliance of the Seas will light up Boston in the fall, sailing seven- to 10-night cruises to Canada starting in September 2020, while Grandeur of the Seas continues to offer nine-night itineraries to Canada and New England for fall foliage from her year-round homeport in Baltimore, Md. Grandeur will embark on a combination of five- and nine-night itineraries to Bermuda and The Bahamas in the summer months, and transition to nine-night Southeast Coast & Bahamas and 12-night Southern Caribbean cruises for the winter. Northeast, Canada and Bermuda itineraries will be available to book as of December 13, 2018.
In 2020, San Juan, Puerto Rico will welcome what will be the newly modernized Freedom of the Seas. The largest ship to ever homeport in San Juan will return for the third consecutive year to sail seven-night itineraries year-round throughout the Southern Caribbean, traveling beyond the typical getaway to exotic destinations like Philipsburg, St. Maarten; Basseterre, St. Kitts & Nevis; St. Johns, Antigua; Castries, St. Lucia and Bridgetown, Barbados. Rounding out the seven-night Caribbean offerings is Liberty of the Seas, which will continue to sail from Galveston to the Western Caribbean ahead of her own highly anticipated amplification in early 2021. The seven-night Bahamas, Bermuda and Caribbean itineraries will be available to book as of December 13, 2018.
In 2020, San Juan, Puerto Rico will welcome what will be the newly modernized Freedom of the Seas. The largest ship to ever homeport in San Juan will return for the third consecutive year to sail seven-night itineraries year-round throughout the Southern Caribbean, traveling beyond the typical getaway to exotic destinations like Philipsburg, St. Maarten; Basseterre, St. Kitts & Nevis; St. Johns, Antigua; Castries, St. Lucia and Bridgetown, Barbados. Rounding out the seven-night Caribbean offerings is Liberty of the Seas, which will continue to sail from Galveston to the Western Caribbean ahead of her own highly anticipated amplification in early 2021. The seven-night Bahamas, Bermuda and Caribbean itineraries will be available to book as of December 13, 2018.
Memory-Making Moments: Short Caribbean
No stranger to Perfect Day at CocoCay, two of Royal Caribbean’s Amplified ships – Mariner of the Seas and Navigator of the Seas – will continue to elevate short Caribbean getaways all year with 3-night weekend and 4-night weekday itineraries to The Bahamas. Reimagined in 2018, Mariner will continue to sail from Port Canaveral in Orlando, Fla., while an amped up Navigator will remain a resident of Miami, sailing from the cruise line’s state-of-the-art Terminal A.
Navigator will be the third ship to be reimagined in February 2019, building on the successes of the brand’s Royal Amplified fleet modernization program to incorporate a lineup of firsts and Royal Caribbean favorites with new experiences, including an awe-inspiring Caribbean poolscape, two daring waterslides–introducing the longest aqua coaster at sea–the first blow dry bar the industry, elevated nightlife and dining, and thrilling activities. Short Caribbean itineraries are now open to book.
Sharing the Texas-sized spotlight, Enchantment of the Seas will, for the first time from Galveston, offer a lineup of sailings to Perfect Day at CocoCay for adventurous vacationers who want to wrangle first-time experiences that will top any bucket list. Enchantment will continue a mix of 4- and 5-night Western Caribbean sailings in the summer, perfect for short getaways and first-time cruise vacationers.
Fresh Adventures & Discoveries: Europe
The Old World will get a new spin with Royal Caribbean’s summer 2020 deployment. Longtime New York resident, Anthem of the Seas, will make the journey across the Atlantic to Southampton, England returning for the first time in five years. Anthem is set to embark on her biggest adventure yet as the Quantum Class ship visits coastal towns along the Mediterranean, Northern Europe and the Canary Islands, on eight- to 14-night itineraries.
Modernized in 2018, Independence of the Seas will return to Southampton for the season and sail seven- to 14-night cruises around the Norwegian Fjords, Canary Islands and North Africa, Scandinavia & Russia, and Italian Mediterranean, including new destinations Agadir, Morocco and Ponta Delgada in Portugal’s Azores archipelago in the mid-Atlantic. Vacationers can also revel in the beauty of the Baltic with a 14-night itinerary–a first for a Freedom Class ship–featuring an overnight in Copenhagen, Denmark and two nights in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Royal Amplified will reach the far corners of Europe as Allure of the Seas and Explorer of the Seas debut multimillion-dollar modernizations as they journey across Europe for the 2020 summer and fall seasons to rediscover legendary landmarks, charming coastlines and the diverse cultures. Allure of the Seas will be the first Royal Amplified Oasis Class ship in Europe, offering seven-night Western Mediterranean itineraries that depart from Barcelona. From Rome, the reimagined Explorer will offer a mix of seven- to 12-night sailings along the Greek Isles, uncovering storied temples, amphitheaters and villages.
Vision of the Seas will join Allure in Barcelona for the summer and fall seasons to offer travelers 12-night cruises across the Mediterranean, as Rhapsody of the Seas returns to Venice, Italy for the summer to offer shorter itineraries, alternating between Greece & Croatia and the Greek Isles. Copenhagen will welcome Jewel of the Seas for the season, as the ship sails a mix of seven-night itineraries through the Norwegian Fjords and Scandinavia & Russia. Brilliance of the Seas will return to Amsterdam for a third summer, sailing 12-night Baltic itineraries and a special 12-night sailing around the British Isles.
For a once-in-a-lifetime experience, adventurers can board Brilliance for a 15-night artic crossing as the ship repositions from Amsterdam to Boston, Mass. European itineraries will be available to book the week of December 17, 2018. All itineraries will be open to book by Crown & Anchor Society loyalty members one day prior to the general opening date.

SOURCE: Royal Caribbean International press release.

Matty K Travel 516.366.9008 
www.mattyktravel.com

Sunday, December 2, 2018

JetBlue and Hawaiian Airlines Team Up Again to Help East Coasters Get to Hawaii


JetBlue and Hawaiian Airlines Team Up Again to Help East Coasters Get to Hawaii

12/01/2018
There’s been a flurry of good news for East Coasters coming out of what appears to be a budding relationship between JetBlue and Hawaiian Airlines.
Back in September, Hawaiian Airlines announced it will begin five-day-a-week nonstop service from Boston to Honolulu in April 2019. Currently, Boston is the largest U.S. market without nonstop service to Hawaii.

Sweeting the deal was a more recent announcement that the non-stop flights from Boston would be a codeshare with JetBlue, meaning JetBlue loyalty members could earn and use TrueBlue points on the route. It’s great news for the Jetblue folks in Boston and throughout the East, who can now get all the way to Honolulu using points (or earn points while getting there).
But there’s good news for Hawaiian Airlines loyalty members, too. The airlines announced that 26 JetBlue flights connecting to and from Boston would also be codeshare. This means that Hawaiian loyalty members can also use (and earn) points to get all the way to Hawaii, first on the codeshare JetBlue flight to Boston and then, as usual, on the Hawaiian Airlines flight to Honolulu.
The match is perfect on paper. Hawaiian Airlines does not offer domestic flights on the mainland, and JetBlue does not offer flights to Hawaii. The agreement opens up new options for loyalty members of both airlines when traveling to the islands.
JetBlue flights connecting to and from Boston that are covered by the codeshare agreement serve Atlanta, Baltimore, Buffalo, Charlotte, Charleston, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Jacksonville, Minneapolis, Nashville, New York, Newark, Orlando, Palm Beach, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Raleigh-Durham, Savannah, Syracuse, Tampa, and Washington, DC.
In commemoration of Hawaiian Airlines' 90th year of operation, the flight to Boston will be numbered Flight HA90. The inaugural flight will take place on April 4th and run five days a week. HA90 will depart Honolulu every day but Tuesday and Wednesday at 1:45 p.m. and arrive in Boston the following morning at 6 a.m.
Flight HA89 will depart Boston every day but Wednesday and Thursday at 8:55 a.m., except for Friday flights, which will depart at 8 a.m. The flights will arrive in Honolulu the same day at 2:35 p.m. and the Friday flight will arrive at 1:40 p.m.

Book a Table at These 5 New Vegas Restaurants

In a culinary hot spot like  Las Vegas , each meal is its own special performance, with an ever-evolving setting. With new restaura...