MSC Double Caribbean Presence

MSC CRUISES will double its presence in the Caribbean next winter when it brings the MSC Orchestra to the region in January 2009. The 2,550-passenger, 92,400-ton Orchestra is currently the line's newest and largest vessel; it will operate seven-day Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries from Fort Lauderdale between Jan. 2 and April 25, 2009. The MSC Lirica will continue to operate 10-day trips to the southern Caribbean. Richard Sasso, president and CEO of MSC Cruises USA, said that the Orchestra's arrival in the Caribbean market would be the beginning of MSC's "real presence" in North America.

You know what that means... More Interline Discounts for the Caribbean with MSC Cruises.

China Warns Airline - Don't be late !

China has warned the airlines not to be late for the up coming Beijing Olympics. Airlines that fails to keep up with the standards being set will not be allowed to expand their services for two years.. oouch ! I have a feeling China's General Administration of Civil Aviation, Li Jiaxiang is not kidding around.

Hmm, I wonder if our Head of US Aviation has that kind of pull to try to straight out some of our problems.

Windstar Cruise Sale

InterlineRates.com has several Windstar sailing available at an interline discount of $1000 per person. Check out the details.

Wind Surf
7 Night Exotic Caribbean
Roundtrip - Barbados (Northbound)
Ports Include: St. Kitts - Nevis - St. Martin - St. Barthelemy - Guadaloupe - Iles des Saintes - St. Lucia
2/3, 2/17 & 2/24, 3/16 & 3/30/08
$1000 - Ocean View

Wind Surf
7 Night Exotic Caribbean
Roundtrip - Barbados (Southbound)
Ports Include: Grenadines (Bequia) - Dominica - St. Lucia - Grenadines (Mayreau) - Grenada - Tobago
2/10, 2/24 & 3/23/08
$1000 - Ocean View

Wind Spirit
7 Night Exotic Caribbean
Roundtrip - St. Thomas
Ports Include: St. John - St. Martin - St. Barthelemy - Tortola - Jost van Dyke - Virgin Gorda
2/9 & 2/16/08
$1000 - Ocean View

Call Cruise Vacations for details and booking 800 298 8688

Delta Merger Talks

As many have speculated and now acknowleged, Delta is now seeking a merger with Northwest or United.

Yet another committee has been formed and yet another talk of reducing capacity...

You be the judge. I lived through two mergers when I worked for Continental and I can tell you, it is NOT easy. Airlines seldom share, technology, way of doing business, labor force etc. It will not be easy no matter what.

Princess expands Chef's Table Program

PRINCESS CRUISES will expand its Chef's Table dining program to most of its fleet over the next few months, citing positive reception on the Emerald Princess, the Crown Princess and the Caribbean Princess, where it is currently available. The $75 per person meal offers guests a dining event that begins with appetizers and cocktails in the ship's galley and then continues with a custom-designed, multi-course tasting dinner paired with wine in the main dining room with the ship's executive chef. The meal can be reserved by up to 10 passengers per night. It will debut aboard most vessels in the fleet in early 2008, with the exception of the line's smaller ships, the Tahitian Princess, the Pacific Princess and the Royal Princess.

Lufthansa buys 19% of JetBlue

A few days ago Lufthansa opted to invest in 19% of JetBlue. It is never what it seems. I have a feeling this is Lufthansa's way of controlling the JFK market. Since the deregulation of the European routes between the U.S. and Europe, don't be too surprise if the landing slots at JFK trade between Lufthansa and JetBlue.

I remember this had happened years ago when United needed landing slots in ORD and bought Air Wisconsin. Then only to turn around and sell the airline after striping them of their ORD landing slots.

I do not think this is the end of this story, just you wait...

Delta Creates Planeguage

Delta has created a series of animated short videos and I think the are hilarious. Now that is a unique way of addressing some of the issues we see in the air everyday.

It's good when we can laugh at ourselves... Enjoy the videos

Your Jetiquette Needs

This article from USA today features Gailen David, a twenty-year American Airlines flight attendant, answers some of your 'jetiquette' questions and answers.

After years of flying, I would say some of these Q&A are obvious, but then who am I to say what's obvious..

Interline Story

12 nts Exotic Cruise on Azamara

Interlinerates.com has a 12 nts Exotic Caribbean Cruise on Azamara Cruises. Azamara is a cruise line which was recently created. It is not well known right now and thus there are some incredible last minute interline discounts on this.

The Cruise is on the Azamara Quest - November 12 - visiting the ports of Grand Turk/Bahamas, Samana, Mayaguez, St. John, Gustavia, Cabrits, Basse-Terre City, Virgin Gorda, and back to Miami.

If you have the time, don't miss this cruise -
Call Interline Rates for more details or check out their website, http://www.Interlinerates.com, it is listed in Eastern Caribbean under Celebrity Cruises

Luggage Falls from Sky

You think you've got a lost luggage story, well think again. As far as I know, no luggage has ever fallen from the sky, blue ice... maybe but luggage?

The NY Times reports that two pieces of luggage fell from an Atlantic Southeast Airlines flight between Chicago & Atlanta. The Express Carrier apparently had not secure the Cargo door and was having problems pressurizing the plane after take off. When the plane safely returned, they discovered two pieces of luggage were missing.

Now for the amazing part of the story.. someone found one of bags a mile away.

Pilot Accused of Prank Calls

A Singapore Airlines pilot was accused of making prank calls to fast-food outlets for food delivery to a fellow pilot. Under Singapore laws anyone who transmits a false message by phone can be fined up to $10,000 Singapore dollars and jailed for up to three years. Ouch !!

Disney Continues Million Dreams Promo

Throughout 2007, Disney guests experienced the magic of The Year of a Million Dreams. Now, Disney Parks have decided to extend their "Million Dreams" promotion until December 31, 2008.

Leonard & I just returned from the Disney Conference and we got a tour of the Cinderella Castle Suite, along with some of their new attractions.

The Dreams promotional giveaways are fun and cannot be beat. In addition to current giveaways, Disney will grant even more one-of-a-kind, money-can't buy experiences including:

• The chance to stay, on the night awarded, in the park overnight inside the Disneyland® Dream Suite in New Orleans Square at Disneyland® Resort or in the Cinderella Castle Suite in the heart of Walt Disney World® Resort.
  
• DREAM FASTPASS badge
  
• Ultimate Character Meet & Greet
  
• In-Park Shopping Spree

So go visit Disney Parks & keep Dreaming

Cunard's Queen Victoria

Eight more weeks before Cunard Line launch their newest ship, Queen Victoria on December 10, 2007, in Southampton, England. The ship will have a special two storey Library, distinguished by a spiral staircase and rich wood paneling.

The Library will be the 2nd largest at sea, next to the library aboard the sister ship, Queen Mary 2.

Here are some early pictures of the Library...

Boy Survives in Wheel Well

A 15 year old Russian boy survived a two hour flight after hiding in the wheel well of a 737. The boy had ran away from home and ended up in Perm. The boy was so frozen that initially they could not removed his clothing.

The Russian airport authorities did not confirm the report (of course they didn't)

Mesa CFO Deleting Porn

Mesa Says CFO mistakenly deleted computer files related to the case between Hawaiian Airlines and Mesa Air, as he was attempting to purge pornography from his computer.

Seriously, that were porn not legal documents, I swear...

Celebrity Cruises Revamp Dining

Celebrity Cruises is revamping its dining fleetwide by the end of January. Overseeing the menu redesign is the Celebrity's new vice president of food and beverage, Jacques Van Staden, who joined the line after working with Blau & Associates, a top restaurant consultant in Las Vegas. Blau is also consulting with Celebrity on the new menus. The cuisine will be revamped in all restaurants on all seven ships except for the specialty restaurants, she said. Specialty restaurants will be reviewed in a second phase once the new menus are in place.

Queen Victoria Christen

Cunard Line announced today that the 90,000-ton Queen Victoria will be Christen by the Duchess of Cornwall - also known by us commoners as Camilla Parker-Bowles, the wife of Princess Charles. The Ceremony will be December 10 in Southhamton, England and the Prince is expected to attend.

The President Carol Marlow of Cunard said " We are most honored that Her Royal Highness will name our newest Cunarder. Every one of our Cunard Queens has been named by a member of the Royal Family and we are therefore delighted that Queen Victoria will follow in that tradition."

How Short is Too Short?

Kyla Ebbert was thrown off a Southwest Airline flight for wearing an outfit that was too bare for the air.

Well you be the judge, Miss Ebbert is after all a Hooters Waitress so keep that in mind. She has had quite a lot of press from the Today Show to Ellen

Check out some of SWA commercials from the past and you be the judge, How short is too short?

Goat Sacrificed to fix Jet

Napal Airlines has confirmed that they sacrificed two goats to appease the Hindu god, since they were have problems with maintenence of the 757.

Remind me again, which century are we living in?

Carnival's Adult only Retreat

Carnival Cruise Line announced their new, "Serenity Adult Retreat". This area is design to be an oecan-going oasis for relaxation, tranquility and comfort. The new "Serenity" areas are part of Carnival’s $250 million "Evolutions of Fun" ship enhancement initiative which is resulting in a dramatic transformation of the line’s eight "Fantasy-class" vessels. The Carnival Inspiration will be the first Carnival ship to feature this when she emerges from a month long dry dock in early October. Digital renderings of the new "Serenity" adults-only area, along with images of various other "Evolutions of Fun" initiatives, including the "Carnival WaterWorks" aqua parks and redesigned pool areas, can be viewed at www.evolutionsoffun.com