Cruises

NCL Corporation will offer passengers on North American cruises the ability to use their cell phones at sea through Wireless Maritime Services, a joint venture of AT&T Wireless and Maritime Telecommunications Network (MTN).The new technology is expected to be introduced on the Norwegian Sun as soon as next month and could be available fleetwide within a year. It enables passengers to make and receive calls and text messages on their own cell phones with their own phone numbers while in international waters..

The service will be available to most passengers with GSM phones that operate at 900 MHz and 1,900 MHz, common in the U.S.

In addition, the planned offering will enable passengers with data-capable GSM/GPRS devices to access data services, such as E-mail and picture messaging. The passenger´s cell company will bill them at roaming rates.

Europe

Central Holidays is offering savings for travel between Nov 1, 2004 and March 20, 2005, to Spain, Italy, France and Greece via its Europe on Sale specials. Prices include roundtrip airfare from New York-JFK, four nights´ accommodations at three star hotels, daily breakfast, hotel taxes and service charges. Transfers, extra nights and hotel upgrades are available upon request.

Following are sample rates: Florence and Venice, $449; Rome $499; Paris, $489; Costa Del Sol, $579; and Athens, $569. Prices are per person double; Christmas/New Year supplement applies. Airfares are based on Monday thru Thursday departures.

New York City

New York City Vacation Packages´ (NYCVP) Thanksgiving Day Parade four-night package, Nov 24/28, starts at $529 per person and includes accommodations and admission to either the Empire State building Observatory or the Rockefeller Center Tour, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art or the American Museum of Natural History, plus shopping discounts at Macy´s and Bloomingdale´s. Options to pick up discount tickets to Broadways shows and other city tours are also available.

State and local hotel taxes are included. NYCVP is also offering an exclusive buffet-style Thanksgiving Parade Breakfast at Planet Hollywood in Times Square to complement the Thanksgiving package that includes a guided sightseeing tour, a special souvenir gift and all taxes and gratuities for an additional $199 per person.

Number 1 Honeymoon Destination

Hawaii continues to rank as the No. 1 honeymoon destination, followed by Jamaica and Mexico, a survey of 3,000 travel agents found. The survey, sponsored by Modern Bride magazine, also revealed trends in honeymoons, including resorts with spas, over-the-top luxury and adventure tours.

Others in the top 10 were Tahiti, St. Lucia, Italy, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Aruba, Las Vegas and Bermuda. The survey also asked agents to rank amenities offered by hotels or resorts. For example, the Bora Bora Lagoon Resort was named the ultimate resort for seclusion, and its collection of overwater bungalows was named best accommodation.

The most popular major honeymoon cities, according to the agent survey, are Paris, Honolulu, Venice, San Francisco and Sydney.

Data compiled by a research company for inclusion in the survey revealed that 40% of honeymooners prefer staying at a resort and 10% prefer to take a cruise.

First Snow in Vail & Keystone

Ski packages are starting to show up for the Rockies. Vail and Breckenridge just recieved their first snow of the season.