Here is a reminder from the Caribbean Airlines Association about the new US passport card:
Please be advised that the new US Passport Card can be used as a travel document for a limited number of Caribbean destinations but does NOT include Trinidad and Tobago.
Therefore passengers holding only a passport card will not be allowed travel into POS. A passport (book) is required so as to be processed by Immigration at POS.
This should also be clarified at the point of reservations. Someone holding a passport card only should not have a confirmed reservation from the US or anywhere to POS.
The following countries accept the US Passport Card: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Jamaica (except for business travel), Montserrat, Netherlands Antilles, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Turks and Caicos. ________________________________________
Alitalia Announces Nonstop Service from LA to Rome
Starting June 5, 2010, Alitalia is pleased to announce that we will resume nonstop service from Los Angeles to Rome, Italy. Alitalia will be the only airline to offer a nonstop flight to Italy from the West Coast of the United States.
The new flight from/to Los Angeles will operate with five weekly frequencies (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday) on a Boeing 777-200 with 291 seats.
From Los Angeles, the flight will depart at 3:25pm (local time) and land in Rome at 12:15pm the following day. Flights depart at 9:25am from Rome, Fiumicino and arrive in Los Angeles at 1:25pm (local time).
The afternoon departure from Los Angeles allows for connections from many cities in the Southwest to our new LAX gateway.
Passengers flying from Los Angeles to Rome in Magnifica Class, Alitalia’s long haul business class, will be able to experience the new service offered in partnership with some of Italy’s finest brands: new catering featuring Italian chefs who reinterpret traditional regional recipes; the best Italian wines selected by the Italian Sommelier Association; blankets and pillows by Frette; and flatware and dishes by Richard Ginori.
With the addition of the new Los Angeles - Rome route, Alitalia will serve seven North American gateways: New York-JFK, Newark, Chicago, Miami, Boston, Toronto and Los Angeles. Alitalia offers service from Atlanta and Detroit through codeshare with its SkyTeam partners Delta Airlines and Northwest Airlines. ________________________________________
Iberia Expands Services to Latin America
Iberia has scheduled a number of new flights between Madrid and Lima, Buenos Aires, Bogota and Quito. The four new direct flights to Lima represent an increase of some 40%, and raises the total number of weekly return flights to 11. The flights are well connected in Madrid to other Spanish and European destinations, and in Lima to other cities in Peru and in Bolivia, under cooperation arrangements with LAN. Madrid-Buenos Aires services have been increased by 16%, or three return flights per week, to a total of 17, or which amounts to three flights per day on most days, in a variety of time slots.
Under code sharing with LAN the number of Madrid-Quito return flights has been boosted by three per week, so that between them the oneworld alliance partners will now fly to and from Ecuador between two and three times each day.
Iberia now plans to use larger aircraft to increase seat supplies on its Madrid-Bogota route, but in June it will add three weekly flights (-10%) and in October another five, (+35%). Iberia will continue two operate one return flight daily between Madrid and Havana, but two or three times a week it will use its largest aircraft for the journey, thus raising the number of available seats.
Iberia is the market leader in air travel between Europe and Latin America, with an average of 250 weekly direct return flights to nearly all destinations. Aside from the 17 Latin America cities it serves directly, Iberia reaches another 36 destinations via arrangements with other carriers.
________________________________________ Argentina Requires Fee to Enter Country
Effective December 28, 2009 citizens of the U.S., Canada and Australia are required to pay a fee when entering Argentina. The government of Argentina will collect an entry fee as the following: • $131 USD for U.S. Citizens – valid for multiple entries over 10 years • $70 USD for Canadian Citizens – paid for each entry • $100 USD for Australian Citizens – paid for each entry Payment may be made in cash (US Dollar or Argentine Peso), credit card or travelers check. Customers who have questions about this entry fee can view http://argentina.usembassy.gov.
_____________________________________________________ Oceania Cruises' New Marina to Feature Suites at Sea
When she debuts in winter 2010, Oceania Cruises’ new Marina will be the first ship to offer luxury suites completely appointed from furniture and fabrics to lighting and bedding using the acclaimed Ralph Lauren Home collection.
To accomplish this industry first, the cruise line tapped New York-based Tocar Interior Design because of the award-winning partners’ keen familiarity with the Polo Ralph Lauren esthetic. Susan Bednar Long, co-founder and president, previously oversaw the decoration of flagship retail stores for Polo across North America. Christina Sullivan, co-founder and vice president, began her career at Polo in the store design department, where she launched Double RL Collection Shops across the U.S.
“To appeal to discerning travelers we wanted the best suites on Marina to feel like a luxurious estate home. We thought out-of-the box, insisted on the finest craftsmanship and sought out the most talented residential designers,” stated Bob Binder, Oceania Cruises’ president. “Tocar has designed the first suites at sea exclusively using furnishings from Ralph Lauren Home.”
Oceania Cruises’ new Marina has been purposefully designed to carry 1,258 guests to the world’s most alluring ports in elegance and style. Rich woods, marble and granite, fine wool carpets and lustrous leathers adorn public rooms. Facilities include 10 dining venues – six of which are open-seating gourmet restaurants, an array of bars and lounges, a full-service Canyon Ranch SpaClub and fitness center, swimming pool and hot tubs.
