Norwegian Cruise Line is planning a major overhaul of its kid's program

Norwegian Cruise Line to revamp kids program

Norwegian Cruise Line is planning a major overhaul of its kid's program that includes adding more activities and more counselors.

The line today announced that its 13-year-old Norwegian's Kid's Crew program will be renamed and reorganized around five age groups: three- to five years; six to eight years; nine to 12 years; 13 to 14 years; and 15 to 17 years. There also will be programming for babies and toddlers ages six months to two years.

Norwegian's program currently is built around four age groups: two to five years; six to nine years; 10 to 12 years; and 13 to 17 years.

A spokesperson for the line tells USA TODAY the revamped program will be more curriculum driven than in the past and use more areas of the line's ships. The company also is increasing the ratio of staff to children in the program and establishing new criteria for the hiring of counselors, including the requirement of a college degree in recreation or child care (or the equivalent experience).

Produced in conjunction with The King's Foundation and Camps, a United Kingdom-based organization, the new curriculum will place more focus on sporting activities, arts and crafts, theater and technology, the line says. Activities will change every 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the age group, and will be set within blocks of programming time in the morning, afternoon and evening.

The new curriculum will include circus workshops organized by Cirque Du Jour, a New York-based company that specializes in teaching children circus skills such as scarf juggling, ball juggling, plate spinning, clowning and acrobatics. New locations for activities will include ship sports courts, rock walls, theaters and lounges.

The overhaul comes as Norwegian continues to roll out more family-friendly Nickelodeon programming on ships. In mid-February the Norwegian Gem will become the third Norwegian vessel with Nickelodeon-themed pool games, character breakfast, dance parties and character meet-and-greets, joining the Norwegian Jewel and Norwegian Epic.

The new kids programs will debut in mid-February on the Norwegian Gem at the same time the new Nickelodeon programming debuts and expand to other ships later.

Travel predictions for 2012: Doom and gloom may boost tourism

Travel predictions for 2012: Doom and gloom may boost tourism

Two high-profile disasters will be making travel headlines in 2012: the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic on April 15, and the end of the world on Dec. 21 (according to some interpretations of the ancient Maya calendar, anyway).

The former is being commemorated with everything from cruises retracing the doomed liner's route — albeit with a much happier ending — to a flashy new waterfront development in Belfast, Northern Ireland, the city where the ship was built.

The latter is the focus of marketing efforts throughout the "Mundo Maya" — most notably Mexico, Belize, Guatemala and Honduras — aimed at convincing sun-seekers and history buffs that what pessimists dub an impending apocalypse is merely the dawn of a new era.

Toss in potential European bargains courtesy of the continent's financially strapped PIGS (a derogatory acronym referring to Portugal, Ireland/Italy, Greece and Spain) and a slumping euro that just hit its lowest level against the dollar in 16 months, and it's no wonder "doom and gloom" tourism might be on the upswing this year.

But plenty of other destinations and trends will influence American travelers' hard-earned time and money in the months ahead. Among them:

London is calling 

Still preening after last year's royal nuptials (the city, like Duchess Catherine, looked radiant), London will host the Summer Olympic Games July 27-Aug. 12. A three-month-long arts festival kicks off June 21, and Hyde Park, Trafalgar Square and Victoria Park will beam live broadcasts of the games on giant outdoor screens for those who don't have tickets.

The first week in June, meanwhile, Great Britain celebrates Queen Elizabeth II's 60 years on the throne with a Diamond Jubilee.

Hawaii says 'aloha' to more flights 

With 2012 shaping up as another strong year for tourism to Hawaii, don't expect a wave of bargains.

But with Hawaiian Airlines launching nonstop service from New York City this summer, Alaska Airlines "ready to expand and dominate" the West Coast market and a big wild card of possible new service via Allegiant and/or Southwest, U.S. visitors likely will have more options for getting there, says the deal-watcher blog BeatofHawaii.com.

U.S. anniversary celebrations 

Elsewhere in the USA, both Arizona (Feb. 14) and New Mexico (today) are commemorating 100 years of statehood. San Francisco's iconic Golden Gate Bridge turns 75 in May, with a lineup of lectures, performances, exhibits and film screenings plus a revamped visitor plaza that features better trail connections, more seating and (assuming the fog hasn't rolled in) improved views.

Off-limits vacation spots are back on the map maybe 

Forbidden fruit to most U.S. tourists since 1961, Cuba reopened for limited "people to people" exchanges last year. But while demand has been strong, it's still too soon to break out the stogies and mojitos for beach vacations: Visitors must travel as part of a group with a humanitarian/cultural/educational focus, and tight U.S. restrictions have forced some companies that had planned to offer trips to cancel or put them on hold.

On the other side of the globe, Japan and Thailand are hoping for a rebound from last year's earthquakes and flooding — and Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) is shaping up as Asia's "it" destination for 2012. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited late last year, and an organization founded by activist Aung San Suu Kyi now welcomes responsible tourism to a long-isolated country that some tour operators are touting as the Thailand of 50 years ago.

Same-night hotel bookings take off 

Hoping to target bargain-hunting, smartphone-wielding travelers — and tapping into a buy-now trend enabled by better, location-based technology — more hotels and online agencies are beefing up their tonight-only deals. Priceline, Orbitz and Hotel Tonight are among those that have launched or broadened same-night offerings recently. And with an average 40% of hotel rooms going empty each night, expect even more in 2012.

Vacation rentals go mainstream 

Already popular with DIY travelers looking for lodging bargains and second-home owners trying to recoup some of their real estate losses, vacation rentals will be a bigger focus for such major online agencies as Expedia and Priceline, predicts travel technology columnist Dennis Schaal. And, in the wake of last summer's well-publicized tale of a botched San Francisco rental arranged through Airbnb.com, expect a greater emphasis on safeguards for both hosts and guests.

Airline passengers keep singing the “middle seat blues" but will have a clearer idea of what they're paying 

In an era of contraction and mergers, empty airplane middle seats "are so last decade," notes Farecompare.com's Rick Seaney. Yet while travelers will likely see fewer flights to smaller cities and an even tighter time frame for nabbing those elusive bargain fares, the government wants to help them skip the "sticker shock" of being tantalized by a low price only to discover that extra fees and taxes add 20% or more to the final cost.

Barring a last-ditch attempt by some airlines to block it, a U.S. Transportation Department rule taking effect Jan. 26 will require airlines to include all government taxes and fees in their advertised fares. Other provisions, which let passengers hold or cancel reservations within 24 hours and which bar post-purchase price increases, kick in Jan. 24.

source: usatoday

Through March 31, 2012 Hilton's running a "More Points" promo that's good at most hotels around the world.

Hilton HHonors launches first loyalty promo of 2012

As usual, you must first register at the special promo site.

What will I earn?

You can earn 1,000 Bonus Points per night for any stay during the promotion period, ending March 31. You can earn another 5,000 point bonus for any two-night weekend stay.

Hilton defines a weekend stay as any night from Thursday to Sunday, with a minimum of a two-night stay.

You don't have to select between the two offers; instead, you'll be awarded the 5,000 points for any qualifying weekend stay.

Hilton isn't capping the number of bonus points that can be earned during the period, though you can only earn one 5,000-point bonus per weekend stay.

Fine print

Hilton says that points can be redeemed for rooms in any hotel, at any time, as well as room upgrades, merchandise, charitable contributions, and experience and vacation packages.

Check to make sure that the specific hotel you're booking is participating in the promo. The offer's good at "participating" hotels across all 10 brands: Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, DoubleTree by Hilton, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Hotels, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Home2 Suites by Hilton and Hilton Grand Vacations, but it's worth checking beforehand to avoid disappointment.

Bonus Points don't count toward elite status qualification.

Las Vegas, Nevada expects a record crowd for New Year's Eve at December 31, 2011

Las Vegas is dealing a full house this weekend at what could be its biggest-ever New Year's Eve bash.

A record 314,000 out-of-town partyers are expected to descend on the Strip and elsewhere Saturday night, paying higher prices at sold-out hotels, packing nightclubs to see the Kardashians, Black Eyed Peas and Stevie Wonder and capping a year of continued rebound from a steep economic downturn.

That single evening of revelry will translate to non-gaming revenues of nearly $193 million and puts the city on track to host 39 million visitors in 2011, vs. 39.2 million during the high-water year of 2007, says Kevin Bagger, senior director of marketing for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

"While the recovery has been gradual and spending has taken longer to recover, visitor volume has been strong," Bagger says. Average hotel rates have risen steadily over the past 20 months, he adds, despite a 1.2% boost in room inventory thanks to the openings of The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas and CityCenter lodgings.

The city expects to fill 98% of its 150,189 rooms on New Year's Eve, up .4% from last Dec. 31. A search on Kayak.com Thursday afternoon for a one-night stay, checking in Dec. 31 and out Jan. 1, showed rates ranging from $75 at the Howard Johnson Inn Las Vegas Strip to $1,240 for the Red Rock Casino Resort and Spa.

Although some rates are lower than last year, many others are sharply higher: Rooms at the Bellagio that rented for $659 to $799 on New Year's Eve 2010 are going for $1,199 to $1,998 this year, says Yvette Monet, spokeswoman for the Bellagio's parent company, MGM Resorts International.

"Based on current booking trends, this New Year's weekend is anticipated to be one of the best in quite some time on the Las Vegas Strip," says Monet. "At some MGM Resorts properties (which include the ARIA Resort & Casino, Mandalay Bay, MGM Grand and The Mirage) it could be one of the best of all time, in terms of visitor volumes and room rates."

Through October, the average daily room rate for Vegas lodgings was $106, says Bagger. That's up nearly 11% from a year ago, but still far behind the peak average of $132 in 2007.

"If any holiday is made for Las Vegas it's New Year's Eve, and it's working in their favor that it falls on a Saturday night this year," says San Francisco-based travel analyst Henry Harteveldt, co-founder of Atmosphere Research Group.

But, he adds that continued recovery in Las Vegas in 2012 hinges on "two big ifs" — the price of gas, since so many of its visitors drive from Southern California, and the price of jet fuel that can prompt airlines to cut capacity.

Travelocity Names Top 10 New Year’s Eve Destinations - Top Vacation Spots to Ring in 2012

With New Year’s Eve just a few days away, many people are still looking for the hot destinations to visit. Travelocity travel experts have compiled a list of the top 10 New Year’s Eve destinations in the country where travelers can celebrate the New Year, based on Travelocity bookings. From big cities to laid-back beaches and mountain hideaways, the list reveals the diverse locations where travelers plan to welcome 2012. 

Top 10 New Year’s Eve Destinations:

1. Orlando (average airfare $311.90; average daily rate $145.74). Party close to the theme parks with Universal CityWalk's Rock In the New Year. With performances from Smashmouth and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, plenty of nearby clubs, and all-you-can-eat dining, this party will start 2012 off with a bang!

2. New York City (average airfare $333.52; average daily rate $254.27). Times Square in New York City is the classic New Year's Eve destination. Hundreds of thousands of people gather in front of One Times Square, and millions tune in on TV to watch the famous ball drop.

3. South Florida (average airfare $338.09; average daily rate $177.96). With parties hosted by celebrities like Rick Ross, over-the-top themes, and (sometimes) an open bar, the celebration lasts all night at Miami’s clubs. For an alternative to the club scene, head to the Bayfront Park Amphitheater to watch the orange drop and enjoy a fireworks celebration on the beach.

4. Las Vegas (average airfare $390.31; average daily rate $158.90). Las Vegas becomes a celebrity playground for New Year's Eve. With parties featuring celebrities like Fergie, Kim Kardashian, B.O.B., LMFAO, Stevie Wonder, and more, there are plenty of places to find a star-studded event to bring in 2012. Plus, at midnight, eight hotels will simultaneously start the new year with a breathtaking fireworks display.

5. Los Angeles (average airfare $350.59; average daily rate $111.92). For those who can't decide on just one place to celebrate the New Year in Los Angeles, club crawling is the perfect solution. Partiers will get into all the happening LA clubs where you can party like a rock star, an Egyptian royal, or even a Greek god.

6. Denver (average airfare $297.07; average daily rate $159.70). Trade the champagne for one of the many delicious micro-brews and watch the fireworks against a mountain backdrop in downtown Denver. The mile-high city comes alive with celebrations ranging from classy symphony performances to rock and roll shows.

7. Cancun (average airfare $547.32; average daily rate $303.81). It’s time to dust off those dancing shoes and get ready to party—downtown Cancun is a club-goers paradise on New Year's Eve. Travelers can expect thousands of partiers, booming music, and tons of fun.

8. San Francisco (average airfare $338.49; average daily rate $179.70). Start New Year's Eve revelry with the 26th annual Japanese Bell Ringing at the Asian Art Museum. This 16th century bell will be rung 108 times to cleanse the ills of the past year. Once cleansed of 2011, you'll be ready to start 2012 at one of the many themed parties throughout the city.

9. Phoenix (average airfare $336.40; average daily rate $102.90). When in Phoenix on December 31, celebrate the arrival of 2012 at the Fiesta Bowl Block Party, one of the top places to ring in the New Year. Join the partygoers for magic shows, fireworks, BMX stunt shows, and toast the New Year in one of four beer gardens.

10. Chicago (average airfare $252.82; average daily rate $127.21). With everything from laid-back soirees to all-night ragers, Chicago has plenty of options to welcome in 2012. Two of the more popular parties are The Playboy NYE Party at the Hilton and the Chicago NYE Ball, hosted by Lil Jon. 

More Travel Destinations

For the ultimate in elegance, you can't go past this three-hour dinner cruise on Boston's famous harbor.

Boston Dinner Cruise

Duration:  3 hours (approx.)

Location: Boston, Massachusetts

Ticket Price: $94.19

Click Here for More Information and to Purchase Ticket

Enjoy fine dining, delicious wines, and entertainment perfectly suited to the evening. Sit and relax as you listen to the music or take a stroll on the decks of Boston's premier dining ship as the city floats on by.

Step Aboard...

As you are boarding, the ship's photographer records the moment for your entire party. The Captain and crew greet you as you step onto the ship. Step inside your deck, the hostess will greet you and escort you to your private table where your wait staff will introduce themselves and give you the opportunity to decide for yourself how to pace your service. Serving begins.

Explore and enjoy...

From each of her three climate-controlled dining decks to the Observation deck, Boston Dinner Cruise offers a singularly unique setting that begs to be explored. Understated art-deco accents. Enticing dance floors. And a distinctive atmosphere reminiscent of the classic ocean liners. Be sure to visit the Captain's bridge, open to all passengers throughout most of the cruise.

Indulge your senses...

A menu of creative seasonal hors d'oeuvres, appetizers, entrees and desserts is prepared fresh, on board daily - complemented perfectly by an excellent wine list.

Dance...

Enjoy high-energy dance bands Soul Poets and Upbeat. Soul Poets is a five-piece band and Upbeat is a four-piece band, each offering something for every one, from Motown to disco, from 80's ballads to swing, and from Latin to jazz standards

Take home a memory...

Return, hours later. Relaxed. Refreshed. As you depart, you'll find your Souvenir photo ready for purchase.

More Fun Things To Do in Boston

To celebrate the new year, the Boston Marriott Long Wharf is offering people the chance to go to boot camp

To celebrate the new year, the Boston Marriott Long Wharf is offering people the chance to go to boot camp. But this boot camp won't get you back into shape. It'll get you ready to walk down the aisle.

Starting Jan. 19, the hotel will begin a Bridal Bootcamp series--for free, with complimentary food and drink from the Waterline restaurant. And you don't even have to stay at the hotel. One couple from each class will also win a free weekend getaway at the hotel.

Boston Marriott Long Wharf's certified wedding planner Andrea Murphy, who will lead each seminar, said part of the motivation behind the boot camp was to showcase a renovation at the hotel, which includes a new wedding reception-friendly ballroom with floor to ceiling windows, 180-degree views of the Boston Harbor and an outdoor patio. But even brides who have already chosen their wedding venues can enroll in the bootcamp.

"Brides are always 'Where do we start? What do we do?' and I thought this would be a good thing to get them in the right direction," Murphy said. "It's also a chance to meet vendors, to get dirrent ideas from others and get inspired."

The first class will be called, appropriately enough, Weddings 101, with local planners sharing their secrets to creating blissful wedding ceremonies.

On Feb. 2, the "Passionate Planning" seminar will have in-house Romance Expert David Sargent (yes, there is a person with such a title) offering tips on making your wedding day as romantic as possible. Think sweets displays.

And on March 8, the "Spring into Color" class will be "dedicated to the vibrancy of color," the description says. Representatives from local party rental companies will offer advice on how to use color to create "striking décor, from custom linens to dramatic chargers."

Calling all Bridezillas.

Orlando to NYC: You're not the top U.S. tourist destination

New York City expects a record 50 million tourists by year's end, Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced this week at a press conference, where the Big Apple was touted as the nation's No. 1 tourist destination.

Not so fast, counters theme-park-central Orlando.

"Orlando is the No. 1 destination" in the USA, says Visit Orlando corporate communications director Brian Martin.

"We announced last year we broke the 50 million mark," he says. This year the metro Orlando area, which includes Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties, expects 53.37 million visitors from 50 miles away or farther, he says.

NYC & Company, New York's tourist arm, has long maintained that Orlando's count isn't comparable, because it includes such a vast area, whereas New York tourism stats come from the city's five boroughs and not adjoining counties.

One thing both destinations can agree on: New York is top of the heap when it comes to international visitors. It expects about 10 million this year vs. about 4 million for Orlando.

Both destinations rely on varying methods, combining such stats as international arrivals, hotel occupancy and visitation at attractions. I've always wondered how people can tell whether travelers came from farther away than the next town or how you can count in Orlando when a mega-park such as Disney does not release visitation figures.

Royal Caribbean touts new wine-by-the-glass system on ships

Royal Caribbean is taking aim at wine aficionados with a new wine-by-the-glass system on two of its ships.

The line says the 48-bottle WineStation system by Napa Technology, added to Freedom of the Seas and Liberty of the Seas, is the largest of its kind at sea and gives passengers access to more premium wines by the glass than are available on any other vessel.

Newly installed at the Vintages wine bars on the 3,634-passenger ships, the automatic WineStations will carry wines from Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Caymus, Penfolds, Torres, Robert Mondavi and other wineries, the line says. Passengers can serve themselves at the stations by swiping their keycard.

WineStation systems are designed to preserve wine in open bottles for 60 days in a climate-controlled environment.

Royal Caribbean says it plans to roll out the system on more ships in the future.

Florida county to spend funds to promote nude tourism

Pasco County, Fla., home to a dozen or so nudist colonies, will fund promotions to attract sun-worshipping Europeans who don't want to bother dressing up – or dressing at all, for that matter.

County commissioners voted on Tuesday to approve funding to help develop a "Eurobird" season in July and August, an otherwise slow time for visitors, Tampa Bay Online reports.

The central Florida county has a history of clothing-optional hangouts dating back 70 years. It is so rife with nudists, it has spawned an organization, Pasco Area Naturist Development Association – or PANDAbare for short – to promote the naturist lifestyle.

"We will be focusing on France, Germany, Netherlands, and Britain," PANDAbare president Paul Brenot told the local ABC News affiliate. "There are over 19 million practicing nudists in there. So heck, if we just garner a hundredth of one percent, that's a lot of tourism coming in."

Go Miami™ Card - Explore Miami on your own way with the flexible Go Miami" Card.

Go Miami™ Card - Explore Miami on your own way with the flexible Go Miami" Card. 

Duration:  1, 2, 3, 5 or 7 days

Location: Miami, Florida

Ticket Price: $64.99

Click Here for More Information and to Purchase Ticket

Explore Miami on your own way with the flexible Go Miami" Card. Do as much or as little sightseeing as you like, at your own pace while saving precious vacation dollars. Receive free admission to popular Miami attractions, and enjoy discounts on shopping and dining around town.

The Go Miami" Card leaves you in control, allowing you to have the best, customized experience possible. The Go Miami"Card is available for one, two, three, five or seven days. You may visit as many attractions as you like in one day, but you are limited to visiting each attraction only once per day.

The Go Miami" Card also offers a wide variety of free gifts and discounts at some of Miami's best retailers and restaurants. Full details are available in your guidebook.

Special Offer! - Buy any 3, 5 or 7 day pass and get a FREE Mai Kai Polynesian Dinner Show OR a Key West Day Tour  - Book Now!

More Fun Things To Do in Miami Beach

President Obama will need a new Martha's Vineyard rental

That's because Blue Heron Farm, where he and his family have vacationed for three years, has been sold.

And the new owner, a Britain-based mogul, has indicated he will not rent out the $21.9 million acquisition, according to the Vineyard Gazette.

It reported that Blue Heron has a main house and smaller home, plus "a boathouse, a 150-year-old barn that was brought in from Pennsylvania and reassembled, a riding ring, tennis and basketball courts, multiple gardens and an apple orchard." The elegant white farmhouse with wrap-around porch where the Obamas stayed "was inspired by the home in the Kevin Costner movie Field of Dreams," the Gazette says.

The new owner is architect Norman Foster, the UK's Daily Mail says, and he'll enjoy prime beach access and the guest house.

The Gazette says former president Bill Clinton was a dinner guest at the estate, invited by previous owners.

Blue Heron is a secluded gem fit for a head of state. So the question is: Will Obama find another place on the Vineyard (following the vacation tradition of the Clintons), or expand his summer vacation horizons?

It isn't easy. Any presidential vacation home has to be vetted by security as well as be gated and blocked from prying eyes of the public and press.

America's Coolest River Walks - San Antonio River Walk (Paseo del Rio), San Antonio, Texas

America's Coolest River Walks - San Antonio River Walk (Paseo del Rio), San Antonio, Texas

This granddaddy of river walks charms with four miles of cypress-lined cobble- and-flagstone paths along both sides of the narrow San Antonio River. Locals and visitors cool off on the horseshoe-shaped loop downtown, meandering past trendy shops and stopping at hot spots like Boudro’s for a prickly-pear margarita and guacamole prepared table-side.

Don’t Miss: The Museum Reach river walk section, which opened last year and stretches 1.7 miles north, passes the San Antonio Museum of Art. Landscaped with native plants and small water cascades, the route features art installations under every bridge.

Fun, yet touristy, The River Walk in San Antonio has an impressive network of venues, offering tons of entertainment and party places — but the bars tend to close at 2 a.m. Surprisingly, hip restaurants regularly host breakthrough bands, open-mic nights, DJs and dancing, while North St. Mary's, between Josephine and Magnolia Streets, is where the hard-core clubbers congregate.

Plan Your Next Vacation - Discover San Antonio, Texas

Calls grow for restrictions on cruises out of Venice Italy

Could cruise ships be banned from Venice? Local officials will be discussing the topic this week amid growing worries about the industry's impact on the historic city, according to Italy's Corriere della Sera newspaper.

"The problem of these juggernauts of the sea needs to be confronted," Venice mayor Giorgio Orsoni told the newspaper, according to a translation today in the Telegraph of London.

Orsoni says the growing number of cruise ships sailing out of Venice could be transferred to Porto Marghera, a port on the mainland of Italy not far from Venice, the news outlet reports. The proposal has the backing of Italy's new environment minister.

The Telegraph says opponents to cruise ships in Venice are worried that the vessels' wakes are damaging the city's foundation. The number of cruise ships visiting Venice nearly tripled between 2000 and 2007, the news outlet says.

The Telegraph quotes one famous Venetian, Harry's Bar owner Arrigo Cipriani, as saying he'd like to see every cruise ship passenger charged 50 euro (about $67) to set foot in Venice.

By Gene Sloan, USA TODAY