Cruise line does an environmental and humane good deed
Years ago, Denver's Queen Anne Inn began donating partially used bottles of shampoo and soap left by guests to a local homeless shelter. After Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, delegates to the Society of American Travel Writers annual convention were asked to bring toiletries liberated from hotels to be packed and sent to relief shelters -- and we responded. Therefore, the CNN.com headline "Cruise Line Donates Items Once Discarded" resonated with me. Diverting small bottles of toiletries from landfills and distributing them where they are useful made sense before, and it makes sense now.
Until recently, Holland America sent thousands of shampoo bottles and soaps, used or unused, into landfills. "But then the cruise line came up with a new use for the discarded items. They are now collected, separated into bins and brought through Customs at ports of call," CNN.com reported. Even though the process is labor-intensive and time-consuming and certainly not profitable, the Holland America launched a program called Ship to Shelter in Seattle, where the line is based, and recently expanded it to Port Everglades, Florida.
The report quoted Marti Forman Florida's Cooperative Feeding Program, which feeds about 400 people a day and provides hot meals and showers for homeless men and women and is feeling pinched during this recession. "The donations aren't there, the cash donations in order to be able to have expenditures like that to us have become a luxury item," Forman said. "If we have to decide between people having shampoo [or] people having something to eat, we're going to opt to have the food for them." With the cruise line's donations, she said that her program no longer needs to make that choice and has also seen an increase in the number of people coming to the shelter to use the showers.
For its part, Holland America now has also begun to donate TVs, crew uniforms, plates, silverware, and pots and pans, and as word got around among passengers, people have started to leave behind clothing, books and other items for Holland American to add to their donations to help the homeless.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Pay Toilets on Airplanes? Rynair is Considering It
Low-fare Ryanair reportedly exploring another revenue source
If Ryanair, the aggressive European low-fare carrier, wanted to A) raise travelers' hackles or B) get their name in print and on the air, they couldn't have picked a better subject than the possibility of converting their lavatories into pay toilets.
The Associated Press's widely printed story tried to make light of the situation by inserting reportorial witticisms and pithy quotes:
If Ryanair, the aggressive European low-fare carrier, wanted to A) raise travelers' hackles or B) get their name in print and on the air, they couldn't have picked a better subject than the possibility of converting their lavatories into pay toilets.
The Associated Press's widely printed story tried to make light of the situation by inserting reportorial witticisms and pithy quotes:
"When nature calls at 30,000 feet, is $1.40 a wee price to pay? Or could it
force passengers without correct change into a whole new kind of holding
pattern? The head of budget European airline Ryanair unleashed a flood of
indignation and potty humor Friday when he suggested that future passengers
might be obliged to insert a British pound coin for access to the lavatory to
get some in-flight relief.
"Airline chief Michael O'Leary suggested that installing pay toilets would
lower ticket costs and make flying, somehow, easier for all. Not even his own
aides seemed to be sure if he was serious or pursuing his penchant for making
brazen declarations to get free publicity for Ryanair....
"O'Leary spokesman Stephen McNamara said his boss often spoke tongue in
cheek - but he then defended the idea of in-flight pay toilets as part of a
logical trend. 'Michael makes a lot of this stuff up as he goes along and, while
this has been discussed internally, there are no immediate plans to introduce
it,' McNamara said, adding, 'Passengers using train and bus stations are already
accustomed to paying to use the toilet, so why not on airplanes? Not everyone
uses the toilet on board one of our flights, but those that do could help to
reduce airfares for all passengers.'
"Analysts agreed that the man who pioneered charging passengers to
check bags, to use a check-in desk and even to use a credit or debit card to
make an online booking just might be serious about mile-high toilet
extortion....
"Not surprisingly, passengers reacted with indignation and outrage at the
prospect....'Your only choice with Ryanair, really, is not to fly Ryanair. Your
dignity goes out the window. If you have a complaint, they're not programmed to
care," said Samantha Jones, a 30-year-old Welsh woman.She discounted the practicality of a restroom rebellion. 'If you are given a choice between wetting your knickers or not wetting your knickers, you will pay whatever fee they make you pay, and Mr. O'Leary knows this well,' she said. 'Frankly, I'm surprised he's talking about letting us have a wee for a pound, not more!'"Rochelle Turner, head of research at British consumer rights magazine Which? Holiday, said Ryanair had a well-documented practice of putting profit before the comfort of its customers" - but this one could backfire. 'Charging people to go to the toilet might result in fewer people buying overpriced drinks on board. That would serve Ryanair right...
"Noah Cole of Portland, Ore., who has flown on Ryanair, called it "unconscionable" to charge for a bathroom, and he even predicted money-changing problems. In other words, if you only have dollars, can you still euro-nate?..."
American Airlines' Latest Fee
Pay ahead for a few benefits that you might not use
In this age of unbundling that requires passengers to pay separately for such services that until recently were included in air fares (checked baggage, food, standby for earlier flights, a better seat, etc.), American Airlines is "rebundling" some fees. They're calling it the "Your Choice," and here's what the airline boasts that it now offers to passengers for yet another upfront fee:
•places you in Group 1 of General Boarding, which allows you to be one of the first groups to board the plane for your flight. (Group 1 boards immediately following PriorityAAccess customers);
•provides a $75 Flight Change Discount, which means that if you need to change your itinerary, you'll save $75 off the regular service charge when applicable;
•allows you to standby for an earlier flight on your day of departure at no charge;
•applies to all travelers in your reservation per-person charge;
•offered for an introductory price of as little as $9 each way. Prices vary based by market and routing;
Note that it doesn't allow you to check a bag without yet another fee -- and of all the add-on fees, this one drives most passengers bonkers -- and is driving them to Southwest. It does allows you to stand by for an earlier same-day flight at no charge, but if there are no seats on that earlier flight, you lose that crap shoot. And significantly, Your choice doesn't totally waive the flight change fee; it just cuts the excessive charge by $75. American doesn't say how long the Your Choice "introductory" price (currently $9-$18 each way) will be valid. It could be a week, a month, a year. I'm guessing that if people pony up for this new fee, American will jack it up fast.
The airline adds, "Later this summer American will offer Group 1 of General Boarding as a stand-alone option for customers, upon arrival at the airport. The introductory price for the Group 1 of General Boarding option is $10 each way, regardless of flight length, markets or routing. Services must be purchased for the entire itinerary. This option will be available for purchase up to one hour prior to scheduled flight departure, via the self-service check-in machines at most U.S. – and many worldwide – airports." Would you call this re-unbundling?
•places you in Group 1 of General Boarding, which allows you to be one of the first groups to board the plane for your flight. (Group 1 boards immediately following PriorityAAccess customers);
•provides a $75 Flight Change Discount, which means that if you need to change your itinerary, you'll save $75 off the regular service charge when applicable;
•allows you to standby for an earlier flight on your day of departure at no charge;
•applies to all travelers in your reservation per-person charge;
•offered for an introductory price of as little as $9 each way. Prices vary based by market and routing;
Note that it doesn't allow you to check a bag without yet another fee -- and of all the add-on fees, this one drives most passengers bonkers -- and is driving them to Southwest. It does allows you to stand by for an earlier same-day flight at no charge, but if there are no seats on that earlier flight, you lose that crap shoot. And significantly, Your choice doesn't totally waive the flight change fee; it just cuts the excessive charge by $75. American doesn't say how long the Your Choice "introductory" price (currently $9-$18 each way) will be valid. It could be a week, a month, a year. I'm guessing that if people pony up for this new fee, American will jack it up fast.
The airline adds, "Later this summer American will offer Group 1 of General Boarding as a stand-alone option for customers, upon arrival at the airport. The introductory price for the Group 1 of General Boarding option is $10 each way, regardless of flight length, markets or routing. Services must be purchased for the entire itinerary. This option will be available for purchase up to one hour prior to scheduled flight departure, via the self-service check-in machines at most U.S. – and many worldwide – airports." Would you call this re-unbundling?
Friday, March 25, 2011
Riviera Maya Puts Tourist Promotion into Overdrive
Fancy new hotels, upgraded old towns, eco-experiences, new attractions and Tulum lure visitors
A few weeks ago, representatives of tourism industry came to Colorado with updates about the Riviera Maya, the Yucatan Peninsula's sun-kissed coastline Caribbean coastline. South of Cancun and all of its high-rise razzmatazz stretched along a 14-mile-long Tourist Zone, visitors to the Riviera Maya nevertheless benefit from the proximity (11 miles to the north end of the Riviera Maya) to a good-size international airport. It is anticipating building its own airport within a few years, but from my standpoint, why cut down ancient jungle and foul up the place with airplane noise, fumes and traffic when a perfectly good airport is not all that far -- except that Cancun and the Riviera Maya are in different states, and politics is doubtless involved.
The infrastructure of the 81-mile Riviera Maya has been greatly upgraded since I was last there nearly 20 years ago. My husband and I had been scuba diving on Cozumel, just offshore. Since we weren't able to dive within 24 hours before flying home, we boarded a hydrofoil to a dusty town called Playa del Carmen, wandered up the main street and hopped on the first Tulum-bound bus. A rattly old school bus drove the two-lane road with a lot of jungle views and dropped us off along the highway, perhaps a quarter of a mile from the entrance to these magnificent ocean-view ruins. The bus fare was about $1.35. We explored the ruins at our own pace, consulting our guidebook and occasionally eavesdropping on an English-speaking guide. Then, we wandered back to the main road, boarded the next Playa del Carmen-bound bus (another $1.35 fare), just missed one hydrofoil and had a couple of drinks and a some dockside nibbles before returnbing to Cozumel on the next one.
Tulum photo by Bruno Girin from Creative Commons
That was then and this is now: 362 hotels with a total of 37,300 hotel rooms available in different categories from small and charming hotels along the shore to modern "integrated tourism complexes made up of luxurious five star hotels, marinas and golf courses," in the tourist-speak now practiced in this enchanted, enchanting part of Mexico. I think there's even a four-lane highway. Now, luxury hotels, including all-inclusive properties, have sprung up on the Riviera Maya -- mercifully lower-rise and with less density than other coastal resorts. If you want swimming pools, palapas, fine dining and a family-friendly resort environment, the Riviera Maya has those in abundance.
There are also tourist developments that appear to be enlightened and enlightening. Xel-Ha is described as "open-sea aquarium offer[ing] a myriad of land and water activities, ecological attractions, world-class restaurants and countless more unimaginable experiences." I'm intrigued by the concept of a responsible attraction that protects wildlife, marinelife, birdlife and habitat while offering the kinds of safe experiences that many travelers, especially families, seek today. Another attraction that appears to combine gentle adventure, visitor education and resource protection is Xplor, which provides an opportunity to swim through a stalctatie river, hand-paddle an undrground raft and ride a zipline above the trees and water, all of which seem designed to protect the natural resources. The two-seat amphibious vehicles that "conquer all terrains between jungle, water, rocks and grottos" -- maybe not so much.
If you prefer a vibrant town with a lots of amenities aimed at visitors, Plaza del Carmen is such a place. No longer a laid-back Mexican town, it has been developed a good culinary presence and an interesting art and music scene. It also has an abundance of tourist shops, tourist-trap bars, gringo-ized restaurants and even a WalMart. I wouldn't go back for those, but I would for the arts, the festivals and the chance for some of the nearby eco-opportunities, including cenote snorkeling or diving -- and of course, to revisit the ruins at Tulum.
Clearly, presentations, like that given by the Riviera Maya representatives make everything look great, even facilities not normally of interest. What impressed me about this one was the range of accommodations now available, from backpacker-friendly to five-star luxury, presenting something for every type of Mexico-bound traveler. And from what I'm hearing, prices for the rest of 2010 (until Christmas) are rockbottom low, even at top properties. Summer is a season of high heat and low prices, but consider a deal at a complete resort with a great beach, a large pool and air conditioning, where the heat won't bother you.
Head to Playa del Carmen on Thursday evening, when it's cooler, for a weekly cultural and street festival starting at 8:00. 5ta. Avenida in Playa del Carmen, the main street, features painting , sculpture, dance, poetry, theatre, photography, performance art and video. Come fall, festival season kicks up again.
The infrastructure of the 81-mile Riviera Maya has been greatly upgraded since I was last there nearly 20 years ago. My husband and I had been scuba diving on Cozumel, just offshore. Since we weren't able to dive within 24 hours before flying home, we boarded a hydrofoil to a dusty town called Playa del Carmen, wandered up the main street and hopped on the first Tulum-bound bus. A rattly old school bus drove the two-lane road with a lot of jungle views and dropped us off along the highway, perhaps a quarter of a mile from the entrance to these magnificent ocean-view ruins. The bus fare was about $1.35. We explored the ruins at our own pace, consulting our guidebook and occasionally eavesdropping on an English-speaking guide. Then, we wandered back to the main road, boarded the next Playa del Carmen-bound bus (another $1.35 fare), just missed one hydrofoil and had a couple of drinks and a some dockside nibbles before returnbing to Cozumel on the next one.
That was then and this is now: 362 hotels with a total of 37,300 hotel rooms available in different categories from small and charming hotels along the shore to modern "integrated tourism complexes made up of luxurious five star hotels, marinas and golf courses," in the tourist-speak now practiced in this enchanted, enchanting part of Mexico. I think there's even a four-lane highway. Now, luxury hotels, including all-inclusive properties, have sprung up on the Riviera Maya -- mercifully lower-rise and with less density than other coastal resorts. If you want swimming pools, palapas, fine dining and a family-friendly resort environment, the Riviera Maya has those in abundance.
There are also tourist developments that appear to be enlightened and enlightening. Xel-Ha is described as "open-sea aquarium offer[ing] a myriad of land and water activities, ecological attractions, world-class restaurants and countless more unimaginable experiences." I'm intrigued by the concept of a responsible attraction that protects wildlife, marinelife, birdlife and habitat while offering the kinds of safe experiences that many travelers, especially families, seek today. Another attraction that appears to combine gentle adventure, visitor education and resource protection is Xplor, which provides an opportunity to swim through a stalctatie river, hand-paddle an undrground raft and ride a zipline above the trees and water, all of which seem designed to protect the natural resources. The two-seat amphibious vehicles that "conquer all terrains between jungle, water, rocks and grottos" -- maybe not so much.
If you prefer a vibrant town with a lots of amenities aimed at visitors, Plaza del Carmen is such a place. No longer a laid-back Mexican town, it has been developed a good culinary presence and an interesting art and music scene. It also has an abundance of tourist shops, tourist-trap bars, gringo-ized restaurants and even a WalMart. I wouldn't go back for those, but I would for the arts, the festivals and the chance for some of the nearby eco-opportunities, including cenote snorkeling or diving -- and of course, to revisit the ruins at Tulum.
Clearly, presentations, like that given by the Riviera Maya representatives make everything look great, even facilities not normally of interest. What impressed me about this one was the range of accommodations now available, from backpacker-friendly to five-star luxury, presenting something for every type of Mexico-bound traveler. And from what I'm hearing, prices for the rest of 2010 (until Christmas) are rockbottom low, even at top properties. Summer is a season of high heat and low prices, but consider a deal at a complete resort with a great beach, a large pool and air conditioning, where the heat won't bother you.
Head to Playa del Carmen on Thursday evening, when it's cooler, for a weekly cultural and street festival starting at 8:00. 5ta. Avenida in Playa del Carmen, the main street, features painting , sculpture, dance, poetry, theatre, photography, performance art and video. Come fall, festival season kicks up again.
Dominica Bus Accident Injures Cruise Passengers
Celebrity Summit passengers on shore excursion injured when bus went off the road
I got an E-mail from friends who are on a short Caribbean cruise with the message, "Hi -- we are having a great time. One of the excursions in Dominica came to a bad end yesterday, but we were not involved. Just in case it made the news I want to reassure you that we are fine. Cruising is all that it is made out to be."
Of course, I immediately Googled the incident and found a USA Today report headlined, "Sixteen Cruise Ship Passengers Injured in Bus Accident on Dominica." According to the report, "The guests had signed up for the 'Caribbean Cooking Adventure' shore excursion, in which they joined local culinary experts to learn how to prepare and present traditional Caribbean dishes. The three-and-a-half hour tour concludes with a scenic drive through [the capital city of Roseau] before returning to the pier."
As I wrote recently, I felt as if I dodged the proverbial bullet in Cairo by crossing Hussein Square and visiting the Khan al-Khalili shortly before Sunday's explosion, and I "almost" dodged the bullet here too. If I had been on that ship, that's the shore excursion I would have selected.
I got an E-mail from friends who are on a short Caribbean cruise with the message, "Hi -- we are having a great time. One of the excursions in Dominica came to a bad end yesterday, but we were not involved. Just in case it made the news I want to reassure you that we are fine. Cruising is all that it is made out to be."
Of course, I immediately Googled the incident and found a USA Today report headlined, "Sixteen Cruise Ship Passengers Injured in Bus Accident on Dominica." According to the report, "The guests had signed up for the 'Caribbean Cooking Adventure' shore excursion, in which they joined local culinary experts to learn how to prepare and present traditional Caribbean dishes. The three-and-a-half hour tour concludes with a scenic drive through [the capital city of Roseau] before returning to the pier."
As I wrote recently, I felt as if I dodged the proverbial bullet in Cairo by crossing Hussein Square and visiting the Khan al-Khalili shortly before Sunday's explosion, and I "almost" dodged the bullet here too. If I had been on that ship, that's the shore excursion I would have selected.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
US Airways Rescinds Beverage Charge
After the miraculous water landing of a US Airways Airbus in the frigid Hudson River on January 15 with no loss of life, people were feeling benign toward the carrier. Good feelings only go so far, however. The airline was the only major airline to charge coach passengers for non-alcoholic beverages ($1 for coffee or tea; $2 for bottled water or soft drinks). This annoyed passengers like me, who recently flew Denver-Charlotte and Charlotte-JFK.
As of March 1, these booze-free beverages will again be free. "The beverage program was distracting from the outstanding improvements in on-time performance and baggage handling U.S. Airways' 34,000 employees worked so hard to achieve last year," was the way a US Airways spokesman explained it, trying to put a good spin on a bad policy. The carrier will continue to charge for include checked baggage, certain desirable seats and the new "U.S. Airways Power-Nap Sack," which is their marketing term for a blanket and a pillow.
As of March 1, these booze-free beverages will again be free. "The beverage program was distracting from the outstanding improvements in on-time performance and baggage handling U.S. Airways' 34,000 employees worked so hard to achieve last year," was the way a US Airways spokesman explained it, trying to put a good spin on a bad policy. The carrier will continue to charge for include checked baggage, certain desirable seats and the new "U.S. Airways Power-Nap Sack," which is their marketing term for a blanket and a pillow.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Colorado Streamflow Easing
Raft outfitter association sends out reassuring bulletin
Fast snowmelt resulted in some wild rides, several capsizings and a some loss of life on the rivers of Colorado, and probably other Western states too, this spring. Boulder Creek was closed to tubing but open to kaying; there is no commercial rafting on the narrow stream. A bridge in Boulder Canyon washed out a couple of days ago, and the recreation path alongside the creek was closed for several hours for fear of surging water overlflowing the banks. But things appear to be easing to safer levels for recreational raft trips, not just for whitewater junkies.
The Colorado River Outfitters' Association just released the following, which I present without comment:
Fast snowmelt resulted in some wild rides, several capsizings and a some loss of life on the rivers of Colorado, and probably other Western states too, this spring. Boulder Creek was closed to tubing but open to kaying; there is no commercial rafting on the narrow stream. A bridge in Boulder Canyon washed out a couple of days ago, and the recreation path alongside the creek was closed for several hours for fear of surging water overlflowing the banks. But things appear to be easing to safer levels for recreational raft trips, not just for whitewater junkies.
The Colorado River Outfitters' Association just released the following, which I present without comment:
"The robust spring runoff that has garnered much media attention in recent days has begun to level off, signifying a transition from early season conditions to the heart of the annual operating period for Colorado’s rafting industry.
“'Water levels on rivers from Clear Creek to the Arkansas and the Colorado are down as much as 20% from yesterday,' noted Johnny Cantamesssa, president of Dillon-based Highside Adventure Tours and a member of the board of directors for the Colorado River Outfitters Association.
"As happens in most good water years, the early season runoff brought out the adrenaline junkies but also led to some hesitation among inexperienced rafters, those with children and those who simply like a mellower time on the water. Now, says Cantamessa, there’s no reason the entire spectrum of river enthusiasts shouldn’t be eager to sign up with one of Colorado’s many licensed commercial outfitters.
“'Conditions are great for rafting – there’s still exciting whitewater for those who enjoy the big rapids, but opportunities abound for those looking for a more gentle river experience as well,' said Cantamessa.
"In 2009, Colorado’s professional river outfitters hosted around a half million visitors and contributed more than $140 million in economic impact. A recovering economy, good water and a recognition of the significant recreation value represented by rafting – trips can range from $40-$50 per day to several hundred dollars for overnight, multi-day experiences – are expected to generate good business for CROA members and the state again this season."
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