Hotel room coffee makers are kinda gross, is there a good travel kettle and, if so, what is the best travel kettle?

Wait, what’s the problem?

Hear me out. Hotel room coffee makers are indeed disgusting. Coffee makers are meant to be things that simply heat water and dispense it over coffee. Some of them use pods, some use little discs that go in a tray, and others are just a good ole’ drip coffee maker.

There are videos of people “cooking” chicken in the coffee makers of hotel rooms.

Do. Not. Do. That.

I also like tea, especially in the evenings when I have a little peppermint tea before I go to bed. It’s my ritual. The in-room coffee makers always make the tea taste like coffee and that ruins the tea. Since I’m in the U.S. we don’t typically have kettles in our hotel rooms like many European places do.

It would be nice to get rid of the coffee taste and not worry about the cleanliness of the coffee maker. I don’t know about you, but I’m not a huge fan of coq au coffee…

What is available?

My search proved that there were only a small number of what I think of as portable kettles. To be qualified as portable, I wanted them to be about the size of a tumbler mug, easily fit in a carry on bag or backpack, and able to boil water. The kettles also had to be made with a stainless steel heating chamber (some models had plastic walls and that is unacceptable).

Those qualities ruled out all but a few “portable” or “travel” kettles and left me with three to trial.

The first kettle is from a company called Nicewell. It was the smallest of the bunch, but the most pleasing to the eye. The next was from balbali (yes, it’s lower case) which was the largest of them but also the most utilitarian. Last is the Conyee which came in the middle of the sizes and also had a small cloth bag to protect it, which was a nice touch.

Here’s a few stated specs and features comparing them.

* The model changes, but it does have color options.

As you can see, these kettles are all pretty straightforward and don’t come with a lot of extra features. I also will take a moment to explain the grades of stainless steel. All processed metals have different grades to them with each grade being for a different application. These grades are not necessarily indicative of quality, they are to indicate the intended use case. Stainless steel grades 304 and 316 are both food safe and used in cooking products but 316 is more resistant to corrosion, specifically the type of corrosion from salt water.

Testing Parameters

To find the best travel kettle I needed to test these three candidates and see how they performed in the task of heating water. To do so, I devised a testing environment that gave consistent conditions to observe performance. I also used my personal electric kettle to create a standard to compare against.

Here are the conditions:

• Time how long it takes to heat cold tap water at two different temperatures. First at 175°F setting, then at the boil/212°F.
• Each timed test will use 300ml of water.
• Temperature accuracy will also be measured by temping the water once it is poured into the mug. Temperature is taken using a food grade thermometer and the water will be poured into a warm mug.
• The test at each temperature will performed twice, chilling the kettle with cold water in between.

To answer questions that I anticipate some of you may ask, here are my answers.

Why use a warmed up mug? Because warming a cup is common practice for both coffee and tea drinkers. I recommend that you try warming your mug at home. Just fill your mug with hot tap water and let it sit to absorb the heat while the coffee finishes.

What is the rationale for 300ml? That is a volume the all the kettles could hold and it is slightly more than one U.S. cup and about the right volume for a large ceramic mug or small tumbler mug.

Could the Conyee be the best travel kettle?

Why measure the temperature after pouring? Because the tea or coffee brewed with the water should be made in a separate mug or another vessel. You should not brew the tea or coffee in the kettle as that will stain and corrode the material.

Did you temp the tap water? No, because you cannot precisely control the temp of the tap water in the real world and I wanted to replicate that fact.

Is there a reason for the use of Fahrenheit? Yes, because that is what the kettles are programmed with. 175°F becomes 79.5°C and 212°F is, you guessed it, 100°C.

Are 175°F and 212°F chosen for a particular reason? Absolutely, those are two of the most common brewing temps for hot beverages and will likely be used most often.

Did you actually have a food grade thermometer already? Yes.

Why? I have my own espresso machine after spending years as a barista and I use the thermometer for steaming milk and occasional candy making.

Being a barista didn’t cause you hate making lattes? Weirdly, no.

Results

The baseline of my tests from the home kettle was made with a Cuisinart model, specifically this one. I quite like it and have been using it for years. It may not be as stylish as some other electric kettles, and more expensive, but the performance and simple to use features make it superior to anything else I’ve had. Here is how it performed:

Here is how the travel kettles performed:

* The thermos never achieved the target temperature in this run and I ended it at 4:45. In the second test I let it continue and it did, finally, arrive at the temperature after 9 minutes.

Conclusions

Right out of the gate I want to make clear that I never expected the Cuisinart and the various travel kettles to perform at the same level. That shouldn’t surprise anyone that a dedicated countertop kettle outperforms the small travel ones. I included it so that people could have a baseline when comparing these travel kettles to kettles that you might be used to.

There’s another element that I expected, which is the measured temperatures being less than the target temp. Most kettles like this have a thermostat that is designed to turn the heat plate off once it detects the target temp. Most of the thermostats are on the bottom of the kettle since that is the part that will always have water on it, no matter the volume of water being heated. The water nearest the heat plate will always be hotter than the water higher up in the chamber, meaning that the water isn’t evenly heated when it turns off. Some models continue to run for a few seconds after the target temp is reached to make sure all the water is that temperature, but these models here do not seem to do that.

That isn’t the only reason the measured temp will be lower. There are other factors, such as the mug absorbing some of the heat as well as energy loss to the air. These things cannot be accounted for with a thermostat. However, poorly calibrated thermostats could also play a part, which is what I am suspecting happened with some of these.

The balbali didn’t quite measure up to be the best travel kettle.

The results made clear that there is a problem with the balbali at 175°F. The components seem to be poorly calibrated for that temperature. During testing it appeared as though the heating element would turn off prematurely. I actually ran the test 5 times and only once did it heat up the 175°F at the time I expected, which was around 5 minutes. Every other time it took 9 minutes or longer.

What’s bizarre is that the balbali heated to boiling the fastest of the three travel kettles. Obviously the fact that it has the largest heating element helps with that and it makes the 175°F issue all the more frustrating.

Nicewell, conversely, was very consistent with the temperature. Job well done to whoever calibrated that kettle! It did, however take a while to reach 175°F, which doesn’t surprise me much because it had the smallest heating element.

The Conyee heated faster than the other two models to 175°F, but it also didn’t come anywhere near 175°F in the actual temp. I suspect that is because the thermostat being used is poorly calibrated. It also didn’t even break 200°F when set to boil/212, which furthers my suspicion regarding calibration.

Something else that isn’t conveyed with the data is that the Conyee seems to be a model that any seller can purchase. I saw many listings with nearly identical models to this one on Amazon. That’s not to say it’s bad, but it likely didn’t have the same thought put into it as the other two models, particularly the Nicewell which I cannot find any similar models to online.

The Winner?

I’m picking the Nicewell and here’s why. There’s a level of design and engineering that went into this that I simply don’t see in the other two. It’s stylish, very portable, and consistent to an extreme. These are all things that matter to me. I’m willing to take the slightly longer heating times in exchange for reliability.

The Nicewell is the best travel kettle!

The balbali clearly had calibration issues, but it did heat quickly to boil. It also has the largest volume so if you have a larger mug or tumbler, or perhaps if you are making tea for two, it will out perform the others. The increased size may turn some people off given that it will be more of a hassle to carry around. The Nicewell fits easily into a backpack or side pocket, the balbali… not so much. That means that you’ll have to give it more consideration in your packing. Between the size and the calibration, it’s just not quite what I have in mind, but it still could perform quite well for your needs and, I’ll be completely honest, when I travel with Nichole, I’ll probably bring the balbali because of the volume.

The Conyee, I would pick last. It never reached the target temps, by large margins, and it seems to be something that you can buy from dozens of different sellers. Does it work? Yes, but that’s about it. The one advantage it has is that it’s the cheapest, after that it’s getting beat in every regard.

If you’re interested in other travel gear reviews, check out my article on The Best Travel Humidifier.

The post The Best Travel Kettles appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.

“To our Guests: all flights have been cancelled, and customer service is no longer available, we are proud of the impact of our ultra-low-cost model on the industry over the last 34 years and had hoped to serve our Guests for many years to come.”

Following this message, they ceased all operations, leaving 277 flights on that day alone cancelled and the passengers stranded where they were.

Wall Street Journal first reported this turn of events was likely only the afternoon before, so the sudden shuttering caught a lot of people off guard.

In response, most major airlines have put out special offers and discounted rates to the people affected by the closure.

So now that Spirit is gone, how exactly did we get here?

Spirit Airlines Financial Issues

Spirit Airlines began its life as, believe it or not, Clipper Trucking Company in 1964. They appear to have been quite successful as by 1974, just ten years later, the company changed its name to Ground Air Transfer and then, only nine years after that, they changed their name again. In 1983, the company started flying as Charter One Airlines, which eventually changed its name, again, to Spirit Airlines in May of 1992.

Its business model was to offer very basic flights at ultra-low fares. Of course, as many people know, they would also throw in fees for any possible add-ons should you choose to buy them. This model let them undercut the larger players in the industry, even as those airlines merged and became more monopolistic in their markets.

As Spirit Airlines Shuts Down, a look back at when they started. By Aero Icarus from Zürich,

The next 28 years saw the airline grow consistently. At their peak, the carrier was the 7^th largest in the US. However, they ran into serious trouble during the COVID pandemic in 2020 when global travel ground to a halt. Although they, like their competitors in the industry, received financial aid in the Coronavirus Air, Relief and Economic Security Act, otherwise known as CARES, instability for the airline still followed the pandemic.

Beginning in February of 2022, there were several attempts by both Frontier and JetBlue to acquire Spirit Airlines. The first proposal came from Frontier Airlines, which offered a mix of cash and stock for $2.9 billion to Spirit’s shareholders. In April of the same year, JetBlue offered an all-cash deal worth $3.6 billion.

Both of these offers were initially rejected by Spirit’s shareholders. JetBlue was the first to be turned away in May of 2022, then came the rejection of Frontier in July of that year. In rejecting JetBlue, Spirit indicated that it believed that the Justice Department would reject the deal on the basis that it was anticompetitive. However, the rejection of Frontier seems to be a little more… simple. Spirit decided to reconsider JetBlue’s offer and accept it.

The warning that Spirit gave about the acquisition being challenged proved to be quite prescient, though, because it was. Over the next, nearly, two years the DOJ challenged the purchase and by March of 2024, JetBlue ended their efforts to acquire Spirit. In January of 2024, a judge blocked the takeover attempt writing in the decisions that the deal was anticompetitive. By November of that year, Spirit declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Only a few months later, in January of 2025, Frontier Airlines once again offered to purchase Spirit. The offer was for $2.1 billion in cash and stock but, unlike last time Spirit did not reject the offer. However, nothing seems to have ever come from this offer nor the negotiations.

Spirit completed their bankruptcy and restructuring that began in November 2024, in March but by August of 2025 they entered bankruptcy again.

The Final Nail

The final nail in the coffin for Spirit came in February 2026 when the United States and Israel engaged in a joint attack of Iran leading to the shutting down of the Strait of Hormuz. With the critical waterway shut down, gas and oil prices have continued to climb rapidly, affecting industries all over the world, including air travel. As you’ve likely heard, there’s a jet fuel shortage hitting Europe now, causing many airlines to cancel flights and consolidate schedules.

The shortage of fuel shot the price skyrocketing. These increases in costs pushed the flagging Spirit Airlines to the edge. In April of 2026, just last month, Spirit was seeking a government bailout to keep from collapsing. On May 1^st, those bailout negotiations with the Trump administration fell apart and less than 24 hours later they announced the complete shuttering of operations.

Spirit Airlines specifically cited the Iran War and the spiking fuel costs as the reason for its shutdown.

Conclusion

There were thousands of passengers left stranded by this closure, and I can only imagine how much luggage will forever remain lost. We are likely to see the fallout of this for years to come. There are now thousands of staff that are out of a job, and billions of dollars’ worth of equipment that is now sitting unused. There are also fewer options for consumers to choose for their travel.

I’m not sure why Spirit couldn’t come out of the pandemic with any amount of stability. There was a travel boom that sprung forth from lockdown being lifted, they just didn’t seem to be able to fully capitalize on it. By the time you’re reading this, most stranded passengers are likely already home or have sorted out their return plans.

On a personal note, to all of the staff that are now searching for what to do next, you have my empathy. I know all too well what it’s like to have your job unexpectedly taken from you. I wish you all the best in finding your next job or step in life.

*Image Credit: Acroterion – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=163002246

The post Spirit Airlines Shuts Down appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.

This is your guide to Virgin Voyages deals. Virgin Voyages is shaking up the cruise industry with its bold new approach. Setting itself apart from traditional cruise lines, Virgin has a strict No-Kids policy, leads the way in environment-friendly cruising, and includes more in the base fare than any similar cruise line. Discover the latest Virgin Voyages deals for an unforgettable cruise experience.

Virgin Voyages continually rolls out an assortment of offers and promotions—some combine, others not. Keeping track of these deals can be complicated. Here’s our up-to-date guide, designed to keep you informed.

Please note: Virgin Voyages deals often include sales on select sailings which only last a few days. They won’t be included in this article.

If you would like to find special group rates, or special individual sales, check out this SubReddit.

Current Primary Virgin Offer

Buy one, get 70% off the second sailor for eligible cabins, XL sea terrace and below to insider cabins.

The current primary promotion is for new booking made until May 28.

This combines with the MNVV use, loyalty offers (see referral bar tab below), Paid in Full discount, resident rates, and military-first responder rates. Lock it in rates do not qualify.

Sail on the any of the four Lady Ships with Virgin Voyages deals.

What’s a Bar Tab? What’s Sailor Loot?

Bar Tab is prepaid credit you have received through a promotion or purchased before the cruise.  It is credit you can spend onboard toward the cost of alcohol, smoothies, mocktails, energy drinks,  specialty coffees and teas, and fresh pressed juice.

Sailor Loot is what is typically called onboard credit or OBC. This money can be spent on bar tab items but can also be spent on shore excursions (if you book them while on board), spa services, extra cost items in the restaurants such as a tomahawk steak, tattoos, room service charges, specialty coffees and teas, mocktails, bingo cards, gambling, onboard events that come with an extra charge, or to purchase items in the gift shops. You can even buy a hammock! Once you have spent your Bar Tab money, they will charge the remaining drinks to your Sailor Loot. When that runs out, they will charge your credit card.

In both cases, if you do not spend it by the end of the trip, you lose it.

This is what you’ll spend bar tab on.

If you wish to purchase more bar tab before the cruise, there are bonuses: Virgin Voyages offer sailors the opportunity to buy a ‘Bar Tab’ before they sail. Bar Tab can be purchased in several ‘chunks’ each with a corresponding bonus if you buy it before the cruise. While Virgin often sells these at the terminal as you board, it is safest to buy it at least a few days before your sailing. Once you are onboard the bonuses are not available.

• $200 Bar Tab: Bonus $25 (12.5% extra)
• $300 Bar Tab: Bonus $50 (16.7% extra)
• $500 Bar Tab: Bonus $100 (20% extra)
• $750 Bar Tab: Bonus $175 (23.3% extra)
• $1000 Bar Tab: Bonus $250 (25% extra)

If you would like to look at bar menus to get an idea of prices, we have put this together (dinner menus too).

Virgin’s Standard Discounted Rates

Virgin has long-standing discounted rates for specific types of sailors. They often don’t combine with other offers but can provide some of the lowest fares. These are not offered on every sailing and usually appear only a few months or weeks before the sailing date.

1. Resident Discount Rates. For any of these rates, you will need to show proof of residency.
   • Florida
   • Georgia
   • Puerto Rico
   • New York
   • New Jersey
   • Connecticut
   • Mexico
   • Canada
2. U.S. or Canadian First Responders or Active or Retired Military. These include active, veteran, spouses, or surviving spouses of any branch of the military. First responders include firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, and police. ID proof will be necessary when checking in at the port.
3. Solo Travelers. Solo travelers often get stuck paying double as cruise lines tend to charge per cabin. Virgin often offers Solo sailor rates at discounted prices. Read more below.

Is this your first time sailing Virgin? Get Free Bar Tab!

Virgin Voyages has a referral program which can get you extra free Bar Tab on your first sailing. Ask us for a referral code BEFORE you book, and you can qualify for a free $150 bar tab on any cabin except for a lock-it-in rate or Mega Rock Star.

This offer does not combine with many other offers.

If you have sailed Virgin before, you can get a referral code link to share with your friends. You can earn $150 free bar tab for every successful referral you make and can spend them on your sailings for up to a year. You can use up to of 2 per sailing for up to $300 free bar tab.

My Next Virgin Voyage Certificates (MNVVs)

There are two kinds of MNVVs, however, Virgin discontinued the older version, which was more generous, so only the new version is regularly available.

We often have new style MNVVs available for our clients’ use. If you’re interested, find our contact us links at the bottom of this article.

My Next Virgin Voyages (MNVV) certificates which can only be purchased while sailing on Virgin. It is what other cruise lines call a future voyage deposit, but Virgin’s is more generous than most. We buy batches when we sail with Virgin so that we can share them with our clients. They can be transferred to another person once, and because they represent such great perks. To use one, you reimburse us the $150 we paid for it, and we use it to make a new booking in your name. The $150 is then applied as payment toward your deposit when we use the certificate.

• If you book a cruise of 4-5 days with your MNVV: You get $150 discount off the price of your cabin and $150 Sailor Loot (On Board Credit)
• If you book a cruise of 6-8 days with your MNVV: You get $200 discount off the price of your cabin and $200 Sailor Loot (On Board Credit)
• If you book a cruise of 9 days or more with your MNVV: You get $250 discount off the price of your cabin and $250 Sailor Loot (On Board Credit)

These certificates only work on a sea terrace (balcony) or better, not a lock-it-in rate. They expire after two years and are non-refundable. If you have one you will not use, we and other travel advisors often reimburse for them for the use of other clients.

Important: Buy these while on board. If you buy them after you sail they usually have the loot but not the discount.

The old style MNVVs cost $300 but provided a $300 discount and added $600 on board credit sailor loot.

There are plenty of “sweet” deals to be had!

There is another type called a “Lasting Glow.” If you missed buying one onboard you can sometimes buy one after you sail but it typically includes only the sailor loot, not the discount. We recommend always buying onboard to get the best value.

Lock-It-In Rates

When these are offered, they are the lowest prices you will see. But they come with many restrictions. The internet is littered with tales of woe from people who booked a lock-it-in rate without understanding the fine print and who later need to cancel or change.

While the rate is good there are serious restrictions to consider before you choose any lock-it-in rate:

• No Cabin Changes: Once assigned, cabin changes are not allowed, this means you could be left with a less desirable cabin such as a noisy cabin. Or, booking a sea terrace, one that has no hammock or has a metal balcony.
• No Date Changes: Cruise date changes are restricted, and no future voyage credit will be provided if you change your cruise date.
• No Refunds: There are no refunds available once booked and  they are not eligible for flexible policies. This means the usual 7 day period to cancel for a full refund does not apply with a lock-it-in rate.
• Unknown Cabin: You might not know your cabin number until you sail, as assignments can occur up to and including the day you sail.
• No Referral Code Bonuses.
• MNVV Restrictions: You can not use a My Next Virgin Voyage Placeholder on Sea Terrace Lock It In Rates (it can be used on Rockstar and Mega Rockstar Lock It In Rates)

If you do decide to book, we strongly suggest purchasing travel insurance from an outside vendor. We have had many clients who had a last-minute health emergency, or who had to cancel due to family illness.

Pay In Full and Save

Paid In Full Discount. If you book a cruise more than a year before sailing, on most sailings you can pay in full and save 10% off the price after port fees and taxes. This does not apply to suites or lock-it-in rates.

Reduced Single Supplement Rates

Solo travelers love Virgin Voyages as the Virgin provides many opportunities for solo meet-ups and activities. Contact us and we’ll tell you which sailings have this discount.

More information

If you’re still wondering about Virgin Voyages or have specific questions, some of our most popular articles might help.

• Virgin Voyages Dining Guide
• Splash of Romance
• Virgin Voyages Fitness
• Scarlet Lady Lucky Lotus
• Sailing as a Mega Rockstar

Of course, if you don’t see the exact question you’re interested in, contact us and we’ll help.

The post Guide to the Best Virgin Voyages Deals – May 2026 Edition appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.

Importantly, EES is a different program than ETIAS, which is a separate program that we’ve covered previously. Because these two programs are being implemented around the same time, let’s highlight some of the details and differences.

EES:

• You don’t need to do anything before traveling.
• Biometric data will be collected at entry. Children under 12 years of age will not be fingerprinted.
• It does not require paying an entry fee.
• Applies to all non-EU and non-Schengen passport holders.

ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorization System)

• You do need to complete a digital application form before you travel.
• Basic traveler information will be collected at application, but this program does not capture biometric data.
• There is a €20 fee due at time of application. The fee can be waived for people under 18 and over 70.
• Applies to any visa-free nationals that are traveling to these European countries.

The EES should become faster over time, but it’s quite slow right now.

These two programs have different aims. Going through the EES happens every time a traveler enters or leaves any of these countries and it is intended to track the movements of travelers through them. ETIAS is intended to raise money and control entry before travel. Additionally, the EES is active now and ETIAS is being rolled out in the last quarter of 2026.

Right now, the EES seems to be slowing down entry to Europe. Just a matter of two weeks ago, we had personal experience entering the travel zone at the Lisbon cruise terminal. Disembarkation took several hours to clear customs. That’s not great news for upcoming travels but, in the long run, European officials hope that EES will speed up the process.

For the moment, make sure that you plan for extra time to enter Europe.

Also, please note that these changes do not apply to the UK which, rather famously, is not part of Europe, I mean the EU. Indeed, The United Kingdom has it’s own travel fees coming online.

Princess Pours Program, What Is It?

The next update that might interest our readers is a major one from Princess Cruises. Just over a week ago, Princess announced that they are launching a new POURS collection, which will be arriving this summer.

As the name implies, this program is Princess looking to step up their game in the cocktail and mocktail experience. This collection isn’t another beverage package, it’s more of a marketing stunt. Princess wants to capture people’s attention by showing off nice drinks, and they’ve pulled in celebrities to help with that.

The announcement includes promotional images with Matthew and Camila McConaughey, Liev Schreiber​, Jason Momoa, Blaine Halvorson, Jon Bon Jovi and Jesse Bongiovi, and more besides. These stars aren’t just there for pictures, they all have their own alcohols that will now be served on Princess Cruises’ ships. From the McConaughey’s Pantalones Tequila to Kylie Minogue’s no alcohol sparkling rosé.

With the POURS program, you’ll be saying, “Alright, alright, alright…”

As I said, this isn’t a new drinks package so these new beverages will be included in Princess Plus and Premier. Which is nice to hear, since those programs got a price hike a while back.

My favorite thing about this is that as part of this revamp, Princess Cruises is markedly increasing the number of mocktails and other non-alcoholic drinks on offer. This is wonderful news for any sailor that doesn’t drink alcohol, like Nichole. These new offerings include drinks like the Hibiscus Zenberry Crush and Golden Orchard, which bring a level of sophistication without the hangover.

Given the shifting trends in alcohol consumption by the youngest generations, Princess is likely reading the room and looking to enhance their options. With Gen Z consuming far less alcohol than previous generations, increasing NA offerings will appeal to a larger portion of that market. Older generations still consume alcohol at pretty much the same rate between them, but over the years consumers of all ages have trended toward higher quality and more sophisticated drinks. The POURS program hits both of those desires and will step up Princess’ game at the bar, which is something I’m quite glad to see them do.

United Airline Changes: The Good and the Bad

United Airlines has announced several changes recently which are being met with both joy and annoyance.

First, United announced that they will begin kicking people off flights should they be listening to music or shows without headphones. In other words, if someone is broadcasting whatever they are watching to the whole cabin, you may be removed from the plane. While I haven’t personally encountered behavior like this before, it was apparently happening enough that they felt the need to create a rule for it.

Let it be known that if you fly United, you should bring some headphones. Or maybe a book. I really loved A Gentleman In Moscow, so I would pick that up.

In slightly less welcome news, United recently announced Fare Options, separating each seat type into three new forms, Base, Standard, and Flexible. These fare options will have different costs and different rules associated with them.

New fares from United means that you’ll be paying more for miles.

For example, a Base fare ticket will be charged extra if you want to choose your seat location, while a Standard and Flexible fare will let you choose the seat. Similarly, the Base fare will get one checked bag, while the others will have 2 bags. Flexible operates much more like Standard, but can get a refund, while the other two typically do not.

Finally Base Fare, even in business class, doesn’t earn miles when flying or give lounge access. This means you could pay top dollar for a Polaris seat and not get to stay at their special lounge or get a single mile for the flight if you choose the Base Fare option.

This puts United much more in line with how Delta has operated since they announced their fare options around this time last year. All of this comes on the heels of United cutting back their milage program to make it much harder to earn miles outside of the higher-cost seats.

I’ve included a chart from United so you can see some of the restrictions placed on the base fare. The chart you see is specific to Polaris, which is United’s top tier long haul flight cabin. As you can see, the base fare has plenty of restrictions on it.

I wrote an article last year that asked if airline status is worth it. These changes give me one more reason to say, no. I say, fly the best rate in the best seat you care to pay for, and whichever airline that’s with is who you fly on – diamond be damned.

The post You Need To Plan For Long Wait Times With EES appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.

Oh… You’re still here. You want an explanation, you say? Well then, I guess I’ll explain.

Can cruise ships really just change your itinerary?

Once again, yes, cruise ships can just change your itinerary with, basically, no notice. The cruise lines reserve the right to amend, alter, and cancel any part of the cruise, including any ports, and even cancel the entire sailing. To show you what I mean, let’s take a look at a contract from Princess Cruises. It’s a typical representation of a passage contract, which is what you agree to when you book a cruise.

Here is an excerpt from Princess Cruises passage contract:

Except as otherwise provided, Carrier may, for any reason, without prior notice, cancel the cruise; deviate from the scheduled ports of call, route and timetable; call or omit to call at any port or place or cancel or modify any activity on or off the vessel; comply with all governmental laws and orders given by governmental authorities; render assistance to preserve life and property; or change the date or time of sailing or arrival, change the port of embarkation or disembarkation, shorten the Cruise or substitute vessels, aircraft or other transportation or lodging.

Since most people are not versed in legalese, the “Carrier”, in this case, means the cruise line and that wall of text means they can change itinerary plans with no prior notification and they can do so for any reason. The passage contract continues:

Accordingly, You should not make any important arrangements or meetings based on the scheduled Cruise, which may change without liability to Carrier.  Furthermore, the Captain of the vessel as well as the operator of any other means of transportation may, in his/her sole discretion, take any action deemed necessary for the safety, security, comfort, or well-being of any person or to prevent damage to or loss of the vessel.

In other words, this is the cruise line advising you, the passenger, not to make important plans around the cruise ship arriving at where or when its scheduled to arrive. “Important plans” is open to some interpretation, but that could be something like a wedding, a business meeting, a funeral, even a medical appointment. The contract goes on to give notice that the Captain of the ship has the power to, at their sole discretion, change plans and take actions to keep people safe, secure, and comfortable and do the same for the ship itself.

This is just the first paragraph of Section 8, which covers schedule deviations, of 18 sections in the contract. There are three more paragraphs in Section 8 alone.

Lawyers be thorough.

To be clear, I am not one and this is not professional legal interpretation. Additionally, just to be doubly clear, Princess is not being singled out here. That language is similar to other lines, and I chose it because Princess is one of the largest cruise companies in the world so many people have taken a cruise under that exact language.

Should This Make Me Nervous?

Let’s step back and have a reality check about this for a second. When legal structure comes into play it starts to feel intimidating to many folks, which I get. However, this is not the time to hit the panic button.

The reason that this language exists is to protect the cruise companies from lawsuits because they didn’t go to a specific port on the itinerary and ensure that the captain of the cruise ship can make the call to keep a ship safe and undamaged even if it means that the passengers don’t get to go to The Bahamas.

It’s good to ask, can a cruise just change the itinerary, but it’s not a common occurrence.

In practice, this doesn’t really impact your typical cruise all that much. It’s not like cruise lines are out here just taking people’s money and telling them to get bent every time they leave port. It’s in the cruise line’s interest to give the passengers a good time so they want to come back and, broadly speaking, people want more cruises. The cruise industry has grown consistently over the decades to be one of the most popular ways to vacation, especially for families.

Customers often don’t go back to companies when they have a bad time and given the growth of the industry it’s reasonable to conclude that most people are having a good time on cruises.

That’s not to say that bad times don’t happen, though. What you need to know is what to prepare for.

Why do these changes happen?

To understand why the cruise lines reserve the power to change the cruise without prior notice, we need to discuss the realities of sailing.

The moment you step onto a cruise ship, you are embarking on one of the largest vehicles and most complex systems ever created. Take a moment to think about all the things that a cruise ship is, what it contains, and the tasks it performs. It contains hundred or even thousands of hotel rooms for guests, hundreds more rooms for the staff, not to mention the commons spaces like bars or theaters for people to spend time in. There are desalination plants to provide fresh water, there is an engine to propel the ship and provide power to every inch of the vessel. There is a brig, medical facilities, food preparation and storage to feed thousands of people every day. Most have at least one pool, many have two or more, there are hot tubs, gyms, spas, and shops. All of it needs to be cleaned, daily, and the ship is ten stories tall, or more, above the water.

Oh, the water. I almost forgot. The entire thing floats on the ocean and needs to navigate, safely, waters that can experience 100+ mph winds and waves that crest 40 feet or more.

Careful consideration needs to be given to the safety of all the people on board and all the equipment. That’s not something to be taken lightly and cruise lines will do what they need to keep you out of harm’s way. The reason you so rarely hear stories of ships navigating weather like that is because they take pains to avoid it, even if it means skipping ports or changing destinations.

The weather doesn’t even need to be that extreme to cause a problem. Some ports have narrow channels or shallows that could wreak havoc on a massive ship being piloted through tight spaces. If the waves and currents are too strong, ships might not be able to safely dock.

Besides the weather, another reason that needs to be considered is medical emergencies. Sometimes this means that a person needs to be evacuated from the ship and that means changes to schedules or experiences. I’ve taken several cruises that diverted for medical emergencies where we stopped at ports that weren’t planned on so someone could get lifesaving care.

Other considerations are widespread violence or war. We’ve seen companies scuttle destinations or pull out of entire regions because of both of those. Earlier this year, Mexican cartel violence exploded and some lines skipped Mexican ports. On the other side of the world, cruise ships no longer go through the Red Sea because of war in Yemen and ships being threatened.

I’ve given examples of just a few things, but once you consider the complexity of everything at play you start to understand the caution needed. Ships don’t like to change plans because they pick up fuel and supplies at some stops and sourcing all their various needs becomes more challenging the more itineraries are altered. They also, let’s not forget, want you to have a good time and changing plans makes that harder to do in many cases.

While all that is true, the bottom line for a cruise ship is that none of that comes before safety and security.

What recourse do you have?

If the plans change and your entire cruise is altered, there are still obligations that the cruise line has to you but, there are also things they are not obligated to do. Let’s start with what they are obligated to do.

Should the cruise line not stop at a port, they do need to refund you the port fee that you paid. Most of the time these fees are between $5 – $15 per person for each port. They also need to refund you any excursions that were booked at that port, if, and this is critical,you booked it through the cruise line. If youbooked thatexcursion on your own, outside of the cruise company, that loss is on you.

Additionally, if a cruise is shorter in length than what you paid for, you are likely entitled to compensation. As an example, if you paid for a 10 night cruise and the sailing only lasted 5 nights, then there is likely a refund of your fare that you are owed, prorated by the portion of the length of the voyage that was completed. In our example that would be a 50% refund. That may even be true in the case of weather causing the shortening.

You also may have paid attention to the phrase, “Except as otherwise provided”, in the passenger contract above. That clause is, really, about mechanical issues. Should a ship suffer mechanical problems, like an engine failure, those are, typically, considered to be the responsibility of the cruise line and, should they occur, the cruise line then becomes liable for some form of compensation to passengers. The specifics of the compensation will vary by situation, but there will be some form of remedy.

There’s another important document that passengers, at least North American ones, should know about when it comes to their rights, the International Cruise Line Passenger Bill of Rights, the PBOR. This document is not a law, but rather a set of rules that has been adopted by oceangoing members of CLIA, the Cruise Lines International Association. The PBOR outlines certain rights that these companies guarantee for passengers sailing on their ships. Take a few minutes and read it over, it isn’t dense legalese or complex, but it is important.

Beyond what I’ve stated above, there is nothing that a cruise line is obligated to do should they change your itinerary. They owe you no refund, explanation, or apology.

That, and this is true, does not mean that it doesn’t suck if they do that.

What can you do?

Well, there’s really only one thing that you can do should a cruise line decide to change all the plans and not tell you until it’s happening – complain.

There isn’t a better answer than that, truly. Complaining about the way that you were treated or how much the situation sucks is the only thing you can, realistically, do. With that in mind, I’m going to share my advice on how to complain most effectively.

Here are my bona fides on complaining.

• Manager of customer service call center that served 100,000+ customers.
• Food service employee, supervisor, and restaurant manager for 5+ years.
• Twenty years working in customer service and customer engagement and retention.

Believe me when I tell you, I know how to effectively complain.

Here’s the strategy:

1. Do not be rude. Personal insults, hostility, name calling, etc., will always get you little or nothing. The company has more money, PR, and lawyers than you do and the employees are often cogs in a machine given little ability to override policy or compensate people. What abilities, and mental/emotional bandwidth, they do have will not be used on a person who belittles them.
2. Know your rights. Understanding exactly what your rights are gives you grounding in the conversation. Not all employees fully understand the rights of the consumer, not out of maliciousness, but because most call centers suck at providing training to their staff and that’s something that’s only getting worse in my opinion. If you have firm ground to stand on with your argument, you are in a much better position should you need to escalate it.
3. Be firm and consistent. Know what you are looking to get before you complain. If you are looking for an amount, state that amount and don’t change it. It doesn’t mean you are going to get it, but being consistent in what you ask for makes you seem more reasonable.
4. Contact your travel agent. We travel agents have some pull with these companies. I don’t want to overstate our influence, but we do have a different relationship with them than you do as a consumer. If you book through a travel agent, we can help take up the fight with you and coordinate our efforts. There’s also the advantage that we can help advise you on the first three points.
5. As a last resort, publicly air your grievance. Sometimes shaming a company can get results. They want to control their image as much as possible and a public display of your bad interaction can bring about actions. However, you still need to follow the first three rules when you do this. If you post something publicly and you just make yourself look bad, it won’t help your case. Being courteous, professional, informed, and consistent are absolutely key to this working.

This is not a huge problem

I’ve just put more than two thousand words down, explaining the legal structure of passenger contracts and what your rights are under them. That’s a lot of information but it really isn’t that big of deal most of the time.

I’ve sailed on cruises more than most people; it’s part of my job. Changing or cancelling ports has only happened to me once. Yes, we missed some ports we wanted to see because bad weather made it unsafe to stop. In the grand scheme of things, that’s a small problem. The line gave our port fees back and we got some onboard credit for the trouble. I wish we could have stopped there, but sometimes things can’t be helped.

I’ve said this before, many times, but sometimes your job as a traveler is to roll with the punches. No one can control everything in life, and it can get messed up. Keep a level head, try to have a positive attitude and, if something goes wrong, follow the advice I gave above.

The post Can A Cruise Just Change The Itinerary Last Minute? appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.

These are some sights that you simply can’t miss. (Also, they’re my personal favorites because I’m writing the article and I get to choose.)

Lumberjack Shows

Some folks seem to resist doing touristy things when they’re traveling. I can understand the feeling a bit, but I would recommend that, at least sometimes, you just let yourself do the touristy thing because it’s usually fun. Lumberjack shows definitely fall into the category of touristy and also into the category of fun.

I haven’t been able to go to one yet, but I will be when I go on an Alaskan cruise with Virgin Voyages later this year and that’s got me really excited! I love watching lumberjack competitions. The skill, physicality, and absolutely ridiculous nature of them are perfect. If you grew up in the 90s, like me, Lumberjack shows are a bit like an adult version of Nickelodeon’s GUTS.

Ketchikan hosts the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show and it’s the classic display of axe swingin’. There’s also six foot saws, log floats, and massive chainsaws. It’s touristy as all get out and you won’t regret going.

Whale Watching

In the chilly waters of Alaska there are eight whale species that you might see. Humpback, Gray, Right, Orca, Minke, Beluga, Bowhead, and Blue whales all live beneath the waves up there. Of course, as an avid Star Trek IV fan, humpbacks pique my interest the most, but seeing any of these would be amazing.

The whale watching tour I had in Juneau was absolutely one of the best Alaskan cruise excursions!

This is one of the photos I took the last time I was whale watching in Juneau. In the late spring and early summer, humpbacks are arriving from their annual migration from the waters around Hawaii. They also bring their newborn calves with them and you might get a chance, like I did, to see them playing in the water.

There’s no shortage of opportunities to whale watch when you’re on the Alaskan coastline. Every town that you stop at will have some opportunity to go sightseeing for some cetaceans. Most of the whale watching excursions combine it with something else, like going to a glacier. Speaking of glaciers…

Mendenhall Glacier

Mendenhall glacier, which sits just outside of Juneau, is something that has to be seen to be believed. I can describe it to you, but it won’t do it justice. The total size of the glacier is just over 13.5 miles in length and, though the height is constantly varying, the face of the glacier is around 100 feet tall. It sits inside the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area, a region of more than 5,800 acres nested in the larger Tongass National Forest.

I visited Mendenhall glacier immediately after I went whale watching.

Near the glacier’s terminus is a waterfall known as Nugget falls, which is, somewhat unbelievably, fed by another glacier, the Nugget glacier. This isn’t a small waterfall either at over 377 feet high, making it more than twice as high as Niagara. Next to Mendenhall, it looks like a quaint tumbling of water.

Mendenhall glacier, which sits just outside of Juneau, is something that has to be seen to be believed. I can describe it to you, but it won’t do it justice. The total size of the glacier is just over 13.5 miles in length and, though the height is constantly varying, the face of the glacier is around 100 feet tall. It sits inside the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area, a region of more than 5,800 acres nested in the larger Tongass National Forest.

Near the glacier’s terminus is a waterfall known as Nugget falls, which is, somewhat unbelievably, fed by another glacier, the Nugget glacier. This isn’t a small waterfall either at over 377 feet high, making it more than twice as high as Niagara. Next to Mendenhall, it looks like a quaint tumbling of water.

There’s a visitor center where you can learn about the glacier’s history and it’s retreat due to global warming from climate change. For those inclined to walk, there are hiking trails that go right up to Nugget falls and get closer to the glacier face. You can also book a kayaking tour onto Lake Mendenhall and see the amazing wall of ice  from the water.

White Pass and Yukon Route Train

Located in Skagway, it’s likely the biggest single attraction in the small town. There are multiple trains running several times throughout the day. Riding the rail will entail a telling of the history of it’s construction, of Skagway itself, and the surrounding area. Lest you be wary of a boring lecture, the story of Skagway is far from that. The grizzled tale involves a crime boss and conman, an engineering marvel, a town all but held hostage by a “military company” during the Spanish-American War, falling boulders the size of a house, and a bloody and desperate gold rush that fueled it all.

The best Alaskan cruise excursions bring you views like this.

History aside, the views afforded by the ride are unparalleled and worth a trip to Alaska on their own. The train takes you high into the mountains surrounding the small town as the rail goes from the Skagway port and climbs over 2800 feet to reach the summit of White Pass and cross, briefly, into Canada’s Yukon.

After the ride is over, you can visit the original White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad administration building which is now the Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park museum. Inside, you can learn even more about the stunning history of the town and its historic sites.

Helicopter and Airplane Sightseeing

There are two hotspots for aerial sightseeing, Juneau and Skagway. Each offers many options of airborne touring, soaring above glaciers, mountains, bays, and rivers. They all have guides to tell you about what you’re seeing and it’s importance to the area. Few places around the world offer so many chances to fly aboard a helicopter, even for a short period of time. In Alaska, however, you’re spoiled for choice.

Admittedly, I’ve not yet had the chance to do a helicopter tour, despite a long-lived desire to take one. These are, after all, one of the more expensive activities that you can participate in, which is a consideration when you’re making vacation plans. The opportunities to soar above the land are never more plentiful than in Alaska, though, and if it’s something that you want to experience, I would say that this is something that you really should consider.

Rainforest Hikes

When most people think of a rainforest, they think of the Amazon. It’s the most famous and it’s exactly what you’d expect from a tropical rainforest. Hot and humid, a thick canopy of leaves above your head, vines, rivers, the quintessential jungle. That’s not the only kind of rainforest, there’s also a temperate rainforest and that’s exactly what is found in Alaska.

The Tongass National Forest is the largest U.S. National Forest, making up a space larger than 10 U.S. states and 75 U.N. nations. Most of the national forest is a temperate rain forest, keeping more mild temperatures than surrounding areas. Sitka, for example, rarely experiences below freezing weather or temperatures above 60° F (15° C). It does rain a lot though. It’s a rainforest, so… that’s sort of what it does.

The roots of a living tree I walked under. Where else can you experience this?

Sitka offers some truly spectacular guided hiking opportunities where you will see things that you didn’t know could exist. On my two hour and change hike, I walked under the roots of a living tree, saw bald eagles diving for fish, climbed to a meadow that felt like it was transported straight out of Middle Earth, and learned about bears purposely giving themselves natural stool softeners. I promise you, I am not making that up.

There’s so Many Choices

This list is not exhaustive, not at all, but these are the types of things that I enjoy most or, in the case of helicopters and lumberjack shows, still want to experience. I know that when I first went to Alaska, I didn’t know what there was to do and I was a bit overwhelmed with the choices. I hope that this helps you a little in making a choice on what to do but know this, once you go to Alaska, you’ll want to go back.

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What’s the Weather Like?

No matter where you’re going, knowing what to pack revolves a lot around the weather and, unless you are a father in your late 50s or older, it’s unlikely that you keep track of the weather in any place other than where you live. Given that, and this is true, most of us do not live in Alaska, you probably don’t have any idea what the weather is like there. Good news, though, because I looked that up for you.

The Alaska Travel Industry Association has a page on their website dedicated to briefly describing the weather during different parts of the year. I’ve taken their descriptions, and other information I was able to find to create a very broad description of each month. It may surprise you that there’s quite a range of weather that you can experience throughout the Alaskan tourism season, which runs mid-May through mid-September.

Here’s how that breaks down:

Starting in May, the average daytime temps range from 40-55 degrees Fahrenheit or 4.5-13 degrees for my Celsius challenged friends. May skies are usually overcast or mostly cloudy with some scattered or light rain and 16-18 hours of daylight.

Typical Alaskan weather in May.

In June the average temperature ranges from 50-70 degrees Fahrenheit or 10-21 degrees Celsius. The skies are clearer and the days are drier. This time of year brings something special, specifically the summer solstice, where, in parts of Alaska, you will get 24 hours of sunlight. Having experienced close to that in Iceland, I can attest that it is truly amazing.

Moving on to July, which is the warmest month, you’ll feel temps ranging from 55-75 degrees Fahrenheit or 13-14 degrees Celsius. Although, some days it does get above 80 and even 90 degrees Fahrenheit or 26.5 to 32 degrees Celcius. Skies above will be mostly sunny and clear with 18-20 hours of daylight.

By August it’s cooling down a bit and fall is approaching. Temps are between 50-60 degrees Fahrenheit or 10-15.5 degrees Celsius. The weather turns back to overcast and rainy but there’s still 14-16 hours of daylight.

Once September arrives, though, things start to get fairly chilly as the average temps are between 35-50 degrees Fahrenheit or 1.5-13 degrees Celsius. As autumn rolls in, it’s often rainy and frost regularly forms overnight.

Clothing Advice and List

When it comes to your clothing, knowing what to pack for Alaksa, much like ogres, is all about layers. Throughout the season you can see that there are temperature swings of 15°-20°F (5°-10°C) during the day. That means that you’re going to want a light jacket, possibly fleece, (like this one) on the outside and a lighter piece of clothing, like a long or short sleeved t-shirt under it.

Personally, during the shoulder months of May and September, I would advise taking a water resistant or waterproof jacket as your outer layer because it was often misting or lightly raining when I was there. Many, but not all, windbreakers are water shedding and could be a good fit for this.

High quality socks are also a good idea. I personally like using merino wool socks. They dry out quickly and keep you warm. Bringing premium socks is doubly important if you plan on doing any hiking or other vigorous outdoor activities. I suppose that during June and July, the type of sock you have probably matters less, given the drier weather, but the rest of the season you’ll find this advice helpful.

I would also recommend a hat of some sort. During the rainy parts of the season, a good water-shedding hat will keep your head dry and during the sunny parts of the season it’ll keep the sun out of your eyes – and there’s a lot of sun!

I use a hat like this because I prefer function over form for this sort of thing. Which is a polite way of saying I don’t mind looking dorky but being comfortable.

As for footwear, that’s very dependent on what you are planning on doing. If you are planning a hike, I recommend bringing a pair of hiking boots or shoes. The trails that you hike on are marked and well-trod, but they are not sidewalks or paved. Sneakers or running shoes are fine if you’re just walking around town or doing a crab or fish feast. Don’t bother with sandals or flip-flops, leave them at home.

• Light out layer, possibly fleece. You may water it to be waterproof if visiting in May or September.
• Good quality socks, I suggest merino wool, especially if you’re hiking or doing other vigorous outdoor activities.
• A hat. If you have a hat that sheds water, that’s a good trait, but during sun or rain, a hat is very beneficial.
• Bring appropriate shoes for your activities. If you are hiking, bring hiking footwear. If you’re not doing vigorous activities outside, sneakers are okay. Forget the sandals.

Cruise Specific Clothing

Most cruise goers have their cruising experience in warm climates, but Alaska isn’t that. There’s unlikely to be good weather for you to lay out on the deck. Most outdoor activities on the ship will be less comfortable than they are in the Caribbean, for example. Sun dresses and shorts are probably not the right choice. Jeans, slacks, cardigans, sweaters, those are better picks. Evening attire depends on the cruise line, but plan to incorporate warmer things in your outfit.

Pools are sometimes heated on cruise ships, but not always, so before you pack any swimwear, check the specific ship you are going on and see if that ship heats their pool or pools. If they aren’t heated, they are almost certainly not warm enough to be used comfortably in Alaska. However, if there are hot tubs on your ship, which there often are, those can be fun to use, especially if you like a little bit chilly air on your nose while the rest of you is warm in the water.

• Bring warmer clothes than you would on a Caribbean cruise.
• Long pants are a must and if you want to wear a dress or gown, bring a wrap of some sort to keep you a bit warmer up top.

Accessories

Alaska is one of the most stunning places that you’ll ever visit and there’s a few things that you may regret if you don’t bring them. Some of these are activity dependent (you don’t need trekking poles to ride on a scenic railway), so use your best judgement one what ones you will personally benefit from.

Binoculars

No matter what you’re doing in Alaska, you’ll want to be able to see things a little better and a good pair of binoculars is perfect for a trip like this. Some cruise lines will provide binoculars in cabins, but most do not, and the lines that do provide them don’t provide great ones either. No matter how you’re visiting Alaska, though, you’ll want a pair for yourself.

You don’t want to miss a sight like this,

To get an idea of what I’m talking about, here’s a link to my Alaska album. There’s a lot of photos in it, so jump around as you see fit. I was able to use my telephoto lens to bring all that nature a bit closer to me and I think you’ll want to do the same.

There’s a big quality difference between the $25-$50 range and when you jump up to $100+. If that’s worth it to you, I’ve read very good things about this pair from Vortex.

I don’t personally own a pair of these, but from what I’ve read in reviews, people’s experiences are quite positive. They provide a 10x magnification and a fairly wide viewing angle without being too heavy to hold. They should last for many, many years and come with a case and strap.

Now, if you are open to spending more and getting the benefits of image stabilization technology, then you can step up to this pair from Canon.

I own a pair of these (of slightly older model). I’ve used them for wildlife spotting and birding for about 10 years. The image stabilization tech is astoundingly cool, making gazing through them much easier, but the price was certainly a jump. Strictly speaking, I don’t think it’s necessary to buy these if you are not going to use them more than for this trip, but they are very fun.

No matter what you choose, you’ll thank yourself for picking up a pair.

Trekking Poles

Getting a nice pair of trekking poles can be very beneficial if you plan on traversing some more difficult or slippery terrain. The key to a good pole, though, is that it fits you. Adjustable poles make that easier, but you still need to know the range of height you need.

Here’s a simple guide:

To know if your poles are a good fit, the most common test is to bend your arm at the elbow out at a 90° angle from your body and make it parallel to the ground. Your pole should fit right into your hand and preserve that 90° angle while the tip rests on the ground. Since everyone is a different height, getting adjustable poles is very helpful for getting the sizing correct and giving you adjustability for different terrain.

I quite like this pair, which I own, but I would recommend that you go to a store to try the poles out in person if that’s possible for you to do.

They’re extremely lightweight, not even a pound, and they have helpful length markers so you can zero in the correct height for you quite quickly.

One thing to note about trekking poles. If you’re flying, these must go in checked baggage. Don’t try to put them in your carry-on, you won’t be allowed to fly with them.

Humidifier

This is likely only necessary when going to Alaska in May or September, but I assure you that it’s very helpful. I have an entire article on the best travel humidifiers here. Read it over and pick up the best one for your needs.

The post What to Pack For Alaska appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.

Late last week, an executive order was signed that commanded TSA agents to be paid. This should not be confused with Congress passing a funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security, far from it. Disfunction still remains within the halls of Capitol Hill and no bill to fund DHS has been passed by both chambers. However, airport wait times dropped on Monday to normal levels.

Where does that leave all of us?

What Was Going On?

The partial government shutdown that’s been going on for more than a month is over Department of Homeland Security funding. DHS includes the Coast Guard, TSA, and Customs and Border Protection, which houses ICE. That last agency is what the impasse revolves around, with Democrats refusing to fund ICE further and Republicans wanting to continue funding ICE as normal.

As the shutdown has dragged on, the funding to pay employees in DHS evaporated. ICE, however, was given a massive funding increase in the reconciliation process last year in Congress and they continue to be paid out of those funds. The relevant impacts for travelers is that ICE has now been deployed to airports and the TSA was working without pay.

I covered this previously and it remains true that it is unclear what ICE agents are doing or can do to support TSA operations. The lack of pay was driving callouts and resignations by TSA agents, leading to huge wait time increases at security screening checkpoints around the nation. Many commented, around the internet, that TSA agents working without pay while watching ICE agents get paid, further embittering them to the entire situation. I cannot say how true that is, but the sentiment is understandable.

TSA Gets Paid

Over the weekend, an executive order was issued that charged DHS to pay TSA employees. Monday, payments hit employee bank accounts and wait times at major airports seem to be down. How is that possible without funding from Congress?

Typically, the answer is, it’s not. However, the reconciliation bill passed last year, which contained the large funding increase for ICE, and is apparently being used to pay TSA agents. It remains unclear whether the move is legal or not. The impacts of the move are clear, though, as callouts at major airports have dropped so have the wait times at security checkpoints.

In the meantime, Congress failed to agree on a measure to restore DHS funding. The Senate passed a resolution to fund DHS, except for ICE, but the House rejected that and responded with their own measure that funded ICE and the rest of the DHS. In turn, the Senate rejected the House measure.

What Does This Mean For Travel?

While TSA agents have been paid, the measure is a temporary one at best. Congress holds the power of the purse and has been unable to agree on how to fund DHS. That means that no more funding is flowing to the agency, which is to say zero, than it was before the executive order to pay TSA agents.

Without an agreement from Congress, the root of the problem remains, and funding for the TSA will hang over every traveler’s head like the Sword of Damocles. It’s possible that someone challenges the legality of the payments, which could put us back at square one. It’s possible that this won’t last for long and we may find ourselves back here within a few weeks. The only remedy is passage of a funding bill, which the two chambers seem to be unable to agree on and the White House has indicated they may not sign even if they do pass legislation.

This funding failure by the U.S. elected representatives has put us all in a quagmire of uncertainty. In February, TSA PreCheck and Global Entrty were shut down. Then PreCheck was almost immediately reinstated following intense backlash from the public. Some days later, Global Entry resumed, although that bit of news was under reported by comparison because we were then dealing with the effects of war with Iran.

It’s good news that TSA agents are getting paid. When people do work, they must be paid for it. It would be better if they were paid in a way that didn’t raise questions of legality. For now, though, the crisis of wait times and paying TSA agents has been mitigated and the wait times at airports have gone back to normal.

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TSA Staffing Issues

The Department of Homeland has been experiencing a partial shutdown for nearly 40 days now. TSA, Coast Guard, FEMA, and other agencies are all impacted by the impasse in the federal government. It’s been more than a month since TSA agents have been paid and it is affecting the staffing levels at airports.

Most of the staffing issues are being blamed on absenteeism. DHS officials have stated that recent call out rates are over 10% for security officers, compared to a typical rate of around 2%. That figure is an average and specific absenteeism rates for your airport may be higher or lower. DHS has also reported that 366 TSA officers have quit their job. I could not verify if the absentee or resignation rates are abnormally high, but not being paid does not incentivize going to work so an increase would make sense.

Reduced staffing has lead to increased wait times in airports all around the country. Screening lines in New Orleans, Atlanta, New York, and Houston, among many others, have been reported taking travelers hours to clear. Some travelers even posted to social media that they arrived more than four hours early to their New Orleans flight and still missed it.

The Trump administration has now deployed ICE agents to airports for the stated purpose of alleviating the burdens on TSA agents. The efficacy of that move is unknown at this point and the largest federal workers union has warned that ICE agents are not trained to be TSA agents and it won’t help the situation.

Airport Shutdowns

Adding to the worries is a lingering warning from Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy that small airports may shut down if funding is not restored. The comments were made last week to multiple outlets.

The Secretary warned that the shortage of screeners at TSA checkpoints may lead to closing “small airports.” There have not been specific airports listed, but the theory is that larger airports could consolidate their screening lines to fewer points to deal with reduced staffing but that smaller airports may only have one screening point that may be unstaffed. If there is no security screening, then passengers cannot board planes and the airport may need to close.

With hundreds of airports throughout the country, keeping any eye on your own airport and being ready for last minute adjustments is essential for you to do.

Rising Costs

The ongoing war with Iran has disrupted global shipping and energy supply. Plane ticket costs rose dramatically in some cases and have remained fairly flat in others. As a travel agency we have a unique perspective in that we are often quoting flights and tracking their costs for clients.

As I’ve written about, some flights that we’ve observed have risen by more than 20% in price since before the war began. Other flights have remained largely flat in price, rising only slightly, by only around $20.

Unpredictability appears to be the name of the game here. Trying to plan around pricing of flights does not appear to be following typical ups and downs and, like I said in other articles, buying when you are comfortable with the cost is the best approach right now. There are a few things that are holding true; buying flights several months out (4-7 months specifically) is better than buying closer, busier seasonal flights (like spring break to popular cities) are more expensive than slower times of the year, and using price trackers is a good idea. Google flights is a good tracker for the price of tickets if you’ve never used one before.

What can you do?

The most important thing to do right now is keep an eye on your local airport status. The DHS shutdown is rapidly evolving and is very unpredictable. I continue to see reports that there are productive conversations going on in congress. However, I’ve been seeing similar statements since the start of the shutdown, and I can’t say how accurate they are.

The shutdown may continue for some time, it also might be over by the time this is published. With no way to know, keep yourself apprised of what’s happening at your local airport. Obviously, you should also give yourself a lot of time to get through security. I mean at least 3 hours, maybe 4. If there are airport shutdowns, reaching out to the airline your are booked with is the best place to start.

I truly wish that I didn’t have to relay frustrating travel information to you, but my job is to keep you informed of things in travel you need to know, even if that news isn’t great.

The post Potential Airport Shutdowns On The Horizon appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.

New Restaurant on the Valiant Lady

Just a matter of days ago, Virgin Voyages announced that they will be making an update to the Razzle Dazzle restaurant on the Valiant Lady. The fact that they are changing the restaurant isn’t news at this point, since they announced that they would be changing it quite some time ago, but we hadn’t learned what cuisine it would be until now.

The new establishment will be called Ariya and it will feature Indian dishes “reimagined with contemporary flair.” Frankly, I’m a bit clueless as to what that last part means and I’ve worked in food service to know puffery when I see it. Don’t misconstrue this, though, I am very much looking forward to trying the new restaurant.

Virgin Voyages’ New Restaraunt – Ariya

Virgin posted some delicious sounding previews from the menu:

• Golgappa Shot: crisp pani puri, chilled spiced herb water
• Malabar Coconut Crab Cake: golden crab cake, coconut spice, green papaya slaw
• Lamb Shank Biryani: papadum, fragrant saffron basmati
• Eggplant Saag Napoleon: roasted eggplant, creamy spinach saag, crisp papadum
• Gulab Jamun Stuffed Cheesecake: cheesecake, saffron-cardamom donut bites

There will also be a complimentary jaljeera, which they describe as, “a chilled blend of tamarind, cumin, mint, and lemon.” This will be served to greet sailors as they arrive at the restaurant, similar to the beverage served when you dine at Test Kitchen.

It’s long been speculated that Virgin would announce an Indian restaurant to update Razzle Dazzle. Previously they created Lucky Lotus and Rojo, which I wrote about and had very high praise for. The roots of Razzle Dazzle, were in vegan and vegetarian forward dishes, which Indian cuisine is exceptionally good at, making Aryia a wisely chosen successor.

Pier Changes in New York

The inaugural New York season for Virgin Voyages was centered at Pier 90 in Manhattan, where the ship’s departed from and returned to. However, Pier 90 is closed to receive infrastructure updates, creating capacity issues at the Manhattan terminal. Virgin moved their 2026 operations to the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal as the capacity issues forced them to move.

Passengers who had booked impacted itineraries have been notified by the cruise line of the changes, but if you’re thinking about taking a New York sailing this Spring or Fall you should know that the departing location has changed. Here’s which sailings are impacted:

April of 2026

• 5-night Sailing: The Big Apple to Bermuda – April 6, 2026
• 5-night Sailing: Virgin Voyages Comedy Fest New York – April 11, 2026
• 9-night Sailing: Bermuda Beauty to East Coast Elegance – April 16, 2026
• 14-night Sailing: New York Transatlantic Crossing to Spain – April 25, 2026

September of 2026:

• 8-night Sailing: Fall Foliage in Canada & New England – September 19, 2026
• 5-night Sailing: The Big Apple to Bermuda – September 27, 2026

October of 2026:

• 5-night Sailing: The Big Apple to Bermuda – October 2, 2026
• 6-night Sailing: New York to Bermuda (& Back) – October 7, 2026
• 6-night Sailing: New York to Bermuda (& Back) – October 13, 2026
• 12-night Sailing: NY to San Juan: Bermuda & Caribbean – October 19, 2026

The difference in leaving from Brooklyn as opposed to Manhattan isn’t that much of an impact – as long as you go to the correct pier.

The Brilliant Lady Docked at Pier 90 in New York City

Having sailed from the Manhattan Cruise Terminal, I can confidently say that, yes, it needs these updates. Literally, whatever they are updating it needs it. The staff handled everything wonderfully and boarding was incredibly smooth, but the infrastructure was obviously in need of refurbishment and replacement. The overhaul is more than replacing carpets and benches, this will be significant.

New York Sailings Disappear

What’s more concerning is that after the fall of 2026, New York appears nowhere on their deployment chart, which is a cruise line’s plan for where their ships will be deployed. That means that for 2027, Virgin Voyages will not be sailing from the Big Apple. The deployment chart that we have goes until March of 2028, so it is possible that New York may be restored in Spring and Summer of that year, but we cannot be sure.

As of writing Virgin has made no public comment on why they are abandoning one of their “home ports.” In 2024, when the Brilliant Lady was announced, Virgin proclaimed, with no small amount of fanfare, that New York would be a new East Coast home for them. The popular New York – Bahamas/Carolinas cruises make a strong seasonal market and the scarlet cruise line wanted a piece of it. It makes their backing out all the more mysterious and disappointing.

Virgin Voyages 2026-Mar 2028 Deploayment Chart

We have reached out to Virgin for comment and will update this piece if we get a response.  Until we are told otherwise, however, we can only speculate on why they are pulling out of this market – which is what I shall now do!

I suspect that this has something to do with the cruise terminal overhaul at Pier 90. When cruise companies make their schedules, they are looking 12-24 months out. The updates to Pier 90 are expected to take several years to complete and that is going to crunch the capacity of the New York market for the duration. That could mean that docking fees are rising in the area because of the reduction in capacity. It’s also possible that the availability of docks is incompatible with the other schedules that Virgin has already lined up.

It wouldn’t be the first time that Virgin has been forced to abandon a market due to forces outside their control. When the line launched, Australia and New Zeeland were very popular itineraries for them. They were selling well and people raved about the line in that market. Then, conflict broke out in Yemen and it made traversing the Red Sea quite a bit more dangerous, causing Virgin to cancel Australia and New Zeeland sailings. That conflict has not subsided and, as I’ve written about, the Middle East region hasn’t proven to be safer since then.

Hopefully we’ll see a restoration of the sailings from old New York, since I adored my time on one of them. Until then, there’s plenty of other reasons to visit the city.

The post Virgin Voyages New Restaurant and New York Changes appeared first on Far Far Away Travels.