Royal Caribbean Opens $250 Million Private Island In The Bahamas, Perfect Day At CocoCay

Royal Caribbean Redefines Thrill and Chill with Tallest Waterslide in North America, Caribbean’s Largest Freshwater Pool, Highest Vantage Point in The Bahamas and More

MIAMI– Unlike any private island the world has ever seen, Royal Caribbean International’s highly anticipated Perfect Day at CocoCay – the first in the cruise line’s new Perfect Day Island Collection of next-level private destinations around the world – is now open. The $250 million transformation of the line’s private island in The Bahamas debuts a combination of first-of-their-kind thrills and one-of-a-kind ways to chill that forever changes what is possible in a vacation destination. From plunging down the tallest waterslide in North America and traveling up to 450 feet in the air in the Up, Up and Away helium balloon, to conquering the Caribbean’s largest wave pool, thrill seekers can find plenty of ways to put their courage to the test. For those looking to relax, Perfect Day features the Caribbean’s largest freshwater pool, Oasis Lagoon; and pristine, white sand beaches with crystal-clear tropical water, so guests of all ages can create their perfect beach day – no matter what that may look like.

“Royal Caribbean is the proven leader when it comes to pushing the envelope in cruise ship design and the experiences offered at sea,” said Michael Bayley, President and CEO, Royal Caribbean International. “With Perfect Day at CocoCay, we are so proud to bring our 50-year legacy of innovation ashore to transform an incredible island that now completely revolutionizes private destinations in the vacation industry. It is exciting to see what we have dreamed up finally come to life; our guests truly are in for an experience unlike any other.”

Following a grand opening celebration over the weekend, the new Perfect Day at CocoCay is now offering endless discoveries and shareable moments that make for the perfect combination of experiences. Perfect Day at CocoCay is exclusive to guests of Royal Caribbean. From ports in Florida and the Northeast, vacationers can visit the private island destination by sailing on 11 of the global cruise line’s innovative and adventure-packed ships, featuring a series of firsts, such as surfing, skydiving, ice skating and the tallest slide at sea.

Daredevils Wanted at Thrill WaterparkAt the heart of Perfect Day at CocoCay is Thrill Waterpark, daring the most adrenaline-seeking guests to conquer two brag-worthy towers with 13 waterslides – as well as the Caribbean’s largest wave pool and the Adventure Pool with a family friendly obstacle course. Key features include:

• Daredevil’s Tower – Guests can push their limits on seven exhilarating single-rider waterslides of various heights, including the 135-foot-tall Daredevil’s Peak– the tallest waterslide in North America. Additional highlights are the twin Dueling Demon drop slides, launching riders from a vertical position; the Manta Raycers, where friends can race down twin open flume slides; the high-speed, fully vertical Screeching Serpent; and the coiling Green Mamba, a massive aqua tube slide.
• Splash Summit – Adventurous families will share the thrill with six multi-rider slides, including The Slingshot, a zero-gravity slide for four; The Twister, a winding tube slide for two on a tandem raft; and the four-lane Splash Speedway racing slides.
• Wave Pool – Vacationers can ride the tide at the largest wave pool in the Caribbean, where a timer on the back wall counts down to the start of big waves.
• Adventure Pool – This interactive obstacle course on water features floating lily pads, a rock-climbing wall and two swing ropes for guests to bounce, climb and swing to their heart’s content.

Above and Beyond with Up, Up and Away        
On Up, Up and Away, everyone scores a view unlike any other from a colorful helium balloon securely tethered to the ground by cable. The signature attraction floats up to 450 feet above Perfect Day at CocoCay, allowing guests to take in the island from the highest vantage point in The Bahamas and capture the ultimate selfie with the private island and the pristine blue waters of The Bahamas as their backdrop.

Playing it Cool at Oasis Lagoon Guests can explore the coves of Oasis Lagoon, the largest freshwater pool in the Caribbean – whether looking to spend time with family, share a few cocktails with friends or simply sit back under the tropical sun. Sunbathers can make their way through three distinct coves, each with a vibe of their own, and swim to the beat of the underwater sound system. Families with small children can splash through water features and jump right into the excitement at the kid-friendly beach entry. On the south side of Oasis Lagoon, pool-goers can sip a frosty Coco Loco at the expansive swim-up bar, catch some sunrays on one of three swim-up islands with in-water loungers, or treat themselves to total relaxation in a private cabana, complete with its own cabana attendant.

Dining Harborside        
At Captain Jack’s, the island hangout and meet-up spot, guests can grab a drink at the rowboat bar, settle into a rope swing seat or snack on the house specialty – chicken wings and fries dipped in signature sauces like mango-habanero and Caribbean jerk. Live jams and harborside views put vacationers in an island state of mind in no time. For more delicious eats, vacationers can also head to Skipper’s Grill for complimentary lunchtime favorites like salads, sandwiches, tacos, burgers, fresh fruit and desserts.

Small Hands on Deck at Captain Jill’s Galleon and Splashaway Bay        
Perfect Day at CocoCay features an array of exciting features for kids of all ages. From three dry slides and 16 water cannons, to rope features and a splash pad, Captain Jill’s Galleon is an interactive play structure loaded with swashbuckling thrills.

Splashaway Bay, the coolest aqua park at sea, is breaking out beyond the deck and coming ashore as the largest one yet. Kids can enjoy bigger adventures than ever before with more fountains, sprinklers and geysers – plus two massive drench buckets and five waterslides, including three racers. Located along the harbor between Captain Jack’s and Skipper’s Grill, this complimentary attraction offers plenty of seating and tables for families.

High-Flying Hangout at the Zip Line     
Leave cares on the ground and soar on the 1,600-foot-long zip-line course that crisscrosses the island, beginning near the arrivals plaza and ending across the harbor.

An Out-of-Office Oasis at Chill Island   
Miles away from ordinary with pristine, crystal-clear tropical waters and white powder-like sand is Chill Island, the island escape travelers dream about. Chill Grill, the largest dining venue on the island, serves up beachside dining at shaded picnic tables on the sand. Guests can also find beach day favorites here, including snorkeling, jet-skiing excursions as well as plentiful cabanas and daybeds for relaxation under the shade. Add in beach bars with roaming bartenders, and guests will truly wish they lived here.

It’s Game on at South Beach Vacationers can fuel their competitive fire on the action-packed South Beach with volleyball, beachside basketball, soccer and paddle boarding. After working up an appetite, grab a bite at the Snack Shack or wade out to the floating bar to cool off with a drink. If relaxation is the game plan, beachfront cabanas are perfect for lounging in the shade.

Elevating the Perfect Beach Day Among the final experiences to be completed, Coco Beach Club is set to open in December. Here, travelers will experience an upscale take on the island’s authentic Caribbean vibes.

• Overwater Cabanas – The first overwater cabanas in The Bahamas will offer discerning guests a new level of laidback luxury. Each with its own slide into the ocean, overwater hammock, shower and dedicated attendant, the exclusive cabanas will have everything vacationers would want for a day of complete indulgence.
• Infinity Pool – Spanning an expansive 2,600-plus feet, this beachfront infinity pool is at the center of Zen with in-water loungers.
• Club and Deck Area – Beachside cabanas and daybeds will provide a private slice of paradise. Elsewhere, guests can enjoy an exclusive dining venue that serves up freshly made Mediterranean fare with a side of ocean views.

For a full list of sailings visiting Perfect Day at CocoCay, visit www.royalcaribbean.com/cococay-cruises. Stay tuned for additional Perfect Day Island Collection destinations in Asia, Australia and Caribbean to be announced at a later date.

Royal Caribbean International has been delivering innovation at sea for more than 50 years. Each successive class of ships is an architectural marvel featuring the latest technology and guest experiences for today’s adventurous traveler. The cruise line continues to revolutionize vacations with itineraries to more than 270 destinations in 73 countries on six continents, including Royal Caribbean’s highly anticipated private island in The Bahamas, Perfect Day at CocoCay, the first in the Perfect Day Island Collection. Royal Caribbean has also been voted “Best Cruise Line Overall” for 16 consecutive years in the Travel Weekly Readers’ Choice Awards.

For additional information or to make reservations, vacationers can call their travel advisor; visit RoyalCaribbean.com; or call (800) ROYAL-CARIBBEAN.

Travelore News: American Airlines Will Reward Fliers Based On Dollars, Not Miles

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FILE - In this Jan. 25, 2016, file photo, a passenger talks on the phone as American Airlines jets... Read more

DALLAS (AP) — American Airlines is following other airlines by basing perks like free flights on how much passengers spend on tickets, not how many miles they fly.

The change, which matches those at Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, starts with flights on Aug. 1 and rewards American's highest-paying passengers.

Elite-status members of American's AAdvantage frequent-flier program will earn bonus miles for every dollar they spend.

American signaled in October that changes were coming, but gave few details until Monday.

AAdvantage has about 100 million members, making it the biggest and the oldest major airline loyalty program. It featured easy math: Fly one mile, earn one mile.

Today that simplicity is a quaint throwback. Airlines now compete fiercely for high-paying customers — they lavish elite travelers with upgraded cabins, lie-flat beds, better food and bigger frequent-flier rewards.

American said most members will earn five miles for every dollar they spend on base fares and carrier-imposed fees. That multiple rises to seven, eight or 11 for elites — gold, platinum and executive-platinum members.

Miles alone will no longer make you elite. Starting Jan. 1, customers will have to hit annual mileage marks and spending minimums, including at least $3,000 for gold and $12,000 for executive-platinum. A fourth level will be added just below executive platinum.

After Delta and United announced that they would switch to spending-based rewards in 2015, American responded by giving bonuses to high-fare customers. American officials decided that the promotion wasn't a dramatic enough change.

But the overhaul of AAdvantage was pushed back last year as the company focused first on integrating American and US Airways following their merger in December 2013. "This was as quick as we could do it," said Bridget Blaise-Shamai, the company's managing director of loyalty.

American, however, denied that AAdvantage's traditional format was causing the airline to lose high-paying customers to rivals.

"If there had been significant book-away, you would have seen it in our revenue," said Casey Norton, spokesman for Fort Worth, Texas-based American Airlines Group Inc.

Besides Delta and United, spending-based rewards are now the rule at Southwest Airlines, JetBlue Airways and Virgin America.

By DAVID KOENIG

D.C. Metro, America's 'Best' Subway, May Shut Down For Months

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More than 829,000 people ride Metro on an average weekday...for now.

Officials announced that the Metro needs a massive overhaul that could take months.

A mere month ago, Washington, D.C.'s public transportation system, known as Metro, was rated the best in the country based on its efficiency. But that crown may be in jeopardy: yesterday, Metro officials announced that the aging subway system is in such dire need of repair that entire lines may be shut down for up to six months.

D.C.'s Metro is the country's second-largest subway system by ridership, with 271 million riders annually. It does not run 24 hours a day, and until now, most repair work has been done at night when the subway is closed, or on weekends. Officials, however, say it is not enough to address all the problems. "The system right now, in order to do the maintenance that needs to be done, cannot be done on three hours a night and on weekends. It just can’t," said Metro Board Chairman and City Council Member Jack Evans, at an invitation-only summit.. "So in order to do repairs that are necessary, it may come to the point where we have to close the entire Blue Line for six months. People will go crazy. But there are going to be hard decisions that have to be made in order to get this fixed."

In the meeting that included high-ranking city officials, business executives and transit experts, Evans twice singled out the Blue Line, which runs from Northern Virginia to Lake Largo in Maryland and stops at popular tourist destinations like the Smithsonian museums and Foggy Bottom, but made sure to emphasize that any of the system's six lines could be subject to long-term closures. At the same meeting, officials emphasized the "dire" need for an increase in annual funding of $1 billion; adding that they expect to decide on closures within a month to six weeks.

D.C. residents were given a preview of the mayhem that unfolds without its subway, when on March 16 the entire system was closed for the day for emergency track maintenance. After the one-day shutdown led to increased congestion both on the road and in the bike lane, officials have vocally expressed concern about what it could mean for commuters if the system was even partially closed for months. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser, who was reportedly not given advance warning of the one-day closure, expressed her concerns in a very Washingtonian (read: ambiguous) way: "Shutting down Metro for one workday was an inconvenience; shutting it down for months at a time will have far-reaching consequences for riders and the entire region,” said her spokesperson Michael Czin. Bowser herself called it a "Homeland Security event," likening it to a blizzard or hurricane.

Written by Sebastian Modak, www.cntraveler.com

A Silver Lining To The AAdvantage Devaluation: Upgrades

by Gary Leff,  Milepoint.com

One bit of good news for members in the AAdvantage program changes that I haven’t seen get any play is that mileage upgrade award charts don’t appear to be changing.

Delta made upgrades a lot more expensive this year. United has many more upgrade price levels, including some more expensive than AAdvantage. But American hasn’t changed their upgrade prices.

American Airlines Boeing 787 Business Class

Upgrades were once the best, most leveraged use of miles. But awards became more flexible (mix and match various alliance partners) while upgrades became more expensive (tons of miles and the introduction of cash co-pays).

United Will Charge You Up to $600 and 35,000 Miles Each Way

United introduced cash co-pays for upgrade awards in 2009. They actually matched American on this — American introduced cash co-pays first.

In mid-2011 United raised the cost of mileage upgrades and increased cash co-pays as well. They went from three fare categories — business class (except for discounted Z fares), full (Y or B) fare coach, and discount fares — to nine separate fare categories each with its own price in terms of miles and cash.

Here’s a portion of the upgrade chart for United flights:

Upgrades cost as much as 35,000 points and $600 each way.

Interestingly when United announced their brutal award chart devaluation in November 2013, theymade some unpleasant tweaks to upgrade rules but didn’t change the upgrade chart.

Delta Will Charge You Up to 115,000 Miles Each Way — and Won’t Let You Upgrade the Cheapest Fares

Delta doesn’t permit upgrades on the cheapest fares at all. You have to buy at least a mid-tier K fare if you want an international upgrade. Here are one way upgrade prices with Delta:

US-Europe

• Y/B/M Fares: 60,000 miles
• S/H/Q/K Fares: 80,000 miles

US-North Asia:

• Y/B/M Fares: 60,000 miles
• S/H/Q/K: 80,000 miles

US-South Asia, Micronesia, Southwest Pacific

• Y/B/M Fares: 80,000 miles
• S/H/Q/K Fares: 115,000 miles

Buy an expensive coach ticket and still spend 230,000 miles roundtrip between the US and South Asia for an upgrade. You’re paying cash for the ticket and spending a ton more than a saver award costs for a ‘free’ ticket. And yet international upgrades on Delta are still super hard to get.

American Charges Up to $550 and 25,000 Miles — and That Didn’t Go Up

American has four levels to their upgrade chart — from discount or full fare economy to business and from discount or full fare business to first.

They don’t waive cash co-pays on domestic mileage upgrades for elite passengers, so they aren’t as friendly as United on this. On the other hand domestic upgrades on all except for premium transcon New York JFK – Los Angeles/San Francisco are usually available.

I’ve always hated cash co-pays, but American’s are a bit cheaper than United’s and the mileage cost to upgrade is lower for American flights than United flights. In fairness to United, American’s international route network is more limited.

Confirmed upgrades at time of booking can be tough of course. But that American’s upgrade pricesaren’t changing as part of the AAdvantage revamp and new award chart going into effect March 22 seemed worth noting.