Best And Worst Airlines For Traveling With Pets

Getting Their Fur Flying: Top Tips for Taking Your Pets On Holiday

• New research by Compare the Market shows the best places to take your pets on holiday, and how to get them there.
• Air France, TUI and Thomas Cook are among the top pet travel options.
• Pitbulls least likely to be allowed to join you on holiday while American Staffordshire Terriers and Staffordshire Terriers are also banned by several countries.

With summer coming up, the entire globe is dreaming of sun, sea and city breaks, with a spike in holiday bookings and wanderlust. However, many of us will also be fretting about our furry friends at home - wouldn’t it be much easier if we could just take them along with us?

Compare the Market has commissioned new research into the most pet-friendly countries and airlines around the globe, so you can take your dog, cat (or meerkat) with you this summer. They’ve also produced a definitive list of the most famous globetrotting animals to give you inspiration - and shed light on the unlucky pets who are less likely to be able to join their owners on holiday.

It’s All About the Journey….

Getting your pet to your chosen location might seem daunting, but most airlines today have a policy in place to allow pets to accompany their owners onboard. While the policies themselves are manifold, no two are the same - so we’ve pulled the top travel options together for you, including:

• Air France - Leaders in the pet transport field, Air France allows you to bring up to three pets along for the cost of an extra suitcase. Pets of up to 75kg (including carrier) can travel with you in the cabin, and you can buy carriers to keep your small friends in comfort. There are also freight options for heavier pets, who’ll be made welcome in their own holding area. 
• Thomas Cook - There’s not only a wide range of animals allowed on Thomas Cook, there’s no maximum weight for pets on holiday either - and you can get them on board for just 15 euros per dossier plus an excess baggage fee. 
• TUI - while a more expensive option - with a total cost of 81.60 euros per pet - TUI allows pets up to 6kg to travel in the cabin alongside you, and heavier pets can be put up in the cargo hold for the duration of the flight. Pets can also be added to an existing flight with a quick call!

While animals are now often a common sight on most airlines, there are some that are best to avoid. EasyJet, Emirates and FlyBe won’t let you onboard with a pet at all, which means you should definitely take time to check flight providers on online packages, especially if they’re different providers both ways!

Pets on Location

Of course, great transport options are only part of your pet’s holiday experience. The location is always the most important part of any holiday, and some countries are more likely to welcome fluffy travellers than others. Compare the Market found some of the most surprising pet-friendly destinations for a trip away were:

• New York - The Big Apple was the most pet-friendly destination, with no bans on pets of any breed. Pets also don’t need their own passport to travel to NYC, and only dogs will need a vet’s certificate proving they’ve had a recent rabies vaccination. Working dogs from certain destinations, including Mexico, may also need to prove that they’ve been vaccinated for tapeworm.
• Tokyo - Your furry friend won’t need a passport to travel to Japan, but you will need to make sure they’re chipped and that you’ve filed an Advanced Notification Form with the Animal Quarantine Service 40 days before you travel. A vet must also complete a Japan Veterinary Certificate before travel, confirming that you’ve had your pet inoculated against Japan’s list of illnesses, including hepatitis for dogs and calicivirus for cats.
• Seoul - Korea is also a fan of pets, and doesn’t require a pet passport if your pet has been properly chipped. While a list of banned animals isn’t published, it is worth enquiring with your travel agent before you book just to make sure, and all animals travelling must be vaccinated against rabies.

When looking into travelling with pets, it is always advisable to look at getting them their own passport, as a third of destinations will require one. An EU passport is your best bet for speedy pet transfers, with most European countries including Spain, Germany and the Netherlands accepting these. Microchips are also required in a whopping 90% of countries, while almost all countries will require your pet to be vaccinated against rabies. Having these three musts up-to-date is a great starting point for globetrotting pets.

Jet Set Pets

Wherever you’re travelling in the world with your pet, there’s no such thing as too much information - whether it’s transport to your destination, which country to choose, or even whether your pet will be able to accompany you on your next adventure.

For full research on Jet Set Pets and where to take them, visit Compare the Market’s handy guide for a quick rundown of the best places for ‘petsetters’.   

Hawaii Governor, HTA Praise Norwegian Cruise Line For Resuming Big Island Port Calls

Hawaii Governor David Ige and the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) today praised the decision of Norwegian Cruise Line to begin resuming port calls in Hilo and Kona on the island of Hawaii starting next week.

Hawaii Governor, HTA praise Norwegian Cruise Line

Going forward, Norwegian’s Pride of America cruise ship plans to port for the day in Hilo each Tuesday, starting June 12, and in Kona each Wednesday, starting June 13, as part of its regular cruise schedule in the Hawaiian Islands. 

George D. Szigeti, HTA president and CEO, said, “Visitors who enjoy the Hawaii cruise experience will be thrilled knowing they can port in the island of Hawaii and see for themselves what makes the largest and most environmentally diverse of all the Hawaiian Islands so captivating. We thank Norwegian Cruise Line and appreciate the careful thought their executives put into making this decision, as this message to resume port calls in Hilo and Kona will be valued by potential travelers who are considering a trip to the Hawaiian Islands.”

Norwegian’s Pride of America cruise ship carries up to 2,500 passengers per week and is serviced by 900 crewmembers. Pride of America is home-ported in Honolulu and makes weekly cruise tours throughout the Hawaiian Islands, with port calls in Hilo and Kona on the island of Hawaii; Kahului, Maui; and Nawiliwili, Kauai.

Norwegian had temporarily halted port calls in Hilo and Kona starting the week of May 14 due to concerns about adverse conditions created by the ongoing eruptions of Kilauea volcano.

Kilauea has been an active volcano since 1983 and is one of Hawaii’s most popular attractions. Over the years residents and visitors have been drawn to the wonder of seeing nature at work in the creation of new land via tours or visits to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Most of the park is currently closed until further notice.

Made In America Lineup In Philadelphia Headlined By Meek Mill, Nicki Minaj And Post Malone; September 1-2nd, 2018, Announced Will Continue In Philadelphia 2019

Meek Mill and Nicki Minaj are back together again.

Well, not romantically: But the hip-hop former couple are both scheduled to be headliners of this year’s Budweiser Made in America festival on the Ben Franklin Parkway  on Sept. 1 and 2.

The Philadelphia rapper who was recently released from prison after becoming an international cause célèbre for criminal justice reform, will be joined by Minaj and rising rap star Post Malone, who made his name with the 2015 hit “White Iverson.”

Also on the bill: Multitalented Atlanta R&B star Janelle Monáe, whose Dirty Computeris one of the standout releases of the year, and DJ-producer Diplo, the Major Lazer dance music star (and Temple grad) who got his start in Philadelphia in the mid-2000s.

>> READ MORE: ‘I’m not America’s nightmare, I’m the American dream’: Janelle Monáe’s new kind of protest song

Other notable names include L.A. genre-blending R&B star Miguel, who last played the Ben Franklin Parkway as part of the Wawa Welcome America festival in 2015 and who is a veteran of Made in America from 2013.

Diplo, who recently launched a collaborative project with Mark Ronson called Silk City, named after the Spring Garden Street club where he used to perform, will share electronic dance music headlining duties at the multistage event with Zedd, the Russian German dance music producer who has worked with Lady Gaga and who recently performed after a Phillies game at Citizens Bank Park.

Also playing: Canadian singer Alessia Cara, the 21-year-old pop star who won best new artist at this year’s Grammy Awards, where she joined rapper Logic and singer Khalid on their massive hit “1-800-273-8255,” whose title is the phone number of the National Suicide Hotline.

>> READ MORE: Roots Picnic ends early due to weather

Old school hip-hop is represented in the person of Fat Joe,  the Bronx rapper best known for his 2004 hit “Lean Back.” The last of the headliners is 6lack (pronounced “Black”), the Atlanta singer and songwriter born Ricardo Valdez Valentine who broke out with his 2016 hit “Prblems” and who was a hit with his set at the Roots Picnic on  Saturday, including his cover of Erykah Badu’s “On & On.”

This year’s lineup is extremely heavy with up-and-coming hip-hop and R&B acts. Some of the more established names include Belly (the Canadian Jordanian Palestinian rapper, not the Tanya Donnelly 1990s alt-rock band); singer, rapper, and Kanye West associate Ty Dolla $ign; and Haitian American rapper Rich the Kid (currently beefing with Philly rapper Lil Uzi Vert); Texas rapper Maxo Cream; and New York rapper A$AP Twelvyy, a member of New York rap posse A$AP Mob.

Lesser-knowns include Tokimonsta, the Korean American producer born Jennifer Lee; Philadelphia rapper Zahsosaa; Illinois rapper Kweku Collins; Philly singer and multi-instrumentalist Tiffany Magette, who performs as Orion Sun; itinerant rap crew Hobo Johnson & the Lovemakers; and Scranton emo-rapper Wicca Phase Springs Eternal. Pittsburgh hardcore punk band Code Orange are also on the bill.

This is the second year running and third of the last four that Made in America is without a big-name rock headliner. (The last time the Jay-Z-programmed festival had one was 2016, with soft pop-rockers Coldplay, so it’s unclear whether that counts.)

>> READ MORE: Made in America doesn’t have a rock headliner. Is rock and roll dead?

This year’s festival is a little short on the mega-wattage star power at the top of the bill. Last year, the closing-night headliner was festival kingpin Jay-Z himself. The previous two years, the Saturday night slot was filled by Beyoncè and Rihanna, respectively.

Made in America 2018 aims to make up for it with a trio of acts. Minaj may not be at the level of the biggest of the global superstars who have occupied the top spot at this outdoor, ticketed fest popular with inebriated teenagers, but she is a major star who is set to make a big splash with Queen, her fourth studio album,  due for release in August. She’s also said to be dating Eminem, which is a match made either  in warp-speed hyper-syllabic rap heaven or hell.

Meek Mill belongs at the top of this year’s MIA. He first played the festival in 2015 and was the surprise guest for Jay-Z’s encore last year, topping off the fest in style. Two months later, he was in jail for parole violations, and he wasn’t released on bail until April. This will be the  rapper’s celebration of his freedom on the streets of Philadelphia. It makes too much sense for him to be a headliner.

>> READ MORE: Call it Mud in America: J. Cole underwhelms and what else you may have missed from Made in America Day One

>> READ MORE: Meek Mill joins Jay-Z, Run the Jewels call out the Philly FOP and more of what you missed from Made in America Day Two

Post Malone, who headlined the Festival Pier last month, might seem  an act not on a par in stature with the others, but the 22-year-old rapper and acoustic guitar strummer born Austin Richard Post is an awful lot like a big portion of the MIA audience: He’s young, white, loves hip-hop, and likes to party. Not to mention, his Beerbongs & Bentleys album is a chart-topping success. He’s going to sell a lot of tickets.

Finally, my favorite booking of the festival: Janelle Monáe. The musical polymath played the first MIA in 2012, and she returns this year in support of her most personal and political album, which takes serious its task not just to entertain, but also to protest intolerance and celebrate her vision of funkified America as a diverse and welcoming place. She too was made for Made in America.

So far, this year’s festival is also without a contingent of nationally recognized Philly indie bands, such as Japanese Breakfast and (Sandy) Alex G, who played last year. In some years, those third and fourth stage acts have been added late after the initial announcement. It remains to be seen whether that’ll happen this year.

The presale for two-day passes for American Express cardholders start at 2 p.m. Wednesday via Ticketmaster. Sales to the public begin at 10 a.m. Friday.

by Dan DeLuca, Music Critic  ddeluca@phillynews.com

Princess Cruises Unveils 2019-2020 Mexico Voyages And Enhanced Onboard Offerings

Culinary and Entertainment Experiences Onboard and Ashore Greet Guests Sailing to Mexico

 Global destination leader Princess Cruises will bring the flavors and fun of Mexico in 2019 and 2020 with cruises to top ports of call and enhanced onboard culinary offerings, entertainment options and shore excursions. With more than 50 years of experience sailing the region, Princess Cruises brings guests to the best ports in Mexico including Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlán, and Cabo San Lucas.

Highlights for the 2019-2020 season include the introduction of one of the line's newest ships to Mexico, Royal Princess, for her first full season based in Los Angeles. Royal Princess will offer 27 total departures including seven-day Mexico itineraries, plus opportunities offering guests more time in port with an overnight in Cabo San Lucas on every 5-day Cabo San Lucas Getaway sailing.

As the only cruise line to sail year-round out of San Francisco, Princess also offers Grand Princess roundtrip 10-day Mexico itineraries in 2019. Star Princess will make her return to the west coast in 2019 as well, featuring 10-day Baja Peninsula & Sea of Cortez with roundtrip departures out of Los Angeles with an overnight in Cabo San Lucas.

"Sailing the waters of Mexico honors the heritage of Princess cruising, with our first voyage in 1965 to the Mexican Riviera," said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises president. "Now, we provide guests more opportunities to experience the best of the region through culinary partnerships and immersive shore excursions, all while enjoying longer stays in port."

Developed in collaboration with Bill Esparza, noted author and leading expert on Latin American cuisine, the line's enhanced shore excursion offerings along the west coast take guests off the beaten path, on culinary adventures featuring the local flavors of the region. Esparza has developed culinary shore excursions for Princess in Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán and Puerto Vallarta.

"Developing excursions for Princess guests presented a unique opportunity to provide exposure to local chefs and flavors from Latin America that can only be found on the west coast," said Esparza. "I wanted to present guests with new ingredients, off the beaten path experiences and personalities from around the region to provide the most authentic look into this part of the world."

Guests booking Mexico cruises will also be introduced to the flavors, colors and traditions of Mexico through onboard programming including live mariachi performances, an authentic Mexican buffet, culinary demonstration, margarita making demonstration, tequila tastings, local crafts and activities and a celebratory Mexican Fiesta event.

Princess Cruises is a recognized destination leader in the cruise industry, named "Best Cruise Line for Itineraries" numerous times by Recommend magazine. More details about offerings to Mexico can be found at http://www.princess.com/mexico/

Additional information about Princess Cruises is available through a professional travel agent, by calling 1-800-PRINCESS or by visiting the company's website at www.princess.com.

About Princess Cruises:

One of the best-known names in cruising, Princess Cruises is a global premium cruise line and tour company operating a fleet of 17 modern cruise ships, carrying two million guests each year to more than 360 destinations around the globe, including the Caribbean, Alaska, Panama Canal, Mexican Riviera, Europe, South America, Australia/New Zealand, the South Pacific, Hawaii, Asia, Canada/New England and World Cruises. A team of professional destination experts has created more than 150 award-winning itineraries, ranging in length from three to 111 days and Princess Cruises has been continuously recognized as "Best Cruise Line for Itineraries."

Princess Cruises continues its multi-year, "Come Back New Promise" – a $450 million-dollar product innovation and cruise ship renovation campaign that will continue to enhance the line's onboard guest experience. These enhancements result in more moments of awe, lifetime memories and meaningful stories for guests to share from their cruise vacation. The product innovations include partnerships with award-winning Chef Curtis Stone; engaging entertainment inspired shows with Broadway-legend Stephen Schwartz; immersive activities for the whole family from Discovery and Animal Planet that include exclusive shore excursion to onboard activities; the ultimate sleep at sea with the award-winning Princess Luxury Bed and much more.

Three new Royal-class ships are currently on order with the next new ship, Sky Princess, under construction scheduled for delivery in October 2019. The company is part of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE:CUK).

SOURCE Princess Cruises

June 2018 At The Philadelphia Museum Of Art

June Newsletter

Bright Lights, Big Country Modern Times: American Art 1910–1950 Through September 3 "Modernism in some sense wasn't just a style—it was a way of thinking and a way of life." Hear curator Jessica Todd Smith, The Susan Gray Detweiler Curator of American Art and Manager of the Center for American Art, talk about the era that inspired Modern Times: American Art 1910–1950. Watch Video Up Next Face to Face: Portraits of Artists Opens June 26 See how photographers helped craft the public personas of their creative subjects, in this stunning selection of rare photographs from the Museum’s collection. Closing Soon Keith Smith at Home Through July 8 Friendship, love, desire: Keith Smith’s life is an open book. In this exhibition, explore an array of Smith’s mixed-media photographs and prints, and—his specialty—handmade artist’s books. On View Biting Wit and Brazen Folly Through August 22 Printed satirical caricatures exploded in popularity during the 1700s and 1800s in England. Often lighthearted and cheeky upon first glance, the images were meant to expose common social flaws and problems. See all current exhibitions. Bright Lights, Little City Art Splash June 30–September 3 Join us for a summer of creative play for the whole family. Art Splashis bringing a little piece of the big city inside. Explore the shapes and colors, sights and sounds of Modern Times and play in our own mini metropolis. Kids and their grown-ups can experience the exhibition through tours, art making, and imaginative play. Modern Times Talk Marsden Hartley: At Home in Maine and in Our Collection June 5, 10:30–11:30 a.m. Randall Griffey, the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art, discusses painter Marsden Hartley and the key themes—like place, identity, and home—that defined his art. The Rose Susan Hirschhorn Behrend Lecture Agnes Martin: Lines of Thought June 9, 2:00–3:00 p.m. In this talk, Nancy Princenthal, who has written the first biography of Agnes Martin, draws connections between the artist’s work and life, focusing on the 1960s and early 1970s. Wednesday Nights Lego for Grown-Ups June 20, 6:00–8:00 p.m. Let your inner child run wild as you build Lego creations inspired by the exhibition Modern Times. Explore how artists reacted to the changing new environment of the modern American city, as you create your own architectural designs. . . Final Fridays All That Jazz June 29, 5:00–8:45 p.m. Join us for a Modern Times–inspired night dedicated to the Jazz Age. Learn the Lindy Hop and Charleston with instruction by Ragtag Empire, join trumpeter Fareed Simpson for a musical Detour of the exhibition, take in a performance by Envoute Burlesque, and experience avant-garde composer Hprizm’s take on a soundtrack for the silent film Modern Times.Show off your new dance moves as Chelsea Reed and the Fair Weather Nine take the stage with special guest vocalist Najwa Parkins and present a fresh take on the sound and spirit of the swing era. Limited Tickets Available See a full calendar of What's On this season. Members-Only Private Tour Modern Times June 9, 9:30 a.m. Experience Modern Times without the crowds. You'll enjoy a tour led by the exhibition curator and get the chance to ask questions. $30 per member; Patron members and above receive two free tickets. Reservations required. After-Hours Access Member Open House June 20, 6:00–8:00 p.m., Perelman Building Explore three exhibitions and take part in art making and behind-the-scenes opportunities with Museum staff and curators. Refreshments will be available for purchase. Free for members; member guests $10. Reservations required. See It First Members' Previews of Face to Face June 22–24 This star-studded exhibition, including images of Billie Holiday, Jacob Lawrence, and Georgia O’Keeffe is a chance to see rarely shown photographs from the Museum’s collection. Unlimited free admission for members; member guests $10. Explore all our member events and benefits, and join the Museum today.  Become a Member 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway Philadelphia, PA 19130philamuseum.org