State Department has a NEW way for travelers to apply for Passports Travel Travel Documents Travel News by Corey Grant - Travel Agent - July 6, 2023July 6, 20230 Mehroz Kapadia/Travel + Leisure Amid a surge of new passport applications, the United States Department of State is taking a summer road trip of sorts across America to help travelers complete their application process. The “Special Passport Acceptance Fairs” will be held at public libraries, recreation centers, and local city administrative offices. A majority of the events are in California and New Jersey, but several others are taking place in Alabama, Florida, Michigan, Missouri, Texas, and Wisconsin. New events are added weekly, and the full schedule is available in the U.S. Department of State’s website. The special events are only for new passport applications, and travelers who are looking to renew an existing passport are encouraged to do so by mail. If none of the locations are near
Passport Crisis, Hurry Up and Wait Travel Travel Advisory Travel Documents Travel News by Corey Grant - Travel Agent - April 4, 2023April 4, 20230 Candese Charles Tue, April 4, 2023 at 12:03 PM GMT+2 LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — If you’re looking to travel abroad and need a passport, you’re not the only one. Currently, the rush of applications has pushed the wait time to several months. “We’re getting 500,000 applications a week for passports,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said March 24, calling the renewed demand for travel “unprecedented.” The State Department warns it is taking 10 to 13 weeks to receive a passport and the expedited process, which costs an extra $60, will take seven to nine weeks. Staffing shortages are being blamed for some of the delays. Trying to get an appointment at one of the 20 passport centers in Clark County, Nevada is leaving some people
2 of the 3 Items in the Economy with the Highest Price Increases Relate to Travel Air Travel Travel Travel News by Corey Grant - Travel Agent - May 13, 2021May 13, 20210 If you are unsure whether travel is back and the world is moving back toward a new sense of normal then look no further. The economy is seeing the first signs of inflation start to creep in and the travel industry is leading the way. Word to the wise. When your travel agent gives you a price BE PREPARED TO BOOK OR PASS because that price wont be the same tomorrow. I have seen prices on the same property for the same dates change 2 to 3 times in one day. Without a deposit that quote that I gave you 8 hours ago means nothing. Now on to the indicators that travel is giving us to the inevitable ugly face of
TSA is Now Screening More than 1,000,000 Travelers a Day Air Travel Travel News by Corey Grant - Travel Agent - May 11, 2021May 11, 20210 In an exciting streak beginning March 11, 2021, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has continuously screened at least one million passengers per day for just over one month. TSA has seen a steady increase in passenger screenings starting in mid-February, a promising milestone in the travel industry’s recovery. The agency anticipated this increase in passengers and in March, set out to hire transportation security officers at 430 airports nationwide. The last time TSA screened more than one million passengers in 2020 was March 15 and the number did not reach one million again until October 18, 2020 when 1,031,505 passengers were screened. In the first three months of 2021, TSA screened 86 million passengers, which is down 45% over the first three months of 2020. But in
East Coast Now Has a Direct Flight to Hawaii Starting May 6, 2021 Air Travel American Airlines Hawaii Travel News by Corey Grant - Travel Agent - May 7, 2021May 7, 20210 Author: Matthew Ablon (WCNC)Published: 2:05 PM EDT May 6, 2021Updated: 2:35 PM EDT May 6, 2021 American Airlines has a new direct route to Honolulu, which opened up Thursday CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Looking for a sunny getaway? Starting Thursday, you can hop on a plane at Charlotte Douglas International Airport on a new direct route to the Aloha State. American Airlines opened the new route to Honolulu, celebrating the occasion with leis for everyone hopping on board. The airport shared photos of gate agents and flight attendants decked out in the flowery garlands, passing them out to passengers. The nonstop flight from the Queen City to Hawaii takes about 10 and a half hours; Thursday's flight departed at 11:40 a.m. Eastern time and would hit the tarmac at Daniel K.
The CDC has given the OK to restart Cruising in 2021 Carnival Cruise Cruise Norwegian Cruise Lines Royal Caribbean Travel News by Corey Grant - Travel Agent - April 30, 2021April 30, 20210 Cruise companies can speed up their restarts in U.S. waters if they guarantee most crew and passengers are vaccinated against COVID-19, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a letter to companies Wednesday night obtained by the Herald — meaning passenger cruises could restart from South Florida in July. If ships can certify that 98% of their crew and 95% of their passengers are vaccinated, they won’t need to do test cruises before restarting passenger operations, the letter said. The CDC estimates that passengers could be boarding cruise ships in U.S. waters as soon as mid-July depending on how quickly cruise companies meet the agency’s requirements. The change to the restart timeline comes after a month of twice-weekly meetings
Second Royal Caribbean Cruise Coming Back into Service Cruise Royal Caribbean Travel News by Corey Grant - Travel Agent - March 24, 2021March 24, 20210 Royal Caribbean International is not wasting any time in starting up in North America as the Vision of the Seas will start cruising from Bermuda in June, according to the company's website. She joins the Adventure of the Seas, which will also start up in June from Nassau. The Vision will offer seven-night itineraries from June 26 through August 28. The cruises will sail to Perfect Day at CocoCay and call at Bermuda's Royal Naval Dockyard for two nights. The itinerary will feature three days at sea. Similar to the Adventure's program, it is expected guests over the age of 18 will need to be vaccinated while guests under 18 will need to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test. Bookings will open on March 29.
What’s this I hear about Vaccine Passports in our futures? COVID Travel Advisory Travel News Uncategorized by Corey Grant - Travel Agent - February 16, 2021February 16, 20210 The future of travel during Covid-19 So you got the Covid-19 vaccine. Is it a ticket to take a trip wherever you want? Some tourist destinations say yes, as the concept of a “vaccine passport” circulates around the world. While this is a problem-solving suggestion that could work for travel companies, tourists, doctors, and governments, the idea also comes with some major concerns and dilemmas, from efficacy to ethics. Here are the main points to consider as you start to hear more about vaccine passports. What is a vaccine passport? In theory, the idea is very straightforward: You get the Covid-19 vaccine (after doing the full course—right now, it’s two doses) and the vaccination card that you’ve been given will act as an entry pass into
So Whats it Going to Be Like to Cruise with Carnival Post COVID-19 Carnival Cruise COVID Cruise Travel News by Corey Grant - Travel Agent - February 10, 2021February 10, 20210 After an influx of comments and questions about the updated rules, Carnival took down the announced changes and replaced them with basic health requirements issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The cruise line's updated protocols were posted before being approved. “In our haste to keep guests and travel agents informed, we posted some information that was not finalized. As we have said previously, guests should expect mask, testing, distancing and other protocols. We intend to provide more details over the coming weeks as we work to resume operations.” Carnival Cruise Lines will have a much different look – as will all cruise companies – when it is allowed to return to the water later this year. The company disclosed its new
Saint Lucia COVID-19 Protocols Caribbean COVID St. Lucia Travel News by Corey Grant - Travel Agent - February 4, 2021February 4, 20210 Arriving visitors must now obtain a negative COVID-19 PCR test five days before arrival, effective February 10. (The prior protocol called for a PCR test seven days before arrival.) As with the prior protocol, it applies to all travelers five years of age or older. Consistent with existing protocols, all travelers arriving in Saint Lucia: Must complete and submit a Travel Registration Form, which is found on the Saint Lucia COVID-19 Travel Advisory page at www.StLucia.org/Covid-19; print and travel with a copy of the auto-response emailMust adhere to all safety protocols in place throughout Saint Lucia, including wearing a mask in public placesShall be subject to mandatory screening and temperature checks at ports of entry and throughout your stayShall be transferred by certified taxi to COVID-19 approved accommodation From Hon. Dominic Fedee,
