5 things to love about the revamped Carnival Sunshine

ABOARD THE CARNIVAL SUNSHINE — Like other cruise lines, industry giant Carnival regularly refreshes its ships every few years in dry dock. But what it did this year to the 17-year-old Carnival Destiny — now renamed Carnival Sunshine — was different.

Originally unveiled in 1996, the 3,006-passenger vessel was taken out of service for several months for an unprecedented, $155 million makeover that saw huge swaths of its public areas gutted and rebuilt — an overhaul so complete that, in many ways, it makes it a whole new ship.

Thinking about giving the newly revamped Sunshine a try? Here, five things to love about it (for a more expanded view of its many features, look for a Cruise Log photo tour coming in the next few weeks):

1. WaterWorks. You don’t have to be a child to appreciate the appeal of this new sprawling water play area — one of the largest at sea. Looming above the rear of the ship, WaterWorks offers three water slides that rival anything found at a land-based resort: The scream-a-minute, 334-foot-long Twister, and dual racing slides that together are called the Speedway Splash. There also is a splash zone aimed at the littlest tots and a 150-gallon “dump bucket” that sends water cascading over a wide area when you least expect it. In short: Prepare to be soaked.

READ MORE: 5 things to love about the revamped Carnival Sunshine

TSA Launches New Application Program for TSA PreCheck

(July 24, 2013) – On July 22, 2013, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced that it will add an additional opportunity for U.S. citizens to be eligible to receive expedited screening through TSA PreCheck lanes at select airports.To view the complete TSA press release, please click here.

Delta customers interested in enrolling will be required to submit an online application, complete an in-person interview at an enrollment site and pay an $85 five-year membership fee when the program launches later this fall. A U.S. passport is not required to enroll. Approved customers will be given a Known Traveler Number to store in their passenger profile when purchasing a ticket. Click here for more enrollment details.

• Customers are encouraged to contact the TSA for more information on this new program via email at TSA-ContactCenter@dhs.gov or 1-866-289-9673.
• Initially, enrollment sites will be located at Washington Dulles International Airport and Indianapolis International Airport. The TSA expects to expand at other locations in the future.
• Customers who have received TSA PreCheck through Delta SkyMiles or through a Customs and Border Protection Trusted Traveler Program such as Global Entry, will not need to reapply; this is only for new entrants to the program.

While this additional opportunity provides a benefit to our customers who do not possess a valid U.S. passport, Delta encourages those who travel to international destinations to apply for the Customs and Border Protection Global Entry program to receive TSA PreCheck eligibility.

With Global Entry, customers receive quicker access through Customs and Boarder Protection checkpoints at key international gateways and may receive expedited screening through the TSA PreCheck program as well. Click here to learn more: www.globalentry.gov

As always, the TSA incorporates random unpredictable security measures and no one is guaranteed expedited screening.

Resources
Additional information about TSA PreCheck is available by visiting the following links.

TSA Press Release

TSA PreCheck Application Process

TSA PreCheck FAQs

TSA PreCheck for Active Duty Military  

TSA PreCheck Participating Airports

Delta Offers Unmatched Global Network with New Service between Seattle and London-Heathrow

Delta providing an industry-leading customer experience on the ground and in the air

(July 23, 2013) – In anticipation of receiving antitrust immunity later this year for its joint venture with Virgin Atlantic Airways, Delta will offer new daily nonstop service from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to London-Heathrow Airport beginning March 29, 2014. Tickets will be available for purchase July 27.

Delta will operate Seattle to London-Heathrow service using a 210-seat Boeing 767-300ER aircraft featuring 35 full flat-bed seats in BusinessElite, 32 seats in Economy Comfort and 143 Economy class seats.

New service from Seattle to London-Heathrow gives Delta’s customers nonstop access to one of the world’s top business markets and is an important enhancement to Delta’s growing trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific network from Seattle. As of Jan. 1, 2014, every international Delta flight from Seattle, including the new London service, will feature full flat-bed seats in BusinessElite, Economy Comfort seating and in-flight entertainment in every seat throughout the aircraft.

“Our international expansion in Seattle is possible because of our partnerships with Alaska Airlines, Virgin Atlantic and Air France-KLM,“ said Glen Hauenstein, Delta executive vice president – Marketing, Network Planning and Revenue Management. “Together the airlines can provide customers in the Pacific Northwest with an unmatched global network and an industry-leading customer experience on the ground and in the air.”

Seattle is one of Delta’s fastest-growing international gateways. In June, Delta added service to Shanghai and Tokyo-Haneda, complementing long-established service to Tokyo-Narita. Delta also has served Beijing and Osaka, Japan from Seattle since 2010.

Through its trans-Atlantic joint venture with Air France-KLM and Alitalia, Delta also offers Seattle area travelers nonstop service to Paris and Amsterdam while also providing connecting service to more than 150 additional destinations beyond those European hubs. With new service to London-Heathrow, Delta will operate flights to eight nonstop international destinations from Seattle.

The strategic alliance between Delta and Alaska benefits customers of both carriers and gives Pacific Northwest travelers an extensive array of domestic and international travel choices.

On July 3, Delta and Virgin Atlantic launched reciprocal codesharing across 108 routes to 66 destinations throughout North America and the U.K. With the new Seattle service, Delta will operate 10 daily nonstop flights to London Heathrow from six destinations including Detroit, Minneapolis, New York-JFK, Boston and Atlanta.

Ice Bar Helps Sweaty New Yorkers Beat the Heat

In the sweltering summer heat, New Yorkers are ready for the big chill — in midtown.

The city’s first ice bar is now open at the New York Hilton Midtown on Sixth Avenue. The $20 admission includes Eskimo-style gloves and a parka for the privilege of drinking cocktails in the freezing Minus5 Ice Bar.

The entire bar is made of ice.

READ MORE: ICE Bar Helps Sweaty New Yorkers Beat The Heat

Virgin Australia and Delta Expand Codeshare to Mexico

(July 9, 2013) – Virgin Australia and Delta Air Lines recently announced that the carriers will expand their partnership. Customers of both airlines will now be able to fly from Australia to six different cities in Mexico on one ticket as part of the alliance’s continued commitment to strengthening its offering.

The new codeshare destinations include Mexico City, Cancun, Guadalajara, San Jose Del Cabo, Puerto Vallarta and Cozumel. Virgin Australia recently received regulatory approval allowing it to codeshare on flights into Mexico as part of its growing alliance with Delta, which was launched in November 2011.

Velocity Frequent Flyer members will be able to earn points and status credits on these new codeshare routes. The award-winning loyalty program of Virgin Australia has several hotel partners in the region, including the Intercontinental Hotel Group and Hilton Hotels, allowing travelers to earn additional Velocity Points during their stay in Mexico.

SkyMiles members will also be able to earn and redeem miles on these new codeshare routes and partner hotels in the region. Delta offers many ways to redeem frequent flyer miles, including airline tickets on Delta and partner airlines, mileage upgrades, car rentals, hotel stays and Delta Sky Club memberships, and is the only major airline with miles that
don’t expire.

Virgin Australia and Delta fly from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane to Los Angeles, allowing customers to connect to Delta’s extensive North and Central American network.