Travel News You Can Use
By Judy Newell


International News

Not-so-poor heads of state

News that French President Sarkozy has given himself a 140-percent pay raise has made many voters yearn for the old days when the French president could make do on a mere 8,457 € (US$12,250) a month. Apparently this hike—bringing the head of state’s monthly earnings to 19,000 € (US$27,530)—also will replace a number of extra allowances that used to be accumulated, but still leaves France behind other countries on the leaders’ pay scale. 

Irish Prime Minister Bertie Aherne takes home a princely 25,833 € each month, more even than George W. Bush (about 23,000 €) and British PM Gordon Brown, with £15,583 (22,405 € or US$32,450). 

The head of the Italian government, Romano Prodi, may be a little envious with his 16,371 € paycheck, but spare a thought for the Spanish leader José-Luis Zapatero. His monthly pay slip shows just 7,400 €. Maybe he consoles himself by basking in Spain’s endless sunshine.



Cruise News

Is any ship worth US$7,000 a night? 

Ouch! That’s all we have to say of the prices that Seabourn plans to charge for the 450-passenger Seabourn Odyssey, launching in 2009. Billed as the “world’s most luxurious cruise vessel,” the much-awaited ship will start at US$1,290 per cabin per night. And that’s just the cheap seats. The better cabins on the ship will cost as much as US$7,035 per night. 

Seabourn announced the pricing on October 18, along with initial itineraries for the Odyssey, their first ultra-luxury ship to launch in six years. The Odyssey’s inaugural season will include a series of Mediterranean voyages, starting with a June 24, 2009 maiden voyage out of Venice. 

Of course, when compared to the high-priced suites popping up at luxury hotels—the Four Seasons New York recently unveiled a US$30,000-a-night crash pad—the Odyssey seems almost cheap. 

Norwegian starts work on monster cruise ship 

The Big Boy is underway. Norwegian executive Andy Stuart pushed a button on October 1 at France’s Aker shipyard to start work on the line’s next ship, which will dwarf the company’s current vessels. 

The 150,000-ton goliath, still unnamed, will offer 60 percent more guest space than the line’s biggest ships today and hold an eye-popping 4,200 passengers. It’ll measure just a hair smaller than Royal Caribbean’s much-ballyhooed Freedom of the Seas, the current record holder among the world’s biggest ships. Norwegian’s new ship will become part of an exclusive club of giants that roam the seas (only Royal Caribbean and Cunard have vessels as big). 


Ships and planes implement fuel surcharges 

The North American brands of Carnival Corporation & plc announced on November 8 that they will implement a fuel supplement of US$5 per person per day. The supplement applies to the first and second guests in a stateroom and will not exceed US$70 per person per voyage. It is effective on all new and existing bookings for voyages departing on or after February 1, 2008, on the following brands: Carnival Cruise Lines, Costa Cruises, Cunard Line, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises and The Yachts of Seabourn. The price the company pays for fuel has increased 140 percent over the last three years, with a 50 percent increase occurring in the last seven months.

Carnival’s move follows a similar announcement by Regent Seven Seas earlier this week. Silversea will also add a fuel surcharge of US$10 per person per day, on all new bookings made starting November 15 for 2008 departures.

Air France raised its fuel surcharge by two euros per segment on short- and medium-haul flights and by 10 euros per segment on long-haul flights, effective for flights departing France starting November 15. Air France says it will drop half of the increase if oil falls below US$85 a barrel, and all of the increase if it falls below US$80 a barrel.

United Airlines is now adding a US$10 roundtrip fuel surcharge to domestic fares, citing “record-breaking” fuel costs. The fee applies to all flights within the United States, excluding Hawaii. In its November 12 announcement, United noted every dollar increase in the price of crude oil increases United’s annual costs by roughly US$65 million. United could ground up to 100 or more of its airplanes if soaring fuel prices ultimately cause consumers to buy fewer tickets, a top executive said November 7.



News from Mexico

Mexico cruise passenger tax

News reports state that officials in Mexico have just approved a new cruise passenger tax of 56 pesos per person that will go into effect on July 1, 2008. Ninety-five percent of the funds raised are supposed to go toward infrastructure improvements in local municipalities.

Mexicana questions rejection of Aeromexico bid

Grupo Mexicana, the owners of Mexicana, are crying foul after government officials announced that it will snub their bid for Aeromexico in favor of an offer from another group of investors that’s reportedly US$30 million less than what Mexicana agreed to pay. They are urging stockholders not to accept the bid for their shares. 

The Mexican government said it would sell the flagship carrier to a group of investors including Banamex, the Mexican subsidiary of Citigroup. That deal, which ended a month of bidding, is valued at US$249 million. In addition to Banamex, the largest shareholder in the group at 49 percent, other shareholders include several major business families, including the owners of Grupo Modelo, which produces Corona beer. The group says it will put US$240 million into the airline, reduce its expenses and expand its routes.

Fall rates at six Mexico hotels starting at US$50 per person per night

Through December 20, Oasis Hotels & Resorts is offering 45-percent rack rates at six of its all-inclusive properties in Mexico. Participating hotels include the Grand Oasis Cancún, Grand Oasis Playa, Grand Oasis Riviera Maya, Oasis Cancún, Oasis Palm Beach and Oasis America. Rates range from US$50 to $99 per person per night and include all meals, drinks, many sports and activities, and live entertainment.

Sources: OSSN, Travel Agent, Modern Agent, National Geographic Traveler, The European, USA Today

Judy Newell, a writer and travel industry executive, heads the custom tour company Perfect Journeys that specializes in luxury and adventure travel. Contact her with comments or suggestions at JudyNewell_03@msn. com or go to her website www.PerfectJourneys.net.