In July, a global IT outage caused massive flight delays and cancellations, leaving tens of thousands of passengers stranded. Unfortunately, Delta Air Lines passengers were among the hardest hit, with more than 5,000 flights canceled during the outage.
At the time, many passengers reported that Delta wasn’t doing enough to accommodate their need for meals, hotel stays, ground transportation and alternative flights per expectations outlined on the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Airline Customer Service dashboard and in its flight refund guidances.
.@USDOT has opened an investigation into Delta Air Lines to ensure the airline is following the law and taking care of its passengers during continued widespread disruptions.
All airline passengers have the right to be treated fairly, and I will make sure that right is upheld.
— Secretary Pete Buttigieg (@SecretaryPete) July 23, 2024
These reports led to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of Aviation Consumer Protections investigation to ensure affected passengers received the proper accommodations they were entitled to.
Baggage claim Monday, July 22, 2024, at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL). JESSICA MCGOWAN/GETTY IMAGES
Though passengers waited frustratingly long to get rebooked or refunded, Delta did abide by DOT policies and provided affected passengers with the option to use flight credits on future trips or receive a cash refund for the unused portion of their ticket. The airline also issued meal vouchers, hotel accommodations and ground transportation to stranded passengers.
.@Delta people working 24/7 to restore operation, support customers, get crews to right place at right time. See our latest update on Delta News Hub:https://t.co/apUTVGgFos
As a result of the disruptions, Delta passengers who redeemed a companion certificate during the outage period may soon receive a welcome email in their inbox.
On Friday, Delta began sending email alerts to passengers who redeemed a companion certificate during the outage period. The email stated that Delta would issue a new companion certificate within seven to 14 business days. The new certificate will be valid for one year from the date of issuance, thereby extending the expiration date of the original certificate.
DELTA
When I spoke with a Delta customer service agent to verify the validity of the email and companion certificate, a representative stated that the email was legitimate and that the airline is currently in the process of reissuing companion certificates used during the outage.
Some readers have reported in the TPG Lounge they, too, have received new companion certificates, even if their flights were not severely affected — their expiration dates have also been extended.
If you are among those affected, be on the lookout in the coming days for an email from Delta’s customer service team with more information on your reissued companion certificate. Once it is received, you can find the companion certificate in your SkyMiles wallet on the Delta website or the Fly Delta App.
Delta did not immediately respond to TPG’s request for comment
“I am confident that by the joining of these two airlines, a stronger company will emerge and offer more travel options for Hawai’i residents and local businesses — and will enhance competition across the U.S. airline industry,” Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said in a statement. “I appreciate the DOJ’s strong consideration of Hawai’i’s unique needs during its review of the proposed merger. I look forward to this merger proceeding and the overwhelming consumer, employee and community benefits that will result from it.”
For Hawaiian Airlines loyalty program enthusiasts, what will the benefits of this potential merger look like? Though Alaska Airlines plans to keep Hawaiian Airlines as a separate brand, the programs will operate under one loyalty program.
So, is it safe to assume Hawaiian Airlines will adopt the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan program, or will the two carriers operate under a new name entirely?
While the merger still needs to be approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation, the potential consolidation of these two programs has left us with several questions on how this merger will affect those wanting to earn and redeem miles, use elite status benefits and more.
ALASKA AIRLINES
Keep reading to find out more about what we know about the Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines merger, as well as what we want to know if this consolidation officially goes through.
What we know about the Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines merger
At this time, details are scant regarding how the conjoined loyalty program will operate once the consolidation is complete. According to a Securities and Exchange Commission document filed by Hawaiian in December 2023, the two airlines’ loyalty programs will be combined into one shared loyalty program, and your miles will carry over.
Additionally, if you currently hold elite status with Hawaiian Airlines, your status will also be carried over. However, neither Hawaiian nor Alaska has specified how Pualani Gold or Pualani Platinum members’ status will match Alaska’s Mileage Plan elite status tiers.
“It is expected that [the elite tiers] will offer comparable or better benefits to what you receive today,” per the SEC document.
Another benefit of the merger is Hawaiian Airlines joining the Oneworld alliance. Currently, Hawaiian is not part of any major airline alliance, unlike Alaska, which is part of Oneworld. This merger will not only provide elite status members with additional Oneworld perks, such as priority check-in and bonus miles, but Oneworld travelers will be able to earn and redeem miles when flying with the carrier.
AARONP/BAUER-GRIFFIN/GC IMAGES/GETTY IMAGES
“Once the combination is complete, Hawaiian Airlines’ existing customers will enjoy the benefits of the industry’s highest-value customer loyalty program, earning and redeeming miles and receiving elite benefits on the full complement of Oneworld Alliance airlines, expanded global lounge access and benefits of the combined program’s credit card,” according to the SEC document.
What we want to know about the Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines merger
However, much more isn’t clear about the future of an Alaska-Hawaiian loyalty program.
Will your Hawaiian miles transfer to Alaska miles at a 1:1 ratio?
According to the SEC document, the miles you earn with Hawaiian Airlines will not expire, and you can continue to earn and redeem those miles prior to the merger. If you have remaining miles post-merger, “your existing miles will be honored.”
However, the SEC does not state how they’d be honored. Specifically, will those miles be converted into Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles at a 1:1 ratio?
It’s unclear exactly what approach Hawaiian and Alaska will take, though it is worth noting that our August 2024 valuations have Alaska miles worth roughly 72% more than Hawaiian miles.
SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY
Will American Express Membership Rewards lose Hawaiian Airlines as a transfer partner?
Earlier this year, Bilt Rewards silently lost Hawaiian Airlines as a transfer partner but kept Alaska Airlines. With the proposed acquisition, can Amex cardholders expect to lose Hawaiian as a transfer partner in the near future?
Since we don’t yet know if Hawaiian miles will transfer to Alaska at a 1:1 ratio, you may be rolling the dice by making a speculative transfer from Amex to Hawaiian. After all, these miles may eventually convert into Alaska miles at a 1:1 ratio. However, you could fall victim to your Hawaiian miles converting at a far lower rate. It’s up to you to decide whether this is worth the gamble.
What will happen to Hawaiian Airlines’ cobranded credit cards?
Barclays currently issues two Hawaiian Airlines cobranded credit cards: the Hawaiian Airlines® World Elite Mastercard® and the Hawaiian Airlines® Business Mastercard®. Both offer two free checked bags on Hawaiian flights when you use your card to purchase eligible tickets from Hawaiian Airlines’ website; 3 miles per dollar spent on Hawaiian Airlines purchases; 2 miles per dollar spent on gas, dining and eligible grocery store purchases; and 1 mile per dollar spent on all other purchases.
Per the SEC document, Hawaiian will “continue to accept new applications.” So, can cardholders expect the cobranded cards to remain? Will the card eventually dissolve? Or, will additional card benefits be added that will apply across the combined route network?
The information for the Hawaiian Mastercard and Hawaiian Business Mastercard has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
How many miles will you need for Hawaiian award flights?
While many major airlines use dynamic award pricing, Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines still operate using award charts. However, Hawaiian’s award chart is based on several factors, including the region of your flight and the time of year (busier travel dates will cost you more miles). Some travelers also qualify for discounted award rates — namely Pualani Platinum, Pualani Gold and Premier Club members, as well as select Hawaiian Airlines cardholders.
Meanwhile, Alaska Airlines has distance-based award charts for its own flights and separate award charts for partner airlines, all of which feature “starting at” award prices (actual rates can be two or three times higher, depending on the flight).
So, where will Hawaiian-operated flights fit into this? Since Alaska plans to keep Hawaiian as a separate brand, will it be subject to partner pricing, or will Alaska add new regions (and pricing) to its own award chart? Or, will Hawaiian keep its own award chart intact?
At this time, neither Hawaiian nor Alaska has specified what award flights will look like in a combined loyalty program.
Hawaiian Airlines isn’t part of a major alliance, but it does have partnerships with a number of other carriers, including Virgin Atlantic, JetBlue and Japan Airlines. Additionally, you can earn (and redeem) miles with American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines on interisland flights with Hawaiian Airlines.
While none of these partnerships are particularly valuable, it remains to be seen what will happen if the merger is approved and the loyalty programs are combined.
Bottom line
We’ve seen airlines adopt new loyalty programs just in the last year. For example, Finnair now uses British Airways Avios as its respective award program. However, Finnair retained its autonomy regarding the program’s elite status tiers and award chart.
At this time, there are not many details on how the consolidation of Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines will affect the loyalty programs and its members — but we’re eagerly awaiting news and will be sure to update our readers when we get more details.
Cruise giant Carnival is about to add a new routing to its lineup of Panama Canal cruises — one that no line has ever offered before.
Scheduled to kick off in 2026, the one-way sailings through the iconic waterway will begin in Mobile, Alabama, and end in Seattle, or vice versa.
It’ll be the first time that Carnival or any other line has offered sailings connecting the two cities, which are both cruise hubs.
For now, Carnival plans just two voyages on the new routing, both on the 2,124-passenger Carnival Spirit.
Both of the sailings will be just over two weeks long — far longer than most Carnival sailings. The first of the two voyages will start April 12, 2026, in Mobile and end 16 days later in Seattle. The second of the voyages will begin Oct. 8, 2026, in Seattle and end 16 days later in Mobile.
In addition to a transit through the Panama Canal, both of the sailings will include stops at Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; Puntarenas, Costa Rica; and Cartagena, Colombia.
The voyages will take place as Carnival Spirit temporarily repositions from Mobile to Seattle for a summer season of cruises to Alaska.
Carnival Spirit is one of two ships that Carnival plans to deploy to Seattle in 2026 for sailings to Alaska.
Carnival this week said the 2,124-passenger Carnival Miracle will also sail to Alaska out of Seattle in 2026.
Carnival Miracle will reposition to Seattle for the 2026 Alaska season from Tampa with a 16-day repositioning cruise through the Panama Canal. As is the case with Carnival Spirit’s Panama Canal itineraries, it’ll feature stops at Cabo San Lucas, Puntarenas and Cartagena.
After a summer of sailings to Alaska out of Seattle, Carnival Miracle will reposition to Galveston, Texas, with another 16-day cruise through the Panama Canal that stops at Cabo San Lucas, Puntarenas and Cartagena.
The latter trip will begin in Seattle on Sept. 26, 2026.
When based in Seattle, Carnival Miracle will mostly sail seven-day Alaska sailings that depart every Thursday. They’ll bring visits to Tracy Arm Fjord for glacier viewing and the Alaskan towns of Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan. There also will be a stop at Victoria in British Columbia.
Additionally, Carnival Miracle will offer two longer Alaska sailings: a nine-day trip that adds a visit to Sitka, Alaska, and a 10-day trip that adds a stop at Icy Strait Point, Alaska.
Carnival Spirit will offer a similar seven-night itinerary to Alaska as Carnival Miracle when based in Seattle.
Carnival Spirit also will operate a single 15-day voyage out of Seattle to Hawaii. Beginning Sept. 23, 2026, the voyage will bring calls at Honolulu on Oahu, Nawiliwili on Kauai, Kahului on Maui and Hilo on Hawaii Island, as well as a visit to Victoria, British Columbia.
British Airways is the largest full-service airline in the United Kingdom and flies to more destinations in the U.S. than any other European carrier.
The airline’s loyalty program is called the Executive Club, and its currency is Avios. With a huge route network and an easily earned and redeemed loyalty currency, it is a program that should be on your radar, even if you aren’t traveling to the U.K.
Rather than dynamic pricing, which can lead to 350,000-plus-point flight redemptions from the U.S. to Europe, British Airways retains an unpublished distance-based award chart that allows you to travel to some of the world’s most expensive markets for reasonable rates. However, you may be on the hook for significant carrier-imposed surcharges. Knowing how to use it can go a long way toward getting maximum value for your Avios.
This card — issued by Chase and, therefore, subject to the 5/24 rule — is currently offering new applicants 75,000 Avios after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. TPG values Avios at 1.4 cents each in our August 2024 valuations, making the full bonus worth $1,050.
The British Airways Visa Signature has a $95 annual fee and earns 3 Avios per $1 spent on purchases with British Airways, Aer Lingus, Iberia and Level. Plus, you can earn 2 Avios per $1 spent on hotel accommodations when purchased directly with the hotel. All other purchases earn 1 Avios per $1 spent.
Points transfer from Capital One, Chase, Bilt, Wells Fargo and Amex at a 1:1 ratio (in addition to occasional transfer bonuses), while Marriott points transfer to Avios at a 3:1 ratio. Plus, you’ll get a 5,000-Avios bonus for every 60,000 Marriott points transferred.
The following cards all currently offer strong welcome bonuses that you could easily convert to Avios:
American Express® Gold Card: Earn 60,000 points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. Plus, receive 20% back in statement credits on eligible restaurant purchases (up to $100) within the first six months of card membership.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening, plus a $250 Capital One Travel credit in the first cardholder year.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card: Earn 120,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
If you don’t have enough Avios, you can also purchase Avios.
The basics
ERIC ROSEN/THE POINTS GUY
As noted above, British Airways uses an unpublished distance-based formula to calculate the number of Avios needed for a given flight. To maximize value with this chart type, you must take a different approach than zone-based charts or dynamic pricing.
British Airways Avios are typically most valuable on short, nonstop routes where cash fares are expensive. A resource like Great Circle Mapper can calculate the distance of each flight segment to determine its zone.
British Airways’ sweet spots are different compared to other programs. Instead of focusing on specific countries or even entire continents, distance-based sweet spots tend to be individual city pairs close enough to avoid bumping into the next pricing tier — especially if cash tickets are usually pricey on those routes.
With this in mind, let’s dive into specific award charts. We’ll start with the one used for flights operated by British Airways, Iberia and Aer Lingus, though carrier-imposed surcharges often complicate these redemptions. Each price is in Avios and applies to one-way flights.
Zone (distance in miles)
Economy (off-peak)
Economy (peak)
Premium economy (off-peak)
Premium economy (peak)
Business class (off-peak)
Business class (peak)
First class (off-peak)
First class (peak)
Zone 1 (1 to 650)
4,750
5,250
—
—
8,500
9,750
—
—
Zone 2 (651 to 1,151)
7,250
8,250
—
—
13,500
15,750
—
—
Zone 3 (1,152 to 2,000)
9,250
10,750
—
—
17,750
18,350
—
—
Zone 4 (2,001 to 3,000)
10,000
12,500
—
—
31,250
37,500
—
—
Zone 5 (3,001 to 4,000)
13,000
20,000
26,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
68,000
80,000
Zone 6 (4,001 to 5,500)
16,250
25,000
32,500
50,000
62,500
75,000
85,000
100,000
Zone 7 (5,501 to 6,500)
19,500
30,000
39,000
60,000
75,000
90,000
102,000
120,000
Zone 8 (6,501 to 7,000)
22,750
35,000
45,500
70,000
87,500
105,000
119,000
140,000
Zone 9 (7,001 and up)
32,500
50,000
65,000
100,000
125,000
150,000
170,000
200,000
Note that there are different prices for peak and off-peak dates. Peak dates are generally during the summer and school holidays, while off-peak pricing usually applies during the fall and winter months.
You will also be given the option to redeem more Avios toward fees, taxes and carrier-imposed surcharges thanks to the Reward Flight Saver offer.
Next, look at the award chart for flights operated by a single partner airline (other than Aer Lingus and Iberia, who use the chart above, and American Airlines and Alaska Airlines, who we will discuss below):
Zone (distance in miles)
Economy
Premium economy
Business
First
Zone 1 (1 to 650)
6,000
6,750
12,500
24,000
Zone 2 (651 to 1,151)
9,000
11,250
16,500
33,000
Zone 3 (1,152 to 2,000)
11,000
15,000
22,000
44,000
Zone 4 (2,001 to 3,000)
13,000
25,000
38,750
51,500
Zone 5 (3,001 to 4,000)
20,750
40,000
62,000
82,500
Zone 6 (4,001 to 5,500)
25,750
50,000
77,250
103,000
Zone 7 (5,501 to 6,500)
31,000
62,000
92,750
123,750
Zone 8 (6,501 to 7,000)
36,250
72,250
108,250
144,250
Zone 9 (7,001 and up)
51,500
100,000
154,500
206,000
For flights in zones 1-4 operated by American and Alaska, Executive Club prices are as follows:
Zone (distance in miles)
Main cabin economy
Domestic first class
Zone 1 (1 to 650)
12,000
24,000
Zone 2 (651 to 1,151)
16,000
32,000
Zone 3 (1,152 to 2,000)
18,000
40,000
Zone 4 (2,001 to 3,000)
20,000
50,000
Follow the regular partner chart above for flights over 3,000 miles operated by American Airlines and Alaska Airlines.
For both of the above award charts, pricing applies to each flight in an itinerary. The distance isn’t cumulative across the entire trip. British Airways prices every segment individually, so you’ll want to stick to nonstop routings whenever possible.
For example, say you wanted to fly from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) to Philadelphia International Airport (PHL). This flight covers 992 miles and would require 16,000 Avios per the chart above. However, suppose you could only find award availability on a connecting flight through Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT). In that case, you’d fly 89 more miles but pay 50% more Avios for your trip.
Here’s how the pricing works:
Fort Lauderdale to Charlotte: Covers 632 miles (12,000 Avios)
Charlotte to Philadelphia: Covers 449 miles (12,000 Avios)
Total cost: 24,000 Avios
As such, the best value tends to come from nonstop flights.
Redeeming Avios within the US
MARKUS MAINKA/SHUTTERSTOCK
While short-haul domestic flights are not as good a value as they used to be following several devaluations, you could find good value in short-haul international flights.
For example, you could fly American Main Cabin for just 12,000 Avios from Miami International Airport (MIA) to the following destinations:
Providenciales International Airport (PLS) in Turks and Caicos
American routinely flies internationally configured, wide-body jets on domestic routes.
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
For instance, some daily routes between Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT) and Miami are often operated by a 777-200. This plane features one of American’s best international business-class products. You can book that flight in business class for only 32,000 Avios.
West Coast to Hawaii
Just because we’re talking about flights within the U.S. doesn’t mean you can’t have a tropical vacation. Hawaii is close to several West Coast cities (less than 3,000 miles), and you can book economy awards for only 20,000 Avios each way.
American Airlines serves several Hawaiian destinations from its Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) hubs. In addition to Los Angeles, Alaska Airlines also flies nonstop to multiple Hawaiian airports from San Diego International Airport (SAN), San Francisco International Airport (SFO), Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) and Portland International Airport (PDX) — among others.
Redeeming Avios outside the US
JIMMOYHT/SHUTTERSTOCK
British Airways’ international partners span the globe, so some of the best British Airways redemptions are bound to come from international travel.
6,000-Avios awards
These low-priced awards are especially useful in pricey markets, such as European or Asian travel. Generally, you want to look for a Oneworld hub airport like Iberia’s home in Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) or Japan Airlines’ hubs in Narita International Airport (NRT) and Haneda Airport (HND).
Air Lingus sweet spots
The British Airways award chart has peak and off-peak pricing, which also applies to flights on Iberia and Aer Lingus. As a result, nonstop flights between the East Coast and Chicago to Ireland have become incredibly attractive, with transatlantic economy awards starting at just 13,000 Avios each way on off-peak dates.
You can book a round-trip, nonstop flight from multiple U.S. cities to Ireland starting at 26,000 Avios, which is phenomenal.
Multicity trips using Avios
As highlighted above, British Airways charges separately for every segment. More stops require more Avios, even if your origin and final destination are the same. However, this pricing approach allows you to book unlimited stopovers or open jaws on your award tickets.
Multicarrier awards exception
It’s important to note that British Airways has yet another award chart that only applies to award tickets with two or more Oneworld airlines. Unlike the standard award prices above, these multicarrier reward flights use cumulative distance to determine how many Avios you need.
While this typically offers a poor value proposition for simple itineraries, there are times when you should use it — like if you’re booking a round-the-world ticket.
Bottom line
When people think of British Airways’ loyalty program, many assume you’d want to use Avios for premium-cabin transatlantic trips to Europe. But that’s not necessarily the best way to use them.
Long-haul flights cost increasingly more under the distance-based Avios chart. Plus, British Airways tacks on large surcharges to those transatlantic flights.
By employing the above tips, you can maximize your Avios and the British Airways chart without spending a lot of cash.
The luxury and lifestyle hotel sector continues to be the bread and butter for Hyatt.
On Tuesday, the Chicago-based hotel giant announced plans to acquire New York City-based Standard International and most of its affiliates for a base price of $150 million. Standard International’s acquired portfolio, which includes The Standard and Bunkhouse Hotels brands, encompasses 21 open hotels.
More than 30 properties are in various stages of development, and Hyatt’s takeover could cost an additional $185 million as more of these hotels open. Standard’s orbit also includes the new StandardX brand and The Manner, an upcoming luxury hotel in New York City’s SoHo neighborhood.
On the loyalty front, all Standard International properties included in the deal will be integrated into the World of Hyatt network.
“The team behind Standard International has created a unique and award-winning portfolio of brands and properties that turn the status quo on its head and have attracted a loyal following among the most discerning lifestyle guests for the past 25 years,” Hyatt CEO Mark Hoplamazian said in a statement. “These properties truly drive the zeitgeist, creating destinations unto themselves with celebrated and talked-about programming and events, such as the Met Gala afterparty. We are thrilled to welcome Standard International’s properties and team to the Hyatt family with the newly created lifestyle group and draw on their brilliance, creativity, culture and innovation.”
The Standard takeover is expected to close later this year, and the plan is to create a dedicated lifestyle group based in New York City. Amar Lalvani, executive chairman of Standard International, will be the new head of Hyatt’s lifestyle division — a similar structure to how Hilton made Kevin Osterhaus, the president of Graduate Hotels, its president of global lifestyle brands following the Graduate acquisition.
“We waited a long time to find the right company with whom to join forces,” Lalvani said in a statement. “In choosing Hyatt, we tap into a powerful global infrastructure and loyal guest base. I am very proud that our team has delivered on the potential we saw with The Standard and Bunkhouse Hotels and am honored that Hyatt appreciates how special our brands, properties, and — most importantly — our people are. We have a shared vision for the enormous potential that still lies ahead.”
This structure signals big hotel conglomerates like Hyatt appear to recognize the best approach to navigating the lifestyle hotel scene is by leaving creative forces largely intact. Brands like Marriott’s W seemed to stumble once they strayed far from the original design and creative teams, and recent big brand acquisitions signal an industry push to avoid similar mishaps.
For example, Accor’s Ennismore acquisition largely keeps brand leaders in charge of operating their offerings, such as Gleneagles, Delano and SLS. Hyatt’s announcement Tuesday afternoon indicates the new lifestyle group will be made up of “the talented Standard International team as well as Hyatt colleagues.”
However, the announcement didn’t mention Amber Asher, the current CEO of Standard International — raising eyebrows that this might signal her departure from the company. Asher and Standard are among the few examples in the hotel industry of a woman holding the top job at a hotel brand.
“After 13 years with the company, including the last three years as CEO driving its growth, Amber Asher has decided to pursue new opportunities after staying on for a transitional period to support the team and ensure a smooth transition,” a Standard International spokesperson told TPG following initial publication of this story.
Editor’s note: This post was updated with new information.
Full-size liquids are among the items travelers most frequently forget to remove from their belongings before passing through U.S. airport security — the Transportation Security Administration’s 3-1-1 liquid rule prohibits travelers from carrying liquids, specifically gels, aerosols and spreadables larger than 3.4 ounces.
Of course, you can bring an empty water bottle to the airport to refill at a fountain once you pass through security, but if you want to bring a beverage from home to enjoy on the plane, there’s one more solution.
Per the TSA rules, travelers can bring frozen liquids through security, specifically those that are “frozen solid when presented for screening.”
Items that are “partially melted, slushy or have any liquid at the bottom of the container” must meet the standard 3-1-1 liquids requirements.
An exception to this rule is breast milk, which is allowed in carry-on baggage in quantities greater than 3.4 ounces. This can be helpful for nursing mothers, as the TSA permits milk, formula and pumped breast milk through security without set limits because it treats them as “medically necessary liquids.”
According to the TSA, “Formula, breast milk, toddler drinks and baby/toddler food (to include puree pouches) in quantities greater than 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters are allowed in carry-on baggage and do not need to fit within a quart-sized bag. This also applies to breast milk and formula cooling accessories, such as ice packs, freezer packs and gel packs (regardless of presence of breast milk). Your child or infant does not need to be present or traveling with you to bring breast milk, formula and/or related supplies.”
Regarding how much you can bring, the TSA specifies “reasonable quantities.” Summer Hull, a director of content at TPG, notes that this leaves some discretion up to the individual officer.
In her experience, there’s an unwritten cutoff when your kids appear to be 2 or 3 years old. At that point, the TSA tends to stop allowing families to bring other liquids through security, even if it’s a drink for a kid in your group. To avoid any liquid for your child getting tossed, she suggests the frozen method as a workaround.
“While the TSA rules permit frozen liquids going through security, and I can vouch that it does usually work in practice, some TSA agents simply interpret things differently from most, so be prepared with the rules if you don’t want to toss your drink,” she said. “I also wouldn’t [bring] a dozen different frozen drinks unless you are looking to land yourself in some secondary screening.”
In short, using JetBlue TrueBlue Shopping lets you earn bonus JetBlue points on some everyday purchases you’re already making. You’ll find two ways to earn bonus points through JetBlue TrueBlue Shopping: an online shopping portal and card-linked offers. So, here’s what you need to know.
JetBlue TrueBlue Shopping portal
Savvy consumers know many major loyalty programs offer online shopping portals that let you earn bonus points or miles when shopping online. Using an online shopping portal like JetBlue TrueBlue Shopping doesn’t take much time or effort, so the bonus rewards usually make it worth adding the extra step to your online shopping routine.
MILORAD KRAVIC/GETTY IMAGES
For example, let’s assume you want to buy a new garbage can from Bed Bath & Beyond. If you click through the JetBlue TrueBlue Shopping portal before you purchase, you can earn a specific number of JetBlue points per dollar spent. Better yet, these points come in addition to the rewards you earn by paying for your purchase with a rewards credit card.
Best of all, you’ll still purchase on the Bed Bath & Beyond website for the same price as if you hadn’t clicked through the online shopping portal.
How to use JetBlue TrueBlue Shopping
To use JetBlue TrueBlue Shopping, navigate to the website, and sign in using the same username and password you use when signing in on the JetBlue website. Select the merchant you want to use, click through the TrueBlue Shopping portal to that merchant and then shop normally with that merchant. It’s that easy.
JETBLUE.COM
Here’s a step-by-step example of what using the JetBlue TrueBlue Shopping portal looks like in practice. Start by clicking “Sign In” in the upper right-hand corner of the TrueBlue Shopping website, and enter your standard JetBlue login information on the next page.
JETBLUE.COM
Once you log in, search for your store or brand in the search bar. For example, I typed “home” and then could click on “Home Depot.”
JETBLUE.COM
Once on the Home Depot landing page in the shopping portal, I can see the earning rate — which is a rather low 0.5 points per dollar — and other important details. For example, I can see that some purchases earn at a higher rate and that I should get my bonus points within 31 days of a qualifying purchase.
JETBLUE.COM
If I want to purchase with Home Depot, I could click the “Shop Now” button and then shop as usual on the Home Depot website. Any eligible purchases during that shopping session should automatically earn bonus JetBlue points. You don’t have to use a JetBlue credit card when paying, although we recommend using a rewards card to earn even more points or miles on your purchase.
Pitfalls to avoid when using JetBlue TrueBlue Shopping
It’s easy to use JetBlue TrueBlue Shopping to earn bonus points when shopping online. However, you’ll want to be careful with how you interact with the TrueBlue Shopping site to ensure you earn your bonus points as expected. Here are some tips:
If you leave the merchant’s website after clicking through the TrueBlue Shopping portal, go back to the portal and click through to the merchant’s website again before adding items to your cart and making a purchase.
If you’ve been browsing on the merchant’s site without clicking through the portal, clear the items from your cart and close that browser window before clicking through from TrueBlue Shopping to start a new shopping session.
You must enable internet browser cookies for TrueBlue Shopping to track your purchase with the merchant correctly.
Avoid using promotional codes you didn’t obtain via the TrueBlue Shopping portal, as using other codes may keep you from earning rewards.
Read the purchase conditions for your merchant to ensure your purchase is eligible.
In short, the key aspects to remember are to enable browser cookies and ensure you click through from TrueBlue Shopping immediately before you add items to your cart and check out with a participating merchant. If you do so, you’ll likely earn points through the JetBlue TrueBlue Shopping portal without any issues.
JetBlue TrueBlue Shopping card-linked offers
JetBlue TrueBlue Shopping also has card-linked offers. These offers are similar to American AAdvantage SimplyMiles offers in that you enroll payment cards in the program, enroll in offers for specific merchants, and then earn rewards when you use an enrolled card to make an eligible purchase at a merchant for which you’d enrolled in an offer.
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To get started with card-linked offers, go to the JetBlue TrueBlue Shopping website, log in and click on the “Card Linked Offers” tab near the top of the page. Then, click “My Cards.”
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You’ll see the following message if you don’t have any cards registered to your account yet.
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You can check the box and click “Register New Card” to add a card to your account. You can add up to 10 cards to your account, all of which must be Visa, Mastercard or American Express cards issued in the U.S.
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You’ll find a variety of card-linked offers through TrueBlue Shopping. You can choose to see the offers alphabetically or sort them by the number of points you’ll earn, the most popular offers or the latest offers.
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Once you find an offer you like, click on it, read through the purchase conditions and then click “Register Card.” Then, use an enrolled card when you make an eligible purchase with the merchant.
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It’s best to wait 24 hours after registering for an offer to make a purchase; otherwise, your purchase might not be tracked properly. If you use a debit card for a purchase, ensure the merchant processes the transaction as credit (meaning you’ll need to sign for the purchase).
Before making any purchases online, I use a shopping portal aggregator to compare earning rates across multiple online shopping portals. But if you are primarily interested in earning JetBlue points, the TrueBlue Shopping portal can provide many compelling opportunities. It’s also worth checking the card-linked offers periodically for any offers from merchants you frequently purchase from.
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information.
Six Senses hotels and resorts offer a unique style of friendly, wellness-focused luxury. The two Six Senses resorts I’ve stayed at — Six Senses Laamu in the Maldives and Six Senses Yao Noi in Thailand — easily sit within my top five stays ever due to their rustic, approachable luxury in beautiful, remote settings. However, as Six Senses opens more urban properties, even those who are used to city living may enjoy the brand.
Stays at the best Six Senses resorts usually cost upward of $600 per night. But you can earn IHG points at select Six Senses properties. And even if a paid stay is outside your budget, you can redeem IHG points to stay at select Six Senses hotels and resorts. After all, InterContinental Hotels Group acquired Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas in 2019 and added the first Six Senses properties to its IHG One Rewards program in March 2021.
Unfortunately, IHG still hasn’t integrated every Six Senses property into IHG One Rewards. So, here’s what you need to know about the Six Senses hotels and resorts that participate in IHG One Rewards.
How to determine participating Six Senses hotels and resorts
IHG doesn’t publish a list of the Six Senses properties participating in IHG One Rewards. However, you can find a list of all the hotels and resorts on the Six Senses website.
To determine whether a specific Six Senses property participates in IHG One Rewards, you’ll need to enter dates and search for rates on that property’s Six Senses landing page. Only at this point will you see whether the property participates.
For example, when I search for a stay at Six Senses Krabey Island, I see “IHG® One Rewards is not applicable at this Six Senses hotel at this time” in a box on the right-hand side of my screen.
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But when I search for a stay at Six Senses Laamu, I see the option to sign in and redeem IHG points for some room types.
20 Six Senses properties that participate in IHG One Rewards
I checked each of the 26 properties listed on the Six Senses website when I wrote this story. Here are the Six Senses hotels and resorts that participate in IHG One Rewards:
A bedroom at Six Senses Yao Noi in Thailand. KATIE GENTER/THE POINTS GUY
Since these hotels and resorts participate in IHG One Rewards, you can earn and redeem IHG points for stays at these properties. You’ll also enjoy certain benefits if you have IHG elite status or select other memberships, which I’ll discuss in a subsequent section.
6 Six Senses properties that don’t participate in IHG One Rewards
Unfortunately, the following Six Senses hotels and resorts don’t participate in IHG One Rewards:
Six Senses Douro Valley (Portugal)
Six Senses Kocatas Mansions, Istanbul (Turkey)
Six Senses Krabey Island (Cambodia)
Six Senses Qing Cheng Mountain (China)
Six Senses Samui (Thailand)
Six Senses Zighy Bay (Oman)
You can’t book these properties with IHG points, you won’t earn IHG points or elite night credits on stays, and you won’t get any perks as an IHG member at these Six Senses hotels and resorts.
What to know about redeeming IHG points for Six Senses stays
As discussed above, you can redeem IHG points for stays at participating Six Senses properties. As at other IHG One Rewards properties, award nights at these participating Six Senses hotels and resorts utilize dynamic pricing.
Some Six Senses properties have minimum stay requirements on select dates. However, members with select IHG One Rewards credit cards can get every fourth reward night free at Six Senses properties when redeeming IHG points for stays of four nights or longer. This perk of a free fourth reward night can help you get more value from your IHG points.
Breakfast buffet at Six Senses Laamu in the Maldives. KATIE GENTER/THE POINTS GUY
Note that many Six Senses hotels and resorts offer special packages that can provide much more value than redeeming IHG points. For example, for a four-night stay at Six Senses Laamu next month, I could redeem 570,000 points after getting the fourth reward night free as a perk of my IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card. But, I could alternatively book an extended-stay half-board rate for $3,528, which includes daily breakfast and dinner for two people and 25% off round-trip seaplane flights. Redeeming points would give me a redemption value of 0.62 cents per point, but the extended-stay half-board rate provides additional value via daily dinner and 25% off seaplane transfers.
So, check paid rates before assuming redeeming IHG points will provide the best value.
Six Senses properties are often relatively small. And many offer nontraditional service delivery methods. As such, some IHG One Rewards benefits may differ or not be available even at participating Six Senses properties. For example, member rates aren’t available at Six Senses hotels and resorts.
InterContinental Ambassador, InterContinental Royal Ambassador and Kimpton Inner Circle members get extra benefits when staying at participating Six Senses properties. In particular, these members can expect:
Daily complimentary breakfast for two in the main restaurant (not applicable at Six Senses Residences)
A signature amenity of a complimentary 50-minute Six Senses Spa massage for two or a local experience once per stay (varies by resort; subject to availability and confirmed on arrival; not applicable with corporate or negotiated rates)
Complimentary one-category room upgrade (subject to availability; excludes residences and two-bedroom or greater suites and villas)
Extended checkout time of 4 p.m. (subject to availability for Ambassador members and all members at Six Senses Residences)
10 a.m. early check-in (subject to availability for Ambassador members and all members at Six Senses Residences)
Complimentary internet access
Wellness platter welcome amenity (subject to availability at Six Senses Residences)
The post-massage relaxation area at Six Senses Laamu. KATIE GENTER/THE POINTS GUY
However, these benefits are only available to eligible members when booking directly or via an authorized travel agent.
I love that IHG has added most Six Senses properties to its program. However, despite the program starting to add more hotels over three years ago, six Six Senses still don’t participate in IHG One Rewards. It’s unclear whether these Six Senses properties will ever join IHG One Rewards.
Getting a fourth reward night free can be a compelling reason to redeem IHG points for your stay. But if you have the travel budget to pay for a Six Senses stay, double-check paid rates to see whether any packages provide better value than redeeming points.
It’s easy to see why Cancun is Mexico’s most popular destination. It’s home to beautiful beaches, jaw-dropping Mayan ruins, and a busy nightlife scene … getting people to visit this sun-soaked jewel on the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula is not a hard sell.
But we’ve been tipped off to a new fare sale that can get you to Cancun at a steal.
Carriers such as American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines are currently offering flights for as low as $261 round-trip. We found several nonstop routes in this sale from departure cities like Boston, Chicago, Dallas and New York City. Now that Southwest fares can be viewed in searches on Google Flights, it also saves us the trouble of heading to their website to see what a trip costs.
The travel window for this sale is from September through February 2025, but the best availability we saw was in November and December. If you live in the Northeast or Midwest, that’s the perfect time to plan a winter escape to the beaches of Mexico. Best of all, some routes do include the Thanksgiving holiday.
Please note that some of the lowest prices must be booked through an online travel agency.
This sale involves economy fares. You can bring a free carry-on bag with every airline in this deal except for United Airlines. Southwest tickets also allow for two free checked bags, so you can load up on swimwear and sandals. Checked luggage on the other airlines will cost between $35 and $40 each way.
Airlines: Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines
Routes: From Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, and New York City to Cancun, Mexico
How to book: Browse Google Flights, then book directly with the airline
Travel dates: From September through February for economy fares
This deal was originally sent out by the deal alert company Going. Sign up for Going to get up to 90% off select flights via its Premium membership, which users can try for free for 14 days and then $69 per year. You can also upgrade to the Elite tier for $199 per year for access to all the Premium deals, plus premium economy, business-class and first-class alerts.
We found nonstop flights from Chicago to Cancun on Southwest for just $266 round-trip. This itinerary takes off from Chicago’s Midway International Airport (MDW) to Cancun International Airport (CUN) in late September.
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We found the same low price for this route in early November.
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There are also good discounts to Mexico available out of Boston. JetBlue has nonstop flights from Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) to Cancun in November starting at $284 round-trip.
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According to Google Flights, this route usually costs almost double this price in the fall.
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JetBlue also has nonstop flights from New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Cancun in December — they’re priced at only $283 round-trip.
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We also dug up some good availability for nonstop flights out of Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) to Mexico from $261 in the fall on American.
American Express® Gold Card: 3 points per dollar spent on airfare when booked directly with the airline or through amextravel.com
The Platinum Card® from American Express: 5 points per dollar spent on airfare when booked directly with the airline or through American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 of these purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar)
In the examples above, we focused on nonstop flights, but some routes have layovers. If you’re only interested in nonstop itineraries, click the drop-down Stops tab and select the “nonstop only” option.
Is a Royal Caribbean cruise on your bucket list? You’ll find no shortage of options when it comes time to pick an itinerary.
The world’s biggest cruise line by passenger capacity offers voyages in almost every corner of the world, from its home base in North America to the far-off waters of Australia and New Zealand.
Royal Caribbean operates more cruise ships than any other major line — 28 in all. This allows it to deploy vessels on all the classic cruise itineraries in places like the Caribbean, Europe and Alaska while still having ships left over for more off-the-beaten-path routes.
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That said, Royal Caribbean has a distinct focus on the Caribbean and Europe — the most popular destinations for its regular customers. In a typical summer, the line will deploy about half its ships on sailings to the Caribbean, Bahamas and Bermuda while sending another seven or eight vessels to Europe. The line typically sends four ships to Alaska every summer.
During the winter, the line will move even more of its ships to the Caribbean, and send a few to Asia and Australia.
In all, Royal Caribbean’s ships visit more than 300 different ports around the world. Here are five of the top destinations you can reach on a Royal Caribbean ship.
The Caribbean and the Bahamas
Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas in Labadee, Haiti. ERICA SILVERSTEIN/THE POINTS GUY
There’s a reason the word “Caribbean” is in Royal Caribbean’s name. The line got its start operating cruises to the Caribbean way back in 1968, and the region still accounts for a big part of its business.
In fact, the line typically deploys well more than half its fleet to the Caribbean and the Bahamas for at least part of the year. During the winter, the line will have most of its ships in the region. For the coming winter of 2024-2025, for instance, 23 of its 28 vessels are sailing in the Caribbean and Bahamas, including all of the line’s biggest ships. These include the line’s much-ballyhooed new vessel Icon of the Seas — the biggest cruise ship in the world — and its just unveiled Utopia of the Seas.
Royal Caribbean offers a broad range of Caribbean and Bahamas itineraries from over half a dozen home ports. If you’re looking for something short, the line has you covered in the form of lots of quick, three- and four-night trips from Florida ports to the Bahamas (including those Utopia of the Seas sailings). It also offers an abundance of seven-night sailings to Caribbean and Bahamas ports and a handful of longer trips in the region that range from nine to 14 nights.
At the core of the line’s Caribbean and Bahamas program are its seven-night sailings, which break down into three broad categories:
Eastern Caribbean voyages
Western Caribbean voyages
Southern Caribbean voyages
A typical seven-night Royal Caribbean sailing in the Eastern Caribbean will include stops at St. Martin, St. Thomas and Perfect Day at CocoCay, the line’s private island in the Bahamas. But the line sometimes swaps in stops at other islands such as Puerto Rico or St. Kitts. There are typically three and sometimes four calls on an Eastern Caribbean cruise.
Royal Caribbean’s seven-night Western Caribbean voyages typically include three or four stops at some mix of the following destinations: Mexico (Cozumel or Costa Maya), Honduras, Jamaica, Grand Cayman and Belize. Some include a stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay and Labadee, Royal Caribbean’s private beach destination in Haiti.
The Oasis Lagoon at Perfect Day at CocoCay. ROYAL CARIBBEAN
The line’s seven-night Southern Caribbean itineraries are more destination-heavy, with five or even six separate calls. They sometimes include a couple of stops at relatively northward islands such as St. Thomas and St. Martin but focus heavily on southerly islands such as Tobago, Trinidad, Grenada, St. Vincent, Dominica, St. Lucia, Bonaire, Aruba and Curacao.
When sailing to the Caribbean, Royal Caribbean ships generally sail out of PortMiami, Port Canaveral, Fort Lauderdale’s Port Everglades and Tampa in Florida; San Juan, Puerto Rico; New Orleans; Galveston, Texas; Bayonne, New Jersey (one of the ports for New York City); and Baltimore.
Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas in Sydney, Australia. ROYAL CARIBBEAN
Royal Caribbean has been sending at least one ship — and sometimes several — to Australia every winter for many years. It offers a wide range of itineraries out of Sydney and Brisbane that make calls not just around Australia but also in New Zealand.
While the itineraries the line offers in the region vary in length — from just two nights to 15 nights — the shorter voyages are primarily aimed at a local Australian crowd looking for a quick getaway. Among North Americans, the most popular itineraries are the longer ones, which are often heavily skewed to stops in New Zealand.
Among several New Zealand itineraries are 12-night voyages from Sydney that feature an all-New Zealand lineup of calls: Bay of Islands, Auckland, Tauranga, Wellington, Christchurch and Picton.
A 15-night New Zealand itinerary out of Sydney features cruising in New Zealand’s famed Milford Sound as well as Doubtful Sound and Dusky Sound. The ship also stops in Dunedin, Wellington, Christchurch, Tauranga, Auckland and the Bay of Islands.
Alaska
Royal Caribbean’s Radiance of the Seas at Hubbard Glacier. MICHEL VERDURE/ROYAL CARIBBEAN
Royal Caribbean isn’t the biggest player in Alaska cruises. The giants of cruising to Alaska are Princess Cruises and Holland America, which are sister lines to each other that control a large percentage of the market. Still, Royal Caribbean has a significant presence in Alaska, and its big, activity-filled ships are popular with families looking to visit the destination.
The Alaska cruise season is a short one, lasting roughly from May to September. This year, Royal Caribbean has four ships in the region — all operating seven-night sailings.
Ovation of the Seas and Quantum of the Seas: These 4,180-passenger sister vessels are Royal Caribbean’s newest and largest ships scheduled to visit Alaska. They’re sailing to Alaska round-trip from Seattle with calls at Alaskan ports such as Sitka, Juneau and Skagway; and Victoria, British Columbia. On many departures, they’re also visiting Endicott Arm for glacier viewing.
Brilliance of the Seas: The 2,142-passenger ship sails to Alaska round-trip from Vancouver with a visit to Tracy Arm Fjord and calls at three or four of the following Alaska destinations: Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, Haines, Icy Strait Point and Sitka.
Radiance of the Seas: The 2,143-passenger Radiance of the Seas mostly sails one-way Alaska voyages between Vancouver and Seward, Alaska. Calls include Hubbard Glacier and four of the following Alaska destinations: Ketchikan, Icy Strait Point, Juneau, Skagway and Sitka.
For the 2025 season, Royal Caribbean will replace Ovation of the Seas with Anthem of the Seas (the two ships are similar) and substitute Serenade of the Seas for Radiance of the Seas (also similar ships).
The appeal of the one-way sailings on Radiance of the Seas in 2024 and Serenade of the Seas in 2025 is that you can combine them with Royal Caribbean-organized land tours of Alaska. Land tours can last from two to five days in addition to the seven nights on the ship. So, all in all, you will have created a nine- to 12-night “cruise tour” as such trips are called in the cruise world.
The land tour portion of such trips brings visits to such well-known interior Alaska locations as Denali National Park and the town of Fairbanks.
Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas sails in Europe during summers. MICHEL VERDURE/ROYAL CARIBBEAN
Royal Caribbean is a major player in Europe, with a wide range of itineraries in the Mediterranean and across Northern Europe.
Some of the line’s signature Mediterranean routings offer the chance to see iconic destinations such as Barcelona, Spain, and the Italian cities of Florence, Rome and Naples in a single cruise. Or, you can sign up for a Mediterranean cruise focusing on the Greek Islands.
In Northern Europe, Royal Caribbean will take you to such famed Baltic cities as Stockholm; Tallinn, Estonia; Helsinki; and St. Petersburg, Russia, in a single sailing (although, for now, St. Petersburg has been removed from Royal Caribbean itineraries due to the war between Russia and Ukraine). Itineraries that zero in on the Norwegian fjords also are available.
Until recently, the line has deployed as many as 10 vessels to the region each year on a seasonal basis, with the ships staying from spring until fall. But Royal Caribbean has been cutting back on Europe sailings a bit in the wake of the wars in Ukraine and Israel, and it only plans to send six ships to Europe for the 2025 season.
Royal Caribbean’s Europe voyages range in length from three to 16 nights.
Among the longest sailings that Royal Caribbean offers in Europe is a 16-night voyage from Barcelona to Southampton, England, that brings stops in Valencia, Cartagena and Malaga, Spain; Casablanca and Agadir, Morocco; Lisbon and Porto, Portugal; Cork, Ireland; and Cherbourg and Le Havre, France.
In Northern Europe, Royal Caribbean ships mostly sail out of Southampton, England; Amsterdam; and Copenhagen, Denmark.
In the Mediterranean, the line’s hubs are Piraeus, Greece (the port for Athens); Istanbul, Turkey; Barcelona; and Civitavecchia (the port for Rome) and Ravenna in Italy. The latter port recently replaced Venice as a home port.
Asia
Royal Caribbean’s Spectrum of the Seas, shown here in Hong Kong, sails in Asia. ROYAL CARIBBEAN
In recent years, Royal Caribbean has built up a big business selling cruises out of China ports such as Shanghai and Tianjin (the port for Beijing) that are aimed squarely at the Chinese market. They offer Chinese-language programming, and Chinese-centric food and activities. However, Royal Caribbean also markets some Asia voyages to North Americans.
Among the itineraries meant for a Western crowd are nine-night Thailand and Vietnam cruises out of Singapore that include stops at Bintan Island, Indonesia; Nha Trang and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; and Bangkok.
There are also 10-night Japan Explorer sailings that take in Aomori, Hakodate, Akita, Kanazawa, Sakaiminato and Kagoshima, Japan; and Busan, South Korea.
For 2025, Royal Caribean will have three of its 28 ships visiting Asia for at least part of the year: Anthem of the Seas, Ovation of the Seas and Spectrum of the Seas.
The line’s main home ports in Asia for cruises aimed at North American travelers are Singapore; Yokohama, Japan (the port for Tokyo); and Hong Kong.
Bottom line
Royal Caribbean has one of the biggest fleets of oceangoing cruise ships worldwide, allowing it to offer a wide range of itineraries. If you’re thinking of a Royal Caribbean cruise, you’ll be spoiled for choice. The line is perhaps best known for its Caribbean sailings — at certain times of the year, it deploys almost all its ships to the region. You’ll also find wonderful Royal Caribbean itineraries everywhere, from Alaska and Australia to Europe and Asia.
