Posted by David Porter on July 29, 2017 · 4 Comments
CLEAR biometric screening lanes claim to be the fastest way through the airport security lanes.
Carol and I were out of town for most of the last week. When we approached the security line at the airport coming home, we noticed that there was a person there hawking something called CLEAR that promised to zip us through the security lanes faster than any other method.
As there were people pressing in around us, and as we were already TSA Pre-Check approved, we decided to forgo the speech and figure out what the guy was talking about when we got home.
As it turns out, CLEAR is a program that will allow you to completely bypass the person that is checking your ID and proceed directly to the TSA or regular screening lane.
When we were at the airport, there were roughly three people in the TSA lane and no one in the CLEAR lane. So, we figured, why take the time to figure this out now?
So, what is all of the fuss about? Here is a February 2017 press release from Delta Airlines:
Biometric technology simplifies I.D. checks, combines with automated screening lines to streamline security process
The addition of CLEAR biometric screening lanes at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport comes a week after the airline announced similar lanes at New York-JFK and New York-LGA. With today’s launch in Atlanta, 20 of the busiest airports where Delta flies now feature CLEAR service.
“Delta is constantly looking for ways to improve the customer experience from the time you arrive at the airport all the way through the travel ribbon,” said Gil West, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. “Delta’s CLEAR partnership is an extension of our broader innovative approach to helping customers get through security lines a bit easier – an effort we started last year in Atlanta by investing in the highly successful automated screening lanes.”
U.S.-based Delta SkyMiles Members enjoy an exclusive rate to enroll in the service that expedites long security lines, thanks to the airline’s partnership with CLEAR. The service is scheduled to expand to Los Angeles (LAX) and Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) later in the first quarter.
CLEAR is the only U.S. biometric identity verification platform that uses fingerprint and iris I.D. technology to expedite the document check portion of the TSA security process. CLEAR members verify their identity in the dedicated CLEAR lane and then enter either TSA PreCheck or general screening depending on their status, reducing the overall amount of time spent at security.
In addition to establishing an exclusive partnership with CLEAR, Delta in 2016 became the first airline to partner with the TSA to improve airport security line flow using these other innovative strategies:
- Automated Screening Lanes – Delta was the first airline to invest in the implementation of automated screening lanes in 2016. The TSA praised Delta’s effort at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport to implement two lanes and the usefulness of the lanes in expediting the bag-screening process. By summer 2017, 22 ASLs will be in place at ATL while DTW, JFK T2 and T4, LGA TC and TD, MSP, SEA will also see expanded ASL capabilities thanks to Delta’s partnerships with airports, port authorities and the TSA.
- Staffing up – Delta has provided nearly $4 million in staffing solutions to support the TSA in its efforts to improve security wait times. These solutions included providing staffing support at TSA checkpoints for tasks that free up TSA inspectors to open additional checkpoint lanes at peak where possible or improve throughput, and deployed employees or vendors in areas to manage lines, bins and other non-screening tasks.
- Thinking differently – Delta has lent subject matter expertise from industrial engineers and other areas to make recommendations on queue design and how checkpoints could be redesigned for a more optimal flow and ease of movement.
CLEAR is now available at 20 of the busiest U.S. airports Delta serves:
- Atlanta (ATL)
- Austin (AUS)
- Baltimore (BWI)
- Dallas (DFW)
- Denver (DEN)
- Detroit (DTW)
- Houston (HOU) (IAH)
- Las Vegas (LAS)
- Miami (MIA)
- New York (JFK)
- New York (LGA)
- Orlando (MCO)
- San Antonio (SAT)
- San Francisco (SFO)
- San Jose (SJC)
- Seattle (SEA)
- Washington, D.C. (DCA) (IAD)
- White Plains, N.Y. (HPN)
Delta Diamond Medallion Members are offered complimentary CLEAR enrollment, while Platinum, Gold and Silver Medallion Members and SkyMiles Credit Card Members can secure an annual Member-only rate of $79. General SkyMiles Members are offered an annual membership for $99. In comparison, the annual standard CLEAR membership rate is $179. CLEAR also offers a family plan option, where SkyMiles Members can sign up additional family members for $50 each.
To enroll in CLEAR and take advantage of exclusive SkyMiles Member-only pricing, Delta customers can visit delta.clearme.com. For full terms and conditions of CLEAR, visit clearme.com/terms. All SkyMiles program rules apply. To review the rules, visit delta.com/memberguide.
Well? Is it worth paying nearly $100 to skip the dude or dudette that is checking your identification before the TSA screening? For now, I think not. But I suppose, if the TSA screening lines keep growing, it might be worth the extra $100 to skip pass both the regular and TSA lines and go directly to the screening.
What do you think? Are you a member? Have you seen these new lines?
If you enjoyed this article, sign up for our travel newsletter to keep abreast of our best travel tips, on-location reviews, exclusive travel offers, group travel events, and much more.
Roaming Boomers Travel Services is an Independent Affiliate of Cadence, a Virtuoso® member. CST#201120-40
Posted by David Porter on July 21, 2017 · 12 Comments
Azamara Quest in Santorini, Greece.
Our Review: Sailing with Azamara Club Cruises on the Azamara Quest
Quick. What is your favorite flavor of ice cream? Some of you answered chocolate, some vanilla, while others might answer mint chocolate chip, strawberry, cookie dough, or a myriad of other choices.
With hundreds of thousands of luxury boomer travelers reading our website, newsletter, and social media outposts over the course of a year, we are constantly asked: what is the best ocean cruise line?
And just like ice cream, the best ocean cruise line depends on your palate, your travel style, your desired destination, and of course, your wallet.
In my mind, ocean cruise lines can be segmented into four general categories:
- 4-star large-ship brands
- 4.5-star small ship brands
- 5-star brands
- and finally, expedition ships that will take you to the Antarctic and such.
Azamara Club Cruises (LINK) fits into the 4.5-star category with its main competitors being Viking Ocean Cruises and Oceania Cruises.
Azamara Quest in Mykonos, Greece. Note: click all photographs for larger views. ©2017, David A. Porter
It seems that it always takes me several days to write our review articles as I struggle with how to condense 10-days of experience into a readable and informative format. And, as I’ve learned over the years, folks enjoy bullet-points. Let’s proceed in that direction.
First off, two things:
- If you have questions that I haven’t covered in my article, please feel free to ask questions in the comments section at the bottom of this article.
- And, so that we don’t bury the lead: we enjoyed our experience, would love to sail with them again, and we feel that Azamara Club Cruises will be just perfect for many baby boomer travelers looking for a 4.5-star small ship experience.
With that said, let’s get started…
Highlights From our Azamara Club Cruises Sailing
- Boutique, upmarket cruise line – Cruise lines in the 4.5-star space are careful not to call themselves luxury as one person’s definition of luxury is going to differ from another’s. And, Azamara Club Cruises isn’t trying to compete with the true luxury cruise lines. In my view, the 4.5-star cruise lines are best for those who don’t want to sail with 5,000 people, desire a more upscale experience, and view the destination experience as more important than that of the ship. After all, while the ship is certainly important, isn’t this all about going to a destination? Here is how Azamara defines themselves: “founded in 2007 and then re-launched as Azamara Club Cruises® in 2010, Azamara is a boutique upmarket cruise line operating two 690 passenger ships, the Azamara Journey and the Azamara Quest. The company serves an upmarket segment of international travelers, who tend to be curious and well-traveled, and as a whole are eager to explore new destinations and cultures.” Azamara Club Cruises is a wonderful option for those who desire to step up from the large-ship 4-star brands.
- Small Ships – While we recommend the larger ships for our clients who might be more budget conscious or perhaps looking for a multi-generational experience with the family, as a rule, we prefer to recommend the small-ship cruise lines that start at least in the 4.5-star or higher category. With just a few exceptions, if we send couples on the big ships, they come home with complaints as their expectations were not met. When we stick to the smaller ships, we get very few complaints. Think about it, the ships with Azamara Club Cruises carry a maximum of 690 guests. Your experience on these smaller ships is going to be significantly more intimate than a floating city with nearly 6,000 people aboard. Plus, when you’re in port, you can get into smaller docking areas that the larger ships couldn’t dream of getting into. When we were in Dubrovnik with Azamara Club Cruises, we were docked right outside the city. We hopped aboard our tender and were walking the streets of Dubrovnik within 10 minutes. The large ships were docked 2-miles outside of the city, and those poor folks had to be bused into the city. Being identical ships, the Azamara Journey and the Azamara Quest were both inaugurated in 2007, and hold 690 guests in 345 staterooms: 46 Club Suites, 200 Club Veranda Staterooms, 73 Club Oceanview Staterooms, and 26 Club Interior Staterooms. Both ships were refurbished in 2016 and look shiny and new. While you can’t see the Azamara Quest in my photograph below, we were moored with the yachts in Dubrovnik where the large ships are lost in the fog somewhere down the coast. You can see the Azamara Quest in my photograph through the ground cover in my second photograph.
- Space Ratio – One of the specifications that we like to pay attention to when choosing a cruise ship is its space ratio. To determine this, we take the ship’s gross registered tons (30,277) divided by the maximum passengers (690). By doing this, we get a space ratio of 43.88. That’s not bad. The best are north of 50, and the worst is below 25. We never felt crowded on board, although we did notice that on our sea day, the pool area was a bit crowded.
- Dining Venues – The main restaurant aboard the Azamara Quest is called Discoveries. We enjoyed most of our meals in Discoveries and found the cuisine to be quite nice. The staff was attentive and the chef mixed up the menu each night so that you didn’t feel like you only had the same choices each night. While there are specialty restaurants aboard (Prime C for steaks and seafood – Aquilina for Italian), we were very content to enjoy the main dining room each night. If we needed a quick bite, then we would enjoy the Windows Cafè which is the ubiquitous buffet found on most cruise ships. Another favorite stop of ours was The Patio, a casual grill on the pool deck where we enjoyed their grilled tuna wrap and a small bit of frozen yogurt from the nearby self-service station. I would give our dining experience a rating in keeping with our overall 4.5-star rating. While you’re not going to dine at a Thomas Keller restaurant aboard the Azamara Quest, I’m confident that you will enjoy the cuisine.
Discoveries Restaurant. Photo courtesy of Azamara Club Cruises.
- White Night – One of the things we noticed right away is that the mix of people on board our sailing was different than other lines that we’ve enjoyed in this space. The crowd trended younger, and in the mix we found baby boomers and older, quite a large contingent from the LGBT community, a few solo travelers, quite a number of families with children, and our ears were also treated to a number of different languages aboard as well. Quite an eclectic mix, wouldn’t you say? While I certainly wouldn’t call this a party boat, the vibe was a little more upbeat and energetic. Because the crowd tends to be a little more lively, Azamara Club Cruises hosts a complimentary White Night Party aboard ship on every cruise where everyone dresses in white and we all enjoy a festive get-together on the pool deck replete with a fabulous buffet (think grilled lobsters, steak and every imaginable food and dessert). Further, we were treated to a group of Greek dancers that were brought on board, the cast from the Cabaret Lounge entertained with wonderful music, and all of this was set to a beautiful moonlit night in the ocean caldera of Santorini. Magical, it was! I have a picture to share with you. Please pardon the graininess of the photo. It is a panorama that I shot with my iPhone in the low light.
- AzAmazing Evenings – Another treat afforded to the guests of Azamara Club Cruises is the so-called AzAmazing Evening offered on most sailings. While moored in the port of Dubrovnik, Croatia, they offloaded over 600 of us to the small Lokrum Island Nature Reserve to enjoy a lively evening of entertainment from Croatian Cellist Ana Rucner. Take a peek at my video below from this special evening.
- Stay Longer. Experience More – Azamara Club Cruises pioneered Longer Stays and More Overnights. With its two ships, the focus on these extended stays and authentic local experiences keep evolving. “Stay longer. Experience more.” is the philosophy behind every Azamara Club Cruises voyage.Capitalizing on longer stays in port, more overnights and night touring, Azamara Voyages deliver to guests authentic cultural experiences across the globe. The ship’s smaller size allows for visits to ports larger ships are unable to venture to. In 2017, Azamara will take passengers to more than 200 ports, in 68 countries, including 195 late night stays and 82 overnights. Azamara’s commitment to Destination Immersion coupled with exceptional onboard service offers a unique cruise vacation for those who love travel. What’s not to like about that? Right?
- Back to Back Voyages – Because Azamara Club Cruises is operating with only two ships in their fleet, they can turn what might seem to be a disadvantage to an advantage for their guests. While many cruise lines will run the Athens to Venice itinerary over and over, Azamara Club Cruises will stretch out a series of back to back itineraries that will allow folks to explore many different areas and spend less money all at the same time. While we needed to hop off the ship in Venice, many of the ship’s passengers continued from Venice to enjoy a string of back to back cruises stretching out for 31-days. And, to make it even more interesting, the longer you sail, the more savings Azamara Club Cruises will offer to you.
- Elegant Interiors – Azamara has “club” as a middle name because the brand seeks to offer its guests an intimate, country club-like ambiance. I think they pulled it off. I immediately liked my surroundings when I stepped aboard the ship. Take a peek at these photographs I captured in the lobby.
- Staterooms – OK. Here is the only place that I am going to offer a little negativity. I felt that the majority of their staterooms trended towards the small side as compared to their direct competitors. 299 of their staterooms clock in at 175 sq. ft. or less, and while the living space seemed workable, the bathrooms required the finesse of a ballerina to get around. Therefore, if you prefer a larger stateroom, book early so that you can get one of their 46 beautiful suites. For our next sailing with Azamara Club Cruises, I’ve got my eye on this beautiful Club Spa Suite (photo courtesy of Azamara Club Cruises). Check out that soaking tub in the back looking out over the ocean. Pretty sweet, right?
Well, I think that about covers what I want to share with you about our onboard experience.
Again, Azamara Club Cruises is perfect for the traveler who might want to step out of the 4-star large ships to enjoy a more intimate 4.5-star upscale experience. And, we also found that luxury travelers tend to scoop in to quickly take up the suites as they enjoy the overall Azamara experience. We get that and would put ourselves in the same camp.
Now that I’ve shared our onboard experience, stay tuned as we share the fun from each of our ports of call.
For more information or to book your own Azamara Club Cruises experience, please call Roaming Boomers Travel Services at (480) 550-1235, or use our convenient online information request (click here) and we’ll reach out to you. Plus, through our affiliation with Virtuoso, we’ve probably got complimentary VIP perks to add to Azamara’s best offers.
If you enjoyed this article, sign up for our travel newsletter to keep abreast of our best travel tips, on-location reviews, exclusive travel offers, group travel events, and much more.
Roaming Boomers Travel Services is an Independent Affiliate of Cadence, a Virtuoso® member. CST#201120-40
Posted by David Porter on July 19, 2017 · Leave a Comment
TSA to Soon End Ban on Laptop Computers
If you remember, the TSA created a lot of hubbub back in March when it announced that it was banning anything larger than a cell phone on inbound flights to the U.S. from certain Middle Eastern airports.
Well now, Travel Market Report and all of the major news outlets are reporting that this ban is likely to end within the week as the affected airports have upped their game with regards to security scanning.
That’s good news for many.
If you enjoyed this article, sign up for our travel newsletter to keep abreast of our best travel tips, on-location reviews, exclusive travel offers, group travel events, and much more.
Roaming Boomers Travel Services is an Independent Affiliate of Cadence, a Virtuoso® member. CST#201120-40
Posted by David Porter on June 24, 2017 · Leave a Comment
Flash: Last-minute 2017 Viking River Cruise Offers
Boy, what a difference a year can make. Last year at this time river cruise companies had quite a bit of inventory left and they were offering quite substantial discounts. This year, the day after the presidential election, our phones started ringing off of the hook and we were booking cruises like they were going to go out of style.
This year, the problem has been a severe lack of inventory and as a result, folks are already booking 2018 like crazy.
Nonetheless, if you would like to enjoy a 2017 Viking River Cruise, here is a list of what dates and sailings are still available. AND, some of these offer FREE roundtrip air!
If you see something that interests you in the list below, then hop over to the Viking River Cruise website, learn more about your desired cruise, and then give us a call. Through our back-channels, we can grab one of these, put it on a complimentary hold for a day or two, and give you a little breathing room to get all of your questions answered.
You’ve heard me say it before, but hurry, supplies are very limited.
For more information or to book a fun Viking River Cruise, please call (480) 550-1235, or use our convenient online information request (click here) and we’ll reach out to you.
Note: click the image below for a larger view.
If you enjoyed this article, sign up for our travel newsletter to keep abreast of our best travel tips, on-location reviews, exclusive travel offers, group travel events, and much more.
Roaming Boomers Travel Services is an Independent Affiliate of Cadence, a Virtuoso® member. CST#201120-40
Posted by David Porter on June 24, 2017 · Leave a Comment
The Ritz-Carlton Takes to the Sea – First Luxury Hotel Brand to Offer Bespoke Yacht Experiences
Through our affiliations with Cadence and Virtuoso, we bring our clients preferred partner complimentary VIP perks when we book Ritz-Carlton properties around the world.
And now, it seems, we’re going to be able to extend those exclusive privileges to folks who might want to sail on their upcoming yacht collection recently announced to be available in 2019.
With the luxury cruisers rebelling against the large floating cities that many cruise lines offer, this segment of the market has experienced a significant growth spurt with quite a number of players already in this market and more coming on-line soon.
To explore some of the players already in the yacht cruise market, we recommend that you consider Crystal Cruises, Windstar, Ponant, and SeaDream.
In the meantime, let us share with you a recent press release from The Ritz-Carlton telling about their upcoming yacht cruise line…
CHEVY CHASE, MD – June 22, 2017 – The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C., part of Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR), today announced its entry into luxury yachting and cruises – bringing the award-winning luxury hotel brand’s service and timeless style to sea. Created by The Ritz-Carlton and maritime experts Douglas Prothero and Lars Clasen, in collaboration with funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management, L.P., The Ritz-Carlton will provide luxury hospitality service under a long-term operating agreement. Named The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, this venture represents a unique foray into the cruise industry for a luxury hotel operator. The first of three lavish cruising yachts in this series is scheduled to take to sea in the fourth quarter of 2019, and distinguishes Marriott International as the only provider of luxury accommodations both on land and at sea.
“The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection will have a distinctive personality and the vessels are sure to be true stand outs in some of the most glamorous ports around the world,” said Herve Humler, President and Chief Operating Officer of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. “This unique combination of yachting and cruising will usher in a new way of luxury travel for guests seeking to discover the world in a relaxed, casually elegant and comfortable atmosphere with the highest level of personalized service.”
Itineraries are being developed with an intent to combine the lifestyle of The Ritz-Carlton’s luxury resorts and the casual freedom of a yachting vacation. Calling at intimate and signature destinations alike, voyages will range from seven to ten days. The first ship will cruise a wide variety of destinations depending on the season, including the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, the Caribbean and Latin America. Due to the intimate size of the vessel, the yacht will call at unique locations typically not accessible to large cruise ships, from Capri and Portofino to St. Barths and the old town of Cartagena. With a relaxed pace, that includes both overnight and daytime ports of call, guests will be offered a uniquely curated destination experience.
The specially designed small capacity vessel will measure 190-meters, accommodate up to 298 passengers, and feature 149 suites, each with its own private balcony. The yacht will also feature two 138 square-meter lavish duplex penthouse suites, with modern craftsmanship and interior finishes jointly designed by The Ritz-Carlton and leading cruise ship design firm, Tillberg Design of Sweden. The onboard experience will reflect the sublime comfort and unparalleled level of individualized guest service for which the iconic Ritz-Carlton brand is recognized; a first in the cruise industry.
“The Ritz-Carlton is known for its legendary service and high standards,” said Douglas Prothero Managing Director, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection. “We are delighted to collaborate with The Ritz-Carlton as our hospitality operator in offering the most exclusive yachting experience to be found at sea in a venture that will give new meaning to curated luxury travel,” continued Lars Clasen, Managing Director, The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection.
Throughout the journey, guests will indulge in a cruising style that is unparalleled in the ultra-luxury cruise and private yachting sectors. The Ritz-Carlton yachts will feature a restaurant by Sven Elverfeld of Aqua, the three Michelin-starred restaurant at The Ritz-Carlton, Wolfsburg; a signature Ritz-Carlton Spa; and a Panorama Lounge and wine bar, offering a wide variety of on-board entertainment. Additionally, the yacht will offer one-of-a-kind curated destination journeys through collaborations with local chefs, musicians and artists, allowing guests to experience the locations in unique and experiential ways, both onboard and ashore.
Reservations will open in May 2018. The ships of The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection are also available for private charter.
For more information or to book your own bespoke yacht cruise, please call (480) 550-1235, or use our convenient online information request (click here) and we’ll reach out to you.
If you enjoyed this article, sign up for our travel newsletter to keep abreast of our best travel tips, on-location reviews, exclusive travel offers, group travel events, and much more.
Roaming Boomers Travel Services is an Independent Affiliate of Cadence, a Virtuoso® member. CST#201120-40
The Roaming Boomers
