WITH THE THREAT of war causing apprehension among
travelers, SuperClubs introduced a revised cancellation policy that
is a departure from the series of recent cancellation policy
revisions of many cruise lines and hoteliers. Consumers can take
advantage of SuperClubs' revised policy only once the bombs start
falling over Iraq or a terrorist incident takes place in North
America. In the event of such incidents, SuperClubs will allow
clients at any time prior to travel to postpone and reschedule
their travel for up to 12 months without incurring a $250 per
person cancellation fee. The policy applies at SuperClubs' 12
resorts in Jamaica, the Bahamas, Curacao, the Dominican Republic
and Brazil. Agents' commissions are protected; agents will collect
their commission after the client travels. "We felt a need to
recognize the obvious concerns among travel agents and travelers.
Agents can reassure their clients that their travel plans are safe
in these uncertain times," said John J. Issa, the company's
executive chairman. SuperClubs' standard policy -- in effect while
there is no conflict in Iraq or terrorist incident -- requires 21
days' advance notice to cancel; if a cancellation occurs less than
21 days before a trip, a $250 per person cancellation fee is
charged.
VACATION EXPRESS has added Newburgh, N.Y., to
its charter route, effective March 6. Before continuing on to its
Caribbean destinations, the Vacation Express aircraft will stop en
route in Baltimore. Onward destinations include (depending on the
day of week and time of year) Aruba; Cancun, Mexico; Costa Rica;
and the Dominican Republic. For reservations, visit www.vacationexpress.net.
AIR BYTES
• Continental Airlines and Cape Air will launch a code-share
agreement March 8 on selected Cape Air flights from San Juan and
St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, linking Continental's routes from
New York/Newark, Houston and Cleveland. Continental will code share
on Cape Air flights from San Juan to Ponce (Puerto Rico); St. Croix
and St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; and Tortola, British Virgin
Islands. From St. Thomas, code-share flights will include St. Croix
and Tortola.
• Seaborne Airlines, based in St. Croix, added more flights between
St. Croix and St. Thomas during peak morning departure times and
readjusted schedules so that more flights operate on a daily basis
at the same time each day. On-time departures will be "an even
greater priority than in the past, due to the tighter operating
schedule," according to Omer ErSelcuk, chief marketing officer.
Seaborne also added a daily morning flight from St. Croix to Old
San Juan as well as an afternoon departure on Saturdays and
Sundays. For reservations, call (888) FLY-TOUR.
LODGEPODGE
• Beaches Sandy Bay in Negril, Jamaica, waived the blackout date
restriction for bookings on the Beaches is for Everyone package
between April 18 and 23. In addition, the $95 per person, per night
surcharge has been eliminated during the same time period.
• Sandals added new non-refundable fees for weddings and vow
renewals, due to an increase in administration and mandatory
government processing and license charges. Effective March 1, the
fee for weddings at Sandals' resorts in Jamaica is $150; weddings
in all other destinations, $225; and renewal of vows at all
destinations, $100.
• Minneapolis-based Prestige Resorts & Destinations will manage
the 67-room Hotel Kura Hulanda in Curacao. Prestige also manages
properties in the Bahamas, Barbados and Puerto Rico.
PENCIL IT IN
• Dominican Annual Tourism Exchange, April 10 to 12, Barcelo Bavaro
Convention Center, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
For details, visit www.drdate.net.
• Solar Energy International Workshop, April 28 to May 9, Maho Bay
Camps, St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. For details, visit www.solarenergy.org.