Travel

United Airlines is giving away three grand prizes including airfare, hotel and entry tickets to the 2012 Olympic Games in London in its  ”Fly Me to London” sweepstakes running through Wednesday.

Winners will have the chance to cheer on the U.S. Olympic Team, the airline said in a release.

United Airlines plane, United Airlines/COURTESY

In recognition of  United’s 17 daily nonstop flights to London, and the 17-day Games, 17  first place winners will also be awarded two roundtrip tickets to anywhere in the nation the airline flies. 

Participants may enter for a chance to win by clicking here or visiting United’s Facebook page before May 30.

Planning a cruise this year? Well here’s a deal from Norwegian Cruise Line to consider that offers up to $250 in onboard credit per cabin for trips booked by Friday.

The deal is applicable fleetwide, including on ships sailing from PortMiami to several destinations including the Caribbean, Bahamas, Canada/New England and Hawaii.

Norwegian Epic, Norwegian Cruise Line/COURTESY

Other savings include reduced deposits on sailings of three days or more and up to $500 air credit on select Europe, Alaska and Bermuda cruises. 

For more information or to book, call 1-888-625-2784 or click here.

Courtesy of Red Roof Inn Miami Airport

Stay at a budget Red Roof Inn through August, and receive a book of coupons for discounts at national retailers and restaurants, while supplies last.

The book includes a coupon for 15 percent off a stay at Red Roof through Dec. 31.

The discounts apply at Subway, Barnes & Noble, Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant, F.Y.E., Fashion Bug, Dick’s Sporting Goods and other retailers.

Coupons include 25 percent off an order at Papa John’s pizza restaurants.

For information, visit redroof.com.

From the Web

A Carnival Cruise Lines ship set sail this past weekend from Miami with a disabled woman’s dialysis machine and luggage, but left the passenger and her family behind, according to a WPLG Ch-10 report.

The South Florida family was scheduled to leave on a 5-day Caribbean cruise when they were booted off the ship after the crew couldn’t locate their luggage or the machine.

Carnival Liberty, CARNIVAL.COM/COURTESY

The family was told since the disabled woman needed the dialysis machine to sail and there was some uncertainty as to whether it had been put aboard, it was best that they disembark this ship.

Read more about their ordeal at local10.com.

Note: The Carnival cruise ship involved in the incident is the Carnival Destiny (not pictured).

Delta Air Lines  said this week it plans to add a fifth daily flight between Miami International Airport and New York’s LaGuardia International starting Dec. 15, 2012.

The additional flight will come just nine months after Delta started new nonstop service from Miami to LaGuardia in March, as part of its expansion plans at the New York airport – its newest hub.

Delta has 112 employees at MIA, where it has been operating since 1955 and is the oldest carrier in Miami.

The Altanta-based carrier also flies from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood and Palm Beach International airports to LaGuardia.

Delta-Boeing-757, Courtesy of Delta Air Lines

From the Fort Lauderdale airport, Delta operates 29 peak-day flights to seven destinations including Atlanta, New York, Detroit and Cincinnati, and has about 300 employees based there. 

At Palm Beach International,  Delta operates 14 peak-day flights to Atlanta, Detriot and LaGuardia, and has about 50 employees there, a spokesman said.

American Airlines wants to beef up flights to Brazil.

The Fort Worth, Texas-based airline recently filed applications with the U.S. Department of Transportation for rights to fly 17 additional weekly frequencies between the United States and the South American nation.

American said it’s proposing to increase its current service between Miami and Rio de Janeiro, as well as New York’s JFK airport and Sao Paulo starting Oct. 1.  

American Airlines 757 aircraft, Courtesy of AA.com

It’s also aiming to increase its Miami to Recife and Miami to Salvador service on Nov. 15; and add a second daily Miami to Rio de Janeiro flight on Dec. 15.

American is also seeking to convert its daily Miami to Recife-Salvador, Brazil one-stop service to nonstop flights five days a week between Miami and Recife, and between Miami and Salvador. 

“Brazil is a very important and growing market for American Airlines,” said Virasb Vahidi, American’s Chief Commercial Officer, in a statement. “With these additional frequencies, we plan to begin operating new service as soon as Oct. 1, giving our customers even more travel options to Brazil which is Latin America’s largest economy.”

Boca Raton Resort, Courtesy of Palm Beach County CVB

Luxury hotels in Palm Beach County hotels are rolling out the summer deals.

Boca Raton Resort & Club has rates startig at $239 a night through Sept. 30.  Some packages include breakfast for two, free parking, 25 percent off golf green fees, 25 percent off spa services, waiver on a daily resort fee and a 2 pm checkout. Call 888-543-1286 or visit BocaResort.com.

The Breakers Palm Beach offers weekday rates starting at $289 a night from June 1 through Sept. 30. Packages include such incentives as free continental breakfast, kids’ meals, kids’ day camp and valet parking, plus discounts on golf, dining, spa, bungalow rentals and on-site shopping. Call 855-313-8851 or visit thebreakers.com.

For more summer deals at South Florida hotels, check our earlier blog post here.

Courtesy of Sofitel Chicago Water Tower

The Sofitel chain of hotels is offering summer deals at select U.S. and Canadian resorts featuring a fourth night free.

The deal is valid June 1 through Aug. 31. It also features your choice on arrival of a free fruit basket or bouquet of flowers upon arrival, as well as 3 p.m. check out.

Stay four nights and pay for three at these properties:

Sofitel Los Angeles — starting at $228 per night

Sofitel New York — starting at $318 per night

Sofitel Chicago Water Tower — starting at $210 per night

Sofitel Washington D.C. Lafayette Square — starting at $232 per night

Sofitel Montreal Golden Mile — starting at $202 per night

Rates are based on double occupancy. Book directly with hotel or visit sofitel.com.

Updated: 10:42 a.m.

Pompano Beach-based Titan Salvage in partnership with its Italian partner Micoperi outlined plans for the salvage and removal of the capsized Costa Concordia ship at a press conference in Italy Friday. 

The Costa Cruises cruise ship capsized off the coast of Italy near the Tuscan island of Giglio in January killing 32.  

The salvage work is expected to begin in a few days and should last about a year, company officials said.

Titan and Micoperi won the bid to upright and refloat the Concordia based on plans their plans to remove the vessel in one piece to minimize environmental impact and protect Giglio’s economy and tourism industry. 

“We are very pleased to have been chosen to perform this incredible operation to remove the wreck of Costa Concordia,” said Richard Habib, managing director of Titan Salvage. “Our quality engineering and the experience we have gained in this area allowed us to present a project that met expectations. From now on we will work with the aim of preserving the environment and the natural habitat.”

Once Concordia is removed, the sea bottom will be cleaned and marine flora replanted. 

Here are some key details from Friday’s press conference:

Costa Concordia, Zuma/MCT Courtesy

Operations will be divided into four basic stages:

After stabilizing the ship, a subsea platform will be built and caissons that can be filled with water will be fixed to the side of the ship that is out of the water.

Two cranes fixed to the platform will pull the ship upright, helped by the caissons, which will be filled with water

When the ship is upright, caissons will also be fixed to the other side of the hull

The caissons on both sides will then be emptied, after treating and purifying the water to protect the marine environment, and filled with air. 

Once floated, the wreck will be towed to an Italian port and dealt with in accordance with the requirements of Italian authorities.

To view images of the salvage plans, click here.

Titan Salvage, part of the Crowley Group, is specialist in marine salvage and wreck removal and its partner Micoperi, has a long history in underwater construction and engineering, Costa Cruises said.    

EARLIER POST:

Costa Cruises (Crociere) plans to reveal details of its salvage plans to remove the partially sunken Costa Concordia ship, which capsized off the Tuscan Island of Giglio in January.

The Carnival Corp. & PLC. subsidiary will release details in a press conference in Italy today starting at 9 a.m. ET.

Pompano Beach-based Titan Salvage and Italian company Micoperi  were chosen from a slate of companies to upright the keeled over ship and remove it in one piece to minimize environmental impact.  

Stay tuned for updates.

Courtesy of Harbor Beach Marriott Resort & Spa

Summer is almost here, and hotels in southeast and southwest Florida are rolling out the deals.

In Miami Beach, the boutique Sagamore Hotel, known for its modern art,  is offering a “License to Wheel” package for guests with valid Florida driver’s licenses. Rates start at $220 a night and include passes for two bicycle rentals, good for 30 hours of bicycle use per guest.  The deal is valid through Sept. 30. Blackout dates may apply. Use rate code S1. Visit sagamorehotel.com or call  877-242-6673.

In Fort Lauderdale, the beachfront  Harbor Beach Marriott Resort & Spa is offering a “Suntastic Summer” package with rooms starting at $279 per night, including a $50 daily resort credit, through Sept. 30. Use promo code SUM.  Visit marriottharborbeach.com or call 954-525-4000.

In Palm Beach, the landmark Brazilian Court Hotel & Beach Club offers a ”One More Night” package on two-night stays through Sept. 30. Rates start at $229 a night and include one $50 hotel credit per reservation. Restrictions apply. Visit TheBrazilianCourt.com or call 561-655-7740.

In Fort Myers, buy three nights and get the fourth night free at select family-oriented, condominium-style suiteson Estero Island in southwest Florida. Bookings are available on SandalsInTheSand.com for three hotels: Seaside All-Suite Resort, Casa Playa Beach Resort and Cornerstone Beach Resort. Rates start between $175 and $199, depending on the resort. Visit SandalsInTheSand.com.

In Naples, the luxury Ritz-Carlton Resorts of Naples  are offering “Summer, I Do” wedding packages until Oct. 1 for couples who marry at the beach or golf resort.  The  package includes two nights free and a $100 resort credit per wedding stay. Wedding ceremony packages start at $3,000 at the golf resort and $3,500 at the beach resort. Call the resorts’ wedding specialist, Lydia Redmond, at 239-598-3300 or visit ritzcarlton.com/resortsofnaples.