Lithuanians are voting on Sunday in the second and final round of the country’s parliamentary elections, with the conservative governing party still in contention despite first-round gains from the left-leaning opposition.
23.10.2024 - 14:41 / nytimes.com
From Venice and Amsterdam to Maine and Key West, popular tourist destinations are taking a hard look at cruise ship traffic and the crowds and environmental pressures they generate.
Among the most recent destinations to consider limiting that traffic is Juneau, Alaska, which has a population of 32,000 and received 1.65 million cruise ship visitors last year. Yesterday, the city released the final results of a recent vote over whether cruise ships should be banned on Saturdays: The proposal was rejected.
Out of the 28,113 residents eligible to vote, 10,880 had voted, with 4,196 in favor of the initiative called “Ship-Free Saturdays” and 6,575 against.
Juneau — the capital of Alaska and the entrance point to the Mendenhall Glacier, a favorite cruise ship excursion — sees as many as 20,000 cruise passengers per day during the high season, which runs from April to October. The initiative was devised to ease overcrowding, but residents and officials who were against the measure cited concerns about the expected negative impact on local businesses.
“The ship pollution and excessive visitor traffic is very real, but banning them for an entire day is not the answer,” said Laura Murray, a resident who voted against the measure. “We need to find a better solution, introducing measures that will protect our environment without hurting the local economy.”
Last year, on Saturdays alone, the cruise industry generated $3.7 million in cruise-related fees and taxes for Juneau, and passengers spent $30 million at local businesses, according to the city government. Protect Juneau’s Future, a coalition of local businesses, travel agents and cruise operators opposed to the initiative, raised more than $350,000 to campaign against it.
Lithuanians are voting on Sunday in the second and final round of the country’s parliamentary elections, with the conservative governing party still in contention despite first-round gains from the left-leaning opposition.
As a Seattle-based Brit who often travels between the US and England, I love a comfortable plane ride. So, when I was upgraded to business class on a British Airways flight this past summer, I was absolutely delighted.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Sara van Geloven, freelance editor and project manager. It has been edited for length and clarity.
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Oct 18, 2024 • 10 min read
Both Walt Disney World and Disneyland will roll out a brand new system that will allow guests to join a Lightning Lane queue without a reservation — but it'll cost you.The Lightning Lane Premier Pass will use dynamic pricing based on demand and date of visit. Prices will also vary by theme park and are expected to range from $129 to $449 per person, per day — with the highest prices will occur during peak travel periods, like Christmas and New Year’s. Those eligible can purchase Lightning Lane Premier Pass up to seven days before their date of check-in at 7:00 AM ET and for their entire length of stay, up to 14 days. The pass can be purchased in the My Disney Experience app.
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