AOL Travel Ideas http://news.travel.aol.com AOL Travel Ideas http://news.travel.aol.com/media/feedlogo.gif AOL Travel Ideas http://news.travel.aol.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Carnival Triumph Returns to Shorehttp://news.travel.aol.com/2013/02/15/carnival-triumph-returns-to-shore/http://news.travel.aol.com/2013/02/15/carnival-triumph-returns-to-shore/http://news.travel.aol.com/2013/02/15/carnival-triumph-returns-to-shore/#commentsFiled under: ,

First Person: On Board Carnival Triumph


After more than five days disabled at sea, the Carnival Triumph finally docked in Mobile, Alabama last night. Because only one elevator on the ship was working, it took several hours for all the passengers to disembark.


The passengers soon told all the horror stories about the dismal conditions on the ship in first person. "It was like a sauna of sewage," Cindey Gill told the Los Angeles Times.

At least one, though, had praise for the crew. Passenger Parisa Safarzadeh wrote on CNN: "If it wasn't for the crew on board, all of us would be severely injured, starved or crazy. Crew members always had a smile on their face and a concern in their voice. Honestly, these people deserve more than compensation. They deserve a huge thank you for their enduring support, service and compassion."

For the full backstory, check our earlier Carnival Triumph coverage.

 

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]]>Carnival Cruise LinesCarnival Triumphcruisetravel videoAOL Travel Staff2013-02-15T09:37:00+00:00Carnival Triumph Remains Stranded in Gulf of Mexico (Update)http://news.travel.aol.com/2013/02/14/carnival-triumph-remains-stranded-in-gulf-of-mexico-update/http://news.travel.aol.com/2013/02/14/carnival-triumph-remains-stranded-in-gulf-of-mexico-update/http://news.travel.aol.com/2013/02/14/carnival-triumph-remains-stranded-in-gulf-of-mexico-update/#commentsFiled under: ,

A tow line being used to pull the Carnival Triumph snapped this afternoon, setting back the efforts to bring the damaged cruise ship and its 3,143 passengers to port in Mobile, Alabama. Coast Guard Petty Officer William Colclough told the AP the ship is "dead in the water and when they reconnect safely, they then proceed on their way."
Feb. 14, 2013, 9:53 p.m.
The Carnival Triumph remains in the Gulf of Mexico for the fifth day, though the end of the sea-bound portion of the ordeal is almost over. The ship is now expected to reach port in Mobile, Alabama by 8 p.m. ET.

On Wednesday, a third tug boat began to help tow the crippled cruise ship. CNN also reports that the U.S. Coast Guard flew in a generator and other equipment via helicopter to help beleaguered passengers.

Carnival announced further compensation of $500 for each passenger aboard the Triumph. Passengers had already been told they'd be refunded for the cost of their voyage and that they'd receive credit for a future cruise.

Feb. 13, 2013, 2:41 p.m.
As the ill-fated Carnival Triumph slowly makes its way back to land in Mobile, Alabama, the city is readying to deal with thousands of unexpected guests. Huffington Post Travel spoke with David Randel, the president and CEO of the Mobile Bay Convention & Visitors Bureau, to find out what's going to happen to the thousands of passengers and crew who, judging by reports of conditions aboard the Triumph, will be happy to leave the ship behind.

For now, though, the spotlight remains on the Triumph and Carnival's response to the situation. Cruise Critic Editor-in-Chief writes "the tragedy of Carnival Triumph" will linger in travelers' memories.

Travelers scheduled to sail on the Triumph will need to make new plans as well. Carnival has cancelled all of the ship's voyages through April 13.

Feb. 13, 2013, 10:56 a.m.
The U.S. Coast Guard and the National Transportation Safety Board have begun investigating the engine room fire that left the Carnival Triumph adrift in the Gulf of Mexico Sunday. The ship is currently being pulled toward Mobile, Alabama. It's expected to arrive sometime Thursday.

Carnival president and CEO Gerry Cahill discussed the situation in a press conference last night. Among the concerns aboard the ship: the appearance of norovirus or another disease outbreak. A former senior officer for Carnival Cruise Lines told USA TODAY that staff members are "probably working double shifts to keep the mess clean and wipe down and sanitize all the common areas."



Feb. 12, 2013, 10:53 a.m.
The Carnival Triumph begins its third day at the mercy of Gulf of Mexico currents and two rescue tug boats, which Carnival president and CEO Gerry Cahill hopes will be able to return the ship, its 3,143 passengers and 1,086 crew members to Mobile, Alabama by Thursday.

That won't be soon enough for many of those on board, who have seen the conditions aboard the ship deteriorate in the wake of an engine room fire Sunday morning. The fire left the Carnival Triumph with emergency generator power and some auxiliary power, but without propulsion.

One passenger told Fox News that, in the wake of the fire, he's seen water and feces on the floors. ABC News reports that some people are sleeping outside in tents to avoid the stench inside the ship. There are also reports of people waiting hours for food. To help relieve the situation, other ships in the Carnival fleet are reportedly bringing supplies to the Triumph.

Carnival's Cahill released a statement that all guests on the Triumph will be refunded for the cost of their voyage, and they'll also get a future cruise credit.

For more about the situation aboard the Triumph, and reports from passengers aboard the ships, check out the video below.

Carnival Cruise Ship Stranded in Gulf of Mexico After Fire

 

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]]>Carnival Cruise LinesCarnival Triumphcruisetravel videoAOL Travel Staff2013-02-14T15:17:00+00:00Will Travel Industry Changes Make Travel Easier in 2013?http://news.travel.aol.com/2013/01/31/will-travel-industry-changes-make-travel-easier-in-2013/http://news.travel.aol.com/2013/01/31/will-travel-industry-changes-make-travel-easier-in-2013/http://news.travel.aol.com/2013/01/31/will-travel-industry-changes-make-travel-easier-in-2013/#commentsFiled under:

travel changes in 2013

Sick of the U.S. airlines? Baffled by the baggage inspection process? Lament the limits of your loyalty program? Some travel industry changes coming in 2013 could help us all out. Daily Finance reports:


"Many of the new travel tools are designed to give a bit of control back to people who had come to believe last vestige of fun disappeared from air travel with the arrival of the TSA pat-down. You'll see more agents and airlines offering more customized service and a higher level of social media engagement (for tracking fares and offering feedback), and hotels striving to lure new customers by offering elite-level perks at regular hotel prices."


Read Daily Finance's whole story about 2013 travel industry trends.

[Photo: Getty Images]

 

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]]>air travelairlinesloyalty programtravel industrytravel trendsMichael Yessis2013-01-31T16:57:00+00:00Friends Of The Earth Grades Cruise Lines, Some Flunkhttp://news.travel.aol.com/2012/12/28/friends-of-the-earth-grades-cruise-lines-some-flunk/http://news.travel.aol.com/2012/12/28/friends-of-the-earth-grades-cruise-lines-some-flunk/http://news.travel.aol.com/2012/12/28/friends-of-the-earth-grades-cruise-lines-some-flunk/#commentsFiled under: ,

friends of the earth



Friends of the Earth , a global network of activists from 76 different countries, has come out with its annual cruise ship score card that evaluates cruise lines based on three environmental factors - sewage treatment, air pollution reduction and water quality compliance.

Disney Cruise Line came away with top honors, an A minus, scoring high in all three areas.

Here's a look at how the cruise lines fared in each category:

Top three for sewage treatment:
Disney Cruise Line
Norwegian Cruise Lines
Celebrity Cruises

Bottom three for sewage treatment:
Carnival Cruise Lines
Silversea Cruises
Costa Cruises

Top three for air pollution reduction:
Princess Cruises
Disney Cruise Line
Holland America Line

Bottom three for air pollution reduction:
Silversea Cruises
Costa Cruises
Crystal Cruises

Top three for water quality compliance:
Silversea Cruises
Norwegian Cruise Line
Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Bottom two for water quality compliance:
Carnival Cruise Lines
Holland America Line

Click here for more complete details of the Cruise Ship Report Card.


[Photo Credit- Flickr user NOAA's National Ocean Service]

 

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]]>cruisecruisesenvironmentAOL Travel Staff2012-12-28T12:41:00+00:00Nebraska Storms Close Omaha Airport Twice, Damage Planeshttp://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/19/nebraska-storms-close-omaha-airport-twice-damage-planes/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/19/nebraska-storms-close-omaha-airport-twice-damage-planes/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/19/nebraska-storms-close-omaha-airport-twice-damage-planes/#commentsFiled under:

Powerful Storms Close Omaha Airport Twice, Damage Planes

southernskies2000/Flickr

Powerful storms showering baseball-size hail twice closed the Eppley Airfield in Omaha, Nebraska, and forced the cancellation of flights Thursday.

The first storms rolled through at 5:30 p.m. Tursday, forcing the temporary closure of the airport for an hour and a half. Thirty minutes after it was reopened, the second storm forced it to close again, reports CNN.

Winds of up to 100 mph were reported, as were hailstones of 2.75 inches in diameter.

The storms did damage to seven aircraft belonging to American, United, Delta, Southwest, USAir and Frontier. A jetway was blown into an aircraft, the south concourse sustained water damage and cars in the parking lot were shattered by hail.

The only human casualty was a pilot who was taken to the hospital after being stuck in the head with a large hailstone. No word on his status, but he was conscious when brought to the hospital.

In April, a tornado damaged and forced the closure of Lambert Field in St. Louis. Passengers inside the terminal filmed the tornado hitting the airport.


 

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]]>airportnebraska weatheromahaomaha weatherstorm damageAOL Travel Staff2011-08-19T08:45:00+00:00Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is Most Beautiful Place in Americahttp://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/18/gma-picks-most-beautiful-place-in-america/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/18/gma-picks-most-beautiful-place-in-america/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/18/gma-picks-most-beautiful-place-in-america/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

rkramer62/Flickr

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, a relatively unknown national treasure located on the northwest corner of Michigan's Lower Peninsula, earned the title of "Most Beautiful Place in America," according to Good Morning America.


What was once a heap of glaciers that melted over centuries to reveal 64 miles of blue beaches surrounded by colossal sand dunes, now draws visitors with its picturesque landscape and small town charm. The 26 inland lakes and two islands at Sleeping Bear are the cherry on top (and speaking of cherries, the area boasts the title of largest cherry growing region in the world).

GMA's search, which began in June, called for their viewers to nominate the most beautiful places online. Also in the running were Cape Cod; Aspen; Lanikai Beach, Hawaii; Newport, R.I.; Point Reyes, Calif.; Sedona, Ariz.; Destin, Fla.; Asheville, N.C.; and Grand Teton National Park, Wyo. Tens of thousands of GMA viewers were seduced by photos and stories of Sleeping Bear's beauty and took to the polls, voting it the clear winner.

Grand Rapids, Mich., resident Jim Madole nominated Sleeping Bear. In his GMA submission, he wrote: "It is peaceful and serene, a place for gazing out into the world, night or day, and realizing that the universe is truly a magical, majestic mystery, and humans are just a very small part of it all. Here at Sleeping Bear, I sit in awe and wonder at the perfection of Mother Nature."

Even celebrity chef Mario Batali is a fan, spending his summers there to escape the New York hustle.

"I spend my entire summer here on Lake Michigan because it's beautiful, because it has farmers, because it has great food artisans," Batali tells ABC News. "It has great products. It has magnificent fresh water."

All of that fresh water provides a plethora of activities for Lakeshore visitors to choose from, including paddle-boarding, fishing, or simply taking a swim at one of the many beaches. Those who opt to stay dry can climb the colossal sand dunes or hike through the forest.

It looks like Midwesterners finally have something on East Coast and West Coast dwellers.

WATCH GMA's big reveal below:

 

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]]>GMAgood morning americalake michiganMichigan travelSleeping Bear Dunes National LakeshoreVilmarie Estrella2011-08-18T12:30:00+00:00'Galactic Cosmic Rays' Threaten Fliers Health, Claims Scientisthttp://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/18/galactic-cosmic-rays-threaten-fliers-health-claims-scientist/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/18/galactic-cosmic-rays-threaten-fliers-health-claims-scientist/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/18/galactic-cosmic-rays-threaten-fliers-health-claims-scientist/#commentsFiled under: ,

maz.nu/Flickr

A British solar scientist is warning long haul fliers that they may be subjected to cancer causing cell damage on flights near the poles due to an increasing number of solar energetic particles and galactic cosmic rays.

The alert, which sounds like something out of an early James Bond film, is based on shifts in solar weather.

According to Mike Lockwood, a Professor of Space Environment Physics at the University of Reading, the sun has spent the last decade spitting out flares and superheated gas and is about to transition into a period of relative calm. That transition, according to Lockwood, will be marked by highly irregular behavior during which gas particles will shoot from the sun towards Earth.

These gas particles can be carcinogenic, so Lockwood is urging those who frequently fly the long routes over the North Pole region - Seoul to New York, London to San Francisco, Chicago to Moscow - to get regularly tested for cancer.

Writing in the Journal of Geophysical Research, Lockwood claimed: "The supersonic nature of the solar wind means open solar flux can only be removed by near-Sun magnetic reconnection between open solar magnetic field lines."

Obviously.

Lockwood dumbed it down a bit for the Daily Mail, saying "Analysis shows that the risk of the space-weather effects is considerably enhanced over the next century compared with the space age thus far."

 

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]]>airplanes radiationcancer travelradiation travelAOL Travel Staff2011-08-18T09:15:00+00:00Seoul to Introduce Female-Only Subway Carshttp://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/18/seoul-to-introduce-female-only-subway-cars/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/18/seoul-to-introduce-female-only-subway-cars/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/18/seoul-to-introduce-female-only-subway-cars/#commentsFiled under:

Seoul to Introduce Female-Only Subway Cars

nickgravywfu/Flickr

Segregation of the sexes is making a comeback in Seoul. The South Korean capitol plans to introduce female-only subway cars in response to sexual assault complaints.

The use of female-only subway cars went out of practice in South Korea 20 years ago, but an increasing number of sexual assaults during the commute - often called a "hell ride" - has females demanding the government do something.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the number of sexual assaults against females rose 80% from 2009 to 2010.

South Korea tried this tactic once before, in 1992, but ended it as males began flouting the rules. Another attempt in 2007 was abandoned when it was shown that more than half of riders were opposed. This time around, beginning in September, the No. 2 line will have a female-only section at night, and security guards will keep men in check.

But there are still some that oppose and doubt the effectiveness of this measure. Among their concerns is the thought that abusers might target women-only cars, or that they don't address the real core of the problem.

"I don't think gender segregation is the right direction to solve sexual harassment problems," Lee Eun-sang, director of the Korea Sexual Violence Relief Center told The Korea Times. "It indicates sexual harassment can be prevented only when men and women are in separate spaces."

Back in 2005, Japan also instituted female-only train cars to address the same issue, Good Morning America reported.

At that time, almost 64% of women in their 20s and 30s reported being groped on city transit.

In Japan commuters seemed to welcome the cars, which were introduced during the rush hour. Women embraced the safety, and men liked the idea that they wouldn't be falsely accused of groping - an offense that, at the time, carried a hefty fine or up to seven years in jail.

However, according to the LA Times, Japanese officials say segregated cars running since 2000 have not led to a decrease in sexual offenses.


 

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]]>female only subwaysegregated subway carsseoulsouth koreasubway carswomen only subwayAOL Travel Staff2011-08-18T09:00:00+00:00Fireworks Found on Southwest Airlines Planehttp://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/17/fireworks-found-on-southwest-airlines-plane/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/17/fireworks-found-on-southwest-airlines-plane/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/17/fireworks-found-on-southwest-airlines-plane/#commentsFiled under:

Fireworks Found on Southwest Airlines Plane

Koonisutra/Flickr

A Ziploc bag full of fireworks was found on a Kansas City bound Southwest Airlines flight Tuesday, reports a local NBC affiliate.

The flight, which originated in Las Vegas, was delayed an hour when a flight attendant found the fireworks under a seat, airline spokesperson Ashley Dillon told CNN.

Passengers, none of whom claimed the explosives, were removed from the plane. The aircraft was inspected and baggage was re-searched. Once the TSA gave the all clear, the flight was re-boarded and set off for Missouri.

The TSA will investigate how the fireworks got on to the plane.

Now, the question is, how did those rats on a a plane and the bat on a plane get past the TSA too?



 

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]]>firecrackersfireworkssouthwest sirlinesAOL Travel Staff2011-08-17T10:33:00+00:00Virgin Atlantic Issues 'Weep Warnings' On Flightshttp://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/17/virgin-atlantic-issues-weep-warnings-on-flights/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/17/virgin-atlantic-issues-weep-warnings-on-flights/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/17/virgin-atlantic-issues-weep-warnings-on-flights/#commentsFiled under:

Virgin Atlantic weep warnings

Jupiter Images

Virgin Atlantic has decided to put "weep warnings" before emotional movies shown in-flight. It seems emotions run high at 30,000 feet.

The warning will appear before the start of an in-flight movie, to help passengers make emotionally-sound decisions.

The move came after a survey found that 55 percent of passengers polled said their emotions became more heightened during flight. 41 percent of men admitted to hiding under a blanket to hide their tears, while women were more apt to pretend they had something in their eye, reports the Daily Mail.

So instead of watching, say, "Toy Story 3", which passengers cited as one of the most moving films, take a flight on Qantas, which is now showing a documentary on the female orgasm. It's a...different kind of emotion.



 

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]]>emotional moviein flight movievirgin atlanticweep warningAOL Travel Staff2011-08-17T09:00:00+00:00Seychelles Shark Attack: Ian Redmond, British Honeymooner, Eaten by Sharkhttp://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/16/ian-redmond-british-honeymooner-eaten-by-shark-in-the-seychell/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/16/ian-redmond-british-honeymooner-eaten-by-shark-in-the-seychell/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/16/ian-redmond-british-honeymooner-eaten-by-shark-in-the-seychell/#commentsFiled under:

NOAA Photo Library/Flickr

A British honeymooner was eaten by shark on Tuesday while swimming close to the shore in the Seychelles.

30-year-old Ian Redmond was swimming off Anse Lazio beach on the island of Paslin when he was attacked by a 6-foot shark, the Telegraph reports. He and his new wife, 27-year-old Gemma Houghton, had arrived on August 14th for their 2-week honeymoon.

Tourists on the beach watched as he yelled "help!" and was mauled by the shark. A tourist told the Sun, "There was a horrific amount of blood in the water and it was exactly like a scene from Jaws."


Redmond was brought to shore following the attack. He was rushed to the hospital and pronounced dead from massive blood loss.

An employee of La Reserve hotel confirmed that the couple were staying there, Sky News reports.

"Shark hunters" were flown in from South Africa to track a "rogue" shark that was thought to be in the waters. Seychelles' interior minister, Joel Morgan, ordered all beaches in the area closed and banned swimming in the area. Officials banned tourists from snorkeling or swimming until the shark is caught, the Sun reports.

Redmond's parents are reportedly en route to the island and the British High Commissioner has already flown in to comfort Redmond's widow.


The island's tourism head, Alain St Ange, sent his condolences to the family and told the Telegraph: "It was a freak accident. We are closing the beaches pending the arrival of experts from South Africa." Yet, earlier this month, a 36-year-old French man was killed by a shark on the same beach.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (aka Will & Kate) honeymooned some 20 miles from the horrific scene back in May.

British Man Killed in Shark Attack

 

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]]>seychellesseychelles shark attacksshark attackssharksAOL Travel Staff2011-08-16T18:45:00+00:00Harry Potter Studios Will Open For Tours in 2012http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/16/harry-potter-studios-will-open-for-tours-in-2012/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/16/harry-potter-studios-will-open-for-tours-in-2012/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/16/harry-potter-studios-will-open-for-tours-in-2012/#commentsFiled under:

Harry Potter Studios Will Open For Tours in 2012

Warner Brothers

There are those for whom The Wizarding World of Harry Potter just isn't enough. Enter: the Harry Potter studio tour, where fans can visit the real Hogwarts come 2012.

Warner Bros Studios in Leavesden, England has been the home of Harry, Hermione and Ron - or, Dan, Emma and Rupert - for the last 10 years. Its more than 150,000 square feet of Potter nostalgia will open to visitors in spring 2012, reports the Daily Mail.

Stops on the tour include Hogwart's Great Hall, Dumbledore's office, the Gryffindor common room and Hagrid's hut. Also on the itinerary is a peek at the series' animatronics - Buckbeak the Hippogriff, Aragog the giant spider, Fawkes the phoenix and the Basilisk head - in the Creature Effects workshop.

"The sets all have tiny little details that you may not always notice in the films but when you actually walk through them, you can see all the work that's gone into it. It's really amazing," "Potter" star Rupert Grint, who played sidekick Ron Weasley, told the paper.

As of press time, tickets will go on sale in 58 days, 2 hours and 43 minutes (that's October 13.) Tickets must be purchased in advance from the studio tour's website or from approved tour operators. Admission is £28 ($46) for adults and £21 ($34) for children.

If that's not enough for the Potter fan, Wales' Tourism Board is hocking some of its eerie scenery that was used in the film as a way to draw tourists to the small country.

The End of the Road For Harry

 

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]]>englandharry potterlondonstudio tourAOL Travel Staff2011-08-16T10:00:00+00:00Fear of Flying Gets Woman Lighter Sentence For Drunken Plane Incidenthttp://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/16/fear-of-flying-gets-woman-lighter-sentence-for-drunken-plane-inc/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/16/fear-of-flying-gets-woman-lighter-sentence-for-drunken-plane-inc/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/16/fear-of-flying-gets-woman-lighter-sentence-for-drunken-plane-inc/#commentsFiled under: ,

twicepix/Flickr

An English woman's fear of flying got her off the hook on Monday as a judge refused to send her to jail for drunkenly brawling with other passengers and the crew on an EasyJet flight.

Lynn Grimes, a 41-year-old woman who was returning to Manchester from vacation in Athens on December 7, spent most of her flight back to England sitting with the cabin crew, who she had told she didn't fly well, and drinking wine. When she was told to return to her actual seat for landing, she was less then pleased and more than tipsy.

According to the Daily Mail, Grimes grabbed one passenger by the hair and kicked a steward in the stomach. He refusal to sit forced the pilot to abort landing until she could be calmed down.

Grimes pleaded guilty to endangering an aircraft and two counts of assault, normally more than enough to earn passage to the clink, but judge Jonathan Geake said he wouldn't imprison somebody who "simply panicked."

Grimes' lawyer claimed "She was at the time very apologetic and severely embarrassed by her behavior." The lawyer also noted that she has since flown to Greece multiple times "without incident.:

Grimes received a 18 month suspended sentence and an appointment with a medical professional. She also serve 60 hours of community service.

Grimes joins a growing list of drunken airplane passengers. In April, a drunk American Airlines passenger forced an emergency landing after he became unruly. On May 3rd, a drunk Air France passenger claimed his name was bin Laden while trying to get a boarding pass for a flight to Paris. On May 4th, a drunk British Airways passenger groped a flight attendant as she served him coffee. In June, a drunk Jetstar passenger urinated in the plane's aisle. And just last week, a former Olympic hopeful reportedly drunkenly peed on a girl on a redeye JetBlue flight. The girl's family has come forward saying he peed on the aisle, not their beloved 11-year old.

 

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]]>drunk flierdrunk passengerseasyjetAOL Travel Staff2011-08-16T09:30:00+00:00Robert Vietze, JetBlue Passenger, Pees On 11-Year-Old Girl On Flight (UPDATES)http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/16/robert-vietze-jetblue-passenger-pees-on-sleeping-passenger/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/16/robert-vietze-jetblue-passenger-pees-on-sleeping-passenger/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/16/robert-vietze-jetblue-passenger-pees-on-sleeping-passenger/#commentsFiled under: , ,

HeatherHeatherHeather/Flickr

UPDATE, 8/16: The teenager allegedly caught urinating on a young girl on a JetBlue flight last week was actually relieving himself on the floor, claims the girl's family.

According to The Oregonian, the family released a statement that Robert Vietze was actually peeing on the floor next to their daughter's seat - not on their daughter.

"While family members have cooperated with authorities in the investigation, they neither welcome nor encourage further publicity," The Oregonian reports. "The family's main concern is the welfare of their daughter."

After being taken into custody Wednesday, Vietze was issued a federal summons for misdemeanor indecent exposure. If convicted, he could face a $1,000 fine and up to a year in prison.

Before flying, Vietze admittedly consumed five to six beers and two rum and cokes before boarding his flight. The alcohol apparently "hit him" while in the air, and he walked to seat 15A (where the girl was sitting) and relieved himself. When confronted by the girl's father, Vietze said "he had an accident," reports the paper.

--------
UPDATE, 8/12: 18-year old Robert Vietze was a member of the U.S. Ski Team. He has seen been kicked off the team. He is (was) considered one of the most elite skiers in the nation.

The New York Post reports that Vietze was returning from a training camp at Oregon's Mount Hood when the incident occurred. Vietze was in the running for the 2014 Olympics, but is name was removed from the team's development roster on Thursday.

"We have no comment, nothing to say," Vietze's mother told reporters outside their Vermont home.

The kicker? Turns out the girl was with her father, a Stage 4 cancer patient, and sister on the way to visit her grandmother in Long Island for the first time since her father's diagnosis.

--------
PREVIOUSLY, 8/11: A drunk male passenger was caught peeing on a sleeping 11-year old girl on a JFK-bound JetBlue flight on Wednesday.


18-year old Robert Vietze of South Warren, Vermont was on a red eye flight from Portland, Oregon when he started peeing on a sleeping 11-year old girl who was traveling with her sister and father, the New York Post reports.

Vietze was drunk, having consumed eight drinks, and stumbled five rows behind him (presumably towards the bathroom?!) when he started peeing on the girl. The girl's family was using the bathroom at the time.

"I was drunk, and I did not realize I was pissing on her leg," the 6-foot-4, 195-pound Vietze told law enforcement.


The unidentified girl's father caught Vietze peeing on his daughter and started screaming, "F--- that kid! I don't want him near my family!" a fellow passenger told the Post.

Flight attendants separated the father and Vietze, whom they moved to the back of the plane. They also tried to clean up the pee with soap from the bathrooms.

Yet the already exciting flight was far from over. An hour before the plane landed, another passenger started complaining of chest pains and vomited. The pilot addressed the plane, asking "Is anybody on this flight a nurse or doctor? We have a medical emergency." Yet no one stepped forward so flight attendants worked to keep him calm.

A witness told the Post that the pilots "kept coming out of the cockpit to talk to the flight crew about what was going on."

Six Port Authority cops greeted the plane when it landed at 6:30am. Two helped the sick passenger while four carted Vietze into custody.


Vietze has been issued a federal summons for indecent exposure.


This is not, surprisingly, the first time a passenger has peed on another under the influence of alcohol. Back in June, a drunk New Zealand man on a Jetstar flight from Auckland to Singapore peed on the plane's carpet, a man's leg and a woman's scarf after drinking whiskey out of Burger King cups with friends. The man, Michael Aitkin, eventually came forward and apologized profusely to his fellow passengers for his actions.





 

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]]>airplane peerjetblueman pees on girlRobert VietzeAOL Travel Staff2011-08-16T08:15:00+00:00UPDATE: Man Pleads Guilty to Groping Sleeping Passenger on Planehttp://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/15/update-man-pleads-guilty-to-groping-sleeping-passenger-on-plane/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/15/update-man-pleads-guilty-to-groping-sleeping-passenger-on-plane/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/15/update-man-pleads-guilty-to-groping-sleeping-passenger-on-plane/#commentsFiled under:

joe reicharts/Flickr

UPDATE 8/15/11: Ramesh Advani, who admitted to groping a fellow passenger on a Continental flight last year, will spend a year in jail, reports the Associated Press.

Advani, 64, Berkeley Heights, N.J., was sentenced Monday in a U.S. District Court in Newark, N.J.

He will also have to pay a $10,000 fine and serve five years of supervised release after he leaves jail

Advani was on a flight from Newark to Hong Kong in May 2010 when he admittedly reached under the blanket of a woman seated next to him and assaulted her. He pleaded guilty to a charge of abusive sexual conduct in April.

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Previously, 4/13/11: A New Jersey man admitted in federal court yesterday that he had groped a sleeping woman on an overnight flight from Hong Kong to Newark last May.

Ramesh Advani, 64, admitted he reached his hand under the woman's blanket and fondled her during the 15-hour Continental flight, authorities say.

The woman slept until two passengers in the row behind her noticed and kicked the woman's seat until she woke up, authorities say. Startled, the woman rushed over to flight attendants to tell them what had happened.

Advani was detained when the plane landed. He pleaded guilty today to a count of sexual abusive contact and now faces up to three years in prison and a $250,000 fine when he is sentenced in August.

 

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]]>air travelcontinental airlinesfondlinggropingramesh advaniLibby Zay2011-08-15T15:30:00+00:00The Down and Dirty Disney Resorts Guidehttp://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/15/the-down-and-dirty-disney-resorts-guide/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/15/the-down-and-dirty-disney-resorts-guide/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/15/the-down-and-dirty-disney-resorts-guide/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The Down and Dirty Disney Resorts Guide

Evan Wohrman/Flickr

The magic of Disney has been translated into everything from personalized parasols to classic films and from enormous resorts to theme parks so big you can't see them all in just one day.The magic of Disney has been translated into everything from personalized parasols to classic films and from enormous resorts to theme parks so big they can't be seen in just one day. And while that magic touches the hearts of many, it's not on the top of every adult's holiday wish list. But when the kids are old enough to have a say in where to spend Christmas, it's time to throw them a bone and take them on a Disney-centric vacation.

Heading for a far-flung Disney resort is a great place to start - book a trip to Disney Tokyo. Same goes for the resorts in Hong Kong, Paris, and, soon, Shanghai.

Related: A Disney Dining Guide

Opening later this month, the Aulani Resort and Spa in Hawaii is a family-friendly resort with a host of activities, dining options, a full service spa, and excursions that have as little to do with Disney as you want them to. Instead, they're focused on all things Hawaii, like Hawaiian cooking courses, kayaking, visiting a museum, or surf lessons.

Disney's Animal Kingdom villas lets guests experience the thrill of having animals all around, along with the magic of Disney - and at a fraction of the cost of a real safari. It may be located within the Animal Kingdom area at Walt Disney World, but they sprung for décor and food that makes visitors think they're in Africa.

The good people at The Daily Meal rounded up the best Disney resorts (there are many) for parents in the market for a kid-perfect vacation without a flock of princesses checking them in.

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]]>disneyThe Daily Meal2011-08-15T11:15:00+00:00Helicopter Pilot Jailed for Sugary Pacific Island Detourhttp://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/15/pilot-thrown-in-the-slammer-for-seeking-sugary-treats/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/15/pilot-thrown-in-the-slammer-for-seeking-sugary-treats/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/15/pilot-thrown-in-the-slammer-for-seeking-sugary-treats/#commentsFiled under: ,

Pilot Thrown in the Slammer for Seeking Sugary Treats

Kirti Poddar/Flickr

An Australian helicopter pilot got more than he bargained for when he landed on the Pacific island nation of Nauru in search of a snack.

The 24-year-old pilot and his companion, stir crazy from months stationed on a fishing vessel in open water, hopped a helicopter and headed to the remote Pacific island nation in search of a snack.

The pair parked their ride on a beach and hit Nauru's main supermarket to stock up on chocolate and soda. Island police were waiting when they returned to the helicopter. They were arrested and the helicopter impounded, reports Agence France Presse.

After spending a night in Nauru's slammer, the pilot and passenger face a $100,000 fine for unauthorized landing and breaching the island's immigration act.


 

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]]>australiafishinghelicopternaurupacific islandpilotAOL Travel Staff2011-08-15T09:00:00+00:00UPDATE: Loose Bat Causes a Flap on Delta Flighthttp://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/15/loose-bat-causes-a-flap-on-delta-flight/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/15/loose-bat-causes-a-flap-on-delta-flight/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/15/loose-bat-causes-a-flap-on-delta-flight/#commentsFiled under:

Bat Causes a Commotion on a Delta Plane

AFP/Getty Images

UPDATE 8/15/11: Health officials are still searching for passengers who were on a flight earlier this month with a loose bat, to warn them of the risk of rabies.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been trying to reach all 50 people who flew on Delta flight 5121, which departed from Madison, Wis., to Atlanta at 6:45 a.m. on Aug. 5, reports the Associated Press.

As of Saturday, the CDC was still trying to locate 15 passengers, according to the AP.

None of the passengers contacted thus far have required treatment for the disease. Those who have not yet spoken to the CDC are asked to call 1-866-613-2683.

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Previously, 8/9/11, Passengers on a Georgia-bound Delta plane got quite the surprise Friday when a bat started flying about the cabin.

One passenger, who was asleep during the Madison, Wisconsin-Atlanta flight, was awoken by a scream and saw the animal fly over his head. So, he did what any reasonable person would do: film it.

His video, submitted to CNN's iReport, shows the bat making a couple laps up and down the commuter-sized plane before flying into the lavatory. One swift passenger shut the door, keeping the critter inside.

The plane returned to Madison and was searched.

A spokesperson for Delta Connections partner Atlantic Southeast Airlines told CNN that a flying animal was reported in the cabin, but he could not confirm if it was a bird or a bat.

According to news.com.au, there are reports the jet was searched and a maintenance worker coaxed the bat out of the plane and back into the open air.


Also on AOL Travel:


 

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]]>batbat on a planedeltaloose batAOL Travel Staff2011-08-15T08:15:00+00:00Roman Police Bust Corrupt Gladiator Ring at the Colosseumhttp://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/12/roman-police-bust-corrupt-gladiator-ring-at-the-colosseum/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/12/roman-police-bust-corrupt-gladiator-ring-at-the-colosseum/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/12/roman-police-bust-corrupt-gladiator-ring-at-the-colosseum/#commentsFiled under:

Roman Police Bust Corrupt Gladiator Ring at the Coliseum

Getty Images

Wooden swords were flying outside the Roman Colosseum as police dressed in ancient garb had it out with a group of corrupt gladiators.

The officers were part of an undercover sting meant to weed out cheating centurions.

Men dressed in their gladiator finery are a common site at the Roman landmark; posing for pictures with tourists and encouraging them to go on guided tours. A practice for which they get a kickback.

But, it's not all smiles and tacky souvenirs - there is a dark side to the centurion brotherhood. There have been allegations that the business is a "closed shop," and outsiders wanting in are rigorously, sometimes brutally, excluded, reports The Guardian.

There have also been complaints of gladiators tricking people into paying for tours that never happen, and then threaten those who demanded their money back. Or, some will charge outrageous fees for photo ops, while others hold cameras hostage until a fee is paid.

So, Roman policemen dressed as gladiators went out to patrol the streets of Rome. They were reportedly approached and threatened by three other gladiators, who were then arrested. When a skirmish ensued, more undercover officers, dressed as street cleaners, came to the rescue.

According to the Daily Mail, 20 faux gladiators and tour guides were arrested as part of the operation. But, The Guardian quotes that number at 30.


 

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]]>coliseumgladiatorRomeAOL Travel Staff2011-08-12T09:15:00+00:00Aaron B. Tobey, Airport Security Strip Protester, Sues TSA Over Arrest (UPDATE)http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/11/aaron-b-tobey-airport-security-strip-protester-sues-tsa-over/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/11/aaron-b-tobey-airport-security-strip-protester-sues-tsa-over/http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/08/11/aaron-b-tobey-airport-security-strip-protester-sues-tsa-over/#commentsFiled under:

Associated Press

UPDATE 8/11/11: A judge said Wednesday that he would rule in two weeks in the case of a college student who stripped naked at an airport security checkpoint last December.

Aaron Tobey, 21, of Charlottesville, Va., was passing through Virginia's Richmond International Airport on December 30, when he opted-out of going through the full body scanner. He was, instead, seeking an enhanced pat down, and, when he went through security, took off his clothes to reveal the Fourth Amendment written on his chest in magic marker.

Tobey was handcuffed and briefly held on charges of disorderly conduct. A federal civil rights lawsuit was filed on his behalf, claiming Tobey's First and Fourth Amendment rights were violated.

Now, U.S. District Judge Henry E. Hudson will rule in two weeks on whether or not to dismiss the lawsuit, reports the Associated Press. He also set a tentative trial date for January 18.

Carlotta Wells, an attorney for the federal defendants, said all the TSA did was call for police assistance when Tobey refused the body scan and began stripping and placing his clothes on the X-ray conveyor belt.

"What he was doing was unusual, unexpected and out of the ordinary," she told the AP.

But, all Tobey did was obey the officers' commands, asserts Anand Agneshwar, Tobey's lawyer, according to The Richmond Times-Dispatch. He adds that the TSA and airport police went beyond what was necessary to ensure that his client wasn't a threat.

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Previously, 3/15/2011: A 21-year-old college student who was arrested for stripping down at airport security is suing the Transportation Security Administration for $250,000.

Aaron Tobey, a student at the University of Cincinnati, was passing through Richmond International Airport in Virginia last December when he opted out of going through the controversial "naked body scanner" advanced imaging machines and requested an enhanced pat-down. As he went through airport security, Tobey took off his pants and shirt to reveal an abbreviated version of the Fourth Amendment scrawled across his chest in magic marker.

He went there knowing he would not do the advanced imaging and do that pat-down instead," Tobey's attorney, James Knicely, tells Wired.com. "He was making it easy for them and in the process he wanted to communicate his objection for doing so."

The federal civil rights lawsuit that was filed on Tobey's behalf by the Rutherford Institute, a civil liberties group, claims Tobey's First Amendment and Fourth Amendment rights were breached when the student was handcuffed and held for roughly 90 minutes after being detained on charges of disorderly conduct.

"Tobey was unduly seized by government agents in violation of the Fourth Amendment, despite the fact that he did nothing to disrupt airport routine," says John W. Whitehead, president of the Rutherford Institute in a statement.

According to the suit, authorities interrogated Tobey "about his affiliation with, or knowledge of, any terrorist organizations, if he had been asked to do what he did by any third party, and what his intentions and goals were."

Tobey was on the way to Wisconsin for his grandmother's funeral when he made the magic marker protest. Despite the detainment, he made his flight.

On January 10, it was reported that the disorderly conduct charges against Tobey were dropped.

Tobey did not respond to an e-mailed request by AOL News for an interview.

 

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]]>aaron tobeyair travelairport securitybody scannerspat downsstrip protesterLibby Zay2011-08-11T09:30:00+00:00