Cruise Lines

Disney will return to Miami

Disney Cruise Lines will return to Miami for a third season at the end of 2014, the line announced. The Disney Magic will do four- and five-night Caribbean and Bahamas cruises out of PortMiami starting in October 2014. But first, it will do four Southern Caribbean cruises out of San Juan, the first time Disney will home-port in Puerto Rico, in September and October 2014.

The Disney Wonder currently is doing cruises out of Miami, the first time a Disney ship has home-ported in Miami, then will move to Alaska this summer. The cruise line already said it would return to Miami this fall and stay into the spring of 2014. The move came after Disney ended its western Mexico cruises.

But the announcement of a third season in Miami doesn’t mean the line considers it a permanent home, said spokesman Jonathan Frontado. Unlike other cruises lines, it’s a year-to-year decision. “Because we only have four ships, we are constantly trying new ports, looking for what new experiences we can bring to our guests,” he said.

Airlines

United to offer satellite Wi-Fi

United Airlines, one of the last major airlines to offer onboard wireless Internet, is trying to make up for its tardiness.

United offers Wi-Fi in about 3 percent of its fleet, one of the lowest rates of any major carrier in the nation. But United recently became the first U.S.-based international carrier to offer satellite-based Wi-Fi Internet for passengers traveling on long-haul overseas flights.

The carrier has installed satellite-based Wi-Fi on nearly a dozen planes, with plans to expand the service to more than 300 planes, or about 43 percent of the fleet, by the end of the year.

Of course, there is a price to pay for the service: United is charging $3.99 to $14.99 for standard speed, depending on the duration of the flight, and $5.99 to $19.99 for faster speeds.

United joins Southwest Airlines in offering the service.

Delta raising price of membership

Delta Air Lines, which has invested more than $20 million in its airport lounges over the last two years, announced that it would raise the cost for annual membership to access its lounges across the country by $50, starting March 1.

The increase means that an annual membership will range from $350 to $450, depending on membership level. (The more miles passengers fly on Delta the less they pay for membership.)

Miami Herald

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