Viking Cruises

Company known for river trips announces ocean ship

Viking Cruises, a company known for offering river cruises, on Friday announced that it was launching a new cruise line for ocean-going trips.

Wisconsin: Taliesin tours daily

Take the tour

Travel briefs

Legoland’s new attraction, The World of Chima, will open July 3 at the Winter Haven park and recruit guests into a very wet battle among animal warriors. The centerpiece will be a water ride with water cannons, The Quest for CHI. The new “land” will also include Speedorz Arena, where players will build and race Lego Speedorz; Cragger’s Swamp, a water play area; a new 4D movie; character meet-and-greets; and of course a retail store. Cruises

American Airlines: Passengers without carry-ons get priority boarding

American Airlines is changing its boarding procedures to give priority to passengers who don’t have carry-on luggage that needs to be stored in the overhead bins.

Central Florida

New Legoland ride to open July 3

Legoland’s new attraction, The World of Chima, in which animal tribes war over an energy source called Chi, will open July 3, the park announced Tuesday.

New Jersey

Demolition begins on coaster wrecked by Sandy

Riding the Jet Star roller coaster as a girl vacationing at the Jersey shore, Nicole Jones said there was always that one breath-catching moment when the passenger cars swerved toward the ocean, as if threatening to dump riders into the surf.

Amsterdam

Hundreds of bicyclists pour through Dutch museum

Hundreds of bicyclists are pedaling triumphantly through the Netherlands’ national museum in Amsterdam, signaling the end of more than a decade of efforts by cyclists to ensure a passageway that runs under and through the Rijksmuseum would remain open to bike traffic.

Sweden: ABBA museum opens in Stockholm

You know you love them

Gear + Gadgets

Set to go

For those of us whose packing includes a just-in-case stash of dining utensils, here’s an excellent alternative to raiding the kitchen drawers or making due with those awful plastic knife, fork and spoon sets you get at carry-out places. Zelco offers, instead, Mangia! — a lightweight stainless steel flatware set made to be mobile. The fork and spoon nest together inside a slot in the knife handle. A sturdy plastic snap-on cover holds the combo firmly in place, and keeps the business end of the utensils clean in transport and storage (only the knife handle is left exposed), so the utensils can always be kept clean and accounted for. The sets are available with white, green, black or red plastic covers. Why not get a different color for each member of your traveling group? Mangia! is available in single sets of three nestling utensils or, at a bit of a discount, as a pack of six sets. They’re great picnic provisions to keep in the car — or to distribute to friends and family on the same or different journeys. Mangia means “eat” in Italian, of course, and now you can, anywhere.

Travel briefs

Faced with hefty operating costs, the foundation building the 9/11 museum at the World Trade Center has decided to charge an admission fee of $20 to $25 when the site opens next year. The exact cost has not yet been decided.

Illinois

Big wheels

Wizarding World of Harry Potter

‘Diagon Alley’ to open at Universal Studios in 2014

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando will expand into London next year, the theme park announced Wednesday. The new area, which has been under construction for months, will be built along Diagon Alley, and the centerpiece will be a ride based on Gringotts Bank. It is to be completed in 2014.

Cruise ship

Carnival Triumph leaves Alabama port for more dry dock repairs

The Carnival Triumph headed back to sea under its own power Wednesday, about three months after the cruise ship limped into port in Alabama because of an engine-room fire that disabled the vessel.

Barbados: Celtic Fest May 23-29

Scotch rocks

CRUISE INDUSTRY

Norwegian Breakaway takes its bow in Manhattan

Miami-based Norwegian Cruise Line celebrated the christening of its newest ship with pomp, pageantry — and some high kicks.

Manhattan

9/11 museum will charge $20-$25 admission fee

Faced with hefty operating costs, the foundation building the 9/11 museum at the World Trade Center has decided to charge an admission fee of $20 to $25 when the site opens next year.

Tennessee: Elkmont Firefly Viewing Event June 6-13

Light ’em up

Gear + Gadgets

Canine feat

Traveling with your canine companion may be a treat, but muddy paws and sopping fur are not part of the attraction. A regular towel may clean the dog, but you’re likely to get your hands and clothes mucky by the time you’re done. Soggy Dog Towels are my paws-down favorite solution. The big 27-inch by 39-inch pet towels have deep hand pockets jutting out of all four corners, so you can keep your hands clean no matter how yuck the muck as you wipe down Fido. The terrycloth cotton material is soft, quite absorbent and has a loop for hanging. The appliqué wagging dog in the center of the towel is cute, and a good reminder that this towel is strictly for the dogs. Keep a couple in the car and pet bag. Available in several bright colors.

Anguilla: Poet Nikki Giovanni headlines Lit Fest

The ultimate beach read