Kelly Shea Travels

05/29/2026

The first completed Amtrak Airo trains have arrived in Seattle, where they’re getting ready to debut on the Cascades line in the Pacific Northwest.

The arrival marks a major milestone in Amtrak’s years-long effort to modernize its aging fleet. The Amtrak Airo trains, plans for which were first unveiled in 2021, are designed to replace railcars that, on some routes, date back to the 1970s. The company has said the trains are intended to offer a smoother, quieter, and more environmentally friendly ride—while also helping reduce delays and speed up travel times.

The new Amtrak Airo trains will feature numerous upgrades over their predecessors, including more spacious seating with ample legroom, adjustable headrests, seatback tablet-holders, and panoramic windows offering better views of the passing scenery. Other enhancements will include a redesigned café car with self-service options, touchless restroom controls, and dedicated outlets and USB ports for passengers (as well as Wi-Fi, currently available on many Amtrak trains).

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Get ready for more comfortable seats, fewer delays, and a big decrease in air pollution.

05/29/2026

Between July and September each year, humpback whales on their annual migration north from feeding grounds in Antarctica arrive in these clear blue waters (as well as those surrounding neighboring South Pacific island groups like Fiji, Tonga, and French Polynesia, among other places) to mate and calve.

Mere minutes offshore from Niue’s rugged coastline, under highly regulated conditions, it’s possible to enter the water to snorkel with the whales while they are at rest. Only two whale watching and snorkeling operators—the PADI Eco Dive Center, Niue Blue, and Niuean-owned Explore Niue Tours & Travel—take people out to snorkel with the whales.

As threats to whales increase (like strikes and underwater noise pollution from boats), efforts from NGOs, governments, scientists, and community leaders are growing in the blue corridors of the western Pacific as well as elsewhere around the world. In 2023, the Caribbean island of Dominica created a Marine Protected area (MPA) for endangered s***m whales. And in 2024, the Azores Marine Park, also home to resident s***m whales, became the largest marine park in the North Atlantic.

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In the sea surrounding Niue, strong whale songs can vibrate your body underwater.

05/25/2026

Dallas now marks American Airlines’ fifth direct US gateway to Athens, alongside New York (JFK), Chicago (ORD), Philadelphia (PHL), and Charlotte (CLT). OPA!!!!

The addition marks a major milestone for AIA, introducing a direct gateway to Texas—American Airlines’ largest global megahub—and vastly simplifying travel for passengers connecting from across the American South, Midwest, and West Coast.

The decision by the US carrier to launch the route underscores long-term confidence in the Greek tourism market. Despite a complex global landscape marked by economic fluctuations and geopolitical uncertainties, airlines continue to aggressively expand air capacity to Greece, with scheduled transatlantic seats hitting historic highs. Kelly Shea DiscoverGreece.com Virtuoso Travel Kelly Shea Travels

The inaugural flight of American Airlines connecting Dallas-Fort Worth and Athens International Airport crossed the Atlantic on Friday.

05/24/2026

Magical Monemvasia. DiscoverGreece.com Kelly Shea Kelly Shea Travels

05/24/2026

Delta Air Lines will make its AI-powered in-app assistant, which is currently in beta, available to all eligible SkyMiles Members by the end of the summer.

Called Delta Concierge, the assistant will let users cancel flights, view alternative routes, and change their plans if their flight is impacted by weather or another disruption. It will also surface quick, automated answers to inquiries regarding SkyMiles status, upcoming trip details, and general airport navigation.

Alongside Delta Concierge, the airline is introducing a digital “take a number” system at domestic hub “Need Help” Centers. Instead of waiting in physical customer service lines during major delays, travelers can scan a QR code to join a virtual queue and receive a text when an agent is available to assist them.

Later this summer, Delta will also introduce automated, in-app standby options for nearby co-terminal airports, allowing travelers in multi-airport cities to easily switch routes during disruptions.

Second, Delta is shifting how it handles short-haul snack and beverage service by moving from a three-tier system to a strict 350-mile threshold. Previously, flights under 250 miles received no service, flights between 250 and 499 miles received a limited “Express Service” (water, coffee, tea, and a limited snack choice), and flights 500 miles or above received full service.

Under the new policy, Delta is expanding full snack and beverage service to Comfort+ and Main Cabin passengers on flights of 350 miles and above. However, to accommodate the shift, Delta has eliminated service entirely on flights between 250 and 349 miles.
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Delta is also introducing a new, strict short-haul snack threshold.

05/22/2026

After a fraught past year of government shutdowns leading to long airport security lines, the Transportation Security Administration is launching a new public-private partnership program called TSA Gold+. As first reported by Gate Access, TSA shared an internal memo with employees on May 14 announcing the new program as an "innovative extension" of the Screening Partnership Program (SPP), which currently contracts with private companies to operate the security screening of air passengers at 20 U.S. airports under TSA guidelines. Virtuoso Travel Kelly Shea Travels Kelly Shea

The Transportation Security Administration is expanding private partnerships through TSA Gold+ to improve checkpoint operations.

05/18/2026

Do little ones belong on the poshest vessels on the high seas? Buckle up: The responses to this one can be choppier than the Drake Passage! Kelly Shea Oceania Cruises Kelly Shea Travels Virtuoso Travel

Do little ones belong on the poshest vessels on the high seas? Buckle up: The responses to this one can be choppier than the Drake Passage. | Not every luxury cruise is ready for the stroller set — but some are, and knowing the difference could make or break your next family booking.

05/18/2026

Flights will depart Boston everyday at 6:25 p.m. and land in Milan at 8:10 a.m. On the westbound leg, flights will take off from Milan at 10 a.m. and arrive in Boston at 12:47 p.m. The summer flights will operate through October 5.

JetBlue will use its Airbus A321 plane to operate the new route. Passengers can expect 24 premium suites in Mint business class, all with lie-flat beds and direct access to the aisle.

Toward the back of the aircraft, there will be 114 seats in the airline’s “core” class, its version of main economy, including 24 “EvenMore” seats, which come with extra perks like more legroom and reserved overhead bin space.

"Launching service to Milan marks an exciting milestone for JetBlue and our continued growth in Boston,” said Marty St. George, president of JetBlue. “As our first destination in Italy, Milan brings even more reach to our transatlantic network and gives customers, both in New England and across our network, the chance to experience JetBlue’s unique service across the Atlantic. All of it is built around exceptional service, thoughtful design and everyday value.”

The new route to Milan is JetBlue’s ninth nonstop flight from Boston to Europe for the summer season. The carrier also operates year-round service to Amsterdam, London-Heathrow, and Paris, as well as summer flights to Barcelona, Dublin, Edinburgh, London-Gatwick, and Madrid from the New England hub.

To celebrate its Milan flights, JetBlue is offering special one-way introductory fares on the new route. Travelers originating in Boston can find tickets as low as $399 in core, $649 in EvenMore, and $2199 in Mint. Kelly Shea Virtuoso Travel

JetBlue has launched its first flights to Italy, offering daily seasonal service between Boston and Milan until October 5.

05/13/2026

Some of the Most Powerful Women in Travel, I know LOTS of others! Kelly Shea

From record-setting adventurers to diasporic filmmakers and chefs, these are the women defining the way we see—and move—around the world right now.

05/09/2026

All-inclusive resorts in the United States have moved well beyond standardized buffets and poolside drink service. A small but growing subset caters exclusively to adults, with a focus on design, programming, standout dining, and a more low-key atmosphere than family-oriented resorts.

From a wellness-driven retreat in the Arizona desert to a historic estate in upstate New York, these 14 adults-only all-inclusive properties on Afar’s latest Hotels We Love list offer a wide variety of experiences with offerings that reflect their settings. Kelly Shea Virtuoso Travel

The best adults-only all inclusive resorts offer privacy, standout dining, and curated experiences.