Travel briefs
MINNEAPOLIS -- Mexico, Las Vegas and Caribbean cruising were all high on the list of popular vacation options in a survey conducted by Travel Leaders (formerly Carlson Wagonlit Travel Associates).
The annual survey, conducted this summer, polled 415 Travel Leaders agents, managers and owners.
The top six domestic destinations this year were the same as last year, starting with Las Vegas, followed by Orlando, Fla., Honolulu, and Maui, Hawaii, New York and San Francisco. Anchorage, Alaska, was No. 7. Miami tied with Phoenix/Scottsdale, Ariz., for the next two spots, and Chicago and Washington tied for 10th place. It was the first time Chicago made it into the top 10 in the survey's five-year history.
Mexico ranked No. 1 in the category of ''best value outside the U.S.,'' and took five of 10 spots in the list of top international destinations, with Cancun at No. 2, Riviera Maya at No. 3, Mexican cruising sixth, Cabo San Lucas/Los Cabos eighth and Puerto Vallarta ninth.
Caribbean cruising was No. 1 on the international list, with Mediterranean cruises and Rome coming in fourth and fifth.
MOBILE, Ala. -- Carnival Corp. will replace its Mobile-based Holiday cruise ship with the larger Fantasy vessel next year, boosting its capacity at the Alabama port by 42 percent.
A Carnival spokesman said the 2,056-passenger Fantasy will undergo improvements this fall, turning some open decks into water parks. The ship, normally based in New Orleans, will move to Mobile in November 2009.
The 1,452-passenger Holiday, Carnival's oldest vessel, will operate from Mobile until then, when it will be transferred to Spain. The Holiday has been based at Mobile since 2004 when the city entered the cruise market.
Since its arrival, the Holiday on average has sailed full, according to Carnival, and the Fantasy will bring more tourism dollars.
With the Fantasy based in Mobile, Carnival expects to carry about 170,000 passengers annually from the port.
The Fantasy runs four- and five-day cruises to the west Caribbean.
KEY WEST, Fla. -- The Florida Keys have cleaned up from the recent spate of storms and are proceeding with plans for several events this fall, including the Halloween-themed Fantasy Fest and a party marking the end of hurricane season.
Although the island chain was spared major damage, visitor evacuations for Ike and Tropical Storm Fay, plus a brush with Hurricane Gustav, resulted in tourism revenue losses in the Keys of $29 million.
Fantasy Fest takes place on Key West Oct. 17-26, with 10 days of masquerade balls, costume contests and a parade.
A Pirates in Paradise Festival, scheduled for Nov. 29-Dec. 7, includes a National Walk the Plank Championship, Dec. 4, and the annual ''America's Official End of the Hurricane Season Party,'' Nov. 30. Festivities include a ceremony in which a Key West National Weather Service chief meteorologist burns the flags used to indicate hurricane warnings.
Details at www.fla-keys.com.
AP