United Airlines has added iPod docking capability to one of its airplanes. United guests can connect their iPods and iPhones to United's in-flight entertainment system, enabling customers to enjoy their individual content on a 15.4-inch personal television, while the iPod or iPhone charges. The first aircraft with iPod and iPhone connectivity is scheduled to depart from Washington, DC to Zurich. The plane will primarily fly on trans-Atlantic routes thereafter. United's entire fleet of international, wide-body aircraft will be reconfigured over the next two years with lie-flat seats, on-demand entertainment and iPod and iPhone connectivity in first and business class.

Lap dogs leap into the lap of luxury at Paraiso de la Bonita in Riviera Maya, Mexico, with the “Haute Dog Package,” where small dogs up to 22 pounds get the red carpet treatment.

What that means is with gourmet chow, Thalassotherapy baths, a personal attendant, and chauffeured transportation. 

But that is not all.

“If puppy love strikes during a haute dog holiday, the resort will put on a dog wedding complete with bow vows, paw rings and beach ceremony without the hassle of minimum stays, blood tests or restrictions on same-sex unions,” says the hotel.

The Haute Dog Package includes a luxury welcome kit, a gourmet meal of beef tenderloin with mixed vegetables or chicken with a liver purée, and daily dog walking for $105 per dog, per stay. 

When it comes time to wind down, pups head to a doggie spa day with grooming, thalassotherapy bath and a massage for $199. 

Options include the services of a pet wedding coordinator to arrange a customized pet union complete with bow vows, paw rings and beach ceremony; birthday cakes; premium water from the resort's water cellar; dog sitting, and vet services. 

Among other activities puppies enjoy during their stay is the daily afternoon tea in the Bird’s Lounge where resident parrots greet guests with a friendly hello.

Carnival Cruise Lines, the world's largest cruise operator, plans to launch the first year-round cruise program from the Port of Baltimore with seven-day cruises aboard the 2,124-passenger Carnival Pride beginning in fall 2009.

"Today's consumers are more value-conscious than ever and considering that Baltimore is within a day's drive for millions of Northeastern US residents, these new seven-day voyages provide a convenient and affordable vacation option," said Gerry Cahill, Carnival’s president and CEO.

The new program includes two different weeklong itineraries departing Sundays from the historic Maryland port.

Baltimore's first year-round cruise program will feature a variety of ports on two distinctly different seven-day itineraries. Exotic Eastern Caribbean departures will call at Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos; the private Bahamian island of Half Moon Cay; and Freeport, The Bahamas; while Bahamas/Florida departures visit Port Canaveral, Fla.; and Nassau and Freeport, The Bahamas.

It is expected that the Carnival Pride will carry more than 115,000 guests annually from the port. Including its new Baltimore-based program, Carnival Cruise Lines will operate from 17 North American departure points, including 11 year-round homeports  --  the most of any cruise operator.

"Year-round cruising will allow the 40 million people that live within a six-hour drive of Baltimore to look beyond the traditional cruising seasons and sail throughout the year,” said Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley.

The photo on the of the bridge is the Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge on the way to the Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland. It has an 80 foot drop. It is scary, exciting and fun. It is right off the main causeway. Don't miss it. My entire family loved crossing the bridge and back! The other photo is of The Dark Hedges found near Dervock.These trees have been here for years and are a photographers dream. Beverly