Mega ships going green
Carnival Corp. is going green in a big way with three new mega ships slated for delivery in 2020 and 2022. The Miami-based cruise company said Tuesday that the vessels will be powered by liquefied natural gas, considered to be the cleanest-burning fossil fuel. LNG-powered ships have become increasingly popular among cruise lines that have adopted a more eco-friendly strategy, partly because they satisfy stricter maritime rules that seek to limit harmful emissions.
Two of the new ships will be built for Carnival Cruise Line, making them the first LNG-powered ships in North America. The third ship will be for P&O Cruises UK.
Miami Herald
Lose your phone
In a backlash against digital dependency, a number of tour operators are championing unplugged vacations. Intrepid Travel has announced Digital Detox Trips, in which participants pledge to swear off all devices including cellphones and cameras. They will receive a notebook in which to record impressions, and the trip leader will send daily e-mail updates to loved ones back home on request. The new eight- to 10-day trips visit Ecuador, India, Morocco and Thailand (from $630 a person). Meanwhile, much of rural Alaska is unconnected, a feature that Un-Cruise Adventures celebrates in its off-grid Alaska sailings (seven nights from $2,295) and Natural Habitat Adventures highlights in its eight-day Alaska's Coastal Grizzlies: Kodiak to Katmai trip (from $8,995).
New York Times
Big Sky cabin
At the 320 Guest Ranch in Big Sky, Mont., wake to the wide Montana sky and prepare for a day of hiking, horseback riding and fly fishing on a private stretch of the Gallatin River, made famous in the film "A River Runs Through It." Don't miss the weekly pig roast, or consider the wagon or horseback ride, culminating in a riverside barbecue. When the snow falls, cozy up in front of your riverfront cabin's fireplace, snuggle on a sleigh ride or slap on the skis. Nearby Yellowstone National Park provides day trip options. Info: 320ranch.com.
Dallas Morning News
Escape to Dominica
Secret Bay, an eco-luxury boutique resort on the West Indies island of Dominica, has an Escape Election 2016 deal with a savings of $250. The package, valid through Dec. 16, starts at $3,074 per couple and includes five nights in a luxurious villa; a gourmet welcome dinner, a 60-minute in-room couples massage; a forest bathing experience; a 60-minute private couples yoga session; airport transfer; and an organic food basket. Add 20 percent for taxes and service charges. Guests also have free access to bikes. Blackout dates may apply. Info: secretbay.dm.
Washington Post
Aerial videos at home
If you don't have the time or money to leave town, you can bring the sights and sounds of a beautiful place into your life. The iPhone app "Sky Tripping" offers a collection of aerial videos that begin on the California coast and, for subscribers, take you to the Rocky Mountains; the red rocks of Sedona, Ariz.; the Sonoran desert and more. The aerial videos of sunset ocean views are indeed peaceful, and to hear the waves of the Pacific lapping at the shore is downright dreamy. ($2.99 to download in the App Store; requires iOS 8.0 or later.)
Los Angeles Times
Mandisa, Grammy-winning singer and 'American Idol' alum, dies at 47
Taylor Swift's 'The Tortured Poets Department' is here. Is it poetry? This is what experts say
Here's how Phish is using the Sphere's technology to give fans something completely different
4/20 grew from humble roots to marijuana's high holiday
