Fewer illnesses on cruises

Cruise ship passengers are getting sick with stomach bugs less often. Since 1990, the illness rate has fallen from about 29 to 22 per 100,000 travel days, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cases spiked in 2012 when a new strain of norovirus emerged.

Associated Press

NYC hotels make green pledge

Seventeen New York City hotels, including the Waldorf Astoria, Grand Hyatt and Loews Regency, recently joined the NYC Carbon Challenge. The properties pledged to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent or more in the next 10 years, a move that could reduce emissions by more than 32,000 metric tons and save $25 million of energy operating costs. New York Times

Hotel check-in Hotels offer deals to help get you in shape

Next month, a number of hotels are introducing long-term fitness initiatives and packages. Meadowood Napa Valley in California, for example, is introducing the Healthiest Year Yet package, including overnight accommodations; a 90-minute outdoor fitness class; a personal-training session; unlimited fitness classes like Zumba; and unlimited sports like tennis and golf. Prices from $1,800 for two for two nights. Esperanza, an Auberge Resort in Los Cabos, Mexico, is introducing a wellness concierge, Barbie Alvarez, who works with guests to create a personalized fitness program. A 60-minute session is $175; nightly room rates from $500. And in New York City, the Refinery Hotel is starting a series of monthly fitness classes next month; they will be held on the rooftop and be available to both guests and nonguests. On Feb. 13, teachers from the yoga center Y7 Studio will offer a cardio-based vinyasa class set to hip-hop music ($35 a person).

New York Times

Deal of the week

Sun Country parties like it's 1983

Minnesota's Sun Country Airlines turned 33 last week, and it's celebrating like any 33-year-old airline would (?): by taking roughly 33 percent off coach airfares to and from cities in the contiguous United States. But hurry, the birthday promotion ends Jan. 24. Use the promo code SCA33 on suncountry.com for travel in the Lower 48 between April 5 and June 8. Friday and Sunday flights are the only days excluded. For example, a round-trip flight from Minneapolis to Palm Springs, departing April 14 and returning April 19 (the first week of the huge Coachella music festival) would have cost $281.20. With the discount code applied, it fells to $197.70, a savings of $83.50.

Sun Country is offering roughly 33 percent off some flights — but hurry.

SIMON GROEBNER

Does your passport have enough pages?

Frequent travelers, take a look at your passport. If all the pages are stamped or have visas on them before your passport expires, tough luck. You'll have to get a new one. Starting this month, the U.S. State Department is no longer offering the option of ordering extra pages for the document. Citing security concerns, the agency stopped issuing the extra pages on Dec. 31. Instead, it will let future applicants order a passport with either the normal 28 pages or a hefty 52 pages. The pages are used for country immigration officers' entry and exit stamps, as well as a place to insert visas for countries that require them. To apply for a new or renewal passport, visit travel.state.gov/passport or call 1-877-487-2778.

Detroit Free Press