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The European
Commission last week made the first step towards the
conclusion of short stay visa waiver agreements between the
European Community and six third countries: Antigua and
Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Mauritius, Saint Kitts and
Nevis and the Seychelles.
The recommendations to authorize the Commission to open
negotiations are to be submitted to the Council. The
Commission intends to open the negotiations on the visa
waiver with the six countries as soon as the negotiating
directives will be approved by the Council, thus providing
for the full implementation of the existing legal framework.
Regulation (EC) 1932/2006 (adopted on 21 December 2006)
amended Regulation (EC) 539/2001 listing the third countries
whose nationals must be in possession of visas when crossing
the external borders of the European Union (negative list),
and those whose nationals are exempt from that requirement.
These countries are Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas,
Barbados, Mauritius, Saint Kitts and Nevis and the
Seychelles.
However, the new Regulation makes the implementation of the
exemptions from the visa requirement for nationals of these
countries depending on the entry into force of bilateral
visa waiver agreements to be concluded between the European
Community and each of the countries in question.
To this end, the Commission prepared the recommendations to
be submitted to the Council in order to authorize the
Commission to negotiate ?on behalf of the European Community
- such bilateral visa waiver agreements with each of the six
countries concerned.
Nevertheless, the finalization of these recommendations had
been delayed due to the decision of some of the six
countries to introduce a special visa regime for the
nationals of several Member States on a temporary basis for
the period of the Cricket World Cup 2007 taking place in the
Caribbean Community.
It is worth recalling that amendments to the positive and
negative lists of Regulation (EC) 539/2001 are proposed by
the Commission, after an assessment of criteria listed in
the Regulation which include in particular public order and
illegal immigration.
In view of these two criteria, particular attention has to
be paid to the security of travel documents issued by the
third countries concerned. Future transfers of third
countries to the positive list of Regulation (EC) 539/2001
could require that specific conditions related to the
security of travel documents are |
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Carnival Cruise Lines
has enhanced its “Fun Pass” online embarkation portal to allow
guests the ability to register for the line’s shipboard credit card
system and to electronically accept the Terms and Conditions of
Passage prior to their cruise, thus further expediting the
embarkation process.
Through the enhanced system, guests sailing with Carnival are now
able to submit credit card information for their onboard “Sail &
Sign” accounts via a secure encryption method and review/acknowledge
the line’s ticket contract, both of which previously had to be
completed manually during the check-in process at the cruise
terminal.
Another new feature enables Carnival’s guests to designate a
responsible party and pre-register up to three cabins at the same
time in one session.
Carnival’s on-line embarkation portal was launched in 2003 to comply
with the data-gathering requirements of U.S. Department of Homeland
Security (DHS). With “Fun Pass,” guests can register up to the day
prior to sailing and are provided with a printable document allowing
them to “fast track” through embarkation when they arrive at the
cruise terminal.
Carnival’s “Fun Pass” system is available in conjunction with
departures on all 22 of the line’s ships which operate three- to
18-day voyages to the Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexican Riviera, Alaska,
Hawaii, the Panama Canal, Canada, New England, Bermuda, Europe, and
South America. |
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Announcements by
suppliers this week indicate that the 23% capacity increase by the
cruise industry in Europe for 2008 is going to be followed by yet
another significant capacity increase in 2009, particularly as new
ships come online.
So while there are plenty of agents reporting too many ships in
Europe this year, as well as far more money being spent on
promotions than usual for this time of year, that hasn't kept
Celebrity from placing its new Equinox, the second in the
Solstice-class, in Europe for Summer 2009 upon her debut in August
(and staying there until November). That comes on the heels of NCL
announcing they'll keep the Norwegian Jade in Europe year-round as
opposed to moving her to New York later this year as planned.
Even with high airfares and all the grim economic news, something
must be going right in Europe. |