Soon all U.S. airlines will require REAL ID-compliant ID to board a domestic flight.
Transportation Security Administration spokesperson Jessica Mayle the requirement starts May 7. “Every air traveler 18 years of age and older must have a REAL ID-compliant ID. TSA is working to avoid checkpoint delays by encouraging all travelers to get their Real IDs now,” said Mayle.
Travelers without one could be delayed.
The federal REAL ID Act of 2005, passed in response to the Sept. 11 terror attacks, requires higher standards for identification starting this year. The requirements apply to all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories.
Upgrading a standard license or ID to a REAL ID is free in Michigan if done during the normal renewal period. Otherwise, a card correction fee of $9 for a driver’s license or $10 for an ID is charged.
When applying for a REAL ID, you will need to bring:
Your driver’s license or ID
Your Social Security Number
Your certified birth certificate
Your valid, U.S. passport (or an approved citizenship or legal presence document)
Because it can take weeks to receive it in the mail, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson encouraged those needing a REAL ID to apply soon.
If you have a star on your ID you are already compliant.
Circle with star design: Standard REAL ID-compliant licenses and IDs will display a star in a gold circle in the upper right corner.
Michigan silhouette with star design: Standard REAL ID-compliant licenses and IDs will display a star in a silhouette of Michigan in the upper right corner.
Enhanced licenses and IDs are automatically REAL ID-compliant, regardless of whether they display the star.
Michiganders in need of a REAL ID can obtain one by going to Michigan.gov/REALID to schedule an appointment. The system will guide them through documents required.
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said more than 73% of people with a Michigan driver’s license or ID have already upgraded to a REAL ID.
Carnival Corp. is putting the finishing touches on a new destination for cruise passengers.
Beginning in July, Doral-based Carnival will send ships between PortMiami and Celebration Key, a private development in the Bahamas.
Described by the cruise ship company as “a new destination from the ground up,” Celebration Key is on the southern side of Grand Bahama island and about 17 miles northeast of Freeport.
When finished, the resort will have its own pier with two berths where Carnival’s largest ships can dock. In 2026, the pier at Celebration Key will add two more berths so a total of four Carnival ships can dock at the same time.
The resort will feature water slides for kids, scuba diving and other sports, and excursions. And there will be restaurants and bars that passengers can reach by walking or swimming.
Costing $600 million, the destination is the latest in major cruise carriers betting big time on private islands or resorts built from the ground up. The new stops give cruisers more beach time, expand group activities and bring in more money.
Royal Caribbean, also based in Miami, is developing a third private space in Mexico that’s expected to be ready in 2027. The company’s other two private resorts are in Labadee, Haiti, and Coco Cay in the Bahamas. Norwegian Cruise Line has Great Stirrup Cay, also in the Bahamas.
Carnival is so keen on Celebration Key that 20 of its 27 ships plan to sail there, including all five ships that call PortMiami home: Carnival Celebration, Carnival Horizon, Carnival Sunrise, Carnival Conquest and Carnival Magic. Ships sailing from Baltimore, New Orleans and Galveston will also head there this year.
Carnival Conquest, which does three-and four-day trips to the Bahamas, will be the first PortMiami-based ship to visit Celebration Key, departing South Florida on July 18.
At the construction site
“Celebration Key represents a new chapter for Carnival and its construction builds on our close partnership with the Bahamas,” Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, said in a statement. “Seeing it transform from vision to reality is incredible.”
Duffy visited the under-construction Celebration Key in February, along with Carnival Corp. Chief Executive Officer Josh Weinstein and Chief Maritime Officer Lars Ljoen. The cruise executives joined leaders from the organization Plant a Tree and replanted about 1,000 sabal palms, a nod to the role their industry needs to play in increasing sustainability.
Duffy also took part in “the ceremonial filling of one of two expansive freshwater lagoons, the largest in the Caribbean.” These will be sustained by Celebration Key’s desalination system that converts seawater into freshwater. The lagoons span over seven acres and hold about seven million gallons of water.
Carnival broke ground on the project less than three years ago. About 500 Bahamian workers are on the 65-acre site around the clock to make sure the resort is ready by July.
The cruises from Miami that will stop at Celebration Key range from a three-day weekend cruise on Carnival Conquest to a 13-day trip starting from Barcelona on Carnival Journeys. Carnival Celebration will offer a variety of seven-day cruises to the eastern and western Caribbean that stop at the new resort.
The resort expects to have more than 30 restaurants and bars, from full-service sit-downs to self-ordering food trucks.
The development is broken down into different areas.
Paradise Plaza is the welcoming area. Starfish Lagoon has recreation and relaxation. Calypso Lagoon has an adult-only area with a DJ island and a large swim-up bar. Pearl Cove Beach Club is a premium adult-only space with an infinity pool and beachfront cabanas. Pearl Cove Beach Club will offer beachfront daybeds, private cabanas and Super Villas, each of which includes access to the club’s open bar service, infinity pool, full-service restaurant and beachfront.
Here is a rundown on the food and drinks:
Food on Carnival’s Celebration Key
Calypso Lagoon
—Mingo’s Tropical Bar & Kitchen, named after the Bahamas’ national bird the flamingo, is a full-service, Carnival-run restaurant offering Bahamian favorites including fried fish and conch fritters, as well as burgers, seafood, tacos, steak and sandwiches. Mingo’s bar will serve tropical frozen drinks and cocktails.
—Mingo’s Express food truck, just outside the restaurant, has self-ordering kiosks and shaded seating, and to-go hamburgers, salads and fish sandwiches.
—Surf N’ Sauce BBQ & Brews is a full-service dining spot serving slow-smoked meat prepared in an outdoor smoker. A full-service bar pours craft beer from Bahamian breweries.
Starfish Lagoon
—Gill’s Grill, a full-service restaurant and full bar, cooks up Caribbean seafood including seafood baskets, local fish, lobster, steamed crab and shrimp, chicken, burgers and kids’ meals.
—Captain’s Galley Food Hall features five outlets serving burgers, hot dogs, fried chicken, pizza, Mediterranean bowls, tacos and burritos.
—Food trucks with self-ordering kiosks offer chicken sandwiches, burgers and conch fritters.
Pearl Cove Beach Club
—Pearl Cove Beach Club restaurant in an area for guests 18 and older.
Beverages on Celebration Key
Calypso Lagoon
—Long Necks Bar is where you can grab one of 100 seats and order a frozen drink, beer or Bahamian cocktail while a DJ spins tunes.
—The Sunshine Swings Bar has 40 swings and offers a “chill vibe.”
—The Parrotfish Swim-Up Bar has seating in-water and out-of-water and serves frozen cocktails and mocktails with tropical fruit juice.
Pearl Cove Beach Club
—An infinity pool overlooks the beach and a swim-up bar
Paradise Plaza
—A welcome area where you can get your caffeine fix or energy boost with coffee and ice cream.
Carnival cruise reservations
You can book sailings taking place into 2027. To learn more about sailings and make reservations, visit the Carnival website at carnival.com.
Runners run eastward passing the Carnival Horizon docked at the Port of Miami during Life Time Miami Marathon on Sunday, January 28, 2024, in Miami, Florida. (Carl Juste/Miami Herald/TNS)
Legoland California will follow the lead of Disney, Universal and other rivals and jump into the festival business with the world’s first Lego Festival that will encourage kids and parents to embrace the power of play.
Legoland California will host the inaugural Lego Festival on six weekends from May 3 through June 8.
The global event will take place at the Carlsbad theme park as well as Legoland parks in Florida, New York, Denmark, Germany, England and South Korea.
The festival that focuses on imagination, exploration and play will take place at each park in five zones themed to music, dance, gaming, creativity and relaxation.
Events will include a Lego Battle of the Bands, dance music with minifigure DJ GoodVibes, mindful movement sessions with Hopsy the Duplo Bunny and Lego master builder classes.
Dozens of new Lego big build models will be built during the festival at the Legoland parks around the world.
The Lego Festival dates include May 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25, 26 and 31 and June 1, 7 and 8.
The Lego Festival at Legoland California focuses on imagination, exploration and play. (Courtesy of Legoland)
Anxiety surrounding air travel has been growing among the public in recent weeks and months.
With the deadly crash in Washington, D.C., earlier this year and several near misses, as well as FAA staff being slashed by the new U.S. president, it’s not exactly surprising that uneasiness is spiking.
If turbulence is one of the factors that causes you anxiety when flying, here is some news to notice: A new study has been released that identifies the most turbulent air travel routes globally.
The study was conducted by turbulence tracking company Turbli and is based on a review of turbulence forecast data provided by NOAA and the UK Met Office. The result of this effort is a ranking of the most unstable flight routes worldwide.
And coming in at the top of the list (meaning the most turbulent flight route) is the route from Mendoza, Argentina, and Santiago, Chile. The eddy dissipation rate (EDR), which is essentially turbulence intensity, associated with this route is 24.684.
To put that into some context, that’s 4 EDR greater than the second most turbulent flight path identified by the research. Coming in second is the route between Cordoba, Argentina and Santiago, Chile, which has an EDR of 20.214.
As it turns out the third most turbulent route on the list is also an Argentina-based route. It is the route between Mendoza, Argentina and Salta, Argentina. This flight route has an EDR of 19.825.
Turbulence is an irregular motion of the air resulting from eddies and vertical currents, according to the National Weather Service.
“Turbulence is one of the most unpredictable of all the weather phenomena that are of significance to pilots,” says the National Weather Service website. “It may be as insignificant as a few annoying bumps or severe enough to momentarily throw an airplane out of control or to cause structural damage.”
Turbulence is associated with fronts, wind shear and thunderstorms.
Here are the top 10 most turbulent routes globally
Mendoza (MDZ) – Santiago (SCL) EDR: 24.684
Cordoba (COR) – Santiago (SCL) EDR: 20.214
Mendoza (MDZ) – Salta (SLA) EDR: 19.825
Mendoza (MDZ) – San Carlos de Bariloche (BRC) EDR: 19.252
Kathmandu (KTM) – Lhasa (LXA) EDR: 18.817
Chengdu (CTU) – Lhasa (LXA) EDR: 18.644
Santa Cruz (VVI) – Santiago (SCL) EDR: 18.598
Kathmandu (KTM) – Paro (PBH) EDR: 18.563
Chengdu (CTU) – Xining (XNN) EDR: 18.482
San Carlos de Bariloche (BRC) – Santiago (SCL) EDR: 18.475
A jetliner flies past Mount Rainier on its way to land at Boeing Field after a trip to Eastern Washington on June 18, 2021. (Ellen M. Banner/The Seattle Times/TNS)
A welcome warm spell in the Northeast is a reminder that March is here and the official start of spring is just days away.
For many, that means making plans to break from the daily grind and warm up somewhere far from their office, home office, or school pickup line.
But travelers shouldn’t settle for just any old getaway in 2025. Plan spring break right and your next trip may just be the one that you never forget.
It turns out that the spring break trip of your dreams doesn’t have to be unattainable.
Here are two easy steps to ensure a blissful escape this time of year.
Work with a travel adviser
The best way to prevent your dream spring break getaway from turning into a nightmare is to book with a trusted travel adviser.
These travel professionals can not only guide you toward the ideal destination based on your personal preferences and suggest some off-the-beaten-path places to avoid the large crowds but help you craft the perfect itinerary.
An adviser is also by your side before during and after your trip, which means you have an advocate and immediate assistance in the event of an unexpected flight cancellation, trouble at check-in or anywhere else along the way.
In addition to time and stress, advisers save their clients money by putting their connections and access to sales and discounts to work.
Protect your trip with travel insurance
Regardless of how much you’re spending on your spring break getaway, it’s always wise to invest in travel insurance.
This protection typically costs about 5% to 10% of your total trip costs but provides invaluable peace of mind.
The right policy can not only reimburse you if your trip is canceled or impacted by something outside of your control but also pay for medical expenses if you fall victim to an emergency overseas or somewhere your health insurance plan won’t cover.
Travel insurance marketplace Squaremouth reveals that the travelers most likely to benefit are frequent travelers (who can purchase plans and multi-trip policies), adventurers, backpackers and students traveling abroad.
Chicago will add 50 speed cameras as part of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s plan to balance this year’s budget, increasing the stock of the devices used to ticket drivers by 30% citywide.
The city’s Department of Transportation confirmed this week that it is “actively working” to install the 50 cameras this year but declined to share the locations, saying they have yet to be finalized.
Multiple aldermen told the Tribune CDOT officials called them in the past several days to float addresses in their wards for a new speed camera, all of which were intersections the aldermen said constituents had raised concerns about when it came to speeding and crashes.
The cameras are controversial. While some aldermen say they are a useful traffic enforcement and revenue tool and have long asked for more in their wards, others note historic racial disparities in ticketing, and say the burden the tickets places on working-class drivers makes the cameras a regressive way to raise money.
Mayor Brandon Johnson presides over the City Council meeting at City Hall on Feb. 26, 2025. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune)
Johnson’s political calculus is particularly tricky. He counts among his progressive base many Chicagoans who prioritize safety for pedestrians and cyclists. But he has also promised to look for ways to tax wealthier people rather than relying on policies that hit poor people hard.
Currently, 162 speed cameras are located throughout the city, so the additions — which Johnson has said will raise money to pay for a chunk of Chicago police positions he restored in his 2025 budget — will bring the total to 212.
Mayoral ally Ald. William Hall said last year when the mayor first proposed the additional cameras that they could go “in wards where aldermen want them.” But it’s still not clear exactly how city officials will decide where to place the devices, though Johnson would clearly prefer to get buy-in from local council members rather than face blowback.
“New cameras will be installed on a rolling basis throughout the year. CDOT will publicize new locations ahead of the cameras being activated,” CDOT spokesperson Erica Schroeder wrote in a statement. “The final decisions on identifying, selecting and designing automated speed enforcement camera locations are made on a case-by-case basis, taking into account a variety of factors including feasibility, effectiveness and equity.”
Each new camera location will have an initial 30-day grace period, during which speeding drivers will be let off with a warning notice in the mail. After that, those caught going 6 to 10 mph too fast will get $35 tickets, while $100 tickets will go out to those recorded going 11 mph or more over the limit, as is the standard citywide.
Johnson’s team first floated the new cameras as a means to raise $11 million to pay for Police Department positions related to the federal consent decree in his 2025 budget. His first proposal slashed the 162 roles, eliciting outcry from police reform experts and the Illinois attorney general until he reversed course.
A speed camera monitors traffic on West Jackson Boulevard in Columbus Park on Monday, Dec. 30, 2024, in the Austin neighborhood. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune)
Restoring those vacancies added $11.65 million to the 2025 deficit, so the administration addressed that by saying it will install $2.64 million worth of new speed cameras, which would generate an estimated $11.43 million in new revenue. Another $2.86 million would be gleaned from accounting in the police budget for how those 162 consent decree positions were unlikely to be filled at the start of this year.
The mayor’s budget office did not address questions on whether those figures were still up-to-date.
Johnson isn’t the first mayor to see a financial windfall from ticketing Chicago drivers.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel first turned the speed cameras on in 2013, and they brought in more money than expected. That started a trend of the city repeatedly leaning on the devices as a way to raise funds in recent years, even while Emanuel insisted the program was meant to improve safety near schools and parks, not bolster the bottom line.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot in 2021 lowered the ticket threshold from 10 mph over the limit to 6 mph over, to help close a $1.2 billion budget deficit. Critics of Lightfoot’s change tried in vain to roll it back that year.
The cameras have also been condemned for the fact many are only tenuously connected to the parks or schools near which they are supposed to be protecting pedestrians from speeders.
The city does not own the devices, which utilize a 3D radar to capture video and license plates. The cameras are leased from vendor Verra Mobility, formerly American Traffic Solutions.
Schroeder’s statement said locations for new speed cameras are decided based on a “data-driven process that uses crash data and stakeholder feedback to identify areas experiencing traffic safety concerns.” Only intersections designated “Safety Zones,” or 660 feet from a park or school, are considered, per state law.
When you hit winter weather overload, and you’re tired of snowy scenescapes, head to Cortez, Colorado.
Colorado’s quadrant of the Four Corners is filled with secrets of the past in its rugged and sometimes desolate desert landscape.
Here’s what to do when you’re ready to ditch the snow and head for the desert in Southwest Colorado.
Go on an ancient adventure
Mesa Verde National Monument was established by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1906 as the first national park to “preserve the works of man.” It’s home to Cliff Palace, the largest cliff dwelling in North America.
Winter is the perfect time to explore 700 years of Ancestral Pueblo history without crowds. Witnessing snowfall on the cliff dwellings is almost surreal.
Weather permitting, Mesa Top Loop Road is open for viewing Cliff Palace, Sun Temple, and other stops along the 6-mile drive. If you plan to hike, taking traction devices for any icy spots you might encounter is a good idea.
In winter, you can cross-country ski or snowshoe some trails. The visitor center and museum offer free snowshoe rentals.
Hike into the past
Jessie Mallalieu, of Telluride, left, brought her parents Diane and Bob Mallalieu, right, to visit Lowry Pueblo at Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, March 17, 2012. The pueblo was constructed about AD 1060 and stands about 27 miles south of Cortez, Colo. It is one of 6,000 archaeological sites that make up Canyons of the Ancients National Monument in the four corners area of Colorado. (Photo by Mahala Gaylord/The Denver Post)
Canyons of the Ancients National Monument has the highest known density of archaeological sites in the United States. The monument spans 176,000 acres and has more than 6,000 known ancient sites.
Must-see sites include Lowry, Painted Hand, and San Canyon Pueblos. Book a guided tour with Durango Rivertrippers & Adventure Tours. If you want to hike on your own, head to the Sand Canyon South Trailhead in McElmo Canyon.
There are many unmarked dwellings and ruins along the trails. Part of the fun is searching for them.
The winery, started by John Sutcliffe, is a mini oasis in the ruggedness of McElmo Canyon. Producing 4,000 cases of wine a year, Sutcliffe has garnered more awards than any other vineyards in Colorado.
From chardonnay to grenache, it offers a variety of wines to taste and pair with a charcuterie board or light bites. It’s incredibly cozy in winter as you sip wine and stay warm sitting by a chiminea.
Stay at a ranch or nature preserve
If you seek non-traditional accommodations, some great options exist in southwest Colorado.
Waking up to the sounds of music piped through speakers for the Navajo-Churro sheep and feeding apples to a longhorn are part of what makes a ranch stay at Canyon of the Ancients Guest Ranch in McElmo Canyon unique. The cabins look like something straight out of a Ralph Lauren ad.
You can explore the 60 acres of high desert while staying in one of their three artsy cabins. You might meet an artist in residence working on a piece while on a one-to-three-week retreat.
Solitude at Yucca House
In Montezuma Valley, an expansive, mainly unexcavated pueblo surrounded by private ranches makes up Yucca House National Monument.
It’s one of nine national monuments in the state and one of the largest Ancestral Puebloan archaeological sites in Southwest Colorado. Because it’s unexcavated and has no facilities, it’s one of the least visited sites in the National Park Service.
As you explore the pueblo, imagining what life was like in A.D. 1150-1300 is fun. This pueblo is estimated to have 600 rooms, over 100 kivas, and a great kiva.
The tallest structure in the “Upper House” rises 15-20 feet above surrounding architecture and offers an incredible view of the valley.
You can also see some of the walls of the “Lower House,” an L-shaped pueblo with at least eight first-story rooms, and part of the low wall that would have enclosed the plaza.
Sample the cuisine scene
One of the biggest surprises of Southwest Colorado is its growing culinary scene.
Stop at Silver Bean Coffee, housed in a vintage airstream, for a latte or bagel sandwich.
Known for their unique burgers, including their Mesa Verde Ranch yak burger, The Farm Bistro sources as much as possible from Montezuma County’s agricultural community.
Loungin’ Lizard has an eclectic menu ranging from elk shepherd’s pie to pork belly tacos.
If you’re itching for a bike instead of a snowboard, Cortez might be Colorado’s best-kept secret for mountain biking.
Phil’s World, a trail system on a desert mesa, is excellent for beginner to intermediate riders. It has 27 miles of trails open for year-round riding, including easy rollers through pinon and juniper forests, short and steep drops, and moderately challenging obstacles.
I’ve always been a nervous flier. The second I take my assigned seat in a plane, I pull my headphones over my ears and glue my eyes shut in an attempt to drown out the sound of a plane taking off.
The tactic usually works, but with the recent fatal midflight collision at Reagan National Airport followed by an air ambulance crash in Philadelphia and a fiery plane engine evacuation in Houston, my anxiety has been off the charts.
Research shows that up to 40% of the population reports some degree of flight anxiety. Given the recent string of incidents, experts say it’s understandable that those with flight anxiety would feel more on edge than usual.
“The odds of something happening don’t matter as much to the anxious brain,” said Andrea Bonior, a teaching professor in Georgetown University’s department of psychology. “The anxious brain is drawn in by the horrific stakes of something.”
So how should you approach your next flight? Here are five tips to ease your mind before takeoff.
1. Know the facts
Despite recent headlines, the old adage “you have a greater chance of dying in the car on the way to the airport than on a flight from the airport” remains true (even if it is crass). Commercial airliners are the safest plane for passengers, aviation experts told The Times. Unlike for smaller aircraft, pilots must achieve the highest certification, an airline transport pilot certification, to command commercial planes, said Thomas Anthony, the director of the USC Aviation Safety and Security Program. Plus, all commercial aircraft are routinely inspected and maintained by the Federal Aviation Administration and fly within a regulated air traffic control system.
A pilot’s biggest fear is a midair collision, said Martin O’Loughlin, the president and chief operating officer of Cornerstone Aviation, an FAA-authorized flight school in Utah. But he said it’s important to remember that midair collisions make such big news, in part, because they’re extremely rare.
“In almost every case, the design of the airspace and the rules that the FAA uses to design arrivals and departures is very, very good,” said O’Loughlin, while acknowledging that more planes flying than ever before and fewer air traffic controllers has put a strain on the industry.
“It’s really hard to build an impenetrable wall against our fears, but you don’t have to latch onto those fears and dwell on them either,” he added.
2. Visualize
Just as a star athlete visualizes their performance before game time, envisioning your flight — potential turbulence and all — can help ease your anxiety before the journey has even begun.
Be honest with yourself about whether you are a catastrophizer or someone who can roll with the punches, said Steven Siegel, the chair of the department of psychiatry and the behavioral sciences at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. If you’re the former, going into the plane expecting how you might feel in a seatbelt-sign-on situation can deflate your anxiety and help you be less hard on yourself when you do feel anxious, said Bonior. Plus, it can be harder to mitigate anxiety in the heat of the anxious moment.
In addition to visualizing, you can plan to bring soothing aides such as fidget spinners or essential oils. You can also download audio meditations or mantras to get you through the flight. Some free options include Healthy Minds Program and, for younger people, the Smiling Mind.
3. Slow your thoughts
Anxiety may be experienced as a partially physiological pathway, said Lauren Ng, an assistant professor of clinical psychology at UCLA. For example, thoughts lead to physiological responses such as trembling hands. That can then lead to behaviors such as avoidance. Which is then how you arrive at feelings like fear.
To disrupt the first part of this pathway, try to halt the hamster wheel in your head. Then, if you’re a logical person, you can remind yourself of the facts. Ask yourself: What is the actual thought driving this fear? Is this thought accurate?
If logic is less your thing, turn to mindfulness, which is the practice of being aware of your thoughts and then letting them pass on. Mindfulness can look like meditation or prayer depending on the person. The idea is to accept that the fear is there but to not ruminate over, or attach to, it.
4. Label your emotions
A 2018 study of people with flight anxiety found that labeling their emotions lowered their anxiety. Instead of letting a wave of panic wash over you, put your feelings into words. If you’re struggling to articulate your emotions, I’ve found a feelings wheel to be a helpful tool.
You can take labeling your emotions a step further by decentering yourself, said Emiliana Simon-Thomas, the science director of the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley. To put distance between yourself and what you’re feeling, refer to the situation in the third person. For example, if your name is Jane Doe and your heartbeat is racing, you can say to yourself “Jane is feeling really worried right now.”
In addition to labeling your emotions, experts say it can be helpful to disclose them. That’s right, chat with your seatmate. If you’re someone who tends to catastrophize, learning that someone is not feeling the same way as you can help give you some perspective, said Siegel. But the simple act of interacting with another human rather than bottling up your fears can also bring a much-needed reprieve.
5. Unclench
Anxiety, and anxious thoughts, can manifest physically as sweaty palms or jittery thighs. If reminding yourself that airplanes are generally safe doesn’t comfort you, you can ease your mind by targeting the physiological aspects of panic, said Ng. Work in reverse to relax your body. A good place to start might be by loosening the grip of your hands from your armrests.
Breath work is also a great way to calm the body, experts said. Simon-Thomas said there are tons of methods to choose from but to always prioritize breathing out longer than you breathe in, which is proven to send the body into a parasympathetic state. You can also practice self-compassion, she said, which is the practice of relating to your own difficult moments in a nurturing way. A firm, stable touch on your chest or shoulder can lend itself to physiological calm.
Finally, you can lean into a book, movie or game. Think of them less as distractions and more as activities that bring you joy.
An important step in the quest to lessen anxiety is to stop fighting it, said Alissa Jerud, a clinical assistant professor at the University of Pennsylvania. Jerud likens this exposure practice to running: When you first start, your muscles will ache a lot and you might feel depleted. But if you stay consistent, you will be able to run longer distances, faster.
“Likewise, the stronger your muscles become for sitting with anxiety and the uncertainty that fuels it, the more confident you will likely feel in your ability to tolerate both anxiety and uncertainty,” she said.
Over time, flying could feel as natural for you as taking a quick walk to the corner store.
A commercial airplane takes off from Ronald Reagan International Airport past crosses and flowers at a memorial near the airport on Feb 2, 2025. (Roberto Schmidt/AFP/Getty Images/TNS)
New data from AAA Travel projects that almost 20 million people will take an ocean cruise this year.
According to AAA, 19 million Americans are expected to hit the open seas in 2025, a 4.5% increase over last year, when 18.2 million U.S. citizens went on cruise vacations. This year is expected to be the third straight year of record passenger volume.
Data showed that cruise demand growth has exceeded hotel demand growth in the last two years, with 2025 totals projected to surpass 2019 numbers by 34%.
“What we’re witnessing in the cruise industry is nothing short of amazing, but it’s no surprise,” AAA Travel Vice President Stacey Barber said. “There’s a reason most first-time cruise passengers become repeat cruisers. Cruise vacations offer something for everyone, no matter their age.”
“And because most of the vacation is already paid for, travelers can focus on enjoying themselves and making lifelong memories with loved ones,” Barber continued.
Of the Americans taking a cruise this year, 72% are heading to the Caribbean, 6% are taking Alaska voyages, and 5% will sail in the Mediterranean. Data showed that shorter Caribbean cruises are rising in popularity, with 18% of itineraries to the region being two to five days.
As for the busiest ports, Miami, Port Canaveral and Fort Lauderdale top the list based on embarkation and debarkation.
A view of the Norwegian Encore cruise ship during its inaugural sailing from PortMiami, which took place from Nov. 21-24, 2019. (Richard Tribou/Orlando Sentinel/TNS)
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