The city ranked No. 9, with average roundtrip airfare of $ 245; Orlando No. 2 and Chicago, No. 1 with $ 236 and $ 218 airfares respectively.

Airport signage, Fll.net/Courtesy

New York, Dallas and Denver rounded out the top five with average roundtrip airfares of $ 238, $ 240 and $ 243.

The rankings were based on airfares travelers found on Cheapflights in the last 90 days, the travel website said.

Travelers planning to fly this summer from Florida gateways are also likely to find airfare deals to several cities including Washington D.C., Baltimore, Md., St. Louis, Mo., New Orleans, La. and San Juan, Puerto Rico, according to Cheapflights.

For more cities on Cheapflights’ lists, click here.

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Pompano Beach-based Titan Salvage in partnership with its Italian partner Micoperi outlined plans for the salvage and removal of the capsized Costa Concordia ship at a press conference in Italy Friday. 

The Costa Cruises cruise ship capsized off the coast of Italy near the Tuscan island of Giglio in January killing 32.  

The salvage work is expected to begin in a few days and should last about a year, company officials said.

Titan and Micoperi won the bid to upright and refloat the Concordia based on plans their plans to remove the vessel in one piece to minimize environmental impact and protect Giglio’s economy and tourism industry. 

“We are very pleased to have been chosen to perform this incredible operation to remove the wreck of Costa Concordia,” said Richard Habib, managing director of Titan Salvage. “Our quality engineering and the experience we have gained in this area allowed us to present a project that met expectations. From now on we will work with the aim of preserving the environment and the natural habitat.”

Once Concordia is removed, the sea bottom will be cleaned and marine flora replanted. 

Here are some key details from Friday’s press conference:

Costa Concordia, Zuma/MCT Courtesy

Operations will be divided into four basic stages:

After stabilizing the ship, a subsea platform will be built and caissons that can be filled with water will be fixed to the side of the ship that is out of the water.

Two cranes fixed to the platform will pull the ship upright, helped by the caissons, which will be filled with water

When the ship is upright, caissons will also be fixed to the other side of the hull

The caissons on both sides will then be emptied, after treating and purifying the water to protect the marine environment, and filled with air. 

Once floated, the wreck will be towed to an Italian port and dealt with in accordance with the requirements of Italian authorities.

To view images of the salvage plans, click here.

Titan Salvage, part of the Crowley Group, is specialist in marine salvage and wreck removal and its partner Micoperi, has a long history in underwater construction and engineering, Costa Cruises said.    

EARLIER POST:

Costa Cruises (Crociere) plans to reveal details of its salvage plans to remove the partially sunken Costa Concordia ship, which capsized off the Tuscan Island of Giglio in January.

The Carnival Corp. & PLC. subsidiary will release details in a press conference in Italy today starting at 9 a.m. ET.

Pompano Beach-based Titan Salvage and Italian company Micoperi  were chosen from a slate of companies to upright the keeled over ship and remove it in one piece to minimize environmental impact.  

Stay tuned for updates.

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Courtesy of Harbor Beach Marriott Resort & Spa

Summer is almost here, and hotels in southeast and southwest Florida are rolling out the deals.

In Miami Beach, the boutique Sagamore Hotel, known for its modern art,  is offering a “License to Wheel” package for guests with valid Florida driver’s licenses. Rates start at $ 220 a night and include passes for two bicycle rentals, good for 30 hours of bicycle use per guest.  The deal is valid through Sept. 30. Blackout dates may apply. Use rate code S1. Visit sagamorehotel.com or call  877-242-6673.

In Fort Lauderdale, the beachfront  Harbor Beach Marriott Resort & Spa is offering a “Suntastic Summer” package with rooms starting at $ 279 per night, including a $ 50 daily resort credit, through Sept. 30. Use promo code SUM.  Visit marriottharborbeach.com or call 954-525-4000.

In Palm Beach, the landmark Brazilian Court Hotel & Beach Club offers a ”One More Night” package on two-night stays through Sept. 30. Rates start at $ 229 a night and include one $ 50 hotel credit per reservation. Restrictions apply. Visit TheBrazilianCourt.com or call 561-655-7740.

In Fort Myers, buy three nights and get the fourth night free at select family-oriented, condominium-style suiteson Estero Island in southwest Florida. Bookings are available on SandalsInTheSand.com for three hotels: Seaside All-Suite Resort, Casa Playa Beach Resort and Cornerstone Beach Resort. Rates start between $ 175 and $ 199, depending on the resort. Visit SandalsInTheSand.com.

In Naples, the luxury Ritz-Carlton Resorts of Naples  are offering “Summer, I Do” wedding packages until Oct. 1 for couples who marry at the beach or golf resort.  The  package includes two nights free and a $ 100 resort credit per wedding stay. Wedding ceremony packages start at $ 3,000 at the golf resort and $ 3,500 at the beach resort. Call the resorts’ wedding specialist, Lydia Redmond, at 239-598-3300 or visit ritzcarlton.com/resortsofnaples.

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The new cruise facility is scheduled to open in 2014 and represents one of the largest cruise industry investments ever made in the Dominican Republic, Carnival said in a statement.

Amber Cove ground breaking ceremony, Carnival Corp./COURTESY

The 30-acre waterfront property will sport a welcome center with several retail stores, including a marketplace for locally sourced Dominican crafts and souvenirs as well as  a range of themed restaurants and bars. It will also feature an water attraction.

A transportation hub at the facility will give cruise visitors easy access by land and sea to surrounding destinations and attractions, Carnival added. 

A joint venture with the Rannik family of Grupo B&R, the new two-berth cruise terminal will be able to accommodate up to 8,000 cruise passengers and 2,000 crew members daily.  It’s expected to host more than 250,000 cruise passengers in its first year of operation. 

The new cruise facility is designed to re-establish the Dominican Republic’s North Coast as a popular cruise destination.  Puerto Plata had its last cruise ship call nearly 30 years ago.

“Amber Cove promises to be a spectacular facility that will serve as a gateway for cruise guests to experience the natural beauty and wonder that makes the Dominican Republic such an attractive tourist destination,” said Giora Israel, Carnival Corp.’s senior vice president of global port and destination development.

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American Airlines is offering a 40 percent discount on a one-day pass to its Admirals Club Lounge, now priced at $ 30, down from $ 50 through Wednesday.

There are more than 40 Admiral Club airport locations worldwide including at the Miami International Airport  and at airports in popular outbound destinations such as Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, New York, New Jersey, Los Angeles and Washington D.C.

The discounted pass must be purchased before noon CDT Wednesday,  American said.

The one-day access pass will enable users to enjoy complimentary snacks, house wine, beer and spirits as well as tap into the club’s free Wi-Fi network and other amenities.

Admirals Club lounge, MIA, Terminal D, AA.com/COURTESY

An Admiral Club lounge is located at the Miami International Airport and at airports in popular outbound destinations such as Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, New York, New Jersey, Los Angeles and Washington D.C.

For more details on the offer, click here.

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After summer in Europe, the 3,690-guest ship will reposition to PortMiami where it’ll sail year-round cruises to the Caribbean starting Nov. 24.

Features include Carnival’s first Thrill Theater, a multidimensional special effects experience; Bonsai Sushi, a full-service sushi restaurant and Fat Jimmy’s C-Side BBQ, an open-air eatery.

Carnival Breeze during sea trials in Adriatic, Carnival Cruise Lines/COURTESY

It will also feature WaterWorks, a recreational area with water slides and attractions and SportSquare, which will offer a ropes course, mini-golf, an outdoor fitness area, and more, Carnival said in a statement. 

Carnival Breeze is in the final stages of construction at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy and during the sea trials had several officers, technicians and engineers on board testing its navigation, technical and mechanical systems, the Miami-based cruise line said.

The 130,000-ton ship will be Carnival’s largest in South Florida.

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Princess Cruises is offering savings of up to $ 700 per cabin, and up to $ 100 onboard credit on more than 80 itineraries in its Mother’s Day sale, which runs today through Monday.

The special deals apply to Caribbean, Panama Canal, Canada & New England and Hawaii cruises, including on the line’s Grand Princess and Ruby Princess that sail from Port Everglades.

Grand Princess, Princess Cruises/COURTESY

Here’s a sample of the Mother’s Day special cruise deals: 

• Caribbean cruise – 7 days: $ 799 balcony (was $ 949); $ 549 interior (was $ 599)
   
• Canada & New England cruise – 7 days: $ 999 balcony (was $ 1,299); $ 599 interior (was $ 799)
   
• Panama Canal cruise – 10 days: $ 1,599 balcony (was $ 1,649); $ 999 interior (was $ 1,099)
   
• Hawaii cruise – 14 days: $ 1,995 balcony (was $ 2,345); $ 1,295 interior (was $ 1,445)
   
• Panama Canal cruise – 14 days: $ 1,799 balcony (was $ 2,299); $ 1,099 interior (was $ 1,599)

All rates are per person, based on double occupancy and the sale ends 11:59 p.m. PDT on May 14, 2012. A non-refundable deposit is applicable on sale rates.

For complete sale details, click here.

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Courtesy of One Ocean Resort & Spa in Jacksonville

Summer is nearing, and hotels in Florida and the Caribbean are rolling out deals — some with Florida resident rates.

In Jacksonville, the 193-room, upscale One Ocean Resort & Spa is offering a fourth night free after a three-day stay through August. Rates start at $ 189 a night on weekdays. Visit oneoceanresort.com. 

In Naples, the luxury Ritz-Carlton, Naples beach resort offers rooms starting at $ 299 a night and the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples, starting at $ 179 a night through Oct. 31. Both resorts also offer packages starting at $ 299 a night including a room,  daily American breakfast for two, $ 100 a night resort credit, and either a Naples trolley ride for two for guests at the beach resort or a driving range experience for two with unlimited balls and clubs for guests at the golf resort. Visit ritzcarlton.com/resortsofnaples or call 800-241-3333.

In Puerto Rico,  the Hotel El Convento, a refurbished ex-convent in Old San Juan, offers a four-day “Puerto Rico, By Land and By Sea” package starting at $ 340 a night for two people. It includes a deluxe room, walking tour for two of Old San Juan, one-day use of a two-door economy car, Bioluminescent Bay boat tour for two, bottle of wine upon check-in, breakfast for two each morning, plus a daily wine and cheese reception. Visit elconvento.com.

The 240-room Courtyard by Marriott Isla Verde Beach Resort offers room rates starting at $ 129 a night including such free family-friendly activities as a children’s cooking lesson, salsa dance class, Spanish lessons, movies and face painting.  Visit sjcourtyard.com.

Across the Caribbean and Mexico, nine Marriott and Renaissance Caribbean & Mexico Resorts are offering discounts on rooms booked in May for stays between June 1 and Sept. 30. Room rates range from $ 79  to $ 329 a night, depending on the resort. Rates at the CasaMagna Marriott Cancun Resort start at $ 119, for example. Use booking code X32 when making the reservation.Visit paradisebymarriott.com/soak-up-savings.

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Courtesy of Turnberry Isle Miami resort in Aventura

Add another South Florida hotel to the Autograph Collection, the group of independently-run properties that offer Marriott rewards and other perks through the giant Marriott hotel chain.

The newest member is the 408-room Turnberry Isle Miami, a Mediterranean-themed luxury resort in Aventura. Built in 1971, Turnberry spans more than 300 acres and features two golf courses, a spa and fitness center, tennis center, beach club, pools, conference center, restaurants and other amenities.

Two small hotels in Miami Beach  joined the Autograph Collection this winter:  the 71-room Winter Haven on Ocean Drive and the 75-room Blue Moon on Collins Avenue.

Turnberry Isle is the 32nd hotel in the group, which aims to reach 60 properties this year.

For more information, visit autographhotels.com.

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Pompano Beach artist Dwight Hoffman, who designed the “Giant Aquarium with a Fishing Pier” artwork, will sign posters of it at the airport’s Rental Car Center today from 6 to 8:30 p.m.

Airport shuttle bus, Broward County Aviation Department/COURTESY

Hoffman’s design will wrap buses that take passengers from the center to the airport terminals.

The public signing event is part of National Travel and Tourism Week, officials said.

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