sun tours and travel limited

Welcome Sun Tours and Travel

SUN TOURS & TRAVEL LTD is dedicated to delivering services in Zanzibar "the spice islands", Tanzania mainland, Kenya and Uganda. Sun Tours and Travel is one of the leading Inbound Tour companies with its office situated at Kiembe Samaki street, near Zanzibar International Airport offering a selection of quality holidays within East Africa(Zanzibar, Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda etc). We are designated to carry out all ground operations including meeting and greeting the guests on arrival/departure at all entry points in Zanzibar and other destinations.

Most Popular Tours

Pemba big game fishing, prison island tour, green safari mangrove tour uzi island, sandbank picnic (nakupenda sandbank), north coast (nungwi) tour, safari blue, tandem skydive – kendwa beach, zanzibar, dolphin tour, nungwi beach resort, spice tree by turaco, royal zanzibar, lux marijani, gold zanzibar, hotel riu palace, hotel riu jambo, emerald hotel, our services.

Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts. Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast of the Semantics, a large language ocean.

Transport & Vehicle.

Excursions & Safari.

Accommodation

Hotels & Safaris.

Destinations

Zanzibar & Tanzania Main Land & Kenya

WELCOME ZANZIBAR

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EXCURSIONS & SAFARI

Safari blue tours, ngezi forest, jozani forest, jahazi location.

• United Republic of Tanzania
• Civil Society
• Document Centre

Our Partners

United republic of tanzania partners.

• All member countries
• Our network:
• Commonwealth Education Online
• Commonwealth Governance Online
• Commonwealth Health Online

Call Us: 1(876) 953-2762 | Email: [email protected]

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Dream. travel. explore..

Jamaica is packed full of adventure, history, and tranquil encounters just waiting for you to explore.  With over 35 years of experience showcasing our island home, SunHoliday Travel and Tours is your island guide.

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Our team of travel professionals will work with you every step of the way from booking through post-trip follow up. If you’re ready for an adventure unlike any other then look no further than SunHoliday Travel and Tours!

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SunHoliday has the perfect package for you and your family. See some of the most popular activities that will let you explore the hidden beauty of Jamaica.

Waterfall Frenzy

Hidden gems.

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Sun Tours & Travels

Brush Your Dreams on the Canvas of Travel!

Explore, dream, discover with sun tours & travels..

Your Canvas, Your Vacation, Painted to Perfection.

Few reasons to choose Sun Tours & Travels

Tailored experiences, transparent pricing, trusted customers, 24/7 support, exclusively by sun tours & travels.

North Sikkim

Pelling Ravangla Namchi

North Bengal

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Air ticket booking, hotel booking, homestay booking, assorted tours by sun tours & travels.

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Mirik Homestay

Lahuri Cottage, Sri Antu, Nepal

Darjeeling Homestay

Kiran Riverside Retreat,Sittong

Changlo Chen

Dhe Kyi Khang

Mountain Meadows

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Experience Small Group Travel at its Best

Explore breathtaking scenery and history on this amazing immersive tour!

Patagonia, Buenos Aires, & Iguazu Falls | March 27 – April 10, 2025

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Cruises escorted from Albuquerque with great value and top quality!

Magic of Colombia Cruise | May 28 – June 8, 2025

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5-star rated Small Group Journeys!

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Lake Powell Adventure | November 4 – 7, 2024

Tours in the spotlight, machu picchu with galapagos islands cruise.

14 days, 13 nights

September 13, 2024 thru September 26, 2024

Embark on a breathtaking 14-day adventure that begins in the vibrant heart of Quito, Ecuador, and sweeps you across the magical Galapagos Islands, culminating in the mystical wonders of Peru.

Starting at

Music cities tour: memphis, nashville & more.

8 days, 7 nights

October 30, 2024 thru November 6, 2024

Explore the land of music legends, where melodies meet mountains!

Classic California Coast Cruise

9 days, 8 nights

March 28, 2025 thru April 5, 2025

Embark on a spectacular seven-day West Coast cruise, on the Discovery Princess, starting from Los Angeles.

SPECIAL PRICING FOR SINGLE OCCUPANCY!

Our Destination Tour Packages Include

Flexible cuisine

When the destination allows, you may pick your meal from a wide selection of choices. Special diets are kindly accommodated. Adult beverages are included with many dinners.

Carefully curated lodging

Our carefully selected lodging ensures that our guests can relax the SUN TOURS way. No request is too great

Comfort & amenities

Tour in the newest, custom motorcoaches with first-class style amenities. Our drivers are helpful and courteous. We include snacks, water, and special Sun treats.

Baggage handling

Let us do the heavy lifting! We deliver your bags to your room every evening and pick them up every morning. No more luggage hassles!

Gratuities for Tour Directors, drivers, luggage handling, activities, step-on guides, meals and cruise ships are included in the package price.

Expertly guided service

Our gracious, seasoned Tour Directors impart their incredible knowledge of the regions we tour. We include local step-on guides and other experts to gain extra insight on your journeys. 

Taxes, transfers & port charges

The sun tours differences.

Get to know more about the friendly faces behind SUN TOURS

Hear What Our Travelers Have to Say

“Very comprehensive—variety and balance of coach riding and stops for walking was good. Excellent coverage of historical landmarks. Knowledgeable, efficient, patient tour director; very pleasant driver, friendly yet professional.”

–Joyce H.

Vermont, Maine, and New Hampshire Fall Foliage

“The yacht we traveled on in the Galapagos and small group experience was beyond our imaginations. We had personal experiences of snorkeling, kayaking, hiking, and birding. In the jungle we had day and night walks and canoeing along rivers and creeks to see a myriad of jungle life such as river otters, monkeys, birds, and insects. We always felt safe. Our guides were experts in their areas and formed personal relationships. Our escort was as enthusiastic as we were and always helpful to meet our various needs. It was truly an emotional experience.”

–Lynn S.

Galapagos Islands w/ Amazon River

“Love your tours—very well organized and always learn many facts about the area visited. Wonderful. Very knowledgeable tour director and very capable and congenial bus driver.”

Give us a call today!

505.889.8888.

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Sun Tours & Travel

Review Highlights

“ If you've never used a travel agency before this is the place to start. ” in 3 reviews

“ Angela , Gisele and Kelly are very professional and caring about your plans. ” in 2 reviews

Location & Hours

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98-1247 Kaahumanu St

Aiea, HI 96701

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About the business.

We're just a phone call away from anywhere in the world! Located on Oahu in Hawaii, our full-service agency is locally owned and operated by Nancy Eastlund, a professional travel consultant with 35 years of experience in the industry. We handle Airline ticketing, and reservations for Hotels, Car rentals, Rail bookings, Land Tours, Disney, and All Cruise Lines. We also customize seamless domestic and international itineraries to match your needs and budget. …

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The expensive "Cigar Tour" Sun Tours arranged for me for Havana was nothing of the sort. The itinerary promised a cigar factory tour, a demonstration of a working tobacco plantation, and a cigar-tasting dinner, none of which happened. And when I requested some form of compensation for these omissions, I was refused. The tour operator simply said that one of the dinners (included in the tour package) was compensation enough.

They do not deserve any stars. Booked a tour and it got canceled. The tour was canceled 1 month prior to the departure date and they did not give us a full refund. There's hidden fees, they charge for getting a refund. Other travel agencies have given full refunds without any hassle.

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Business Owner

Feb 12, 2022

In this situation, we think it is unreasonable and unfair for EL to seek revenge by using a YELP review to tarnish our reputation, especially after the extraordinary steps we took to assist her. After 34 years in business, this is our first negative review. It is very disheartening to us, after we spent so much time and energy trying to help her. Basically, EL had two friends who were traveling to Europe, but dates kept moving down the road due to COVID. After two years, new arrangements were made for the 2 friends, and in August 2021, EL joined them. We worked to add on her Flights, Hotel Nights, Private car transfers, Travel Insurance, and a Land Tour with a major and very reputable international operator. Our Terms and Conditions were clearly divulged verbally and in writing, and they addressed the fact that Land Tour operators sometimes make date changes due to local conditions, or lack of participation (group size) for a specific departure date. In her case, that Land Tour component of the trip did incur such a cancellation. The Tour Operator offered 3 options: 1) Move to the next available date a month later, or 2) Leave the money on the books as a Future Tour Credit from the Tour Operator for any future booking, or 3) Receive and full refund. However, with the full refund option, Sun Tours would have to apply the “Refund Recovery Fees”. All three travelers were aware of this, but they still opted to cancel. The fees were not “hidden”. The two friends did not object or complain about the fees. EL actually came to our office, and paid us a personal check for those fees. The agent who handled this file, moved the non-refundable American Airlines tickets to Future Flight Credits, refunded the Prepaid Hotels, refunded the Land Tour package, and made the Travel Insurance policies moveable to a different itinerary altogether. An estimated 80 + hours were expended on making arrangements and then unwinding and refunding them. Travel components generate commissions to our agency from the vendors, but not if the customer cancels. We get zero for all that work which is why our "Terms and Conditions" include a provision outlining cancellation fees to help us avoid a complete loss doing all the work, and paying the agent involved. In this case, we charged a fee to each person which was far less than what is listed in our "Terms and Conditions" clause. This and our disclaimers also appear on every invoice. NOTHING IS HIDDEN. Since cancelling the actual Tour date was at the Operator’s discretion and not a fault from any of the customers, we charged much less than our normal fees, as a courtesy. If EL or her friends had agreed to move the date, or take the Future Tour Credits, we would have waived our cancellation fees altogether. Once the refunds were issued and AA credits created, El called back 6 days later asking us to help her make use of the Non-Refundable American Airlines credits. Our same agent exchanged the credits into new Domestic First Class and Economy Comfort seats. We always try to go the extra mile in every situation and would never want to alienate any customer.

Mahalos to Gesela and Sun Tours. She arranged a trip for my wife and I. This included our flights, transportation, and hotel. Everything was as promised. Our hotel was near where we needed to be. Gisela found us great deals and she took care of us as if we were family. I will definitely go back to her for our next vacation. Thanks again. See you guys soon!

Sun Tours and travel - such a great travel agency. It not just a travel agency but its like working with your ohana. Each member of this team is wonderful. Nancy and Lon, caring friends. Wonderful planned trips, great stops. Angela, Gisele and Kelly are very professional and caring about your plans. Their great! Have worked with them for 20 years, and highly recommend them.

We recently booked a cruise to the British Isles through Princess Cruises but we soon realized that it would be a challenge to round up all the cruise details for our group. We decided to see someone for consultation. Enter Nancy, of Sun Tours & Travel. We selected her based on customer feedbacks and testimonials. We were glad we went to her. She proved to be true to everything we've read about her and their services and even exceeding expectations. She went to work immediately for us and in no time our trip was finalized. She was able to secure us good deals and addressed all of our questions and concerns. It was obvious from the start that we went to see the right person. In the end it boils down to this...Would I go back again? Yes, without a doubt, in a heartbeat!!! Thank you, Nancy, for all your help and excellent service.

Nothing but great things to say...friendly, professional MSL, and willing to go that extra mile. Very happy with their service and highly recommend to anyone!

Sun Tours & Travel is by far the best travel agency out there. They were all so helpful and took care of all of my needs. I recently booked a flight to Tokyo and they were able to help me get the best possible prices. If you ever need help with any travel needs, call Sun Tours & Travel, and ask for Gisela; she'll hook you up!

I recently was looking for tickets into Osaka with a return out of Haneda or Narita using the travel search engines but afrer reviewing Yelp and reading reviews, I decided to give Sun Tours a call. The reason, I wasn't satisfied with the flights using the search engines and the long layovers and having to change terminals (International vs Domestic) but Angela had direct flights for my family into Osaka and a direct flight out of Haneda within a few hours. By the next day, my flights were confirmed. Mahalo Angela for the excellent customer service. Will definitely use Sun Tours again!!!

Awesome Agents here at Sun Tours and Travel. I major shopped around for a reasonable package for a party of 6 to Disneyland 2018. I called Sun Tours and spoke with Gisela who took down my info and needs of the trip, such as a business center that is a MUST etc., speaking with her on the phone was already an A+. She got back to me asap and got everything I asked for and did not go over the amount I capped myself at. Gisela did look for the most reasonable airfares and hotels and got me I would say the best as I shopped around at the same time and airfares where ridiculous. Anyhow I went to Sun and Tours to make that payment as I do not like to do over the phone. I arrived at Sun and Tours located in Aiea and met Gisela and two other ladies who where very welcoming and not one of them where without a smile on their face. These ladies where so pleasant that I actually paid for my package and sat there for I swear more then I should have and just talked to story and laughed, like we where friends having coffee, Lol. I highly recommend Sun Tours and Travel in Aiea, they will definitely hustle for the best price. I can say I officially found ourselves a travel agent, Gisela.

Nancy and her husband Lon have the only premier travel agency in Hawaii. Along with their top notch team you couldn't be in better hands. I have been doing business with them for years. She planned the cruise around the islands for my family reunion and trust me when you have almost 30 individuals traveling from 8 different states that's no small feat. She even arranged a tour of the ship beforehand, so that I could check out the different cabins. She also setup tours for all the different islands. Everyone had a fantastic experience. In 2012 she planned a two week Mediterranean cruise for myself and a couple of my girlfriends. Everything from airfares to arranging private tours in every country we had a port call. We flew in into Barcelona 5 days before the cruise and Nancy booked a hotel in the center of town within walking distance to many of the local sites and restaurants. She arranged the same thing when we decided to spend a couple of days in Venice after the cruise before heading back to Oahu. That was a trip we will never forget thanks to the months of planning and effort she personally put in. I am now in the process of planning an Alaskan cruise for my birthday celebration in September of 2015, As a matter of fact I just got off the phone booking my cabin. I'm looking forward to having another awesome experience! If you've never used a travel agency before this is the place to start. Trust me you won't regret it.

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About Sun Tours

SUN TOURS & TRAVEL LTD is dedicated to delivering services in Zanzibar “the spice islands”, Tanzania mainland, Kenya and Uganda. Sun Tours and Travel is one of the leading Inbound Tour companies with its office situated at Kiembe Samaki street, near Zanzibar International Airport offering a selection of quality holidays within East Africa(Zanzibar, Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda etc). We are designated to carry out all ground operations including meeting and greeting the guests on arrival/departure at all entry points in Zanzibar and other destinations

Our Incredible Team

Our carefully selected and dedicated staff portray courteous manner and bring with them immense knowledge of the tourism industry. We have a team of multilingual tour guides who can speak English, French, Russian, Italian and Spanish.

SULEIMAN S. CHASAMA MANAGING DIRECTOR

Suleiman s. chasama.

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +255 777 414 196

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +255 773 499 333

RAMADHAN SHEIN

Email: [email protected]

LILIAN MWANJESA

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +255 776 660 551

KELVIN HARRIS

Email: [email protected]

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +255 777 206 695

ALI RAMADHANI

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +255 777 740 031

Email: [email protected]

COSMAS PETER - CHEIF ACCOUNTANT

Cosmas peter.

Phone: +255 777 198 673

PILI J. SHABANI - SALES MANAGER

Pili j. shabani.

Email: [email protected]

Phone: +255 777 206 694

Copyright © 2022 Sun Tours Zanzibar Limited. All Rights Reserved.

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Taylor Swift’s private jet lands in Dublin before sold out Aviva gigs as weather and travel warnings issued for fans

• Ríona Maguire , Reporter
• Published : 17:01, 28 Jun 2024
• Updated : 17:01, 28 Jun 2024
• Published : Invalid Date,

TAYLOR Swift's private jet has landed into Dublin Airport just hours before her long-awaited Era's tour finally hits the Aviva Stadium.

The pop superstar will play to around 50,000 fans who will descend on the stadium for the next three nights, with some even travelling from abroad for the experience.

Swift’s jet landed in Dublin Airport at 11:56am this morning after taking off from London Stansted Airport at around 11am.

Last night, aviation enthusiast Shaun Dunne took to Twitter to confirm that he would be going plane spotting this afternoon.

And he joked that he would likely jam to some Taylor Swift music as he kept a keen eye on the location of her jet.

Shaun shared a video of the airport's viewing point on Friday morning, with Taylor Swift's 'Shake it Off' blasting in the background.

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When Taylor's jet finally hit the tarmac, Shaun let his followers know "she is down".

At 12.16pm, Dunne tweeted that “she is down”.

Today, we revealed that Swift will earn close to €1,400 per SECOND during her three Irish gigs.

The US singer is set to rake in €14.7 million per  show  at the Aviva Stadium this weekend, which works out at €82,000 per minute.

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And yesterday she was coining it in even before touching down as Swifties from far and wide flocked to get their hands on the star’s much-loved  merchandise .

Top finance expert Karl Deeter, who did the number crunching, told The Irish Sun that if she put in daily shifts on that rate “she would be a billionaire in a year”.

Many excited Swifties were getting ready yesterday by stocking up on goodies ahead of the sold-out shows, part of The Eras Tour.

Organisers are running a four-day merchandise sale in the capital’s 3Arena which comes as reports from other gigs say fans are spending an additional €93 on merchandise.

The US leg of her tour has been the first in history to make more than $1 billion, which works out at €920,000,000.

And the international part of the tour will rocket that figure to as much as $4 billion, or €3.7 billion.

Merch madness

Yet the tills were ringing yesterday as fans, some who didn’t manage to scoop tickets, descended on the sale.

The 3Arena opened its doors yesterday at 10am to a slew of Swifties ready to nab unique  Dublin  merchandise.

The venue was due to be open until 8pm tonight and will open again over the weekend.

Swiftie devotees queued for 30 minutes to an hour to get some of the 13 items on sale - and it’s 13 because that’s  Taylor’s  favourite number.

Prices started from €20 to €80 - with a water bottle branded with Swift’s face being the cheapest item on sale.

And as fans prepare for the gigs, Met Eireann chiefs have confirmed that revellers must prepare for all conditions .

With dull overcast  weather  taking over the country on Friday, Met Eireann have warned that cloud will increase late in the afternoon.

Although temperatures are expected to hit 17C to 19C.

There's even a risk of rain developing by nightfall and scattered outbreaks are set to cover the country over night.

Weather warning

Earlier today, Alan O'Reilly's Carlow Weather warned of the "mixed weather" but explained that  rain shouldn't take over  before the gigs end in Dublin.

The national forecaster said tomorrow will begin with a "damp and wet" start but sunny spells are expected to develop in the evening in time for the concert festivities.

And Sunday will see sunny spells in the midlands, south and east - with temperature highs of 20C - meaning those heading to Taylor Swift on her final day in Dublin may be treated to better weather than those went earlier.

Although the Atlantic will see showery rain arriving in the late afternoon.

Travel chaos

Irish Rail  have warned passengers that their services will be "extremely busy" over the 28th and 30th of June due several events scheduled over the weekend.

They confirmed that their events team and An  Garda  Siochana will be on hand to help.

However they warned any passengers planning their trip that they MUST have a ticket booked in advance in order to travel in advance and should arrive at the station early.

People have also been urged to avoid travelling at busy times if possible and have been advised to bring water on their journey.

Passengers have also been warned that bikes are not permitted on Darts or commuter services as they will be "too busy".

Irish Rail also reminded people that alcohol is not allowed on board and may be confiscated.

Many Intercity services are sold out and people have urged to  check the journey planner  before travelling.

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Alton Towers launches new VIP experience for fans – and it only costs a tenner

• Ryan Gray , Travel Reporter
• Published : 10:34, 27 Jun 2024
• Updated : 14:48, 27 Jun 2024
• Published : Invalid Date,

THEME park fans in the UK can enjoy a new and unique experience this summer.

Alton Towers was recently named in the top 10 theme parks in the world, with its rides, rollercoasters and attractions deemed better than those at Disney World in Florida.

However, its latest offering comes in the form of something slightly different, with no thrills or inversions.

Instead, guests can now take a tour of the house and gardens around which the theme park is based.

Visitors are invited to "stroll the sights, soak up the sun and enjoy a VIP tour this summer " with a walking guide taking them "through the historic listed house and gardens".

The park's website promises "an insightful and informative tour of Alton Towers " with a personal guide.

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The house is known as the towers ruins and the grounds were the original attraction more than 100 years before it officially became a theme park.

They were first opened to the public in 1860 and by 1890 the house was attracting crowds as large as 30,000, with acrobats, lion tamers, elephants, bands and fireworks among the entertainment on show.

The park once again became a popular attraction throughout the 60s and 70s after the war, when it had been taken over by the Ministry of Defence .

They returned it to Alton Towers in the 1950s, and it finally became recognised as a theme park in 1980, following the introduction of the corkscrew rollercoaster .

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This history , along with much more, is explored in the two-hour long tour through the house and gardens.

It also offers access to some of the most "sought-after exclusive locations", including a rooftop panoramic view of the theme park.

Alton Towers added: "There is no better way to capture the magic."

Guests are advised that the tour includes 2.5km (1.5 miles) of walking, as well as more than 350 steps and steep gradients.

The garden also includes walks along natural woodland pathways and steps, so visitors are urged to wear footwear suitable for this environment. 

The tours run on certain dates throughout the summer, starting on July 3.

Top 25 Amusement and Waterparks in the world 2024

Here is the full list of TripAdvisor's best amusement and waterparks 2024

• Disneyland, Paris, Marne-la-Vallee, France
• Siam Park, Tenerife, Spain
• Ferrari World, Abu Dhabi, UAE
• Bero Carrero World, Penha, Brazil
• Waterbom, Bali, Indonesia
• Beach Park, Aquiraz, Brazil
• Puy de Fou, Les Epesses, France
• Alton Towers, Staffordshire, UK
• Walt Disney Studios Park, Marne-la-Vallee, France
• Dollywood, Tennessee, USA
• Heide Park, Soltau, Germany
• The Milky Way Adventure Park, Devon, UK
• Disney World's Magic Kingdom Park, Florida, USA
• Fun Spot America, Florida, USA
• Universal Studios, Sentosa Island, Singapore
• Aquafollie, Caorle, Italy
• Lost World of Tambun, Ipoh, Malaysia
• Parque Terra Magica Florybal, Canelo, Brazil
• Legoland, Billund, Denmark
• Drayton Manor, Staffordshire, UK
• Nautico Praia Clube, Caldas Novas, Brazil
• Hong Kong Disneyland, Hong Kong, China
• Ramayana Water Park, Pattaya, Thailand
• Alpen Park, Canela, Brazil
• Universal Studios Japan, Osaka, Japan

They will then run every Saturday and Wednesday at 2pm until September 14.

Tickets cost £10 per person, which does not include access to the theme park after the tour.

Alton Towers recommends booking in advance to avoid disappointment, with tickets on sale now.

Tickets can be booked on the day, but a maximum of 20 people will be able to take part on each tour, so spaces are likely to be limited.

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The 4 newest royal caribbean ships.

Explore the newest amenities onboard including surf simulators, fine dining and more.

The Newest Royal Caribbean Ships

Courtesy of Royal Caribbean International

Royal Caribbean's highly anticipated Icon of the Seas is set to debut in 2024.

The world's biggest and most ambitious cruise lines never stop building out their fleet of ships, and Royal Caribbean International is no exception. The Florida-based cruise line currently boasts 28 incredible vessels for cruisers of all ages, including the four newest ships that have been added to the fleet since 2021. An even newer ship, Star of the Seas, is also being constructed with a planned launch date during the summer of 2025.

If you're interested in trying out one of the most over-the-top cruise ships sailing the world today, consider Royal Caribbean's newest vessels from the last few years. Read on to learn about the brand-new Icon of the Seas, the jaw-dropping action offered on the Wonder of the Seas, the Utopia of the Seas and the Odyssey of the Seas and all the amenities and unique experiences they have to offer.

Book a Royal Caribbean cruise on GoToSea, a service of U.S. News.

Icon of the Seas

Scheduled to set sail in early 2024, the Icon of the Seas is one of the most celebrated and anticipated new cruise ships across all the major cruise lines. This Icon Class vessel was built to dazzle and entertain cruise passengers of all ages, and it features eight unique neighborhoods, seven pools and the largest waterpark at sea.

In total, Icon of the Seas offers 2,805 individual staterooms with space for 7,600 guests at maximum and 2,350 crew members. The vessel is 1,198 feet long with gross tonnage of 250,800.

• Sails to: The Icon of the Seas will offer alternating seven-night sailings between the Eastern and Western Caribbean. The vessel's Western Caribbean itinerary includes stops at Costa Maya and Cozumel in Mexico, Roatan in Honduras and Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas . The alternative itinerary also stops at the cruise line's private island , as well as Basseterre in St. Kitts and Nevis and Charlotte Amelie in St. Thomas. All itineraries will depart from Miami .
• Cabin types: Cabins on the Icon of the Seas are spread across eight unique neighborhoods with their own themes and amenities. Cruisers will find the basic interior, ocean view and balcony staterooms they would expect. The ship also features 179 suites that vary in size and in terms of their features, with some really spacious and over-the-top options. For example, the vessel's Ultimate Family Townhouse (UL) is more than 1,700 square feet with three stories, a multi-level slide, an outdoor space with a ping pong table and more.
• Dining options: Icon of the Seas offers 11 included dining options plus room service that's available 24/7. There are also nine unique specialty restaurants on board, including options like Izumi Hibachi and Sushi, the Empire Supper Club and Chops Grille Steakhouse. A Starbucks is also available.
• Features: The Icon of the Seas boasts the largest cruise ship pool at sea, as well as seven pools and nine whirlpools in total. There are also six record-breaking waterslides located in what Royal Caribbean says is the largest waterpark at sea. Nightlife and entertainment options run the gamut from the ship's dueling piano bar to its jazz and blues club to its AquaTheater with mesmerizing shows that feature incredible diving feats and acrobatics.

Read: The Top Party Cruises

Utopia of the Seas

Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas is another vessel that is set to debut in 2024 with sailings from Port Canaveral, Florida. This Oasis Class ship will offer up a total of 2,834 guest rooms and is 1,188 feet in length and 236,860 gross tons in size.

The ship has space for 5,668 passengers at double occupancy and eight different neighborhoods with cabins for guests. Interestingly, this huge ship will not offer seven-night sailings throughout the Caribbean and will instead focus on offering three-night and four-night itineraries, at least at first.

• Sails to: The all-new Utopia of the Seas will offer shorter sailings to the Bahamas. The ship's three-night sailings will stop only at the cruise line's private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay, whereas four-night sailings from Port Canaveral stop at the cruise line's private island and at Nassau, Bahamas.
• Cabin types: The Utopia of the Seas has interior rooms, ocean view rooms and balcony rooms just like other ships. Upgraded room options also abound and include a range of luxury suites at sea. For example, you can book the iconic Ultimate Family Suite, a Solarium Suite with Wraparound Windows, a Royal Loft Suite and more.
• Dining options: There are 10 different included dining experiences on the Utopia of the Seas, with room service also offered 24 hours a day. These include a Main Dining Room experience, several cafe options, a pizzeria, a coastal kitchen with California and Mediterranean-inspired cuisine and more. In addition, there are 10 different specialty restaurants that can also be booked on the Utopia of the Seas, and a Starbucks is on board. Special dining experiences include a hibachi and sushi restaurant, a seafood restaurant, a Chef's Table experience for up to 16 diners at a time, a Johnny Rockets and more.
• Features: Utopia of the Seas has everything you would expect in a new Oasis Class ship from Royal Caribbean. For example, passengers will find five huge pools, eight hot tubs, three water slides, 23 different bars and two on-board casinos. Other features include an ice-skating rink, two rock climbing walls, a zip line, a basketball court, two FlowRider Surf simulators and of course the line's famous AquaTheater. Like other Royal Caribbean ships, Utopia of the Seas also features special spaces for kids and teens, including dedicated clubs, an Imagination Studio and an on-board arcade.

Read: The Largest Cruise Ships in the World

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Wonder of the Seas

Sailing the friendly seas since March 2022, the Wonder of the Seas boasts more individual rooms and suites than Icon of the Seas. The Oasis-class ship features 2,867 staterooms with a total guest capacity of 7,084. There are also eight unique neighborhoods for cruisers to choose from, each with its own decor and flair.

This Royal Caribbean vessel is also huge at 1,188 feet long and 235,600 gross tons. A total of 2,204 crew members run the ship and assist guests.

• Sails to: Wonder of the Seas is currently sailing from Port Canaveral, Florida and offers seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries. The Eastern itinerary includes stops in Charlotte Amelie, St. Thomas and Phillipsburg, St. Maarten as well as Perfect Day at CocoCay. Meanwhile, the Western loop stops at the cruise line's private island as well as Cozumel and Costa Maya in Mexico and Roatan, Honduras.
• Cabin types: Wonder of the Seas also offers all the normal cabin types you would expect, including interior rooms, sea view rooms and balcony staterooms. There are also over-the-top suites to choose from, including an Ultimate Family Suite, a Royal Suite, an Owner's Suite and more.
• Dining options: Nine complimentary dining options are included on the Wonder of the Seas, with a main dining room, a buffet option and plenty of other eateries available to grab a bite to eat. There are also 11 unique specialty restaurants on board, including a steakhouse and a seafood restaurant, a Johnny Rockets, a sushi and hibachi restaurant and Giovanni's Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar. For coffee lovers, a Starbucks is also on board.
• Features: The Wonder of the Seas has its own Central Park, along with 11 different bars, as well as special kids and teens-only areas like a social club and an arcade. Other notable features include the vessel's AquaTheater, rock-climbing walls, whirlpools, laser tag and more. There are also 19 swimming pools, an ice rink and a casino on the Wonder of the Seas.

Read: The Top Cruises for Teens

Odyssey of the Seas

Royal Caribbean's Odyssey of the Seas is a Quantum Ultra Class cruise ship that's smaller than the other newest vessels from the line. The impressive ship completed its first sailing in 2021 when it became the first ship of its class to sail from the United States. Odyssey of the Seas currently departs from Fort Lauderdale, Florida and other ports and offers a range of six-night and seven-night sailings throughout the Caribbean in the coming months.

Up to 4,198 guests can sail on the Odyssey of the Seas with double occupancy, and 1,612 crew members are on board to tend to their every need. The ship is approximately 1,138 feet long and is 167,704 gross tons.

• Sails to: Odyssey of the Seas will depart from various ports in the United States and elsewhere in the world in the coming years. For example, there are upcoming six-night sailings from Fort Lauderdale that include stops in Labadee, Haiti and Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic in addition to Perfect Day at CocoCay. The vessel will complete a 14-day transatlantic cruise in April and May of 2024, which begins in Fort Lauderdale and ends in Rome, Italy. From there, the vessel will offer Greek Islands cruises from Rome before moving back to Cape Liberty (New York), New Jersey in the fall of 2024. At that point, itineraries will include stops in Port Canaveral, Florida, Nassau in the Bahamas and Perfect Day at CocoCay.
• Cabin types: Odyssey of the Seas offers interior staterooms, ocean view rooms and balcony staterooms. Guests can also book interior rooms with a virtual balcony that boasts a floor-to-ceiling virtual view of the outdoors. Over-the-top suites available on the Odyssey include an Owner's Loft Suite, a Royal Loft Suite, a Grand Loft Suite and more.
• Dining options: As a smaller vessel with considerably fewer passengers than Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class and Icon Class ships, Odyssey of the Seas has fewer dining options overall. Guests can dine at seven included eateries including a main dining room, a bistro, a cafe and the main ship buffet. There are also seven specialty restaurants and experiences on board including the Chef's Table, a Chops Grille and a sushi and hibachi restaurant. Like other newer ships from Royal Caribbean, the Odyssey also has its own Starbucks.
• Features: The Odyssey has eight dedicated bars and lounges on board, bumper cars, laser tag, a rock-climbing wall, an outdoor movie screen and a casino, along with kid and teen features like an arcade, a kids' splash area and a social club. A FlowRider surf simulator is on board, as well as a sky diving simulator. Note that the Odyssey of the Seas doesn't have an AquaTheater like Oasis Class ships.

Find a Royal Caribbean cruise on GoToSea.

Look Out for Star of the Seas

Royal Caribbean is already offering limited information about its newest ship, the Star of the Seas. This vessel will also be an Icon Class ship like the Icon of the Seas, meaning it will be big and beautiful with all the bells and whistles.

The Star of the Seas is scheduled to debut in 2025.

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Holly Johnson is a travel expert and content creator who has covered cruises and other family travel for more than a decade. She has cruised dozens of times with most of the major cruise lines and has ventured on itineraries throughout the Caribbean, Europe and the Middle East. Johnson used her personal experience and research expertise to write this article, along with information provided by Royal Caribbean.

You might also be interested in:

• Icon of the Seas Review
• What to Pack for a Cruise
• Royal Caribbean vs. Carnival
• Cruise Line Drink Packages
• The Best Cruise Insurance Plans

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What it means for the Supreme Court to block…

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What it means for the supreme court to block enforcement of the epa’s ‘good neighbor’ pollution rule.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Environmental Protection Agency will not be able to enforce a key rule limiting air pollution in nearly a dozen states while separate legal challenges proceed around the country, under a Supreme Court decision Thursday.

The EPA’s “good neighbor” rule is intended to restrict smokestack emissions from power plants and other industrial sources that burden downwind areas with smog-causing pollution.

Three energy-producing states — Ohio, Indiana and West Virginia — challenged the rule, along with the steel industry and other groups, calling it costly and ineffective.

The Supreme Court put the rule on hold while legal challenges continue, the conservative-led court’s latest blow to federal regulations.

The high court, with a 6-3 conservative majority, has increasingly reined in the powers of federal agencies, including the EPA, in recent years. The justices have restricted EPA’s authority to fight air and water pollution, including a landmark 2022 ruling that limited EPA’s authority to regulate carbon dioxide emissions from power plants that contribute to global warming. The court also shot down a vaccine mandate and blocked Democratic President Joe Biden’s student loan forgiveness program.

The court is also weighing whether to overturn its 40-year-old Chevron decision , which has been the basis for upholding a wide range of regulations on public health, workplace safety and consumer protections.

A look at the good neighbor rule and the implications of the court decision.

What is the ‘good neighbor’ rule?

The EPA adopted the rule as a way to protect downwind states that receive unwanted air pollution from other states. Besides the potential health impacts from out-of-state pollution, many states face their own federal deadlines to ensure clean air.

States such as Wisconsin, New York and Connecticut said they struggle to meet federal standards and reduce harmful levels of ozone because of pollution from out-of-state power plants, cement kilns and natural gas pipelines that drift across their borders. Ground-level ozone, which forms when industrial pollutants chemically react in the presence of sunlight, can cause respiratory problems, including asthma and chronic bronchitis. People with compromised immune systems, the elderly and children playing outdoors are particularly vulnerable.

Judith Vale, New York’s deputy solicitor general, told the court that for some states, as much as 65% of smog pollution comes from outside its borders.

States that contribute to ground-level ozone, or smog, must submit plans ensuring that coal-fired power plants and other industrial sites do not add significantly to air pollution in other states. In cases where a state has not submitted a “good neighbor” plan — or where EPA disapproves a state plan — a federal plan is supposed to ensure downwind states are protected.

What’s next for the rule?

The Supreme Court decision blocks EPA enforcement of the rule and sends the case back to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, which is considering a lawsuit challenging the regulation that was brought by 11 mostly Republican-leaning states.

An EPA spokesman said the agency believes the plan is firmly rooted in its authority under the Clean Air Act and “looks forward to defending the merits of this vital public health protection” before that appeals court.

The spokesman, Timothy Carroll, said the Supreme Court’s ruling will “postpone the benefits that the Good Neighbor Plan is already achieving in many states and communities.”

While the plan is on pause, “Americans will continue to be exposed to higher levels of ground-level ozone, resulting in costly public health impacts that can be especially harmful to children and older adults,” Carroll said. Ozone disproportionately affects people of color, families with low incomes, and other vulnerable populations, he said.

Rich Nolan, president and CEO of the National Mining Association, said he was pleased that the Supreme Court “recognized the immediate harm to industry and consumers posed by this reckless rule. No agency is permitted to operate outside of the clear bounds of the law and today, once again, the Supreme Court reminded the EPA of that fact.”

With a stay in place, Nolan said the mining industry looks forward to making its case in court that the EPA rule “is unlawful in its excessive overreach and must be struck down to protect American workers, energy independence, the electric grid and the consumers it serves,.”

Few states participate

The EPA rule was intended to provide a national solution to the problem of ozone pollution, but challengers said it relied on the assumption that all 23 states targeted by the rule would participate. In fact, only about half that number of states were participating as of early this year.

A lawyer for industry groups that are challenging the rule said it imposes significant and immediate costs that could affect reliability of the electric grid. With fewer states participating, the rule may result in only a small reduction in air pollution, with no guarantee the final rule will be upheld, industry lawyer Catherine Stetson told the Supreme Court in oral arguments earlier this year.

The EPA has said power-plant emissions dropped by 18% in 2023 in the 10 states where it has been allowed to enforce its rule, which was finalized last year . Those states are Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin. In California, limits on emissions from industrial sources other than power plants are supposed to take effect in 2026.

The rule is on hold in another dozen states because of separate legal challenges. The states are Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah and West Virginia.

Administrative overstep or life-saving protection?

Critics, including Republicans and business groups, call the good neighbor rule an example of government overreach.

“Acting well beyond its delegated powers” under the Clean Air Act, the EPA rule “proposes to remake the energy sector in the affected states toward the agency’s preferred ends,” Republican lawmakers said in a friend-of-the-court brief.

The rule and other Biden administration regulations “are designed to hurriedly rid the U.S. power sector of fossil fuels by sharply increasing the operating costs for fossil fuel-fired power plant operators, forcing the plants’ premature retirement,” the brief by Washington Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Sens. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia and Roger Wicker of Mississippi asserted. Rodgers chairs the House Energy and Commerce Committee, while Capito and Wicker are senior members of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.

Supporters disputed that and called the “good neighbor” rule critical to address interstate air pollution and ensure that all Americans have access to clean air.

“Today’s move by far-right Supreme Court justices to stay commonsense clean air rules shows just how radical this court has become,” said Charles Harper of environmental group Evergreen Action.

“The court is meddling with a rule that would prevent 1,300 Americans from dying prematurely every year from pollution that crosses state borders. We know that low-income and disadvantaged communities with poor air quality will bear the brunt of this delay,” Harper said.

The rule applies mostly to states in the South and Midwest that contribute to air pollution along the East Coast. Some states, such as Texas, California, Pennsylvania, Illinois and Wisconsin, both contribute to downwind pollution and receive it from other states.

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