Good morning. It's Wednesday, Aug 05, 2026.

Where are the cruise lines taking us these days? Straight to our wallets, apparently. Celebrity Cruises just became the sixth line this year to hike gratuity rates, joining Carnival, Princess, MSC, Holland America, and Margaritaville at Sea in the "let's quietly raise fees" club of 2026. New rates kick in July 29, ranging from $19.50 to $24.50 per person, per day, depending on your stateroom.

The silver lining: if you booked before July 29, you can still lock in the old rate by pre-paying at least 48 hours before you sail. And if gratuities aren't your thing, luxury lines like Regent, Silversea, and Seabourn build service into the fare, no daily surprise charge required.

Six lines in, and counting. Bon voyage, and check your folio.

TSA is expanding facial comparison technology to more airports nationwide, but many travelers don't realize it's completely optional.

Here's how it works: your live photo taken at the checkpoint gets matched against your ID photo to confirm it's really you. If the system fails, agents just do a standard manual ID check, so there's no downside to the tech not working perfectly yet.

The key detail: you can opt out entirely, and TSA confirms it won't slow you down or cause delays if you decline. If you do opt in, your photo is deleted immediately after a successful match.

Also worth knowing: if you don't have a Real ID yet, acceptable backup IDs include a U.S. passport, passport card, foreign passport, permanent resident card, or border crossing card. A temporary driver's license won't work for domestic travel.

Travel Smarter:
If you'd rather skip the facial scan, just tell the TSA officer you'd like to opt out before they take your photo. It's a simple verbal request, no forms, no extra wait, and you'll go through the standard ID check instead.

➤ ✈️ Delta will end all flights to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines after Sept. 5, 2026, with no plans to resume the route in December. Affected passengers will be rebooked, while Delta says the decision was based on factors like demand, seasonality, and operating costs.

➤ ✈️JetBlue is upgrading its Mint experience with new menus from New York restaurants Crown Shy and Birdee on select domestic and transatlantic flights. Expect dishes like mochi waffles, pork katsu, and warm cookies. If you're flying Mint, check whether your route is included in the rollout.

➤ ✈️ Dubai is offering UAE residents travel rewards worth more than AED 3,000 ($800) for inviting eligible international visitors through its new "A Dubai Invite" program. The promotion runs through Oct. 31 and aims to boost tourism with hotel, dining, and attraction perks.

➤ The U.S. State Department renewed its Level 2 advisory for The Bahamas, warning travelers about crime, especially in Nassau and Freeport. Officials also urged caution around jet ski operators, boating, and beaches, while reminding visitors to stay alert and secure valuables.

Sweating a lot at the TSA checkpoint could actually trigger extra screening. TSA confirms that moisture can alter how clothing reads on Advanced Imaging Technology scanners, sometimes setting off an alarm and leading to a pat-down in the flagged area.

The good news: this is genuinely rare, and it only happens with excessive perspiration, not normal pre-flight nerves. Officers are trained to be discreet about it too, so most travelers never realize sweat was even the trigger.

More useful than worrying about this is tightening up your overall security routine. TSA PreCheck is increasingly essential rather than optional, especially with Touchless ID rolling out at more hub airports. Checking real-time wait times through the MyTSA app before heading out can also save you a stressful sprint. And double-check your carry-on liquids stay under 3.4 ounces, packing anything questionable in a checked bag instead.

Travel Smarter:
If you don't have TSA PreCheck yet and fly a few times a year, it's worth the application fee, especially if you live near a hub airport rolling out Touchless ID. Shorter lines mean less stress, less rushing, and yes, less sweating before your flight.

Packing light isn't automatically the cheaper choice. It just moves the cost somewhere else.

Skipping a checked bag can mean paying for hotel laundry, buying full-size toiletries after arrival, or replacing clothes that didn't work out. Add in time spent hand-washing in a sink, and the "savings" start to shrink fast. The TSA's 3-1-1 liquids rule limits carry-on liquids to 3.4 ounces each, which can be a real problem for anyone using specialized skincare or hair products on a longer trip.

Checking a bag makes more sense on longer stays, direct flights, or trips needing sports gear, formal clothing, or major weather changes. Families and travelers with mobility concerns often benefit more from free hands through the airport than from a faster exit at baggage claim.

To actually compare costs, use the full round-trip baggage fee, not the one-way number shown at checkout. On many domestic routes, that's now around $90 round-trip, an amount easily matched by laundry, replacement items, and lost vacation time.

Travel Smarter:
Before deciding to pack carry-on-only, add up the real cost of going small: laundry, replacement items, and airport hassle. If that number gets close to the checked-bag fee, checking a bag on a longer trip often buys you more comfort for the same money.

The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Card has a strong welcome offer right now: 125,000 bonus points plus a free night award (up to 50,000 points/night) after spending $3,000 in 3 months.

Through June 30, 2027, there's also up to $100 in statement credits on airline purchases, split into $50 twice a year.

Note: variable 19.24%–27.74% APR, so it's best for those paying off the $3,000 spend in full.

Travel Smarter:
125,000 points can cover a multi-night Marriott stay, especially with the free night included. Time an upcoming purchase to hit the $3,000 minimum and capture the full bonus.

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— Winston Churchill

Written by the Boarding Soon Editorial Team

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