IN THE KNOW
NEED TO KNOW : AmaWaterways sets sail in Colombia
Luxury river cruise specialists AmaWaterways will launch its debut South America itinerary next year , with two new ships set to transport passengers down the Magdalena River into the heart of Colombia .
The 60-capacity AmaMagdalena is due to embark on its maiden voyage on March 30 , 2024 , while the AmaMelodia will set sail on June 19 , 2024 , with a capacity of 64 guests . Both ships have been designed to maximize the views along the river on their seven-night itineraries between Cartagena and Barranquilla . Highlights range from walking tours of the UNESCO-listed town of Santa Cruz de Mompox to carnival celebrations packed with live performances . images : getty ; park hyatt new york . Words : Matthew Figg
APP , APP AND AWAY : APPETITE GROWS FOR AIRPORT FOOD APPS
To help ease the burden on overcrowded departure lounges , increasing numbers of airports are encouraging travelers to order food using mobile apps . Passengers at airports across the U . S . and beyond can now use their smartphones to browse menus and place an order , and avoid joining a long line . Dulles and Reagan airports near Washington , D . C ., have deployed online ordering solutions since 2022 , enabling passengers to collect their meal from the counter when it ’ s ready . Other airports , including Seattle- Tacoma , LaGuardia ( NYC ) and Heathrow ( London ) have also embraced the trend in recent years .
One of the most popular ordering apps in airports is Grab , by Texas-based technology firm Servy . Grab is active in over 80 airports worldwide , from the U . S . to the U . K ., Norway and Sweden . Passengers have placed over 12 million orders through the platform to date , with options ranging from global brands such as McDonald ’ s and Subway to local breweries and coffee shops .
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