The European Tour Operators Association (ETOA) released a report on visa applications that concludes that the process of applying for a visa to visit Europe is so unpleasant that over 450,000 tourists are deterred from coming. Indian and Chinese tourists applying for visas are most likely encounter bad communication and red tape. Visa processing by the U.K. is identified as that most likely to cause potential visitors to give up on their travel plans, closely followed by France.

Silversea Cruises has added 26 new voyages in 2011 that qualify for the $500-per-suite shipboard credit. This offer is available on new bookings made from Oct. 6 through March 31. The $500 shipboard credit ($250 per person) may be used towards shore excursions, land adventures, spa treatments, premium wines and spirits, specialty restaurant dining fees, and purchases in the Internet Café and onboard boutiques.

Space Experience Curacao (SXC) and XCOR Aerospace, Inc. said that they had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the wet lease of a production version of the Lynx suborbital spacecraft, pending United States government approvals to station the vehicle on the island of Curacao in the Netherlands Antilles. With a planned start date in January 2014, SXC will market, and XCOR will operate, suborbital space tourism flights and scientific research missions out of Space Port Curacao.

Gate 1 Travel announced a new partnership with Royal Caribbean International that created more than 50 new independent and escorted packages, exclusively available on www.Gate1Travel.com.  The packages can combine air, land and sea in one booking process. Customers will be able to access the entire inventory of available cabins.

Four Seasons Palm Beach has named Marc Bromley as resort manager in charge of overseeing all operations including the resort’s bars and restaurants, signature spa and the overall guest experience. Bromley comes to Palm Beach from Washington, D.C., where he was director of food and beverage for two years and was instrumental in the opening and integrating of Michael Mina’s Bourbon Steak restaurant into the hotel.

Monograms’ 2011 product line includes its largest-ever selection of Asia, South America, South Pacific and Africa packages. “After the excitement of planning a ‘first’ trip to an exotic locale wears thin, travelers are sometimes faced with fear -- fear of failing to design and experience the perfect escape,” said Scott Nisbet, president and chief executive officer for the Globus family of brands. “Enter Monograms. We ensure the first time to a foreign destination is memorable for the fun it provides our travelers versus fumbles and faux pas.”