Category Archives: Travel

Amtrak Guest Rewards Celebrates Milestone of Eclipsing 20 Million Enrolled Members

Loyalty program success aligns with the growth of ridership and train travel demand

Amtrak Guest Rewards, the loyalty program for America’s Railroad, has reached a historic milestone, welcoming its 20 millionth enrolled member, who alongside fellow members have started earning points toward Amtrak reward travel, upgrades, gift cards, and more. This achievement comes as Amtrak Guest Rewards members now make up nearly half of Amtrak’s ridership.

“Reaching 20 million enrolled Amtrak Guest Rewards members is a testament to Amtrak’s commitment to enhancing the customer experience, providing our guests with outstanding value,” said Amtrak Assistant Vice President Loyalty and Customer Engagement Lisa Copeland. “We thank all of our members and look forward to welcoming future members aboard to experience all Amtrak Guest Rewards has to offer.”

The 20 million enrolled Amtrak Guest Rewards members milestone comes on the heels of recent additions and improvements Amtrak has made to its loyalty program, train service, and customer experience, leading to record-breaking ridership of 32.8 million customers in its Fiscal Year 2024. This includes Points & Cash, a major enhancement that allows members to pay for Amtrak travel using a combination of points and cash, the new Borealis service between St. Paul and Chicago, which carried 100,000 customers in less than six monthsthe reinvention of the Cafe Acela menu, and more, with several new developments and improvements set to come within the next year and beyond.

Joining Amtrak Guest Rewards is free and members can immediately start earning points toward Amtrak reward travel and other redemptions, upon enrollment. Members earn two points per dollar spent on Amtrak travel, plus a 25% point bonus for Business Class travel and a 50% point bonus for Acela First Class travel. Amtrak Guest Rewards members with Tier status receive additional point bonuses on travel, as well as benefits to elevate the customer experience, including upgrades, lounge access, and companion coupons. Members can book reward travel to experience Amtrak Across America for as few as 400 points.

About Amtrak®

Amtrak is seizing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to transform rail and Retrain Travel. By modernizing, enhancing, and expanding trains, stations, and infrastructure, Amtrak is meeting the rising demand for train travel. Amtrak offers unforgettable experiences to more than 500 destinations across 46 states and parts of Canada. Learn more at Amtrak.com, download the Amtrak app, connect with us on XInstagramFacebook, and LinkedIn, and join Amtrak Guest Rewards to start earning points toward Amtrak reward travel, upgrades, gift cards, and more.

TRAVEL-Sanibel & Captiva Islands….Beauty, Sophistication & Fun

By Tom Dwyer

As winter sets in, and the Hudson River starts to freeze, Hudson County residents dream of escaping to a tropical paradise.  But getting there can be a pain, especially if you need to change planes or go through customs.  That’s where Sanibel and Captiva Islands come in.  Just two-and-a-half hours on a direct flight from Newark Airport to Ft. Myers, Florida, located on the Gulf Coast, a pair of welcoming and enchanting American islands await you.   Rent a car at the Ft. Myers airport and it’s a quick and easy 30-minute drive to Sanibel and Captiva.   

The Islands

Local lore has it that rum-running pirates and CIA operatives once lived on these islands. But it’s the natural beauty and the gulf waters and its unique shell-covered beaches that make these islands magical. The residents have a deep love and respect for the wildlife and the land—from protecting the alligators on golf courses, to maintaining the renowned J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge, a 6,400 acre sanctuary that shelters 290 species of birds, 50 types of reptiles and at least 30 mammals.  www.fws.gov/dingdarling    In addition to its natural wonders and world-class sunsets, Sanibel and Captiva offer a variety of sophisticated but casual lodgings, restaurants and cultural events.  The islands attract visitors from Europe and Canada as well as most states across America, with New Jersey rating in the top five.   Continue reading TRAVEL-Sanibel & Captiva Islands….Beauty, Sophistication & Fun

Enforcement of Orange Permit Parking Zone Around 8th Street Light Rail Starts May 2

 

 The Bayonne Parking Authority reminded downtown residents and businesses that applications are available for the new Orange permit parking zone around the 8th Street Light Rail Station.  Enforcement of permit parking in the Orange Zone will take effect on Monday, May 2, 2011. 
Continue reading Enforcement of Orange Permit Parking Zone Around 8th Street Light Rail Starts May 2

Port Authority Joins With NJ Transit, MTA and Mastercard to Offer Contactless Bank Cards for Area Transit Riders

 Jersey City Mayor Jerrimiah Healy seen here utilizing the new “Tap and Go” programhealy-and-credit-card-for-nj-transit                                    photo: by steveamack.com

Customers on the Port Authority’s PATH rail system now can simply “Tap and Go” with their credit cards, under a regional six-month program that began on Tuesday June 1st.

Eleven of PATH’s 13 stations (except the Christopher and 9th street stations) have been equipped with special payment readers, allowing riders to tap a contacltess credit card or other device like a key fob to pay fares.

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Continue reading Port Authority Joins With NJ Transit, MTA and Mastercard to Offer Contactless Bank Cards for Area Transit Riders

I Was Born In Hoboken- Fantastic Video with Former Mayor Steve Capiello

Here is a bit of Nostalgia for anyone who grew up in Hoboken, New Jersey or knows Hoboken as it is today.


Source You Tube- Thanks Roger Muller-Muller Insurance

Cruise Ship -Not The Love Boat This Trip Out!

River View Observer “Site Seeing” Bringing you interesting posts from around the web.

Power Outage Causes Chaos On Cruise Ship

 A cruise ship that lost its power on Friday has finally made its way back to Miami after a power failure left cruisers stranded without running water and air-conditioning  in the Caribbean.

 It has been reported that some passengers became chaotic, pushing, fighting, shoving and screaming at each other when the tempetures in their cabins climbed to over 100 degrees and hundreds of people took to the deck to sleep for 2 nights

What would you have done if you were on the ship?

Cruisers become Chaotic source AOL TRAVEL

Boating Enthusiasts-Pardon Me, That’s No Replica!

River View Observer exclusive…Boat manufacturer powers past misconceptions and expands legacy by upgrading classic designs with contemporary technologies
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At a recent boat show in New York City one vessel attracted a large crowd. Surrounded by a fleet of mass-produced fiberglass hulls was a mahogany runabout with long, sleek contours. Most assumed they were looking at a replica of a timeless classic. They were wrong.

The handcrafted 1920s-style boat was brand-new. Not that it wasn’t an original. The boat was built using the actual plans created by John Ludwig Hacker (1871-1961), the preeminent 20th Century designer of wooden pleasure crafts. The exterior look of the 24-foot rear-engine runabout was pure Hacker. But hidden in the engine hold and hull construction were contemporary marine technologies that have powered these legendary boats into modern times.

Continue reading Boating Enthusiasts-Pardon Me, That’s No Replica!

Odd Crash On New Jersey Turnpike

Who Goes First?

Our River View Observer’s roaming photographer caught this unusual mishap at the 14 A exit of the New Jersey Turnpike  on Sunday October 18th.

crash-on-turnpike

The Bayonne  and State Police along with the Bayonne Fire Department were there to lend a hand. No one got hurt from what we hear.

Bayonne New Jersey ‘s First NYC Commuter Service To Celebrate Grand Opening October 2nd

River View Observer Best Pick for Quick Commutes to NYC
NY Commuter was formed to provide a faster and easier commute into and out of Manhattan. Owned and operated by Terry Lalka this company is the first of its kind in the Bayonne area.  
NY Commuter will be celebrating their  GRAND OPENING! on October 2nd, at 227 Broadway, Bayonne- from 6-9 p.m
Kid Commuter -Kid Commuter is focused on providing the highest quality service in children’s transportation. We service Hoboken, Jersey City,  and Bayonne, NJ. Please contact us for service outside of these areas.

TRAVEL- World’s Weirdest Hotels – Budget Travel

crazy_exteriorRiver View Observer’s “Site Seeing” Bringing you interesting posts from arount the internet

Budget Travel has put together an impressive list of Weird Hotels from around the world.

Pictured above Hang Nga Guest House and Art Gallery, a complex that more than earns its local nickname, the Crazy House. (Courtesy upyernoz/Flickr)

To view all of the photo’s World’s Weirdest Hotels, Part Deux

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