Chairlift collapses at Maine ski resort, sending six to hospital

by Kraig Becker on

What started as a great day on the slopes at Sugarloaf ski resort ended in disaster yesterday when a chairlift collapsed, sending seven guests to the hospital and leaving more than 200 others stranded above the snow for hours.

Located in Maine, Sugarloaf is considered one of the top ski resorts in the northeast United States. Yesterday, the slopes were filled with skiers and snowboarders taking advantage of the holiday season for some quality time on the snow. But reportedly many of them were riding the chairlift when the accident occurred. Passengers on the lift reported feeling a few sudden lurches before it came to a complete stop, amidst the screams of tumbling skiers.

The Spillway East lift ran into problems when one of its cables derailed sending five of the machines chairs falling 25-30 feet to the ground below, taking their passengers with them. Those passengers were treated on scene then taken to a nearby hospital in Portalnd. Their injuries were described as non-life threatening.

Meanwhile, the other 200 guests on the lift had to be slowly brought down off the lift by the resort staff. That process required them to slide more than 40 feet to the ground in a special swing that is not unlike a climbing harness. That process went without incident, although it did take some time to get all of the stranded passengers down.

The resort hopes to have the lift back in operation soon, and thanks to the recent east coast snow storm, there is more than 20 inches of fresh powder on the mountain. There are still several days of holiday break left for many of us, and now is as good a time as ever to hit the slopes, despite this accident.

Is this pretty much every skiers nightmare? Who hasn’t been on the lift and wondered how often an accident like this happens? Thankfully no one was seriously injured in this collapse, but I know what I’ll be thinking about the next time I get on a lift.

[Photo credit: WCSH-TV Maine]

2 easy steps to finding the best cruise price

by Chris Owen on

In a matter of days, 2010 will be over and we’ll be welcoming 2011. Right after that a lot of travelers start thinking about cruise vacations. Maybe its cold Winter weather or maybe it’s having the holidays out of the way but January brings us what the cruise business calls “wave season”, a time when a whole lot of people buy cruise vacations. Here are two easy steps to consider before you make that buy.

  1. Hug the Internet– Start your search for the best of the best in cruise pricing online at the cruise line websites. Go directly to Carnival.com, Princess.com or almost any cruise line website. The point of this is to search the most accurate, up-to-date database of itineraries, ships, and ports of call available. Take note of the prices you find but don’t buy. This is an education process to narrow down your search for a sailing that is a good fit for you.
  2. Dump the Internet– Armed with the current information you just found online, email/call/tweet your travel agent for recommendations and pricing. Odds are high that the pricing may be exactly the same as booking through the cruise line if you did an accurate search, providing all the information they asked for. Where a travel agent most often comes in handy is down the road. Between now and when final payment is made, cruise lines may offer additional discounts, promotions or special offers that might apply to you and save money.

If you don’t have a good travel agent, see our tips on How to find a good travel agent too.

Flickr photo by Dave Dugdale

Cruise line boss leaves boardroom, sneaks around ships

by Chris Owen on

Norwegian Cruise Lines President and CEO Kevin Sheehan has worn a lot of hats in his professional career. From helping found Spanish-language television network Telemundo to taking several companies public, he built a reputation for a tell-it-like-it-is persona. A philosophy of leading by example might just be tested this week though as the native New Yorker takes on an episode of CBS’ Undercover Boss.

Since taking over as boss of Norwegian Cruise Line in 2008, Sheehan has overseen big changes including the launch of new Norwegian Epic last Summer. But on January 2, 2011 he will be at sea with some different hats on. Hosting one of the line’s signature White Hot Parties, he’ll lead more than 1,000 guests in a line dance. Working alongside a deck repairman we’ll watch as Sheehan sneaks around ships trying to look like everybody else.

CBS’s pseudo-reality series, Undercover Boss, features a high-ranking executive posing as an entry-level worker in the company they manage. Camera crews, lights and associated production stuff is passed off as part of a “documentary” about what it’s like to be the new guy at work. Previous companies featured include Frontier Airlines, Johnny Rockets, Subway Restaurants and Direct-TV.

The show airs January 2, 2011 at 9:00PM Eastern.

Daily Pampering: Private helicopter rides add romance to luxury travel for Valentine’s Day

by Melanie Nayer on

Now that Christmas is over and New Year’s Eve plans have been laid, it’s time to start thinking about the next big event: Valentine’s Day. Omni Bedford Springs Resort & Spa is getting a head start on the planning this season by offering an over-the-top luxury travel getaway package, starting with a personal helicopter ride to the resort.

The Sky’s the Limit Valentine’s Day Package includes personal helicopter transport to the resort for you and your sweetie and includes a personal butler, personal chef, private use of the resort’s Springs Eternal Spa and more.

The Sky’s the Limit Valentine’s Day Package includes:

  • Accommodations in the elegant Ross or Polk Presidential Suite, each of which feature more than 2,300 square feet of space.
  • Round-trip helicopter transport to the resort (from within 150 miles)
  • Personal Butler service
  • Personal Chef to create a personalized six-course dinner to be served in suite
  • Couples Spa Treatment in suite, or during private use of Springs Eternal Spa (after 8pm) Breakfast in bed
  • A bottle of Dom Perignon with crystal Champagne glasses to keep
  • A dozen roses, a carriage ride, and two robes to wear and keep
  • Private transportation within the town of Bedford

The price of this pampering:

Rates start at $6,000 per night for single or double occupancy, not including tax, gratuities, and resort fee. The package is available February 11-14 and February 18-19, 2011, only.

Want more? Get your daily dose of pampering right here.

A video time lapse of the East Coast Blizzard

by Jeremy Kressmann on

Have your travel plans been affected by this week’s massive East Coast Blizzard? The travelers here at Gadling feel your pain. While many airports remain in a state of disarray, things are slowly getting back to normal. Luckily, New Jersey resident Michael Black didn’t have to deal with any of the travel nightmares created by the snow – instead he was stuck at home, where he decided to record the blizzard in action, creating a time lapse video of photos taken every 5 minutes as the snow piled up. It’s a remarkable way to get a sense of just how big this storm really was. If you’re still stuck out there, hang in there – travel should be getting back to normal soon enough.