Travel Is Luxury

Luxury bus service aimed at road warrior business travelers launches Houston-Dallas route

A new transportation service between Houston and Dallas is aiming to shake up the way Texans travel between the two cities. Vonlane, a 16-seater luxury motor coach service, will begin service starting April 20.

Vonlane provides nonstop first class coach service and boasts comfortable seating with ample legroom, and an array of amenities that allow for passengers to either work or relax during their trip. Services include a menu of complimentary refreshments, WiFi, satellite TV and a desk-like space for travelers.

"It use to be a coin toss between flying or driving," Alex Danza says. "Vonlane is an alternative way to move around our state."

Passengers can also reserve a six-seat conference room that is equipped with monitors for laptop projection.

"It use to be a coin toss between flying or driving," Vonlane founder and president Alex Danza tells CultureMap. "Vonlane is an alternative way to move around our state."

Danza's vision behind the company was born during his years of constant business-related travel around the country. The vision was to create a service that eliminates the hassle of arriving two hours early to an airport, going through security, or driving yourself.

"This service caters to the road warrior business travelers moving between the two cities. All you have to do is arrive, and the attendant will take care of the rest," Danza says.

The company first launched in May 2014, offering service between Austin and Dallas. Due to the success, plans for a Houston-Dallas route began six months into the launch of the service. The popularity has even caused some users to swear off flying between the two cities, according to Danza.

The fare is competitively priced at $100 for a one-way trip, comparable to coach class airline fares. From April 20 through May 31, Vonlane will be offering customers tickets for $69.

Buses will leave Houston at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. from the Sheraton North Houston Hotel, and at 6 a.m. and 2 p.m. from Dallas at the DoubleTree Hotel across from Love Field. Passengers can arrive five minutes before the departure time, confirm their reservation with a photo ID, and from then on the traveler can enjoy any of the amenities the bus has at no extra charge.

"Our purpose is to create a safe and luxurious way to travel within Texas centered on productivity, comfort, and flexibility," says Danza.

View of the kitchen space in the luxury motor coach service Vonlane.

Courtesy of Vonlane

View of the kitchen space in the luxury motor coach service Vonlane.

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out to sea

Carnival opens 2028 bookings for showstopping new ship's Caribbean cruises

Carnival Tropicale begins sailing in 2028

Photo courtesy of Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival Tropicale will begin sailing from Galveston to destinations in the Caribbean, The Bahamas, and Mexico in 2028.

The Carnival Tropicale, Carnival's newest cruise ship that will set sail from Galveston, is now accepting reservations for its maiden voyages to destinations throughout The Bahamas, the Caribbean, and Mexico, beginning in 2028.

Carnival Tropicale is the fifth and final Excel-class ship that will be offered from the cruise line, and it will be able to accommodate over 6,000 passengers. It is named after MS Tropicale, Carnival's original "Fun Ship" from 1982, but the new luxury liner promises showstopping experiences inspired by Las Vegas' "golden era of show business."

Four-to-eight-day cruises are now available to book with departure dates as early as April 15, 2028. Six destinations in Carnival's Paradise Collection are on the itinerary, including Cozumel and Progreso, Mexico; Isla Tropicale in Roatan, Honduras; and Nassau, Bahamas. Eight-day cruises will include stops at Celebration Key and RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay, two private islands owned by Carnival.

"From innovative attractions and dining to unforgettable destinations throughout the Caribbean, The Bahamas, and Mexico, Carnival Tropicale will bring an exciting new vacation option to Texas when she debuts in 2028," said Ben Clement, EVP of maritime and new builds at Carnival Cruise Line, in a release.

These are the cruise options passengers can book on the Carnival Tropicale starting in 2028:

6-Day Western Caribbean Cruise to Cozumel and Isla Tropical, Roatan – 26 dates from April 15, 2028 to April 29, 2029
8-Day The Bahamas Cruise to Nassau and RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay – 26 dates from April 29, 2028 to May 6, 2029
8-Day The Bahamas Cruise to Celebration Key and RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay – April 21-29
5-Day Western Caribbean Cruise to Cozumel and Progreso, Yucatán – December 23-28 and December 28-January 1, 2029
4-Day Western Caribbean Cruise to Cozumel – January 2-6, 2029

Major attractions on the new Carnival Tropicale include Sunsation Point, a top deck "family fun" entertainment zone, and Carnival WaterWorks Ultra, an all-ages water park with six waterslides and splash pads for kids.

Other family-friendly attractions include multiple sport courts — including a redesigned Fairway 66 Mini Golf course inspired by Route 66 — a Treehouse Adventure Trail, new arcade spaces, and to-be-announced "new entertainment experiences and exclusive spaces."

Carnival Tropicale Grand Central Atrium A rendering of the Grand Central Atrium. Courtesy of Carnival

Carnival Tropicale will also feature three new dining concepts that highlight "flavors from around the world," including one in partnership with famous chef Emeril Lagasse.

"Guests will be able to enjoy Uku Lei Lei, offering Hawaiian-inspired cuisine with Asian influences; Fetaccine, blending Greek and Italian flavors; and Emeril's Coastal Seafood, showcasing seafood dishes inspired by America's coastlines and created in partnership with Carnival's Chief Culinary Officer Chef Emeril Lagasse."

Carnival Tropicale cruises departing from Galveston can be booked on the Carnival website . Rates vary depending on the duration of the trip and accommodation preference.

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