Things To Do In SW Florida

Disney Cruise Line isn’t slowing down on its ship expansion plans ordering up four new vessels in a new class with the first arriving in 2027.

Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro made the announcement at this year’s D23 expo held in California on Saturday along with news that a Broadway-style play based on “Hercules” was coming to Disney Destiny when it debuts out of Port Everglades next year, and teasing the largest puppet ever to take the stage on a DCL ship for Disney Treasure’s new “Moana” show later this year.

The fleet expansion means DCL will grow to 13 ships by 2031, with all of the ships to be constructed at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany.

The fleet currently stands at five ships with the original Disney Magic and Wonder that debuted in 1998 and 1999, followed by Disney Dream and Fantasy in 2011 and 2012 and then the first of the most recent class of ship, Disney Wish, which debuted out of Port Canaveral in 2022.

Next up is this year’s Disney Treasure, also coming to Port Canaveral, and then both the Singapore-bound Disney Adventure and Florida-bound Disney Destiny in 2025, which is the third Wish-class sister ship. A fourth Wish-class vessel will sail out of Japan starting in 2029 in a partnership with the Oriental Land Co. that runs Disney’s Japanese theme parks. read more

Jim Rossman | Tribune News Service (TNS)

I love to drive, which is good, because I get a lot of opportunities to review gadgets for drivers.

This week I’m looking at a handful of useful things to make your drive safer or more comfortable.

You’ll notice I have included two air inflators. I like them both and they each have their advantages. Pricing included is retail price, but you may find them cheaper.

Dr Well Laxon DR-6000 Vehicle Air Massage Seat

As I get older, a comfortable place to sit is becoming more important. I love driving long distances, but my hips and back start to get sore after about 90 minutes in my driver’s seat.

The Laxon DR-6000 Vehicle Air Massage Seat ($399.99, Laxon.us or Amazon.com) is designed to sit on top of your seat. It straps to the headrest and around the back of the seat.

The DR-6000 uses a small air compressor to quickly fill air chambers strategically placed on the back and bottom of the seat. There are different massage modes that provide differing levels of massage. I’m a big guy, so I liked the more aggressive settings. read more

Lezanne Winshaw | Bankrate.com (TNS)

Pet owners want the best for their furry friends, which often involves making decisions about their health care. One common dilemma is whether to invest in pet insurance or a pet wellness plan. In many cases, pet owners may want both.

Both pet insurance and wellness plans offer ways to manage your pet’s health expenses, but they serve different purposes. Understanding these differences will ensure you choose the right option for your pet’s needs.

What pet insurance is and how it works

Pet insurance is a financial product designed to cover unexpected veterinary costs that arise from accidents, illnesses and other unforeseen health issues. Like human health insurance, it provides a financial safety net for high-cost medical expenses.

How pet insurance works

Pet insurance policies typically involve paying a monthly premium in exchange for coverage of various medical expenses.

When your pet requires veterinary care, you pay the bill upfront and then submit a claim to the insurance company for reimbursement. The reimbursement amount depends on your policy’s coverage details, such as deductibles, copays and coverage limits. read more