Travel Roundup: Cuban Travel Eased, Britain To Lift Liquid Ban, Hilton Gets $4.5 Million to Move and More

Some Cuban travel restrictions lifted -- The U.S. Senate approved a $410 billion spending bill that eases restrictions on Cuban-Americans visiting relatives -- mainly allowing family trips once a year and spending up to $179 a day. Limits on how long people can stay in the island country were also removed. Although the vote doesn't change restrictions on Cuban travel, it does end spending money on the enforcement of the rules -- rolling back travel laws to before the Bush administration tightened them in 2004-2005. Cuba had no official comment. [Source: Associated Press]

Hilton Hotels gets $4.5 million to move headquarters -- Hilton Hotels Corp. announced it will move its Beverly Hills, Calif. headquarters to Tysons Corner, Va. after months of speculation. About 300 workers will go with the move which is slated for later this year. Virginia provided $3.5 million in grants to lure the company and Fairfax County added an additional $1 million. The corporation will be on Jones Branch Drive, next to Gannett Co. and Freddie Mac. [Source: Associated Press]

Britain likely to lift liquids ban -- Upgraded x-ray machines, costing about $140,000 each, that screen better for explosives will likely lift the 100-mililiter (3.3-ounce) limit on liquids in carry-on luggage. The ban cost the British aviation industry about $140 million in lost duty-free sales and the hiring of thousands of security employees. The ban could be lifted as early as September. [Source: The Times (U.K.)]

Carnival Cruise Lines to start sailing out of Seattle -- Carnival Cruise Lines will start sailing its Alaskan cruises out of Seattle in 2010. The Seattle port-of-call is the first for the cruise line. The 2,124-passenger Carnival Spirit will sail from the Pacific Northwest port Tuesdays starting in May of next year, creating needed midweek tourism for the port. Each of the Tuesday cruises will be a seven-day, round-trip journey to southeastern Alaska. [Source: Seattle Times]