Jetsettersblog

Cunard this year will feature a host of noted authors on trans-Atlantic crossings aboard Queen Mary 2 from April through September.

Among the best-selling authors and playwrights scheduled to sail are E.L. Doctorow, Erica Jong, Amy Bloom, John Guare and Susan Cheever.

Among the authors scheduled to sail are Kathryn Harrison, who has published six novels and reviews for The New York Times Book Review, April 20; Oscar Hijuelos, who wrote the Pulitzer Prize-winning “The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love,” May 8; Rita Dove, a poet and Pulitzer Prize winner, May 25; E.L. Doctorow, author of “The Book of Daniel” and “Ragtime,” May 31; Erica Jong, author of “Fear of Flying,” June 13; Susan Cheever, daughter of John Cheever and author of numerous books, June 25;

 Amy Bloom, author of “Away” and “Love Invents Us,” July 6; Brad Gooch, author of “Zombie 00,” “Billy Idol” and “Scary Kisses,” July 30; and John Guare, author of “The House of Blue Leaves,” “Six Degrees of Separation” and “Landscape of the Body,” Sept. 8.

In 2009, Queen Mary 2 marks its fifth year of service with an extended trans-Atlantic season, including more than 20 six-day voyages between New York and Southampton, two voyages between New York and Hamburg and two voyages between Boston and Southampton.

The Westin Resort, Aruba is announcing wallet-friendly upgrades to its All-Inclusive package for 2009. Nightly rates start at $400 per person, per night, based on double occupancy, through April 16 and include accommodations, meals, activities, special events, and even tax and service.

Children ages 4 through 12 can be added to the room for an additional daily charge of $50, and teens ages 13 through 17 for $75.

 Unlike many other all-inclusive programs, this program comes sans wristbands and unexpected surcharges. New to the resort’s all-inclusive roster in 2009 include room service, Westin Kids Club, beach palapas, and an off-property dining credit.

The All-Inclusive package features accommodations; breakfast, lunch and dinner at a variety of resort restaurants or room service; $25 dining voucher per person (one voucher per person for a four night stay and two vouchers per person for stays of seven nights or more); premium alcohol, wine and beer by the glass; Westin Kids Club with half or full-day programs for children ages four to 12; private weekly Renewal Ritual including drinks and hors d’oeuvres (Mondays);

Westin Unwind with nightly drink and appetizer specials to transition from day to evening; Beach Palapas (Up to a $50 value), based on availability; non-motorized water sports including rafts, snorkel equipment and kayaks; use of nearby tennis courts; and WestinWORKOUT fitness center access.

Unlike traditional all-inclusive experiences, guests can enjoy a la carte dining experiences and bypass buffet lines.

To start the day, guests can opt for breakfast al fresco at The Terrace, or Bon Bini Café with numerous options including healthy SuperFoods and made-to-order omelets and waffles. Lunch is served poolside at The Terrace, and on-property dinner options include Pago Pago, Cafe Baci or barefoot seaside dining at Azull.

The $25 dining credit per person can be used to venture off-property for dinner at island favorites including Aqua Grill, Flying Fishbone, Le Dome, Marandi, Papiamento, and Screaming Eagle, or at Blossoms in The Westin Resort, Aruba.

Families can participate in nighttime activities like Movies under the Stars (Thursdays and Sundays), Fireside Storytelling (Fridays) and Stargazing (Tuesdays) with professional telescopes.

Those signing up for the Westin Kids Club will partake in a variety of fun, adventurous and educational activities ranging from sandcastle building and seashell hunting to iguana feeding and coconut bowling. When booking, ask for rate plan SOPAIP.

For more information, call 877-822-2222 or visit www.westin.com/aruba

Regent Seven Seas Cruises (RSSC) announced that free shore excursions will be included on 35 voyages as part of its new “ultra-inclusive” cruise pricing initiative.

For a limited time, guests on select 2009 voyages can choose from a selection of complimentary shore excursions, a value of up to several hundred dollars per guest. Guests will also save from $5,995 to $23,250 with free airfare and two-for-one cruise fares on select 2009 voyages.

“We are delighted to be able to offer our valued guests even greater value with a Regent experience that now encompasses both the ship and the destination,” said Mark Conroy, president of Regent Seven Seas Cruises. “At a time when travelers are seeking greater value and unique vacation opportunities, we offer a spectacular array of voyages that offer more value and more luxury than ever before.”

With offers of free airfare, cruise fares that begin at $3,995 and free unlimited shore excursions, the company expects that these voyages will be in great demand. On each of the select cruises, guests can participate in at least one complimentary shore excursion in each port where excursions are offered. These excursions are offered on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to availability.

Guests with deposited reservations can pre-request their excursions online starting 120 days in advance of their sailing date.

In addition to the free excursions, there will be a number of Regent Choice excursions that will require payment of a supplement.
Voyages featuring the included shore excursions include the Seven Seas Voyager’s Baltic cruises departing June 26, July 24, July 31, Aug. 7, Aug. 14, Aug. 21 and Aug. 28 and a seven-night Sept. 25 Mediterranean cruise from Venice to Istanbul. Complimentary shore excursions in the Baltic include an evening at the ballet, a visit to Hermitage museum, or a tour of Peterhof Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia; a walking tour and concert or a countryside fishing and lunch tour in Tallinn, Estonia; and a city tour by sea and visit to Fortress Island, or a sailing tour in Helsinki, Finland.

Also eligible for free shore excursions are the Seven Seas Navigator’s Mediterranean and Western Caribbean cruises departing July 10, July 17, July 24, July 31, Aug. 7, Aug. 14, Sept. 4, Sept. 11, Sept. 28, Oct. 16, Oct. 30, Nov. 8 and Dec. 18. Among the complimentary excursions are a visit to Pompeii or a Riviera tour from Sorrento, Italy; a tour of Ephesus from Kusadasi, Turkey; a tour of Sicily; a tour of ancient Rome from Civitavecchia, Italy; a tour of Mayan ruins and river cruise in Belize; a visit to Q’eqchi indigenous river community in Guatemala; and a stingray sandbar swim in Grand Cayman.

Free shore tours are also offered on Seven Seas Mariner’s Alaska and Asia Pacific cruises, including seven-night cruises between Vancouver and Anchorage departing June 3, June 10, June 24, July 1, July 8, July 15, Aug. 26 and Sept. 2. Other eligible departures are Sept. 16, 14 nights, Anchorage to Osaka; Oct. 1, 16 nights, Osaka to Hong Kong; Oct. 17, 15 nights, Hong Kong to Singapore; Nov. 1, 17 nights, Singapore to Sydney; Nov. 18, 14 nights, Sydney to Auckland; and Dec. 2, 19 nights, Auckland to Los Angeles. Complimentary tours include a native canoe adventure or an adventure hike to Mendenhall Glacier from Juneau; a zipline tour or a ride on the White Pass Scenic Railroad in Skagway; a sea otter and wildlife quest in Sitka; a tour of the Peace Park in Nagasaki, Japan; a full-day tour to Hanoi from Hong Gai, Vietnam; a kangaroo and koala tour in Melbourne, Australia; a Maori cultural experience in Wellington, New Zealand; and an off-road adventure in Bora Bora.

To take advantage of this offer, bookings must be made and deposited by March 31. RSSC cruises also include all-suite accommodations, gratuities, all soft drinks, premium wines and spirits, and up to four open-seating gourmet restaurants.

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Spirit Airlines said it is expanding its Caribbean route network with the introduction of new service between its Fort Lauderdale home and Santiago, Dominican Republic. Beginning June 18, 2009, the low-cost carrier will offer four weekly flights to Santiago, Dominican Republic, from Fort Lauderdale, including connections from 16 cities in the United States. The new service to Santiago complements Spirit’s current service to Santo Domingo and seasonal service to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

In addition to providing updated on great travel deals, new events, lodging information and much more, New York State’s travel and tourism site, www.iloveny.com, now features daily ski conditions. Log on to iloveny.com and get the latest downhill and cross-country ski reports. January is Learn a Snow Sport Month in New York State.

All month (except the weekend of Martin Luther King’s birthday, Jan. 17 to 19), learn to ski or ride for free or at a 50 percent discount, depending on the chosen resort.

Participants get a beginners package which includes a beginners lift pass, rental ski or board package and a professional lesson.

Visit www.learnasnowsport.com to download and print a coupon.

In addition to the learning package, skiers will also receive a return coupon for a 50 percent discount off their next package.

And every person who participates in this promotion receives coupons from Dick’s Sporting Goods for discounts on winter apparel and equipment at all Dick’s locations in New York State.

Check out discounted lift ticket prices at www.skiandrideny.com

La Samanna, a luxury Orient-Express hideaway in St. Martin, announced two exclusive offers in their new villas available for 2009.

With these special deals, guests will be among the first to experience La Samanna’s luxury three- and four-bedroom villas which opened Dec. 20, 2008. Guests can stay five nights and pay only four nights or stay seven nights and pay only five nights.

 Guests who reserve a three-bedroom cottage at La Samanna receive an automatic upgrade to a four-bedroom villa with private infinity edge pool at the time of reservation.

 Both offers available are Jan. 4 to Dec. 21, 2009. Other amenities included in the offers are VIP airport transfers;

daily buffet breakfast at La Samanna restaurant or continental breakfast in the villa; private villa concierge desk and bell stand; twice daily housekeeping service; garden and pool maintenance; water, soft drinks, coffee and tea; access to La Samanna services and facilities; and private beach cabana with beach butler service (holiday season only).

 The above promotions are based on availability.

For more information, call 800-780-4028 or visit www.lasamanna.com

In 2009, Trinidad Carnival culminates on Feb. 23 and 24. Trinidad Carnival has been described by many as the one of the most colorful and culturally diverse pre-Lenten celebrations in the world. Carnival was introduced to Trinidad by the French in 1783 in the form of elaborate masquerade balls thrown by plantation owners.

Banned from the festivities, the African slaves would hold their own celebrations using rituals and folklore while imitating their masters’ behavior. Once slavery was abolished in 1838, the freed Africans took their Carnival celebration to the streets and, as each new immigrant population entered Trinidad, a new flavor was added to the festivities.

Today, the diverse culture of both islands has influenced the music, food and traditions of the festival.

Feb. 21, Carnival Saturday, is when the masqueraders of the future, the children, come out dressed in costumes. Thousands of children take to the streets with their parents waving enthusiastically from the sidelines. Also on Feb. 21 is Panorama, the annual competition for national instrument — the steel pan. Preliminary contests are held throughout the country in the weeks leading up to Carnival. The finals are held on the Saturday night before Carnival officially begins.

The Kings and Queens Costume Competition will be held on Sunday, Feb. 22, and celebrates the costumes, weighing between 50 and 200 pounds. These costumes usually depict dragons that breathe fire, butterflies that bounce and flutter or insects with glowing eyes and antennas.

They are the leaders of each one of the masquerade bands and the costume competition for King and Queen is fierce. Designers spend months creating costumes that can reach up to 30 feet high and are usually attached to wheels, making mobility easier for the brave soul who will spend two days in it parading and dancing on the streets of Port of Spain.

On Monday, Feb. 23, J’Ouvert, the official start of Carnival, takes place before dawn. Revelers dress in old clothes and cover themselves in oil, grease, paint, chocolate and/or mud and parade through the towns and villages of Trinidad to the sounds of soca and calypso until the sun comes up. On Monday, Feb. 23, and Tuesday, Feb. 24, masquerade bands consisting of thousands of people “jumping up” in the streets of Port of Spain.

Band members wear glittery, colorful, scantily-clad costumes. Each band has its own historical, mythological or tropical concept with various sections of the band depicting aspects of the theme. Carnival Monday is just a “warm-up” for Carnival Tuesday and marching begins around midday after J’Ouvert morning. Participants view it as a dress rehearsal (headpieces and full costume are not required) for Carnival Tuesday, as well as a qualification for judging. Carnival Tuesday begins promptly at 8 a.m. and masqueraders are in full costume ready and waiting to dance in front of the judges.

For more information, call 800-816-7541 or visit www.goTrinidadandTobago.com

NYC & Company, the city’s official marketing, tourism and partnership organization, announced its NYC Winter Deal-O-Matic savings program, with more than 200 exclusive offers on hotels, dining, shopping, attractions, museums and tours throughout the five boroughs. With shorter lines at the museums and smaller crowds in high-traffic areas, the city is even easier to navigate and more enjoyable to experience. Details of the program, which runs through Feb. 28, are available at www.nycgo.com/dealomatic where consumers can view all the special offers available at hotels, restaurants, retailers, attractions and museums, and print out the NYC Winter Deal-O-Matic savings pass they’ll need to take advantage of the offers at participating establishments.

Among the deals are 15 percent off the best available rate at 72 hotels, or a third night free with the purchase of two nights; two-for-the-price-of-one admission or discounts at various museums and attractions throughout the five boroughs; discounts on ticket prices for several performing arts establishments, including Broadway and Off-Broadway performances on certain days; 15 to 20 percent off lunch and/or dinner bills at participating restaurants; discounts on walking and sightseeing tours and so much more. Coinciding with the special NYC Winter Deal-O-Matic savings program is the Signature Collection Third Night luxury hotels promotion, which offers a third night free (plus a Saks Fifth Avenue VIP shopping experience) to visitors who stay for two nights at the prevailing rate at any of 10 participating luxury hotels in the City.

 The program runs through Feb. 27; visit www.nycgo.com/thirdnight for more detail

Kicking off its 22nd year as the loyalty program for the Hilton Family of Hotels, Hilton HHonors announced its latest global promotion.

Hilton HHonors, the only hotel loyalty program that allows guests to earn points and miles for the same stay and redeem points for free nights with no blackout dates, is now offering members the ability to earn twice the number of base points for stays at more than 2,400 participating Hilton Family hotels around the world.

To earn double base points, HHonors members simply need to register at  and then book and stay at any participating Hilton Family hotel between Jan. 6 and April 6, 2009. HHonors members enjoy the flexibility of earning points and points, or points and miles. Click this link,

With this promotion, HHonors members staying at participating hotels during the promotional period will be able to earn double base points no matter which earnings style they choose. HHonors members choosing the points and points  earnings style will earn 10 base points and 20 bonus points for every eligible dollar spent during the promotional period.

Outside of the promotional period, on an ongoing basis, members earning points and points receive 10 base points and 5 bonus points for every eligible dollar spent. HHonors members earning points and miles during the promotional period will earn 10 base points and 10 bonus points for every eligible dollar spent plus miles.

Outside of the promotional period, on an ongoing basis, members earning points and miles earn 10 base points in addition to their mileage earnings.

Members of Hilton HHonors can redeem their points for free nights at Hilton, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Doubletree, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hampton , Hilton Garden Inn, Hilton Grand Vacations, Homewood Suites by Hilton and The Waldorf Astoria Collection hotels around the world with no blackout dates. Members looking to redeem their points for rewards other than hotel stays can choose from all-inclusive vacations, gift cards, one-of-a-kind experiences, cruises, popular merchandise, charitable donations and more.

For more information, call 800-HHONORS or visit www.HiltonHHonors.com

Sands Resorts of Myrtle Beach, S.C., announced a two-for-one vacation package they are offering to spring and summer guests of their seven Myrtle Beach resorts. The promotion is unique in that it offers a free two-night spring or fall vacation and an additional free night in the summer to those booking a three-night or longer summer stay.

The free two-night spring or fall vacation can be used as a two-night trip or as two individual night stays. These two nights can also be gifted or, as their ad states, sold on eBay. This may allow some creative families to secure a Myrtle Beach vacation for very little expense.

For reservations or more information, call 800-726-3783 or visit www.SandsResorts.com