Jetsettersblog

Princess Cruises has added seven new sailings to its fall 2010 to spring 2011 schedule aboard Sapphire Princess, including two Pacific crossings between California and Sydney, plus additional Hawaii cruises. “Due to the enthusiastic response to our 2009 trans-Pacific sailing, we wanted to offer additional opportunities to experience this unique itinerary,” said Jan Swartz, Princess executive vice president.

“The two new month-long sailings visiting 13 tropical ports of call will give cruisers a true taste of the idyllic South Pacific.” Swartz added that increased interest in roundtrip Hawaii sailings prompted Princess to add several more of these sailings to its west coast lineup as well.

The new Sapphire Princess voyages include a two-day Vancouver-to-San Francisco cruise departing Sept. 20, 2010; a 30-day cruise from San Francisco to Sydney departing Sept. 22, 2010; a 29-day Sydney-to-Los Angeles voyage departing Oct. 23, 2010; a 10-day Mexican Riviera roundtrip from Los Angeles Jan. 5, 2011; and a 14-day Hawaiian Islands roundtrip from Los Angeles Jan. 29, Feb. 26 and March 26, 2011.

The new sailings are open for sale, with fares starting at $199 per person for the two-day coastal cruise. Hawaii sailings begin at $1,995 per person, and Pacific crossings begin at $4,195 per person.

To accommodate the new cruises, which were added as a result of shifting demand in the West Coast cruise market, Princess cancelled 15 previously scheduled Mexican Riviera sailings. Seventeen Mexican Riviera sailings are still available during this time period.

Introduction of new product and service concept mark the next stage in national carrier’s transformation into one of Asia’s most successful airlines

Indonesia’s national carrier, Garuda Indonesia, has unveiled a new aircraft fleet, new in-flight product and a fresh corporate identity to mark the start of the next phase of its transformation into one of Asia’s most successful and profitable airlines.

The launch of the “Nature’s Wing” livery on Garuda Indonesia’s new Airbus A330-200 and Boeing 737-800NG (Next Generation) aircraft coincided with the opening of its new headquarters building near Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta Airport yesterday by Indonesia’s President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Both events symbolise the success of Garuda Indonesia’s transformation strategy, which saw it report a net profit of IDR669 billion (USD65.2 million) in 2008, despite the severe economic conditions affecting the global airline industry.

Garuda Indonesia CEO, Emirsyah Satar, said: “We have made enormous progress over the last four years, which is starting to show through in our financial results, but this is only the beginning. The introduction of our new fleet, new product, a corporate identity brand refresh and a new service concept, the ‘Garuda Indonesia Experience’, marks the next stage in the transformation of Garuda Indonesia as we move towards our vision of becoming one of the most successful and profitable airlines in Asia”.

The introduction of the A330-200s and Boeing 737-800NGs is part of a plan to more than double the Garuda Indonesia fleet to 116 aircraft over the next five years, based primarily on the B737-800NG on short and medium-range services and the A330-200 for medium and long-haul routes. Garuda Indonesia will also introduce 10 Boeing 777-300ERs on new ultra long-range flights starting in 2011 as its international network expands. The number of international departures will increase by more than 300% to 1,222 per week by 2014.

The Boeing 737-800NGs and A330-200s both feature Garuda Indonesia’s new signature interior, with individual touch-screen LCD TVs throughout Executive and Economy Classes with Video on Demand (VOD) entertainment systems offering 25 feature films and 250 audio tracks. The A330-200s will also feature full lie-flat beds in Executive Class with 74-inch seat pitch.

Agus Priyanto, Executive Vice President, Commercial, Garuda Indonesia, said: “From August onwards, we will be using our new A330-200s to open nonstop services from Jakarta-Sydney and Jakarta-Melbourne, which will offer travellers from Australia an alternative gateway to Asia.

We will also launch nonstop flights from Jakarta-Tokyo in October. In the longer-term, we’re planning to return to Europe next year. Our target is to achieve a five-star Skytrax rating by 2014”. Skytrax is an internationally-recognised rating of airline product and service delivery achievement, with five stars being the highest standard.

Crystal Cruises unveiled its 2011 season with returns to Alaska and West Africa, among the 58 cruises visiting 163 ports in 67 countries.

The Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity will embark on journeys throughout the Mediterranean, Northern Europe and the Baltic, Alaska, New England/Canada, Mexico, Caribbean, Panama Canal, Hawaii, Australia/New Zealand, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, India, South America and Africa. Crystal

Serenity’s 15th annual World Cruise spans 110 days on a new route around east and west Africa, while new Northern Hemisphere adventures offer guests Alaska cruises roundtrip from San Francisco and expanded opportunities to visit the North Cape and Mexican Riviera.

“Given the great number of Crystal Society members from all over the world, we’re mixing it up more than ever in 2011,” said Gregg Michel, president of Crystal Cruises. “In addition to our very exotic voyages in destinations like Africa, India and the Middle East, we’re also greatly increasing our presence in North America with a greater selection of domestic cruises. While destination and reputation are the leading vacation drivers, we also know that many of our guests relish the Crystal resort experience combined with the convenience of closer-to-home itineraries.”

Crystal’s 2011 cruise program includes a variety of seven- to 21-day itineraries, in addition to the full World Cruise. Most itineraries boast overnight night stays and late-night port calls.

The 110-day World Cruise will sail from Los Angeles to London, via the South Pacific, Australia and New Zealand, Southeast Asia, India, Dubai, and Africa. The line has also scheduled maiden calls in Argostoli, Kefalonia; Fethiye, Turkey; Komodo Island, Indonesia; Koper, Slovenia; and Marigot Bay, St. Martin.

The line is returning to Alaska for the first time since 2005 with 12-day roundtrips from San Francisco. Every fall New England/Canada cruise includes a shipboard overnight in New York, as well as Montréal.

Eight Mexican Riviera roundtrips sail from Los Angeles, including several seven-day cruises and a holiday cruise. All but one Crystal Symphony voyage embarks and/or debarks from a U.S. port. Among the voyages, overnight calls are scheduled in Ashdod, Melbourne, Barcelona, Cannes, Istanbul and New York. Double overnight calls are planned in Dubai, Cape Town and St. Petersburg. Effective immediately, Crystal Cruises is accepting reservations. Day-by-day itineraries will be posted on Crystal’s website.

The skyline of Carowinds, in Charlotte, N.C., will drastically change for the 2010 season, as the amusement park announces plans to debut the Intimidator, the Southeast’s tallest, fastest and longest rollercoaster, in the spring of 2010.

Topping the list as the largest single capital investment in Carowinds’ 37-year history, the Intimidator is named in honor of NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt, “The Intimidator.” This massive attraction will stand 232 feet (23 stories) tall at its highest peak and send guests plunging down a 211-foot first drop at a 74-degree angle, reaching speeds in excess of 75 miles per hour. The second (178 foot) and third (151 foot) hills are also taller than any rollercoaster at Carowinds.

With 5,316 feet of track, the Intimidator will feature high-speed twists and turns including seven steep drops — one for each of Earnhardt’s NASCAR championships — and an intense finish through a diving spiral. The ride experience will last more than three minutes, and replicate the speed and intensity of a fast-paced NASCAR race.

The trains on the Intimidator will feature unique, open-air stadium-style seating with a simple T-bar style restraint that extends from the floor between the rider’s feet with the bar resting across the rider’s lap.

These “side-less” trains take away a feeling of protection for the riders and allows them to experience an unobstructed view of all the thrills and excitement of this record-breaking roller coaster.

The trains will also be fashioned to mirror Dale Earnhardt’s 1998 RCR No. 3 Chevrolet Monte Carlo.

The 10-acre attraction will be located on the midway across from the entrance of Nighthawk and will race over the skyline of the park from the north main entrance to the south entrance, paralleling the guest parking lot. Featuring a bold red track and grey support structure, the Intimidator’s 232-foot lift will overshadow the park’s skyline, dwarfing its neighboring rollercoaster, Afterburn, at 144 feet.

Guests will have the opportunity to see this historic ride being built from the ground up as they attend on operating days throughout the fall.

Those who cannot wait until 2010 may take a virtual ride on the Intimidator, access exclusive updates, features, virtual renderings, ride statistics, and more at www.intimidator.carowinds.com

Construction has already begun on this world-class rollercoaster and will continue throughout the winter months. The Intimidator is expected to open to the public in the spring of 2010. The Intimidator is designed and manufactured by Bolliger and Mabillard of Monthey, Switzerland, the same firm that brought Afterburn to Carowinds in 1999 and Vortex in 1992.

For more information, visit www.carowinds.com

Frasers Hospitality Pte Ltd. has signed a contract to manage its first Fraser Suites property in India’s capital, New Delhi, strategically located close to Central Delhi.

The nine-story, 90-unit Fraser Suites New Delhi is scheduled to open in October 2010. The eco-friendly, ultra-modern property sets new benchmarks in ecological design, with a superstructure based on the Vastu Energy Grid, aimed at optimizing the use of solar energy for lighting, heating and electricity generation. Situated in the Mayur Vihar area, it is part of a newly developed business hub comprising a mall, commercial offices and hotels with direct access to the Metro Station and is conveniently accessible from key locations around the city.

Amenities include a fully equipped business center, health club and spa, swimming pool with pool deck, outdoor whirlpool, a wellness bar, retail offerings, café and restaurant.

The signing brings the total number of Frasers-managed units to 585 in separate developments scheduled to open in India over the next three years. It underscores Frasers’ objective to achieve a target of more than 700 individual units under management contract by 2011, elevating India to Frasers’ second-largest market globally.

Only China is expected to out-pace India’s rapid pace of development.

“Despite the impact of the global financial crisis on the real estate sector, there is still a critical shortage of high-end serviced residences accommodation.

In New Delhi, there is a current inventory of just over 11,000 rooms as against the demand for about 35,000 guest rooms for the Commonwealth Games in 2010,” said Choe Peng Sum, chief executive officer of Frasers Hospitality. Fraser Suites New Delhi is being developed by IFCI Infrastructure Development Limited (IIDL) as an institutional endeavor.

Frasers has expanded its global footprint across Europe, North Asia, Southeast Asia, Middle East and Australia to include more than 4,800 individual apartments in its current portfolio. And, with another 4,000 apartments already on the drawing board, the company is on course to manage close to 10,000 units by the end of 2010.

For more information, visit www.frasershospitality.com

On the occasion of India’s Independence Day, Taj Hotels Resorts & Palaces announced the reopening of the erstwhile Taj Coral Reef after a stylish and comprehensive makeover. The hotel has been christened Vivanta by Taj-Coral Reef, Maldives and thus becomes the Taj’s first resort hotel under this new brand.

Slotted in the upper upscale segment, Vivanta Coral Reef offers an exceptional holiday experience at a value proposition. Vivanta addresses the needs of a new-gen traveler with 62 villas, all offering sea views, a choice of dining options and an array of recreational activities. Vivanta is designed to deliver a contemporary experience.

The name Vivanta is drawn from vivacity, vividness and bon vivant — an appreciation of the good things in life.

Located on Hembadhu Island, in the North Male Atoll, the resort is 32 kilometers from the airport, a distance traversed in less than an hour by luxury power-yachts.

The accommodations at Vivanta Coral Reef are utterly chic. All 62 villas are spacious, starting at 58 square meters for the Charm Beach Villas and going up to 215 square meters for the Nirvana Suites.

Each villa sports its own deck with loungers, daybeds and a place for a private meal.

The Indulgence Water Villas have the deck over water with its own outdoor rain shower. Property-wide Wi-Fi, large LCD TVs with home theater and mp3 connectivity, cordless phones, organic mini bar and large walk-in wardrobes make for a habitat that is both involving as well as comforting. The Nirvana Suites are perfect for families, featuring two bedrooms and a large outdoor deck with private plunge-pools, as well as personalized butler service.

Executive Chef Vikas Milhoutra has created a range of menus which offer regional and international fare from light meals to indulgent fare.

The all-day dining restaurant Latitude offers Pan-Asian flavors; Open, an al fresco dining experience with an interactive Tepanyaki grill, goes from Wagyu to Creole, Med, Japanese or Indian.

Snacks and light meals at the poolside pizzeria and 24 hour in-villa dining allow guests to dine when they chose. Private dinners can be arranged at various locales.

There is also the open-air Reef Bar, with a comprehensive wine-list with 120 labels from the old as well as new worlds and an equally extensive liquor and cocktail menu, and a choice of cigars.

Other features of the property include the Jiva Spa, which features two double treatment rooms and two single treatment rooms with private soak bath areas. Vivanta Coral Reef is a part of a fragile eco-system and is fully cognizant to its responsibility. Measures like energy-efficient lighting and a captive water-bottling plant ensure minimal strain on the resources. Vivanta has also initiated a plan to regenerate the corals around the resort affected by bleaching and is working with the assistance of the International Finance Corporation by setting up a nursery to rejuvenate the coral life.

RCI, a leader in vacation exchange and one of the Wyndham Worldwide family of companies, announced four new affiliations with resorts belonging to leisure hospitality major Club Mahindra.

The new resorts include Club Mahindra Lake Forest in Yercaud, Club Mahindra Tusker Trails in Thekkady, Club Mahindra Backwater Retreat in Ashtamudi Lake and Club Mahindra Dancing Waters in Naukuchiatal. Club Mahindra Lake Forest is located in Yercaud in the hills above Salem at an altitude of 1,600 meters.

The resort, which is a short walk from Lake Forest at the town’s center, was originally a British bungalow dating back to the 1800s. Situated in the midst of a coffee estate, Yercaud is 200 kilometers from Bangalore and 340 kilometers from Chennai, with a network of highways connecting these cities to Salem. Club Mahindra Tusker Trails is located in Thekkady, in Kerala. Situated amid spice plantations and woods, the resort offers guests opportunities for scenic hikes and mountain walks. Built in traditional Indian “machan” style, the resort boasts 32 rooms, with private balconies overlooking hills, foliage or landscaped gardens.

The resort’s many offerings include a multi-cuisine restaurant that serves local delicacies, an Ayurveda center, and an array of indoor and outdoor activities such as bamboo rafting, plantation tours, jungle treks and elephant rides. Club Mahindra Backwater Retreat is located on the banks of Ashtamudi Lake in Kerala.

Historic Kollam is the gateway to Ashtamudi, and is just 15 kilometers from the resort by road or 10 minutes by speedboat.

The resort has 25 rooms spread across five chalets, with each room overlooking a view of the garden and lake.

Guests can opt for a massage at Svaastha spa, a boat trip, bird watching, kayaking or fishing. Located less than two hours by road to Thiruvananthapuram, Kottayam and Alappuzha, guests looking for adventure can travel to Alappuzha on the backwaters by boat.

Club Mahindra Dancing Waters is located in Naukuchiatal, just 25 kilometers from the town of Nainital, in the Himalayan Mountains. Naukuchiatal, known as the “lake of nine corners,” is situated in a valley surrounded by orchards and dense jungles. Club Mahindra Dancing Waters offers 31 rooms that blend into the surroundings, each offering scenic views of either the lake or the hills.

For more information, visit www.grouprci.com  or www.wyndhamworldwide.com

Holland America Line’s 2010 Group Advantage Program (GAP) has added two new amenity packages and two award classes. New features include “Girls’ Night Out” and “Guys’ Night Out” package amenities as well as an option to select personalized martini classes for a group. “As guests continue to seek more personalized and interactive experiences, we’re expanding the variety of amenities offered in our GAP program for more customized group experiences,” said Richard D. Meadows, executive vice president-marketing, sales and guest programs for Holland America Line.

“Group business is a great way for travel sellers to increase revenue, and we’ve designed our incentives to offer more unique and appealing ways to market to groups.”

Holland America provides incentive amenities based on GAP points established by the cruise destination, date and length. Travel sellers can then select amenities to customize a group’s cruising experience. In addition to the new packages, the premium line also offers custom GAP packages tailored for weddings, family reunions and culinary groups.

In the Girls’ Night Out package, one complimentary lunch or dinner is included at the Northwest-inspired Pinnacle Grill restaurant. Each guest receives a traditional pedicure or manicure in the Greenhouse Spa and Salon with a maximum of five people at one time. A glass of champagne accompanies the selected spa service. Five booked staterooms are required to receive the package amenities.

The Guys’ Night Out package features a casino credit of $25 for each guest in the shipboard casinos. An additional $25 alcoholic beverage card per guest is included for use at any outlet on board. Five booked staterooms are also required to receive package amenities.

As a new group amenity for travel sellers to select for qualifying groups, guests can learn to create and taste various martini beverages, such as the Peartini, Rum Sundae, High Tide Martini or Holland America Line’s signature martini, the Yellow Tulip.

The 45-minute martini class offers guests the chance to make three to six beverages, with six guests limited to each class. Additional items on the 2010 GAP menu include beverage cards, a shipboard credit of $75 per stateroom, three types of vitamin water per stateroom, a set of five Holland America Line wine charms or a cake for private functions.

Travel sellers also can now arrange for their guests to learn to recreate towel designs with a complimentary 88-page “Towel Creations” book and 45-minute towel-folding session. GAP points are based on a per-person value and vary by the cruise region and length. GAP selections must be selected 90 days prior to the cruise departure. For more information on creating cruise groups and GAP amenities, Holland America Line offers the free guide “Developing Group Business.”

To download or order a printed copy, visit www.travelagentheadquarters.com  and look under the Sales Tools tab or call 800-544-0443. Polar Online can be accessed at the web site as well.

Crystal Cruises is offering a record number of safaris in connection with a segment of its 2010 World Cruise. Eighteen Overland Adventures allow guests to search for Africa’s “Big Five” — lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo — throughout Namibia, Tanzania, South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Kenya.

The two- to five-night adventures take guests from port to game reserves and then return them to the ship in another port. The 21-day cruise aboard Crystal Serenity departs Cape Town for Mumbai Feb. 9, the third segment of the 108-day World Cruise.

Safaris include the Okavango Delta, Botswana, the only place in Botswana where endangered white rhinos can be seen in their natural habitat; Boulders Lodge at Singita Sabi Sand Reserve, South Africa, home to leopard, zebra, elephant and giraffe; Mala Mala Game Reserve, which shares an unfenced border with Kruger National Park; and Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara, Nairobi.

The voyage visits Cape Town, Durban and Port Elizabeth, South Africa; Zanzibar, Tanzania; Mombasa, Kenya; Male, Republic of Maldives; Mahe/Victoria, Seychelles; Cochin, Marmagao; and Mumbai, India. Cruise fares start at $13,190 per person, double occupancy, and include a $500-per-person shipboard credit. The Crystal Overland Adventure safaris are available from $3,055 per person, double occupancy, while partial day safaris start at $155 per person.

The Gran Melia Golf Resort Puerto Rico announced ongoing guest-enhancing ecological initiatives. Over the years, major recycling programs, water and energy conservation projects and community charity fundraisers have been major focuses for the resort. Recently, however, the property has implemented a conservation program for their untouched beach and a star-gazing program with a professional astronomer for guests to enjoy.

The resort is located on the eastern coast of Puerto Rico about 20 minutes from San Juan, along a natural beach in the foothills of El Yunque — the only rainforest in the U.S. National Parks System.

 To protect the beach and its natural beauty, the Gran Melia has banned motorized water sports and ensures that the staff understands the importance of maintaining the property’s natural beach in pristine condition.

To showcase Rio Grande’s clear night sky, the property enlisted the help of a local astronomer, Gregory Garcia Morales who, every Saturday evening beginning at 7:30 p.m., provides guests with complimentary candlelit outdoor star-gazing tours, educating guests on general astronomy concepts, constellations, planets and the effects of global warming on the environment.

For more information or reservations, call 787-657-1040 or visit www.gran-melia-puerto-rico.com