Jetsettersblog

Starting in December, passengers traveling in Economy Class on all intercontinental flights operated by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines can choose seats offering greater comfort.

The new Economy Comfort zone offers up to 3.9 inches more legroom and back supports that can recline twice as far. What’s more, Economy Comfort passengers can also disembark quicker after landing because their seating zone is located at the front of Economy Class.

KLM will be offering the new Economy Comfort zone in response to customer demands for greater comfort and more choice in Economy Class on intercontinental flights. The Economy Comfort zone supplements the preferred seats already available at an additional charge.

This development forms part of KLM’s long-term program entitled “The Customer Journey,” which focuses on renewing its brand position and awarding top priority to customer demands.

KLM’s entire intercontinental fleet will be equipped with the new zone. The first aircraft has already been converted.

The remaining aircraft will follow in the months ahead, enabling all passengers to choose for the Economy Comfort zone on intercontinental flights from December.

Depending on the distances involved, the price of the new zone will amount to between $112 and $210 for a single leg of the journey.

Flying Blue Platinum members and passengers traveling on a full-flex Economy Class ticket can book Economy Comfort seats without a surcharge. Flying Blue Gold members will be offered a 50 percent discount and Flying Blue Silver members 25 percent. The service in Economy Comfort will be the same as that in Economy Class.

Carnival Cruise Lines will introduce the first year-round cruise schedule from Charleston, S.C., with the deployment of the 2,056-passenger Carnival Fantasy in May. Carnival Fantasy will operate five-, six- and seven-day voyages to the Bahamas and Key West from the Passenger Terminal in historic downtown Charleston beginning May 18.

Carnival expects to carry more than 140,000 passengers annually from the port. Including Charleston, Carnival will operate from 20 North American homeports in 2010, with 12 year-round departure points.

The new year-round departures from Charleston dramatically expand upon Carnival’s decade-long relationship with the port.

Previously, Carnival has operated seasonal voyages from Charleston, including two five-day departures on the Carnival Triumph this year and two on the Carnival Glory next year. “Charleston is an extraordinary city within easy reach of millions of U.S. residents who will now have convenient access to Carnival’s fantastic and affordable cruise vacation options year-round,” said Gerry Cahill, Carnival president and CEO.

“Our past experience with the Port of Charleston, which has a very efficient and conveniently located cruise terminal, has been outstanding.”

Five-day voyages departing Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays will call at Nassau and Freeport.

Six-day voyages departing Saturdays will visit Freeport, Nassau and Key West. Seven-day voyages depart Saturdays and will feature Grand Turk, Half Moon Cay and Nassau.

Carnival Fantasy is currently based in New Orleans and is scheduled to transfer to Mobile for a program of four- and five-day cruises that will operate from that port from Nov. 10 through May 10.

Replacing the Carnival Fantasy in Mobile will be its sister ship, the 2,052-passenger Carnival Elation, which will reposition from San Diego to launch year-round service from that port May 15.

In addition to four- and five-day cruises from Mobile, Carnival Elation will operate a series of seven-day Western Caribbean voyages in spring, summer and fall 2010.

Prior to the start-up of its new Mobile-based program, Carnival Elation will sail on a 15-day Panama Canal cruise departing from San Diego April 30. Guests will have the option of debarking the vessel in Tampa on May 14 or in Mobile on May 15. Featured ports will include Cabo San Lucas and Acapulco, Mexico; Puntarenas, Costa Rica; Cartagena, Colombia; and George Town, Grand Cayman.

US Airways is offering the new Envoy Suite on trans-Atlantic flights. Starting this November, the airline will begin installing fully lie-flat business-class seats with an advanced on-demand in-flight entertainment system on its fleet of Airbus wide-body aircraft. Each suite has direct aisle access with all seats facing forward and a state-of-the art personal entertainment system. Each Envoy Suite is nearly three-and-a-half feet across. For more information, visit www.usairways.com/envoysuite

In 1998, the “Majestic Imperator”, restored to luxury with six carriages, was christened by Maria Christina Habsburg-Lothringen, the youngest living descendent of Kaiser Franz Joseph I and his wife, Elisabeth (also called “Sissi”). Since then, the train’s popularity has grown steadily.

The Majestic Imperator offers several experiences, such as the Imperial Dinner Train in Vienna in commemoration of the composer Joseph Haydn, which goes from Vienna to Eisenstadt and the Esterházy Palace for music of the composer and a four-course meal cooked by celebrity chef Reinhard Gerer. The luxury train arrives back in Vienna at around 11 p.m.

Every Thursday the Majestic Imperator runs from Vienna to Munich on a slightly indirect route of 11 hours from Vienna’s Westbahnhof train station via Melk, Linz, Salzburg, Prien by Chiemsee, Innsbruck, Seefeld, Garmisch-Partenkirchen and then Munich-Starnberg. The return journey is offered on Saturdays.

For groups of 40 persons, the Imperial Vienna Wine Train offer passengers a three-hour city tour by train where they are taken right across Vienna visiting Beethoven House and a typical Viennese wine tavern in Grinzing along the way.

Also available to groups of 40 upwards is the Majestic Mystery City Tour following the section of track once used by the former k.u.k. monarchy.

Each place of interest plays a role in the informative narrative that accompanies this Viennese tour. Historical criminal cases catch up with murdering countesses — moritat singers, coach men, rogues and wenches disclose long-forgotten secrets.

For guests who would prefer a musical rendition over a narrative, the Magical Music City Tour is also available.

For more information, call 011-43-1-533-36-310, email lojer@panoramatours.com  or visit www.panoramatours.com

A new venture by Australia’s leading boutique hotel operator in response to our guests’ desire for experiential travel, to live like locals and enjoy home-size living space and amenities.

Eight Hotels has launched EIGHT RESIDENCES. – A boutique collection of apartment style living with hotel services, located in gateway cities all over the world.

Launching in Sydney and Paris first, the Residences capture each city’s true essence. Local architecture combined with modern design, luxury furnishing and outstanding locations create an authentic city living experience.

PARIS – 2nd ARRONDISSEMENT

Positioned in the heart of the pedestrian area of Montorgueil, this beautifully refurbished two-bedroom apartment is set in a quintessentially Parisian building, offering typical baroque flair with it’s original wooden floors, high ceilings and ornate cornices.

The space is filed with natural light and offers all the luxuries of a fully equipped home with comfort and style to match. Sleeps 6 and priced from 129 Euro per night

SYDNEY – DARLINGHURST

Positioned in the heart of the cultural, entertainment, dining and shopping district, just a short walk from the CBD, this contemporary designed studio apartment is set in a stunning art deco inspired building and boasts gun barrel views of Sydney’s Opera House and Harbour. Also included is a roof top lap pool and sun deck, secure parking and walk in rain shower. Sleeps 2 and priced from AU$125 per night

Apartments are kitted out with every necessary modern convenience including Flat Screen TV and DVD, fast speed Internet, fully equipped Kitchenettes and guest Laundry.

The Residences are available on short or long-term letting and perfect for leisure, corporate or family travel.
Eight Residences launching shortly in other gateway cities.

Recognisable through its cameo appearance in countless films and TV shows, in September 2009 the Santa Monica Pier celebrated its first century as one of California’s most iconic attractions.

Back in 1909, when the Pier was first built, no one could have imagined that the Pier would survive to greet its 100th birthday. It certainly has had more than ‘nine’ lives. The Pier has stubbornly remained a constant, weathering the ferocious power of storms unleashed by Mother Nature, ravages of change and progress and economic hardships – but it survived.

To the delight of national and international tourists, enthusiasm for the Pleasure Pier has never abated. A pivotal feature of everyday city life, every year the Santa Monica Pier attracts millions of annual visitors.

Ben Franz-Knight, executive director of the Santa Monica Pier Restoration Company said, “The Pier today remains an icon – a single remnant of history on a coast that was once peppered with piers. It offers nostalgia for yesteryear, yet remains a commanding presence on the national landscape and a vibrant entertainment center that embraces the culture of today. It deserves the birthday celebration of a century.”

The Pier’s history is storied. First came the Hippodrome in 1916, a mixture of Byzantine, Moorish and California architecture, fascinating onlookers with its inside carousel of a circling menagerie of wooden animals. Among the last of its kind, the Hippodrome was adopted into the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.

And eight years later, in 1924, the La Monica Ballroom opened – a vast and ornate palatial-like structure, floating magically above the sea on the Santa Monica Pier built with a footprint of more than 40 thousand square feet – the largest ballroom in the world – in an era when ballroom dancing had reached a fevered pitch.

The ballroom was also the site of the famous Dance Marathons in the 1930s that offered cash prizes during the brutal early 1930s, a ray of hope for out of work people.

The Pier was, and is today, a magnet for Hollywood. A staple in a number of popular Hollywood pictures including Funny Girl (1968), They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? (1969), The Sting (1973), Forrest Gump (1994) and The Majestic (2001). Celebrity sightings run the gamut from Hannah Montana star Miley Cyrus to US Congressman Kucinich and Hall of Fame basketball player Wilt Chamberlain.

About the Santa Monica Pier Restoration Corporation
The Santa Monica Pier Restoration Corporation (SMPRC), established in 1983, is a non-profit, public benefit corporation made up of business and community leaders who represent the full range of community interests. It was created by the Santa Monica City Council to preserve and enhance the pleasure pier experience for people of all ages and for future generations and is funded by the City of Santa Monica.

For more information, visit, http://www.santamonicapier.org

About the Santa Monica Pier Centennial Celebration

The Santa Monica Pier Centennial Celebration, through a series of free, public events and festivals, will engage the public in the rich history of the Santa Monica Pier by re-creating and paying homage to some of the most memorable moments from its past.

Throughout the Centennial, the Pier will highlight the place that the Santa Monica Pier has in the everyday life of the city.

The Santa Monica Pier Centennial Celebration looks back at the first 100 years as inspiration for the next 100 years, and continues to offer fun, festivities and opportunities for healthy outdoor activities.

The events of the Santa Monica Pier Centennial Celebration will pay tribute to the past, enhance the visitor experience of the present, offer events geared to attract new generations as well as entice long term year round economic development.

For more information visit www.santamonica.com

Aboriginal dancers and a traditional smoking ceremony were used today to officially open Wollongong’s new Southern Gateway Centre, the largest of six gateway tourism and business centres launched around New South Wales.

Tourism Wollongong Chairman Jim Eddy said the stylish new centre had been specifically positioned on the F6 Freeway at Bulli Tops to offer expansive views of one of the State’s fastest growing holiday and lifestyle destinations.

“Five new hotels have been built in Wollongong in the past three years alone and we’ve seen expenditure on accommodation by visitors grow more than 70 per cent in eight years,” he said.

“Much of this resulted from the huge amount of attention being paid here and overseas to our new coastal driving route, Grand Pacific Drive, since it opened almost four years ago, and I am confident the Southern Gateway Centre will help take this exposure to another level.”

Funded by three levels of Government, the $11million complex contains a visitor information centre run by Tourism Wollongong, a stylish restaurant – Altitude 1148 – and the Jumbulla Aboriginal Discovery Centre, set up by the local Dharawal people to showcase the region’s rich Aboriginal heritage.

It is designed to encourage travellers on the busy coastal run to take time out in the Wollongong and South Coast Region.

State-of-the-art digital interactive touch screens enable visitors to create their own itineraries and research a wide range of activities, attractions, cultural experiences and accommodation options, with Tourism Wollongong staff on hand to provide personal advice on experiences and activities available in Wollongong and beyond.

Advanced technology is also used by the Jumbulla Aboriginal Centre to encourage increased awareness for the world’s oldest surviving culture, with four digital displays offering glass and water screen technology linked to audio-visual narrations based on four main themes – Welcome to Country, The Land, Family and Togetherness.

Children are looked after with an on-screen Hairy Man story, while a bush track walk will offer trekkers a first-hand look at Aboriginal hunting, bush tucker and bush medicine skills along an escarpment track used over thousands of years by the Dharawal people, whose lands stretch from Botany Bay south to Shoalhaven and inland to Picton.

Mr Eddy said the centre’s viewing platform offered stunning panoramic views of the Illawarra Escarpment and Grand Pacific Drive from the Royal National Park and Sea Cliff Bridge in the north to Lake Illawarra and the rolling farmlands behind Kiama in the south.

For details about Wollongong and the South Coast visit www.visitwollongong.com.au

For more information about the Jumbulla Aboriginal Centre see www.jumbulla.com.au

A CRUISE from Athens through the Greek Islands to Istanbul in May of next year is not for everyone – this one’s aboard the super-luxury Seabourn Odyssey and will be shared by just 450 guests.

And making it all the more special is that its part of a 12-night fly, cruise and stay package through ecruising.travel that includes 7-nights aboard Seabourn Odyssey, 2-nights pre-cruise at Athen’s Grand Bretagne Hotel, 2-nights post-cruise at the Swissotel the Bosphorous Hotel Istanbul, and a free night in Singapore’s famous Raffles Hotel enroute.

There’s also a half-day Ancient Corinth Tour in Athens, a full-day Bursa Tour in Istanbul, all ship/hotel/airport transfers, and return air from mainland capitals including air taxes,.

Seabourn Odyssey sails from Athens on May 8 next year for Mylos, Rhodes, Patmos and Khylos in the Greek Isles, Kusadasi for Ephesus in Turkey, a full-day at sea, and Istanbul; onboard highlights include open-seat dining with menus created by the legendary Charlie Palmer, all drinks from the open bars, a diverse selection of onboard activities, and onboard gratuities.

By booking Early Bird through ecruising.travel up until December 10 this year brings the price down to as low as $8349pp twin-share; for full details phone 1300 369 848 or visit www.ecruising.travel

ADDITIONAL onboard details:

Seabourn Odyssey has six bars/lounges, a two-deck health spa, gym and fitness studio and beauty salon (charges apply,) six outdoor whirlpools and two outdoor pools, an indoor Thalassotherapy pool, sport deck and sun terrace, water sports marina, casino, library, computer centre and onboard shopping.

All-suite accommodations feature flat-screen TV, DVD player, mini-bar and refrigerator, hair dryer, direct-dial telephone and 24-hour service.

The Australian Outback Spectacular on the Gold Coast began a new chapter when it opened an exciting new dinner show ‘Heroes of the Light Horse’.

Since opening its doors in April 2006, Australian Outback Spectacular has entertained over a million people from all over the world, with its celebration of Australian stock men and women at work and play. The audience learns of their history, marvels at demonstrations of their riding skills, laughs at the gags and enjoys the songs and poems that are not only theirs but ours.

The new show ‘Heroes of the Light Horse’ will retain all the fun, charm and skill of the original but with an important difference, this time we celebrate the link between our stockmen and the legendary Australian Light Horse.

The new show has been directed by one of Australia’s most celebrated film and television directors, Simon Wincer, who is best known for movies, ‘The Man from Snowy River’, ‘The Lighthorsemen’, ‘Phar Lap’ and ‘Free Willy’. In Heroes of the Light Horse, Wincer adds a new element to the show by blending extracts from his movie with the live light horse action in the foreground, further enhancing the show and introducing high definition movie vision to all scenes.

Aided by clips from the film, ‘The Lighthorsemen’, the audience follows Australian troops on the long, dry march to the outskirts of Beersheba in Palestine. Following the march, the audience witnesses the famous charge against entrenched artillery, machine guns and infantry, to take and secure the precious wells of Beersheba.

Back in present day, the Spectacular ends on a lighter note celebrating stockmen’s skills, but always aware of the debt all Australians owe to those heroes of the Light Horse.

Warner Village Theme Parks’ principal strategy for Australian Outback Spectacular is to grow tourism to the Gold Coast, which produces positive results for its Gold Coast theme parks and the region generally. Australian Outback Spectacular was created to provide international and domestic visitors a typical Australian experience to learn about Australia and its rich culture and heritage.

Australian Outback Spectacular was originally conceptualized over nine years ago by Chairman of Warner Village Theme Parks and Executive Producer of Australian Outback Spectacular – Mr. John Menzies, who identified the opportunity to promote Australian culture to domestic and international visitors.

“I get a lot of feedback about the show, and the one thing that always stands out is how patriotic and proud the show makes our Australian guests feel about their homeland,” Mr. Menzies said.

“It’s been an inspiring success, and to keep interest high, we decided to introduce a new chapter in the show, which further enhances our cultural outback heritage by telling the story of one of Australia’s least known, but most important historic events – the charge at Beersheba by 800 Australian Light Horsemen during the First World War in 1917,” Mr. Menzies explained.

“The Light Horse was made up predominantly by “boys from the bush”; young men from the outback who volunteered along with their horses to join the Australian Mounted Infantry know as the Light Horse.

“The famous charge at Beersheba is regarded as one of the most successful and courageous cavalry charge in history and is a living testament to the continued bravery and determination of our outback sons”, he said.

The show however, whilst demonstrating this important event in our history, still contains all the modern day fun and competitive spirit of the outback and its people which has struck such a chord, particularly with Australians.

Presenting partner, R.M.Williams Company is proud to continue their support for Australian Outback Spectacular.

R.M.Williams Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Hamish Turner, said the show continues to present Australia’s Outback heritage in an authentic format which is exciting for all audiences.

“Our company founder, Australian legend Reginald Murray (“R.M.”) Williams was a passionate and proud Australian. We know R.M. would have shared our view that Australian Outback Spectacular is important because it communicates the culture of the outback to a whole new generation of Australians and visitors,” Mr. Turner said.

FACTS

Attraction Australian Outback Spectacular, presented by R.M.Wiliams, is a permanent attraction

Show location 20 minutes from Surfers Paradise, between Warner Bros. Movie World and Wet’n’Wild Water World on the Pacific Motorway, Oxenford, Gold Coast, Qld

Show duration 1.5 hours including 3 course Aussie BBQ dinner

Show time Nightly from Tuesday – Sunday (subject to change, excludes Christmas)
Doors open at 6:15pm. Pre-show commences at 7:00pm.

Matinee show time Additional 12.30pm matinee shows serving a BBQ lunch will be added to the show schedule from time to time

Entry Ticket Includes show, dinner, drinks during dinner and stockman’s hat
$99.95 Adult, $69.95 Child (3-13 years), $89.95 Pensioner

Ticket Purchase/enquiries For bookings call 13 33 86 or go to www.myfun.com.au

Prepare for Cold Season at the SHA Wellness Clinic

El Albir, Spain – Flu season is upon us and the best way to ward off a nasty cold this winter is to maintain a healthy lifestyle year round. In an effort to help combat pesky germs and infectious diseases, SHA Wellness Clinic has announced its Healthy Winter Program.

This 5-night package is designed to help guests achieve their strongest possible immune system. The Healthy Winter Program package is available from October until December 20th 2009 at the rate of 1,699 Euros per person based on double occupancy.

Included in the package is a general check-up, a natural health consultation and an aesthetic consultation with the resident medical officers along with the option of a personalized meal plan on SHA’s gourmet macrobiotic cuisine. In addition to daily activities at the SHA Life Learning Center (yoga, tai chi, shiatsu, cooking classes, macrobiotics lectures, etc.), the package rate includes several private activities. Through the understanding that wellbeing is achieved by the nurture of both mental and physical health, guests receive 1 natural therapeutic treatment (shiatsu, Reiki, acupuncture or deep tissue), 1 moisturizing facial treatment, 1 seaweed body wrap, 1 oxygen therapy session and 1session in the salt water flotarium.

Located in El Albir, on the side of the Sierra Helada overlooking the Mediterranean Sea on Spain’s eastern coast,

The SHA Wellness Clinic is the world’s first luxury macrobiotic retreat. It is supervised by a team of internationally renowned experts led by the esteemed Michio Kushi, who is widely recognized as the father of modern macrobiotics.

SHA is spread out over 25 thousand square meters and is composed of 5 architecturally-stunning independent structures interconnected by bridges and housing 93 suites. The SHA Wellness Clinic is devoted to significantly improving and prolonging health, happiness and wellbeing by fusing ancient oriental disciplines and revolutionary western techniques.