Jetsettersblog

United Continental Holdings, Inc., said that Continental Airlines has executed a letter of intent with in-flight entertainment provider LiveTV to offer in-flight Wi-Fi via Ka-band beginning next year.

The company plans to offer the service on more than 200 domestic Boeing 737 and 757 aircraft equipped with DirecTV, providing onboard connectivity and more than 95 channels of live television programming to customers flying within the continental United States.

Ka-band will be able to offer higher transmission speeds for more extensive onboard connection capabilities, including browsing of content-rich websites, sending and receiving e-mails and downloading files. United Airlines currently offers in-flight Internet service on 14 aircraft, including on all p.s. flights linking New York Kennedy with Los Angeles and San Francisco. For more information, visit www.UnitedContinentalHoldings.com

VIA Rail’s Winnipeg-Churchill route offers a two-day journey from the artsy metropolis of Winnipeg and ends amidst the lakes and the barren beauty of the tundra in Churchill.

The journey allows passengers to venture off the beaten path on the Pas-Pukatawagan train, a little known secret that visits the smaller communities of western Manitoba.

Featuring countless miles of untouched land and lakes, this 240 mile route features plenty of animal viewing including moose, bears and deer.

The lakes are home to the internationally acclaimed trophy lake trout, northern pike and walleye.

Passengers aboard the Winnipeg-Churchill route can connect seamlessly to Pas on Mondays and Thursdays at 11:15 a.m. local time and depart from Pukatawagan on Tuesdays and Fridays 10:30 a.m. local time.

Manitoba has over 110,000 lakes, and is home to Canada’s seventh-largest city and the “Polar Bear Capital of the world.”

For more information, call 888-VIA-RAIL or visit

www.viarail.ca/en

This spring, Vancouver-based rail service Rocky Mountaineer will debut rail-and-cruise itineraries departing from Seattle in partnership with Holland America Line.

This marks the first time the rail service has offered Seattle departures in addition to its Vancouver departures.

The new 12- to 17-day itineraries depart Seattle for coastal British Columbia and Alaska. The trip begins with a seven-night Holland America cruise that stops in Juneau, Sitka, Ketchikan, Victoria and Vancouver.

In Vancouver, guests board Rocky Mountaineer’s train and take a two-night rail trip through the Canadian Rockies, passing Hell’s Gate, the Coast Mountains and Pyramid Falls en route to Jasper National Park.

The itinerary includes four additional overnights in destinations along the route, such as Victoria, Vancouver, Kamloops and Jasper.

The new rail-and-cruise itineraries will debut on May 8 and are available through Sept. 11.

Rates start at $2,755 per person, based on double occupancy, and include the train ride, cruise, four hotel nights, Victoria Clipper from Seattle to Victoria, a Victoria to Vancouver tour including Butchart Gardens and BC Ferries, rail station transfers, luggage handling, a National Parks Pass and nine breakfasts, eight lunches and seven dinners.

The new Seattle departures mark the latest in Rocky Mountaineer’s demonstrated commitment to rail and cruise vacations.

In 2011, Rocky Mountaineer will offer more than 12 itineraries with Holland America, as well as a new partnership with Disney Cruise Line, offering a pre-cruise rail trip to Whistler as a part of an Alaska cruise on the Disney Wonder.

For more information, call 800-665-7245 or visit www.rockymountaineer.com

The Nisbet Plantation Beach Club in Nevis is offering vacationers a Pilates Retreat package from May 11 to 18, 2011. The resort has teamed with Pilates of Vero Beach to provide travelers an opportunity to combine fitness with a luxury vacation. The seven-night package includes a daily Pilates mat class, accommodations in a cottage-style room or suite, daily breakfast served ocean side, daily afternoon tea, nightly three-course dinner in Nisbet’s Great House, and airport transfers from Nevis or sister island St. Kitts.

The packages begins at $2,800 for a superior room, double occupancy; single person rates are available.

For more information, call 772-539-9006 or visit www.pilatesverobeach.com  or www.nisbetplantation.com

Virgin Atlantic and JetBlue Airways announced the launch of a new trans-Atlantic interline partnership that links the networks of the two brands.

Effective March 23, travelers can connect from London, Glasgow and Manchester on Virgin Atlantic onward to JetBlue’s domestic services serving destinations such as Baltimore, Md.; Charlotte, N.C.; Chicago; San Diego; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Tampa, Fla.

The two airlines will interline in the following Virgin Atlantic-operated trans-Atlantic markets that depart from JetBlue’s Boston, New York, Washington and Orlando focus cities — Boston-London (Heathrow), New York (JFK)-London (Heathrow), Orlando-Glasgow, Orlando-London (Gatwick), Orlando-Manchester and Washington (Dulles)-London (Heathrow).

The new partnership represents a renewal of an old connection between the two carriers. Ironically, JetBlue initially launched with a number of former Virgin Atlantic executives among its ranks and was said for a time to represent Virgin Atlantic Chairman Sir Richard Branson’s first foray into the U.S. domestic market, even though he had no controlling interest in the airline.

Virgin Atlantic subsequently paired itself with upstart Virgin America (it now owns just under 25 percent of that airline).

“We are delighted to begin this interline cooperation with JetBlue,” said Edmond Rose, director of commercial and revenue planning for Virgin Atlantic. “This partnership will offer Virgin Atlantic passengers a streamlined journey between our three U.K. airports and many cities across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, enjoying the highest standards of service throughout their travels.”

“JetBlue is pleased to begin interline service with a transatlantic leader of Virgin Atlantic’s caliber,” said Scott Resnick, JetBlue’s director of airline partnerships. “With its focus on cultivating a distinctive brand and creating a customer experience that travelers prefer, Virgin Atlantic shares a similar philosophy with JetBlue. We look forward to welcoming their customers to the growing JetBlue network and to giving ours more options to the U.K.”

Under the agreement, travelers will be able to purchase single itineraries combining travel on JetBlue and Virgin Atlantic, bringing new travel options to customers of both airlines. On the day of travel, customers can get one-stop ticketing and baggage check-in whether their travel originates with JetBlue or Virgin Atlantic. Customers can purchase JetBlue-Virgin Atlantic travel via the GDS, online travel agencies or through Virgin Atlantic’s reservations call center.

Oceanside, Calif. is celebrating Earth Day with an eco-friendly, fuel-saving, getting-away idea.

The destination’s Great Train Escape travel program encourages visitors to think green and enjoy a car-free vacation to Oceanside, San Diego’s North Shore.

“With gas prices near record highs, there’s never been a better time to travel by rail,” said Leslee Gaul, CEO of Visit Oceanside.

“By choosing alternative means of transportation, guests will save money and enjoy a stress-free journey to our beautiful Southern California location, while still doing something positive for Mother Earth.”

As a main hub for the rail system between Santa Barbara and San Diego, Oceanside has a central train station in the heart of downtown that is walking distance from hotels, the beach, restaurants and many of the city’s top attractions.

Amtrak currently offers eleven daily roundtrips between Los Angeles and Oceanside.

Kids 2 to 15 years ride half-fare (some restrictions may apply) and seniors 62 and up enjoy a 15 percent discount.

In honor of Earth Day, many of Oceanside’s hotels will be offering Great Train Escape travel packages that include everything from room discounts to complimentary transportation from the train station.

A sampling of hotel offers includes Wyndham Oceanside Pier Resort, 20 percent off published rate; Southern California Beach Club, 10 percent off best available rate, Best Western Oceanside Inn, 20 percent off published rate; Holiday Inn Marina, 10 percent off published rate; Motel 6,

Downtown, complimentary transportation from train station; Super 8 Oceanside, 20 percent off stay of three nights or more; and Quality Inn & Suites, 10 percent off rack rate

Several of downtown’s popular attractions will also be offering Great Train Escape discounts including two-for-one admission to the California Surf Museum, $2 off admission ticket at the Museum of Modern Art and a 90-minute outboard power boat rental from Oceanside Boat Rentals at the 60-minute price.

Guests must present Amtrak ticket stub to receive discounts.

For more information, visit

www.visitoceanside.org/amtrak

Norwegian Cruise Line will join in the celebration of the wedding between Prince William and Kate Middleton on April 29.

The event will be broadcast across NCL’s fleet, with the exception of Norwegian Sky in the Bahamas, on two-story screens on Norwegian Pearl, Jewel, Jade, Gem and Epic, as well as the bars and lounges.

Special dining events will be held including the Prince and Princess Brunch, with eggs poached in champagne and served on English muffins, kippers, scrambled eggs with grilled lamb, toast with marmalade, and fruit salad with clotted cream, all for $15 per person.

An afternoon Royal High Tea, at $10 per person, includes an assortment of sandwiches such as the classic cucumber, scones with jam and cream, lemon curd sponge and a selection of cakes.

Fish and chips will be the special of the day in the pubs and 24-hour eateries, and guests can enjoy traditional English fare such as pie and mash and bread-and-butter pudding in select dining venues.

For dessert, wedding cake adorned with a Union Jack will be available in the action-station restaurants.

Southwest Airlines Vacations is offering savings of up to $112 per night on the hotel accommodations in packages that include the Disneyland Resort.

The company is also offering adult roundtrip transfers on the Disneyland Express for the price of a child’s roundtrip transfer.

Hotel guests can take advantage of Magic Morning admission, which allows entrance to select attractions an hour before Disneyland Park opens with valid theme park admission.

Packages must be booked between March 21 and May 28 by 6 p.m. CT for travel April 17 through June 18. Seven-day advance purchase is required.

The offer is valid on packages for Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel, Disneyland Hotel or Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa.

Packages for Disney Hotel stays start at $226 from Sacramento, $242 from Albuquerque or Salt Lake City or $249 from El Paso, including roundtrip flight via Southwest Airlines to Disneyland Resort via Los Angeles (LAX), Burbank (BUR), Ontario (ONT) or Orange County (SNA);

four-night hotel accommodations (including taxes);

four-day Park Hopper Bonus Ticket;

Magic Morning admission; 1,500 Rapid Rewards points on the flight portion; 24-hour traveler assistance; and first and second checked bags fly free (weight and size limits apply).

Mac Pulitzer, great-grandson of Pulitzer Prize founder Joseph Pulitzer and son of New York Times best-selling author Roxanne Pulitzer, is moving to the costal town of Fairhope, Ala., to open the nation’s first Pulitzer Hotel featuring the Pulitzer Library in its lobby.

For more information, visit www.thepulitzerhotel.com

The Hilton Ponce Golf & Casino Resort, in Puerto Rico, has launched a multimillion-dollar renovation campaign which kicked off last year and is expected to be completed in 2012 to commemorate the resort’s 20th anniversary. The renovation program covers several areas of this beachside getaway in Ponce, Puerto Rico, including everything from accommodations and public areas to restaurants and meeting spaces.

Guest rooms in both the East and West towers will be completely revamped with a new look and feel, introducing contemporary décor combined with local elements and “Ponceño” accents.

The rooms will also feature 36-inch and 42-inch LCD televisions, as well as wireless high-speed Internet access, new electronic safety deposit boxes and large sleeper sofas for flexible accommodation.

Some renovated rooms are currently available, while the full inventory of newly designed rooms will be unveiled later this year.

Hilton Ponce Golf & Casino Resort will also introduce a new lobby environment next year, welcoming guests to an inviting layout and a new Los Balcones lobby bar.

The Ponce resort’s dining establishments have undergone upgrades to La Cava Restaurant, Costa Caribe Restaurant and the Bohio Sports and Pool Bar.

The fine-dining atmosphere at La Cava Restaurant has welcomed La Cava Wine & Tapas Bar as an ideal meeting and mingling upscale hotspot in Ponce.

Costa Caribe Restaurant has introduced new décor and a renewed international menu, while Bohio Sports and Pool Bar now offers a sleek bar design with new plasma TVs for the ultimate sports watching experience.

Recreational areas have also received a significant uplift with new fitness center equipment and technology and a resurfacing of the pool and tennis courts, as well as the soccer field.

The casino now features updated slot machines with new programs and promotions, which will continuously change to offer players variety and entertainment.

Hilton Ponce Golf & Casino Resort’s meeting space has been improved with the incorporation of the Hilton Meetings standard to the executive board room and multipurpose rooms featuring comfortable armchairs, set up flexibility, wireless high-speed Internet access, refreshment center, clean design and more.

The resort also offers the perfect outdoor setting for social gatherings, wedding ceremonies or cocktail events at the Costa Caribe “Azure” Terrace Lounge overlooking the ocean.

In an effort to contribute to a more sustainable future, Hilton Ponce Golf & Casino Resort has engaged in a number of actions including retrofitting air conditioning equipment and water-heating systems, reducing energy waste, introducing energy efficient lighting, installing water reduction tools and providing a team member educational seminar on conservation and sustainability.

For more information, call 877-GO-HILTON or visit www.caribbean.com/ponce