Jetsettersblog

Royal Caribbean International is celebrating the April 29 British Royal Wedding by offering a wedding (or vow renewal) package for couples looking to tie the knot at sea. The Royal Wedding package features a symbolic ceremony onboard one of the cruise line’s 22 ships. Couples can choose from a range of royal wedding essentials, including a tiara for the bride; a 12-rose, hand-tied bouquet; strawberries and champagne; toasting flutes and a keepsake server, each engraved with a crown; a boutonniere for the groom; save-the-date announcements; a tiered wedding cake; and dinner at the captain’s table. Also included are the services of a wedding planner and a photographer. The package, available to purchase through December, starts at $2,904.

The line also has launched a new honeymoon registry, providing a go-to spot for family and friends to contribute to a couple’s honeymoon cruise. Among the onboard gifts available are dinner at a specialty restaurant, a couple’s massage and a zip-line excursion. To book the package, call 888-933-7225, email royalromance@theweddingexperience.com or visit www.royalcaribbean.com/royalwedding. To create a honeymoon registry, visit www.royalcaribbeanhoneynoon.com

Azamara Club Cruises is offering a Titanic centennial sailing aboard the Azamara Journey. The eight-night cruise will depart New York City on April 10, 2012, and feature a series of Titanic historian lecturers. On the April 14 anniversary, guests on Azamara Journey will join the 1,309 aboard another Titanic Memorial Cruise, the Balmoral, at the site of the original ship’s sinking for a memorial service. The Balmoral, which will sail from Southampton, England, sold out last October, and has an extensive waiting list.

The Azamara Journey will call at Halifax, Nova Scotia, the final resting place of many of the Titanic’s unclaimed victims. Fares start at $4,725 per person, double. Suites start at $6,750 and include additional amenities, such as English butler service and a private portrait sitting. For more information, visit www.titanicmemorialcruise.com . For general Azamara information, call 877-999-9553 or visit www.azamaraclubcruises.com

Crystal Cruises is offering a professional football-themed cruise on its June 2 to 14 Klondike Explorer cruise, featuring National Football League (NFL) pros in a guest speaker series. Among the speakers will be Don Shula, the NFL’s “winningest coach,” and Dr. Jim Tunney, known as the Dean of NFL Referees. The speakers will share stories from the field and present motivational topics that are applicable to success in any industry, such as team-building, victory and leadership.

The 12-day voyage also features experts on Alaska and the world. Presenters include David Drewry, glaciologist and geophysicist, speaking about the ports of Canada and Alaska; Dr. Sheldon Simon, U.S. national security and Asian political specialist, presenting a take on recent world affairs; and Cliff and Nancy Hollenbeck, travel photographers, presenting their craft and helping guests create their own photography of Alaska. Emerging artists from the Music Center of Los Angeles County will round out the entertainment and enrichment program with “master classes” and performances of ballet, classical piano and opera.

Calls on the San Francisco roundtrip include Victoria, Vancouver, Sitka, Hubbard Glacier, Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan. Two-for-one fares start at $4,780 per person, double, with a $1,000-per-couple All Inclusive-As You Wish spending credit and air transportation from many North American gateways (or air credit) included. Savings are available on Verandah or Penthouse bookings, family and friend discount programs, and Crystal newcomer offerings. For more information, call 800-446-6620 or visit www.crystalcruises.com.

Holland America Line is increasing its guest capacity for the 2012 Alaska season. The line will feature four Alaska cruise itineraries on seven of its mid-sized vessels, totaling 130 departures from May 2 through Sept. 23, 2012. The itinerary offerings will increase the line’s guest capacity in the region by nearly 6 percent.

The line is offering seven- to 14-day cruises that will sail roundtrip from Seattle and Vancouver and also between Vancouver and Seward, Alaska. The Oosterdam and the Westerdam will sail the seven-day Alaskan Explorer voyage, departing roundtrip from Seattle on May 6 and May 12. The itinerary features port calls at Juneau, Sitka and Ketchikan, Alaska; Victoria, B.C.; and scenic cruising at Glacier Bay or Tracy Arm Fjord/Twin Sawyer glaciers. The 1,380-guest Amsterdam will homeport in Seattle and include two Alaskan Explorer sailings on May 18 and May 25.

The Amsterdam will sail a series of 14-day Alaskan Explorer voyages beginning June 1 for a total of eight sailings. From Seattle, the itinerary features port calls at Ketchikan, Tracy Arm, Juneau, Anchorage, Homer, Kodiak, Icy Strait Point and Sitka, Alaska, as well as Vancouver Island and Victoria. The itinerary also will feature scenic cruising through Alaska’s Hubbard Glacier and Tracy Arm Fjord. In Anchorage, the ship will spend a full day and evening.

Three ships — the Volendam, the Zuiderdam and the Zaandam — will sail roundtrip from Vancouver on seven-day Inside Passage voyages. The 1,432-guest Volendam (Wednesday departures) and 1,916-guest Zuiderdam (Saturday departures) will sail a total of 41 voyages from May 2 to Sept. 22. During those voyages, guests will visit Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, Glacier Bay National Park and Tracy Arm Fjord. Two additional Inside Passage cruises will sail aboard the Zaandam on May 6 and Sept. 16.

The Statendam and the Zaandam once again will provide the only mid-sized cruise ship experience available in the Gulf of Alaska. Glacier Discovery cruises will sail between Vancouver and Seward (Anchorage) with Sunday departures from May 15 through Sept. 16. The itinerary will feature port calls at Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, a day at sea in the Gulf of Alaska and scenic cruising through the Inside Passage. Each ship will sail 18 voyages and include a visit to Glacier Bay.

Cruise fares start at $699 per person, double, for the seven-day Alaskan Explorer voyages and $1,899 for the 14-day cruises. Fares for the seven-day Inside Passage sailings and seven-day Glacier Discovery voyages start at $799. For more information, call 877-724-5425 or visit www.hollandamerica.com

Trafalgar Tours is promoting its series of Family Experiences, one of the fastest-growing travel segments. Trafalgar’s itineraries include all the must-see sights with the hassles handled by Trafalgar’s tour directors, and including authentic local activities designed to appeal to travelers of all ages. April is a prime booking period for family vacations — after Spring Break and before the end-of-school period begins. Trafalgar allows the combination of its Family Bonus Savings with its current Europe offer to save up to $450 per person on Trafalgar’s Family Experiences to Europe.

Tours of 12 days or more are discounted $450 per person on air-inclusive programs and $325 per person on land-only programs. Tours of 11 days or less are discounted $400 per person for air-inclusive trips and $250 per person on land-only programs. Clients can also take advantage of these additional Family Bonus Savings. Save $150 per person on Rockies Thrills & Glacier Chills Family Experiences vacation or save $100 per person on USA, Costa Rica and South Africa Family Experiences. Kids save up to 10 percent, and triple and quad room discounts are available. Trafalgar’s Featured Vacation is its Rockies Thrills & Glacier Chills, eight days that include exploring the waterfront city of Vancouver, mining for gold at the BC Museum of Mining, a gondola ride between the peaks of North America’s largest ski area of Whistler. It’s priced from $2,025, $1,875 with Family Bonus Savings. Offers end April 29. For more information on Trafalgar’s Family Experiences, call 800-854-0103 or visit www.familytravelexperiences.com. For information on Trafalgar, visit www.trafalgartours.com

Blue Sky Tours, a leading Hawaii wholesale company, introduced the Explore the Island of Maui package designed to explore more of what Maui has to offer by visiting Kaanapali Beach as well as the peaceful Wailea and Makena areas. Maui’s Kihei is suitable for families and the Kapalua area offers amazing views and golf courses.

Featured properties with exclusive offers include Aston at the Maui Banyan, Kaanapali Beach Hotel, Wailea Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, Makena Beach & Golf Resort, and The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua. Also featured are the Haleakala Crater/Lahaina/Iao Valley Tour and the Molokini Snorkel Cruise, each at a savings of as much as 50 percent.

Blue Sky Tours also launched the Book a Trip … Enter to Win a Trip travel agent incentive. Agents who book the Explore the Island of Maui package by April 30 can enter a chance to win the same Maui vacation experience as their customers. The client booking must include at least five nights hotel at one or more of Blue Sky’s featured properties, roundtrip air and any Dollar car rental and/or one of the activity specials to qualify for a chance to win the same vacation.

“The island experience promotion is a great way for us to highlight our commitment to Hawaii and deep understanding of the destination,” said Kevin Wilmore, vice president and general Manager of Blue Sky Tours. “Giving away the same vacation the agent booked for their clients is a really fun way to build excitement about the island and provide an opportunity for one of our travel agents to experience the islands first-hand.”

Blue Sky Tours sells only Hawaii and only to travel agents. Founded in 1981 and headquartered in Albuquerque, N.M., Blue Sky Tours provides Hawaii vacations with a selection of hotels, condominiums, rental cars, tours and every airline flying to the islands. Blue Sky Tours is a member of The Mark Travel Corporation family of companies which includes memberships with USTOA and ASTA TOP. For more information, call 800-678-2787 or visit www.blueskytours.com  or www.vaxvacationaccess.com

Llama Expeditions, a company dedicated to adventure/philanthropic/educational tours of Peru, has teamed up with Enjoy Spanish, the five-star-rated Spanish school in San Francisco, to offer an exciting Spanish immersion adventure tour in Peru on Aug. 28. Enjoy Spanish founder Carlos Bazan, a Peruvian native, along with bilingual professional guides, will lead adventurer-learners on a cultural and linguistic experience, according to Diane Valenti, founder of Llama Expeditions. “Carlos is amazing at facilitating conversations,” Valenti said. “Speaking is often the most intimidating part of learning a second language. But, Carlos creates a safe environment that gets people talking.”

The tour varies from many other trips in that participants not only learn about the local culture, but will also be providing assistance to local communities with the donation of food and support to remote businesses. “Bringing food and supporting these underdeveloped communities helps to support and grow businesses in Peru,” said Valenti. “Besides education and the adventure to visit these remote locales, the local business people are extremely grateful for what our groups bring and do for these struggling economies.”

The tour is limited to 10 participants to ensure adequate speaking opportunities for everyone and will include stops at popular destinations such as Lima, Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. For more information, visit www.llamaexpeditions.com

BikeRentalsPlus!, an ExperiencePlus! Bicycle Tours brand, reports an increase in interest for self-guided bike tours in Italy and France this summer. “There’s been a 50 percent increase annually over the past two years in requests for self-guided programs,” said Maria Elena Price, ExperiencePlus! Bicycle Tours co-owner and manager. Self-guided tours offer flexibility over regularly scheduled small group departures and they cost on average up to 60 percent less per person, said Price. A six-day/five-night self-guided program starts at 950 euros per person, double occupancy in France. In Italy, a seven-day/six-night tour starts at 1,200 euros per person, double occupancy.

“The same meticulous planning as regards routes, sightseeing, dining and lodging go into BikeRentalsPlus! self-guided tours as in ExperiencePlus! fully guided programs,” said Price. She added that self-guided clients are usually younger, prefer more independence and are more budget conscious on typical six- to 10-day arrangements. “Of course, traveling outside a group means you need to fix your own flats, but many people think that is part of the challenge and fun.”

The cost of a self-guided itinerary includes lodging, breakfast, routes (with detailed route notes or GPS tracks on some itineraries), suggestions each day for lunch and dinner spots, and cultural insights for each day as well as luggage transfer from one hotel to the next. On-route emergency contacts, including local bike shops and taxi service, are included in each itinerary.

For the seriously independent, do-it-yourself bicycle travelers, BikeRentalsPlus! can do rental bikes without support. Price said that since the company began renting bicycles in 2005 there’s been a 30 percent annual growth in rentals from people who just want to do their own thing. “We have found we best serve the group of friends/family who are going on their own bike tour or maybe they are renting a villa in France or Italy and want good quality bicycles for some nice riding during their week or more stay,” she said. The company also has villas they can recommend and offer pre-scouted routes for day trips for anyone interested in a villa-based cycling vacation.

Launched in Italy in 1972, the Colorado-based company now offers global cycling tours immersed in local character to 20 countries on five continents. Throughout the years as the business and industry has evolved, ExperiencePlus! roots as a family business have remained strong. Authentic, experienced, self-paced and engaging were the ethos of parents Rick and Paola Malpezzi Price, which have now been passed down to their daughters and current directors Monica and Maria Elena Price. Standing behind their beliefs, ExperiencePlus! is the only adventure cycling company that issues a 10-point Customer’s Bill of Rights outlining what clients can and should expect while pedaling on a company tour. Their cultural cycling programs engage tour leaders who are expert cyclists and trained cultural interpreters, guiding guests on innovative routes and immersing them in off-the-beaten-path experiences. Tours in 2011 go to Argentina, Australia, Austria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, France, Greece, Hungary, India, Italy, New Zealand, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, Turkey, the U.K., the U.S. and Vietnam.

ExperiencePlus! pays it forward each year with donations to select charities and social initiatives. In 2011, the company will donate a portion of client trip fees to the Adventure Cycling Association for their work on the United States Bicycle Route System and the Federazione Italian Amici dell Bicicletta that influences the Italian government on promoting bicycle safety in Italy. The Brand, BikeRentalsPlus!, a partnership with BikesPlus! SAS in Italy, offers bicycle rentals in over 100 locations in Italy and France along with competitively priced self-guided tours and customized options for a variety of cycling vacations. ExperiencePlus! is a 2010 recipient of National Geographic Traveler magazine’s 50 Tours of a Lifetime for its Cycling the Camino de Santiago: Roncesvalles to Santiago adventure. Monica Price has been named to the Adventure Travel Trade Association Advisory Committee for the 2011 Adventure Travel World Summit to be held Oct. 17 to 20 in San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico. For more information, visit www.bikerentalsplus.com

Frelon’s Fabulous France invites first time visitors and seasoned Francophiles to be swept away by the epicurean wonders of Burgundy — including world-renowned wine, engaging musicians, Michelin-starred cuisine and innovative art — offered by its bespoke culinary holidays and a range of fascinating festivals. Late summer options include Musique au Musee, which features three musical performances July 17, July 24 and Aug. 7. Visitors in early autumn can experience wine-tasting, art exhibits and performances by both famous and up-and-coming musicians at Jazz a Beaune, Sept. 15 to 16. A pre- or post-festival stay at La Ferme de la Lochere — a private estate with accommodations for up to 10 — perfectly complements the festivals with hands-on cooking classes, private wine tastings, insider access to fascinating venues and a range of optional master classes and excursions. Prices for the seven-day holiday range from 1,895 euros ($2,695) to 2,300 euros ($3,271) per person, double.

With training in the award-winning kitchens of Marc Meneau and experience cooking for a member of the royal family, Katherine Frelon is able to provide fascinating, hands-on cooking demonstrations incorporating fresh seasonal ingredients from her own garden as well as the local market. Guests enjoy insider access to the magnificent Abbey of Fontenay, exclusive wine tastings at some of the most renowned vineyards of the Côte de Beaune and Côte de Nuits, a privately guided tour of the opulent Hospice de Beaune, and lunch at Michelin-starred Le Charlemagne. There are tours of the Vineyard of Flavigny, the town of which hosted the filming of “Chocolat”; lunch at the three Michelin-starred restaurant Bernard Loiseau; visits to the colorful markets of Dijon; and trips to the charming Chateauneuf-en-Auxois. A demonstration and tasting at the local chocolatier, and a visit to a local cheese maker, are two delicious additions recently added to the impressive itinerary. Optional excursions ranging from a hot air balloon ride accompanied by a bottle of champagne to a cooking demonstration with award-winning chef Laurent Peugeot at Michelin-starred Le Charlemagne, start at 100 euros ($142).

Rates for the holiday include accommodation, all meals prepared on the property, culinary instruction and ingredients, transfers to and from the Montbard train station, attractions specified in the itinerary, set menus designed with seasonal ingredients by the head chef — complimented with wines especially selected by the sommelier — at both Michelin restaurants, and a complimentary cookbook from Frelon. Master classes and optional excursions are additional.

La Ferme de la Lochere is a 400-year-old private estate in the heart of Burgundy, conveniently located four hours from London and one hour from Paris, by train, that has been meticulously restored by the owners to reflect the rich history of the area while providing guests with modern amenities. The property includes several charming courtyards, an extensive library, mezzanine lounge area, heated swimming pool, a spacious state-of-the-art kitchen and five individually designed, airy bedrooms with gorgeous views of the mountains, each with private bath, fresh flowers, L’Occitane products and Wi-Fi. Each itinerary is complemented by free time for guests to lunch on the rolling hillsides, bike along the Canal de Bourgogne, stroll through the scenic countryside and shop in the unique towns. Frelon’s Fabulous France provides tailor-made, luxury vacations in Burgundy from April through October. For more information, call 33 672 865 609 or visit www.frelonsfabulousfrance.com

Hilton Hotels & Resorts plans to open its first property in Cape Town, the Hilton Cape Town City Centre. It will be Hilton Worldwide’s third hotel in South Africa. Located in the heart of the Central Business District on the corner of Wale and Buitengracht Street, the 137-room Hilton Cape Town City Centre converted to the Hilton Hotels & Resorts brand following a four-month transformation process. This included training the team in Hilton brand service standards, technology platforms and operations. Further changes to enhance food and beverage outlets and the lobby are underway and will be available for guests to enjoy soon.

Located on the border of the Bo-Kaap and at the foot of Table Mountain, the hotel has 102 guest rooms, 20 executive rooms, seven one-bedroom suites and eight two-bedroom suites with spectacular views of the city. The hotel also offers two restaurants, a boutique chocolatier, business center, executive boardroom and eight meeting rooms. All meeting rooms are equipped with plasma televisions, audio-visual equipment, complimentary Wi-Fi and high-speed broadband. In addition, guests can enjoy a pool deck with swimming pool and bar, fitness center, sauna and steam room, and make use of the valet parking and babysitting services. Hilton’s two other hotels in South Africa are the Hilton Sandton and Hilton Durban. The company now has 27 hotels across Africa with another 13 in development. Globally, the company has 540 Hilton Hotels and Resorts across six continents.

Today, the Hilton Hotels & Resorts portfolio includes more than 540 hotels in 76 countries. Its brands are comprised of more than 3,700 hotels and 610,000 rooms in 82 countries and include Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, DoubleTree by Hilton, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Hotels, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Home2 Suites by Hilton and Hilton Grand Vacations. For more information, visit www.hiltonworldwide.com