Jetsettersblog

MSC Cruises now offers dedicated spaces for adults onboard MSC Splendida and MSC Fantasia in The Solarium, on Deck 18. Also, children are now permitted in the Zen, on Deck 15 next to the Playa del Sol pool. For more information, call 877-665-4655 or visit www.MSCCruisesUSA.com

Costa Cruises will resume its Japan itineraries with the Aug. 26 departure of the Costa Classica from Shanghai on a four-day cruise to Fukuoka, Japan, and Cheju, South Korea. The Italian line said the decision “demonstrates Costa’s confidence in Japan’s tourism market and its support to the revitalization of the local tourism industry.” Costa has been operating cruises from China to Japan for more than five years.

From August to October, Costa will operate 12 cruises to Japan and South Korea. The options include the four-day cruises to Fukuoka and Cheju; a six-day cruise to Pusan, South Korea, and Fukuoka and Kagoshima, Japan; and a five-day cruise to Fukuoka, Nagasaki and Cheju.

In 2012, Costa is further expanding in Asia and the Far East, with the deployment of the 75,200-ton, 2,394-passenger Costa Victoria, which will replace the smaller Costa Classica and increase its capacity in the region by about 40 percent. In 2012, Costa Victoria will sail to new destinations in Japan, including Hososhima/Miyazaki; Wakayama, which boasts the largest hot spring resort; Osaka, Japan’s second-largest city; Yokohama; and Tokyo.

According to the Japan National Tourism Organization, a joint statement from the World Health Organization, the International Atomic Energy Agency, the World Meteorological Organization, the International Maritime Organization and the International Civil Aviation Organization has reaffirmed that operations can continue normally into and out of Japan’s major airports and sea ports.

Southwest Airlines Vacations is offering upgrades and reduced rates at participating Hyatt Resorts with air/hotel vacation package for four or more nights. Participating hotels include Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort at Gainey Ranch; Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa, and Casino; Grand Hyatt New York; Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego; Hyatt Regency Newport Beach; and Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach. Packages must be booked between Aug. 12 and Sept. 22 by 6 p.m. CT for travel Aug. 13 through Dec. 20. One-day advance purchase is required. Black-out dates apply.

Southwest Airlines Vacations offers vacation packages to more than 80 destinations with flight service available from every scheduled Southwest Airlines departure city. Customized vacation package may include flight, hotel, car rentals, show tickets, attraction passes or tours. Southwest Airlines Vacations is located in Orlando and operated by The Mark Travel Corporation (TMTC). For more information, call 800-423-5683 or visit www.southwestvacaciones.com

In celebration of its 40th anniversary, Southwest Airlines has teamed up with the Student Conservation Association (SCA) for the “Conservation In Action Tour: 40 Projects for 40 Years,” with New York as the next stop on the tour.

Students from the SCA have been traveling in a custom-designed Southwest Airlines biodiesel RV. During this summer-long tour, the RV will stop in 25 cities, joining Southwest employees and community members in conservation projects across the country. Southwest employees and the SCA showed New York their commitment to volunteerism and passion for conservation by cleaning the lake trail and picking up trash around the lake areas at the Hempstead Lake State Park.

“This is the perfect way to celebrate our 40th anniversary,” said Southwest Airlines Chairman of the Board, President and CEO Gary Kelly. “Volunteering and giving back is something that our people do year round. It’s our way of saying thank you to the communities that have given so much to us.”

The tour kicked off in June, during the airline’s week-long anniversary celebration in their hometown of Dallas. More than 500 Southwest employees from all across the system took part in conservation projects across the community.

“SCA is proud to join Southwest Airlines in spreading the word and the practice of hands-on conservation,” said SCA President Dale M. Penny. “These projects will generate immediate benefits to the communities we visit, and in the long-term they will promote ongoing stewardship and sustainability. That’s a real win-win for all.”

SCA is a nonprofit organization that provides individuals aged 15 to 25 with hands-on conservation service opportunities. Their members protect and restore national parks, marine sanctuaries, cultural landmarks, and community green spaces in all 50 states.

Contributing sponsors for the tour — American Eagle Outfitters, Sony Corporation and The Coca-Cola Company — joined Southwest Airlines to help SCA build the next generation of conservation leaders and its quest to protect and restore America’s parks, forests, and urban green spaces.

To view the Conservation In Action Tour schedule, visit www.southwest.com/Tour40 . For more information, visit www.southwest.com

Southwest Airlines Vacations is offering a sweepstakes that gives participants the chance to experience Universal Orlando Resort’s two theme parks. The winner will fly on Southwest Airlines to Orlando, and stay at an onsite Loews hotel.

Travelers must enter by Sept. 15 for a chance to win a Southwest Airlines Vacations package for four, which includes roundtrip air fare for four via Southwest Airlines to Orlando; three-night stay at one of three onsite hotels at Universal Orlando; complimentary three-day/two-park tickets for four people to Universal Studios and Universal’s Islands of Adventure theme parks; four-day/three-night rental car; chocolate frogs from Honeyduke, Wizarding World of Harry Potter wands, Blue Man Group show tickets, and exclusive one-day/two-park VIP Tour for four people. Travel must be completed by Sept. 30, 2012. Call 800-423-5683 or www.southwestvacations.com

Pleasant Holidays, the official fan travel package provider of the 2012 Pro Bowl, opened sales for official NFL On Location packages to the 2012 Pro Bowl, scheduled to be played Sunday, Jan. 29, at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu. Pleasant Holidays offers air and hotel packages with flights from cities throughout the United States. The company features three land-only packages with prices starting at $999 per person double occupancy.

Pro Bowl land-only Packages include the MVP Package from $999 at the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani; the Platinum Package from $1,605 at the Sheraton Waikiki; and the Platinum Plus Package from $2,721 at the Royal Hawaiian. Land-only packages include three nights at Sheraton Princess Kaiulani or Sheraton Waikiki, or four nights at the Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection resort; fresh flower lei greeting upon arrival; roundtrip airport transfers to and from the hotel; deluxe motorcoach game day transfers to and from Aloha Stadium on Sunday, Jan. 29; official NFL pregame tailgate party, including food, drinks and celebrity appearances; reserved Pro Bowl game ticket; all taxes and gratuities; and Pleasant Holidays Hawaii staff for on-site assistance and optional sightseeing activities. Pleasant Holidays also offers six islands, 150 resorts and two Hawaiian Islands cruises for NFL fans who wish to extend their Pro Bowl trip, either pre- or post-Pro Bowl. For more information, call 800-837-5999 or visit www.pleasantagent.com/probowl

North Point Hospitality Group, Inc. has broken ground in midtown Atlanta on a new hotel project, a dual branded Hilton Garden Inn and Homewood Suites by Hilton Hotels. Both hotels will be constructed simultaneously and housed within a 12-story tower. The hotels are located at the northeast corner of 10th Street and Williams Street.

Combined, the two hotels will have 226 units and will include meeting and conference facilities accommodating up to 200 persons, a 110-seat full service restaurant and lounge, an outdoor elevated pool and spa as well as an expanded fitness center and valet parking. For more information, visit www.hiltonworldwide.com

Built in 1909 and located on Canal Street at Burgundy Street in New Orleans’ French Quarter, the historic landmark Audubon Building is being totally renovated and re-christened as The Saint Hotel. Following its recent $45 million dollar purchase and transformation, the hotel is scheduled to open in mid-December and reservations will be accepted Sept. 1 with rates beginning at $149 nightly.

The property will reflect a new and contemporary spirit and look while staying true to important designs and traditions, such as the opulent grandeur of the Beaux Arts décor and era. The 166-room, eight-story Saint Hotel includes 320-square-foot guest rooms; 1,450 square feet of meeting and special event space; Sweet Olive, a modern American restaurant created by Chef Michael Stoltzfus; the Burgundy Bar, offering live jazz; and Halo, a rooftop bar and lounge with views of downtown New Orleans. For more information, visit www.thesainthotelneworleans.com

Goway Travel will hold a G’day to Africa event that will include participation by more than 25 African travel industry representatives that will travel to North America in late September. Represented countries will include South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia, Madagascar, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.

“This is the third consecutive year that we are hosting this event and what is unique is the diversity of the products represented,” said Moira Smith, general manager of AfricaExperts, “From luxury lodges to luxury rail, from Gorilla Trekking to climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, if you’re interested in Africa, this is the event to attend.”

Goway will host special events in the New York on Sept. 20, Toronto on Sept. 22 and 24, and Vancouver on Sept. 26 from 6 to 9 p.m. Attendees can hear lectures by visiting experts. At each venue there will be door prizes to be won, including two roundtrip tickets to South Africa at each venue. Registration is free with advance registration at www.Goway.com/venues or by calling 800 245 0920.

Goway has been offering travel to Africa, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Latin America and island destinations since 1970. It has offices in Toronto, Vancouver, Los Angeles and Sydney, Australia. For information, call 800-387-8850 or visit www.goway.com

Oceania Cruises will offer Canada and New England cruises in fall 2012 instead of previously scheduled Mediterranean voyages. In total, nine itineraries have been changed. “Our 2011 fall foliage cruises have been so well received by our travel agent partners and their clients that we decided to redeploy Regatta from Europe to Canada and New England in fall 2012,” said Oceania President Bruce J. Himelstein.

The schedule now includes a 14-day “Colonial Passage” cruise from Lisbon to New York departing Sept. 11, the 12-day “Color, Coasts and Coves” between New York and Montreal departing Sept. 25 and Oct. 7, the 14-day “Autumn Vistas” roundtrip from New York departing Oct. 19, and the 25-day “Enchanted Amazon” from New York to Miami departing Nov. 2. For more information, call 800-531-5658 or visit www.OceaniaCruises.com