Jetsettersblog

Cruise West is planning a 335-day circumnavigation of the globe, departing March 6 from Singapore and following the paths of the world’s great explorers.

The 120-guest, all-suite Spirit of Oceanus will sail westward, following the sun, and return to Singapore on Feb. 3, 2011.

The Voyages of the Great Explorers will follow routes inspired by the likes of Marco Polo, Odysseus, Leif Eriksson, Christopher Columbus, James Cook, Ferdinand Magellan and St. Augustine.

It will encompass six chapters of 24 individual segments ranging from nine to 18 nights. No other cruise linebig or small offers a journey as long or as varied as Voyages of the Great Explorers,” said Richard West, managing director and chairman of Cruise West.

“A true explorer knows that smaller is better. These voyages are designed to visit remarkable destinations, waterways and sites during the best time of the year, and only a small exploration ship can access many of these destinations.” West will host the inaugural departure from Singapore.

The voyage will visit 242 ports of call in 59 countries and 85 UNESCO World Heritage sites while crossing 14 seas and oceans and transiting three canals — Suez, Corinth and Panama.

One voyage will visit the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, Scotland’s military musical spectacular.

Further exploration will available by Zodiac rafts and included Ultimate Explorer experiences. The cruises will feature guest lecturers, local experts and onboard Exploration Leaders.

The first chapter, Marco Polo-Ancient Trade Routes of the Mystic East, operates March 6 to May 5 during four segments along the ancient trade routes from Southeast Asia to the Mediterranean Sea.

The itineraries include visits to Thailand, Burma, the Indian sub-continent, Sri Lanka, Iran, United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Jordan before concluding in Alexandria, Egypt.

The second chapter is Odysseus and the Phoenicians-Mediterranean Odyssey, which operates May 5 through July 20, 2010.

The voyages begin in Alexandria and sail on to Greece, Turkey, Tunis, Algeria, Italy, Sicily, Malta, Spain and Portugal before arriving in Honfleur, France.

The third chapter is Leif Eriksson-The Viking Sagas, from July 20 to Sept. 8, 2010. These itineraries explore Ireland, the Orkney Islands, Scandinavia, Tallinn, St. Petersburg, London, Edinburgh, Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands before ending in St. John?s, Halifax.

Next up is the Christopher Columbus-The New World chapter from Sept. 8 to Oct. 25, 2010. Five segments will depart Halifax and cruise along the Atlantic coastline, island hop in the Caribbean and transit the Panama Canal. The cruise will explore Panama and Costa Rica before disembarking in Guayaquil, Ecuador.

Extensions are available to the Galapagos Islands and Machu Picchu. ?James Cook-Idylls of the South Pacific will operate Oct. 25, 2010 to Jan. 19, 2011, cruising the South Pacific from Guayaquil to Easter Island, Polynesia, New Guinea, the Cook Islands, New Zealand and Australia, ending in Darwin.

The final chapter, Ferdinand Magellan-In Search of the Spice Islands, operates Jan. 19-Feb. 3, 2011, sailing from Darwin to Singapore. For the entire voyage, fares start at $233,995 and include first-class airfare.

Prices per voyage start at $4,995 and include a pre-cruise hotel night. Those who pay in full by July 15 and save up to 35 percent, and those book more than one voyage save an additional 5 percent.

In 2009, Crystal Cruises is introducing two Ancient Civilizations-themed Experiences of Discovery itineraries through the Middle East, Holy Land and Mediterranean. Guest historians, archeologists and a foreign correspondent will bring new and substantive perspective to Cairo, Jerusalem and Jordan’s archeological site of Petra. Referred to as the “Cradle of Civilization,” the destinations offer more than five millennia of history and cultural heritage.

In addition to onboard presentations, guest experts will accompany Crystal Adventures ashore. The Ancient Civilizations voyages include Crystal Symphony’s May 17 sailing from Dubai to Athens and Crystal Serenity’s October 8, Athens to Venice cruise.

“The ‘Ancient Civilizations’ voyages are designed to add relevance and perspective to ports and countries that’s have shaped world history,” said John Stoll, director, land programs.

“Visiting these destinations in the company of renowned experts will arguably deepen our guests understanding and appreciation of different cultures – and how those cultures have impacted the evolution of civilization.”

Guest experts will offer commentary and insight to select Crystal Adventures, including:

• Exploration of Luxor & Valley of the Kings – A full-day Egyptian excursion visiting the Pharaoh’s tombs, the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, the Temple of Luxor and the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities, accompanied by archeologist and professor Bridget Buxton, an expert on the treasures of the Middle East and Greece;

• Rose City of Petra – An excursion out of Aqaba, Jordan, exploring this 2,000-year-old city, also accompanied by Buxton.

• Full Day in Cairo – An intimate look at the world’s most famous monuments of antiquity, the pyramids and the Sphinx, accompanied by Ken Rees, a veteran broadcast journalist and foreign correspondent for the Middle East and Mediterranean, on the May 17 cruise, and historian and author Diana Preston on the October 8 itinerary.

• Full-Day Tour of Jerusalem – From Ashdod, Israel, guests can explore this sacred city with insight from Rees.

The cruises will also feature theme-related films in staterooms and the Hollywood Theaters.

The 14-day Dubai to Athens voyage transits the Suez Canal, Arabian Sea and Gulf of Aden and calls in Salalah, Oman; Luxor and Cairo, Egypt and Aqaba, Jordan. The 12-day Athens to Venice itinerary calls at Santorini, Rhodes and Corfu, Greece; Ashdod, Israel; Cairo, Egypt and Dubrovnik, Croatia. Cruise fares begin at US$5,690 per person, double occupancy.

The Crystal Difference

Aboard the ultra-luxurious Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity, refined elegance meets casual simplicity. With an emphasis on innovative product differentiation, the renowned Crystal experience is distinguished by classic service, abundant space, extensive choices and superior quality, providing worldwide vacations of seven to 100+ days that bridge the best of land and sea. Grounded in more than a decade of accolades, Crystal has been voted “World’s Best” by the readers of Travel + Leisure and Condé Nast Traveler more than any other cruise line, hotel or resort in history.

For additional information or booking, please contact Miramar Express at +852 3960 0388 or visit the luxury line’s website at www.crystalcruises.com

Exclusive Service for Discerning Business Travellers

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has launched a brand new service, Personal Hotelier, across the Crowne Plaza estate throughout Middle East and Africa. Guests staying in Club rooms or on the Crowne Club floor can now enjoy the undivided attention of a hotelier dedicated to catering to their every need.

Crowne Plaza Personal Hotelier is an initiative that provides guests one point of contact, one face, one name and one telephone number to call prior to and during their stay at the hotel. This exclusive service is designed to alleviate the stress of corporate travel, allowing the guest more time and space to think, resulting in making their business trips more efficient and effective.

Commenting on the launch, Haitham Mattar, Director of Marketing Middle East and Africa, said, “Most of our guests are frequent business travellers. While they tend to enjoy travel, it can be exhausting and hectic so we decided to introduce a service to help them get the most of their time with us. “

From the moment a booking for a Club room is made, a member of the Personal Hotelier team will be assigned to the guest, contact them to introduce themselves and then offer them any assistance if required.

A personal hotelier can help guests with everything for business needs, such as updating a presentation, printing documents, making reservations at a restaurant or spa and even personal shopping.

The pilot program, conducted at Crowne Plaza Dubai Festival City, received an overwhelmingly good response.

Results from a survey* conducted amongst guests who participated in the program demonstrated that 95 per cent rated the service excellent with regards to its efficiency and usefulness.

The Personal Hotelier service is available to guest who book Club rooms or on the Crowne Club Floor at all Crowne Plaza properties across Middle East and Africa.

In recognition of the historic inauguration of President Barack Obama, the first African-American president of the United States, Ethiopian Airlines is proud to provide an exciting new “Free Companion Fare.” Travelers who purchase a regular fare will receive a “Free Companion Fare” to any of Ethiopian Airlines’ 32 destinations throughout Africa — more than any other airline.

The airline flies directly from Washington Dulles International Airport to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and connects to 32 destinations throughout Africa, including Luanda, Angola; Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; Bujumbura, Burundi; Douala, Cameroon; Ndjamena, Chad; Brazzaville, Congo; Lubumbashi, Congo; Kinshasa, Congo Democratic Republic; Djibouti, Djibouti; Cairo, Egypt; Libreville, Gabon; Accra, Ghana; Abidjan, Ivory Coast; Nairobi, Kenya; Lilongwe, Malawi; Bamako, Mali; Abuja, Nigeria; Lagos, Nigeria; Kigali, Rwanda; Dakar, Senegal; Hargeisa, Somaliland; Johannesburg, South Africa; Khartoum, Sudan; Kilimanjaro, Tanzania; Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Lomé, Togo; Entebbe/Kampala, Uganda; and Lusaka, Zambia.

For more information, call 800-445-2733 or visit www.ethiopianairlines.com

Voyages of Discovery is offering summer 2009 cruise-tour savings that double the early booking savings.

For a limited time, guests can take advantage of double early booking savings discounts of up to 50 percent on some departures, along with air add-ons that range in price from free to $199. Special rates for single travelers are also available.

 Summer 2009 programs on the 650-passenger Discovery include a rare visit to Murmansk, the largest city north of the Arctic Circle, on a 17-night North Cape, Arctic Circle and Russia voyage departing July 16.

 Cruise sale fares start at $2,850 per person, double.

A return to the British Isles begins July 30, round-trip from London (Harwich) to the Scilly Isles, Dublin, Belfast, Oban and Dundee. Cruise sale fares for the British Isles Discovery begin at $3,305 per person.

Beginning with the 10-night Norwegian Fjords I cruise departing May 21, guests can save as much as $1,045 per person off the early booking fares and enjoy air add-ons that range in price from free to $199.

Cruise sale fares start at $2,350 per person, double.

In the Mediterranean, the Discovery departs Aug. 31 on a 19-night Voyage to Venice, with cruise sale fares starting at $3,550 per person.

The season concludes with an antiquities cruise beginning Oct. 30 from Alexandria, Egypt, to Barcelona, with calls at Libya, Tunisia, Malta and Sicily. Cruise sale fares for the 15-night North African Treasures itinerary start at $3,470.

The summer program also features four Grand Voyages, which combine two or more summer cruises. Cruise sale fares start at $7,595 per person for the Grand Mediterranean Odyssey & Black Sea 42-night voyage, departing Aug. 31. Depending on the category booked, guests can save up to $6,355 per person off the early booking discount.

The cruise sale fares require a non-refundable deposit of $500 per person to secure the savings. The cruise sale is first come, first served and can be withdrawn at any time. Guests currently booked on a summer 2009 sailing can convert to this offer with the updated terms and conditions.

 For more information, call 866-623-2689 or visit www.voyagesofdiscovery.com

Don’t know if we can mention the ‘c’ word at this stage, but for walkers hoping to spend the festive season (still can’t say it!) in warmer climes, Walks Worldwide emphasises the need to book early. Their 12-day Libyan Explorer guided walking holiday offers the exotic and unusual, plus with guaranteed winter sunshine and inspirational desert scenery, it will more than fill the bill. Tour departs London 19th December

Towering sand dunes, shimmering palm-fringed lakes, volcanic mountains, prehistoric rock art, remarkable Roman remains and a long and fertile Mediterranean coastline are just fragments of what makes Libya such an inspiring destination. In Tripoli the welcome is warm, with smiling faces all around and streets lined with images of a triumphant (and sometimes smiling) Colonel Gaddaffi.

 Explore the city’s ancient medina, as charming as the one in Marrakech but without the usual hassles, allowing travellers to browse in peace.

One of the highlights of Walks Worldwide’s tour is the remarkable UNESCO World Heritage Site of Jebel Acacus, in the south-west of the country. Comparable to Jordan’s stunning Wadi Rum, its Saharan landscapes, inhabited by the nomadic Tuareg, reveal sand and rock towers, many examples of rarely-seen rock carvings and paintings, and desert wildlife. Walks Worldwide spend five nights here trekking amongst the dramatic Acacus rock formations and sand dunes, stopping to camp in a different location each night.

Other highlights include visits to the Roman cities of Sabaratha, boasting one of the finest theatres in antiquity, and magnificent Leptis Magna, without doubt the best Roman ruins outside of Italy. Here, explore the well-preserved colonnaded streets, baths, arches and amphitheatre of Africa’s greatest Roman cities.

The tour costs £1,515 p/p (December departure) and £1,395 p/p (October departure) including scheduled flights, transfers, hotel and camping accommodation, most meals and expert guiding.

Walks Worldwide
01524 242000
sales@walksworldwide.com
www.walksworldwide.com

Libya Travel MapA map from ITM is an all-in-one travel resource, and perfect for todays travelers These attractive and information-rich maps cover an entire countryregion in splendid detail. Useful information such as elevation, major transportation routes, and national parks is clearly displayed. Of particular use to travelers is the tremendous attention paid to road designation and the extensive labeling of physical features such as mountain ranges, valleys and peaks. Each map comes with an inset of a major city, national park, or area of historical significance. To round out these tremendous products, each map has an area of text giving the reader an overview of the countrys history. From cartography, to text, to a few unique photographs, ITM maps are a travelers best friend

From Holiday Options

Holiday Options has launched its 2009 ‘Mediterranean & Atlantic Islands’
brochure – featuring Sardinia, Sicily, Corsica, Port Santo, Madeira, The
Azores, La Gomera and Cape Verde – and offering a wealth of new ideas and deals

There’s expansion in Corsica, with chambres d’hotes – often part of a family home - making their debut. An ideal way for visitors to experience rural life on the island, these village rooms are on offer in the Patrimonio and Porto Vecchio areas and are all inspected and licensed by local tourist boards.

Prices start at the twin share rate of £715 per person inclusive of return flights from Gatwick and half-board accommodation. Car hire can be arranged on request and flights are also available from Birmingham, Edinburgh and Manchester.

Other additions in Corsica include villas with pools, new hotels – including a former Franciscan monastery in Calvi – and a ‘Great Scenic Rail Adventure’ travelling through the mountains from Bastia to Ajaccio.

Further new ideas in the 2009 programme include:

• Madeira – ‘The Family Experience’ with ‘soft’ adventure and whale watching
• The Azores – short breaks in Ponta Delgada and/or Furnas, plus two UNESCO World Heritage Hotels
• Cape Verde - direct flights from Birmingham to Sal, plus a family-run boutique-style guesthouse on Boa Vista
• Sicily – the island of Pantelleria, plus more three-star hotels in Taormina and Giardini Naxos
• Sardinia – new flight from Edinburgh to Olbia
• The Canaries – the introduction of Tenerife

Prices in the brochure, valid between November 2008 and October 2009, lead in at £399 per person for seven nights at the Hotel San Marco in Sardinia inclusive of return flights from Gatwick, transfers and accommodation with breakfast.

Early booking incentives, for reservations made by 30 April 2009, include savings of up to £800 per couple on 14-night holidays on selected dates at the four-star Relais and Chateaux Grand Hotel de Cala Rossa on Corsica.

ATOL-bonded Holiday Options also offers the option of flexible holiday durations from three nights upwards, utilising a choice of airlines including scheduled, low-cost, as well as their own charters.

Reservations: 0844 477 0452, www.holidayoptions.co.uk

Bales Worldwide is introducing a raft of new options for its Egypt, Morocco and Arabia programme for 2009/10, including the addition of the Musk, the operator’s fourth dahabiyya on the Nile, new boutique hotels in Tripoli and Cairo, and an increased focus on walking holidays in Jordan. The programme includes 18 escorted holidays and countless independent travel choices to Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Libya, Iran and Uzbekistan, with prices starting £995 for the 11 day ‘Wonders of Ancient Egypt’ itinerary.

THE NILE IN STYLE – A HOST OF CRUISING OPTIONS

Bales Worldwide offers now offers the widest range of luxury Nile cruise options, with a total of 12 different cruise boats featured from the traditional dahabiyya experiences, to the Movenpick Royal Lily Nile cruise ship. Due to a change in flight scheduling, Bales can now also offer a shorter 8 day holiday option featuring the Nile Cruise only.

Bales continues to be one of the few UK tour operators to offer the dahabiyya Nile cruise experience. The company is adding a fourth vessel for 2009/10, as the Musk joins the Nesma, the Zahra and the Amber. The dahabiyyas (19th century style wooden crafted river sailing vessels) revive the elegant days when aristocrats and sophisticated travellers cruised the Nile. All vessels are fitted out in colonial style with oriental and Egyptian touches and each of the six cabins has its own individual decoration. The dahabiyyas are now available on a choice of two itineraries – the original 12 day ‘Nostalgic Nile’ holiday (from £1,595 per person), and a shorter 8 day cruise only holiday (from £1,345 per person). The former includes three days in Cairo staying at the Mena House Oberoi Hotel, before embarking at Luxor or Aswan for a leisurely seven day cruise. The vessel stops at private moorings, away from the larger towns, as well as calling in at little visited Nile islands.

Other outstanding cruise options on offer include a 4 night cruise on the Oberoi Philae, which is perfect for those with limited time, a new cruise aboard the luxurious Movenpick Royal Lily and an itinerary that includes time aboard the luxurious Sonesta St. George I cruise ship.

The new 8 day ‘Egyptian Encounters’ (from £1,325 per person) itinerary combines a cruise on the Sonesta St. George I cruise ship with the opulent comforts of the Four Seasons Hotel Cairo. The Sonesta is one of the Nile’s newest boats and this exquisite vessel offers just 49 cabins and 10 suites, as well as the finest in interiors and amenities. The holiday starts with 3 nights in Cairo before you head off for 4 nights cruising along the river.

VILLA BELLE EPOQUE OPENS IN CAIRO

Bales is among the first UK operators to offer the Villa Belle Epoque as part of its tailor made options. Set to be Cairo’s first truly boutique hotel, the Villa Belle Epoque is due to open in early 2009. This 1920’s house is located in the Maadi suburb, set among a garden of date palms and fruit trees, and has been tastefully converted into a 13 bedroom hotel. Relax by the inviting swimming pool, sip a cool drink on your private balcony and soak up the ambience. This is the perfect place to stay for a few days before heading off for a dahabiyya cruise along the Nile.

TREKKING IN JORDAN

Jordan is an incredibly diverse country and Bales is now offering 5 different itineraries that explore its unrivalled splendour – including a number of trekking options. The 8 day ‘Active Jordan’ trip (from £1,795 per person) includes two treks, as well as several guided walking tours. Explore the vibrant capital of Amman on foot, take in Dana Nature reserve on a 15km hike through some of the most beautiful and spectacular scenery in Jordan, and follow a 10km ancient trail traversing the rocky ledges of the Sharah Mountains, to the site of Petra’s spectacular monastery.

Bales’ tailor made options in the country, include the chance to experience truly unique accommodation in the beautiful lunar landscape of the Wadi Rum region - in the form of Desert Camp Wadi Rum. This private camp affords a nomadic experience camping in dome style tents (or out under the stars if you would prefer), with a communal Bedouin tent for dining and entertainment, and delicious, traditional food cooked over hot coals. This really is Jordan with a difference and prices start from £195 per night based on 2 passengers travelling.

BOUTIQUE LIBYA

Bales’ 8 day ‘Images of Libya’ itinerary (from £1,495 per person) now includes time at the brand new El-Khan hotel in Tripoli. The hotel, which is due to open at the end of 2008, aims to be Tripoli’s first boutique hotel. Bales Worldwide is one of very few UK operators who will be offering this stylish, characterful retreat. The Images of Libya holiday kicks off with a night at the El-Khan and the opportunity to enjoy an evening meal with a local family in Tripoli, before you head off to explore the endless vistas of the Sahara and the spectacular ruins of the ancient ‘Pentapolis’ cities. Day 6 sees you return to El-Khan for 2 nights, with sightseeing at the National Museum, time to explore the old souk and a day at the utterly breathtaking, UNESCO Heritage site of Leptis Magna.

For a copy of the new brochure or for reservations please call 0845 057 0600

or look online at www.balesworldwide.com

ACE Study Tours Launches ACE Cultural Cruises - Luxury Cultural Cruises Travel In Style And Be Cultured

ACE Study Tours is launching ACE Cultural Cruises - exclusive cultural cruises abroad luxury, boutique style small ships for up to 40 passengers

Whether it’s navigating the Nile in a traditional two-masted sailing yacht, taking tips from head chef Thierry as he prepares feasts using fresh local Provencal ingredients, or diving from the yacht’s stern directly into the Aegean sea, ACE Cultural Cruises is offering a totally different cruise experience.

Catering for between 16 and 40 guests with a passenger to crew ratio often as small as two to one, ACE will be setting sail aboard luxury, small ship cruises. Drawing on 50 years of expertise, ACE Cultural Cruises is being launched by leading accompanied tour operator ACE Study Tours.

Using sail cruises or large yachts, these more intimate boats provide all the joys of cruising whilst making the holiday a much more personal experience. The modest size of the boats allows them to navigate shallow waters and tie up at private moorings inaccessible to typical cruise ships.

Led by experts, each cruise unravels a region’s history, art, architecture, archaeology, wildlife and even its music. The cruises are led by specialists in the field, such as Emmy award winning Humphrey Burton, one of Britain’s most distinguished television directors and music commentators.

Using small ships, guests can choose from:

• Ancient Egypt and The Nile
• Classical North Africa
• The Aegean
• Cyclades
• Scottish Highlands & Islands
• Provence & The Camargue

For reservations please call 01223 835055 or visit www.aceculturalcruises.co.uk

Riyadh-Asiut and Dammam-Beirut)

Sama Airlines” launches new routes (Riyadh-Asiut and Dammam-Beirut)

• Sama is the only airlines flying to Asiut directly from Saudi
• Fares starts from SR 290 Dammam-Beirut, and 390 Riyadh-Asiut
• Sama network covers 10 international cities with 23 routes

Riyadh: Sama Airlines, the newest low-fares airline in Saudi Arabia, announced that launch of two new international routes between Riyadh-Asiut and Dammam-Beirut, starting from 1st of September 2008. Sama network now is increased to cover 10 international cities with 23 international routes departing from Riyadh, Dammam, and Jeddah.

Mr. Samer Atawi, Chief Commercial Officer of Sama said: “we are pleased in Sama to inaugurate these two international routes (Riyadh-Asiut, and Dammam-Beirut) to serve our guests, and to answer the demand on these routes. Sama offers new attractive options to eastern province citizens to travel to Lebanon for pleasure or business. Sama is the only airline flying directly from Saudi Arabia to Asiut, our first route was from Jeddah, and now from Riyadh to serve all Egyptian society in Saudi Arabia and Egyptian citizens in Asiut and southern Egypt, who are working in Saudi Arabia and looking to visit their families and friends in Asiut, or who want to visit Saudi Arabia for work or Umrah. Sama launched inaugural fares for these two destinations, fares start from SR 390 for Riyadh-Asiut and SR 290 for Dammam-Beirut.”

Flights to Beirut depart from Dammam twice weekly on Tuesday and Friday, and flights to Asiut depart from Riyadh three times weekly on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Sama flies to 12 domestic destinations (Dammam, Riyadh, Jeddah, Abha, Jizan, Hail, Arar, Jouf, Tabouk, Rafha, and Bisha) and 10 international destinations across the Middle East (Abu-Dhabi, Sharjah, Amman, Damascus, Latakia, Aleppo, Beirut, Alexandira, Asiut and Sharm el Sheikh). Sama offers various ways for booking, such as the website (www.flysama.com) or Call Centre 9200 05588, or Sales Centre in all the main cities (Riyadh, Dammam, Jeddah, Madinah, Abha) and the Airports, or our Authorised Travel Agents (Inside Saudi Arabia and outside). There are various payment options also available (Cash, POS, Credit Card, Sadad).