Jetsettersblog

Setting sail from Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas the idyllic capital of the US Virgin Islands, you will find yourself in shopping heaven before embarking upon a 5 night journey around the Caribbean. Widely known as the duty free shopping capital of the world – Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas combines rich history with some of the world’s best shopping.

SeaDream I is an exclusive & intimate mega-yacht which hosts just 56 couples who are serviced by a team of 95 crew, providing a truly 5 star luxury experience.

Leading cruise holiday specialists ecruising Asia Pacific are providing you with this dream opportunity at a saving of up to 65%. Through ecruising you can enjoy 5 nights aboard luxury mega-yacht SeaDream I for only HK$19,249.00 usually HK$61,000.00

ecruising Asia Pacific is a fully registered and licensed travel agency who are specialists in cruise holidays. Recently launching their regional centre for Asia Pacific in Hong Kong, their team of dedicated customer service agents are providing Asia with a gateway to the world of cruising.

This exclusive package on SeaDream I includes all main meals, complimentary beverages, personal refreshment bar and entertainment. The mega-yacht also features an Award-winning Thai certified Spa (massage rooms, steam shower and sauna), Fitness center with state-of-the-art equipment, Outdoor whirlpool, pool and spa facilities.

Caribbean Itinerary

18 Jan - Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas

19 Jan - Cruz Bay, St. John

20 Jan - Anguilla, British West Indies

21 Jan - Gustavia, St. Barthelemy

22 Jan - Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands

23 Jan San Juan, Puerto Rico

Details
For sale until: 16 January 2009
Destinations: Caribbean
Ship: SeaDream I
Embarkation Port: Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas
Duration: 5 Nights
Departure Dates: 18 Jan 2009

Other great cruise holidays available through ecruising Asia Pacific include:

China, Vietnam & Thailand HK$13,499.00
14 nights on board Costa Allegra from Hong Kong to Singapore. Departing 21 Feb 2009
For sale until: 21 February 2009
Destinations: Asia
Cruise Line: Costa
Ship: Costa Allegra
Embarkation Port: Hong Kong, China
Duration: 14 nights
Departure Dates: 21 February 2009

ecruising Asia Pacific can be contacted for information about cruise holiday products here and world-wide by simply visiting

 www.ecruising.travel/hk

or phoning (852) 3711 3238.

Cruising and boating holiday specialists Blue Water Holidays have revealed that their customers are just as exotic as their destinations. With recent customers booking a cruise on Russian Waterways from Zimbabwe, a Rhine cruise from Kuwait, and even a boating holiday in Ireland from Barbados, Blue Water Holidays have an important international customer base.

General Manager Rachel Aydin comments, “We have always explored new international markets and are finding it a real bonus now with the current uncertainty in the UK. We have booked customers from every single EU country and over 125 different countries worldwide, including Argentina, Brazil, Cambodia, Chile, French Polynesia, Malaysia, and even Tokelau and Norfolk Island!”

“Unlike most agents and operators, we are not tied to a specific geographical customer base”, adds Rachel. “Our international marketing expertise and in-house technology means that we are able to book someone from Thailand onto a European river cruise without a problem.”

Blue Water Holidays are the UK cruising and boating holiday specialists with comprehensive coverage of all destinations and cruise types, including traditional river and ocean cruises, coastal voyages, expedition cruises, luxury cruises and self-drive boating holidays in the UK and Europe. For more information about what they offer, see www.bluewaterholidays.com.

For more information, please contact Juliet Peters, Marketing Manager on 01756 693626 or email Juliet@bluewaterholidays.com

Just when we thought Amanyara had every possible desire covered, the secluded villa resort in the Turks & Caicos Islands has raised the bar even higher.

Now, in addition to a wide range of beauty, relaxation and wellness services available in the privacy of Amanyara’s accommodations, guests have the option of visiting a Serenity Villa where the surroundings, elegant in their simplicity, add to a total sense of comfort and well being.

Massages, scrubs, wraps and beauty treatments, along with yoga and Pilates classes, are the order of the day in the villa.

The Serenity Villa, wrapped around its own swimming pool, features a reception area and four separate treatment pavilions.

Guests are received in a spacious lounge pavilion where herbal tea and health drinks are served before and/or after treatments. Each treatment pavilion can accommodate one couple and features a changing area with double vanities, a soaking tub and a “rain” shower. Two of the pavilions feature sunken outdoor terrazzo bathtubs and showers set within the walls of a small garden. There is a separate sala providing shade from the sun and a studio equipped with a Reformer for private Pilates or yoga sessions.

“The Serenity Villa affords us an opportunity to bring the best wellness and fitness practices to our guests,” states Steve Harvey, Spa Manager of Amanyara. “Our luxurious treatments and personalized fitness classes are conducted in a stunning villa for an experience that is truly relaxing … and beautiful to boot.”

A menu of massages is available to restore balance, release muscle tension and increase circulation including a Deep Tissue Massage and exotic offerings such as the Shiatsu or Ancient Thai Massage based on teachings from the East. Luxurious body treatments incorporate Amanresorts’ custom-blended products made from natural and locally-sourced ingredients such as a Kaffir Lime Body Scrub and Massage and a Jojoba Bead Scrub and Wrap. Facials and therapeutic after-sun treatments are also available.

Fitness aficionados can focus on yoga and Pilates with complimentary yoga classes scheduled three times per week. Mat Pilates classes, conducted in a group or private setting, and individual Reformer classes are also an option. A knowledgeable “Master in Residence” is on staff to guide guests through the latest holistic healing practices.

For some, the most important Serenity Villa services of all are manicures, pedicures, hair styling, make-up and waxing, all of which can also be accommodated in the individual guest pavilions or villas.

For more information,please visit www.amanresorts.com

 

The beautiful Caribbean island of St. Lucia has once again achieved the prestigious accolade of the ‘World’s Leading Honeymoon Destination’ by the World Travel Awards 2008.

St. Lucia’s spectacular rainforests, world famous Pitons, sparkling turquoise waters, friendly Caribbean vibe and soft, sandy beaches as well as their world class resorts, makes it a perfect choice for romantic honeymoons.

Hailed as ‘the Oscars of the Travel Industry’, The World Travel Awards is one of the most prestigious events in the travel industry. Awards are voted for by almost 170,000 travel professionals, and the event is attended by the elite of the travel and media world.

“We’re delighted to have won the award for the ‘World’s Leading Honeymoon Destination’ for the eighth year running. St. Lucia has long been recognised as one of the most stunning islands in the world, and every year we’re ensuring we meet the needs of our holidaymakers whilst remaining true to the beauty of the island.” Debbie Melchor, St. Lucia Tourist Board.

St. Lucia boasts a variety of accommodation, from simple St. Lucian style guesthouses and exclusive boutique hotels, to spacious villas and romantic ‘couples only’ all-inclusive resorts.

Honeymooners can’t fail to sink blissfully into married life engulfed in the romantic ambiance of St. Lucia. The extraordinary twin Pitons, the bubbling Sulphur Springs, dramatic scenery and miles upon miles of lush tropical rainforest, set the perfect scene for couples in love.

Travel to this stunning Caribbean island has never been easier, with direct flights three times a week from Gatwick with Virgin Atlantic, as well as a direct flight once a week from Manchester. British Airways now also fly direct to St. Lucia three times a week from Gatwick.

Eden Rock – St Barths is unlike any other resort on the French island of St Barths - often referred to as the Saint Tropez of the Caribbean. Situated on a rock high above the ocean and surrounded by turquoise waters and white sand, Eden Rock – St Barths provides the ultimate in service and quality and offers a quiet haven for uninterrupted relaxation by guests, clients and friends.

Eden Rock – St Barths, boasts a wide range of accommodation, from individually designed diamond suites to the brand new Villa Rockstar (which launches in January 2009) and is an ultra luxe 6 bedroom beachside villa.

Designed for luxury living, Villa Rockstar will rival any villa in the Caribbean; with 16,000sqft spread over three floors, facilities will include a screening room, a private gym, a business office, use of a couple of house cars being a mini cooper and a Landrover, dining facilities for 12 people, a pool table and sports area, lawns for croquet, two pools and a fully equipped recording studio. Guests will also have a dedicated butler service to look after their every need.

The same goes for next door brand new Villa Nina which is available now and comprises about 6,000sqft of ultra luxury living and with just two suites and a private art gallery and a couple of pools - and much else besides…

Eden Rock – St Barths has an ongoing relationship with key figures in the music industry with the sound engineer partner for the Villa Rockstar recording studio being the market leading Oceanway, Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood which studio recorded the ‘Thriller’ album for Michael Jackson and very much else besides. Oceanway’s proprietor – Allen Sides – links the legendary work of Frank Sinatra with that of Paul McCartney…

At Eden Rock – St Barths music, art and food combine to be three creative sources joining perfect accommodation and friendly affirmative staff in making for a uniquely world-class holiday resort.

French cuisine is brought to a new level at the two Eden Rock restaurants ‘On the Rocks’ and ‘The Sand Bar’. On The Rocks has become a landmark destination offering first class service and perfectly executed cuisine in a glorious setting high above the coral reef and the Caribbean ocean beyond. Since opening, the restaurant has achieved a loyal following of guests and visitors and friends and celebrities. The menu interprets timeless French favorites and includes new ones of delicate flavour devised by Head Chef Jean-Claude Dufour. The Sand Bar’s lunchtime approach to food offers healthy cuisine made from the most beautifully fresh and well chosen ingredients. For instance most of the fish is flown in ice (not frozen) via Air France from Paris…

Janes Gallery and its art is another highlight and passion of Eden Rock – St Barths. Set on the beach next to the ocean Janes Gallery is the perfect relaxed place to exhibit art collections which range from young scholarship artists participating in the Eden Rock ‘Artist in Residence Program’ – to exhibits of some of the most successful artists in the world today. Guests too are invited to paint… or perhaps arrange lessons for their children who are able then to combine art and beach…

For St Barths frequent visitors and guests, Eden Rock also invites people to join its limited fractional ownership development - The Eden Rock Owners Society (EROS). Also, the society provides the opportunity to own part of one of five newly built one, two or three bedroom houses. Owners have the right to stay in their vacation home for four weeks a year for a period of 71 years, which affords them all the benefits of owning their own beachside property in St Barths without the hassles of day to day management – and at a fraction of the cost and commitment of buying a house in the hills on the island.

For further information please contact chloe@quintessentiallyestates.com

Out of the Blue, formerly the travel wing of the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, WDCS, is delighted to announce a new partnership with Dive Worldwide, offering a stunning collection of whale and dolphin watching holidays in the UK and around the world. This new development means that in addition to classic Out of the Blue tours to Canada, New England and Scotland, there are now even more opportunities for magical and life-changing encounters with wild whales and dolphins in 2009, in the Shetland Islands, Bay of Biscay, Monterey Bay and Dominica.

All trips are endorsed by WDCS, carefully planned to avoid negative impact on animals, and designed to encourage conservation, research and education. Proceeds from Out of the Blue tours support the vital conservation work of WDCS in the UK and worldwide. As a special offer, for every confirmed booking in 2009, travellers will receive a one-year gift membership to WDCS.

New tours for 2009 include:

Scotland Short Breaks: 4-day holiday departing Inverness 1st May, 19th Jun, 31st Jul & 14th , 21st , 25th & 28th Aug 09.

Enjoy a programme of boat and shore-based dolphin watching in Scotland’s beautiful and remote Moray Firth, home to one of just three populations of Bottlenose Dolphins around the UK. Visit the WDCS centre at Spey Bay and learn more about dolphins and other wildlife found in the area. Stay in a delightfully converted 18th century brewery in the historic coastal town of Cromarty, known as the ‘jewel of the Black Isle’.
The holiday costs £450 p/p including all transfers, boat excursions, three nights full board accommodation at The Old Brewery and professional naturalist guiding.

Bay of Biscay: 4-day holiday departing Portsmouth 6th & 27th Aug 09.

A superb whale and wildlife watching mini-cruise from Portsmouth to northern Spain aboard the Pride of Bilbao, through the rich, deep waters of the Bay of Biscay in search of whales, dolphins, seabirds and sharks. Escorted by professional naturalists, guests enjoy a programme of onboard lectures focussing on whale and dolphin identification and ecology, gain exclusive access to the ship’s viewing platform, and as an extra bonus, disembark for some land-based exploration during a guided walk in the foothills of northern Spain’s Picos de Europa.
The holiday costs £245 p/p (based on two sharing an inside cabin), three nights accommodation on the Pride of Bilbao, guided walk in Spain and expert WDCS naturalist guiding.

Monterey Bay: 8-day holiday departing London 18th April 09.

The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary in California is the largest marine sanctuary in the United States and one of the best places in the world for whale watching, especially for Orca. No fewer than 26 different cetaceans have been recorded here, almost a third of all known species. As the tour coincides with peak season for Orca, Out of the Blue aims to spend as much time as possible with family pods. The Bay is also home to a remarkable variety of other wildlife, including Sea Otters, Californian Sea Lions, Harbour Seals and Brown Pelicans.
The holiday costs £2,199 p/p including flights, transfers, whale watching excursions on a chartered boat, kayaking tour, hotel accommodation, some meals and expert WDCS naturalist guiding.

Dominica: 9-day holiday departing London 18th April 09.

A wonderfully relaxing holiday in the Caribbean timed to coincide with Dominica’s peak whale watching season. Guests are treated to more than 30 hours of whale watching aboard a specially chartered catamaran, offering superb opportunities to spot nursing groups of female sperm whales with their calves, Fraser’s, bottlenose and Risso’s dolphins together with pygmy sperm whales.

The holiday also includes a full day’s exploration of the rainforests, beaches and villages of Dominica, ‘nature’s island’.
The holiday costs £2,449 p/p including flights, transfers, whale watching excursions on a chartered boat, hotel accommodation, some meals, island tour and expert WDCS naturalist guiding.

Out of the Blue
0845 290 3218
info@oceansworldwide.co.uk
www.oceansworldwide.co.uk

The latest episode of the BBC’s Oceans series investigated the depths of the Atlantic from a group of islands in its western reaches - the Bahamas. To experience a diver’s paradise of pristine reefs, historic wrecks, spectacular walls, blue holes, fantastic caves along with the opportunity to dive with diverse sea life, join Dive Worldwide on its NEW 10-day Riding Rock Resort & Marina dive holiday based on San Salvador – the Bahamas’ most south easterly island. Holidays depart London daily throughout the year.

Just twelve miles long and five miles wide, San Salvador is quiet, friendly and unspoilt, with endless deserted beaches and over 50 internationally renowned dive sites! With shallow reefs, stunning water clarity and more than 20 miles of dramatic vertical walls, beginning in as little as 40ft, the island offers a wealth of attractions.

Divers are based at Riding Rock, a custom designed, oceanfront diving resort perched on a pinnacle washed by warm breezes and clear azure waters - ideal for watersport enthusiasts, complete with onsite dive centre. Also on offer is an impressive trio of custom dive boats with deep V-hulls, walk-through transoms, dive platforms with extended ladders, camera rinse stations and plenty of shaded deck. Back on land, enjoy freshly prepared Bahamian cuisine in the resort’s restaurant then relax in the Driftwood Lounge – taking in the magnificent ocean view. For time out of the water - visit San Salvador’s other local attractions - ‘Blackbeard’s Castle’ (he may once have held court here!), Dixon Hill Lighthouse - one of the last hand-operated, kerosine-lit lighthouses in the world, or Columbus Monument, commemorating the landfall of Christopher Columbus in 1492…

The holiday costs from £2,005 p/p including international flights, taxes, 7-nights full board hotel accommodation at Riding Rock Resort and 1-night (RO) on Nassau, plus 10 dives package with tanks and weights.

Dive Worldwide
0845 130 6980

sales@diveworldwide.com 
www.diveworldwide.com

The Westin Resort, Aruba is offering upgrades to its all-inclusive package for 2009. Nightly rates start at $400 per person, per night, based on double occupancy, through April 16, and include accommodations, meals, activities, special events, and tax and service.

Children ages 4 through 12 can be added to the room for an additional daily charge of $50, and teens ages 13 through 17 for $75. Unlike many other all-inclusive programs, this comes without wristbands and unexpected surcharges. New to the resort’s all-inclusive roster in 2009 include room service, Westin Kids Club, beach palapas, and an off-property dining credit.

The all-inclusive package features accommodations; breakfast, lunch and dinner at a variety of resort restaurants or room service; $25 dining voucher per person (one voucher per person for a four-night stay and two vouchers per person for stays of seven nights or more); premium alcohol, wine and beer by the glass; Westin Kids Club with half or full-day programs for children ages 4 to 12; private weekly Renewal Ritual including drinks and hors d’oeuvres (Mondays);

Westin Unwind with nightly drink and appetizer specials to transition from day to evening; Beach Palapas (up to a $50 value), based on availability; non-motorized water sports including rafts, snorkel equipment and kayaks; use of nearby tennis courts; and WestinWORKOUT fitness center access. Search under Hotel Offers on the website and when booking ask for rate plan SOPAIP.

For more information, call 877-822-2222 or visit www.westin.com/aruba

Martinique is offering several travel bargains for winter 2009.

 Travelers can take advantage of free night offers, special savings and discounts on air service. Club Med Buccaneer’s Creek’s Half Off Your Better Half promotion rewards couples, or any two people traveling together, with 50 percent savings for one member of the traveling party.

Eligible bookings must be made by Feb. 28 for travel between Feb. 14 and Oct. 31. A minimum seven-night stay is required, and blackout dates apply. For more information, call 888-WEB-CLUB or visit www.clubmed.us

La Batelière Hotel’s Pay 5-Stay 7 or Pay 10-Stay 13 allows travelers to opt for two free nights on seven-night stays, or three free nights on 13-night stays when selecting the four-star, 193-room La Batelière Hotel (www.hotel-bateliere.com) for winter 2009. Eligible bookings must be made by May 31 for travel between Jan. 6 and June 30.

This offer is available exclusively through travel agents and tour operators, and additional restrictions may apply.

For reservations and information, travel professionals are encouraged to contact Corinne Picaut, sales and promotions manager at La Batelière, via email at corinne.picaut@orange.fr  or call 011-331-426-39762.

American Eagle is offering round-trip flights from its hub in San Juan, Puerto Rico, starting at $298.

The new low rate represents a discount of 36 percent over previously published fares and is available exclusively through travel agents and tour operators subject to space availability. American Eagle operates four times weekly, offering connections with American Airlines flights from cities across the U.S.

 For more information, call 800-433-7300. The Martinique Promotion Bureau can be reached at 212-838-6887, email at info@martinique.org  or visit www.martinique.org

Sol Meliá Vacation Club, an international leisure vacation membership club with locations in the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America and Europe, has opened Phase II of its Gran Meliá Puerto Rico member resort at Coco Beach, Rio Grande, Puerto Rico, with 63 additional suites.

The one-, two- and three-bedroom oceanfront suites accommodate four to six people, offering private check-in and members VIP lounge. “The Gran Meliá Puerto Rico is one of the finest quality resorts in the Caribbean and has been a great location for us,” said Denis Ebrill, executive vice president of Sol Meliá Vacation Club.

Sol Meliá Vacation Club at Gran Meliá Puerto Rico is a place where families from around the world gather for special times together in the comfort of home-style accommodations, featuring separate dining and living areas, kitchenettes, elegant marble fixtures, indoor/outdoor Jacuzzis, satellite TV, stereo system and DVD player. In addition to the large luxury accommodations, the resort offers fine dining restaurants with international cuisine and bars, plus recreational activities and amenities that include tennis courts, basketball court, non-motorized water sports and the largest lagoon-style pool in Puerto Rico.

There’s also world class golf nearby at the Tom Kite designed Coco Beach Golf and Country Club, a full-service spa, a casino, kid’s club, children’s pool, evening entertainment and a daily program of activities.

Sol Meliá Vacation Club at Gran Meliá Puerto Rico is located on Puerto Rico’s northeastern coast in Rio Grande, conveniently located to nearby El Yunque National Rainforest. With the recently inaugurated Route 66 Highway, the Resort is just a scenic 20 minutes from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport and the Historical Old San Juan area.

For more information, call 866-379-5950, or visit www.smvc.com