Jetsettersblog

Continental Airlines Vacations Launches Riu Sale

Continental Airlines Vacations has launched a sale on Riu Hotels & Resorts, offering savings of up to 37 percent on packages to a choice of 17 all-inclusive Riu properties in the Caribbean and Mexico.

Bookings are being accepted now for travel throughout summer 2008.

Savings of 30 percent or higher are available on packages to eight Riu Resorts, including Riu Tropical Bay Negril (37 percent), Riu Paradise Island (35 percent), Riu Bambu Punta Cana (32 percent), Riu Santa Fe Cabo San Lucas (31 percent) and Riu Caribe Cancun (30 percent) where kids also stay free. Savings of 20 percent or higher are available on packages to seven Riu Resorts, including Riu Palace Riviera Maya (27 percent), Riu Jalisco Vallarta Nayarit (23 percent), Riu Cancun (23 percent) and Riu Tropical Bay Negril (20 percent).

This promotion is valid on new bookings of air-inclusive packages to select Riu Hotels & Resorts in the Caribbean and Mexico. Effective travel and booking windows vary by resort. Fly/drive packages and group bookings are not eligible, and additional booking, ticketing and travel restrictions may apply.

Top Honeymoon Resort Recommendations for 2008

Corona, CA - Ron Haller, President of Honeymooner’s Review Guide, states that “although there are many fine hotels and resorts for couples to choose from, our mission is to report the very finest based upon what returning honeymoon couples report.” Their latest survey is not intended to be a complete list of all the top honeymoon hotels and resorts, but does provide guidance for couples planning their honeymoon travel. Haller states that, “in addition to our surveys, we check each provider to ensure that they are indeed considered the ‘best of the best’. For 2008, results reveal that the following are very highly regarded by couples based upon completion of a survey of 25 detailed questions regarding the quality of their experience.

Top destinations remain Hawaii, Jamaica, St.Lucia, and Mexico. However, some of the top rated resorts are also in the Maldives, Grenada, Dominican Republic, the Bahamas and Italy.

Michelle McKenzie states, “Based upon our ongoing surveys, the following top 25 honeymoon resorts can be considered as places for couples to enjoy a quality romantic honeymoon and destination wedding.” The resorts are listed randomly and are not in priority order.

Le Taha’a Private Island & Resort & Spa
Tahaa, Society Islands

Casa Chameleon
Mal Pais, Costa Rica

Amore By The Sea Bed and Breakfast Inn
Victoria, BC

Aventura Spa Palace
Tulum, Mexico

Four Seasons Resort Lana’i
Lana’i City, Hawaii

Conrad Maldives Rangali Island
Maldives

Royal Plantation
Ochios Rios, Jamaica

Couples Negril
Negril, Jamaica

Sandals Royal Carribean
Montego Bay, Jamaica

Secrets Excellence Punta Cana
Punta Cana, Dominican Rep.

Spice Island Beach Resort
Grenada

Stonefield Estate
Soufriere, St. Lucia

Aloha Cottage
Makawao, Maui, Hawaii

Hilton Los Cabos Beach
Cabos San Lucas, Mexico

Couples swept away
Negril, Jamaica

Curacao Marriott Beach Resort & Emerald Casino
Curacao

Marriott Bangkok Resort & Spa
Thailand

El Dorado Royale
Riviera Maya, Mexico

Sandals Grande Ocho Rios Beach & Villa Resort
Ochios Rios, Jamaica

Sandals Regency St. Lucia Golf Resort and Spa,
St. lucia

Sandals Royal Bahamian Spa Resort & Offshore Island
Nassau

Luna Convento Hotel
Amalfi, Italy

Ritz-Carlton Kapalua
Maui

Sandals Regency St. Lucia Golf Resort and Spa,
Castries, St. Lucia

The Fairmont Orchid
Hawaii - Big Island

Ratings are based upon 25 factors and stress ambiance, activities, customer service and romance. Honeymooners Review Guide offers couples online access to 350+ planning pages of tips, articles, ideas on romance, destinations, and a database with over 3,000 hotels and resorts, with direct access to select honeymoon travel agents and destination wedding specialists.

The website encourages couples who return from their honeymoon to complete a short survey on their experience at their website survey page.

Miami Cruise Capital of The World

(MIAMI) – Long known as the “Cruise Capital of the World,” Miami is ranked 8th among the nation’s leading seaports and is now home to nine major cruise lines. The Port of Miami handles more than 3.7 million cruise passengers annually and on a single day in December 2007 served a record nine cruise ships carrying 30,000 passengers.

Cruise travelers can choose from a wide variety of destinations, including the Bahamas, Mexico, Caribbean, South America, Europe, the Far East and other exotic ports of call around the world. Fun-filled itineraries range from just four days to fourteen days or more.

What savvy travelers have learned, however, is to add a few days to their travel plans to take full advantage of pre- and post-cruise activities in Greater Miami.

Families love to explore the Florida Everglades, Jungle Island, Miami Children’s Museum and the Miami Seaquarium, while trendy South Beach, with its world-famous Art Deco District is a must-see for everyone. The Miami Design Preservation League offers self-guided taped tours or guided walking/ biking tours of the most astounding of the 800+ Art Deco buildings.

Miami has also been on a meteoric rise as a serious culinary destination. The city is home to more than 6,000 dining spots ranging from casual al fresco cafes to serious seen-and-be-seen restaurants serving flavor-packed “Floribbean” cuisine. The nightlife – which has been attracting big name celebrities in droves – is also legendary for its chic bars and red-hot dance clubs.

For those who love to shop, venues include the nearby Bayside Market Place, as well as the luxurious Bal Harbour Shops and Village at Merrick Park. Lincoln Road and “Miracle Mile” in Coral Gables are also chock-a-block with shops. Ladies – and increasingly gentlemen – may also want to indulge in a day at one of Miami’s many top-notch spas.

Those who want to squeeze in a little history or culture pre- or post-cruise should head straight to Vizcaya Museum and Gardens or one of Miami’s other fine museums, including the Miami Art Museum, the Wolfsonian Museum and the Bass Museum.

Fueled in part by the skyrocketing success of Art Basel Miami Beach, art galleries also abound.

Outdoor enthusiasts can indulge in world-class fishing, sailing wreck diving and snorkeling. Kayaking is a great way to navigate the waters of Biscayne Bay and Miami’s inland waterways and canoe trips for every possible interest are offered by the Miami Dade Parks and Recreation Department. Award-winning golf courses and tennis complexes also punctuate the landscape.

Cruise visitors can also partake in the colorful festivals staged by Miami throughout the year. Among the most notable are Art Deco Weekend (January), Coconut Grove Arts Festival, Miami International Boat Show, and South Beach Wine & Food Festival (February), Carnaval Miami (March) showcasing Miami’s Latin flavor, and Miami/Bahamas Goombay Festival (May/June), where Coconut Grove is transformed into Nassau’s Bay Street. Every August and September, more than 60 of the city’s top restaurants take part in Miami Spice Restaurant Month, offering their patrons substantial savings on three-course meals.

While Miami rolls out the red carpet for its cruise visitors – including a state-ofthe- art passenger terminal and reasonable fares for long-term parking – the city also extends a warm welcome for those who want to extend their stays and sample all the sophisticated, multicultural city has to offer.

The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) is an independent not-for-profit sales and marketing organization whose mission is to attract visitors to Greater Miami and the Beaches for leisure, business and conventions. For a vacation guide, visit our website at www.MiamiAndBeaches.com  or call 1-888-76-Miami (US/Canada only) or 305-447-7777. To reach the GMCVB offices dial 305-539-3000.

Meeting planners may call 1-800-933-8448 (US/Canada only) or 305-539-3071 or visit www.MiamiMeetings.com  Logon now.

United Vacations a la Carte Program

United Vacations is giving travelers more freedom to customize their vacation experience in Mexico & the Caribbean through a new program called United Vacations ála Carte. By purchasing food, beverages and activities separately from hotel, travelers can customize their vacation to their exact desires.

This month United Vacations customers will save $50 and receive 2,500 Mileage Plus bonus miles per adult for flight-inclusive vacations of three nights or more at the Gran Meliá Puerto Rico or at ME Cancun. Offer is valid for vacations purchased by June 30.

In addition, travelers will save more with reduced rates for travel now through Oct. 31 at the Gran Meliá Puerto Rico in Coco Beach, Rio Grande. As a complimentary added value, United Vacations always includes roundtrip airport/hotel transportation service which is automatically included in Mexico and Caribbean vacation packages. United Vacations offers several travel protection options to insure vacation investments both before and during travel.

The United Vacations Cancellation Waiver allows vacation modification or cancellation for any reason up to 24 hours prior to departure without incurring supplier revision or cancellation penalties. The “WorldCare Complete Coverage” plan combines the pre-travel benefit of the Cancellation Waiver with protection against unforeseen during-travel events such as illness or injury.

Look for more information at www.unitedvacations.com/travelprotection

GOGO Worldwide Launches Caribbean Sale

GOGO Worldwide Vacations launched its annual Caribbean Sale in conjunction with American Airlines. During the sale, GOGO has reduced fares for late summer and fall travel. With discounted air-inclusive vacation packages for more than 100 hotels that are booked by June 30 for travel Aug. 15-Dec. 15 clients can buy one night and get one free at some of the most popular Caribbean resorts.

Seven-night vacation packages start at $319 per person (including air from Boston) based on double occupancy accommodations. Some of the hottest savings available include the following. Bahamas – four nights: Sheraton Cable Beach $369 from Miami. Puerto Rico – four nights: Radisson Ambassador Plaza $415 from Philadelphia. Barbados – seven nights: Allamanda Beach Hotel $319 from Boston. Aruba – four nights:

The Westin Aruba Resort $595 from New York. St. Lucia – four nights: Discovery at Marigot Bay $745 from Miami. Antigua All-Inclusive – four nights: Grand Pineapple Beach Resort Antigua $879 from Baltimore. Jamaica All-Inclusive – four nights: Sandals Grande Ocho Rios Beach & Villas Luxury Included Vacation $899 from Boston. Bermuda – four nights: The Fairmont Southampton $799 from New York.

Prices are per person, based on double occupancy accommodations and round-trip midweek air.

For more information about GOGO Worldwide Vacations, call 800-229-4999

LUXURY CRICKET AND CRUISING IN THE CARIBBEAN

ITC Sports, the leading luxury sports tour operator, is delighted to unveil its spectacular Platinum Cricket Cruise to watch England play the West Indies in February 2009 in true style.

Cricket cruises are a speciality for ITC Sports and for 2009 the company has exclusively chartered Silversea’s Silver Shadow for a superb 16 night extravaganza, between the 2nd – 18th February 2009. The cricket will be thrilling, with part of the First Test in Jamaica and all of the Second Test in Antigua, while the cruising will take in beautiful and diverse islands such as St Barths and the Dominican Republic.

Silversea’s “six star” Silver Shadow offers all-suite accommodation, a vast array of facilities, and the highest standards of personal service and attention to detail. Little wonder that Silversea has won award after prestigious award for small ship, luxury cruising.

ITC Sports has brought together a unique, star-studded line up of cricketing celebrities and entertainers, including David Gower, Darren Gough, Derek Underwood, Christopher Martin-Jenkins, David Lloyd, Allan Lamb, Paul Allott, celebrity chef Antony Worrall Thompson and Mike d’Abo of Manfred Mann. These onboard Hosts will be joined by many other special guests, meaning that evenings on board will be a highlight of the trip, with “State of Play” discussions, interviews with celebrities, live entertainment, and sumptuous dining.

ITC Sports’ Platinum Cricket Cruise Itinerary

West Indies v England, 2 – 18 February 2009

2 February

Departure from London Heathrow aboard your flight to Miami and transfer to Fort Lauderdale to board Silversea’s Silver Shadow.

3 February

A day to relax at sea and enjoy the facilities on board Silver Shadow.

4 February

Day at sea, with the opportunity to watch the start of the First Test, West Indies v England, shown via live satellite feed from Kingston, Jamaica.

5 February

Early arrival in Kingston for your transfer to the second day of play in the FIRST TEST, WEST INDIES v ENGLAND, at Sabina Park.

6-7 February

Daily transfers to the FIRST TEST, WEST INDIES v ENGLAND, at Sabina Park.**

8 February

Disembark in Port Antonio on Jamaica’s North Coast.

9 February

A day of cruising and relaxation.

10 February

Disembark at La Romana, in the Dominican Republic.

11 February

Morning arrival at San Juan, the vibrant capital city of Puerto Rico.

12 February

Disembark in Gustavia for a day in St Barths – always a favourite for its charm and its casual, yet stylish, French chic. Not to mention the fine restaurants and serious retail therapy opportunities!

13-17 February

Daily transfers to the SECOND TEST, WEST INDIES v ENGLAND at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound.

18 February

Transfer to VC Bird International Airport for your return flight to London.

19 February

Early morning arrival at London Gatwick.

** If the final day of the First Test promises to be thrilling, the itinerary will alter to be able to stay and watch it.

Prices start from £6,995 per person sharing a Vista Suite.

What’s included ?? Check the website or call for reservations and further information please contact ITC Sports (01244 355527; www.itcsports.co.uk)

Royal Caribbean Short Cruises to Bahamas, Caribbean

Royal Caribbean International announced its short cruise program for 2009-10, offering 18 two- to five-night itineraries on 306 departures. Cruises are available from Tampa, Port Canaveral, Port Everglades and Miami aboard Navigator of the Seas,

Enchantment of the Seas, Grandeur of the Seas, Majesty of the Seas and Monarch of the Seas. Bookings are open for these short cruises. Navigator of the Seas and Enchantment of the Seas offer year-round Caribbean cruises.

From May 2009, Enchantment of the Seas will offer four- and five-night Western Caribbean itineraries for the summer season from Port Everglades, which include a call at Key West. From November 2009, Navigator will sail similar Western Caribbean itineraries from Miami.

Majesty of the Seas will operate three- and four-night Bahamas cruises from Miami. Monarch of the Seas will begin its first full-year deployment in 2009 at Port Canaveral. Grandeur of the Seas will sail from the Port of Tampa on four- and five-night Western Caribbean cruises to Belize City, Cozumel and Progreso. Grandeur also will return to Costa Maya, docking at the newly constructed pier, which replaced the one destroyed by Hurricane Dean in 2007.

Royal Caribbean also has enhanced the www.CruisingPower.com website to give travel agents a central online repository for current and upcoming deployment openings. Travel professionals can visit the new deployment micro-site and view and download the latest deployment flyers and itineraries at www.cruisingpower.com/royalcaribbeandeployment 

Azamara Journey to Sail Caribbean-Panama Canal

Azamara Cruises’ 694-guest Azamara Journey will operate Caribbean and Panama Canal cruises in late 2009 and early 2010.

The Journey, which underwent a $19 million makeover before its 2007 launch, will sail through the Caribbean and Panama Canal from December 2009 through mid-April 2010, visiting 23 ports in 15 countries.

First-time calls will be made at Castries, St. Lucia; Willemstad, Curacao; and San Diego, Calif. The Journey also will anchor off of the island of Bequia. San Diego, instead of Los Angeles, will be the turnaround port for two 16-night Panama Canal sailings, one westbound from Miami departing on Dec. 18, 2009, and one eastbound to Miami departing on Jan. 3, 2010.

Between the two Panama Canal sailings, Azamara Journey will call at Port Antonio, Jamaica; Cartagena, Colombia; Puntarenas, Costa Rica; San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua; Willemstad; and Acapulco, Cabo San Lucas and Huatulco, Mexico.

A new 10-night Easter voyage sailing roundtrip from Miami on April 1, 2010, will call at St. John, St. Martin, Dominica, St. Kitts and Virgin Gorda. Three 12-night Caribbean itineraries will be operated out of Miami from January through March 2010, featuring calls at Bequia, Castries, Dominica, St. Croix, Antigua, Martinique, St. Barts Guadeloupe and more.

For more information, call 877-222-2526 or visit www.azamaracruises.com

Air Europa new Latin American Flights

Spanish airline Air Europa has opened a UK sales office to support new scheduled services from Gatwick.

The carrier is to run double daily flights to Madrid, with connections onto an expanding long haul network to South and Central America, and the Caribbean.

Air Europa is already well known in the UK market for its European charter services and is expanding its long haul scheduled service network.

Destinations available this summer include Buenos Aires, Salvador De Bahia, Caracas, Santo Domingo, Punto Cana, Cancun and Havana.

Tickets are also available on the connecting flights between Gatwick and Madrid which are operated on an Air Comet Airbus 320.

The scheduled departure times from Gatwick are 10.10 and 17.40 each day of the week.

Air Europa head of international sales María del Mar Ayudarte, said: “The UK market to Latin America is booming and the specialist UK tour operators here are amongst the best in the world.

“Air Europa is well known as a holiday airline to the Mediterranean and our challenge is to make it equally well known as the best way to Latin America, We believe we can do this by working closely with the travel trade here in the UK.”

Thomson Cruises makes Caribbean return

Thomson Cruises is making a return to the Caribbean for winter 2008-09.

Thomson Destiny will make two transatlantic cruises - Tropical Transatlantic and Transatlantic Sunrise - and two seven-night cruises, Coral Islands and Caribbean Gems.

The Tropical Transatlantic cruise is a 14-day itinerary that sees passengers fly to Lisbon to board the ship for a five-day Atlantic crossing to the Dominican Republic, where a seven night Coral Islands or Caribbean Gems itinerary starts. Passengers fly home to the UK from La Romana in the Dominican Republic.

The Transatlantic Sunrise 18-night itinerary starts with a flight to the Dominican Republic, before the Thomson Destiny sails first for seven nights on either the Coral Islands or Caribbean Gems itinerary before crossing the Atlantic from Barbados, taking in Gibraltar, Cartagena, Valencia and Barcelona, Spain before finally arriving back in Palma, Majorca.

The seven night Coral Islands cruise sails from La Romana to St Lucia, taking in Barbados, Guadeloupe, St Kitts and Tortola. The Caribbean Gems cruise sails to Grenada, Dominica, Antigua, St Maarten and Tortola.

The operator’s Caribbean cruise programme features a new entertainment programme ‘A New Wave of Entertainment on the high Seas’ with jazz and Dixieland band performances, Latin dancing classes and West End-style shows.

The lead-in for 14 nights on the Tropical Transatlantic is £999 per person on December 7 with flights from five UK airports taking customers to the port of departure. The price includes return flights, full board, tips, port taxes and charges and fuel supplements.

The Transatlantic Sunrise 18-night itinerary costs £1,399 per person departing on April 18, 2009 with flights from five UK airports, including return flights, full board, tips, port taxes and charges and fuel supplements. Flights are to La Romana and return from La Palma.