Jetsettersblog

Sway to the Vibe of Three Unique, Affordable Jazz Travel Experiences for Singles in 2009!

BOCA RATON, FL – Jazz lovers can’t miss with Singles Travel International’s three unique and affordable travel opportunities for jazz lovers in 2009 – the Smooth Jazz Charity Weekend in August, Chicago Jazz Festival in September, and a five-star Jazz Cruise experience to the Caribbean this November. Party to the sounds of the best jazz artists in a variety of venues with single adults who love to travel, too!

Smooth Jazz Children’s Charity Weekend Featuring Jazz Artist/Saxophonist Mindi Abair, Melbourne, Florida, August 7 – 9, 2009, starting at only $399.

Join Singles Travel International for a great jazz experience that benefits Children with Disabilities, too! Enjoy a beach weekend in Melbourne, Florida, party with smooth jazz lovers and raise money for a great cause. Stay 2 nights and golf, see Kennedy Space Center, or simply relax at the spa.

Features include your own room, preferred seating at the Mindi Abair Concert, a luncheon buffet, photo and autograph session with Mindi, singles-only welcome dinner, and other singles-only special events.

Chicago Jazz Festival Weekend, Chicago, September 4 – 7, 2009, starting at only $599.

Whether you are a jazz aficionado or don’t know Miles Davis from Fats Domino (unlikely!), a jazz weekend in Chi-town will be the perfect ending to summer. Join Singles Travel International for an insider’s tour of one of America’s most vibrant cities with world class architecture, gourmet restaurants, incredible nightlife and one of the country’s outstanding jazz festivals featuring jazz artists from around the world. The tour includes deluxe accommodations at the Fairmont Hotel, only steps from Millennium Park, home of the 31st Annual Jazz Festival

This trip includes entry to the festival, 3-course dinner at the Palm Seafood & Steakhouse with sweeping views of Lake Michigan, VIP passes to Rush Street bars, After Dinner Party at Jilly’s Piano Bar, special city tour, VIP Beach Party at “Beachstro,” ranked in the Top 10 Beach Bars by the Travel Channel, and more!

Jazz Cruise to the Caribbean, November 8 – 15, 2009, starting at only $2,080.

Singles Travel International provides the backstage pass to “Where the Legends have Played and the Tradition Continues.”

Wrapped in the luxury of a 5-star cruise experience by Holland America, single travelers will sail the Caribbean with an intimate experience with your favorite Jazz superstars including Johnny Mandel, Bill Charlap, Freddy Cole, The Four Freshman, Ann Hampton Callaway, Houston Person, Johnny O’Neal, Jeff Hamilton, and many more.

This cruise includes nightly live concerts, late night jam sessions, pool parties and theme nights, artist seminars and autograph sessions, and Anita’s Idol Contest whose winner will perform on the next jazz cruise. Singles Travel International includes singles-only events and dinners.

Check out the entire list of entertainers at http://www.singlestravelintl.com/trip_packages/58-jazz-cruise

About Singles Travel International

With over 25 years experience in travel consulting, Singles Travel International (STI) is an industry leader in providing worry-free travel for single travelers. STI offers age-specific excursions, short and long trips to close-by destinations and distant and exotic locations for all budgets — from frugal to luxury.

Trips include themed cruises (food & wine, jazz, volunteer, dancing) as well as adventure travel. Hallmarks of STI trips are personalized service, special singles events, and flexibility.

People may choose to participate in group activities or spend time relaxing and exploring on their own. www.singlestravelintl.com

Organized by the Caribbean Caucus of National Olympic Committees, the first-ever Caribbean Games will be held in Trinidad & Tobago from July 12-19, 2009.

Considered to be the most important sporting event in the region, the seven-day meet is seen as a platform to showcase elite athletes from the Caribbean in addition to motivating young sportsmen and women who aspire for greatness.

Competitors from various Caribbean countries will be participating in seven events that include soccer, basketball, track & field, boxing, tennis, volleyball and netball. Qualifying standards are determined by international and regional athletic federations.

For more information on Caribbean Games 2009 visit www.CaribbeanGames2009.com

New Environmental Research And Educational Marine Programme On Board Royal Clipper

Guests on board the magnificent Royal Clipper, one of the three tall ships in the Star Clippers fleet, can now take part in marine research and learn about the marine biology and ecology of the area in which the ship is sailing.

Star Clippers’ Swedish owner and founder, Mikael Krafft, himself a fervent environmentalist, has appointed Italian Marine Biologist Dr. Mariano Peruzzo, as the resident marine expert on board Royal Clipper for its summer 2009 season of Mediterranean sailings.

Royal Clipper will then cross the Atlantic in October 2009 for the Caribbean season, where the project will continue.

At no charge to guests, Dr Peruzzo, a graduate in biological sciences of the University of Genoa, is giving passengers daily talks on marine biology, relevant to the area in which the ship is sailing at the time.

He also offers entertaining and informative presentations on the history of oceanography, coral reefs, cetaceans (whales and dolphins), marine reptiles such as turtles and geology.

The lectures encompass the issue of climate change, its causes and contributing factors.

In addition to the educational programme, Mariano Peruzzo is available to guests throughout each day as he continues his research into the environments in which the ship is sailing. Enthusiasts can join him at dawn on deck to look for and log whales and dolphins, or join him on dives and snorkelling trips, or for beach walks in areas of ecological interest.

The daily finds are logged and will be used in Peruzzo’s collaborations with various environmental projects worldwide.

Mikael Krafft said “We at Star Clippers are passionately committed to preserving the environment and by having Dr Peruzzo on board, we hope to pass on our enthusiasm to our guests, many of whom have already taken advantage of his fascinating talks, beach walks and dives.”

Mariano Peruzzo added “Star Clippers’ owner Mikael Krafft is deeply interested and concerned by environmental issues and the problems of ocean pollution and the effects of climate change. I am very keen to achieve worthwhile results in my role as Star Clippers’ scientific consultant.

The fact that we regularly sail for six months in the Caribbean and six months in the Mediterranean, two distinct environmental areas, is ideal for cooperation with research projects of many kinds.”

With the assistance of Star Clippers’ founder and owner Mikael Krafft, he is also in the process of setting up a small laboratory on board Royal Clipper, to show guests the technical workings of a marine biology research project and to achieve a heightened awareness of the importance of environmental issues.

Royal Clipper will operate sailings from four to 11 nights in duration in the Mediterranean until October, calling at ports in Italy, Greece, Croatia, Montenegro, Malta and for the first time, Libya.

CompleteSailor.com aims to provide the best content, community, and e-commerce shopping for its growing number of users

Complete Sailor announced the launch of CompleteSailor.com. CompleteSailor.com pledges to become the sailing community’s #1 resource for content and e-commerce shopping. The company was created by a group of passionate sailboat racers and cruisers from New Jersey interested in creating the Internet’s first comprehensive online destination for sailors of all types - from beginners to experienced cruisers and ocean racers.

“We are thrilled about the launch of our website, which will fill a gap in the online market for sailors throughout the United States and the world,” stated Brian Beck, CEO of Complete Sailor.

“Being experienced sailors and Internet professionals ourselves, we saw the need to bring together shopping, education, and community in one web site for sailors of all levels.”

CompleteSailor.com is more than just an online store or a message board about sailing- the site provides visitors with the content, community, and e-commerce shopping unavailable anywhere else on the web. Visitors to the new website will be able to shop for the best brands in sailing gear, electronics, line, and hardware - Harken, Ronstan, Forespar, Tacktick, and many more - learn about the fundamentals of sailing in the Education section, and will soon be able to interact with other sailors through the Community section (forums, blogs, personalized MyCompleteSailor pages, and more).

The site also contains directories of yacht clubs, sailing schools, sailing events, and links to other sailing resources online.

Complete Sailor’s founders have more than 30 years of collective sailing experience and over 20 years in the Internet and eCommerce industry, positioning them perfectly to understand the needs of the sailing community and how to deliver a great online experience for this market.

About Complete Sailor

CompleteSailor.com is the Internet’s only web site dedicated to bringing shopping, community, and education together in one destination for sailors of all levels.

The Company was founded by a group of avid sailors and Internet professionals in 2008, and is rapidly evolving to be the #1 web site for all things sailing. The site features online shopping for sailing’s best brands, community forums and blogs, and sailing education for new sailors.

For more information, please visit http://www.completesailor.com  or call 732-208-2763.

Air Jamaica will be the official airline of the Fourth Annual Jamaica Invitational Pro-Am, which will be held Dec. 2 to 6.

The golf tournament will feature Pro-Am teams from the U.S., Canada and Europe competing for team prizes and a $15,000 purse for the professionals.

As the official airline of the tournament, Air Jamaica will provide discounted airfares for the amateur participants and PGA Golf Professionals.

The airline will also provide VIP services to the players, which include special check-in and unique on-board welcome.

For an extra special deal, travelers can visit take advantage of the Great Jamaica Fall Sale available for purchase through July 7.

The Great Jamaica Fall Sale features special fares on roundtrip flights between the U.S. and Montego Bay, Jamaica, valid for travel from Sept. 6 through Dec. 10.

All fares are one-way and based on roundtrip travel. Government taxes and fees are additional.

Conditions regarding black-out periods, cancellations and other charges apply.

Sample fares include Fort Lauderdale to Montego Bay, $79; Orlando to Montego Bay, $79; New York City to Montego Bay, $99; Philadelphia to Montego Bay, $104; Baltimore to Montego Bay $104; and Chicago to Montego Bay, $109.

For more information, call 800-523-5585 or visit www.airjamaica.com  or www.jamaicaproam.com

Funjet Vacations said it is seeing a growing interest and demand for the Caribbean and Mexico, so it is partnering with Iberostar Hotels & Resorts to launch an exclusive offer that gives travelers the opportunity to experience both destinations for a great value.

Clients can book any Iberostar property in Mexico or the Caribbean in 2009 and receive two free nights at almost any Iberostar property in 2010. Iberostar properties are all-inclusive and are located in Riviera Maya and Cozumel in Mexico; Punta Cana, Puerto Plata and La Romana in the Dominican Republic; and Montego Bay in Jamaica.

Because of the anticipated demand for this offer, 2009 travel must be booked by June 25.

Travelers do not need to book their 2010 vacation until March 10, 2010.

Funjet Vacations is the flagship brand of the family-owned Mark Travel Corporation, headquartered in Milwaukee.

All-Inclusive Vacation Packages!

Enjoy all you can eat, drink and fun at a SuperClubs Resort! Book Today.

While experts may be predicting an “average” hurricane season this year, SuperClubs goes beyond offering complimentary, comprehensive Guaranteed Getaways.

Since 1996, SuperClubs Super-Inclusive vacations have included weather insurance, even during hurricane season.

The Guaranteed Getaways includes the No Hurricane Guarantee.

Should a hurricane happen to strike the resort, guests staying at the resort will receive a reimbursement for the total value of disrupted nights.

In addition, a voucher for a future stay will be issued for the same number of disrupted nights for use during the same month the following year, excluding airfare.

This guarantee is offered at Grand Lido Resorts & Spas, Hedonism and Breezes Resorts in Jamaica plus Breezes Curaçao, Breezes Bahamas and Breezes Costa do Sauipe in Brazil.

Sunshine Guarantee:

For each and every day the sun doesn’t shine, guests will receive a credit voucher equal to that day’s Super-Inclusive room value, good for one year towards another SuperClubs vacation.

Satisfaction Guarantee:

If a SuperClubs guest is not 100 percent satisfied with the holiday, she/he must notify the general manager of the problem immediately.

If the general manager is unable to rectify the situation by the second night of the guest’s stay, SuperClubs will issue a credit voucher for the entire value of the unused portion of the hotel stay, good for up to one year at a SuperClubs resort.

This guarantee is included at all SuperClubs Resorts in the Caribbean and Brazil.

For more information, call 800-GO-SUPER or visit www.superclubs.com

Jamaica’s Royal Plantation Ocho Rios, celebrated for its traditional afternoon tea and regional Jamaican delicacies, unveiled an up to 65 percent off sale for bookings made from now through July 16, 2009.

A three-night minimum stay is required.

The deal applies to all suite categories, including the top two-bedroom Prime Minister Oceanfront Penthouse Suite spanning more than 2,100 square feet, as well as Villa Plantana, a three-bedroom hideaway with private pool, dedicated staff and Mercedes Benz chauffer.

The offer is valid for travel from Aug. 1-Dec. 20, 2009 and Jan. 4-Dec. 21, 2010.

This promotion can be combined with the First Night Free offer for bookings made now through July 16, 2009 for travel through Dec. 20 and Jan. 4-Dec. 21, 2010.

The first night is free with a seven-night all-inclusive plan booking in a premium or luxury oceanfront junior suite.

Pricing varies by date and package.

For more information, call 888-487-6925 or visit www.royalplantation.com

Crystal Cruises is offering two Experiences of Discovery cruises sailing from Miami this Thanksgiving.

The Duke Ellington Alumni Band — featuring several of the original members of Ellington’s orchestra — will headline Crystal Serenity’s roundtrip, seven-day Caribbean Jazz voyage.

On Crystal Symphony, renowned names in the culinary, wine and mixology fields will spice up the 13-day Wine & Food cruise to Manaus, which marks the first time in three years Crystal has sailed the Amazon. Both itineraries depart Nov. 22, and will host gala Thanksgiving feasts and celebrations.

Along with the Duke Ellington Alumni Band, the jazz cruise will feature Kitt Moran and pianist Eddie Tobin. Phil Schaap, the jazz curator at New York’s Lincoln Center, will lecture. Crystal’s Yamaha Passport to Music program will also offer keyboard and music classes.

Guests aboard the Wine & Food cruise will enjoy a multi-course menu and cooking demonstrations from Michelin Star-awarded chef Andre Rochat of Andre and Alizé in Las Vegas;

wine tastings led by head sommelier Kris Margerum of the Auberge du Soleil restaurant in California; and signature cocktails and cocktail classes and competitions with mixologist Tony Abou-Ganim. Crystal’s executive pastry chef will also give cooking and pastry classes.

Both itineraries are 2009 Value Collection cruises.

Cruise fares start at $2,480 and $3,615 per person, double occupancy, respectively. “All Inclusive-As You Wish” shipboard spending credits are $500 and $1,000 per person, respectively.

Crystal Symphony’s Thanksgiving itinerary can be extended to a 62-day voyage roundtrip from Miami that makes a circumference of South America, including an exploration of Antarctica. The “Grand Americas” vacation comes with a spending credit of $6,000 per couple.

MSC Cruises is offering a Family Plan for Four on five-, seven- and 10-night cruises aboard the MSC Poesia.

Guests who book a balcony stateroom on select MSC Poesia 2009 and 2010 Caribbean sailings can save up to 50 percent off a connecting balcony stateroom.

The Family Plan offer applies to adjoining Category 9, 10 or 11 Balcony Superior staterooms (accommodating up to four guests) beginning Nov. 10, 2009.

Family Plan rates for four start at $625 per person. Cruise itineraries include destinations in the Eastern and Western Caribbean and Panama.

Ports include San Juan, Puerto Rico; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; Tortola, British Virgin Islands; Georgetown, Grand Cayman; Montego Bay, Jamaica; King’s Wharf, Bermuda; Willemstad, Curacao; Oranjestad, Aruba; Cartagena, Colombia; St. John’s, Antigua; Cristobal, Panama; Basseterre, St. Kitts; Bridgetown, Barbados; Fort de France, Martinique; Cristobal, Panama; Puerto Limon, Costa Rica; Ocho Rios, Jamaica; and Playa del Carmen, Mexico.

For more information click the banner at the right.