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.

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

 

Marriott and Renaissance Caribbean & Mexico Resorts announced the Winter 2008 Partners in Paradise Award recipients: Richard Poitras, strategic planner and founder of Horizons.com, and Carrie Plato, Caribbean strategy and buying leader of the Mark Travel Corporation.

Poitras was recognized with the Meeting Planner Partner Award and Plato received the Travel Industry Partner Award. The highly esteemed Partners in Paradise Awards are presented to the most extraordinary meeting and travel industry partners, recognizing their overall contributions to Marriott and Renaissance Caribbean & Mexico Resorts.

“These two, dynamic professionals have been selected to receive Marriott’s top industry honor for displaying qualities that exemplify the ideal Marriott partner — organization, leadership, flexibility, creativity and enthusiasm,” said Steve Cook, area director of sales and marketing for Marriott and Renaissance Caribbean & Mexico Resorts.

Launched in 2006, the bi-annual Partners in Paradise Award program is a way of recognizing individuals whose contributions to Marriott and Renaissance Caribbean & Mexico Resorts properties go above and beyond the financial opportunities alone.

Twice a year, the sales team nominates one meeting planner and one travel industry partner to receive this prestigious award. Winners are not only featured on ParadiseByMarriott.com and in a newsletter that is distributed to travel and meeting trades, but they also receive a personal letter, an engraved plaque and a $500 American Express gift certificate.

Following the success of the flagship Hotel Gansevoort in Manhattan and the opening of Gansevoort South Hotel, Spa and Residences in South Beach, Fla., Gansevoort Hotel Group continues to expand its brand with third party management ventures in Turks & Caicos Islands, Toronto and Chicago. Gansevoort Turks & Caicos, a Wymara Resort, will debut in March 2009, followed by Gansevoort Toronto and Gansevoort Chicago, both in 2011. Gansevoort Turks & Caicos, a Wymara Resort, is a 91-room luxury property developed by Apollo Development Company. Located on the western section of Grace Bay Beach, the property boasts expansive beachfront along reef-protected ocean waters. Grace Bay Beach is situated on Providenciales, the main island in a 40-island chain that collectively make up Turks & Caicos Islands. Providenciales airport, less than 15 minutes from the property, offers direct flights several times a day from Miami, New York, Atlanta, Charlotte, Philadelphia, London, Toronto and Montreal.

Gansevoort Hotel Group will feature Bagatelle Bistrot and Beach Club as well as a beachfront Exhale Spa at its new Turks & Caicos location. Bagatelle Bistrot by The One Group will serve as the property’s gourmet dining destination along with Bagatelle Beach Club, a day and night beach bar concept. Exhale Spa will bring unique spa treatments, its trademark Core Fusion classes and innovative training methods to the resort. Along with a fully-equipped fitness center, the spa will offer classes and treatments in its beachfront pavilion. Fusing Caribbean and contemporary styles, the resort will feature a 7,000 square foot infinity edge pool that includes “lounging islands” which appear to float on the water. By day, these islands can be used for sunning and relaxing and by night, will serve as intimate, candle-lit dining areas. Gansevoort Turks & Caicos will also provide beach and poolside catering, concierge services, water sports activities and complimentary wireless throughout the property. Rates begin at $450 per night.

For more information, visit www.gansevoorhotelgroup.com

MLT Vacations added three popular island destinations in the Caribbean through the company’s NWA WorldVacations and Continental Airlines Vacations brands. The tour operator began offering Antigua, Turks & Caicos, and St. Lucia vacation packages Dec. 18.

NWA WorldVacations will offer all three island getaways while Continental Airlines Vacations will offer the islands of Antigua and Turks & Caicos. Vacations package components will include round-trip air, accommodations at a Sandals or Beaches Resort, and ground transportation.

Rental car options and more lodging selections will be announced in the spring of 2009, and optional car rental. More accommodation options are coming in spring 2009.

MLT Vacations, one of the largest providers of vacation packages in the United States, manages multiple package vacation brands, including NWA WorldVacations, Worry-Free Vacations, and Continental Airlines Vacations.

NWA WorldVacations offers vacation packages via scheduled air service on Northwest Airlines, Delta Air Lines and other airline partners, with convenient connections from many U.S. and Canadian cities, to destinations in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Europe and Asia, including luxury vacation packages and destination weddings and honeymoons.

Worry-Free Vacations offers charter vacation packages from several U.S. cities to destinations in Mexico and the Caribbean. Continental Airlines Vacations offers vacation packages via scheduled air service on Continental Airlines with convenient connections from many U.S. and Canadian cities, to destinations in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Europe and Asia.

For more information, visit www.worldagentdirect.com

Despite rather Mustafa-come-lately claims of early Ottoman footfalls, Bradt’s new Turks & Caicos Islands guide describes an archipelago having little to do with Turks, Turkey or turkeys. Most agree Columbus in 1492 was the first to disturb the brilliant white sands of Grand Turk with European bootprints, setting in motion a familiar pattern of cultural exchange featuring slavery, syphilis, and state sponsored piracy.

After historical dalliances with the salt and guano trade, 300 years later the rather less artery-hardening and certainly more fragrant industries of tourism and off-shore banking are mainstays of a British Overseas Territory that may have embraced the US dollar but still sings God Save the Queen.

Lying at the bottom edge of the Devil’s (AKA Bermuda) Triangle, travellers not abducted by aliens or overcome by monstrous ocean vortexes can’t fail to be entranced by an idyllic sprinkling of islands. The guide details beautiful beaches, rich birdlife, colonial history and romantic wedding venues, all attracting their measure of visitors. However, it’s beneath the Caribbean’s clear blue waters that superlative fringing reefs and almost vertical walls have established the Turks & Caicos Islands (TCI) as one of the world’s best diving destinations. Combine fish-rich reefs with a location on the migratory path of thousands of Humpback Whales, where safe harbour is afforded endangered marine turtles and where wild dolphins have been declared nationals treasures, and it’s easy to see why even astronaut John Glenn couldn’t resist splashing down in the TCI.

Annalisa Rellie spent a quarter of a century travelling the word with her diplomat husband before entering the world of freelance journalism and discovering the house of her dreams in TCI – unfortunately, as she points out, someone else still owns it! She is also author of Bradt’s Montenegro.
Tricia Hayne is a freelance travel writer, member of the British Guild of Travel Writers and former editorial director at Bradt Travel Guides. Swimming, diving and sailing are high on her list of interests and as such it’s hardly surprising that TCI proved an all-consuming subject. She is also the author of Bradt’s Cayman Islands.

Title: Turks & Caicos Islands
Authors: Annalisa Rellie & Tricia Hayne
Publisher: Bradt Travel Guides Publication: Out Now!
Price: £14.99 ISBN: 978 1 84162 268 2

Bradt Travel Guides
01753 893 444
info@bradtguides.com
www.bradtguides.com

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands (December 4, 2008) – The new, luxurious Seven Stars Resort on Providenciales in the Turks and Caicos Islands has announced two wedding packages for couples wishing to tie the knot in this fairy tale setting. A destination wedding on powder white Grace Bay Beach, where the hotel is located, makes this very special event even more special and memorable.

Elite Wedding Package I includes four nights’ accommodation in either a One-Bedroom Gardenview Studio or One-Bedroom Oceanview Studio, services of a Wedding Officiate for the ceremony and post-wedding documentation, wedding decoration and set up for the ceremony, a romantic dinner for two served beachside or at an alternative location, Continental breakfast daily, one-hour Couples Massage, bottle of Champagne and fruit plate on arrival, bottle of wine, transfers to and from the airport and 10% hotel tax and 10% service charge.

From January 3–April 4, 2009 per couple rates are $3,720 for the One-Bedroom Gardenview Studio and $4,985 for the One-Bedroom Oceanview Studio. From April 5 – October 31, 2009 rates are $3,140 and $4,100, respectively.

Elite Wedding Package II includes four nights’ accommodation in either a One-Bedroom Beachfront Studio or a One-Bedroom Beachfront Suite with Grand Salon and all inclusions of the Elite Wedding Package I. Plus, music during the ceremony, two keepsake Champagne toasting flutes, one Sea Salt Skin Buff (or similar treatment) each for the bride and her mother or a member of the wedding party and chocolate dipped strawberries delivered to the couple’s room on the wedding night. Rates for Elite Wedding Package II from January 3-April 4, 2009 are $6,165 for the One-Bedroom Beachfront Studio and $9,235 for the One-Bedroom Beachfront Suite and Grand Salon. From April 5-October 31, 2009 rates are $5,155 and $7,315, respectively.

Included in the Seven Stars daily rate is private shuttle to the golf course, tennis, use of the fitness center and Wi-Fi availability in the pool area.

Accommodations feature a broad terrace or private balcony, marble floors, cable TV and a CD/DVD player with iPod connectivity, full or galley kitchens with granite countertops, stainless steel GE Monogram appliances and an espresso machine with complimentary coffee set-up. Spacious bathrooms have natural stone counters, hairdryers, terry bathrobes, slippers and luxury bath amenities.

Luxurious accommodations and attentive, yet unobtrusive, service are the hallmarks of Seven Stars. Located on 22 beachfront acres of famed powder white twelve-mile Grace Bay Beach, the 115 residential units break out to 165 luxurious accommodations housed in three buildings. Courtyards, fountains and lush tropical gardens give way to magnificent ocean views. Two restaurants, a swimming pool, tennis courts, a spa/fitness facility and a play area for children are among the resort’s features.

The hotel’s name comes from the seven stars of the Pleiades, the storied constellation seen so clearly from the Turks and Caicos Islands. In Greek mythology the stars represent the seven daughters of the god Atlas and goddess Pleione.

For further information about Seven Stars’ weddings and for reservations phone toll-free 1-866-570-7777 or direct to 1-649-941-7777; e-mail, reservations@sevenstarsresort.com  or log on at www.sevenstarsresort.com

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Certified Vacations Group entered into a partnership with CaribbeanWeddings.com, the largest site on the web dedicated to destination weddings in the Caribbean, to launch a new CaribbeanWeddings.com brand offering complete travel and destination wedding planning and booking services to the Caribbean.

The partnership provides CaribbeanWeddings.com professional travel industry expertise to back up its web marketing prowess. Roberta Backus Turner, chairwoman and founder of CaribbeanWeddings.com, said, “We worked with our visitors this way for many years, but our call volume and email requests became so enormous that we needed to find an experienced travel partner. Certified’s 28-year track record of excellence in developing packaged leisure travel, combined with our wedding expertise makes a perfect marriage. We interviewed some excellent firms and found the right relationship with Certified Vacations.”

CaribbeanWeddings.com, with more than 1.3 million page views a year, claims to be the leading Internet site dedicated exclusively to the Caribbean wedding and honeymoon market. The Internet company is ranked number one in over 5,000 first page rankings on the major search engines and continues to establish itself as a major Internet player in the Caribbean. Destination weddings are not only popular but they continue to increase each year according to most industry research, and wedding, honeymoon and romance packages sales remain solid year-round, despite a down economy.

According to the most recent “American Wedding Study” conducted by Condé Nast Bridal Media, an estimated 2.3 million Americans got married in 2006, with approximately 16 percent of couples enjoying a destination wedding. This represents an increase of 400 percent since 1996. Destination weddings and honeymoons generate an estimated $5.4 billion in annual revenue for the Caribbean.

To better serve brides and grooms-to-be, Certified Vacations has established a dedicated Caribbean Weddings call center staffed with destination wedding reservations specialists.

CaribbeanWeddings.com was launched in 1999 and is the largest site on the web dedicated exclusively to providing information about destination weddings in the Caribbean.

Before entering into its arrangement with Certified, CaribbeanWeddings.com provided information about weddings and honeymoons in the Caribbean to its visitors and sent leads from those visitors to participating hotels. Now, its visitors will be able to contact Certified directly to handle all or any part of their travel, wedding and honeymoon needs. For reservations on CaribbeanWeddings.com, call 877-312-LOVE (5683).

For more information on Certified Vacations, visit www.certifiedvacations.com

Avid scuba divers are constantly searching the globe for the best coral reefs and most diverse fish species population, but have these brave adventurers ever explored the underwater relics of a world unknown? Experienced divers can visit shipwrecks where they can delve into old boats and see the unique underwater environment created by a man made structure.

While there are many destinations for scuba divers to visit when looking for shipwreck dives, most are looking for an excursion where they create unforgettable memories in the beauty of the deep blue sea. Please find some of the most stunning and incredible shipwreck dives listed below:

Endymion, 10 miles south of Salt Cay in Turks & Caicos, is an 18th century British war ship. All that’s left of this vessel is the 140 foot hull and massive anchor, but divers can explore the antique masterpiece to see some of the most striking fish that now call this ship home. To have guided tours of Endymion please visit http://www.southcaicosdiver.com/index.html
Theo’s Wreck, a mile and half off the coast of the Bahamas, is a sunken Norwegian cargo ship that went down in 1954. Now covered in beautiful flower corals, this ship is inhabited by many different marine animals, from sea turtles to sharks. For guided tours of Theo’s wreck please visit http://www.xanadudive.com/Dive-Sites-Deep.html
YO-257, an old Navy ship that served during World War II, located near the island of Oahu, Hawaii, is an exciting dive that every scuba enthusiast must visit, as it combines the history of World War II with the natural beauty of Hawaiian wildlife. To have guided tours of YO-257 please visit http://www.oahudiving.com/yo_257.htm

For more information or images on Turks & Caicos Islands www.turksandcaicostourism.com

Turks & Caicos offers a setting for the ultimate in luxury indulgence. Don’t let the unpaved roads stop you from entering a world of surreal turquoise waves and endless white sandy beaches embedded within plush, romantic spaces. Each resort gem provides an ultra chic, unforgettable experience.

Guests staying at Nikki Beach Resort won’t lift a finger upon arrival, as a limousine—complete with a welcoming glass of champagne—whisks them away to the resort. Upon arrival, a personal assistant will ensure every moment is enjoyed as they relax in a luxury suite on the secluded tip of Providenciales.

For more information, visit http://nikkibeachhotels.com/turks

• Travelers in search of a peaceful sanctuary will delight in the COMO Shambhala Retreat at Parrot Cay. This world famous retreat offers extensive therapeutic massages and treatments geared to stimulate, relax, heal, and promote peace of mind and body. Housed in a private sanctuary, the property features a sauna, steam room, 540-square-foot infinity pool, pilates studio, yoga pavilion, and outdoor Jacuzzi garden.

For more information, visit www.parrotcay.como.bz

Beautifully placed on 12 acres of tropical landscape, The Regent Palms is a magnificent residential 72-suite hotel with sumptuous outdoor space, marble floors, and vaulted ceilings. Home to The Regent Spa—an impressive 25,000-square-foot of indulgent spa space—renowned for signature treatments like the luscious “Mother of Pearl Exfoliation” and “Little Drops of Caribbean Rain,” The Regent Spa offers standalone treatment rooms surrounded by water, an indulgent garden area with six white tented cabanas, and lavish spa suites.

For more information, visit www.regenthotels.com

The guests at Grace Bay Club enjoy private beach beds with gracefully flowing canopies, strategically placed along 1,050 feet of pristine white sand overlooking crystal waters. This Euro-Caribbean hotel is located on Grace Bay Beach, recognized by Conde Nast as “one of the Best Beaches in the World.” Each room is complete with a cell phone—provided by the resort—in order to contact butlers anytime, day or night.

For more information, visit www.gracebayclub.com

www.turksandcaicostourism.com