Jetsettersblog

Air Jamaica said a preliminary targeted transaction date of April 12, 2010 has been set when its operations will begin the transition to Caribbean Airlines. Air Jamaica said this transaction date is in line with the airline’s major schedule change that was previously announced.

But the transaction date could change as the details of the transition are finalized. As of April 12, Air Jamaica will offer four daily flights from Fort Lauderdale, three daily flights from New York (JFK) and daily flights from Philadelphia, Baltimore and Toronto.

The transition to Caribbean Airlines will be phased over a period of up to one year in order to ensure that customers continue to get the best possible travel experience.

Air Jamaica aircraft will continue to be utilized during the transition period. Current Air Jamaica pilots, flight crews and ground staff will operate the aircraft for the schedule already published. All customer services, including reservations, website and sales, will continue to operate in much the same way as today, for a period of time.

“We have enjoyed a tremendous relationship with our loyal customers in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean, as well as throughout the Diaspora, and we are pleased to advise that our company is also committed to continuing these relationships, doing everything possible to earn your loyalty and trust,” said Bruce Nobles, Air Jamaica’s president and CEO.

Meanwhile, The Jamaica Observer newspaper reported that Caribbean Airlines will only be taking over Air Jamaica’s profitable routes to ensure Jamaica maintains its tourism lifeline with its major markets in North America and Europe, but will not assume any of the airline’s debt.

The newspaper also reported the jobs of Air Jamaica employees will be made redundant on April 12, since Caribbean Airlines has only been contracted to take up the slack in service on Air Jamaica’s routes.

For more information or reservations, call 800-523-5585 or visit www.AirJamaica.com

The U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism’s newly launched Family Fun promotion allows families who reserve one two-person room to receive 50 percent off the price of a second room for the kids.

They also receive $200 in certificates for free dining and activities such as shopping, golf, spa and sailing.

The Family Fun package is bookable through May 31 for travel between June 1 and Aug. 31.

Hotels participating in the Family Fun promotion include Bolongo Bay Beach Resort, Marriott Frenchman’s Reef, Point Pleasant Resort, Sapphire Beach Resort, Secret Harbour Beach Resort, The Ritz-Carlton and Windward Passage Hotel on St. Thomas; The Buccaneer, Carambola Beach Resort & Spa, Chenay Bay Beach Resort, Club St. Croix, Divi Carina Bay Resort & Casino, Hibiscus Beach Resort, Hotel Caravelle, The Palms at Pelican Cove, Sand Castle on the Beach and Tamarind Reef Hotel on St. Croix; Concordia Eco-Tents, Maho Bay Camps and The Westin St. John Resort & Villas on St. John.

The Family Fun package is based on a five-night minimum stay with double occupancy per room, applies to new bookings only and cannot be combined with other promotions. Black-out dates may apply.

For more information, visit www.VisitUSVI.com

Divi Carina Bay is offering a deal for those interested in scoring tickets to “A Taste of St. Croix,” the island’s culinary happening.

Tickets for the annual event, which showcases the island’s restaurant scene in a cook-off competition, sampling and wine tasting, sell out within minutes.

The travel package guarantees two tickets to the Taste of St. Croix and to the after party, Thursday, April 15, held at the Divi Carina Bay Resort, and includes three nights of beachfront accommodations, full breakfast daily, a 10 percent dining discount at last year’s winning restaurants and all taxes.

Price is $875 per couple for three nights with additional nights available at $225 per night.

The package is valid for travel April 11 to 18.

The package also includes a bottle of Chateau Montelena wine and a DVD of the 2008 movie “Bottle Shock,” both signed by Chateau Montelena vintner Bo Barrett. “Bottle Shock” tells the story of the seminal wine tasting event in Paris in 1976, when a Chateau Montelena white wine bested French wines in a blind tasting, shocking the industry and marking the coming of age of California wines.

Barrett will be among the vintners offering tastings of their wines at the Taste of St. Croix.

More than 50 local chefs participated in last year’s Taste of St. Croix on the Divi Carina Bay beachfront, preparing their specialties for over 1,500 attendees and the celebrity chef judges who voted on their top picks in a variety of categories.

This year’s judges include Kevin Rathbun, an award-winning chef and owner of three restaurants in Atlanta; Tim Love, culinary personality and chef/owner of The Lonesome Dove Western Bistro and The Love Shack in Fort Worth, Texas; Portland’s Gabriel Rucker, named one of the best new chefs of 2007 by Food & Wine magazine and owner of Le Pigeon; and “Iron Chef America” contender and restaurant owner Robert Trevino of Puerto Rico.

The Taste of St. Croix is part of the five-day St. Croix Food & Wine Experience, named one of the best food festivals in the world by Forbes Traveler 2009.

For a full list of events and to book the travel package, visit www.divicarina.com

Star Clippers (www.starclippers.co.uk ), which offers holidays on three of the world’s tallest and most beautiful clipper ships, has added 40 maiden calls to its 2010 and 2011 sailing itineraries, including some of the world’s most remote islands and lesser known ports and islands in Europe and South America.

The new sailing itineraries are on board the four masted Star Clipper, its twin ship Star Flyer and on Royal Clipper, the tallest full sail ship in the world.

New Star Clippers destinations include the Marquesas Islands in the open Pacific, the furthest islands from any land mass in the world, and lesser known European ports, such as Sanary-sur-Mer in Provence, France, the Greek Cyclades islands of Milos and Tinos, and new Caribbean and South American destinations including three of the British Virgin Islands, the Pearl islands in the Gulf of Panama and the Coco Islands off Costa Rica.

New exotic islands:-

In spring 2010, Star Flyer makes the 34-night voyage from Papeete in Tahiti to the Mediterranean, calling at Hiva Oa and Nuku Hiva, two of the twelve volcanic islands that make up the Marquesas Islands, the furthest islands from any land mass in the world, 853 miles off the north east coast of Tahiti.

Continuing through the Panama Canal during the same voyage, Star Flyer makes calls at the Cocos Islands, off the coast of Costa Rica, and the Pearl Islands in the Gulf of Panama.

New European ports

From May 2010 new seven-night, western Mediterranean itineraries on board Star Flyer from Monte Carlo include yachting favourites St. Tropez, Portofino and Portoferraio (Elba), as well as new ports such as Sanary-sur-Mer, France, and Lerici, Italy.

In the eastern Mediterranean, new itineraries through Greek and Turkish waters in July and August will include off-the-beaten-track sailing destinations along the Turkish coast such as Olympus, Antalya, Kemer, Kekova, Fethiye, Gocek and Marmaris, while in Greece the ship calls at Kastellorizon, Simi, Amorgos and Elafonisos for the first time.

Royal Clipper, the company’s flagship, will sail a 12-night cruise from Malaga to Civitavecchia (for Rome) in April 2010 introducing the glamorous yacht marina of Puerto Banus.

After a summer sailing round trip from Civitavecchia or between Civitavecchia and Venice, the ship repositions to the Caribbean via a maiden call at Essaouira, Morocco.

New Costa Rica itineraries

From November 2010 the four-masted Star Flyer will operate two seven-day, round-trip itineraries from Puerto Caldera on the west coast of Costa Rica.

The first itinerary calls at San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua; and Cuajiniquil, Playas del Coco/Flamingo, Puerto Carrillo and Islas Torguas, Costa Roca.

The second itinerary calls at Isla Coiba, Panama; and Golfito, Isla del Cano/Drake’s Bay, Quepos and Islas Tortugas, Costa Rica.

Each itinerary includes a day at sea to enjoy the experience of sailing on board a true tall ship.

BVI in 2011

For the first time Star Clippers has added new sailing for guests to cruise the British Virgin Islands with port calls that include Norman Island, reputedly the inspiration for `Treasure Island’, the yachting centre of Tortola, the `barefoot island’ Jost Van Dyke and Virgin Gorda, the third largest island in the BVI.

The new itineraries represent a total of 40 new destinations and maiden ports, among the most exciting and least featured sailing destinations for any commercial cruising operation, largely due to the ships’ relatively small size.

Commenting on the new itineraries, passionate yachtsman Mikael Krafft, owner and president of Star Clippers, said

“We wanted to freshen up our itineraries so that both our loyal past guests and new Star Clippers cruisers would have exciting reasons to select a Star Clippers sailing adventure in 2010.

I’m introducing our guests to more of my favourite ports; places I have been fortunate enough to visit while sailing with my family, and these maiden calls truly are spectacular.”

Right now, Funjet Vacations is launching its Best Prices Under the Sun sale.

 Guests who book a hotel or a flight and hotel package by March 25 for travel to Dec. 31 to Mexico, the Caribbean, Hawaii or Costa Rica get Funjet’s lowest hotel price.

During the sale shoppers will also find deals on Las Vegas, Florida, California and New York vacations.

If prices drop after booking, Funjet will refund the difference of the hotel portion of the vacation package.

Roundtrip airport/hotel transportation is included with Mexico and Caribbean hotel-inclusive vacation packages.

Travelers to Cancun/Riviera Maya, Vallarta/Riviera Nayarit, Los Cabos, Punta Cana and Jamaica will receive a complimentary “Experience More” card — Funjet’s exclusive vacation enhancer that offers discounts for popular nightclubs, restaurants, activities and more.

Clients have the option to choose an all-inclusive resort, with meals, beverages, entertainment and tips included in the price.

Exclusive hotel offers, including kids stay, play and eat free, complimentary room upgrades, spa or dining credits and other value-added inclusions.

For more information about Funjet Vacations, visit the banner at right.

Divi Carina Bay announces a delicious travel deal for those interested in scoring tickets to “A Taste of St. Croix,” the island’s much celebrated and anticipated culinary happening.

Tickets for the annual event, which showcases the island’s thriving restaurant scene in a cook-off competition, sampling and wine tasting, sell out within minutes.

The travel package guarantees two tickets to the Taste of St. Croix and to the after party, Thursday, April 15th, held at the Divi Carina Bay Resort, and includes three nights beachfront accommodations, full breakfast daily, a 10% dining discount at last year’s winning restaurants and all taxes.

Price is $875 per couple for three nights with additional nights available at $225 per night. The package is valid for travel April 11-18.

The package also includes a bottle of Chateau Montelena wine and a DVD of the 2008 movie “Bottle Shock,” both signed by Chateau Montelena vintner Bo Barrett. “Bottle Shock” tells the story of the seminal wine tasting event in Paris in 1976, when a Chateau Montelena white wine bested French wines in a blind tasting, shocking the industry and marking the coming of age of California wines.

Barrett will be among the vintners offering tastings of their wines at the Taste of St. Croix.

More than 50 local chefs participated in last year’s Taste of St. Croix on the Divi Carina Bay beachfront, preparing their specialties for over 1500 attendees and the celebrity chef judges who voted on their top picks in a variety of categories. This year’s judges include Kevin Rathbun, an award-winning chef and owner of three acclaimed restaurants in Atlanta;

Tim Love, culinary personality and chef/owner of The Lonesome Dove Western Bistro and The Love Shack in Ft. Worth, TX; Portland’s Gabriel Rucker, named one of the best new chefs of 2007 by Food & Wine magazine and owner of Le Pigeon, as well as Iron Chef America contender and restaurant owner Robert Trevino of Puerto Rico.

The Taste of St. Croix is part of the five-day St. Croix Food & Wine Experience, named one of the best food festivals in the world by Forbes Traveler 2009. For a full list of events and to book the travel package, visit www.divicarina.com

About Divi Resorts:

Divi Resorts is the vacation expert of the Caribbean with a collection of nine premium resorts on six stunning Caribbean islands. With vacation stays as well as full and fractional ownership, the resorts provide myriad vacation pleasures from relaxing on white sand beaches and indulging in spa services to embarking on scuba diving adventures and perfecting one’s golf swing. For more information on Divi Resorts call 1-800-367-3484, or visit www.diviresorts.com   The Divi Resorts logo is the Service Mark of Divi Hotels, Inc.; its use represents the group of resort companies owned by the registrant or operating under the registrant’s Divi Resorts brand.

Book Now for Luxury Summer Villas in Europe and Caribbean. Great Early Booking Offers Already Available for 2010 at Paradizo.com

Spectacular properties are still available for guests seeking the ultimate 2010 summer holiday. Now, it’s time to reserve as there are great early booking offers already available for 2010 villa rentals in prime locations.

Villa Acacia is a fabulous Koh Samui villa to rent on Mae Nam Beach designed around a central garden area with a tropical pond.Mae Nam Beach Front Villa

Beachfront Villa within Miskawaan Estate, an exclusive collection of 8 sophisticated and luxurious beachfront villas each with their own private pool and staff of 3.Hurakia Lodge – Rakino Island Retreat

Hurakia is an exclusive use villa on Rakino Island in Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf. A luxuriously secluded escape, accessible only by helicopter or boat.

BARCELONA, SPAIN, — In-the-know travelers are starting to book luxury villas for their 2010 summer vacations. One-stop luxury travel resource Paradizo.com has partnered with the top rental agencies offering the very best villa rentals around the world, from beachfront villas with access to a tropical beach to magnificent villas with a pool in the living room.

According to many industry insiders, the vacation rental market is on the rise. Lodging industry expert Glenn Haussman recently reported on the “explosive growth” of vacation rentals in recent years.

Spectacular properties are still available for guests seeking the ultimate 2010 summer holiday. Now, it’s time to reserve as some of the most desirable villas are already fully booked.

“The popular summer months are booking fast for 2010, with 25% of properties already booked-up for next summer. So those dreaming of spending their next holiday in a beautiful 400-year-old ‘finca’ or living the life of Riley in a newly-built, stylish mansion, need to book early!” said Paradizo’s partner Mallorca Farmhouses.

Group bookings are on the rise for holiday homes large enough to share a fantastic vacation with family and friends.

Many of even the most lavish vacation rental properties offer prices that, when divided among a group of 10 or 12, can cost less than or equal to a traditional hotel room.

More often than not, luxury villa rentals also come with 5-star services like a private chef, concierge or guest manager.

If you require additional services, the Paradizo Team can help you find the highest quality service providers, personal chefs, helicopter and jet charters or limousine services.

Reflecting the current economic setting, many luxury travel professionals commented on new bargains, noting that travelers are looking for ways to save money. It’s expected that value for price will be the top priority in 2010.

“There are great early booking offers already available for 2010 villa rentals in prime locations,” said Ollivier Jacq, Paradizo’s founder. Many luxury villa brokers are offering early-bird “Stay for 7, Pay for 5″ packages that include special extras.

Where are trendy travelers headed? Industry experts foresee Europe enjoying a rebound for the jet set crowd. It’s a safe bet for the more conservative traveler but also offers new hotspots like Sardinia and Croatia. There’s also renewed interest in old favorites like Ibiza, Provence, Tuscany and Mykonos in Europe and Turks & Caicos, Bahamas and St. Barts in the Caribbean.

Paradizo.com is a new online resource for luxury vacations. Its main objective is to provide discerning travelers with the tools necessary to create memorable and personalized luxury vacation experiences. It provides only the highest quality of vacation services: villa rentals, private islands, yacht and jet charters, concierge services and other luxury travel collections. Paradizo is not a travel broker or agent. The travel technology company aims to make dreams come true for Paradizo members and to create business for its esteemed partners.

Visit http://paradizo.com

Azamara Club Cruises is officially relaunching in April with celebratory maiden voyages and the addition of new amenities.

Starting April 1 on Azamara Journey and April 9 on Azamara Quest, fares will include bottled water, sodas, specialty coffees and teas; house wine with lunch and dinner; housekeeping and dining gratuities; shuttle bus in port when offered; destination-influenced programs; self-service laundry; and English butler service for suite guests.

Suite guests also receive complimentary dining in the specialty restaurants, Prime C and Aqualina; the cover charge is $15 for Club Veranda, Club Ocean-view and Club Interior guests.

Maiden voyages under the new brand scheme are the 10-night April 1 departure of the Azamara Journey from Miami to St. John, St. Martin, Dominica and Virgin Gorda.

Ocean-view fares start at $2,069.

The Journey’s 14-night April 11 trans-Atlantic crossing is priced from $1,999 for ocean-view accommodations.

The cruise departs Miami and visits the Portuguese Azores, the Rock of Gibraltar and Palma De Mallorca before concluding in Barcelona.

The Azamara Quest’s maiden voyage is a 24-night April 9 cruise from Singapore to Athens.

Ocean-view staterooms start at $3,039.

Rates are per person, cruise only, and based on double occupancy. Ask for offer code “FREEUP” for a Veranda upgrade on Journey’s April 11 departure.

The upgrade promotion is valid for bookings made in U.S. currency and is based on space available.

The offer applies to select voyages departing April 11 through Dec. 9. Bookings must be made from Jan. 1 to March 31.

Azamara is a “deluxe” brand operated by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. It previously was under the Celebrity Cruises umbrella, but is relaunching under new President Larry Pimentel as an upscale destination specialist line. The name also was changed from Azamara Cruises to Azamara Club Cruises.

For more information, visit www.azamaraclubcruises.com

Scrub Island, a newly opened resort located on a 230-acre private island in the British Virgin Islands, is reaching out to families.

The resort offers complimentary snorkeling gear or use the complimentary sea kayaks.

The resort offers picnic lunches stuffed with food that will appeal to children and adults.

The Scrub Island Marina offers scuba diving lessons.

Chartered boat are available for fishing and sight-seeing around Scrub Island.

From the Marina, families can plan an excursion to nearby islands or daily snorkel trips to nearby islands.

Historical tours of Tortola are available.

Room rates for the family-friendly, two-bedroom suite start at $959.

For more information, call 877-890-7444 or visit www.scrubisland.com

BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS, Caribbean; January 27, 2010—

Now, adventurous women everywhere can experience a luxury vacation to the British Virgin Islands complete with rest, relaxation, excitement, and plenty of water recreation.

Adventure Women, Inc., a pioneer in active vacations for women over 30, is offering this Caribbean adventure vacation and private cruise, which includes luxurious accommodation on a hand-selected sailboat, the Cuan Law, on the world’s largest trimaran.

Guests stay in a private, en suite stateroom, and can experience the breathtaking tropical scenery, world-famous Caribbean skies, warm turquoise waters and its soft, white-sand beaches.

Also included are leisurely island explorations, beach-side barbeques, and gourmet international cuisine. Guests can choose their level of adventure: sea kayaking, sailing on a Hobie Cat, island hiking, or a little R&R on this one-of-a-kind sailboat. This luxury trip also includes all-inclusive, decadently-prepared gourmet meals. Dates: March 10-16th, 2010. Cost: $2995 ($600 Deposit).

www.adventurewomen.com