Jetsettersblog

Religious Travel Year of Faith Tourism

The World Religious Travel Association (WRTA) designated 2009 as The Year of Faith Tourism.

The year-long celebrations and activities will: Highlight the New Era of Faith Tourism; Increase the awareness of the personal and communal benefits of Faith Tourism;

and contribute to the overall growth and health of the global economy, travel industry, and individual travel providers.

The official host of The Year of Faith Tourism is the World Religious Travel Association, the leading organization dedicated to the $18 billion faith-based travel, tourism, and hospitality industry.

As part of its kick-off for The Year of Faith Tourism, the World Religious Travel Association (WRTA) is hosting this fall the World Religious Travel Expo & Educational Conference in Orlando from Oct. 29 to Nov. 1, 2008.

To learn more about The Year of Faith Tourism, visit the official website at www.faithtourism2009.com.

For more information about the World Religious Travel Association or the World Religious Travel Expo, call 800-657-1288 or visit www.religioustravelassociation.com

and www.religioustravelexpo.com

Magritte Museum in Brussels

When it opens, visitors will be able to discover the largest collection of works by René Magritte anywhere in the world. With the arrival of Magritte in 2009, the “Mont des Arts” district hopes to become a link between Brussels’ downtown and its upper town.

The 200 meeting rooms and accommodation for thousands of attendees within walking distance are re-profiling Brussels and its current Convention Districts Rogier, Grand’Place, Louise and Europe. It already has such venues as BELvue, BOZAR, Espace Culturel ING, Musical Instruments Museum, Royal Museums of Fine Arts, the new BIP (Brussels Info Place)… it is close to the Central Station & Metro, the Royal Palace & Park and accessible to the major institutions.

Visit www.fine-arts-museum.be or www.brusselsinternational.be

SAS EuroBonus Membership to Children

Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) is extending membership in its EuroBonus frequent flyer program to travelers ages 17 and under from July 1.

From that date children will be able to earn SAS EuroBonus points and use them for bonus trips, upgrades on flights, hotel nights, etc. Since it was established in 1992, EuroBonus membership has been available only to customers aged 18 and over.

But with more than one million passengers ages 17 and under flying with SAS every year, children are recognized as an important customer group who should find their flights just as rewarding as do their parents.

Tripwolf Free Guides to Europe

Tripwolf.com, a social travel guide that specializes in Europe but also offers content about other pats of the world, is targeting the U.S. market. It combines professional editorial content with user-generated content from travelers worldwide. Tripwolf is backed by MairDumont, Europe’s largest publisher of travel guides, including Baedeker, Dumont and Marco Polo. Through collaboration with tripwolf, MairDumont has put all of its content - covering more than 200,000 destinations and points of interest - online for free.

For more information, visit www.tripwolf.com

Silversea Short Summer Cruises

Ultra luxury cruising will become even more accessible this summer with the announcement of a series of short cruises from six-star liner, Silversea Cruises.

Sailing until 20 August 2008, Silversea will offer four cruises of six or nine days, each exploring the beauty and untouched nature of Northern Europe and the Baltic in the luxurious style Silversea has become known for.

On 5 August, Silver Cloud will set sail for Reyjavik from Copenhagen (voyage number 1823A). Departing from the beautiful Copenhagen, city of canals, copper-roofed buildings and manicured parks, the ship will journey onwards to Kirkwall, Orkney Islands, as its first port of call. A museum of prehistoric times, guests can explore local rock circles, cairns, standing stones, ancient tombs and prehistoric villages scattered about the islands before enjoying local game birds as a tasty treat. Onwards to Lerwick in the United Kingdom, a part of the Shetland Islands consisting of almost 100 islands and islets, Lerwick offers a rugged view of natural nature – rocky beaches, jagged cliffs and small hamlets. From Lerwick, Silver Cloud will call at Thorshavn of the Faroe Islands in Denmark, before a final stop at Icelands, Reyjavik where geysers, hot pools, glaciers and spectacular waterfalls are the ideal way to complete a trip of a lifetime.

The final short voyage of the summer is a nine day adventure from Reykjavik to Copenhagen, departing on 11 August aboard Silver Cloud (voyage number 1823B). Calling at Rostock, Germany, Ronne, Bornholm, Denmark, Gdansk, Poland, Visby, Sweden before terminating at Stockholm, attractions for visitors include Hammershus, once the largest ancient fortress in northern Europe, the picturesque seaport of Helsingborg, Gdansk Historical Museum, Maritime Museum and National Art Museum and the narrow streets of Gamla Stan lined with shops selling everything from fashion items to toys, fine art and antiques in Sweden’s most stunning capital city, Stockholm.

All four of the journeys will be aboard the intimate Silver Cloud or Silver Wind, both designed to provide the most intimate of sailing experiences with just 296 guests offering more space and the ability to slip into exotic ports off the beaten path.

Onboard, guests experience the wonders of cruising with Silversea, where choice reigns — the freedom to do everything or nothing. Silversea’s all inclusive packages means that once onboard, guests enjoy the luxury experience of cruising without concern of extra costs.

From Vista to Owner’s Suite, each accommodation is warm and inviting, expertly designed and exquisitely appointed with signature Silversea suite amenities. Every suite offers a personal view of sea and sky, and 80 per cent are complemented with furnished teak verandas, the perfect venue for breakfast while watching your next port approach closer into view.

Every Silversea cruise also features regionally specific lectures by noted historians, ambassadors, state leaders, authors and geographers —Dr. Lawrence Herson, an Ohio State University professor emeritus and former election analyst for CBS will share his insight on Scandinavian history and culture on cruise number 2819 A&B, whilst Dr. Peter Crimes, Dr. Louis René Beres, and Kathleen Bruno, will each contribute to cruise numbers 1823 A&B.

Silversea Cruises is recognized as an innovator in the luxury segment, offering guests large-ship amenities aboard four intimate vessels, Silver Cloud, Silver Wind, Silver Shadow, and Silver Whisper, all designed to offer an atmosphere of all inclusive conviviality and casual elegance. With the addition of the regal expedition ship Prince Albert II in 2008, the company’s itineraries encompass all seven continents.

Silversea Cruises has announced major dry-dock refurbishments are planned for its 296-guest sister ships Silver Cloud and Silver Wind to bring their interiors in line with the style of its newest ship, the 540-guest Silver Spirit (scheduled for delivery in December 2009). For Silver Wind , the month-long refurbishment will take place this November and Silver Cloud’s in May 2009.

Silversea has for the past four consecutive years been named Best Cruise Line by readers of Australia’s Luxury Travel and Style magazine. For nine consecutive years, Silversea has been named “Number One Small Ship Line” in the Readers’ Choice survey conducted by Condé Nast Traveler magazine in the USA and in 2007 was the only cruise line named in the UK edition of Condé Nast Traveller’s “Top 100 Luxury Travel Experiences” at the same time topping the Small Cruise Line award for the eighth time. Silversea has been selected as “World’s Best Small Ship Line” in the US Travel + Leisure readers’ poll for the past eight years. The First TravelWeekly Asia Industry Awards named Silversea as ‘Best Luxury Cruise Operator 2007′.

Silversea’s Short Cruises in Northern Europe and the Baltic
Departing 2 July – 11 August 2008

Departure Date Cruise Length of Cruise
Tuesday 5 August Copenhagen to Reykjavik (1823A) 6 days
Monday 11 August Reykjavik to Copenhagen (1823B) 9 days

Future Vacations New Price Match Policy

Future Vacations launched a new Price Match policy. Under terms of the new policy that will match any competitor’s price on comparable vacation packages within three hours, ensuring that travelers always receive the best value for their vacation dollar.

Travel agents or consumers who book a Future Vacations package and find a lower price on a comparable package elsewhere can call Future Vacations’ new Price Match Hotline – 800-373-7801 – and speak directly to a Price Match Specialist for immediate service.

Comparable packages must feature the same airline, hotel, room category, travel dates and inclusions (e.g.: rental car, ground transfers, theme park/show tickets, etc.). For the fastest service, calls must be made during the following Price Match business hours: Monday to Saturday 9 am to 7 pm EST and Sunday 10 am to 4 pm EST.

Calls made outside of these hours will receive a return call the following business day. If Future Vacations is unable to match the price of a package, travelers will receive a $25 travel credit for future use.

The Price Match Policy is effective now and until further notice on all packages in the Future Vacations portfolio, which spans the U.S., Canada, the Caribbean, Central America, Hawaii, Mexico, Europe, South America, Africa and the Middle East.

For telephone reservations, call 800-456-2323.

Futuroscope The Future Is Wild

Futuroscope has just been awarded the Jury Grand Prix for its new attraction, “The Future is Wild”, at Laval Virtual 2008, the 10th edition of the international virtual reality show.

Journalist and columnist Jérôme Bonaldi, and Simon Richir, chairman of the Laval Virtual festival, awarded the “Laval Virtual 2008” Jury Grand Prix to Futuroscope, represented by Chairman of the Board of Directors Dominique Hummel, in tribute to its ground-breaking new augmented-reality attraction “The Future is Wild”.

“Laval Virtual is a genuine showcase for virtual reality in France and Europe. With close to 12,000 visitors (including 3,000 industry professionals), this show is now a vital focal point for figures from science and industry who are looking to develop digital innovations,” stressed M. Hummel. “This award shows that the profession acknowledges the work of our teams and partners (the company Total Immersion and the X Largo agency) in developing augmented reality technology and making it universally accessible”.

The jury was made up of Professor Albert Rizzo (USA), Doctor Patrick Gorsi (Belgium), Doctor Johnny Lee (USA), Doctor Akihiko Shirai (Japan), and Guy Lebras (France). In awarding the Grand Prix to Futuroscope, the jury recognised the innovative and unique character of an attraction that lets visitors interact in real time with virtual animals. In doing so, it brings augmented reality technology – a means of controlling virtual 3D objects within a real environment – to the general public for the first time.

An unprecedented entertainment concept

Open to the public since the 5th April 2008, this new attraction combines the revolutionary technology of “augmented reality” with a scenario exploring how species could evolve far in the future. Its advanced technology takes visitors to Futuroscope on a safari trek into the future, turning them into explorers aboard expedition vehicles on a journey through realistic scenery that depicts a series of possible environments forged and moulded by events such as climate change. With their binoculars and sensor bracelets, they see animals that could be inhabiting the planet in 5 million, 100 million and 200 million years from now burst into view in 3D, and can interact with them.

For more information, visit www.lesanimauxdufutur.com

Futuroscope, near Poitiers in the Poitou-Charentes region of France, opened to the public in June 1987 with the aim to “harness the future”. Since it opened, the park has welcomed over 35 million visitors, making it the second largest leisure park in France. It is substantially different from any other “theme park” as it is based on the visual and the senses, thus appealing to a very wide audience of all age groups.

For further information on all of the above, visit: www.futuroscope.com

Flemish Festival Fever

As Glastonbury slowly smoulders out, Flanders starts to warm up to a whole programme of concerts this summer.

Some top billing international acts are set to perform in various rock/pop and jazz concerts all over the region. One of the most famous of the acts include Rock Werchter which is set to kick off at the beginning of July, include stars such as Mika, Duffy, KT Tunstall and Babyshambles to name just a few. Look out for the Sugar Babes in Marktrock in August and not forgetting the major jazz festival at the Ghent Festivities in mid-July.

Easy accessibility via excellent transport links makes a visit to Belgium an affordable alternative to witness some excellent live music. Here’s a round up of what to expect this summer:

Rock and Pop Festivals:

BeLEUVENissen
Friday July 18th and 25th 2008

Leuven, city centre

This year the City of Leuven is organizing the ‘BeLEUVENissen’ free music festival for the twentieth time. It is staged in seven open-air locations in the historic heart of Leuven: Every Friday evening from 8.30 to midnight, the festival focuses on a different genre such as jazz & blues, folk, tropical or ’special’ music. And every year it brings thousands of people of all ages flocking to the city including an ever-increasing number of foreign visitors.

www.beleuvenissen.be

Cactus Festival
July 11th - 13th 2008

Bruges, Minnewaterpark

Rock, reggae, rap, roots, rai and r & b roll amiably across Bruges’ magical Minnewaterpark.
A festival of human proportions, where there is also space off-stage for musicians, professional ambience builders and brewers, children’s entertainment and a range of catering outlets on which the whole world converges…

www.cactusmusic.be

Suikerrock
July 25th - 27th 2008

Tienen, streets and squares in the town centre

Suikerrock was first held in 1987. What was then a small, free, one-day event has since grown into the most important city festival in the country. During the course of three days, well-known names and upcoming talent from popular genres such as pop, rock and r&b perform on the festival’s two stages, with the magnificent historic centre of Tienen as the backdrop. Over the last 21 years the festival has attracted the cream of the Belgian music scene, along with an impressive list of top international artists like Eddie Grant and The Sisters of Mercy.

www.suikerrock.be
Marktrock Leuven
August 8th, 9th and 10th 2008

Leuven, Ladeuzeplein and Oude Markt

In 2007 Marktrock (Market Rock) introduced a new approach and a new style to mark its 25th birthday! For three whole days big national and international pop, rock and hip-hop acts are programmed on two large stages in Leuven’s historic centre. This year look out for the Sugar Babes. This is a festival with something for everyone and, as you might expect in a university town, the atmosphere is fun and relaxed.

www.marktrock.be

Pukkelpop
August 14th - 16th 2008

Hasselt, Kiewit festival ground

Internationally recognized as a trendsetter among the music festivals, Pukkelpop is a three-day alternative music extravaganza staged in the open air. With a nose for the best from the underground, Pukkelpop serves up the most progressive, contemporary, alternative or simply noteworthy music of today and tomorrow on several different stages over a three-day period! Look out for the Manic Street Preachers, Roisin Murphy and The Killers.

www.pukkelpop.be

Maanrock (Moon Rock)
August 23rd and 24th 2008

Mechelen, four different podia: Grote Markt, IJzerenleen, Botermarkt and Vismarkt

In the main, this free pop and rock festival caters for young people on the Saturday and for families on the Sunday.

www.maanrock.be

Lokeren Festivities
August 1st - 10th 2008

Lokeren, Grote Kaai

Thirty-four years ago a handful of people in Lokeren decided that it was too quiet during the summer holiday period. What began as a small-scale, four-day festival of three youth clubs with 300 visitors has grown and grown so that it is now a well-established city festival lasting ten full days. You can sample all the styles - rock, pop, AOR, Dutch-language, hip hop, techno and world music - on one main stage whilst soaking up the convivial atmosphere.

www.lokersefeesten.be

Jazz and Blues:

Belgium Rhythm ’n’ Blues Festival
July 11th - 13th 2008

Peer, festival grounds

This leading – indeed legendary – blues festival is celebrating its twenty-fourth birthday this year. In the past numerous national and international blues celebrities have appeared on the stage in Peer in Limburg to perform in this mix of blues, soul, gospel and roots music.

www.brbf.be

Blue Note Records Festival
July 10th – 20th 2008

Ghent, De Bijloke Music Centre

You can spend ten days listening to the latest sounds of mainstream jazz and avant-garde jazz on the historic site of Ghent’s Bijloke abbey founded in the thirteenth century.

www.bluenoterecordsfestival.be

Brosella Folk & Jazz
July 12th and 13th 2008

Brussels, Groentheater (close to the Atomium)

In a nutshell, Brosella is one big party! Who could resist the draw of this absolutely free festival, staged in a park at the foot of the nine spheres of the Atomium! Jazz, folk and other summer sounds ring out from the main stage. In the evenings fans hang out under the Chinese lanterns. Children are not forgotten either: there are numerous activities for all age groups.

www.brosella.be

10 Days Off
July 18th - 27th 2008

Ghent, KC Vooruit

10 Days Off is Flanders’ most important extended indoor electronic music festival. Timed to coincide with the Ghent Festivities and staged at the KC Vooruit, the line-up for 10 Days Off includes club music by established names and upcoming talent performing virtually every sound you might expect to hear in clubs around the world today: techno, house, electro, breakbeats, 80’s rock, drum ‘n’ bass, grooves, hip-hop … you name it!

www.10daysoff.be

Jazz Brugge
October 2nd – 5th 2008

Bruges, Concertgebouw and Groeninge Museum

The biennial festival Jazz Brugge occupies a unique place among Flanders’ other jazz festivals. Jazz Brugge concentrates exclusively on European bands in a bid to help engineer the development of a European jazz scene.

The event is stimulating and trendsetting. Nowhere else is so much jazz expression and emotion packed into a single festival, with four lunch-time concerts performed against the backdrop of the Flemish expressionists in the Groeninge Museum, four piano concerts in the Concertgebouw’s Chamber Music Hall and eleven evening concerts in its Concert Hall. There are also jam sessions after the concerts, films and videos, stalls selling food and drink and a guaranteed convivial atmosphere throughout the Concertgebouw.

www.jazzbrugge.be and www.museabrugge.be

Audi Jazz Festival
autumn 2008
Brussels

This festival is a major event on Europe’s jazz calendar. Though jazz holds the spotlight, other musical genres are also well represented, from blues and flamenco through avant-gardist music to hip-hop.

www.audijazz.be

14 Nights Cruising For The Price Of 10

Leading boating holiday specialist the Le Boat group is offering 14 night holidays for the price of 10 nights for all cruising holidays taken in 2008. This special offer is available on boating holidays in France, Italy, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Ireland, Scotland and England.

A two week cruise allows you more freedom to explore a region and time to re-visit your favourite stop off points on route. No previous boating experience is required as the boats are easy to operate and helpful base staff ensure you are comfortable at the helm before setting off on your holiday.

Including the saving, prices for two weeks start from just £197 per person based on four people sharing a two cabin cruiser in Brittany or the Charente. This offer is valid for bookings made by the 16th July 2008. Le Boat’s cruisers sleep from two to twelve people and flexible durations mean that itineraries are available for short-breaks, one-week holidays or longer stays.

Comprising the renowned brands Crown Blue Line, Connoisseur and Emerald Star, the Le Boat group has been providing self-drive river and canal holidays for over 40 years.

For more information call 0844 463 3577 or visit www.leboat.co.uk

Blue Water Launches The Desktop Cruise

Now everyone can plan their cruise and explore cruise ports from a computer screen using a new online program from Blue Water Holidays.

The online cruise and boating specialist has created a webpage where anyone can go, select the cruise ports they wish to visit, then click to generate a Google Earth virtual cruise travelling between the ports. “Viewers can pause and zoom in to explore each port, then continue their virtual cruise” says Barry Peters, Blue Water Holidays Managing Director. “This allows everyone to see where the cruise port is in relation to nearby towns, and even to see where the nearest airport is in relation to the cruise terminals”.

Technically known as a ‘mash-up’, the Blue Water Desktop Cruise covers ports worldwide, and includes links to port reviews written by visitors and other sources. “We feel this is an extra aid to help people choose where to go for their cruise – destinations are now becoming the main factor in cruise choices” added Barry Peters.

Blue Water has added the Desktop Cruise to its mainstream cruise website at www.cruisesonline.co.uk . A modified version is also available on its Europe river cruise website at www.cruisingholidays.co.uk which shows a Google Earth view of the towns and cities visited on over 60 cruises on rivers such as the Rhine and Danube.

Web Links

Ocean Desktop Cruises:
http://www.cruisesonline.co.uk/desktop-cruise.asp

Europe River Desktop Cruises:
http://www.cruisingholidays.co.uk/river-cruise-search.asp