Jetsettersblog

Reykjavik - Certified plungers that have yet to put a notch in their belt for Iceland’s coveted Silfra Ravine are invited to join a group of fun-laden Entrepreneurs that will descend on the small Icelandic lake that is famous for the clearest water in the world, being on two continents at once, and oh ya – having up to 300 small earthquakes a day.

Maverick Business Adventures, which is a group of business owners seeking to be empowered and further educated in business while reaching out to help others through philanthropy, wants more people to join them on their 23-person quest to work hard, play hard and contribute to financially struggling Iceland.

The $13,695 trip includes business seminars, diving deep, Super Jeeps, ice climbing, and encouraging/contributing to a group of Icelandic youth entrepreneurs.

“We will have multi-millionaires speaking that both have been hit and are unfazed by the global recession,” says Yanik Silver, Founder Maverick Business Adventures.

“We also expect our collective minds and actions to inspire these Icelandic youth to take specific advice we will give on how to not be recession casualties.”

The current recession has caused Iceland to be one of the hardest hit countries in the western world, as the small nation struggles with a crippling debt load and a severe drop in tourism – their bread and butter.

“The systems we use to give advice always help young business owners,” Yanik says.

“I have coached dozens of kids, some who now make more than their parents. Teen entrepreneurs are fearless, but they obviously need help steering.”

More about Silfra Ravine: Tectonic plates are pushing the ravine apart at about 2cm per year.

The ever-clear water, which is about 1/3 glacier water and 2/3 rain water has a constant temperature of 2-4 degrees because it is heated from lava below.

It takes little effort to swim through the ravine because of a constant current that pushes people along. World renowned divers describe the experience as ‘surreal’.

Past Maverick Business Adventures groups have included dune buggying through the Baja with Monster Garage’s Jesse James, and golf cart racing with Richard Branson on his own Caribbean getaway, Necker Island. Maverick Business Adventures® is an invitation-only membership exclusively for successful entrepreneurs, CEOs and business owners who want to live life to the fullest, create business breakthroughs and give back through charity and education to empower future entrepreneurs.

www.maverickbusinessadventures.com/iceland

From New Year At North Cape To Star Gazing With An Astronomy Expert! Hurtigruten Launched 2009/10 Northern Lights Programme

FROM NEW YEAR AT NORTH CAPE TO STAR GAZING WITH AN ASTRONOMY EXPERT!

Hurtigruten launches 2009/10 Northern Lights programme

Want to do something different this year? Fancy learning more about the Northern lights from an expert? Hurtigruten has launched its 2009-10 Northern Lights programme featuring more themed voyages, new flights and new excursions such as reindeer sledging.

The brochure offers a host of unique experiences in Norway for all ages and with prices starting from only £495 per person, it offers something for everyone. Seeing the Northern lights continues to be high on people’s wish list of things to see in their lifetime. Hurtigruten recently carried out some research into why people travel in winter and the overriding response, from all demographic groups was to see the Northern Lights.

Highlights include:

• NEW YEAR AT THE NORTH CAPE (page 26) – New for 2009/10 is the opportunity to celebrate New Year at the top of the world and see in 2010 at Europe’s most northerly point, North Cape.

Departing on 29 December, this itinerary travels from Tromsø to Honningsvåg and back on board MS Richard With where on arrival, guests have dinner on board before heading to the North Cape for midnight. The ship then returns the next day via Alta where a range of winter excursions can be enjoyed. Priced from £1285pp for a five night trip.

• MORE THEMED VOYAGES (pages 27-29) – Due to demand, there are now more departures than ever before. Previously there was only one of each and they sold out months in advance.
- There are two astronomy voyages (3 February and 11 March) with Dr John Mason onboard to share his incredible knowledge of the Northern Lights.

The entire journey is spent above the Arctic Circle, increasing the chances of seeing the Northern Lights. Dr Mason is Principal Lecturer at the South Downs Planetarium in Chichester and has appeared many times on BBC TV’s ‘The Sky at Night’. Priced from £985pp.

- Two digital photography voyages (22 January and 2 February) are also available with an experienced lecturer in photography. Passengers will learn how to realise the full potential of their digital camera and develop skills for capturing the challenging and awe inspiring Arctic light.

Priced from £1070pp.Other themes available include an Opera Voyage, a Northern Lights Festival trip and a Sami Day and Reindeer Races themed journey.

• NEW EXCURSIONS (page 30-33) – Arctic Norway offers a range of quirky excursions that ensure passengers get to enjoy some of the amazing experiences that the region has to offer and for 2009/10 the selection has grown.
- Reindeer sledging in Tromsø which takes guests to Risvika to sledge through the winter landscape pulled by reindeers. A four hour trip which includes a meal in a traditional Sami Lavvo (tent) after. Priced from £120pp.

- Polar Night with the Aurora Gazing takes guests away from the city lights of Tromsø out into the countryside to look for the Aurora Borealis. Dinner is served in a Sami Lavvo afterwards. Priced from £70pp for five hours.

- Arctic City Walk in Tromsø is a guided walk around this historic and cultural city including a visit to the Polar Museum and the Catholic Church. Priced from £25pp.

• NEW FLIGHTS – for 2009-10 flights are now available from London Gatwick as well as London Heathrow on the operator’s core voyages, the Classic Round Voyage,

Voyage North and Voyage South, on a daily basis. In addition, regional airports are once again featured for a supplement.

These include Manchester, Birmingham, Aberdeen, Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Belfast.

For more information call Hurtigruten on 020 8846 2666 or www.hurtigruten.co.uk

Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) announced during a press conference that next years Eurovision Song Contest semi-finals and finals will be arranged in Oslo on May 29th 2010 after some discussion about the location in Norway.

Last years Eurovision concerts in Moscow attracted almost 800 million viewers and a whopping 2.500 press.

NRK also announced that the arena will be either the brand new and ultra-modern Telenor Arena, which already has hosted stars like Tina Turner and Iron Maiden, comfortably seating more than 22.000 spectators even when rigged for a broadcast of this magnitude, or the Oslo Spectrum which already hosted the finals in 1996.

“The next twelve months are going to be hard work and great fun, thanks to among others Alexander Rybak and Norwegian Broadcasting. Together with
everything else happening in Oslo I think we are gong to attract even more visitors than ever!, says Heidi Thon - Director Marketing and Sales Visit Oslo.

Alexander Rybak and his self-composed and arranged winning contribution “Fairytale” has already hit the top ten in countries like Germany, Italy and the UK.

Keep yourself updated on www.visitoslo.com  or contact VisitOSLO for more information.

When you’ve got limited time and a credit-crunched budget, why would you want to fritter away your precious holiday in the casino of a floating hotel? Choose a cruise less ordinary and take the adventure of a lifetime where not a moment of your voyage will be wasted! Each day will be packed with activities like nature walks, swimming, snorkelling and exhilarating small boat rides, as well as educational lectures, demonstrations, presentations and meetings with local people. With so much to see and do, you’ll get the best possible adventure for your time and money.

Now Tucan Travel is offering better value than ever, with 10% off Arctic, Patagonia, Galapagos Islands, Amazon and Antarctica Expedition Cruises booked by 31 July, except for Classic Antarctica (RATC+Cabin) which is discounted by 20%.

“With deals like this there really is no better time to book an Expedition Cruise. Take the opportunity to get out on the water and closer to nature and you’ll never regret it. My cruise in Antarctica two years ago was one of the most extraordinary wildlife experiences of my life and I can’t recommend it highly enough. I saw a myriad of different birds, whales, seals and penguins, took some thrilling zodiac rides around ice bergs, learnt a lot about the ecological importance of Antarctica and met some genuinely lovely people along the way,” General Manager Bec Whiffin said.

“Our Expedition Cruises offer a range of convenient departure dates, smaller purpose-built or specially adapted vessels and excellent onboard facilities. All of our vessels have experienced crew and expert naturalist guides who take a responsible approach to the environment while offering high levels of service. It’s a great chance to see the world in a different way.” Ms Whiffin said.

Bookings can be made online at www.tucantravel.com , or via Tucan Travel reservations on 020 8896 1600.

A SMALL SAMPLE OF OUR EXPEDITION CRUISES RANGE

GALAPAGOS ISLANDS
Expedition Cruise packages start from as little as £1,161* (10% off)

Follow in Darwin’s footsteps and explore the unique environments of the Galapagos on first-class vessels, with first-class service accompanied by expert naturalist guides. Get up close and personal with a unique and virtually fearless wildlife including blue-footed boobies, Galapagos penguins, giant tortoises, marine and land iguanas, Darwin’s finches and much more! Choose from 16 itineraries, 8 vessels and cruises from 6 to 10 days long, year-round departures, cruise and accommodation packages available.

*Galapagos Santa Cruz 6 Day, ex Quito.

Price available for departures until 20 Dec 09.
Availability may be limited.

Twin, main deck standard cabin. Includes transfers, 1 night pre cruise accom., cruise, 1 night post cruise accom. International flights not included, Quito to Galapagos flights additional cost, fuel surcharge may apply. Ask us about longer itineraries.

THE ARCTIC

Explore spectacular landscapes including rugged mountains, sweeping tundra, ice caps and glaciers.

Enjoy excellent wildlife viewing opportunities including seabird colonies, seals, walrus, reindeer,

Arctic fox and elusive polar bears. Experience exhilarating zodiac cruises and landings, supported by expert naturalist guides.

Navigate to remote areas on specially adapted ice-strengthened vessels, and see the Aurora Borealis on clear summer nights.

Choose from 8 itineraries, 4 vessels, and cruises from 9 to 15 days long, including Greenland, Norway, Iceland, Russia & North Pole.

Availability may be limited.

Twin, inside cabin. 1 night pre cruise accom. included, international flights not included. Ask us about alternative itineraries.

ANTARCTICA
Expedition Cruises start from as little as £2,720* (20% off)

Access remote areas of the great ice continent on specially-adapted ice-strengthened vessels. Enjoy extraordinary wildlife viewing opportunities including whales, penguins, seals and albatross. Enjoy exhilarating zodiac cruises and landings. Explore spectacular scenery and experience glaciers and islands on foot. Learn about ecology, flora and fauna, and Antarctic navigation from onboard experts. Choose from 16 itineraries, 4 vessels and cruises from 11 to 22 days long, including Antarctic Peninsula, Shetland Islands, Falkland Islands & Polar Circle.

*Classic Antarctica (10 day), ex Ushuaia. 7 Nov 09 departure only at this price. Availability may be limited. Twin / Twin share, C cabin. Cruise only. International flights not included, fuel surcharge may apply. Ask us about alternative itineraries.

PATAGONIA
Expedition Cruises start from as little as £819* (10% off)

Sail through the Strait of Magellan and the Beagle Channel and explore one of the most beautiful and remote wilderness regions in the world. Take in channels, bays, fjords, glaciers, mountains, islands and unexplored forests of incomparable beauty. Choose from 2 itineraries on 2 vessels, cruises 4 or 5 days long.

*Patagonia Australis 4 Day, ex Ushuaia. Price applies to 23 Sept 09 and 26 Sept 09 departures only. Availability may be limited. Twin, B cabin. Cruise only. Fuel surcharge applies. International flights and port tax not included. Ask us about alternative itineraries.

AMAZON, BRAZIL
Expedition Cruises start from as little as £1,773* (10% off)

Penetrate deep into the Brazilian rainforest on a stunningly appointed river boat. Journey with skilled naturalist guides and learn about Amazon ecology, flora and fauna from local experts.

Investigate tropical forests on foot, swim off deserted beaches and meet deep forest settlers.

*Amazon Tucano 9 Day, ex Manaus. Price available throughout the year, subject to availability. Twin outside cabin with window. Transfers & 1 night pre cruise accommodation included. International flights not included. We offer a 9 day cruise package

only.

Royal Caribbean International announced the return of Vision of the Seas to the North and Baltic seas for a second summer season in 2010.

Dedicated to the Nordic market from April to September 2010, Vision of the Seas will feature 14 itineraries on 24 sailings to 34 ports in 14 countries from the homeports of Copenhagen, Denmark; Oslo, Norway; and Stockholm, Sweden. Bookings for Royal Caribbean’s 2010 Baltic and North Sea cruises are now open.

New for the 2010 season are an 11-night Arctic Circle cruise from Copenhagen; seven-night itineraries featuring St. Petersburg out of Copenhagen, Oslo and Stockholm; nine-night “British Isles & Normandy” voyages from Oslo; and four- and five-night short cruises from Stockholm.

New ports of call for Royal Caribbean include Edinburgh, Scotland; Olden and Tromso, Norway; and Riga, Latvia. Maiden ports of call for Vision of the Seas include Gdansk, Poland; Honningsvag, Norway (the port for Cape North, the northernmost point of Europe, where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Arctic Ocean); Inverness/Loch Ness, Scotland; and Gothenburg, Sweden.

The 11-night Arctic Circle itinerary will feature a day of cruising through the Arctic Circle, the Norwegian fjords, and the Midnight Sun. The sailings will call at the Norwegian ports of Alesund, Honningsvag, Tromso, Geiranger, Olden and Bergen.

The nine sailings also feature St. Petersburg, Gdansk, Visby, Helsinki and Copenhagen. The three sailings from Stockholm also will visit Riga, Latvia, while the three sailings from Oslo also will visit Tallinn, Estonia.

One six-night itinerary featuring St. Petersburg also will sail on July 5 from Stockholm.

A nine-night “British Isles & Normandy” itinerary, departing on May 6 and May 20, will visit France’s Cherbourg and Le Havre, Scotland’s Inverness and Edinburgh, and Dublin, Ireland.

The new series of four- and five-night “Short Break” and “Scandinavian Capitals” itineraries will feature calls at Amsterdam, Holland; Bruges, Brussels; and Tallinn, Estonia. Other ports on short cruises include Gdansk, Visby, Gothenburg, Helsinki, Copenhagen, St. Petersburg, and Oslo.

Crystal Cruises is introducing three new courses to its golf program aboard Crystal Symphony’s 14-day trans-Atlantic cruise this fall. Departing Sept. 3 from London to Boston, the Experiences of Discovery golf cruise allows guests to tee off in Scotland, Iceland and Nova Scotia.

Accompanying golfers on this cruise will be celebrity golfer Rick Rhoden, a former baseball player for the Yankees and Dodgers, and former Canadian PGA director Bruce Murray.

The new courses featured on the “Nordic Exploration” cruise are Nairn Championship Golf Club, Scotland; Keilir Golf Club, Iceland; and Glen Arbour Golf Course, Nova Scotia.

Crystal’s golf program includes a VIP Golfers welcome cocktail reception; Taylormade equipment; welcome kits, including scheduled golf events, course information and gifts; friendly competition, including a “A Hole in One” contest awarding the winner a complimentary cruise; transport to and from each course accompanied by a Crystal escort or pro; 45-minute warm-up and pre-round refreshments and post-round cocktails; and complimentary storage and cleaning of clubs and shoes.

The cruise visits Reykjavic, Iceland; Halifax, Nova Scotia; Invergordon and Lerwick, Scotland; Nuuk, Greenland; and Boston.

Fares start at $4,745 per person, double occupancy, with an “All Inclusive-As You Wish” shipboard credit of up to $1,000 per person.

Golf excursions start at $339 per person. The voyage can be taken back-to-back with Crystal Symphony’s Aug. 23 round-trip “London Golf” cruise, which offers play in six British Isles ports.

Collette Vacations’ Smithsonian Journeys Travel Adventures brand offers cultural adventure travel to Egypt, Vietnam, Cambodia, Japan, Turkey, Iceland, Newfoundland and Yucatan, with packages grounded in education, history and cultural immersion.

Guest speakers on the tours, ranging from Egyptologists to naturalists and art historians, enhance the experience by sharing their expertise and passion on their subjects.

These local speakers really make the difference between clients simply seeing, and truly understanding the destination. 

Any air-inclusive Smithsonian Journeys Travel Adventures tour  starts from home with the new Door to Door Service — an advantage that no other major U.S. tour operator can offer.

This free round trip sedan service transfer — including gratuities — from home to the airport is included and available in many U.S. cities within a 50-mile radius of more than 75 gateways.

In addition to these agent and client advantages, there are numerous “wow” moments on all Smithsonian Journeys Travel Adventures tours.

“We are the only tour operator offering a Newfoundland-only program,” said Dan Sullivan, Collette president and CEO. “Our clients are able to spend two nights in Gros Morne National Park; travel along the scenic Viking Trail;

visit a winery and sample local cuisine like caribou.

These experiences leave them with a good understanding of the culture of this Canadian province.

Classical Turkey, one of the newest destinations offered through Smithsonian Journeys Travel Adventures, is a 12-day tour through Turkey’s mix of ancient and new. Experts along the way, including historians, a food history scholar, and an archeologist, offer their knowledge to enhance the understanding of Turkey’s unique position as a crossroad of cultures.

From Istanbul’s famous Topkapi Palace to Cappadocia’s “fairy chimneys,” Turkey is sure to delight all its guests.

Smithsonian Journeys Travel Adventures is a brand created by the partnership of Collette Vacations, the oldest major tour operator in the U.S. with tours to all seven continents, and Smithsonian Journeys, the Smithsonian Institution’s Travel Program, to provide travelers with the high standards that are synonymous with these brands.

These diverse tours offer the best value-priced learning vacations worldwide and are created for adventurous travelers who seek the thrill of discovery and learning, combined with flexibility and economical rates.

To learn more about Smithsonian Journeys Travel Adventures worldwide destinations, as well as the details of Door to Door roundtrip sedan service, visit www.collettevacations.com

The five Nordic countries — Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden — have unveiled the redesign of their web portal, www.GoScandinavia.com

Better looking, more comprehensive and easier to use, the new site makes it simple for both leisure and business travelers to find the information they require and the inspiration they seek to plan their travels to Scandinavia.

It has an expanded list of leisure tour operators serving Scandinavia, plus tour descriptions and links for easy booking.

It has a new traveler’s FAQ section covering everything from average local temperature to sightseeing suggestions.

There is a dedicated news section where travelers can find out what’s on now in Scandinavia, and where they can sign up to receive the Go Scandinavia email newsletter, providing travel news throughout the year.
One section is for Meeting, Incentive, Convention and Exposition (MICE) planners.

And there are links for ordering brochures or to receive information directly from each tourist board. It also has direct links to air carriers that serve the countries of Scandinavia.

At the new GoScandinavia.com site, visitors will find general information about Scandinavia as a whole, information about the individual nations and links to the tourism boards of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, where they can plan itineraries, book accommodations and more.

Go Scandinavia is the brand name of Scandinavian Tourism Inc., a marketing consortium comprising the tourism organizations VisitDenmark, Visit Finland, Iceland Tourist Board, Innovation Norway and VisitSweden in the United States and Canada. It is a cooperative effort to market Scandinavia as a single, unified destination in Northern Europe.

For more information, visit www.GoScandinavia.com

MSC Cruises is offering summer savings on European cruises.

Clients can explore Mediterranean and Northern Europe cruise destinations with a number of itineraries.

Rates start at $799 per person, double, for a seven-night cruise. In addition, children under the age of 17 sail free on all sailings when sharing a stateroom with two full-fare-paying adults.

MSC calls at more than 80 European ports, including Eastern Mediterranean sites like Dubrovnik, Alexandria and Ephesus; historic landmarks of the Western Mediterranean like Barcelona, Tunis and Sicily; and ports in the Scandinavian Fjords, the Baltic and the North Cape of Northern Europe.

Among the cruises that are offering the savings:

The MSC Fantasia, which debuted in December 2008, will sail seven-night Mediterranean Fantasy roundtrip itineraries from Barcelona to Marseille, Genoa, Naples, Palermo, La Goulette, and Palma, through Nov 1.

Its sister-ship, the MSC Splendida, which enters service in July, will begin its inaugural season July 13, sailing

The Splendid Mediterranean roundtrip seven-night Western Mediterranean itineraries from Barcelona through November. MSC also will have three ships in Northern Europe this summer: the MSC Lirica, with fares from $1,349; the MSC Opera, with fares from $1,299; and the MSC Orchestra, with fares from $1,099.

The Eurail Group GIE, the organization which issues Eurail Passes, is teaming up with the International Student Identity Card Association (ISIC) to promote jointly developed offers to young people around the globe.

Through this partnership, the ISIC, Eurail and its participating authorized distributors promise to make traveling through Europe more affordable venture for students.

In celebration of this partnership, as well the 50th anniversary of the Eurail Pass, the Eurail Group and the ISIC are launching a worldwide promotion offering two days of free rail travel with the purchase of any eight-day Eurail Select Pass Youth, valid in 2nd class.

Eurail Select Passes allow unlimited rail travel in three, four or five bordering countries, with 24 participating countries to choose from.

This promotion is open to all ISIC card holders for purchase before July 31.

Ana Dias e Seixas, Eurail Group’s marketing director, said,

“We aim to raise the bar, reinforcing the global reach of the Eurail Pass offer to the youth and student market.

“We are looking forward to welcoming more travelers from all over the world.”

In addition to the Eurail Select Pass, the Eurail Group offers a wide selection of pass products ranging from several One Country and Regional Passes all the way up to the Global Pass, which is now valid in 21 participating countries.

For more information, visit the eurail banner at to the right for purchases of all your Eurail passes.