Jetsettersblog

G.A.P Adventures New Polar Expedition Ship

World leaders in adventure travel, G.A.P Adventures, has announced the purchase of a new ship, the M/S Expedition, and the relaunch of its polar expedition program, commencing on January 4, 2009.

World leaders in adventure travel, G.A.P Adventures, has announced the purchase of a new ship, the M/S Expedition, and the relaunch of its polar expedition program, commencing on January 4, 2009.

“We have been scouring the globe to find the ideal replacement ship for our polar expedition program,” said Bruce Poon Tip, CEO of G.A.P Adventures. “I am delighted to say that we have succeeded with our aim with the acquisition of a world class ship, M/S Expedition.

Built in Denmark in 1972, the ship has been operating in coastal waters around Scandinavia for 15 years.

The 105 metre long ship can accommodate 120 passengers and will undergo a multi-million dollar refurbishment and refit in order to offer travellers a unique and comfortable way of exploring the Polar Regions. This will include the installation of brand new cabins with ensuite bathrooms, a refurbishment of the dining room - large enough to accommodate all passengers in one sitting - the pub, lounge, gym and sauna.

Guests will have the choice of five categories of cabins ranging from triples to suites. Each cabin will be outside facing featuring either portholes or windows and the ship will boast multiple viewing areas, including a 360-degree observation deck for wildlife spotting.

M/S Expedition will be fitted with state-of-the-art stabilizers to ensure as smooth a passage as possible. With a top speed of 16 knots, passengers will be able to spend less time travelling from A to B and more time exploring the destination. The ship will also be outfitted with all the latest safety equipment including brand new covered lifeboats and a fast rescue boat from Norsafe.

An elite team of 10 expedition staff, consisting of expedition leaders, naturalists, historians, geologists and marine and avian biologists, will accompany every cruise in order to share their knowledge of the destination’s history, unique environment and wildlife.

The sail plan will include Antarctic and Arctic programs. Tours in Antarctica will cover the Falkland Islands and the South Shetland Islands. Following the end of the Antarctic season in March, M/S Expedition will head north toward the Arctic, stopping along the way for dedicated trips around the Azores and Great Britain. The ship will launch from Scotland, travelling via the Norwegian Fjords towards Spitsbergen to finish its polar program for the 2009 season.

“I would like to thank our travellers for their support while we searched for the right replacement ship and we look forward to welcoming them on board in January,” said Bruce Poon Tip. “M/S Expedition will offer the adventurous traveller a unique, comfortable, and rewarding way to visit the great wilderness that are the Polar Regions.”

M/S Expedition Technical Specifications:
Built: Helsingor Skibsvaerft, Denmark 1972
Ice class: Swedish/ Finnish 1B
Length: 105.23 metres (345 feet)
Breadth: 18.63 metres
Max Draft: 4.71 metres
Gross Tonnage: 6336 grt

For more information, please visit http://www.gapadventures.com/expedition

About G.A.P Adventures

G.A.P Adventures is a world leader in the adventure travel industry offering small group adventures on all seven continents and beyond to more than 70,000 global travelers annually. The award-winning trips, which focus on culture, nature and active travel, are ideal for those with a sense of adventure - people who want to leave the beaten path and authentically immerse themselves in a local culture or environment to experience the real world in a sustainable manner. Demonstrating its ongoing cultural, social and economic commitment to responsible tourism, G.A.P Adventures established the Planeterra Foundation, as a way the company and its passengers can give back to the communities visited. For more information, please visit http://www.gapadventures.com and http://www.planeterra.org  or click the Gap Banner above for special deals.

Düsseldorf’s Breidenbacher Hof Introductory Rates

Following a transformation and May 2008 re-opening, Breidenbacher Hof, a Capella Hotel, in Düsseldorf, Germany is offering special introductory rates.

Through Aug. 31 summer rates start at €225 ($354) for a Standard Room – proving anything but standard – with beautiful views of the hotel’s lush, inner courtyard. During this introductory period, Deluxe Rooms start at €325 ($512), and Capella Rooms, with separate living quarters and guest powder rooms, start at €500 ($788).

Beginning Sept. 1 rates will start at € 275 ($433), € 425 ($669) and €800 ($1,260) for the Standard, Deluxe and Capella Rooms, respectively.

Call 877-247-6688 or visit www.capellahotels.com

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

Uniworld Cruises Early-Booking Incentives

Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection is offering travelers who pre-plan their cruises additional savings.

With Pay-In-Full and early-booking discount programs, travelers reduce their costs by booking and paying for all or a portion of their Europe cruises in advance. Couples who book a 2009 Uniworld Europe river cruise and pay in full before Sept. 30 can save up to $1,000 per person on select itineraries in Europe. By paying before this date, travelers are protected from any currency fluctuation. Those who place a deposit on a 2009 river cruise can save up $300 per person by booking and depositing by Nov. 30.

For more information, call 800-733-7820 or visit www.uniworld.com

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

MSC Cruises Credits on 2009 Europe Sailings

MSC Cruises is offering shipboard credits to those who book 2009 Europe sailings by July 31. The amount of the shipboard credit will be determined by the type of stateroom booked. An interior stateroom booking will lead to a $25 shipboard credit per person for a maximum of $50 per stateroom.

Ocean-view staterooms include $50 shipboard credit per person for a maximum $100 per stateroom. Balcony staterooms net a $100 shipboard credit per person for a maximum $200 per stateroom).

Fares for the line’s 2009 Mediterranean and Northern Europe itineraries begin at $799 per person, double occupancy, for a seven-night cruise. Children under the age of 17 sail free on all sailings when sharing a stateroom with two full-fare-paying adults, and guests need only place a deposit of $100 per person.

The company’s new MSC Fantasia will debut in December, followed in June 2009 by sister ship MSC Splendida. They will offer an exclusive VIP area of 99 suites (up to 700 square feet), plus a bar, solarium, two Jacuzzis, a pool with sky dome, and butler service. After its December christening in Naples, MSC Fantasia will sail two eight-night roundtrips from Genoa: the Dec. 20 sailing calls at Rhodes, Alexandria, Messina and Naples, while the Dec. 28 itinerary visits Barcelona, Lisbon, Malaga and Civitavecchia. The ship will then sail 11-night Western Mediterranean and Canary Islands roundtrips from Genoa that call in Barcelona, Funchal, Tenerife, Arrecife, Malaga and Civitavecchia through March 1, when it will begin seven-night “Mediterranean Fantasy” roundtrips from Barcelona to Marseille, Genoa, Naples, Palermo, La Goulette, and Palma.

MSC Splendida will begin its inaugural season June 29, 2009, sailing “The Splendid Mediterranean,” roundtrip seven-night Western Mediterranean itineraries from Barcelona through November.

MSC Poesia, which debuted in spring 2008, will spend the winter sailing alternating 11-night “Eastern Mediterranean and Egypt” itineraries with Western Mediterranean and Canary Islands itineraries roundtrip from Genoa. In April, it will begin a series of seven-night “Turkish Treasure and Croatian Coasts” Eastern Mediterranean itineraries from Venice.

The MSC Musica will operate seven-night “Greek Islands in the Sun” cruises from Venice April through October. MSC Sinfonia offers seven-night “Sparking Rivieras” Western Mediterranean itineraries from Livorno, from late April through October. MSC Opera will operate seven-night “Jewels of the Adriatic” roundtrips from Trieste in fall 2009.

MSC Orchestra will offer eight-night “Iberian Discovery” cruises from Barcelona in fall 2009, while MSC Lirica is set for seven-night “Mediterranean Marvels” roundtrip from Civitavecchia (Rome) in fall 2009.

MSC Cruises also will have three ships in Northern Europe in 2009. MSC Lirica will offer 11-night “Treasures of the Russian Czars,” “Fairytale Towns and Towering Fjords” and “Voyage to the Top of the World” itineraries from Dover May through August. MSC Opera will alternate 11-night “Czarist Russia Revealed” and “Land of the Midnight Sun” from Copenhagen May-June; alternating seven-night “Baltic Beauty and Russian Treasures” and “Route of the Vikings” from Copenhagen July-August. MSC Orchestra will alternate seven-night “Baltic Castles and Russian Palaces” and “Fascinating Fjordlands” from Copenhagen May-September.

MSC Cruises offers alternate departure ports, such as Bari, Valencia, Kiel and Amsterdam, on many itineraries. For more information, visit www.msccruisesusa.com.

CIE Tours 2009 European River Cruises Flyer

CIE Tours International published a 2009 European River Cruises fold-out flyer with sample itineraries, deck plans and prices to get a head start in selling European river cruises for next year.

CIE Tours is offering 10 different choices for European river cruising on new 150-passenger river cruise ships with deluxe accommodations, lounges, fitness centers, sun decks, balconies and elevators.

Everything is included on board ship — three gourmet meals daily and complimentary local wines. Leading the list of cruises is Europe’s Heartland, a 14-day/12-night vacation that starts in Paris and also visits Luxembourg before boarding a seven-night cruise from Trier to Nuremberg through the center of Germany including legendary castles, wine country and the Romantic Road.

Prices start at $1,899 for cruise only; $2,999 for cruise and land; $3,499 for cruise, land and air from NY. Once a cruise is paid for, the price is guaranteed against currency fluctuations. Departures are April 22 to Nov. 12, 2009.

The cruise itinerary meanders through Bernkastel, Zell, Lorelei Rock, Rudesheim, Frankfurt, the old Franconian town of Miltenberg, Wurtzburg, Bamberg, the Main-Danube Canal, and Nuremberg. Highlights include touring the Moselle wine-producing region; a guided tour of Reichsburg Castle or a cruise to Koblenz where the Moselle meets the Rhine; a guided walking tour of Mainz or Heidelberg, Germany’s oldest university town; glass-blowing demonstration at Wertheim; and an optional excursion to Rothenburg for a walking tour. The land tour also includes guided tours of Paris and the French countryside, Luxembourg, and Prague.

In addition, CIE Tours offers other European river cruises that explore the waters of the Danube, Main, Rhine and Moselle rivers, as well as Tulip Time cruises to Holland and Belgium and Christmas cruises that include stops at European Christmas markets.

For information and reservations, call 800-CIE-TOUR or visit www.cietours.com