Jetsettersblog

Windstar Cruises, which operates a fleet of three luxury sailing yachts, is introducing three new Baltic itineraries this summer on the 312-guest Wind Surf. All three itineraries feature two-for-one savings fares plus two free hotel nights in embarkation or disembarkation port cities.

“Capitals of Scandinavia” allows guests to experience the beauty, culture and city life of Scandinavia. They can explore Oslo’s parks and architecture; the palaces, canals and copper spires of Copenhagen; and the contrast of minimalist design and spice-colored buildings of Stockholm. Seven-day sailings between Oslo, Norway and Stockholm, Sweden visit Stromstad, Sweden; Copenhagen, Denmark (overnight); Rugen, Germany; and Bornholm, Denmark, and depart July 27 and August 19, 2012. Two-for-one savings fares plus two free hotel nights per cabin in Oslo or Stockholm, are priced from $2,799 per person.

“Best of the Baltic” features an overnight in St. Petersburg. Wind Surf docks close to the center of each port—just steps away from the grand capitals and hamlets. Guests can explore the treasures of St. Petersburg’s Hermitage and the city’s charming cafes.

Seven-day sailings roundtrip from Stockholm, Sweden visit Mariehamn, Finland; St. Petersburg, Russia (overnight); Helsinki, Finland; Tallinn, Estonia; and Sandhamn, Sweden, with departures Aug. 3 and 11, 2012.

Cruises, including two free hotel nights per cabin in Stockholm, start from $3,699 per person.

“Treasures of Northern Europe” features three sailing days, plus the best of Northern Europe and overnights in Oslo and Amsterdam.

Guests can explore Northern Europe’s legendary cities and stand in the presence of some of the world’s great art masterpieces.

Eleven-day sailings between Lisbon, Portugal and Oslo, Norway visit Le Havre, France; Dover, Great Britain; Antwerp, Belgium; and Amsterdam, Netherlands (overnight), with departures July 16 and Aug. 26, 2012.

Cruises with two-for-one savings fares plus two free hotel nights per cabin in Lisbon or Oslo, start from $2,499 per person. Seven-day sailings, LeHavre to Oslo or reverse, are also available from $2,199, with two-for-one savings fares plus two free hotel nights per cabin in Oslo.

All fares are per person cruise only, based on double occupancy in category B and include non-discountable amounts. Government fees and taxes are additional ($35-$300 per person).

Two-for-one cruise fares are based on 50 percent of published full cruise fares as shown on select sailings. The two-night complimentary hotel offer is available per booked cabin, is applicable on select sailings and includes one complimentary transfer to or from the yacht, all tips, gratuities, taxes and luggage-handling fees.

Brendan Vacations is offering several new itineraries for Europe in 2012, including the 12-day Crossroads of Cultures and Contrasts: Bosnia, Croatia & Slovenia; the 11-day Discovering the Balkans; the 17-day From Greece to Dalmatia; the eight-day Highlights of Slovenia; and the 15-day Fabled Cities of Europe: Zagreb to Venice. All are being offers as Definite Departures. They include first class accommodations, breakfast daily and some lunches and dinners.

Also new, but not offered as definite departures are The Best of Russia, Baltic States and Warsaw, 14, 16 or 18 days; Dalmatian Sunshine, Dubrovnik to Zagreb, 10 days; Imperial Cities Showcase, Vienna to Warsaw, 10 days; From Bohemia to Transylvania, Prague to Bucharest, 14 days; The Best of Ukraine, Poland and Hungary, 12 days; Belgrade to Zagreb, 12 days; and Glimpse of Italy, nine or 12 days.

Baltic Holidays are offering a City and Spa package for £615 per person in Estonia this winter.

Stay in Tallinn, 2011 European City of Culture, and combine this with a stay in a Manor House Spa complex deep in the Estonian Countryside.

The deal includes flights, all transfers, 2 nights in the 4 star Von Stackelburg Hotel in Tallinn, on a bed and breakfast basis with one evening meal, and ice skating in Tallinn Old Town.

An hour’s transfer to the 4 star Vihula Manor in Northern Estonia, sees 3 nights on a half board basis sampling fine cuisine every night in their restaurant , and then the chance to burn it off with ice skating, Nordic Sticks and cross country skiing all included in the price, and a 90 minute massage to finish off.

An ideal winter experience for those wanting some winter exercise combined with culture and cuisine

Available from the 24th November through to 31st March 2012

All this from £615 per person including flights, from a number of Uk airports.”

www.balticholidays.com  Tel : 0161 860 5248

General Tours World Traveler is offering two new Small Group Journeys to Eastern Europe. The Small Group Journey product line is distinguished by having never more than 16 guests to a group, with boutique hotel stays, quality meals and activities not possible in a larger group. They are designed to provide a deeper and more authentic look into the culturally diverse destinations.

New for 2012, Grand Capitals of Eastern Europe is a 10-day trip to Berlin, Warsaw, Krakow and Budapest featuring distinguished hotels like the Regent Berlin, deemed one of the best places to stay in the world by Condé Nast Traveler, and the Sofitel Chain Bridge overlooking the Danube in the heart of Budapest. Activities include a visit to the Schindler Factory Museum in Krakow, dinner with a Polish family in the charming town of Lowicz and a countryside excursion to Szentendre, an ancient Hungarian town and now-thriving artists’ colony in the Danube Bend. A pre-trip extension to Prague and Dresden features five-star city-center hotels, complete sightseeing and all on-tour transportation including first class rail from Dresden to Berlin to join the Grand Capitals tour.

Also new in 2012, Journey through Austria, Slovenia and Croatia, features landmark hotels and resorts such as the Grand Hotel Toplice, overlooking Lake Bled, and Zagreb’s Regent Esplanade, originally built for passengers of the Orient-Express train. The itinerary includes Munich, Salzburg and Vienna, as well as destinations rarely featured on traditional large-group escorted tours, such as the Salzburg Lake District; Graz, Ljubljana, often called “Little Prague,” and the sixteen cascading lakes of Plitvice National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Through Dec 30, General Tours is offering savings of $500 per person on bookings paid in full at the time of booking for either of the new trips to Eastern Europe.

Now in its 65th year, General Tours World Traveler offers Small Group, Privately Guided and Small Ship journeys to Asia, Europe, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East. Specifically designed for never more than 16 guests, the company’s programs promise immersive cultural encounters and authentic travel experiences not possible in a larger group. For more information, call 800-221-2216 or visit www.generaltours.com

Cruise Baltic has added Gdansk, Poland, as a member, bringing its total number of destinations to 25. “Gdansk’s location lends itself to being a strategic port on the coast of the Baltic Sea,” said Cruise Baltic Director Bo Larsen. “The port is the largest in Poland and the historic, medieval city of Gdansk is an extremely popular tourist destination with its diverse culture, museums, galleries, its reputation as the world capital of amber and also the nearby scenic beaches.”

The announcement was made at the Seatrade Europe industry meeting, where Cruise Baltic also gave the first Cruise Baltic Crown Award to Nigel Lingard, marketing director of Fred Olsen Cruise Lines.“Nigel Lingard is the first recipient of our Crown Award. He is the ultimate cruise industry professional who has been a key and loyal supporter of our network in his role at Fred Olsen; his advice and experience have contributed greatly to the development of our region,” Larsen said. “The Baltic itineraries operated by Fred Olsen are renowned and prove tremendously popular with cruise guests.”

On receiving the award, Lingard said, “I first fell in love with the Baltic region when I worked with Silja Line back in the ’70s. The opportunity to help to develop the cruise business has been a real joy, and I have worked with some 30 ports in the Baltic over the years. What they all have in common is that they deliver customer satisfaction and that’s what will ensure their continued success.”

“One of the main reasons for introducing the Cruise Baltic Crown Award scheme is to thank and acknowledge our cruise industry partners for their co-operation and support,” Larsen explained. “The award will be given to either a person, or organization, who/which has made a significant contribution towards promoting and growing the Baltic Sea Region as a cruise destination.”

Cruise Baltic is a network of cruise destinations in the Baltic Sea made up of 10 countries. The association started in 2004 with 12 destinations and has grown to 25 destinations. For more information, visit www.cruisebaltic.com

STAR STYLE

Be a Baltic VIP in three of Europe’s most dynamic cities

Does travelling with crowds of other tourists leave you cold? Well now you can heat up your holiday in A-list style by designing a tour with Baltic Holidays, the UK’s leading specialist tour operator to the Baltic States. See all the Baltics on a unique nine-night tour of the beautiful Baltic capitals complete with a private car and driver or go one step further and create your own bespoke itinerary.

Stay three nights in each of the Baltic capital cities, Vilnius, Riga & Tallinn in one of Baltic Holidays many enchanting hotel choices, from charming and cosy three-star accommodation to sumptuous five-star hotels. Then sit back and enjoy the ride as a private car driven by an experienced and entertaining English-speaking driver whisks you comfortably between the cities – a fabulous and very ambassadorial way to see the three capitals and witness the stunning Baltic countryside. Stops can be made on request between each of your destinations if anything peaks your interest during the journey.

To really indulge your VIP fantasies why not lengthen your visit and take the opportunity to stay in some unusual places from castles in the countryside and elegant coastal villas to a grand manor on an Estonian Island – all organized with Baltic Holiday’s usual five-star approach.

A tour staying in three-star accommodation starts from £779 per person, B&B, based on two sharing. Four-star accommodation starts from £949 per person and five-star from £1029 per person. Prices are based on flying into Tallinn and out of Vilnius, or vice versa, on direct flights from a number of UK airports. All hotels on the tour are centrally located. Book through Baltic Holidays (0845 070 5711) www.balticholidays.com).
Authors Name: Phil Teubler (Baltic Holidays)
Telephone: 0845 070 5711 / 0161 860 5248
Email: info@balticholidays.com

Just three more months to enjoy Tallinn, European City of Culture for 2011. The Town Hall Square in the centre of the medieval Old Town plays host to Tallinn’s Christmas market from 19 November to 24 December, popular with the locals as well as visitors.

Plenty of mulled wine and gingerbread keep everyone in the Christmas spirit while shopping for handmade festive decorations, basketry, toys, woollen sweaters, sheepskin, linen fabrics, felt hats, patchwork blankets, glassware, paintings and candles.

Three night short breaks in the heart of the Old Town cost from £ 289 per person, twin share, on a bed and breakfast basis at the three-star Taanilinna Hotel. This price includes airport transfers and return flights from a number of Uk airports.

Reservations: 0161 860 5248 www.balticholidays.com

Star Clippers has released its 2012 brochure highlighting its Mediterranean and Northern Europe season, as well as trans-Atlantic crossings for Royal Clipper, Star Clipper and Star Flyer. In addition to the itineraries, the 81-page brochure is filled with photos, maps, port descriptions and land tour options.

The line added Northern Europe sailings in summer 2012 that introduce 18 new itineraries and take Star Flyer to the Baltic with departures from Southampton, England; Oslo, Norway; Hamburg, Kiel and Warnemüende (Rostock), Germany; Stockholm, Sweden; Copenhagen, Denmark; and Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

“The brochure is one of our largest editions and it’s a great tool for helping guests and travel agents pick the sailing that is most appealing to them and their clients,” said Mark Carlson, director of marketing for Star Clippers-Americas. “Our early bookings are always strong, and the new itineraries in Northern Europe are going to fill up quickly, so we encourage our guests to reserve early.”

Star Flyer also will sail new seven-night roundtrips from Malaga, Spain, sailings that call at Casablanca and Tangier in Morocco, as well as Gibraltar. The ship also offers an eight-night itinerary from Southampton to Lisbon and a six-night sailing from Lisbon to Malaga.

Royal Clipper sails the Western Mediterranean with seven-, 10- and 11-night itineraries.

The seven-night cruises sail roundtrip from Civitavecchia (Rome). The 10- and 11-night journeys between Civitavecchia and Venice call at ports in Italy, Sicily, Montenegro, Greece and Croatia. Three shorter cruises of four or five days to Italy and Spain also are available.

For its 2012 Med season, Star Clipper will sail seven-night Greek Isles and Turkey cruises roundtrip from Athens. In June and August, the ship sails four seven-night itineraries between Athens and Istanbul, and from July to September the ship features four 10- or 11-night cruises between Venice and Athens to ports throughout Greece and Croatia, including a call in Montenegro.

Six Grand Voyages are 12 to 17 nights long. The extended itineraries aboard all three ships offer a more in-depth exploration of Northern Europe, Eastern and Western Mediterranean, and Northern Africa.

Star Clippers also offers five trans-Atlantic crossings in 2012 ranging from 14 to 35 nights. Trans-Atlantic journeys in April and October reposition the ships between Costa Rica, the Caribbean and Europe.

The brochure also features two- to six-night pre- and post-cruise land tour options in Istanbul, Venice, Rome and Athens. Guests who book early can take advantage of the line’s Advance Purchase Discounts that include a summer trans-Atlantic air credit.

For more information, call 800-442-0556 or www.starclippers.com

The first and the only winter entertainment complex in the Baltic countries recently opened its doors to the visitors in the popular Lithuanian resort town Druskininkai.

The gigantic complex contains 3 ski slopes (2 indoors and 1 outdoor), a myriad of bars, restaurants, cafes and children’s activities, all arranged in the area of 8 hectares. Other activities include skiing and snowboarding school DruSkiSchool with qualified instructors, who work by SmartSnow training system and the four levels entertainment park named DruFunPark for children.

The average temperature in the Snoras Snow Arena is about -2°C, so warm clothes are recommended. Snow in Snoras Snow Arena is made by using PowderStar Series technology. Water and air are the only ingredients of the snow, no chemical or bacteriological additives are used, so the snow is 100% natural.

“We are happy, that Druskininkai will have one more unique attraction, and we will be able to ski all year round, “- said Ričardas Malinauskas, the Mayor of Druskininkai Municipality.

“Druskininkai resort is one of the most popular places to visit all year round in Lithuania. The resort is gifted with mineral waters and curative mud. It has been popular for centuries with Lithuanians and neighbour countries. However, only in this decade the town has developed very fast and in addition to many spa centres, today it offers largest Aqua Park and now Snow Arena in Baltic States, which no doubt will help to attract more British visitors.” – stated Augusta Jaudegyte, the director of Lithuanian Tourism Office in the UK.

The Druskininkai region already is no stranger to outlandish tourism concepts, calling itself home to the famous outdoor Stalinist sculpture museum of Grutas Park, which has displayed severe statues of fallen Soviet figureheads since 2001.

For more information about Druskininkai: www.info.druskininkai.lt.  For more information about Snoras Snow Arena: www.snowarena.lt

Cook East is a new company that has been founded with the basic philosophy that food can provide an interesting medium through which to engage with your surroundings, beyond simply being a flavoursome addition to a nice evening. Providing interesting itineraries in their own right, you will be visiting some of the most desirable locations and impressive sights in the world. Where Cook East differs from other travel providers however is the concurrent series of cooking classes that allow you to see precisely how those restaurants at home cook your favourite dishes. These are not aimed at chefs or those with exceptional cooking abilities, but anyone who wants to gain a grassroots understanding of how food cultivation, purchase, preparation and consumption fits into the lifestyle of local people.

A typical day might involve breakfast, a late morning cooking class including the consumption of your prepared dish and then the afternoon spent on a guided tour of the city, at leisure or visiting a local temple of monument.

As the name suggests, the destinations visited by Cook East cover South East and Central Asia, but also include South America and we are always looking to add new destinations.

For up-to-date information on any of our itineraries or destinations please check our website, or get in contact. With prices starting from £735 including international flights we’re sure we have something for everyone.

Website: http://www.cook-east.com

Email: info@cook-east.com

Phone: 01276 682968