Jetsettersblog

• Air Arabia’s 42nd destination globally, third destination in Eastern Europe
• Flights to operate three times per week initially

Sharjah, October 15, 2008: Air Arabia, the first and largest low-cost carrier (LCC) in the Middle East and North Africa, today launched non-stop service to Kiev, Ukraine, from the carrier’s main hub in Sharjah, UAE. The launch of this new destination reflects Air Arabia’s growing expansion into the Eastern European market.

The inaugural flight was marked by the attendance of Adel Ali, Chief Executive Officer of Air Arabia. The flight was accompanied by special receptions in both Sharjah and Kiev airports attended by special guests, which included Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammed Al Thani, Chairman of Air Arabia and the Ukrainian Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates.

Effective October 15-October 25, 2008, the carrier will fly to Kiev three times per week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Flights will depart Sharjah at 12:25PM, arriving in Kiev at 16:25PM. Return flights will depart Kiev at 17:10PM and arrive in Sharjah at 23:00PM.

Effective October 26, 2008-March 28, 2009, the carrier will fly to Kiev three times per week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Flights will depart Sharjah at 13:00PM, arriving in Kiev at 16:00PM. On the same days, return flights will depart Kiev at 16:45PM and arrive in Sharjah at 23:25PM.

AK Nizar, Head of Commercial Department, Air Arabia, said: “Ukraine is one of the fastest growing economies in Eastern Europe, and there is considerable passenger traffic between the country and the Middle East, particularly for tourism and business. We are delighted to now offer non-stop service between Sharjah, the cultural capital of the UAE and Kiev, one of the great cultural cities of Eastern Europe.”

Modern Kiev is a mix of the old and the new, seen in everything from the architecture to the stores and to the people themselves. It is home to many high-tech industries, higher education institutions and world-famous historical landmarks. The city has an extensive infrastructure and highly developed system of public transport. One of the greenest cities in the region, it boasts a range of natural and architectural attractions. Kiev experienced record economic growth of more than 7.3 per cent last year alone.

In addition to Kiev, Air Arabia also serves Istanbul, Turkey, and Yerevan, Armenia, in Eastern Europe. The Sharjah-based carrier offers the most destinations of any airline in the Middle East, South Asia and North Africa.

Value World Tours is offering a 10 percent discount on all 2009 river cruises to new passengers under deposit by Feb. 1. The company’s 32-page brochure includes cruises on the Eastern Danube, the Adriatic Sea, Russia and Ukraine. The Six-Country Danube Cruise is a 13-day program between Vienna and Bucharest. Fares begin at $2,699 plus $180 port charges per person, twin. The eight-day Five-Country Adriatic Cruise follows the Dalmatian coastline roundtrip from Koper, Slovenia. Fares start at $1,299 plus $192 port charges per person twin. A pre- and post-cruise hotel night package in Vienna is available. The 12-day Russian Waterways cruise between Moscow and St. Petersburg is priced from $1,999 plus $180 port taxes. In Ukraine, a 16-day itinerary between Kiev and Istanbul and a 13-day cruise between Kiev and Odessa are offered. The 13-day program begins at $1,599 plus $180 port charges.

A 16-page brochure offers 15- to 19-day China and Yangtze River programs. Land-cruise packages that include China’s major cities and balcony cabins start at $2,199 plus $80 port charges per person twin. A 15-day Mekong Delta Cruise in Vietnam and Cambodia includes Ho Chi Minh and Siem Reap (gateway to the Angkor Wat temples), and a nine-night Mekong River voyage on the new 48-passenger Indochine. Land-cruise rates begin at $2,799 plus $132 port tax. A Grand Thailand Cruise includes Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, and a four-day Kwai River cruise on a 20-passenger barge. The 12-day program begins at $1,899 plus $42 port taxes.

The 16-page Egypt brochure has programs ranging from 10 to 14 days. Cairo with a deluxe Nile cruise begins at $1,099 plus $60. Alexandria and Jordon extensions are available. Two new river cruise programs on India’s Brahmaputra River and Hooghly River, with Taj Mahal extensions, are also available.

 For more information, call 800-795-1633 or visit www.valuecruises.net

Behind this secret curtain, nature has flourished, resulting in a vast and pristine wilderness described by Lonely Planet as ‘one of the world’s most beautiful regions’.

Fire-spitting volcanoes cloaked in ice dominate the landscape; remote indigenous tribes live as they have done for centuries, while rivers filled with salmon attract the highest concentration of brown bears on the planet. Teeming with an astounding diversity of wildlife including whales, sea lions, otters and birds, against a backdrop of wildflower-filled meadows, verdant valleys and towering mountain ranges - the Russian Far East is an adventure lover’s dream.

Australian-owned expedition cruising company, Aurora Expeditions, invites you to uncover the majesty and mystery of this remarkable region on one of its three voyages departing in 2009.

Travelling aboard the ice-strengthened 100-passenger Marina Svetaeva, the three expeditions will explore secluded islands and sites that would be impossible by any means other than by ship.

The 14-day ‘Ring of Fire’ expedition to the Kuril Islands and Kamchatka departs on 11 July 2009 from Sakhalin Island in Russia and travels through the islands that lie like stepping-stones between Japan and Russia ending in the town of Petropavlosk.

The second 14-day ‘Bering Sea Explorer’ expedition to Kamchatka and Chukotka departs from Petropavlosk in Russia on 24 July and visits the Commander Islands, Karaginsky Island, the Chukotka Coast and Arakamchechen Archipelago, and some of the least visited wilderness areas on Earth.

The final 13-day ‘Arctic Ocean Discoverer’ voyage explores the Bering Straight and remote Wrangel Island, travelling high above the Arctic Circle where few have ventured. The voyage departs on 6 August 2009 and begins and ends in Nome, Alaska.

Prices for all three voyages start at US$5,490 per person and include accommodation and use of all public areas on board the ship, all meals, guided shore excursions, lectures with expert naturalists and historians, and all port taxes. Sea kayaking is an additional option.

For further information and bookings call 1800 637 688 or visit www.auroraexpeditions.com.au

Viking River Cruises is happy to announce its Early Booking Discounts for the 2009 sailing season has been extended and now expires on the 31st of October. Valid for cruises in Europe, Russia and China and now also including sailings on the newly renovated Viking Surkov in Russia and their ‘Roof of the World’ itinerary, a 16 day adventure exploring the imperial treasures of Beijing, Xian and Shanghai, 6 day Yangtze cruise as well as the Tibetan plateau known as ‘the roof of the world’.

The Grand European Tour, the iconic Amsterdam to Budapest cruise, from Holland’s windmill studded tulip fields to Germany’s fairytale castles, from the engineering marvel of the Main & Danube Canal to the picturesque vineyards of Austria’s Wachau Valley, this epic voyage presents the highlights of Holland, Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary. Starting from $5,799 per person in a category B deluxe stateroom, now offered with a saving of $1,250! Book and pay in full by 31 October and all you pay is $4,549 per person for an all-inclusive 15 day cruise along the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers in a deluxe category B stateroom or higher.

Viking River Cruises award winning 12 day Yangtze cruise, Imperial Jewels of China, exploring cosmopolitan Shanghai and the historic imperial treasures of Beijing such as the Forbidden city, the Great Wall and famed Summer Palace combined with a cruise between Wuhan and Chongqing through the wildly beautiful Three Gorges and Lesser Gorges is also now offered at a discount. Save up to $750 per person in a deluxe category B stateroom or higher, now starting from $2,749 per person including the fantastic discount.

Grand European Tour, 15 days, Amsterdam to Budapest &
Eastern European Odyssey, 16 days, Bucharest to Nuremberg
For stateroom category B or higher - save $1250 per person
For stateroom category C or lower - save $500 per person

Treasure of the Rhine, 15 days, Switzerland to Belgium
Portraits of Southern France, 8 days, Chalon-sur-Saone to Avignon
Rhine Getaway, 8 days, Amsterdam to Basel
Romantic Danube, 8 days, Budapest to Nuremberg
Cities of Light, 12 days, Paris to Prague
Elegant Elbe, 12 days, Berlin to Prague
Paris and the heart of Normandy, 8 days, Paris to Le Havre
Tulips & Windmills, 10 days, Amsterdam to Amsterdam
Danube Holiday Delight, 8 days, Passau to Vienna
Danube Explorer, 8 days, Vienna to Nuremberg
China’s Cultural Delights, 17 days, Beijing to Shanghai
Imperial Jewels of China, 12 days, Shanghai to Beijing
Roof of the World, 16 days, Beijing to Shanghai
For stateroom category B or higher - save $750 per person
For stateroom category C or lower - save $500 per person

Waterways of the Czars, 13 days, St Petersburg to Moscow
Russian Rhapsody, 16 days, St Petersburg to Moscow
Footsteps of the Cossacks, 11 or 12 days, Kiev to Odessa
For all stateroom categories - save $500 per person
EBD discount for Viking Surkov is $350 per person, all categories.

For Terms & conditions please visit www.vikingrivercruises.com . All prices are listed in Australian dollars. Book and pay in full by 31 October 2008 and valid on 2009 sailings only.

For bookings and enquiries please contact your local travel agent or Viking at:
Australia:  Australia@vikingrivercruises.com or toll free number: 1800 829 138
New Zealand:  Newzealand@vikingrivercruises.com or toll free number: 0800 447 913

About Viking River Cruises is the leading river cruise line in the world, operating the world’s largest fleet of 22 deluxe vessels built specifically for river travel providing unique, deluxe vacations. All 22 vessels are fully owned by Viking River Cruises and operated by Viking River Cruises own Swiss hotel management and staff. Viking River Cruises is a member of International Cruise Council Australasia.

For more information and all details on Viking River Cruises product, service, please go to www.vikingrivercruises.com or contact Teresia Fors, Managing Director Australia & New Zealand, +61 405 644 550 or teresiafors@vikingrivercruises.com

Gay travelers always find a warm welcome in Denmark. Now they receive the same treatment even before they board their flights on SAS. Scandinavian Airlines recently launched a Web site dedicated to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transsexual/transgender travelers: www.flysas.com/gay . The site, created in partnership with Wonderful Copenhagen and Copenhagen Gay Life, offers GLBT maps, guides and event calendars for the city. It’s a useful resource any time, and it will be especially handy when Copenhagen hosts the World OutGames in 2009.

Finnair passengers are now able to use the Finnair web site to make all their travel arrangements on-line at the same time as booking their flights. Tickets for special events, tours and other transport bookings can be made at the following link: www.finnair.com – Plan & Book – Tickets, Tours & Transfers.

Over 10,000 different products for both business and leisure travelers are offered through the facility. Finnair offers you the chance to book your favorite tours, tickets, and transfers in your destination wherever you stay or fly. The Swiss service provider Unaira supplies the online booking engine, giving access to high-quality destination services around the world.

“Our customers now have the chance to make bookings for all the services they want at one location,” says Mikko Tuomainen, responsible for Finnair’s Internet sales. “Unaira has produced the new service in cooperation with Amadeus, and that means the service is easy to use.”

Unaira is a leading provider of travel services, with offices in Holland, the USA and France, as well as Switzerland

Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) is expanding the alternatives for travel to Europe this winter with the return of two popular seasonal routes, Bangkok - Stockholm and Dubai – Copenhagen and the launch of a new route Delhi - Copenhagen.

“We see a strong demand from our Australian customers, for the Bangkok – Stockholm service in particular, which provides a great alternative for those who prefer to arrive into Europe in the evening,” says Lars Olofsson, General Manager SAS Australia and New Zealand.

“Both Stockholm and Copenhagen are ideal cities to visit on the way to continental Europe, says Olofsson. “Winter season is filled with various highlights such as Christmas celebrations in Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen and Gamla Stan Christmas Markets in Stockholm.”

Scandinavian Airlines’ Economy fare via Bangkok to Stockholm and Copenhagen starts from $1,840. Combination fares which include flights in Economy Extra (premium economy) or Business, between Asia and Europe start from $3,000.Taxes and surcharges are additional from AUD470.

For travel tips tailor-made for Australians, there are a series of free stopover guides for Bangkok, Copenhagen and Stockholm. The guides can be downloaded from Scandinavian Airlines’ website www.flysas.com.au. There you’ll also find up-to-date visitor information and tips on over 60 destinations within Scandinavia, Finland, the Baltic’s and more. Or visit the Scandinavian Tourist Board website www.visitscandinavia.com.au

For information on all fares visit www.flysas.com.au  or call SAS on 1300 727 707.

Scandinavian Airlines offers daily connections from Australia in co-operation with selected Star Alliance™ partners THAI, Singapore Airlines, Air China, United Airlines and frequent flyer partner Qantas. Services operate via Asia and North America to more than 75 destinations in Scandinavia, Finland, the Baltic’s and Europe, utilising the gateways of Stockholm and Copenhagen.

Scandinavian Airlines International is the long-haul operator of SAS with 1.4 million passengers per year. The fleet consists of Airbus A330s and A340s, serving 10 destinations: New York, Chicago, Washington, Seattle, Bangkok, Beijing, Tokyo, Dubai, Copenhagen and Stockholm. In 2008, SAS International will launch flights to Delhi.

Europcar - Prius - final.docWorkers and residents in and around London can now escape the city whilst saving fuel, congestion charge costs and their conscience with the availability of the Toyota Prius from Europcar. The UK’s leading vehicle rental organisation is now offering the Prius, the world’s first and most successful hybrid power vehicle, from all of its London locations.

Driving pleasure, comfort and space haven’t been sacrificed to provide an eco-car. Instead the Prius combines style and superb handling with state of the art technology needed in these environmentally conscious times.

The fleet of vehicles are exempt from the London Congestion Charge and can be driven certain distances using electric power only at the press of a button. This means zero emissions, less noise and better fuel economy – perfect for city and country driving alike.

“The availability of the Prius provides customers with an opportunity to put the hybrid to the test following news that Toyota aims to sell at least 1 million hybrid vehicles annually in the early part of the next decade.” said Catriona Lougher, Marketing Director for Europcar.

“Renting a car with Europcar is already a green choice as all our vehicles are on average just 3 months old and fitted with the latest technology to cut emissions. The average CO2 emission of our fleet is 157 g/km compared to the UK car parc of 164.9 g/km*. However, by making the Prius available we are bringing our customers a new way to drive greener that will also help them cut costs in terms of fuel and congestion charges. It’s all part of our commitment to exploit new manufacturer developments to bring customers the latest models to hit the road and a great rental experience.”

*Source SMMT 2007 report.

Reservations Phone: 1-800-626-0126Website: www.amawaterways.com

Holland America Line’s flagship, the Rotterdam, will sail two new six-day Scandinavian itineraries in July. The two round-trips feature scenic cruising and explore Sweden, Denmark and Norway.

“Given our legacy in Rotterdam, we are thrilled to be sailing in and out of this magnificent port, right past our original headquarters, now the Hotel New York,” said Richard Meadows, executive vice president for marketing, sales and guest programs. “It’s a unique and unforgettable experience to watch Rotterdam’s citizens cheering at our arrivals and departures.”

Departing July 18 from Rotterdam, Netherlands, the ship calls at Helsingborg, Sweden; Copenhagen, Denmark; and Oslo, Norway. A 22-hour stay in the Danish capital allows guests to explore Copenhagen or enjoy dinner at a sidewalk café before returning to the ship. The second sailing, departing Rotterdam on July 24, explores the coast of Norway with calls at Flam, Bergen and Stavanger. Two days of scenic cruising in Norway are included — the first in Sognafjord and Aurlandsfjord, and the second at Lysefjord and Pulpit Rock. Cruise fares begin at $869 per person, double occupancy.

Holland America also offers two extended cruise options. Departing on July 18, guests can combine the two six-day itineraries for a 12-day cruise with only one overlapping call at Rotterdam.

Pricing for the 12-day cruise begins at $1,629 per person, double occupancy. The six-day July 24 sailing can be combined with the following 12-day July 30 sailing for an 18-day Collectors’ Voyage. The Collectors’ Voyage includes Oslo, Norway; Århus, Denmark; Warnemünde (Berlin), Germany; Tallinn, Estonia; and two days in St. Petersburg, Russia.

The voyage then continues on to Helsinki and Stockholm, along with scenic cruising of the Stockholm Archipelago, before disembarking in Copenhagen. Pricing for the 18-day Collectors’ Voyage begins at $2,399, per person, double occupancy.

Taxes and fuel supplement are additional on all fares.