Jetsettersblog

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

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.

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

Hurtigruten Independent Vacations of Norway

Hurtigruten is offering travelers four Independent Vacations of 12, 13, 14 and 17 days that couple Norwegian Coastal Voyages with land and rail components, affording travelers a rich and rewarding picture of the “real” Norway. The 14-day “Scandinavian Tours Sampler” also includes two days in Reykjavik, Iceland.

These unescorted vacations provide independent travelers the chance to arrange their own dining and sightseeing experiences but at cruise tour prices, with fares ranging from $2,999 to $5,199 per person, double for those selecting cabins and $3,699 to $10,299 for suites. Fares include intra-country air; first or superior first-class hotel accommodations; Oslo and Bergen cards providing free and discounted admission on sights and attractions; train journeys; transfers; port charges; and three meals daily aboard ship. Departures are available year-round.

The centerpiece of each independent vacation is a seven-day northbound, six-day southbound or 12-day roundtrip cruise that sails along a 1,250-mile stretch of the stunningly scenic Norway coastline, indented with numerous fjords, with calls at 34 ports between Bergen and Kirkenes, above the Arctic Circle.

The cruise, described in Lonely Planet’s “Bluelist” as the “world’s most beautiful voyage,” features an eclectic array of ports, including Trondheim, one of the country’s oldest cities and a thriving university town; the Lofoten archipelago, with peaked mountains and villages filled with rust-red fishermen’s cabins; and Alesund, destroyed by fire in 1904 and completely rebuilt in the Art Nouveau style.

The packages also include significant sightseeing opportunities in Kirkenes, Bergen and Oslo, and a rail journey aboard the Bergen Railway between Oslo and Bergen, traveling through spectacular, unspoiled fjord country.

Kirkenes, perched at the edge of Veranger Fjord, is home to Pasvik Nasjonal Park, where travelers can stand at the meeting point of Norway, Finland and Russia. In Bergen, founded in the 11th century, guests can explore the city’s waterfront, Bryggen, which has been designated a World Heritage site, and travel to Troldhaugen, the home of composer Edvard Grieg, now a museum.

Oslo, a city filled with hiking trails, forests and lakes, features dozens of attractions, including the Edvard Munch and Viking Ships museums, and Vigeland Park, with its life-size statues by the country’s renowned artists.

Hurtigruten is a world leader in exploration cruising, sailing to the remote destinations of Antarctica, Greenland and the Arctic’s Spitsbergen.

For more information about the cruise and optional excursions, contact Hurtigruten at (800) 323-7436 or (212) 319-1300; fax (212) 319-1390;

for brochures, (800) 666-2374, 24 hours a day;

www.hurtigruten.us

See Both Sides of the Arctic with Peregrine

With the launch of its 2009-10 Polar programme, Peregrine is offering a ‘balanced’ experience of the High Arctic, with a new expedition voyage that explores both ‘sides’ of the northern wilderness, travelling from Iceland around the southern tip of Greenland to Canada. The company will be the only operator cruising in the wildlife-rich waters of Canada’s Baffin Island in 2009.

The 15-night Iceland, Greenland and Baffin Island Explorer voyage begins in Reykjavik, Iceland and crosses the Greenland Sea to follow the coast of Greenland south, stopping to visit remote Inuit villages, where brightly-painted houses are set against dramatic mountain-scapes and glaciers, or amid meadows of exquisite wildflowers. The aim of the voyage is to spend as much time off the ship as possible, visiting the locals, hiking in the tundra, cruising among icebergs in the Zodiac inflatable boats and wildlife watching: seals, whales and seabirds are prolific in the region.

Rounding the southern tip of Greenland, the voyage heads north to World Heritage-listed Disko Bay, where the Jacobshaven Glacier – the most active in the world – calves massive bergs into the bay that sometimes drift as far south as New York. The ship then crosses Baffin Bay, home of the Polar bear and massive seabird rookeries that cling to the sea cliffs.

The Iceland, Greenland and Baffin Island Explorer departs from Reykjavik on July 19, 2009 and costs from $9525 per person, twin share, in a Main Deck cabin. For an even more extensive exploration, the trip can be combined with the 13-night Spitsbergen, East Greenland & Iceland voyage for an extraordinary 24 nights.

The 14-night Svalbard in Depth voyage takes a leisurely pace to explore the Svalbard Archipelago to the north of Norway. The trip adds four days to the ‘regular’ itinerary to allow photographers and artists to have more time at each destination to capture the extraordinary beauty of the ice, tundra and the prolific wildlife including seals, seabirds and, of course, Polar bears.

Photographer John Rodsted will conduct workshops and lead excursions for photographers, drawing on his 25 years experience as a commercial photographer and photojournalist, and as a photo essayist working in some of the most challenging landscapes on earth. Lars Jonsson is a celebrated wildlife and landscape artist known for his ability to capture the life and atmosphere surrounding birds in their natural landscape. Both will lead workshops and discussions geared to suit all levels of experience.

The Svalbard in Depth voyage departs from Longyearbyen on June 22, 2009 and costs from $9640 per person, twin share, in a Main Deck cabin.

Rodsted will be joined by Brett Jarrett, acknowledged leading marine bird and mammal painter specialising in oil on canvas, to guide photographers and artists on a new Peregrine voyage at the opposite end of the world: a 24-night Falkland Islands, South Georgia and Antarctica voyage that again adds extra days to a ‘regular’ itinerary. This new trip has been developed in response to clients wanting to spend more time in the wildlife wonderland of the Falklands and South Georgia. These islands – some of the most remote on the planet – are inhabited by overwhelming numbers of penguins, seals and seabirds, which throng the beaches beneath massive mountain peaks in one of the world’s most spectacular wildlife displays.

The Technicolor scenes of these sub-Antarctic islands contrast with the stark, icy plateaus and glacier-backed bays of the Antarctic Peninsula, where a completely different – but equally prolific – collection of wildlife can be seen.

The 24-night Falklands, South Georgia and Antarctica voyage departs from Ushuaia, Argentina, on November 6, 2009 and costs from $16580 per person in a Main Deck twin share cabin, cruise only, twin share.

All the voyages are aboard Peregrine’s 100-passenger expedition sister ships, the Peregrine Mariner and Peregrine Explorer, which are widely regarded as the best expedition ships operating in Polar waters.

For further information, contact your travel agent or Peregrine Travel Centre, call 1300 854 500, or visit www.peregrineadventures.com

Europe’s Two Coolest Cities for style

Helsinki and Vienna; they are two of Europe’s iconic cities, renowned as places where visitors can indulge their senses to the full; traditional and culturally rich destinations that play to the whims of the senses – sound, sight, taste, touch.

The launch of the ‘Odd Couple’ campaign is aimed to highlight that ‘yes’ Vienna and Helsinki are rich in tradition but, importantly, they are vibrant cities of the 21st century; Helsinki – renowned for its cool, cutting edge Nordic image, and Vienna a creative, stylish ‘new wave’ centre of Europe.

In a unique marketing initiative, the VisitFinland (ex Finnish Tourist Board) and the Austrian National Tourist Office have teamed up to promote the contemporary, innovative and laidback side of the two cities – to ‘refresh the senses’ – with a key initiative the launch of a four day ‘Odd Couple’ package in conjunction with Finnair, Beyond Travel, the Vienna Tourist Board and Helsinki City Tourist & Convention Bureau.

They are the ‘Odd Couple’ – the old and yet new – but in fact, set midst the stunning architectural facade of Europe, they are two dynamic and very edgy modern European cities. To combine them both in one package brings together an incredible experience of contemporary Europe for travellers,” VisitFinland local representative Satu Raunola said.

They are two hip cities, loaded with inspiring architecture, innovative fashion and design and ultra-chic cafes, restaurants and bars.

HELSINKI: ‘hear’ cutting edge bands such as HIM, The Rasmus and Nightlight, Finnish jazz at the Storyville Jazzclub, cool Finnish tango; ‘see’ the famous Design District Helsinki with its 25 streets full of fashion stores, art galleries, design studios and designer hotels; ‘taste’ haute Finnish cuisine at Michelin star restaurants NEMO, G.W Sundmans and Chez Dominique ; ‘touch’ designer labels such as IVANAhelsinki, and Hanna Saren, Globe Hope and Tia Vanhatapio.

“Walking down Helsinki’s Esplanade is to experience a real microcosm of both Finnish and international design – it is old world grandeur juxtaposed with Finnish minimalism – from the five star 19th century Hotel Kamp (where Mick Jagger regularly lays his head when in town) to the stark Artek Academic bookstore with its sharp bare facade,” Raunola said.

“Just walking around Helsinki you can pick up the vibe – there is a lot of youthful, innovative energy there.”

VIENNA: ‘hear’ the downbeat rhythms of electronic music of the so called ‘Vienna Sound’, Europe’s finest Hip-hop DJs and famous clubs like Flex and OST Klub as well as record labels like Couch Records (which contributed music to ‘Sex and the City’); ‘see’ the MuseumsQuartier cultural district – one of the largest cultural complexes in the world that is home to Austria’s largest collection of contemporary art as well as chic eateries such as Cafe Leopold and Milo; ‘taste’ the new restaurant scene of Naschmarkt – a fine food haven of over 170 market stalls including Naschmarkt Deli which also dishes up electronic DJ vibes on Saturday afternoons; ‘touch’ the shopping districts of the 4th and 7th suburbs with their new wave designer clothing, that has also been given a presentation platform with the ‘festival for fashion and photography’ held each June.

“The young creative scene has injected a strong avant garde theme throughout the city – it has made it refreshing, new and young while still in one of Europe’s grand destinations,” Astrid Mulholland-Licht, Director of the Austrian National Tourist Office said.

“It is a fascinating combination of tradition and energetic innovation,” she said. And now Vienna and Helsinki, through the ‘Odd Couple’ campaign, have been brought together for the ‘ultimate’ European city holiday!

To experience this contemporary, creative side of Europe, Beyond Travel is offering a four night ‘Odd Couple’ package competitively priced from $2,100 per person which includes return economy travel on Finnair to Helsinki and Vienna, two nights in Helsinki at the three star Sokos Hotel, two nights in Vienna at the Starlight Suite Hotel, breakfast daily, a Helsinki Audio tour & 48 hour Helsinki card and a 72 hour Vienna card that includes free public transport, free drinks, shopping and attraction discounts. There is a free bonus upgrade in Helsinki to a four star hotel for weekend stays.

Travellers can also go in the draw to win a fantastic trip to Helsinki and Vienna valued at $8,500 per couple. Enter the competition at www.austria.info/au

“The package captures the best of the contemporary European experience – two of the coolest cities in Europe,” Raunola said.

Arctic Voyage Around Spitsbergen

Save up to £370 p/p on Wildlife Worldwide’s 11-night voyage aboard the ice-strengthened expedition vessel Antarctic Dream, around the icy northern coastline of Spitsbergen, searching out Walrus, Arctic seabird colonies, whales and the ultimate land carnivore - the mighty Polar Bear. Voyage departs Longyearbyen 18th August 2008.

The Svalbard Archipelago is only a few hours flight from the UK, yet this extraordinary land of rugged mountains, sweeping tundra, ice caps, glaciers and exceptional wildlife is a true High Arctic wilderness. Spitsbergen is the largest island in the Svalbard Archipelago. Ice conditions allowing, the northern-most point of the voyage is likely to be Phippsøya in the Seven Islands, just 870 kilometres from the geographic North Pole.

Heading north along the west coast to Krossfjorden, passengers transfer to Zodiacs for an exhilarating cruise along the sculpted front of the 14th of July Glacier. The next port of call is Ny Ålesund, the world’s most northerly settlement. Once a mining village - served by the world’s most northerly railway, which can still be seen - Ny Ålesund is now a research centre.

Heading further north still, the vessel sails into Liefdefjorden, cruising close to the face of the impressive Monaco Glacier. The waters of the glacier front are a favourite feeding spot for thousands of Kittiwakes and Polar Bears are occasionally seen on the glacier. Phippsøya in the Seven Islands, the realm of the Polar Bear, is next. Here, time will be spent on the pack ice taking in the spectacular surroundings and watching for sightings of the ‘King of the Arctic’.

Turning south, a visit is made to Laagöya, a low island with a big lagoon where a big herd of Walrus tends to congregate. Sabine’s Gulls nest on the island, and during a nature walk, families of Ptarmigan may be encountered. Sailing down through Hinlopen Strait, the waterway between Spitsbergen and Nordaustlandet, sightings of Bearded and Ringed Seals, Polar Bears and Ivory Gulls are all possible.

Utilising zodiacs to navigate the ice floes of Lomfjordshalvøya, explorations will be made of the bird cliffs at Alkefjellet, home to thousands of Brunnich’s Guillemots, the polar desert of Nordaustlandet, next to the world’s third largest ice cap, and an old trapper’s hut at Sundneset on Barentsøya. Moving south to Dislobukta on the west side of Edgeøya, beaches are littered with whale bones and tree trunks that have drifted from Siberia. On Ahlstrandhalvøya, piles of Beluga skeletons are evidence of the 19th Century slaughter. Fortunately Belugas were not hunted to extinction and the chances of encountering a pod are good.

The voyage concludes back in Longyearbyen.

The voyage now costs from £2,325 p/p including accommodation on board ship, all meals and expertly guided shore and zodiac excursions.

Wildlife Worldwide
0845 130 6982
sales@wildlifeworldwide.com
www.wildlifeworldwide.com