Jetsettersblog

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

The Malm? Card is the official tourist card that entitles you to free travels and lots of discounts. Let the card inspire you to enjoyable days in Malm?.

Transport and parking

- Free bus travels
- Discount on travels to Copenhagen by car, N.B: tickets need to be purchased at the tourist offices in Malm?.
- Free parking
- Free baby seat and discount at Hertz Car Rental
- Discount on bicycle rental

Museums and exhibitions

- Free entrance to Malm?hus Castle and Malm? Museums
- Free entrance to Malm? Art Museum
- Free entrance to the Museum of Technology and Shipping (Tekniken och Sj?fartens Hus)
- Free entrance to the Commandant?s House (Kommendanthuset)
- Free entrance to Ebba’s House
- Two for the price of one at The Cog Museum (Koggmuseet)
- Two for the price of one at Foteviken Viking Centre
- Discount on Fairtrade products at House of Humanity
- Discount on catalogues and posters produced by Malm? Art Gallery (Malm? Konsthall)
- Discount in the design shop of the Form/Design Centre
- Discount on the entire assortment of the souvenir shop at the City Tunnel Exhibition.
- Discount on entrance to the Toyland Museum (Upplevelsemuseet Leksaksland)
- Discount on assortments at the Malm? Chocolate Museum (Malm? Chokladfabrik)

Sightseeing and family activities

- Discount on guided sightseeing bus tours (summertime)
- Discount on the entrance fee to Kockums Sport and Leisure Centre
- Discount on boat rental, pedal boats on the canal
- Discount on Rundan Canal Tours
- Discount on entrance to Funhouse Activity Centre (Funhouse Lekland)
- Discount on ticket price and fishing equipment, M/S Ekesk?r
- Discount on souvenirs from Malm? Tourist Office
- Discount on entrance to HSB Turning Torso Experience Centre
- Discount on the entrance fee at Treasure Island Playland
- Discount at Let?s go Amusement House

Folkets Park Amusement Park

- Discount on ride passes at fun fair
- Discount on entrance to Malm? Reptile Centre
- Discount on pony rides

Entertainment

- Free entrance to Wallman’s Golden Hits
- Free entrance and programme to J?gersro Trotting & Horseracing Course
- Free entrance to Casino Cosmopol
- Discount on adult tickets, Malm? Symphonic Orchestra
- Discount at R?nneb?ck Golf Club
- Discount at Restaurant R?dhusk?llaren
- Malm? City Card

Addresses and additional information included with the card. Subject to alteration.

Price and validity
The Malm? Card is available for 1, 2 and 3 days. Price for 1 day - SEK 130, 2 days - SEK 160 and 3 days - SEK 190. The card is valid for one adult and two children under the age of 16.

Malmo CardThe Malmo Card offers free admission to museums and an amazing list of discounts for leisure activities, free parking, discounts on train fares to Copenhagen, entry to museums, city sightseeing, discounts on car and bike rental and much much more! Take advantage of all the offers including unlimited free travel on public transport and experience the best Malmo has to offer!

The Malm? Card is available from any of our tourist offices or from most hotels, camping sites, etc. You can also buy the Malm? City Package which includes the Malm? Card. Go to the page about package offers.

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 caf? 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; ?rhus, Denmark; Warnem?nde (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.

The Large and Luxurious Ship In Europe Offers Guests The Best In Service, Facilities, Amenities and More

MSC - sailing in fantasy with MSC Fantasia _Chi_ .pdfRaising the bar for the industry and setting a new standard in cruising, the MSC Fantasia will be christened on December 18, setting sail as the largest cruise ship ever built for a European operator. At 333 metres long, 38 metres wide and nearly 60 metres tall, the MSC Fantasia has ? even before its launch ? established itself as a pioneer in luxury cruise ship holidays.

Offering guests a staggering 27,000 square metres of public space with a host of choices for dining, relaxing, exercising and amusement, the ship?s offerings include: the Aurea SPA, 5 gourmet restaurants, 4 swimming pools, 1 with sliding glass roof, 12 state-of-the-art hydro-massage pools, shops, 20 bars, wine bar, coffee bar, a specially designed children?s area with the ?water slide?, a Formula 1 simulator, a casino, and an interactive 4-D cinema.

A special addition to MSC Fantasia, this breathtaking ship will be the first to feature an exclusive, ultra-luxury VIP area, the MSC Yacht Club, which will offer discerning international travellers a choice of 99 spacious suites, a bar just for VIP guests, a skydome swimming pool, 2 hydro-massage pools and a dedicated observation lounge with a full-service bar. And, while relaxing in the impeccably designed VIP lounges or in the magnificent suites, VIP guests have access to a 24-hour butler service. The MSC Yacht Club has one mission: to delight its guests.

The care and attention to detail that the 1,325 crew members take to ensure that all 3,959 passengers enjoy a fabulous cruising experience is what sets MSC apart. Key to this is a corporate culture in which the beauty and joy found at sea are secured for years to come. In line with its efforts to implement sustainable programmes to safeguard the environment, the MSC Fantasia has been built with the most innovative, energy saving systems, water treatment programs, and the collection of recyclable goods like aluminium drink cans. Having won awards from a number of prestigious international bodies for its eco-conscious efforts, guests on the MSC Fantasia will know not only are they travelling in style, but they are also travelling green.

The health of the environment and of all guests is paramount to MSC, and the Aurea SPA, one of the world?s largest floating spas, has been designed to ensure the ultimate in relaxation and well-being. This authentic Balinese wellness centre will offer innovative treatments ranging from massages and body treatments, reflexology and lava stones, as well as uniquely-designed anti-ageing and muscular treatments performed by highly trained specialists. The 1,500 square metres of the Aurea SPA are divided into several areas: the Thalassotherapy Room, the Thermal Area, the Gymnasium, and the Relaxation Area.

With unparalleled size, never before seen luxury offerings, and some of the most unique spaces for total relaxation and indulgence, the MSC Fantasia marks a new era of cruising, and a revolutionary opportunity for holidays.

After MSC Fantasia comes into service this December, its sister MSC Splendida, which is also the largest fleets by European ship owner, will be christened next spring.