Jetsettersblog

Holland America Line is highlighting Canada’s Yukon Territory in its 2010 Alaska and the Yukon cruisetours.

Of the 31 itineraries, 13 include Yukon destinations such as Whitehorse, Dawson City, Tombstone Territorial Park and Kluane National Park.

New in 2010 is the “Best of the Yukon” cruisetour, one of three Expedition cruisetours recently introduced by Holland America. Cruisetours featuring the Yukon range from 10 to 20 days in length and depart May 9 through Aug. 28, 2010.

Each combines a three-, four- or seven-day Inside Passage cruise with a land tour of destinations in Alaska and the Yukon. Guests experience the wilderness, wildlife, native culture and history while traveling by luxury motor coach, rail and often river boat.

The new “Best of the Yukon” Expedition cruisetour is designed to provide an in-depth Yukon experience.

The itinerary is 12 days with a three-day northbound cruise or 13 days with a southbound sailing that includes Glacier Bay. Guests visit Whitehorse, capital of the Yukon Territory; Dawson City, a Klondike National Historic Site where they have three nights and two full days to explore its gold rush heritage;

Tombstone Territorial Park; and active adventures from rafting to hiking.

The tour also visits Tok, Beaver Creek and Skagway in Alaska.

It includes a Yukon River cruise aboard the Yukon Queen II, Kluane National Park sightseeing, White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad with Lake Bennett excursion and the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve near Haines.

Holland America also offers six Great Land Klondike cruisetours ranging from 11 to 15 days that all feature Whitehorse, Dawson City and the Yukon Queen II river cruise between Dawson City and Eagle, Alaska.

Four of the cruisetours also include a scenic trip on the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad via Lake Bennett between Whitehorse and Skagway. All feature an overnight in Denali National Park and the six- to eight-hour Tundra Wilderness Tour within the park.

Four Great Land Wilderness cruisetours ranging from 10 to 13 days offer itineraries that include Whitehorse.

Included are a natural history presentation at the entrance to Kluane National Park or a summer sled dog demonstration by Uncommon Journeys.

On two tours guests can take an optional full-day excursion to Kluane, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

All Great Land Klondike and Wilderness cruisetours are escorted by a tour director and include travel on deluxe Explorer Coaches. Two Glacier Discovery cruisetours offer 19- or 20-day itineraries that include two nights in Whitehorse and Dawson City and “Double Denali.” Cruisetours featuring the Yukon start at $1,249 per person, double.

United Airlines said that it will begin seasonal nonstop service to Anchorage, Alaska, connecting the city with the airline’s hubs in Chicago, Denver and San Francisco.

Anchorage service begins May 22, with once-weekly Saturday service to and from Chicago O’Hare International Airport.

From June 9 until Aug. 30, United will offer once-daily roundtrip service linking Anchorage with Chicago, Denver and San Francisco. A second roundtrip flight will operate between Chicago and Anchorage on Saturdays. United will operate Saturday-only roundtrip service between Anchorage and Chicago between Sept. 4 and Sept. 25.

Cruise West has enhanced its Alaska itineraries for 2010 with more Zodiac excursions, more time in Glacier Bay National Park and more included shore excursions. Guests can expect more wilderness cruising and wildlife viewing opportunities this summer.

Two of the line’s four Alaska itineraries — the Glacier Bay Highlights cruise and the Alaska’s Inside Passage cruise — spend two nights in Glacier Bay. Cruise West has added an included Ultimate Explorers Experience in Sitka on all Alaska’s Inside Passage voyages.

Included are a private Naa Kahídi dance performance by the Tlingit people, a guided tour of the 107-acre Sitka National Historical Park and a tour of the Alaska Raptor Center, known for rehabilitating bald eagles.

The new Alaska’s Inside Passage itinerary also features more wilderness cruising by inflatable excursion craft and a stop in Wrangell with an included tour of the Wrangell Museum.

Optional shore excursions in Wrangell include bear viewing from the Anan Bear Observatory and taking a jet boat up the Stikine River.

Pre- and post- cruise land options are available on all itineraries. A land tour extension featuring a three-night stay at Denali National Park and Preserve is included in all standard land tours.

The company also offers a more exclusive and intimate experience at two rustic interior park lodges: Kantishna Roadhouse or North Face Lodge. Fares start at $1,199.

Clients who book and pay in full by Feb. 19 will save up to $300 per person. Children ages 18 and under pay 50 percent of the adult rate, and children ages 2 and younger travel free on all voyages.

For more information, call 800-689-1783 or visit www.cruisewest.com

Continental Airlines has announced daily summer seasonal service between Portland, Ore., and Anchorage, Alaska. The nonstop flights will operate from June 10 through Sept. 6.

Continental offers daily nonstop service to Anchorage during the summer from its Houston hub at Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and same plane one-stop service the rest of the year, as well as year-round daily nonstop service from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA). In addition, same plane one-stop service from Continental’s New York hub at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) will resume effective Feb. 11.

Through its partnership with Relais & Châteaux, Silversea Cruises is introducing L’École des Chefs, a new interactive cooking school that will be featured on 11 voyages in 2010.

The Relais & Châteaux L’École des Chefs program offers a culinary curriculum and events hosted by Silversea Executive Chef David Bilsland. Educated in classic French cooking, Bilsland’s career includes several years as a chef instructor at the Le Cordon Bleu culinary school in London.

He will present a program developed in collaboration with Jacques Thorel, the owner of L’Auberge Bretonne and a Grand Chef Relais & Châteaux.

The curriculum for each cruise is designed to celebrate the cultural flavor of the ship’s itinerary. Highlights include workshops covering a range of topics including basic knife skills, kitchen terminology, sauces, baking, cooking demonstrations with wine pairings, Q&A sessions, cooking competitions between Bilsland and the ship’s own culinary team, a “Lunch and Learn” event and “Take It Home” recipes.

Also offered on certain voyages, when the itinerary permits, is “Market to the Plate,” an escorted tour to a local market, and a “Culinary Outing” to a restaurant, hotel or other venue with a chef escort. Select L’École des Chefs voyages will also feature Silversea’s wine consultant, Lyn Farmer.

The James Beard Foundation Award-winning wine and food writer will host lectures, conduct tastings and guide guests through wine and food pairings as part of Silversea’s Wine Series enrichment program.

Following below is a list of the L’École des Chefs voyages for 2010. Fares listed are per person based on double occupancy for a Vista Suite and do not include port charges and handling fees that range from $150 to $575 per person, depending on the itinerary.

• The Silver Wind departs Athens Nov. 9 on a 16-day sailing to Dubai with calls in Rhodes, Alexandria, Sharm-el-Sheikh, Aqaba, Safaga and Muscat. Silver Savings fares start at $7,318.

• Silver Shadow departs Los Angeles May 13 on a 12-day sailing to Vancouver with calls in San Francisco, Ketchikan, Sitka, Juneau, Skagway and Victoria. The sailing includes a Wine Series program hosted by Farmer. Silver Savings fares start at $3,678.

• Silver Shadow departs Los Angeles March 5 on a 17-day sailing to Fort Lauderdale with a crossing of the Panama Canal and calls in Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, Zihuatanejo, Acapulco, Puerto Quetzal, Cartagena and Santa Marta. Silver Savings fares start at $5,478.

• Silver Shadow departs Fort Lauderdale April 28 on a 15-day sailing to Los Angeles with a crossing of the Panama Canal and calls in Santa Marta, Cartagena, Puntarenas, Acapulco and Cabo San Lucas. Silver Savings fares start at $4,838.

• Silver Spirit departs Fort Lauderdale Nov. 22 on a 10-day roundtrip calling at Grand Turk, Antigua, St. Bart’s, St. Kitts and Spanish Town, B.V.I. The sailing includes a Wine Series program hosted by Farmer. Silver Savings fares start at $4,182.

• Silver Spirit departs Fort Lauderdale Dec. 20 on a 14-day roundtrip to Grand Turk, Antigua, Bequia, Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Bart’s, Spanish Town and Key West. The sailing includes a Wine Series program hosted by Farmer. Silver Savings fares start at $6,598.

• Silver Whisper departs Sydney Jan. 18, 2011, on an 18-day sailing to Singapore with calls in Brisbane, Whitsunday Islands, Cairns, Thursday Island, Komodo Island, Bali, Semarang and Karimunjawa Archipelago. Silver Savings fares start at $6,118.

• Silver Wind departs Nice Oct. 20 on a 10-day sailing to Istanbul with calls in Portovenere, Livorno, Sorrento, Taormina, Athens, Santorini and Kusadasi. The sailing includes a Farmer-hosted Wine Series program. Silver Savings fares start at $4,678.

• Silver Cloud departs London June 7 on a 10-day sailing to Stockholm with calls in Rostock, Visby, Tallinn and St. Petersburg (extended two-night stopover). The sailing includes a Wine Series program hosted by Farmer. Silver Savings fares start at $5,082.

• Silver Whisper departs Santiago Dec. 3 on a 16-day Chilean fjord sailing to Buenos Aires with calls in Puerto Montt, Laguna San Rafael, Punta Arenas, Ushuaia, Puerto Madryn and Montevideo. The sailing includes a Wine Series program hosted by Farmer. Silver Savings fares start at $6,998.

• Silver Cloud departs San Juan April 14 on a 15-day trans-Atlantic sailing to Barcelona with calls in St. Maarten, Antigua, Tenerife, Las Palmas, Casablanca and Malaga. Silver Savings fares start at $4,398.

Enrich the Bonds between Grandparents and their Grandchildren; Doubles the Number of Departures

Company Founder, Helena Koenig, Recognized as One of Five “Extraordinary Grandparents” by www.Grandparents.com

Grandtravel has built a reputation as a premier provider of luxury vacations exclusively for grandparents and grandchildren by understanding the varied interests of the two distinct generations and how best to harness them into a platform for bonding and education.

And its recently unveiled 2010 program of hands-on adventures is no exception to that effort – with something for nearly everyone. “Mushing” across an Alaskan glacier pulled by Alaskan huskies, training as the gladiators once did in ancient Rome, learning the art of Tuscan cooking, attending two of London’s top theater productions, dining atop the Eiffel Tower, or spending time with a cadet at the nation’s Naval Academy, Annapolis.

These 2010 deluxe offerings — “Alaskan Adventure,” “Italy’s Splendor,” “London & Paris” and “Washington, DC & Williamsburg, VA” — each with two summer departures, are detailed on Grandtravel’s visitor-friendly web site: www.grandtrvl.com.

As one of only a few AARP Preferred Travel Partners, Grandtravel offers AARP members a $200 per person discount off Grandtravel’s escorted tour vacations.

No matter the tour, grandparents and grandchildren will find plenty of opportunities to share their experiences and bring home lifelong memories – not to mention bragging rights. “Alaskan Adventure” offers a very hands on exploration of the largest state in the U.S.: a visit with Jeff King, the four-time winner of the 1,049-mile Iditarod Sled Dog Race; landing on a glacier in a helicopter; rafting in Denali National Park; cruising along the Chena and Tanana Rivers on a sternwheeler riverboat; panning for gold; and seeing the world’s largest chocolate waterfall.

The 10-day adventure departs on July 9 and Aug. 13; prices are $6,595 per person, double for adults and children 12-17, $5,995 triple; and $6,195 double and $5,695 triple for children 7-11.

The other domestic option puts faces to historical names in the world’s most powerful city, Washington, DC, and offers a stroll through 18th-century life in Colonial Williamsburg.

The two generations learn the craft of espionage in DC’s Spy Museum; visit the city’s top sites and monuments – Lincoln, Vietnam War, Blair House, the National Air & Space Museum and Arlington; spend the day in Annapolis; have lunch with ‘Martha Washington’ while at Mt. Vernon; meet the local 18th-century artisans of Williamsburg; and listen to tales of haunted Washington during a special walk.

The seven-day introduction to our history costs $2,995 per person, double; $2,695 for triples and departs July 3 and 11.

Two international sojourns submerse Grandtravelers in the incredible cultures and sites of London, Paris and Italy. Grandtravel’s “London & Paris” takes in the “must see” sightseeing of both capitals — in London: Westminster Abbey, St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Tower of London and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre; in Paris and surroundings: the Louvre Museum, Notre-Dame Cathedral, the basilica of Sacré Coeur, the Palace of Versailles; Monet’s home in Giverny; the Montmartre district and the Musée d’Orsay.

A ride on London’s Eye offers a twilight view of the city. Two evenings at the theatre are included in London and a Bateaux-Mouches dinner cruise on the Seine is a feature of the Paris stay while meal highlights include lunch in Covent Garden, the setting used for “My Fair Lady”, and dinner at the top of the Eiffel Tower. Departures of the 10-day exploration — July 10 and Aug. 7 — are $6,995 per person, double; $6,780 triple.

Grandparents and grandchildren explore Venice, Florence, Siena and Rome, showcasing the best that Italy has to offer on “Italy’s Splendor.” Together, the two generations create Venetian masks; visit a wine cellar to learn how wine is made; take a private cooking lesson with a Tuscan chef; float along the elegant canals of Venice in a gondola; tour the architectural wonders of St. Mark’s Square, see the dungeons and weapons in Doges’ Palace, and explore the Roman Forum, Colosseum and majestic Pantheon, St. Peter’s Church and the Sistine Chapel.

Grandtravelers watch Murano glass blowers create their signature colored glass, pony trek across the Tuscan countryside and step back in time at the 16th-century Palazzo Vecchio, where participants get to view areas not normally open to the public. Prices for the 12-day adventure are $6,995 per person, double, $6,780 for triples; departing July 5 and Aug 2.

Prices include deluxe or best available accommodations with private bath, most meals, transportation, admission to all scheduled attractions and events, en route activities for children, pre-departure guidance, the services of a professional tour manager, a Grandtravel Activity Director (always an experienced educator or youth counselor), and service charges and hotel taxes.

Tour managers manage the on-tour logistics to ensure grandparents and grandchildren can relax and enjoy their experience. And, it is not just biological grandparents who are welcome to participate — surrogate grandparents, such as aunts, uncles and friends, are welcome as well.

Further information, brochures and reservations can be obtained from Grandtravel, 1920 N Street, NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20036-1601; telephone, (800) 247-7651, (202) 785-8901, web site www.grandtrvl.com

Alaska’s Best with Wildland Adventures

Watch Orcas and Humpback whales, sea lions and sea otters as they cavort in the rich Alaskan waters.

With the high peak of Denali as a backdrop, travelers will walk near Grizzlies, caribou, and moose roaming the interior of the last U.S. frontier.

This exciting itinerary combines the diverse and spectacular marine wildlife experiences of Glacier Bay National Park in Southeast Alaska with the rugged Denali National Park in the interior.

Hike across ancient glaciers and cruise the waters of Glacier Bay, followed by a foray into the tundra-covered Denali National Park with a preeminent naturalist guide. 2010 Dates: Jun 17 – Jun 27,

Jul 22 – Aug 1, Aug 5 – Aug 15, Aug 19 – Aug 29. Cost: $6,395 per person.

www.wildland.com

Dos Plumas Hunting Ranch launches an internet radio show focusing on Texas hog hunting, whitetail deer hunting, and exotic hunting.

Dos Plumas Hunting Ranch, 30 miles west of Abilene, Texas, launched a brand new hunting radio show on Blog Talk Radio recently.

Hunting Tips from Dos Plumas made its broadcast debut on Monday, November 30, 2009 with its host, Allen Williams, the owner of Dos Plumas Ranch.

The hunting internet radio show can be heard live every Monday morning at 8:00 a.m. CT (United States) but is also available on demand at Blog Talk Radio.

The show offers seasonal hunting tips, answers frequently asked questions about whitetail deer hunting, hog hunting, and exotic hunting, and sends shout outs to friends and hunting buddies.

Anyone passionate about Texas hunting … whether new to hunting or a seasoned veteran, will find gold nuggets galore in this 30-minute radio show.

Allen will answer frequently asked questions about hunting, offer tips on the most productive harvest ever, and even contribute tips to insure hunting safety.

To hear the latest show, visit Allen at http://www.DosPlumasHuntingRanch.com

When asked about Allen and Lori Williams of Dos Plumas, one ranch visitor stated, “Allen, your knowledge of your property and the time and care you take to make sure the animals have what they need is superior to any I have met.”

Another hunter added, “You treated us strangers as if we were family and that in itself is a rarity these days with everyone in the business more concerned about the money end of it versus the good time had by their customers.”

When asked about his new Blog Talk Radio show, Allen commented, “I love to sit around after a great day of hunting and talk about my favorite memories.

I love to hear other people’s stories because those stories make it personal and real. And offering hunting tips is just natural to me.

So I wanted to share that with my hunting buddies. I’m anxious to hear what the listeners want to talk about in relation to hunting.

Visit the website and give me your input.

This hunting radio show is all about you. So let me hear from you.” To hear the latest Hunting Tips from Dos Plumas radio show with Allen Williams, and to schedule your next Texas hog hunt, visit http://www.DosPlumasHuntingRanch.com

. Hunting never sounded so good!

Take The Next Bus To Sydney Instead

When the warm glow of Christmas is extinguished by the cold light of January and the merry-go-round of life seems anything but merry, why not step away from the daily grind and jump on the next bus to Australia.

Oz-Bus, the world’s only overland bus journey from London to Sydney, has the first epic journey of the New Year departing London on the day that for many marks the lowest point in the winter Blues – St Valentine’s Day, 14th February. So, if love in a cold climate is not on the cards for you, perhaps Oz-Bus holds your ticket to pastures new.

Twelve days after departure from London, having passed through seven European countries, the bus will arrive in Istanbul.

From here, every day will get warmer and brighter as the 30 or so passengers count down a further 11 weeks of glorious care-free travel on wheels. Passing through Iran, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia, Oz-Bus will experience no fewer than 17 countries and three continents, and revel in untold thrills and adventures before arriving in Australia. Passengers stay in simple but authentic accommodation, learn from local guides and tour leaders, make friends for life, and become immersed s in the customs and cultures of the world along the way.

For many, Sydney – the bus’s final port of call – will mark just another stage in their journey; for others, who may have chosen to disembark at one of the many stops along the way, their journey will also be far from over.

Some may choose to return home, but the only sure fact is that for everyone who boarded the bus in London, life will never be quite the same again.

The cost of the 92 day journey is £4399 per person including all transport between London and Sydney, accommodation every night, daily breakfasts, and experienced tour leaders.

In 2010, Oz-Bus is also embarking on the world’s first ever bus trip to New York. Departing London on 21st March, the bus rolls east through Europe, towards Russia where it connects with the Trans-Siberian Railway for the journey to Mongolia, before commending its journey by bus to China.

A luxury cruise from China takes passengers through Yellow Sea, the Sea of Japan and the Bering sea to the snow capped mountains of Alaska before it rolls through the United States of America, calling in at San Francisco, the Yellowstone National Park and Chicago, before arriving in New York 92 days later.

Let Oz-Bus help you make 2010 a year to remember for all the right reasons.

For further information on both trips, please visit
www.oz-bus.com  or call T: +44 (0) 8007319427 to speak to the Oz-Bus team who will be happy to provide one-to-one information on the journey and chat about your particular needs and interests.

The Last Frontier is the ultimate multi-activity adventure destination.

Everything here is grand – from the 5000 glaciers to the seventeen of the twenty highest peaks in North America.

The good news is that finding wilderness is easy and Canyon Calling has chosen the best adventures to enjoy the solitude and the magic of the Alaskan wild.

Travelers will hike a glacier, whitewater raft, horse ride, hike to see salmon spawning, ride the Alaskan Railroad, photograph wildlife, sea kayak a secluded bay and canoe through icebergs at the foot of a glacier.

They’ll also explore remote towns with rich histories like Talkeetna, Seward and Homer.

There are plenty of grizzlies, moose, caribou, Dall sheep, otters and more bald eagles to see along the way.

There is no trip where it is more important to have a local in charge and Canyon Calling’s Alaskan guides do a superb job of keeping travlers safe and well informed.

This trip encompasses the jewels of Alaska – Denali National Park and the Kenai Peninsula.

Nine days. July 16-24, 2010. $3,595.

www.canyoncalling.com