Apple Vacations “Hawaii Like Never Before”

Apple Vacations Offers “Hawaii Like Never Before”
Published on: January 19, 2007

With the passport requirement going into effect on Jan. 23, more people are choosing to spend their vacations in Hawaii this winter, according to Apple Vacations. Therefore, Apple is offering the very best prices and outstanding values during the “Hawaii Like Never Before” sale. Clients booking land/air packages to Hawaii will receive value-added extras such as free whale watching excursions, car upgrades, discounted airfares, extra nights and more.

Five nights at Ohana Maile Sky Court in Oahu start at $529, including roundtrip air from San Francisco, a free night, transfers with lei greeting and a free whale-watching tour. Other gateways are priced $579 from Phoenix and $779 from Chicago. Five nights at ResortQuest Ka’anapali Shores on Maui start at $999, including roundtrip air from Denver, a free night, an upgraded Hertz rental car with unlimited mileage and 2 for 1 luau. Other gateways: Phoenix, seven nights from $1,029; Chicago, New York, Newark, Boston, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Columbus, seven nights from $1,259.

Club Med “Two Free Nights” at 16 Resorts

Club Med Launches “Two Free Nights at 16 Resorts
Published on: January 19, 2007

Club Med is inviting guests to experience its new vision of paradise while enjoying two free nights during a week stay. The “Two Free Nights” offer is available at the newly renovated and upgraded Club Med La Caravelle, Club Med Buccaneer’s Creek, and Club Med Cancun Yucatan. Book a week stay by Feb. 23 for travel through Nov. 2, 2007, and receive two of the seven nights free at the following Club Med destinations: Club Med Cancun Yucatan, Mexico – starting at $1,085 per person (land only); Club Med Columbus Isle, Bahamas – starting at $1,225 per person (land only); Club Med Turkoise, Turks & Caicos – starting at $1,190 per person (land only); Club Med Buccaneer’s Creek, Martinique – starting at $1,155 per person (land only); Club Med La Caravelle, Guadeloupe – starting at $1,190 per person (land only); Club Med Punta Cana, Dominican Republic – starting at $1,015 per person (land only); Club Med Sandpiper, Florida – starting at $945 per person (land only); Club Med Ixtapa, Mexico – starting at $1,015 per person (land only).

The “Two Nights Free” offer is also available at the following Club Med resorts worldwide: Club Med Bora Bora, French Polynesia; Club Med Coral Beach, Israel; Club Med Kani, Maldives; Club Med Marrakech La Medina, Morocco; Club Med Marrakech La Palmeraie, Morocco; Club Med Rio das Pedras, Brazil; Club Med St. Moritz Roi Soleil, Switzerland; Club Med Trancoso, Brazil; and aboard the Club Med 2 Cruise Ship

MSC Cruises Offers Northern Europe Itineraries

MSC Cruises Offers Northern Europe Itineraries
Published on: January 19, 2007

MSC Cruises is offering an array of Northern Europe itineraries on three ships this summer. The itineraries feature the Baltic capitals; the Norwegian fjords; Oslo, Norway; Tallinn, Estonia; St. Petersburg, Russia; and the North Cape. The MSC Opera and MSC Lirica will each sail seven-night roundtrips from Copenhagen, Denmark, alternating between the Baltics and the fjords. The MSC Rhapsody will offer 11-night alternating Baltic and fjords roundtrip itineraries from Amsterdam. MSC Cruises also offers special rates on back-to-back sailings on the Opera or Lirica booked through Feb. 28. The 14-night itineraries sail roundtrip from Copenhagen and combine the Baltic and Norwegian fjords itineraries at “Best Fare, Best Room” rates that begin at $2,250 per person, double. The “Best Fare, Best Room” rates on seven-night Baltic itineraries begin at $1,095 per person, double, for an interior stateroom and $1,295 for an oceanview stateroom. Rates on the seven-night fjord itineraries begin at $1,195 for an interior stateroom and $1,395 for an oceanview stateroom.

AirTran Maintains Merger Would Benefit Midwest

AirTran Maintains Merger Would Benefit Midwest
Published on: January 19, 2007

AirTran Holdings, Inc., parent of AirTran Airways, has reviewed the stand-alone plan that Midwest Air Group released on Jan. 10 in the face of AirTran’s exchange offer and says it “firmly believes that the best strategy for both AirTran Airways and Midwest Airlines is a merger.” After careful review of Midwest Airlines’ stand-alone plan, AirTran said it “is even more convinced the proposal to combine the two airlines is the right course for the stakeholders of both companies. In fact, the Midwest plan in many ways highlights the AirTran reasoning.”

According to AirTran, the Midwest stand-alone plan is essentially status quo and relies on older aircraft and outsourced regional jets, which are expensive to operate and not well-suited for low-cost competition. “The vulnerability of the Midwest Airlines’ stand-alone plan is that its success is heavily dependent on a benign competitive environment, maintaining significant fare premiums and favorable fuel costs,” AirTran said. “While these conditions may arise from time to time, they are unlikely to be sustainable.”

AirTran observed that approximately 58 percent of Midwest’s revenue is concentrated in its top 20 markets, and nearly 25 percent comes from the top five markets. “Midwest’s success is dependent on average fare premiums in markets like Milwaukee to Boston and Milwaukee to New York, where they currently provide the only nonstop service,” AirTran said. “These are markets likely to face competition in the future.”

Wall Street analysts have concurred with AirTran. “We believe a merger would make sense, given the two companies’ route networks are complementary with limited overlap, and combines AirTran’s strong East Coast presence with Midwest’s hubs in Milwaukee and Kansas City,” wrote Ray Neidl of Calyon Securities. In a research article on Midwest, Helane Becker of The Benchmark Company wrote, “We believe it would be difficult, however for [Midwest] to match the synergies that a merger with another airline would create.”

Disney Cruise to Return to West Coast

Disney Cruise to Return to the West Coast in 2008
Published on: January 19, 2007

Disney Cruise Line said the Disney Magic will return to the West Coast for the summer of 2008 to operate seven-night Mexican Riviera sailings. Disney said it had “overwhelmingly positive feedback” from its first West Coast sailings in 2005. Reservations will open Jan. 31 for the 12 cruises that will depart from the Port of Los Angeles each Sunday between May 25 and Aug.10, 2008. The cruises will call at Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas. Rates start at $1,599 per person, double.

“Travel agents have played a major role in the success of Disney Cruise Line and were key contributors to the outstanding results we generated on our West Coast sailings in 2005,” said Randy Garfield, executive vice president of worldwide sales and travel operations for Disney Destinations. “Given the demand for these itineraries I’m optimistic that they will generate strong support for us again in 2008, particularly among those with clientele west of the Rockies.”

Enhancements have been made to the Disney Magic since it last operated out of Los Angeles. The vessel now screens poolside movies on a 24-by-14-foot jumbo LED screen and has an expanded spa and fitness center exclusively for adults and a new youth activities space for children ages 10-14. The Mexico cruises can be combined with two-night pre- or post-stays at one of Disney’s three hotels at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim. In addition to the 12 Mexican Riviera cruises, Disney will offer two 15-night repositioning cruises through the Panama Canal.
The 2008 West Coast itinerary departs May 25; June 1; June 8; June 15; June 22; June 29; July 6; July 13; July 20; July 27; Aug. 3; Aug. 10. The cruise leaves from the Port of Los Angeles, spends a day at sea, ports in Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta, spends two days at sea and then returns to the Port of Los Angeles. Clients interested in booking a Mexican Riviera cruise can combine a Disney Cruise Line vacation with the fun and excitement of Disneyland Resort by booking a two-night pre- or post-stay at one of Disney’s three Anaheim resort hotels.

In addition to the 12 Mexican Riviera cruises, Disney Cruise Line will offer two 15-night repositioning cruises through the Panama Canal. The Disney Magic will depart Port Canaveral and head west on May 10, 2008, with the return cruise to Florida scheduled for Aug. 17, 2008. The Panama Canal repositioning cruises start at $1,699 per person.