Carnival’s “On Deck For The Cure” Program

Carnival Expands “On Deck For The Cure” Program
Published on modernagent: August 28, 2007

Following a successful pilot program aboard the Carnival Valor and Carnival Fascination, Carnival Cruise Lines will expand its involvement with the “On Deck for the Cure” breast cancer fundraising initiative, adding one-kilometer walks and other activities to the majority of its fleet. Modeled after a program introduced by Holland America Line and launched earlier this year aboard five Carnival Corporation & plc brands, the fundraising initiative benefits Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the global leader of the breast cancer movement. “On Deck for the Cure” has a goal of generating $1 million toward breast cancer research, education, screening and treatment. Carnival’s expansion of the program will encompass 14 ships and include all vessels operating cruises of seven days or longer, as well as four- and five-day voyages aboard the Carnival Elation from San Diego.

Guests participating in Carnival’s “On Deck for the Cure” activities are encouraged to make a minimum $10 donation and partake in a one-kilometer walk around the ships’ jogging tracks while wearing their custom-designed T-shirts and wristbands included with each donation. Additionally, pink lemonade, which signifies the color associated with breast cancer awareness, will be served after the walk to all participants. “On Deck for the Cure” activities are promoted via the line’s daily shipboard newsletter, “Carnival Capers,” as well as on in-cabin television programming. In addition to the “On Deck for the Cure” initiative aboard Carnival Cruise Lines’ ships, other Carnival Corporation & plc brands participating in the program include Holland America, Costa Cruises, Princess Cruises and The Yachts of Seabourn.

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RCCL’s Mariner of the Seas to Sail Around Cape Horn

RCI’s Mariner of the Seas to Sail Around Cape Horn
Published on modernagent: August 28, 2007

Royal Caribbean’s Mariner of the Seas will be the line’s first Voyager-class ship to chart a course around Cape Horn. Starting in January 2009, the ship will embark on a 46-night cruise around Cape Horn, calling at various destinations in South America. Clients can book the entire cruise or any of three segments. Mariner will begin the southerly ocean-crossover on Jan. 4, 2009, from Port Canaveral on a 15-night voyage to Rio De Janeiro and will call at St. Maarten, St. Kitts, Barbados, and Salvador De Bahia, Brazil, as well as Coco Cay, Royal Caribbean’s private island destination in the Bahamas. The sailing will conclude with an overnight stay in Rio. The ship will continue with a 15-night sailing on Jan. 19 to round the southern tip of South America departing Rio to Valparaiso (Santiago), Chile, and including calls at Montevideo, Uruguay and Ushuaia, Argentina, the southernmost city in the world. It will also cruise along the Chilean fjordlands with overnight stays in Buenos Aires and Valparaiso. Mariner will conclude its journey with a 16-night sailing from Valparaiso (Santiago) on Feb. 3, with calls at Arica, Chile; Lima (Callao), Peru; Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica; and Acapulco and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. It will debut in its new homeport of Los Angeles on Feb. 19, 2009. Guests booking the 46-night voyage by Dec. 15, 2007 receive a 50 percent reduced deposit and a $500 onboard credit.

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Carnival Victory to Sail Year-Round From San Juan

Carnival Victory to Sail Year-Round From San Juan
Published on modernagent: August 27, 2007

Carnival Cruise Lines will deploy the 2,758-passenger Carnival Victory on year-round seven-day Southern Caribbean cruises from San Juan beginning in November 2008. The slightly larger Carnival Victory will replace the Carnival Destiny in the Puerto Rican homeport. The Carnival Victory’s new five-port schedule from San Juan kicks off Nov. 2, 2008, and includes an overnight call in the resort area of La Romana/Casa De Campo, Dominican Republic, along with extended visits to St. Kitts, Barbados, Dominica and St. Thomas.

The 102,000-ton Carnival Victory offers a multitude of dining, entertainment and activity options, along with such high-tech features as an Internet Café, Wi-Fi access, and cell phone service. The ship features four swimming pools — one with a 214-foot-long corkscrew waterslide — a 14,500-square-foot spa and gymnasium, a duty-free shopping mall and a jogging track. Family-friendly amenities include “Camp Carnival” and “Club O2,” with supervised activities and expansive facilities for children and teens, respectively. Dining options include twin two-level dining rooms with expanded menus and wine lists, a 1,200-seat poolside eatery featuring a 24-hour pizzeria, a patisserie serving specialty coffees and sweets, and complimentary 24-hour room service.

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Hurricane Dean

Dean Sweeps Past Jamaica, Heads Toward Cayman
Published on modernagent.com: August 20, 2007

Hurricane Dean, as of 11 p.m. EDT Sunday, continued to sweep along the southern coast of Jamaica, with the eye of the storm passing just to the south of the island. Heavy rains and strong winds were hitting the island, though most resorts are situated on the north coast on the other side of Jamaica. Resort guests who haven’t left the island already have been evacuated to hurricane shelters. The storm was still rated as a Category 4 hurricane with winds approaching 145 miles per hour. A hurricane warning continues for Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, which remains in the storm’s path, though forecasters late Sunday night said Dean could pass to the south of the island. In the Cayman Islands, tourists were ordered to board shuttle buses for the airport. Hundreds vacationers lined up at ticket counters for special flights home, and many slept on the airport floor. Cayman Islands Gov. Stuart Jack said all but 1,500 tourists were evacuated from the British territory by Sunday afternoon.

Elsewhere, the government of Belize has issued a hurricane watch. A tropical storm warning remains in effect for the southwestern peninsula of Haiti from Port-au-Prince to the Haiti/Dominican Republic border. A tropical storm warning is also in effect for portions of Cuba. A hurricane watch remains in effect from Chetumal to San Felipe on the Yucatan Peninsula, including the popular resorts areas of Cancun, Cozumel and the Riviera Maya. If the storm continues on its current path, it would hit the Yucatan Peninsula as early as Tuesday. The possibility still exists that Hurricane Dean could become a Category 5 storm by Monday. In Mexico, tourists also reportedly were leaving resorts on the Yucatan peninsula and forming long lines at the airport to try to fly home. Twelve additional planes arrived Sunday to move travelers out. The state government also set up 530 shelters with a capacity of 73,000 people. Many resorts are recommending that guests scheduled to arrive this week change their plans.

Elsewhere in the wake of the storm, Barbados reported that Grantley Adams International Airport, which was closed for a 12-hour period for precautionary reasons, reopened by 9 a.m. on Aug. 17, and flights resumed shortly thereafter. Hotels across the island remain open and no damage was experienced in the accommodation sector. President and CEO of the Barbados Tourism Authority said: “I was very happy to see our hurricane preparedness plan kick in like clockwork. We are however extremely thankful that once again the outcome for Barbados was rather benign, with general business operations resuming normalcy today.”

In St. Lucia, Maria Fowell, director of tourism, reported that Hurricane Dean has caused limited structural damage to the island. Specifically, there are several uprooted trees and broken branches, and hotel pools are full of leaves, sand and branches. The roof of the children’s ward at the Victoria Hospital was blown off, but the children were safely evacuated to another part of the hospital. Fowell said there is cleanup to be completed; this will be started as soon as the wind and rain have stopped later today. No hotels have reported any major damage as yet. All visitors are safe and, in some cases, helping with the cleanup efforts. There have been two landslides — one at Barre D’ile and one at Anse La Raye. Because of the landslides, access between the north and south of the island is suspended. Several power lines are down and power will likely not be restored for another 24 hours. Airports remain closed. For more information on the hurricane and travel, see Destinations section below. For the most-up-to-date information on Hurricane Dean, visit the National Hurricane Center’s website at www.nhc.noaa.gov.

Fall Sale at Karisma Hotels Riviera Maya

Karisma Hotels Riviera Maya Sets Fall Sale
Published on: August 14, 2007

Karisma Hotels & Resorts announced a fall sale at three of its Riviera Maya, Mexico properties: Azul Beach Hotel, El Dorado Seaside Suites & El Dorado Royale, a Spa Resort. The “Fall Into Autumn” promotion is available from Aug. 15 to Oct. 31, 2007. Guests staying at Azul Beach Hotel between Aug. 15 and Oct. 31, 2007, receive a 35 percent fall discount. Rates begin at $140 per person, per night from Aug. 15 to Sept. 30, 2007. Rates begin at $147 per person, per night from Oct. 1 to 31, 2007. Guests staying at El Dorado Seaside Suites or El Dorado Royale between Aug. 15 and Oct. 31, 2007, receive a 30 percent Fall Discount. Rates begin at $133.33 per person, per night between Aug. 15 and Sept. 30, 2007. Rates begin at $140 per person, per night between Oct. 1 and 31, 2007. A three-night minimum stay is required.

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Culinary Event at Grand Lido Braco

Grand Lido Braco Sets Annual Culinary Event
Published on: August 14, 2007

Grand Lido Braco Resort & Spa this fall will host the fifth annual “Best of Jamaica” festival when the resort teams up with Caribbean Travel & Life and Islands magazines for a five-day culinary event. From Oct. 3 to 7, 2007 culinary buffs look over the shoulders of celebrity chefs as enjoy demonstrations and a seven-course, white-gloved dinner served at the resort’s Piacere restaurant. Beyond fine cuisine and libations, guests can walk the daily marketplace, where local artisans showcase their wares; pay tribute to Bob Marley’s influence in nightly music and entertainment live performances; explore the power of herbs with a Jamaican “bush doctor”; and learn island lingo in a patois class taught by a native speaker. Guests can hop on an excursion to the 18th century Prospect Plantation, including a tour of the historic Great House and Butterfly Aviary, a camel ride and an opportunity to feed ostriches. The four-night package starts at $1,590 per couple, land only and includes a Jamaican good bag as well as all themed activities.

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Free Wedding Deal at Cancun’s Le Blanc Resort

Cancun’s Le Blanc Resort Debuts Free Wedding Deal
Published on: August 14, 2007

Le Blanc Spa Resort, located in Cancun, is offering a complimentary Vow Renewal package for its 2007-2008 season. Included are the wedding location; all document arrangements; the services of a minister; a small cake; white folding chairs; dinner reservations at select restaurants for up to 25 guests; the Le Blanc honeymoon package; special breakfast in bed the morning after the wedding; fruit platter and a bottle of sparkling wine upon arrival; the use of an aisle runner; and the services of a wedding coordinator and witnesses, if required.

Le Blanc Spa Resort also offers guests the free civil wedding package, Mexique, Caraibe and Signature wedding packages for an additional cost. Some of the amenities included in these packages are spa treatments, flowers, wedding cake and photo and video packages. The vow renewal package must be reserved at least 14 days in advance and a wedding coordinator will be at hand to handle every detail of the ceremony and reception, as well as dinner reservations for the wedding party at select restaurants. For an additional charge, guests are welcome to add signature items to their ceremony such as photographers, florists, décor companies, audio visual companies and entertainers that are available through the Le Blanc Wedding Department.

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Crystal Expands Land Options with 2008 World Cruise

Crystal Expands Land Options with 2008 World Cruise
Published on: August 14, 2007

Crystal Cruises expanded the number of Overland Adventures available with its 2008 World Cruise because of record participation in 2007. Crystal has assembled 34 multiple-day excursions — 10 of them brand new — for clients eager to venture more than 1,000 miles from World Cruise ports to trek Borneo’s rainforest, train an elephant in northern Thailand, and drink in Australia’s Barossa Valley wine region, among others. Departing Jan. 19, Crystal’s 108-day 2008 World Cruise travels from Los Angeles to London and calls at 45 ports in 22 countries. With the Crystal Serenity serving as home base, world cruisers can enjoy fully-escorted, two- to six-night adventures that depart from one port of call and re-join the ship in another.

Crystal’s 2008 overland collection includes such new options as a three-night trip from Singapore to Borneo’s Kota Kinabalu rainforest for an orangutan experience in Sandakan; a two-night excursion from Ho Chi Minh to Thailand for elephant training and a Thai massage in Chiang Mai; and a three-night outing from Cairns to Ayers Rock in the Australian outback. Besides record demand, Crystal’s Overland Adventures have received record ratings from World Cruisers. Where possible, accommodations are planned at hotels that share Crystal’s service philosophy, such as The Oberoi, The Peninsula and Mandarin Oriental. Crystal is also using several Four Seasons Hotels, including a Four Seasons Tented Camp in Thailand’s Golden Triangle, the region where Thailand, Burma and Laos meet. Programs feature rare antiquities as well as visits to local shops and markets. Many UNESCO World Heritage Sites are showcased in the programs. Fares for the Overland Adventures begin at $1,205 per person and include all air/ground transportation, accommodations, meals and a Crystal escort. Overland Adventures may be pre-reserved online at www.crystalcruises.com where guests may also view day-by-day itinerary details.

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Sandy Lane Promotes Weddings and Romance

Sandy Lane Promotes Weddings and Romance
Published on: August 9, 2007

Sandy Lane resort on the western coast of Barbados is emphasizing destination weddings and honeymoons. Guests may choose to arrive at the luxury resort in the property’s Bentley and are welcomed with a chilled towel and tropical drink, personalized in-room check-in, twice-daily maid service, round-the-clock room service, and beachside service - including sunglass cleaning, Evian misting, refreshing sorbets and fresh fruit. Sandy Lane’s guest rooms average 900 square feet. For the ultimate experience combining villa living and the service of Sandy Lane, the Villa at Sandy Lane is a five-bedroom property located on the resort with its own butler, chef and SUV, as well as access to the incredible and enviable range of resort amenities. These include two Tom Fazio-designed 18-hole golf courses, the Country Club and the Green Monkey, which are complemented by the Old Nine golf course, a deluxe 47,000-square-foot spa, with a full menu of personalized wellness treatments and fitness programs. Newlyweds also receive special services provided to them at Sandy Lane, including the Sandy Lane turn down, complete with scented rose petals scattered on a crisp cotton duvet.

The “Sandy Lane Wedding Ceremony” package includes transport to Bridgetown to obtain a marriage license; marriage license, stamp duty and the registration of the marriage certificate (Separate court and magistrate fees will apply in respect of civil marriages by a magistrate); a priest to perform the ceremony; bridal bouquet and boutonniere for the groom; floral decorated wedding pillars; and wedding cake (for a maximum of eight people). Optional extras include: a photographer, a wedding video/DVD, a flutist, a one man steel band, and Laurent Perrier Champagne. Rates are set at $2,200.00 and do not include separate fees of $175 are payable to the Court and to the Magistrate in respect of civil marriages by a magistrate. If the couple is not residing at the hotel, a location fee will apply. In addition, the resort is also offering a romantic honeymoon packages to newlyweds through Oct. 31, starting from $5,350 for a five night stay and progresses to $7, 950 for seven nights, $10,550 for a 10 night stay and $15,750 for a 14 night stay respectively.

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Napa’s Silverado Resort Offers Deluxe Spa Package

Napa’s Silverado Resort Offers Deluxe Spa Package
Published on: August 9, 2007

The Silverado Resort in Napa Valley is offering a deluxe spa package, available year-round. The package includes accommodation in a one-bedroom suite with a fireplace; a choice of a body scrub or a body wrap; a 50-minute spa treatment of the guest’s choice; an 80-minute spa treatment of the guest’s choice; complete use of the spa at Silverado’s heated lap pool, sauna and steam room, whirlpool and exercise classes; a $10 spa gift voucher; and a welcome gift. The package rate is $459 per person, double, including taxes and gratuities.

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