New Year’s Deal at Bolongo Bay St. Thomas

Bolongo Bay St. Thomas Sets New Year’s Deal
published on modernagent 9/27

Guests can ring in the New Year Caribbean-style at Bolongo Bay Beach Resort located in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, with a special three-night New Year’s Getaway Package priced at $1,188 per couple. Guests who book Bolongo’s New Year’s Getaway Package will receive two tickets (per room) for the resort’s “New Year’s Eve Celebration” which includes a four-course dinner at the resort’s Lobster Grille restaurant, live music and dancing under the stars, and a “Count Down and Champagne Toast” at midnight. The package also includes three nights’ accommodations in an ocean view room; a “discover scuba diving” in-pool lesson; complimentary use of non-motorized watersports (snorkel gear, paddle boats, sunfish sailboats, windsurfing equipment, and kayaks); use of volleyball and tennis courts, plus equipment; and all taxes, service charges and energy surcharges. The New Year’s Getaway Package is available on new bookings made by Oct. 15, 2007 that are a minimum of three nights (with one of the nights booked being Dec. 31, 2007). The package is priced at $1,188 per couple for three nights. Additional nights are $300 per couple, per night plus 15 percent tax and service charges and $2 per day energy surcharge.

To ring in the New Year at Bolongo Bay, contact A Room With A View!

Aruba’s Divi Village Sets All-Inclusive Program

Aruba’s Divi Village Sets All-Inclusive Program

Divi Village Golf & Beach Resort on Aruba has launched an all-inclusive special that encompasses two other Divi branded resorts, Divi & Tamarijn Aruba All-Inclusives. Guests can now select the All-Inclusive Suites Program, which is the largest and most complete all — inclusive offering on Aruba. The Divi Village All-Inclusive Suites Program includes an array of amenities such as meals at 11 restaurants for breakfast, lunch, snacks, dinner, with theme nights and nightly entertainment, 12 bars with unlimited drinks (surcharges may apply), and the Oceanview Bar with entertainment. To introduce this special program, The Divi Village Golf & Beach Resort is offering a 20 percent discount on the rates with nightly rate per person beginning at $166 based on double occupancy. This rate is for reservations made from Sept. 17 to Oct. 5, 2007 for travel Oct. 1 to Dec. 22, 2007.

To make your reservation, Contact A Room With A View!

MSC Special Rates for Midwesterners

MSC Cruises Offers Special Rates to Midwesterners
published on modernagent 9/27

MSC Cruises is offering travelers flying from selected Midwest gateway cities a special air/sea rate on the Jan. 9 10-night roundtrip Deep Caribbean sailing of MSC Lirica from Fort Lauderdale. Rates begin at $1,199 per person, double occupancy, for an interior stateroom, including airfare from the following cities: Cleveland, Cincinnati, Detroit, Indianapolis, Little Rock, Memphis, Milwaukee, Nashville and St. Louis. Transfers, government fees and taxes are additional. Ocean-view staterooms begin at $1,399. The offer is capacity controlled and subject to availability. The Midwest air/sea offer expires Oct. 30. The sailing calls at San Juan, St. Maarten, St. Lucia, Antigua, Tortola and Cayo Levantado, Dominican Republic (where guests can enjoy the line’s private destination).

Contact A Room With A View to make your reservation!

Uniworld Offers Two-for-One Holidays in Europe

Uniworld Offers Two-for-One Holidays in Europe
published on modernagent 9/20/07

Uniworld Grand River Cruises is offering two-for-one pricing on two holiday river cruises in Europe. The “European Holiday Grand River Cruise” departs Dec. 19 and sails from Nuremberg to Vienna. The seven-night cruise includes a river-view stateroom on the River Countess, all meals and celebratory dinners, and shore excursions led by English-speaking guides. The cruise is priced from $1,698 per couple, cruise only, exclusive of port charges. The “Rhine & Main Holiday Grand River Cruise” also departs Dec. 19 and sails from Cologne to Nuremberg. The nine-night cruise includes a river-view stateroom on the River Duchess, all meals and celebratory dinners, and shore excursions led by English-speaking guides. The cruise is priced from $1,998 per couple, cruise only, exclusive of port charges.

Contact A Room With A View soon to make your reservation!

Seabourn Ships Undergo Multi-Million Dollar Makeovers

Seabourn Ships Undergo Multi-Million Dollar Makeovers
published on modernagent 9/20/07

Seabourn Cruise Line said its three vessels — Seabourn Pride, Spirit and Legend — are undergoing multi-million dollar renovations during dry-dock maintenance periods scheduled between September and April. The renovations include major overhauls of two open-air alternative dining venues to increase seating capacities and enhance the options for guests to enjoy evening entertainment. The renovations are the most extensive since balconies were added to 36 of each ship’s suites five years ago. “As we prepare for the launch of Seabourn Odyssey [in June 2009], we are also investing in the future of our existing fleet,” said Pamela Conover, Seabourn’s president and CEO.

The ships’ indoor/outdoor Veranda Café, located aft, is converted each evening into Restaurant 2, which serves tasting menus and themed dinners in a casual setting. The renovation will enlarge the outdoor section, increasing the seating capacity and adding a new awning for enhanced weather protection. The Sky Bar, overlooking the sun deck and whirlpool spas, occasionally serves Sky Grill dinners. During the renovation, twin staircases leading from the deck below are being replaced with a single stairway, allowing an increase in the deck space adjacent to the Sky Bar. Existing fixed cocktail-sized tables are being replaced with more versatile furniture, some of which can be removed to clear the deck space for occasional entertainment and dancing. Further features of the renovations include an upgrade of all bedding, new carpets in many public areas, upgrades to the treatment rooms in the spa, and new furniture in the card rooms and Internet centers.

Seabourn Pride just completed the process in Germany. The Seabourn Spirit will undergo the renovation in Singapore in January, while Seabourn Legend will be upgraded in April at Lisbon. One change will be immediately visible as guests arrive to embark. The ships’ livery is being updated, with the decorative line along the shear of the hull being changed from dark blue to black, and the distinctive shield emblem on the ships’ stacks highlighted in gold rather than blue.

To make your reservation, contact A Room With A View!

Celebrity Releases Details of Solstice Class Ships

Celebrity Releases First Details of Solstice Class Ships
publishe on modernagent 9/20/07

Celebrity Cruises has unveiled details of its new Solstice class ships, the first of which, the Celebrity Solstice, will make its maiden voyage in the Caribbean in December 2008. Last night in New York Celebrity made the first of a half-dozen announcements that the it plans about the new class of ships; the event focused specifically on the ship’s staterooms. Dan Hanrahan, Celebrity’s president and CEO, said research for the stateroom design began even before the cruise line cut steel for the ships. Recognizing that women are the decision-makers when it comes to cruising, Celebrity put together a panel of five women — a frequent cruiser, a travel agent, a non-cruiser, a hotelier and a travel writer-to get their input on staterooms — that spent four months helping Celebrity design the staterooms. The result: staterooms that are 15 percent larger than those in Celebrity’s Millennium ships, and bathrooms that are 24 percent larger and have touches such as fog free mirrors and bars for women to rest their feet upon while shaving their legs. “The showers are the biggest you’ll find at sea,” said Hanrahan.

To better accommodate luggage, beds are higher, so bags fit underneath, and there are additional nooks and crannies for storage. The ships have interconnecting stateroom, but since space that connects also conducts sound, each has a vestibule with a double set of doors to muffle sound. Triple and quad rooms all have trundle beds that extend from couches as well as Pullman beds, meaning parents can put smaller children in the lower trundles. Staterooms are roughly 295 to 300 square feet, not including balconies. The ship has WiFi, staterooms have 32-inch flat screen TVs, while suites have larger flat-screen TVs. There is also the new AquaClass, which is tied into the ship’s spa. It includes 130 of the ship’s 1,425 staterooms. Celebrity Solstice is the line’s first in a class for four 2,850-passenger vessels. German shipbuilder Meyer Werft, which constructed the line’s Century-class fleet, is building the 122,000-GRT ship.

Contact A Room With A View for more information or to make your reservation!

DOT Figures Show Airline Passenger Traffic Up

DOT Figures Show Airline Passenger Traffic Up
Published on modernagent: September 14, 2007

U.S. airlines carried 379.5 million scheduled domestic and international passengers on their systems during the first six months of 2007, 2.7 percent more than they did during the same period in 2006, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) reported in a release of preliminary data. BTS, a part of DOT’s Research and Innovative Technology Administration, reported that U.S. airlines carried 2.5 percent more domestic passengers and 3.9 percent more international passengers during the first six months of 2007 than during the same period in 2006. These passengers traveled on planes with average load factors exceeding 79.1 percent.
In June, the most recent month, U.S. airlines carried 69.5 million scheduled domestic and international passengers, 3.4 percent more than in June 2006. The number of domestic passengers increased 3.4 percent in June from a year earlier and international passengers increased 3.3 percent. All-time high load factors were reached in June for combined domestic and international system flights and for domestic flights. The June system load factor for domestic and international flights was 85.8, topping the previous high of 85.0 in July 2006. The June load factor for domestic flights was 86.4, exceeding the previous high of 84.9 in July 2006.

Southwest Airlines carried more total system and more domestic passengers in the first six months than any other U.S. airline. American Airlines carried more international passengers than any U.S. carrier. More total system and domestic passengers boarded planes in the first six months at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International than at any other U.S. airport; and more international passengers boarded planes on U.S. carriers at Miami International than at any other U.S. airport. U.S. carriers operated 5.2 million domestic and international flights in the first six months of 2007, 1.1 percent more than were operated during the same period in 2006. U.S. airlines carried 334.9 million scheduled domestic passengers during the first six months of 2007, up 2.5 percent from the 326.8 million carried during the same period in 2006. U.S. airlines carried 44.5 million scheduled international passengers during the first six months of 2007, up 3.9 percent from the 42.8 million carried during the same period in 2006.

Globus Family Expands Exotic Vacations

Globus Family Expands Exotic Vacations
Published onmodernagent: September 7, 2007

The Globus family of brands announced new 2008 tour offerings to China, South and Central America and the South Pacific. Globus has experienced a 26 percent increase in bookings to these regions over last year, and a 35 percent increase in China bookings. Globus added nine new vacations to the South Pacific, nine to South and Central America and five to China/Asia in 2008. Globus is offering two limited-time deals to exotic hot spot getaways. Travelers who book a 2008 Globus, Monograms or Avalon South America or Asia air-inclusive vacation before Oct. 31, 2007 will receive $400 off per couple. Travelers who book a 2008 Globus Down Under Discovery air-inclusive vacation Aug. 15 to Sept. 30, 2007 will save $1,000 off per couple. New offerings for 2008 include Chinese New Year in Hong Kong – Globus (six days); new Patagonia Adventure: Journey to the End of the World – Globus (13 days); a new Ecuador and the Galapagos package on Avalon Waterways, an 11-day cruise; and the new Journey Down Under from Monograms, a 10-day.

Contact A Room With A View to make your reservation!

Puerto Vallarta’s Villa Premiere Unveils Golf Promotion

Puerto Vallarta’s Villa Premiere Unveils Golf Promotion
Published on modernagent: September 7, 2007

Villa Premiere & Spa, the 83-room retreat in Puerto Vallarta is offering the Tee it Up package. Included are: a three-night stay in an oceanfront room with a Jacuzzi; one green fee at each Vista Villarta Golf Club, Marina Vallarta Golf Club and El Tigre Country Club; one 50-minute massage; all meals and drinks and a welcome glass of champagne. The ‘Tee it Up’ Package is based on single occupancy and is priced at $465 USD valid for travel from Aug. 1 through Oct. 31, 2007. Package pricing for 2008 is $455 USD valid for travel from Jan. 1 through April 1, 2008. Rates include accommodations, chilled towels and champagne upon check-in, a relaxing five-minute anti-stress massage on neck and hands at check-in, special in room hotel amenities, complimentary use of gym, yoga lessons, reflexology lessons, meditation workshops and access to the sauna and steam room at Villa Premiere Spa.

To make your reservation, contact A Room With A View!

WDW Resort Announces Mom Panel

Walt Disney World Resort Announces Mom Panel
Published onmodernagent: September 7, 2007

As part of “The Year of a Million Dreams,” Disney announced the launch of a nationwide search for moms who have mastered the art of planning a Walt Disney World vacation. Twelve finalists will be selected to serve on the first-ever online Walt Disney World Moms Panel. Those 12 parents who have a passion for the Walt Disney World vacation experience will have the opportunity to share their vast knowledge of the resort and personal secrets of success with other families who are considering a Disney vacation experience. In exchange, the 12 panelists will receive a five-night vacation to the Florida resort for themselves and three other guests. The Walt Disney World Moms Panel will be found online at www.disneyworldmoms.com and feature content provided by the panel. It will also offer guests the opportunity to pose specific questions and have them answered by the panelists. The site, which goes live in January 2008, will host park insights and vacation planning tools for those parents planning a Walt Disney World vacation. From Sept. 6 through Oct. 5, 2007, interested applicants can visit www.disneyworldmoms.com and in 300 words or less in answering three questions, explain why they should be considered for the Walt Disney World Moms Panel. Disney will select 12 panelists with children of various ages. For more information, visit www.disneyworldmoms.com