Sunday, March 17, 2013

FAMILY FUN IN MEXICO, KIDS FREE

Let  IBEROSTAR  treat your family to the ultimate in setting and service. Book March 4-May 31, 2013 for travel April 8-December 23, 2013 at select hotels, and kids stay free.* IBEROSTAR Hotels & Resorts grace the most breathtaking shores of Mexico and the Caribbean and offer the finest accommodations, superior hospitality and incredible, all-inclusive dining, plus endless amenities and a huge variety of recreation options. IBEROSTAR has created one-of-a-kind, all-inclusive playgrounds where every member of the family will enjoy being a star.


Book March 4, 2013 through May 31, 2013 for travel April 8, 2013 to December 23, 2013.

CANCÚN • RIVIERA MAYA • COZUMEL

Book through your favorite travel agency, Distinct Destinations Travel Agency,
215.224.0100

TIE THE KNOT IN PARADISE

TIE THE KNOT AT SANDALS


Sandals Resorts offer your clients MORE reasons to renew the promise of their love! Announcing the new ReTie the Knot package, available for $300 for new bookings made beginning March 15, 2013 for travel beginning April 15, 2013. Perhaps your clients are newlywed or on their way toward a 50th anniversary celebration or beyond. Whether the marriage is seasoned or still fresh, the magic they share can be celebrated over and over again. Sandals provides the perfect backdrop for your clients to commemorate this special occasion. For more information and special online savings, call your travel professional today at Distinct Destinations Travel Agency 215.224.0100.  http://www.sandals.com/weddingmoons/

International Cooking and Wine Tasting Tours

Cooking and Wine Tasting Tours




Experience firsthand the good tastes of Turkey. We have designed our cooking and wine classes to expose you to an intimate side of that Turkish lifestyle that is so appealing to all. Our cooking tours expose you to the best that Turkey has to offer.



Cooking tours offer an unparalleled opportunity to experience vacationing and cooking to their fullest extent.



Cooking tours are more than just your typical vacation. Turkish food is famous throughout the world, and is considered one of the 3 pre-eminent cuisines alongside French and Chinese.



If you are looking for a vacation like no other, our cooking tours may be exactly what you are looking for.



Most importantly we want to offer the best and the most efficient cooking travel tours throughout Turkey, whilst maintaining quality of service, quality of life and value for money.



Cooking tours are a great way to combine your love of arts and travel into an extraordinary experience.



The Turkish kitchen provides you with the opportunity to explore some of the most beautiful regions of the world while teaching you to make delicious Turkish foods.



Our cooking tours give you the chance to experience your vacation to the fullest extent possible and introduce you to some of the finest dining.



Learn great recipes and techniques to add to your own collection. Share the memory of your holiday with your friends and family.



Our cooking classes allow you to take home a little bit of Turkey with you.



We are committed to finding the very best value for money with out losing quality of service and product while enhancing your experience and time in Turkey bringing you the very best that Turkey has to offer.

Call your trave professional today at Distinct Destinations Travel Agency, 215.224.0100



20 Things you don't know about Royal Princess

Royal Princess debuts in June, the ship will attract attention for its many striking features, including a soaring atrium and the dramatic over-the-water SeaWalk. But what may escape immediate notice are the myriad of unique innovations throughout the ship that will enhance the Princess Cruises experience that cruisers have come to know and love.


Including technological advancements, fresh entertainment offerings, new taste treats and expansions of the classic Princess experience, these new features will bring an extra level of excitement for passengers when the ship sets sail.

“This list points to the numerous large and small features that we’re introducing with our new ship,” said Jan Swartz, Princess executive vice president. “The combination of exciting new hardware and software touches is the essence of Royal Princess.”

The “20 Things You Don’t Know about Royal Princess” are:

1. New (and Complimentary) On-Demand Stateroom Programming – A new generation of in-room television entertainment will debut aboard Royal Princess, offering an extensive array of on-demand movies and other programming options. The entire library of hundreds of movies, as well as classic and contemporary television show episodes, will be offered free to passengers. The new system will also offer a live feed from the ship’s television studio Princess Live!

2. Four Brand-New Original Production Shows – The Princess Theater aboard Royal Princess will debut four new production shows, including “Colors of the World,” an experiential journey through the destinations visited by Princess ships; “Spectacular!” a colorful music extravaganza; “Sweet Soul Music,” a tribute to rhythm and blues; and “What the World Needs Now,” an elegant show celebrating the music and style of the ‘60s.

3. Tea Tower with Sommelier and 250 Blends – Featuring a tea sommelier and a choice of 250 blends, tea lovers will revel in Royal Princess’ unique tea tower located in the ship’s central Piazza. Here passengers can enjoy pre-blended tea varieties or create their own custom flavors. The ship’s tea sommelier, an expert on tea blends, will host tea tasting events and a new Royal Afternoon Tea Experience, inspired by some of the most famous tea spots in London.

4. Art & Architecture Mobile Tour – A new self-guided tour will enable passengers to explore the ship’s extensive art collection using their personal smart phones or tablets. Passengers can enjoy the 30-stop tour at their leisure, or scan a QR code located at each artwork to discover interesting facts about the artist and their work.

5. Outdoor Art Installation by Marine Artist Wyland – Famous marine artist Wyland is creating a dramatic, custom piece of sea-inspired art that will be installed on the ship’s top deck. The new work will be revealed during the ship’s inaugural celebration in June.

6. Flair Bartending Shows – The top-deck SeaView Bar will feature midday and sunset flair bartending shows where talented bartenders will entertain passengers with their impressive bottle-tossing and mixing skills.

7. Whiskey Flights at Wheelhouse Bar – Inspired by the growing popularity of whiskey, the line’s signature Wheelhouse Bar will feature a menu of three different whiskey flights – each featuring three whiskeys. Passengers can choose from single malts, three “Glens,” and other iconic whiskey options, each featuring tasting notes.

8. Daily Pub Lunch – Also in the Wheelhouse Bar, Princess’ popular English pub lunch will now be offered daily. Previously available only on select sea days, Royal Princess will serve the full traditional pub-style lunch on all sea days – and on port days will offer fish and chips and a ploughman’s lunch – along with signature brews.

9. Mobile Cruise Information Intranet – Princess@Sea, a brand-new mobile-friendly intranet site will enable passengers to easily access daily updates about entertainment, onboard specials, weather and port news, as well as review their onboard folio from their personal mobile or tablet devices.

10. Royal Indulgence Package – New cabanas in The Sanctuary – which offer an array of exclusive treatments in this adults-only setting with incredible ocean views – will feature customized packages that range from $320 to $3,000, the latter for a “Royal Indulgence” package for four people. This exclusive experience will provide the ultimate in pampering with all-day massages and gourmet food and beverage offerings.

11. Concierge Lounge for Suites – For the first time on a Princess ship, suite passengers can access an exclusive area to relax or work, with access to full front desk services, plus light snacks and beverages. Here, these passengers will have dedicated staff to assist with such things as shore excursions, specialty dining or Lotus Spa reservations. It will also be used as a private disembarkation lounge for suite passengers.

12. Largest Gelato Menu at Sea – Whether passengers prefer vanilla, chocolate, dulce de leche, or butter pecan, Royal Princess’ charming new gelateria will serve up the largest variety of creamy Italian-inspired gelato and ice cream creations at sea. Gelato will feature a menu of eight delicious flavors prepared by the ship’s pastry chef, plus more than 20 toppings and sauces, and specialty items such as sundaes, waffle cones and sweet crepes.

13. Sabatini’s Bites and Flights – As the line’s signature Sabatini’s Italian restaurant will be located right next to Vines on deck 5, the wine bar will now offer Sabatini’s Bites to accompany its popular wine flights. Passengers can sample small bites of such dishes as Tuscan Brochettes, Beef Carpaccio and Lamb Chop Lollipops.

14. Largest Outdoor Movie Screen at Sea – Princess was the first cruise line to introduce this innovative offering in 2004. Aboard Royal Princess, not only is the Movies Under the Stars screen 30 percent larger than our current screens, it will be the largest at sea.

15. Touch Screen Photo Finder with Facial Recognition Technology – The Royal Princess photo gallery will feature digital kiosks that use facial recognition technology to help passengers find all of their photographs. Passengers can save favorites, customize prints, and take advantage of special packages, all from the convenience of the kiosk.

16. Princess Live! All Day Programming – The new television studio aboard Royal Princess, a first for Princess, will be a lively place, featuring programming throughout the day from 8 am until midnight. Passengers will enjoy live talk shows, demonstrations and performers here, including the daily Wake Show. With seating for just under 300, the space will give passengers a more intimate opportunity to meet the ship’s entertainers, play games and enjoy refreshments with the dedicated café.

17. Four Different Water and Music Shows – The ship’s central pool area will feature daily and nightly performances of four separate themed sequences comprising dancing fountains, special music and live performers. The Movies Under the Stars screen will also be incorporated as an additional show element.

18. Largest Collection of Super Tuscan Wines at Sea – More than 20 choices of these headline-making wines from Tuscany will be available in Sabatini’s. Ranging from recognizable Super Tuscans such as Masseto, Solaia or Tignanello to some lesser known vintages such as Castello del Terricio ‘Cappuanino’ or Il Bruciato Bolgheri, these wines will be featured by the bottle and in a new Sabatini’s Super Tuscan Wine Tasting event, where passengers can enjoy the rare opportunity to sample the wines accompanied by delicious small plates from the Italian restaurant.

19. Largest Complimentary Pizza Restaurant at Sea – Alfredo’s Pizzeria, already a passenger favorite on several vessels, will take Princess’ reputation for serving the best pizza at sea to a new level. With 121 seats, Alfredo’s aboard Royal Princess will be the largest such pizza restaurant at sea, and will feature an expanded menu of freshly prepared Neapolitan-style pizzas, calzones, flatbreads and baked pasta.

20. Princess’ Greenest Ship – Royal Princess has been designed to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions, making it the line’s greenest ship. Some of the key areas of focus include the ship’s extremely efficient hull and propeller design, which requires the same energy as the line’s smaller ships to drive it; a distributed air conditioning system with a large number of fan coil units rather than a centralized system; usage of low energy lighting throughout the ship with an emphasis on LED; the addition of variable speed drives to the biggest electrical consumers such as ventilation fans; a tunnel washer in the laundry which will reduce water consumption; and the introduction of additional monitoring of the ship’s overall energy usage.

The 3,600-passenger Royal Princess is a new-generation ship for Princess Cruises. Among the special features found on board will be a greatly expanded atrium, the social hub of the ship; a dramatic over-water SeaWalk, a top-deck glass-bottomed walkway extending more than 28 feet beyond the edge of the vessel; plush private poolside cabanas that appear to be floating on the water; the new Princess Live! television studio; a pastry shop; a special Chef’s Table Lumiere, a private dining experience that surrounds diners in a curtain of light; and balconies on all outside staterooms. The ship’s 2013 maiden season will include cruises on the line’s signature Grand Mediterranean itinerary throughout the summer, followed by Eastern Caribbean cruises beginning in the fall.  For more information, contact your cruise expert today, 215.224.0100



Norwegian Getaway To Feature First Grammy Experience At Sea

Norwegian Cruise Line (NASDAQ:NCLH) announced today that it has partnered with The Recording Academy® to feature the first GRAMMY® Experience at sea onboard its newest ship, Norwegian Getaway, set to launch in February 2014. As part of the partnership, Norwegian Cruise Line has been named “Official Cruise Line Partner of the GRAMMY Awards®.” In addition, the companies will partner on the first GRAMMY-themed cruise that is scheduled to set sail in the fall of 2014.




The GRAMMY Experience will be located on Deck 8 on Norwegian Getaway and will feature artifacts chosen and curated by the GRAMMY Museum® at L.A. LIVE in downtown Los Angeles. In the evenings, the venue will feature live performances by past GRAMMY winners and nominees, among others.



“Partnering with The Recording Academy and its prestigious GRAMMY Awards to bring the first GRAMMY-branded experience at sea on board Norwegian Getaway is a huge coup for us as we continue to innovate with entertainment,” said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line’s Chief Executive Officer. “This GRAMMY venue with nightly performance by top-notch musicians elevates the offerings on Norwegian Getaway to a whole new level.”



“The Recording Academy is always looking for unique ways to elevate the GRAMMY brand and extend the GRAMMY experience throughout the year,” said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy. “This new partnership with Norwegian Cruise Line allows us to continue expanding our brand’s reach globally and bring new forms of GRAMMY-themed entertainment to music fans everywhere. We couldn’t be more pleased with this new alliance between one of the leading cruise lines and one of the most credible and recognized brands in music.”



More details regarding the GRAMMY Experience venue, performances and the GRAMMY theme cruise will be revealed in the coming months.



Currently under construction at MEYER WERFT in Germany, the 4,000 passenger Norwegian Getaway will be the largest ship to homeport year-round in Miami. The ship represents an opportunity for the Norwegian guest to “get away” from the routine of work, school, and daily stress, and find a true respite at sea that reflects the energy and culture that Miami is known for worldwide. Norwegian Getaway’s hull artwork was designed by popular Miami modern artist and muralist David “LEBO” Le Batard.



To date, the company has revealed the ship’s groundbreaking design, including an open-air boardwalk, The Waterfront, and 678 Ocean Place; a wide range of indoor and outdoor venues on three dynamic decks that will create a whole new complex at sea that enhances guests’ connection with the ocean. Celebrity Chef and Food Network star Geoffrey Zakarian will also create and oversee the opening of his seafood restaurant, Ocean Blue by Geoffrey Zakarian.



The ship will feature a rich mix of stateroom options, including The Haven by Norwegian, comprised of 42 Suites at the top of the ship in an exclusive, private key-card enclave and 22 additional Suites located throughout the ship; the innovative Studios, designed and priced for solo travelers; a wide range of Oceanview staterooms, Balcony and Mini-Suites; along with Spa Balcony, Mini-Suites and Suites in close proximity to the spa. Norwegian Getaway’s sister ship, Norwegian Breakaway, will begin sailing from her year-round home port of New York City in May 2013.



Norwegian Getaway will sail seven-day cruises from Miami to the Eastern Caribbean beginning on February 1, 2014, with ports of call including Philipsburg, St. Maarten; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; and Nassau, Bahamas. Information on Norwegian Getaway’s accommodations and itinerary can be found at www.getaway.ncl.com. To book a cruise on Norwegian Getaway, contact a travel professional at Distinct Destinations Travel Agency, 215.224.0100