Pacific Jewel Joins P&O Cruises Australia

P&O Cruises Australia has welcomed the latest addition to its fleet, the 70,310-GRT Pacific Jewel. Following an extensive refit in Singapore, the vessel was christened in Sydney’s Circular Quay by the Governor-General of Australia, Her Excellency Ms. Quentin Bryce AC.

 

Guests at the invitation-only event onboard were treated to a tour of the ship, accompanied by fine food and wine. The highlight of the evening was a charity auction of a specially commissioned jewel necklace, with all proceeds benefiting the Leukaemia Foundation and Special Olympics Australia. Valued at almost AUD 50,000, the stunning necklace with a teardrop aquamarine set in white gold and surrounded with more than 2 carats of diamonds was designed and created by Hardy Brothers Jewellers to mark the event.

 

The public also had the opportunity to participate in the festivities with a ‘South Pacific Christmas Festival’ organized by P&O Cruises Australia. Against the backdrop of Pacific Jewel, the festival featured an array of live entertainment including performances by Australian Idols Stan Walker and Wes Carr, aerial circus displays, face-painting and a visit by Santa culminating in a spectacular fireworks display over Darling Harbour.

 

Pacific Jewel brings several new amenities to the P&O Cruises Australia fleet, including an amazing high-wire circus and trapeze arena on the top deck featuring 2 animatronic elephants for the ‘Run Away to the Circus’ show, the new Salt Grill by celebrity Chef Luke Mangan and the line’s largest Aqua Health, Spa and Fitness Center. The vessel will sail year-round from Sydney to the South Pacific and New Zealand, with her maiden voyage to Tasmania today retracing the first-ever cruise of the Australian mainland.

 

For more information, visit www.pocruises.com.au.

Qatar Airways Arrives Down Under

Doha-based Qatar Airways has completed its first ever flight to Australia. The inaugural flight, QR 030, landed in Melbourne Tullamarine International Airport at 2159 hrs on Sunday, 6 December 2009, after a 13 hours 40 minutes flight from Doha.

 

Operated by the airline’s 2-class Boeing 777-200LR aircraft configured with 42 Business Class and 217 Economy Class seats, passengers of the high-profile delegation onboard the flight included Qatar Airways CEO Akbar al Baker, Australian Ambassador to the UAE and Qatar His Excellency Doug Trappett, members of the international media and senior company executives. The airline was officially welcomed to Australia by the Victorian Government Minister of Tourism and Major Events, The Honourable Tim Holding, this morning at the State Government Offices where a joint press conference was held.

 

Flight QR 030 currently operates on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, departing Doha at 0045 hrs and arriving in Melbourne at 2225 hrs. The return flight, QR 031, takes off from Tullamarine International Airport at 2355 hrs, landing back in Doha International Airport at 0625 hrs the next morning. Beginning 1 January 2010, Qatar Airways will increase frequencies from the current 3 times weekly to daily service, when it takes delivery of a fourth Boeing 777-200LR jet.

 

The arrival of yesterday’s inaugural flight completes the trio of Gulf carriers serving Melbourne from their respective hubs. Dubai’s Emirates flies triple daily into the city while its counterpart Etihad Airways operates a daily service from Abu Dhabi. After Melbourne, Qatar Airways will also inaugurate a Doha-Sydney flight in 2010 as part of its ongoing expansion into Australia. The airline is targeting the lucrative ‘Kangaroo Route’ between Australia and Europe with the new non-stop services, which will boost Qatar Airways’ hub operations at Doha International Airport.

 

Qatar Airways now operates a fleet of 72 Airbus and Boeing aircraft to more than 85 destinations worldwide. For more information, visit www.qatarairways.com.

Emirates To Begin Flights To Amsterdam

Dubai’s Emirates has announced it will commence passenger services to Amsterdam on 1 May 2010, making it the first Gulf carrier to fly to the Dutch city. The new route is Emirates’ 23rd into Europe and the airline joins KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, which currently offer 12 flights a week between Amsterdam and Dubai.

 

Flight EK 145 will depart Dubai at 0825 hrs and arrive in Amsterdam at 1330 hrs. The return flight, EK 146, takes off from Schipol Airport at 1530 hrs, landing back in Dubai International Airport at 2359 hrs. Emirates will operate the flights using a combination of 3-class Boeing 777-200LR and 777-300ER aircraft, becoming the only airline offering a First Class product on the route.

 

Emirates is leveraging on its successful hub operations in Dubai for the route, timing the flights to allow for convenient onward connections to and from Africa, Asia, Australia and the Indian subcontinent. The new service will complement recent developments by the airline in Europe, where it has opened new lounge facilities in Dusseldorf, Hamburg and Manchester, as well as increased frequencies to Rome. The airline will also be deploying its Airbus A380 aircraft on the Dubai-Paris (Charles de Gaulle) flights in December 2009.

 

For more information, visit www.emirates.com.

Air France A380 Completes Inaugural Service To New York

Paris-based Air France has completed its first revenue flight with the Airbus A380. Flight AF 380 arrived at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport at 1318 hrs, after crossing the Atlantic from Paris (Charles de Gaulle), where it departed at 1119 hrs. The flight marked the A380’s first transatlantic flight by a European airline and the aircraft was met by a customary water cannon salute on arrival in New York.

 

Onboard the double-decker aircraft are 538 passengers, invited guests and 24 crew, who were treated to complimentary champagne and a 3-member jazz band. 380 passengers who participated in a charity auction in October 2008 also raised 300,000 euros to benefit humanitarian projects supported by the Air France Foundation. Having generated a larger amount than expected, Air France will donate the proceeds from the auction to 2 more charities in Brazil and Madagascar, in addition to 3 previously announced organizations in France, India and South Africa.

 

The Air France A380 features 538 seats in a 3-class configuration with innovations including improved seating, mood lighting and an onboard meeting area showcasing artwork from various museum collections. The airline has announced Johannesburg as the second destination for its A380 following New York, which will be operated daily. Air France joins Dubai’s Emirates, Sydney-based Qantas and Singapore Airlines as the fourth operator of the type.

 

For more information, visit www.airfrance.com.

New Business Lounge For Qantas Passengers In Hong Kong

Australia’s Qantas Airways has opened a new International Business Lounge at Hong Kong International Airport. The new facility replaces the original lounge opened in 1998 and is the latest in a series of lounge upgrades for the airline, following Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland, Perth, Tokyo (Narita), Los Angeles and Honolulu.

 

To provide greater comfort and personal space for passengers, Qantas has rearranged the seating layout and furnished the lounge with a new furniture range. Plush armchairs, dining chairs and bar stools combining wood, leather and fabrics are paired with chocolate brown carpets, as well as designer elements such as Moooi lighting and an Akira Isogawa rug.

 

The food and beverage offering has been expanded to include a greater selection of hot and cold foods, beverages and snacks, while 11 bathroom and shower suites with Molten Brown bath amenities let passengers relax and freshen up before their flight. Complimentary internet access, power and data ports, as well as 14 individual workstations equipped with PCs support the needs of business travellers who need to catch up with work.

 

The Qantas International Business Lounge is open to all Business Class, Chairman’s Lounge, Platinum and Gold Frequent Flyers, Qantas Club members and eligible passengers travelling on Oneworld marketed or operated flights. Qantas is also upgrading and expanding its First Lounge in Hong Kong, due to reopen in early December 2009.

 

From Hong Kong, Qantas operates flights to Brisbane, London (Heathrow), Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.  For more information, visit www.qantas.com.au.

Garuda Indonesia To Reopen Jakarta – Amsterdam Service

Following a 5-year absence, Indonesian flag carrier Garuda Indonesia is to return to Europe with the reopening of its flagship Jakarta-Amsterdam route, operated via Dubai, from June 2010. Amsterdam is the first of several European services planned by Garuda Indonesia, which was recently permitted to operate in the European Union following improvements to its safety standards.

 

Flight GA 088 departs Jakarta at 2100 hrs, arriving in Dubai at 0209 hrs the next morning before departing again at 0315 hrs for a 0800 hrs arrival into Amsterdam. The return service, GA 089, takes off from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol at 1000 hrs, landing in Dubai at 1830 hrs and departing for Jakarta at 1945 hrs, where it lands at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport at 0710 hrs the next morning.

 

Garuda Indonesia will operate a 2-class Airbus A330-200 aircraft, configured with the airline’s latest cabin products. Passengers will enjoy 36 full-flat beds in Executive Class, while the Economy Class seats feature a 32-inch seat pitch and 6 inches of recline. Individual touch-screen monitors deliver audio-video on-demand entertainment in both classes.

 

The airline joins several airlines already established on the route, including KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines. Garuda Indonesia currently flies to 17 international destinations including Bangkok, Beijing, Dubai, Hong Kong, Jeddah, Kuala Lumpur, Melbourne, Osaka, Perth, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney and Tokyo.

 

For more information, visit www.garuda-indonesia.com.

New Openings From Emirates Hotels And Resorts, The Red Carnation Hotel Collection

Travellers seeking both luxury and nature on their holidays now have an additional 2 new resorts to choose from. The much-anticipated Wolgan Valley Resort and Spa in Australia welcomes its first guests today, while South Africa’s The Oyster Box Hotel reopens after a 2-year renovation and refurbishment.

 

Wolgan Valley Resort and Spa

Located between 2 of Australia’s most prominent national parks and bordering the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, the Wolgan Valley Resort and Spa is the country’s first luxury conservation-based resort. Rich in historical significance, the area has been visited by Charles Darwin in 1836 and the property’s homestead (which has been fully restored) dates back 177 years to 1832.

 

Developed and managed by Dubai’s Emirates Hotels and Resorts, the 4,000-acre resort is operated on the principles of the group’s award-winning Al Maha Desert Resort and Spa, featuring 40 individual suites that are fully integrated into the natural environment. Each of the 83-square meter Heritage Suites are furnished with a luxurious bed, an ensuite bathroom with twin vanity areas, separate bathtub and shower with Babor bathroom therapies, LCD televisions with DVD players, iPod docking station and high-speed internet access. Guests can also experience the surrounding area with the 2 mountain bicycles provided, or take in views of the wildlife using binoculars from the comfort of their private, temperature-controlled swimming pool and garden.

 

The resort also offers the 2-bedroom, 201-square meter Wollemi Suites. In addition to standard amenities, the 3 suites feature a large living room, separate lounge and dining areas, thoughtfully arranged to provide families with sufficient area as well as private spaces. The most luxurious and exclusive accomodation at the resort, the 410-square meter Wolgan Suite, is set away from the main resort in its own self-contained lodge with an expansive living and dining room as well as a gourmet kitchen for cooking and entertaining. Adding to the exclusivity, service is never far away with guests taken care of by a dedicated team residing in private staff quarters at the suite.

 

Showcasing the culinary skills of Executive Chef and Food and Beverage Manager Dwane Goodman combined with organic local produce, Wolgan Valley Resort and Spa’s selection of dining venues serve exceptional Australian fare and epicurean experiences. The Country Kitchen is a relaxed all-day dining restaurant located in the main Homestead building offering light meals and snacks, while the Wolgan Dining Room serves a lavish 5-course dinner every night. Guests seeking seclusion can utilize the resort’s private dining service at the Creekside Room, which can accomodate 12 guests, or enjoy a meal in the comfort of their suite. The Valley Bar and Terrace encourages guests to relax over more than 300 different wines and panoramic views of the valley.

 

Throughout their stay, guests are assigned a personal field guide who will share interesting information and anecdotes as well as advise on outdoor activities tailored to their interests and abilities. Up to 2 activities can be chosen daily, including explorations of the reserve by foot or on horseback, mountain biking and wildlife safaris by 4-wheel drive vehicles. Following their day outdoors, guests can retreat to the Timeless Spa, where 6 treatment rooms allow them to indulge in the treatments offered using spa products exclusive to Emirates Hotels and Resorts.

 

For more information, visit www.emirateshotelsresorts.com/wolgan-valley/en/.

 

The Oyster Box Hotel

Situated on the ocean’s edge , The Oyster Box Hotel is conveniently located for quick and easy access to Durban’s city centre and the international airport. The iconic landmark, a member of The Red Carnation Hotel Collection, has been restored to offer guests a contemporary experience, whilst retaining its colonial charm and nostalgia of days gone by.

 

86 rooms, suites and villas accomodate the individual needs of each guest, making use of natural stone and timber complemented by calming colour tones. Each room features luxury bedding, spacious bathroom with L’Occitane bath amenities, flat screen satellite television with CD/DVD players, 2 direct-dial telephones with voicemail capability, complimentary high-speed internet access, in-room safe, minibar and coffee-/tea-making facilities. In addition to the standard room amenities, the 8 Garden Villas and 450-square meter Presidential Villa afford guests greater space and incorporate a plunge pool, terrace and private lounge.

 

The Oyster Box Hotel offers guests a mix of dining options based on the principles of using the freshest seasonal produce affording local flavours. The Grill Room and adjacent Colony Restaurant boasts freshly caught seafood and a wide collection of South African and international wines from its wine cellar. Overlooking the Indian Ocean, the aptly-named Ocean Terrace serves Indian cuisine and an extensive a la carte menu throughout the day, while The Palm Court Restaurant, set in an airy open courtyard is ideal for afternoon tea or catching up over cocktails. The Oyster Bar features fresh oysters plucked from the hotel’s own oyster beds, accompanied by chilled champagne, while The Chukka Bar and The Lighthouse Bar allow guests to unwind and take in the old world charm and panoramas of the Umhlanga beach over their favorite drinks.

 

Set amidst lush vegetation and landscaped gardens, the hotel has an air of peace and traquility that extends to the Oyster Box Spa. 6 modern treatment rooms, 2 hydrotherapy baths, a grooming lounge, authentic hammam, plunge and infinity pools, as well as a private fitness club provide guests with personal care and pampering. The hotel also offers outdoor activities such as hiking, surfing, diving, bird watching and horse riding, while guests preferring to stay indoors can catch a movie at the luxurious 24-seat movie theatre. Event and wedding planners have a versatile range of venues at their disposal. Each of the 4 banqueting rooms is individually decorated, while an intricate Victorian-style gazebo with a small amphitheatre is an idyllic setting for outdoor weddings and parties.

 

For more information, visit www.oysterboxhotel.com.

Singapore Airlines Inaugurates A380 Flights To Melbourne

Singapore Airlines has launched a daily A380 flight to Melbourne. The inaugural flight, SQ 227, departed from Changi International Airport Terminal 3 at 2101 hrs yesterday and arrived in Tullamarine International Airport at 0543 hrs this morning.

 

Melbourne is the second Australian destination and sixth city in the Singapore Airlines network to receive A380 service, after Hong Kong, London, Paris, Sydney and Tokyo. The airline currently operates 21 weekly flights between Singapore and Melbourne, using Boeing 777 aircraft.

 

Flight SQ 227 departs Singapore at 2100 hrs daily, arriving in Melbourne at 0610 hrs the next morning. The return flight, SQ 228, takes off from Tullamarine International Airport at 1550 hrs for a 2140 hrs landing back at Changi International Airport.

 

Singapore Airlines currently has 10 A380s in its fleet, with a further 9 aircraft on order. The airline is the second operator of the aircraft type in Melbourne, following Australian carrier Qantas, which flies the double-deck aircraft from Melbourne to Los Angeles.

 

For more information, visit www.singaporeair.com.

Taj Hotels, Resorts And Palaces Teams Up With Etihad Guest

The Indian Hotels Company has joined the award-winning Etihad Guest frequent flyer program of Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways as its latest hotel partner.

 

One of Asia’s largest hospitality groups, the group operates under the umbrella of Taj Hotels, Resorts and Palaces. Through the Taj, Taj Premium and Gateway Hotel collections, the group comprises more than 60 hotels in 45 locations across India and 15 international hotels in Africa, Australia, Bhutan, Malaysia, Middle East, UK and USA.

 

Etihad Guest members will now be able to earn miles when staying at the group’s hotels. 500 miles are awarded for each stay at any Taj property, including the flagship Taj Mahal Palace and Tower in Mumbai. Members will also earn 250 miles per stay at Taj Premium and Gateway Hotels.

 

The new partnership complements Etihad Airways’ continued expansion in India, where it currently operates flights to 6 destinations including Chennai, Kochi, Kozhikode, Mumbai, New Delhi and Thiruvananthapuram. The airline will begin flights to Hyderabad later this year from November 2009.

 

For more information, visit www.etihadairways.com or www.tajhotels.com.

Air Mauritius Returns To Sydney In 2010

Air Mauritius has announced it will resume flights from July 2010 to the Australian city of Sydney. The resumption of the once-a-week service, an extension of its Mauritius-Melbourne route, increases the airline’s Australian operations to 3 cities.

 

Mauritius-Melbourne-Sydney 

Beginning 5 July 2010, Flight MK 942 will depart Mauritius at 1945 hrs every Monday and arrives in Melbourne the next morning at 1140 hrs, before continuing to Sydney at 1255 hrs, where it lands at Kingsford Smith International Airport at 1420 hrs. The return flight, MK 943, takes off from Sydney at 0715 hrs on Wednesday mornings and lands in Melbourne at 0845 hrs. The aircraft continues on from Melbourne at 0955 hrs to Mauritius, arriving at 1525 hrs.

 

Mauritius-Perth

From 3 July 2010, Air Mauritius’ flight MK 940 will depart Mauritius on Saturdays at 2245 hrs, arriving in Perth at 0935 hrs the next morning. The return flight, MK 941, takes off from Perth at 0130 hrs on Monday mornings to arrive back in Mauritius at 0540 hrs.

 

Flights will be operated using Air Mauritius’ Airbus A340-300 aircraft and offer passengers connections in Mauritius to the airline’s other destinations in Europe, Kenya, Madagascar, Reunion Island, Rodrigues Island and South Africa. Port Louis-based Air Mauritius is the national airline of Mauritius and currently flies to 25 destinations around the world.

 

For more information, visit www.airmauritius.com.