Sunset cruises

SHANGRI-LA’S MACTAN Resort and Spa offers sunset cruises every Wednesday and Saturday, 4:30 to 6 p.m. aboard the M/S Vianelle.

For P2,300-net, in-house guests can have hot and cold canapés and juice, soda and wine while basking in the golden Mactan sunset. The M/S Vianelle measures 72 feet long and 34 feet wide. It boasts a fiber glass exterior and teak wood interior, state-of-the-art navigation system, two bathrooms and a fully equipped kitchen. It may be chartered for a private cruise beginning at P30,000-net for two hours and additional P7,000 for each succeeding hour. The rates are exclusive of food and beverages; a special menu may be prepared on request. For intimate dining aboard the M/S Vianelle, guests are offered the 3-course Romance By The Sanctuary dinner package at P3,500-net per person. The dinner package is offered daily at 6 to 9 p.m. at the Shangri-La Marine Sanctuary for a minimum of two persons and maximum of 10 persons. For inquiries and reservations, call Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa at 231-8224 or e-mail mac@shangri-la.com.

Boracay rainy day indulgence

The vast expanse of powdery white sands, the warm rays of the sun, immaculate shorelines and crystalline waters are but a few of the many attractions that Boracay enthusiasts anticipate. Though this time of year often brings about rainy weather, there is always a silver lining to the stormy clouds. At Discovery Shores Boracay, the rainy season does not spoil one’s tropical holiday. Instead, it brings about wonderful discoveries. At Sands Restaurant, guests may savor the cool ocean breeze while sipping a hot cup of coffee or tea coupled with a slice of the restaurant’s specialty cakes such as Country Pie, Ultimate Chocolate Cake and New York Cheesecake. “A Cup and a Slice” is indeed the perfect rainy day indulgence that one can have for P280++ per person. For inquiries and reservations about other offers, call Discovery Shores Boracay at (63 2) 720-8888.

Intercon’s 40th year

InterContinental Manila capped its year-long 40th anniversary celebration with a grand raffle draw of free trips to dream destinations. At stake were a Princess Cruises trip for two with a choice of one of three destinations: Alaska, the Caribbean or the Mexican Riviera, and two round-trip tickets to any KLM Royal Dutch Airlines European destination from Manila. Karim Israel from Subic Bay won the Princess Cruises trip while Ian Johnston and Mikaela Balcos-Generoso from Makati and Sta. Mesa won the KLM Royal Dutch Airlines European round-trip tickets. Present to award the prizes were Princess Cruises supervisor Nancy Balingit and KLM/Air France events CRM coordinator Michael Go along with InterContinental Manila sales and marketing director Maricor Aquino and marketing services manager Francis de Leon. Guests who dined at any of the hotel’s restaurants with a minimum single receipt of P4,000; stayed at the hotel at a minimum overnight rate of P4,000++ or held a banquet or meeting event at a minimum cost of P40,000 were all entitled to raffle coupons. Take advantage of InterContinental Manila’s Relax and Refresh room package for the period of Aug. 1 to Sept. 30. Stay for a minimum of two paying nights or book two rooms overnight on a Friday, Saturday, Sunday or declared bank holidays at the hotel and enjoy a complimentary overnight stay at Holiday Inn Clark any day of the week. The special package rate of P 6,000++ per night in a deluxe room is inclusive of buffet breakfast for two persons. The offer is valid for local residents only and is subject to room availability. Call 793-7000.

Cebu Pacific flies to Brunei

Located in the northern part of Borneo in Southeast Asia and sharing the island with Malaysia and Indonesia, Brunei Darussalam is a feast for the senses as it gives travelers a meeting of old and new worlds because its traditional communities continue to thrive alongside the country’s rapid modernization.

Travelers from the Philippines can finally experience the country’s charms with Cebu Pacific’s new bi-weekly Manila-Bandar Seri Begawan service. The flight departs from Manila at 11:50 p.m. every Tuesday and Saturday. It leaves Bandar Seri Begawan at 2:25 a.m. every Wednesday and Sunday and lands in Manila at 4:14 a.m.

Bellevue’s new hotel

The Bellevue Group of Hotels Inc. introduces the B Hotel, the ideal business and leisure destination of choice south of the metro, which will be formally launched to the public soon. To celebrate this milestone, the new hotel offers an affordable introductory rate of P4,400-net per night on a deluxe room accommodation. Book now and get incentives like buffet breakfast for two at B Café, 15-percent discount on lunch or dinner buffet at Café d’Asie, 10-percent discount at The Bellevue Spa and waiving of minimum charge at the Vue Bar. Other inclusions are free use of swimming pool and gym facilities at The Bellevue Hotel, daily shuttle service to nearby Alabang commercial and financial districts, unlimited broadband Internet access, welcome fruit platter, two bottles of mineral water replenished daily and local newspaper. Rate is inclusive of 10 percent service charge and applicable taxes. Valid for local residents only. Proof of residency required upon check-in. For inquiries, call 771-8181.

Etihad wins excellence award

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates based in Abu Dhabi and the first airline with fully flat business class seats, was awarded the Airbus Top Operational Excellence Award for its fleet of A340-500/600 aircraft at the Airbus Technical Symposium in Berlin last week.

Etihad’s A340 fleet was awarded after the airline was found to outperform other airline fleets based on a number of criteria for operational excellence over a two-year period.

The criteria for the award includes revenue flight hours, revenue take-offs, changeable operations and average operational delay time over the period from November 2007 to October 2009.