2010 › May › 14

Royal Caribbean brings hammer down on art auctions

by Tom Johansmeyer on

If you liked the art auctions on your Royal Caribbean cruises, brace yourself. In a post on his blog, the company’s president and CEO, Adam Goldstein, wrote that the contract it had with Park West Art Services to run its auctions on the ships expired and that it isn’t going to renew.

He adds that other art-related endeavors could be on the chopping block as well: “We are evaluating what if any art-related programming we may offer in the fleet in the future beyond Oasis of the Seas where Art Actually is our provider of art tours and art for purchase onboard.”

For now, Royal Caribbean and Park West Art Services are going through a “wind down period” as the art auctioneers wrap up on different ships over the next few months.

7 day vacation rentals for $199 through Wyndham Worldwide

by Scott Carmichael on

Looking to vacation on a budget? Wyndham Worldwide has some hot deals on 7-day vacation rentals for just $199. The availability is obviously limited, and there is a bit of fine print involved, but I was able to find several properties for the advertised price.

To clarify – the $199 price is for 7 days – and since many hotels retail for the same price for just one night, you’ll understand why this is a real bargain. There are even several properties in the Orlando area, though given their high demand, you’ll be paying $399 for a 2 bedroom for the 7 day period.

Vacation rentals are perfect for families – because they come with their own kitchen, and most properties have a decent assortment of on-site amenities. So – browse through their properties and see whether you can find yourself a hot $199 deal on your own vacation rental for the week. The locations, promotion details and rules can be found here.

Daily gear deals – $69 digital camera, $99 TravelPro case and more

by Scott Carmichael on

Here are the hottest gear deals for today, Friday, May 14th 2010. Remember, these deals are often valid for just one day, so act fast before they are gone.

Today’s first deal is for a (purple) Casio digital camera. Despite the low price of just $69, this is by no means a budget camera – you get 10 megapixel shots, a 3x optical zoom and a dedicated Youtube upload mode. Click here for this deal.

Next up is a scorching deal on the popular Plantronics Discovery 975 Bluetooth headset. This good looking headset comes in its own leather carrying case, which also houses a battery pack. The headset features several noise isolation technologies, to make your phone calls sound fantastic. On sale fro $49.99 over at 1saleaday.com.

Today’s third deal is for the latest generation Creative Vado HD camcorder – normally this camera sells for $120, but Dell is selling it as their daily deal for just $65. Click here for this deal.

And finally in today’s lineup, invest in some quality luggage – like the TravelPro Walkabout 22″ rolling case. The list price is $280 – but it is on sale right now for just $99.99. This expandable 22″ case features a removable suiter, and comes with a lifetime warranty. Click here for this deal.

Follow chef Jamie Oliver through culinary Stockholm

by Grant Martin on

One of our favorite cities over at Gadling is Stockholm, Sweden and one of our favorite chefs, Jamie Oliver. So imagine our glee when discovering that Mr. Oliver had put together a slide show and narrative from his recent journey into Scandinavia.

Fully available over at the Guardian, Chef Oliver’s slideshow is a love story written to the city, where he meanders in and out of lush, cultural descriptions and delicious, gastronomic profiles in his trademark, boyish tone. All of this is set against the backdrop of a beautiful series of Stockholm photos, from the striking, colorful waterfront to food and families strewn across the country.

Your grandparent’s slideshow, this is not.

It’s almost enough to encourage a wayward blogger to drop his belongings, jump on a 767 and fly directly to Stockholm, just in time for the Midsommar festival and for the long, sunny nights of summertime in northern Europe. Or perhaps that’s some not-so-creative foreshadowing.

New Wyndham hotel opens in Miami’s South Beach

by Melanie Nayer on

Wyndham Hotels and Resorts is continuing its Florida hotel expansion with the opening of a new 133-room-and-suite Wyndham Garden Hotel Miami South Beach. The new hotel, located at 1050 Washington Avenue in South Beach’s entertainment district, sits two blocks from the beach and is a short drive from Miami’s International Airport and the Port of Miami.

The hotel sits on the site of the historic 1922 Coral House, which was preserved by the Miami Beach Historic Preservation Board and recently underwent a $5.5 million renovation before joining the Wyndham family. On the grounds is Catch 10 Seafood Bistro, which offers outdoor seating, room service and poolside dining, as well as Starbucks coffee and the hotel’s signature mint lemonade.

The Wyndham Garden Hotel Miami South Beach offers the typical Wyndham amenities: BeWell bedding, room service, concierge services, valet parking and free high-speed wireless Internet access. In addition, each guest room and suite offers large work desks and ergonomic chairs, as well as marble counter-tops, white lacquered vanities with vessel sinks and spa teak benches in all showers. The Wyndham South Beach property has lush gardens surrounding an outdoor pool and a state-of-the-art 24-hour fitness facility.

The hotel is across the street from the Wolfsonian Museum, a short walk to the Lincoln Road Mall and the Versace Mansion (now the Villa by Barton G) on Ocean Drive.