Disney cruise specials from $499, kids sail from $99

Every week, Disney Cruise Line posts discounted fares for select cruises on its website. Currently, sale fares are available for three-night Bahamas cruises, seven-night eastern and western Caribbean cruises, and 14-night transatlantic cruises.

The deal

Discounted fares for adults start at $499 per person. Disney also offers special child fares for kids ages 12 and under staying as third and fourth passengers in a room with their parents. Kids under three sail from $149 on three-night cruises, $189 on seven-day cruises, and $99 on the 14-night cruise. Rates for children ages three to 12 start at $229 for three-night cruises, $399 for seven-night cruises, and $99 on the 14-night cruise. Prices vary by stateroom category.

Sample sale rates include:

• $499 per adult for a three-night Bahamas sailing aboard the Disney Wonder. Cruises priced at this rate depart April 19 and 26.

• $899 per adult for a seven-night eastern Caribbean sailing aboard the Disney Magic. This cruise departs April 14 and 28.
• $899 per adult for a seven-night western Caribbean sailing aboard the Disney Magic. This cruise departs April 21.
• $999 per adult for a 14-night eastbound transatlantic sailing aboard the Disney Magic. This cruise departs May 12.

All prices, dates, and booking details listed here were valid at the time of publication. Some information may have changed since that time.

It’s always a good idea to compare cruise fares before booking, and you can use our price-comparison tool to search multiple travel providers.

To book

To find Disney’s weekly cruise specials, visit the Disney Cruise Line website. To book a cruise call 800-951-3532 or contact your travel agent.

Discounted fares for other cruises are also available. Fares are per person and based on adult double occupancy in category 12 staterooms. Taxes and fees are not included. Rates are subject to availability and may change.

The following press release about the upcoming Atlanta Jazz Festival caught my eye. Be sure to check it out if you and the family are going to be in the area!

The 30th Annual Atlanta Jazz Festival, an annual musical showcase, celebrates jazz legends and up-and-coming jazz greats on stages in a 3-day concert series during Memorial Day Weekend at Piedmont Park. It is the mission of the Atlanta Jazz Festival to expose and entertain a diverse audience of jazz aficionados, young jazz enthusiasts and musical artists to the rich heritage and variety of jazz as an authentic form of traditional music.

event dates May 26-28, 2007
event location Piedmont Park - Atlanta, GA
website www.atlantafestivals.com

March 15, 2007
The Atlanta Jazz Festival & Jazz 91.9 WCLK Present the 7th
Annual Youth Jazz Band Competition


March 9, 2007

Georgia’s Most Accomplished Jazz Musicians Compete At The
Future Of Jazz Competition VI


March 6, 2007
Jazz History 101: Local Students Receive A Lesson On Jazz
During The Mike Phillips School Tour 2007 Presented By The
Atlanta Jazz Festival

March 2, 2007
Get Ready For Cool Jazz Riffs, Smooth Scats, And Sulty
Vocals…During The Soulful Sounds Of The City Concert
Series At Chastain Amphitheatre


February 20, 2007
Atlanta Celebrates 30 Years With The Largest Free Jazz
Festival In The Country!

Atlanta Jazz Festival, Georgia

Skybus announces its first cities with fares from $10 O/W*

New low-fare carrier Skybus has announced its first round of destinations, and is offering introductory fares from $10 one-way. The airline is based out of Columbus, OH, and its destinations will include Burbank, Kansas City, Oakland, Richmond, and Portsmouth.

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Skybus says that at least 10 of these $10 one-way fares are available on every flight, so if you act fast, you may be able to snag one. In my initial searches, I was able to find $10 fares for every route I checked. With taxes and fees, one-way flights totaled between $16 and $20, and round-trip fares totaled between $36 and $41.

Though it hasn’t started flying yet, Skybus seems to be taking cues from Ireland-based Ryanair, and will charge for “amenities” such as checked baggage and priority boarding, as well as onboard food and beverages. Like Southwest, Skybus doesn’t assign seats, but unlike Southwest, Skybus will charge for “A” group seats.

The route map on Skybus’ homepage is a little misleading because it advertises flights to Los Angeles, Boston, Seattle, and San Francisco, when in fact it serves the nearby cities of Burbank; Portsmouth, NH; Bellingham, WA; and Oakland.

The deal

Burbank, Kansas City, and Portsmouth service begins May 22; Richmond service begins May 23; Bellingham, Ft. Lauderdale, and Greensboro service begins May 29; and Oakland service begins June 12. Flights are valid through December 15. Skybus has not listed a booking deadline.

Sample one-way fares to/from Columbus, not including additional taxes and fees, are:

• $10 to/from Bellingham
• $10 to/from Burbank
• $10 to/from Ft. Lauderdale
• $10 to/from Greensboro
• $10 to/from Kansas City
• $10 to/from Oakland
• $10 to/from Portsmouth
• $10 to/from Richmond

All prices, dates, and booking details listed here were valid at the time of publication. Some information may have changed since that time.

Find airfares

You can use our price-comparison tool to check for the lowest airfares from multiple travel providers, or go directly to Skybus’ website.

Seats are limited and may not be available on all flights or dates. Be flexible with your travel dates to find the lowest fares. Blackout dates and additional restrictions may apply.

Festival of Flowers

Now through May 20, 2007

Beauty blooms during Festival of Flowers, now through May 20.

What’s Blooming in Our Gardens?
Check our weekly bloom report for the latest news
on blossoms.

Mix up your own bit of spring with a garden
container recipe.

Festivities
Inside Biltmore House, daily
Impressionist painters Pierre August Renoir and
Claude Monet inspired Biltmore House’s magnificent
floral décor during Festival of Flowers. Discover
nature’s beauty within each room during your visit.

Walled Garden, Saturdays and Sundays
Listen to classical music under the arbor at 11:00 a.m., 12:00 noon, 1:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m., and 3:00 p.m.

Get answers to your gardening questions from Biltmore experts under the arbor from
11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

Conservatory, Saturdays and Sundays
Savor the beauty of classical music inside the Conservatory, beginning at 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m.,
1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m.

Jumpstart your creativity with our display of 20 innovative container gardens created by Biltmore gardeners.

At The Winery

Cooking Demonstrations, 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. daily

Learn how to prepare dishes and recipes from our new cookbook, Our Table To Yours.

Production and Barrel Tasting, 2:00 p.m. daily
Enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at the production of award-winning wine.

Red Wine and Chocolate, 3:00 p.m. daily

Learn how these divine treats complement each other.

Wine Bar, 1:30 p.m.–7:00 p.m. daily

Featuring music daily at 3:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m.

Enjoy a glass or bottle of your favorite Biltmore wine on the patio while listening to music. Add a cheese plate for an afternoon snack.

Grape Stomp, 2:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays

Children of all ages can stomp grapes.

Elsewhere on the Estate

Deerpark Restaurant, 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. daily (opens 10:00 a.m. on Sundays)

Art show, featuring the Blue Ridge Water Media Society

Historic Horse Barn, Saturdays and Sundays, 12:00 noon–5:00 p.m.
Celebrate spring with old-time music, clogging, and mountain craft demonstrations.

A Gardener’s Place, 1:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m. daily
Let our experts reveal their secrets to growing savory herb gardens, tips for cultivating and using lavender, methods for creating elegant flower arrangements, and more.

Carriage House, 12:00 noon–2:00 p.m., April 21, 22, May 19, and 20

Bill Alexander signs his new book, The Biltmore Nursery: A Botanical Legacy, which details Biltmore’s rich botanical legacy.