Jump on board this year to enjoy a New Year celebration with a difference. City Cruises is offering a choice of exciting New Year packages on the River Thames. Whichever one you choose you will enjoy grandstand views of the fireworks and welcome in the New Year with Big Ben striking midnight in the background.

Celebrate the arrival of 2010 as you dance the night away on the New Year’s Eve Gala and Dinner Dance Cruise. You will be welcomed onboard with a drinks reception and as you cruise down to Greenwich you will enjoy a four-course meal with wine. On the way back to Westminster Pier there will be plenty of time for dancing and at midnight you will be able to toast the arrival of 2010 with a glass of champagne. The price of this very special evening is £215 per person.

Alternatively jump onboard the Restaurant Ship Hispaniola for the special New Year’s Eve Dinner and Dance. The ship, which is permanently moored in London, opposite the London Eye, will offer some of the best views in London as you welcome in 2010. An aperitif awaits you when you step onboard and this will be followed by a sumptuous four-course dinner. A digestif will be served to round off the meal. As midnight strikes you can enjoy the fireworks and toast the arrival of 2010 with a glass of champagne. Live entertainment and a disco will also be provided. The price of £210 per person also includes half a bottle of wine.

City Cruises’ boats can also be chartered for private functions. Whichever option you choose you can be sure that by day or night you will be able to see the sights of London from the best vantage point; the River Thames.

- AirTran Airways Tracks Santa’s Travels-ORLANDO, Fla., Dec 24, 2009 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ — AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: AAI), is pleased to present its second of three Satellite-based Aviation Navigational Tracking Apparatus (S.A.N.T.A.) reports. The following information regarding Santa Claus’ international flight is based on data from AirTran Airways’ System Operations Control (SOC) center in Orlando:

– After briefly losing Santa on the radar, an eyewitness account confirmed

that Santa met up with the Tooth Fairy for a quick bite in Germany,

where startled fellow patrons overheard him receive a lecture on his

cookie habit. With a new toothbrush and floss in tow, Santa continued

westward.

– A short time later, Santa was spotted taking a tourist detour in Paris

and wandering through the Louvre, fanny pack attached and camera in

hand.

– Analysis of satellite patterns show that Santa’s team of reindeer showed

off their precision flying by performing a geometrically perfect figure

eight around Big Ben before rocketing out of London.

– “The Claus” was last seen over the South Atlantic Ocean on his way to

Brazil.

Film of London’s Houses of Parliament and “Big Ben” -  St Stephens Tower

Related articles:

• Big Ben – 150th anniversary (apostcardaday.blogspot.com)
• Time marches on for iconic Big Ben (cnn.com)
• London: Blends Past With Modern Times (theinnatwildwood.com)
• 150th anniversary for London’s famous clock (cbc.ca)
• A Boat Ride on the Thames River (5min.com)