13-14 CCL Fun Ashore Caribbean Region 1

FUN ASHORE 2013-14 CARIbbEAN SAILING SEASON REGION 1

FUN ASHORE GettinG there With Carnival Cruise lines

2013 -14 CariBBe an sailinG se ason

GUY FIERI HOT ON THE GRILL FUN AT SEA

Crew Members Who Bring It Onboard

ALL FOR THE KIDS How Carnival Makes a Difference

STYLE SETTERS

Famous Fashionistas From the Caribbean

TROPICAL TREATS Splurging in Paradise

GUIDE TO THE PORTS

Beaches, culture and More PLEASE READ, ENJOY AND LEAVE IN STATEROOM AT CRUISE’S END

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starting on page

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CONTENTS 2013-2014 Sailing Season

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Welcome Aboard!

A message from Gerry Cahill, president and CEO of Carnival Cruise Lines

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Fun Takes | Keeping Up with Carnival Cruise Lines Finding your happy places, turning events into memories, and more news from the fleet

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Fame Fix | Guy Fieri: Hot on the Grill

by Jacquelynn D. Powers Bring on the Donkey Sauce and the Chilius Maximus: Guy Fieri’s awesome burgers and creative toppings are spicing up the high seas AlexAnder demyAnenko/shutterstock.com

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Crew Spotlight | The Folks Who Bring the Fun by Kelly Liszt Meet some of the people who get the good times rolling on the high seas

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All for the Kids How Carnival Makes a Difference by Sam Stanton The cruise line steps up its support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Miami: Page 248

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CONTENTS 2013-2014 Sailing Season

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Style Setters of the Caribbean Fashionistas in Paradise

by Dorothy Cascerceri Five chic Hollywood stars with roots in the tropics

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Tropical Splurge Flavorful Finds

by Jen Karetnick Sweet treats from the Caribbean and beyond

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Fun Finds Shopping Program

The search for savings and value begins here

Anton_IvAnov/shutterstock.com

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Objects of Desire

The looks you’ll love from the top names in style

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Ports of Call History, culture and attractions in the places you’ll visit during this cruise — including the top shore excursions

Visit the Mayan ruins of Cozumel: Page 136

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1691 Michigan avenue, Suite 600 MiaMi Beach, Florida 33139 tel (305) 673.0400 | FaX (305) 674.9396 www.onBoardMedia.coM

Sarah Beth Reno Robin Rosenbaum-Andras Carrie Julier Norma Vila Vikki Knudsen

President Senior Vice President Vice President, Cruise Revenue & Sales Vice President, Finance Associate Vice President, Operations

Editorial & Design Kate McClare Executive Editor MaryAnna Estomba Managing Editor Brigid Cotter Communications Specialist Virginia C. Valls Dayana Ramirez Christian Rosario Elizabeth Carlisle Beth Wood Raquel Figueroa

Director, Design & Production Project Graphic Designer Project Graphic Designer Art Director Art Director Graphic Designer

Contributing Writers: John Anderson, John Bigley, Kay Callahan, Suzanne L. Carmel, Richard Carroll, Dorothy Cascerceri, Sara Churchville, Toni Crane, Michael De Freitas, Ginger Dingus, Jen Karetnick, Marjorie Klein, Chelle Koster Walton, Ciara LaVelle, Marty Leshner, Kelly Liszt, Linda Marx, Raymond Niedowski, Paris Permenter, Jacquelynn D. Powers, Patti Roth, Heidi Sarna, Jonathan Siskin, Sam Stanton, Gerry Steckles, Jim Thompson, Richard Varr, Deborah Williams, Eleanor Wilson, Gerald Zarr Melissa Rodriguez James Perdomo Gail Abrams Violeta Manco-Rojas

Jeffrey Meister Tyler Condon Tasha Riekstins Katherine Terc Cristina Viera Todd Hedge Dan Shaw Kevin Maschke Juan Carlos Peña Haley Struthers Kyle Ronellenfitch Jimmy Marks Victoria Rossi Anna Riekstins Leanne Ronellenfitch

Production Production Manager Production Coordinator Ad Services Director Ad Services Manager Advertising Sales Sales Manager Sales Manager Director, International Sales & Marketing Sales Coordinator Sales Coordinator Video/Film Production Producer/Director Director, Operations Senior Editor Senior Videographer Production Coordinator

©2013 onboard media. no claim to original works of carniVal crUise lines or adVertisers. ships’ registry: panama and the bahamas all rights reserVed. the entire contents of this pUblication are protected by copyright. no part of this pUblication may be reprodUced, stored in a retrieVal system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, withoUt the prior permission of the copyright owner. printed in the United states of america. all articles, descriptions and sUggestions concerning actiVities, toUrist attractions and other Vacation opportUnities described in this pUblication are merely expressions of opinions by contribUting writers, do not constitUte the opinions of onboard media, inc., or carniVal crUise lines, and Under no circUmstances constitUte assUrances or gUarantees concerning the qUality or safety of any sUch attraction or actiVity. onboard media, inc., and carniVal crUise lines specifically disclaim any liability for damages incUrred dUe to the attendance or participation by readers of this pUblication in any sUch actiVity or attraction, and the attendance or participation in any sUch actiVity or attraction shall be made solely at the reader’s own risk. we and oUr content proViders (“we”) haVe tried to make the information in this pUblication as accUrate as possible, bUt it is proVided “as is” and we accept no responsibility for any loss, injUry or inconVenience sUstained by anyone resUlting from this information.

Port Shopping Revenue Director, Cruise Revenue Regional Marketing Manager Regional Marketing Manager Promotions Manager Coordinator, Cruise Revenue

Port Shopping Operations Rachel Castro Director Marina Castillo Assistant Manager Rina Alvarado Coordinator, Operations Nadine Winter Manager, Customer Relations Arelys Zaldivar Assistant Manager, Customer Relations

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SEA LIFE COLLECTION where the artist meets the ocean

MADE IN U.S.A. Since 1975

DIAMONDS INTERNATIONAL Caribbean, Mexican Riviera & Alaska NA HOKU Hawaii GEORGIOS & CO. Mykonos THE GOLD CORNER Florence

For your nearest retailer call 800.521.5986 or visit us at www.kabana.net

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A Message From

THE PRESIDENT Welcome aboard!

On behalf of all our shipboard and shoreside employees, thank you for choosing Carnival Cruise Lines for your vacation.

Whether this is your first cruise with Carnival or you have sailed with us before, our dedicated team will strive to make sure you have a fun, relaxing and memorable vacation.

Guest satisfaction is our No. 1 priority, and we at Carnival are committed to providing you with an unforgettable vacation.

Guest satisfaction is our No. 1 priority, and we at Carnival are committed to providing you with an unforgettable vacation.

From a wide range of dining options and diverse entertainment choices to friendly and attentive service and fun-filled activities for guests of all ages, a Carnival cruise is the best vacation value on land or at sea.

We hope that you enjoy this issue of Fun Ashore, which features informative and entertaining articles written by talented writers, with images by the best photographers in the business.

Fun Ashore offers a wealth of information about the many fantastic features aboard our ships, as well as the exciting and beautiful destinations we visit. We hope this publication will serve as a valuable resource for getting the most from your “Fun Ship� cruise.

Wishing you a great vacation. Bon voyage!

Gerry Cahill President and CEO Carnival Cruise LInes

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FUN TAKES: Keeping Up With Carnival Cruise Lines

Find Your HAppy plAcE

Just you Everyone needs some quiet time eventually. The Serenity adults-only retreat gives you plenty of “you” time.

Configurations vary by ship, but amenities include bar service and peaceful music.

Even more bliss comes your way at the spa, where you’ll find the latest in facials, body therapies and nail services provided in an elegant, tranquil setting.

Curl up with a good wine, a cocktail or even a book at The Library Bar, an intimate lounge on select ships. And if you want to gather a few close friends for a chat or a board game, no one will “shush” you.

FROM TOP: A relaxing moment; having fun at WaterWorks.

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You and a crowd More really is merrier at Piano Bar 88, where good old-fashioned sing-alongs are the latest thing.

Stop by for a drink before dinner or come in the wee hours for a few belts (of song).

Dinner with friends is even more special at The Chef’s Table. For a fee, up to 12 guests can gather for a sumptuous multicourse dinner hosted by one of Carnival’s master chefs. It starts with champagne and hors d’oeuvres, continues to a galley tour and concludes with a custom menu not found in the regular dining rooms, usually held in a non-traditional venue.

Kids of all ages have a wet and wild time at WaterWorks, the onboard water park. The Twister Waterslide is one of the fastest, wettest rides you’ll find anywhere, and some ships have twin racing slides.

photos bY: (woman in pool) Dragon images/shutterstock.com; (DJ) maxim blinkov/shutterstock.com.

Everyone has a happy place, a blissful spot they can visit in memory when they need an escape. A beach in the sun. A cabin in the woods. Maybe it’s not a place but a moment: the kiss after “I do,” the baby’s first word.

You’re sure to collect lots of new happy places during this cruise, whether your bliss involves getting away from it all or gathering a crowd:

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Get your cruise groove on!

VACATION PLAYLIST:

turn it up

The magic of music is that with just a few beats, it can take you wherever you want to go. Some tunes will take you there even faster; they’re the classics that never fail.

When we decided to compile our cruise hit list, we turned to an expert: DJ IRIE, official DJ for the NBA’s three-time world-champion Miami HEAT. He’s also the creator of Carnival’s Spin’iversity, the first-ofits-kind DJ academy at sea. Spin’iversity students learn to maximize their talents, and Carnival guests get the benefit at deck parties, in nightclubs and at other venues around the ship.

Here’s DJ IRIE’s Caribbean playlist: • • • • • • • • • •

PHOTO FINISH: Making MeMories

FUN PHOTO TIPS LET THE DIvA OUT! d it. ◆ If it bends, ben y. ◆ Feel fun and flirt smile is a girl’s ◆ Remember, a best accessory.

Beenie Man — “Rum & Redbull” Bob Marley & The Wailers — “Could You Be Loved” Bobby McFerrin — “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” Byron Lee — “Tiney Winey” Tony Tribe — “Red Red Wine” Jimmy Buffet — “Margaritaville” Might Sparrow — “Matilda” Harry Belafonte — “The Banana Boat Song (Day-o)” Byron Lee — “Dollar Wine” Tony Matterhorn — “Dutty Wine”

!

UT O A DIv E TH T E L

all smile, a laugh, ◆ Play with a sm k. loo y sex a channel ◆ Be yourself and your inner diva.

!

UT O IvA D E TH T LE

The photos you bring home could be the most important part of your vacation. But between poor focus, the redeye effect from a badly aimed flash and trying to get everyone in your family to smile before you miss the photo op, they often turn out to be the most disappointing part.

Maybe it’s time to seek professional help.

The onboard photo team at Pixels Gallery can perfectly capture your cruise memories. No more worries about missed photos or having to ask a stranger to do the honors so the family photographer can finally get in the shot.

These pros also can help you strike just the right pose for unique, appealing pictures that bring out the real you. Pixels Gallery also has fun albums and other tools to make your photos look extra-special. Just stop by the onboard gallery.

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fun takes Keeping Up with Carnival Cruise Lines

SWEET STUFF: Shake Spot What’s more indulgent than a cool, creamy milkshake or float? How about a cool, creamy milkshake or float with a shot of bourbon, rum, vodka or other spirit?

Shake Spot, the sweet spot on Carnival Sunshine (and coming soon to more ships), takes ice cream to a new level of decadence with its spiked milkshakes and floats. adult selections include the Black Raspberry truffle shake (Chambord Black Raspberry liqueur, chocolate syrup, chocolate ice cream and chocolate sprinkles) and the Dark and stormy float (Gosling’s rum, ginger beer and vanilla ice cream). Of course, you can always get a non-alcoholic treat, like the strawberry Creamsicle shake or the classic Root Beer float.

Here are two to try at home, one spiked and one simple:

The Spirit of Kentucky Glass • 16-ounce clear cup Garnish • Whipped cream Ingredients • 1 ¼ ounces Maker’s Mark bourbon • 4 pumps caramel syrup • 4 scoops vanilla ice cream • 5 ounces milk

Island Delight Glass • 16-ounce clear cup Garnish • Cherry Ingredients • 3 scoops vanilla ice cream • 4 ounces pineapple juice • 4 ounces milk • 2 pumps coconut syrup Directions Add ingredients to blender and blend.

Pour into cup and garnish with cherry.

A classic root beer float

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photoS by: (cherrieS) SkylineS/ShutterStock.com; (rootbeer float) Julie Vader/ShutterStock.com.

Directions Add ingredients to blender and blend.

Pour into cup and top with whipped cream.

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Tell the world your story

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Experience at: Barbados • Key West • Puerto Rice • St. John • Tortola 1.888.527.4473 www.LittleSwitzerland.com

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photos by: (casino) shots studio/shutterstock.com; (engagement) pressmaster/shutterstock.com.

fun takes Keeping Up with Carnival Cruise Lines

CASHING OUT? A Few Suggestions for Spending

Your Casino Winnings

CREATING THE TIMES OF YOUR LIFE You don’t have to be a high roller to get in on the action in the casino during your cruise. You can place your bets for as little as $5 at table games and just pocket change for slots. When it comes to payoffs, they’re just as nice for novices as for experts.

Jackpots are nice when they happen, of course, but they’re not the only way you can take away some cash. Join the Carnival Players Club (it’s free) and insert your sail & sign card every time you play one of the games, and you’ll earn valuable points that add up to actual cash and even free cruises.

You can build skills and knowledge at gaming lessons offered on many ships, and the casino team is always available to answer questions. Here’s the fun part: figuring out how to spend the cash you win.

• Treat your friends to dinner at the Steakhouse or to a round of drinks. Or both.

• Splurge on a massage or a signature treatment at the onboard spa.

• Indulge yourself with a spree at The Fun Shops.

Cherry on Top is a sweet spot to spend a small jackpot, or visit the fine-jewelry store to add some sparkle to your life.

• Take your friends and family on that shore excursion they’ve been dreaming of in their favorite port.

You probably have your own ideas for treating yourself.

Just remember, this is what’s known as “found money.” You are not allowed to use it for the rent or the light bill.

Inside Tips Here’s some starting advice from the casino team: • Craps: Play the pass line for the best odds in the house.

• Roulette: Outside bets are simple to play. Put your chips on black or red, odd or even, for a quick result.

• Poker: Three-card poker is easy and fun.

• Blackjack: The FunPairs side bet adds another dimension to the game. A pair of kings may win big.

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Ok, guys. This is a wedding proposal: a hush fell over the entire Carnival Breeze dining room, as a guest dropped to one knee and a waiter arrived at the table with a cake topped by a sparkling diamond engagement ring. “Will you marry me?” the hopeful groom asked. not only did his intended say yes — and break down in tears — but so did many of the other guests.

It was all in a day’s work for Melissa sealy, assistant retail manager of Cherry on top onboard Carnival Breeze. she set up the proposal with the dining room’s maître d’, as part of Carnival’s onboard team that helps guests celebrate and remember the times of their lives.

Birthdays, graduations, weddings, reunions and other events are the memories that stay with you no matter where you are in life. But what is it you really remember: the event itself, or the way you celebrated and the people who were there to share the moment with you?

Carnival’s onboard team makes it their mission to turn these moments into true events. staff members at Cherry on top or the special Occasions store, in the fun shops, love to take great moments and make them incredible, with big gestures and small touches: arranging for the ship’s captain to perform a vow-renewal ceremony, getting the pastry chef to write a wedding proposal in icing on a cake, even having roses delivered to your stateroom. and all you have to do is stop by the fun shops when you’re onboard. now isn’t that special?

Special Occasions packages include: • • • • • • •

Champagne packages Food trays Cakes Room decorations Wine, and wine packages Gifts Lots more creative ideas from the Fun Shops staff

Looking to surprise someone the moment they enter their stateroom? Order online before your next cruise at carnival.com/FunShops.

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Celebrity chef Guy Fieri brings burgers and attitude to Carnival’s ships.

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CAN’T TOP THIS Hot on tHe Grill

Bring on the Donkey Sauce and the Chilius Maximus.

Guy Fieri’s awesome burgers — and creative toppings — are spicing up the high seas.

By Jacquelynn D. Powers

When Guy Fieri was recruited to create a burger concept for Carnival Cruise Lines, the spiky-haired Food Network star was initially flattered but not sold on the idea. Yes, he had become a burger connoisseur during his travels as the host of Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. His seven existing restaurants even served burgers. But an eatery devoted solely to burgers — at sea, no less? Maybe not.

Fieri reconsidered his position after taking his first cruise ever, aboard Carnival Splendor. That was three years ago. Today, his eponymous Guy’s Burger Joint

is one of the most successful dining venues on the high seas. It serves around 1,000 burgers a day on each of six ships, and is being added to more vessels every year.

“You want to talk about a milestone in a guy’s career, is when we got the phone call saying we just served the millionth burger at Guy’s Burger Joint,” Fieri says in a phone interview. “As a kid, I remember when McDonald’s used to have that sign up on their marquee, 47 million served. I’ve had a chance to touch so many people.”

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HOT ON THE GRILL Guy Fieri

Burger brainstorm It all came together on that first cruise, when Fieri decided to commandeer the ship’s existing burger stand in what can only be described as a wild pop-up eatery — Guy Fieri style. “We pirated this burger concept,” he recalls. “It was a flash mob. People were going ballistic. And it’s not just because I was standing back there. It was the way we were doing the burgers. We served them for about two and a half hours. Even the captain of the ship came down and had a burger.”

From that moment, both Carnival and Fieri were excited about the collaboration. The only caveat was that the chef/restaurateur was not going to mail it in; he wanted to be hands-on. Carnival’s Senior Vice President of Guest Operations Mark Tamis, who was there for the now-legendary burger takeover, notes, “Guy told us from the very beginning, ‘If I’m in, I’m all in. If you just want me to come in and use

my name, it’s not worth it.’ One of the big selling factors for him was seeing the quality we produce every day in our culinary operations.

Just like Carnival, Guy Fieri is a brand. Just as we are protective of our branded experience, he’s protective of his brand.”

That evening, Fieri wrote up the menu for what would become Guy’s Burger Joint. “The burger concept was that organic,” Fieri notes. From the Plain Jane (pretty self-explanatory) to the Chilius Maximus (a chili burger topped with an onion ring), it all just flowed.

As did abbreviations like SMC (Super Melty Cheese) and LTOP (Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, Pickle). “These guys thought I was giving them these cryptic one-liners, but I was just trying to expedite the process,” Fieri says, laughing. “My wife will look at me sometimes and say, ‘Really, did you just say that?’ I’m not trying to be funny. That’s just what came out.”

hot oN

THE PRESS All four of fieri’s books hAve mAde The New York Times’ best-seller list: • Diners, Drive-ins and Dives: An All-American Road Trip… with Recipes! (2008) • More Diners, Drive-ins and Dives: Another Drop-Top Culinary Cruise Through America’s Finest and Funkiest (2009) • Guy Fieri Food: Cookin’ It, Livin’ It, Lovin’ It (2011) The Straight-Up Burger

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• Diners, Drive-ins and Dives: The Funky Finds in Flavortown (2013)

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HOT ON THE GRILL Guy Fieri

Guy Fieri’s

GRILLING TIPS Condiment conundrum Plus, the infamous Donkey Sauce, which Fieri also coined on the spot: “There had been a whole discussion with the team at Carnival. Are we going to put condiments on the burger? Should people have the choice?

I said, ‘No, people shouldn’t have the choice.’ That’s not the way it works. You don’t get Metallica and say no bass. You get it how the band makes it.” But those who do want to further customize can step over to the fully stocked condiments bar.

Here, they can set up their Guy’s burger with an assortment of toppings including all of Guy’s signature sauces.

The sauce in question is composed of mustard, mayonnaise, Worcestershire sauce, garlic and pepper. When asked why he called it Donkey Sauce, Fieri retorts, “Because you’re a jackass if you don’t put it on your burger.” Fieri’s Donkey Sauce has proven to be so popular that it is now on the menu at all of his land-based restaurants, but it originated at Carnival. Talk about a mutually beneficial relationship!

It’s not the first time that Fieri has witnessed food and creativity coming together. As a student at University of Nevada, Las Vegas in the late 1980s, he witnessed Sin City transforming itself from a gambling mecca into a foodie haven. Today, the prolific TV personality sees a similar gourmet revolution happening, albeit at sea. “This great energy is happening on cruise ships now,” Fieri emphasizes. “The ships caught on that people want better, healthier food. They want more options. They aren’t going to stick with three buffets for breakfast, lunch and dinner. They want a small boutiquerestaurant-style experience.”

We asked the master for his secrets and here’s what he told us:

I always prefer charcoal grilling for maximum flavor. It’s important to establish heat zones on the grill: One hot zone for marking the meat and one medium zone for cooking through without burning. Most importantly, grilling is about fun in the sun and letting loose.

Here are a few ways to help make it happen:

1 2

3 4

Lesson one: Pump Up the Volume Music gets the energy going. Nothing sets the mood better than some Gypsy Kings while you’re grilling up red snapper or handmade tortillas. And if you’re just kicking back, you have to have Lynyrd Skynyrd playing.

Lesson Two: Keep ’Em Busy Have one friend keep an eye on the grill while another shucks the corn. Get the kids involved, too. When they create something, they have more of a tendency to eat it.

Lesson Three: Remember, Less Is More Instead of stacking your menu with new recipes, do what you know how to do and take a gamble with one item. It’s about building a repertoire. Go with the aces in your back pocket.

Lesson Four: Don’t Sweat It There have been times when I thought I’d rock the pork chops, then I over-brined them, so we just enjoyed green beans and basmati rice. My go-to side dish: Season small red potatoes liberally, put them on skewers, wrap them in foil and place them on the grill. They’re pretty indestructible.

You’ve been served!

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1980

Launches the Awesome Pretzel Cart.

1996

Opens Johnny Garlic’s, his first restaurant, with business partner Steve Gruber in his hometown of Santa Rosa, California. Johnny Garlic’s now has six locations throughout California.

2006 2006

Wins second season of Food Network Star.

2007

Premieres Diners, Drive-ins and Dives on Food Network.

2007

Opens Tex Wasabi’s in Sacramento.

2011

Premieres Guy’s Big Bite on Food Network.

Launches Guy’s Burger Joint on select ships of Carnival Cruise Lines.

2012

Premieres Rachael vs. Guy, a celebrity cook-off with Rachael Ray.

2012

Opens Guy’s American Kitchen and Bar.

2012

Wins Heinz Best-Dressed Burger for Guy’s Straight-Up With a Pig Patty at the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival.

2012

Opens first location of Guy Fieri on Campus, at Montclair State University in New Jersey.

2013

Wins Emmy in Outstanding Special Class Special category for Guy’s Family Reunion.

Favorite things Fittingly, Guy’s Burger Joint is unique — from its roadside-burger-joint décor to its logo and the staff’s uniforms. And it all stems from Fieri’s fertile imagination. Fieri met with the top brass at Carnival and rattled off his favorite things: “I’m a big Chevy fan so let’s put some Chevy stuff up. Let’s put some hubcaps and car hoods. The next thing I know, I get a call from my boys at Chevy in Detroit saying that Carnival is trying to buy a hood from a Camaro.

I have had my hand in every single piece — from the color of the tile, to the sayings on the back of the shirts, to the embroidered logo on the hats.”

Consistency is another point that is essential to Fieri, meaning that each burger on each ship should taste identically delicious.

“You are on a ship in the middle of the water,” Fieri says. “This is comfort for people. Yes, the recipe has to be great. The name has to be cool. My reputation has to be great. But it’s the consistency that is the most significant factor.” Fieri has even been known to send friends on cruises for full recaps of the experience, as well as popping up onboard himself. He was recently on Carnival Breeze with his crew from Food Network, working the line at Guy’s Burger Joint, seeing comedy shows at The Punchliner presented

by George Lopez and interacting with fans. After all, you can’t miss his signature blond spiky coif.

And that’s the point, says Tamis: “We started this search around chefs that resonated with our guests. It was so obvious that Guy Fieri and the Carnival guests were such a great alignment. People love burgers and they love Guy. It’s the most popular venue on the ship for lunch.” For Fieri, the connection was also about the guests and their taste buds. “If you’re going to do a burger, you’d better do a real-deal burger that’s going to blow people away,” he says.

“They came to me knowing my background. That’s what they got, and I couldn’t be more proud.”

LEFT, FROM TOP: Fieri clowns with Mark Tamis, Carnival’s senior vice president of guest operations; Guy’s Burger Joint, as seen on select ships.

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Seth Browarnik/worldredeye.com

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

HOT ON THE GRILL Guy Fieri

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Show your cruise ship I.D. and RECEIVE a gift and discount offer.

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CREW Spotlight AndreAs Liem/shutterstock.com

Carnival Cruise Lines has some of the most dedicated employees in the cruise industry, and they love their work. We thought you might like to meet some of the many who work so hard to bring the fun to your cruise.

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PatriCK BLoDgEtt mUSiCaL DirECtor Carnival Liberty

What’s your fondest memory working for Carnival?

I met my wife on Carnival Ecstasy. I proposed to her at a main show in front of about 1,000 guests. She said, “yes.”

Why did you choose to work for Carnival?

Carnival was highly recommended as having challenging and entertaining shows and high-quality entertainment. It seemed like a wonderful way to earn a steady income as a professional musician.

What’s your favorite guest story?

When I sailed on Carnival Triumph, we had a guest who sailed every other month and performed in the talent show. His name was Mr. Wiggles, he was 98, and he always sang the same song — and always got a standing ovation. He came on his 100th birthday, and we had a special cake made for him.

“My best memory was when the Captain named me Team Member of the Month.”

Dan Ditcu

gUiLLErmo CatHErinE gUiLL JEtHWani CaStaÑEDa information SYStEmS tEam HEaD WaitEr Carnival Valor

Why did you choose to work for Carnival?

When I started out in 1994, I wanted to work for the best cruise line in the world. I also wanted to grow as a person and in my career in hospitality.

How do you bring the fun?

I’m always friendly, making jokes, performing funny tricks and creating good memories for guests.

Any special guest stories?

Years ago, I had a senior couple at my station, and we grew close. A few months later, I got a handwritten letter from the wife telling me her husband passed away. She felt she needed to let me know, and that really touched my heart.

“Lots of guests remember my face, my name, my smile. Even if it was long ago on a different ship, they still remember me.”

Paitun Kaiwan

managEr Carnival Conquest What do you love about cruising?

Waking up every day in a different place, looking forward to the explorations that await me in the ports of call, meeting people from so many different cultures and sharing experiences. Each day is always a new adventure.

Where’s your favorite place to be on the ship?

It has to be the gym. I love having a variety of sports equipment in my “house,” along with a panoramic view of the ocean. You can’t beat that!

What is your best memory about working for Carnival?

I met a family with two young girls, ages 7 and 3. They had nothing but praise for the crew. They couldn’t wait to tell their friends about their cruise. I will never forget the smiles on their faces, knowing how happy the crew had made them feel. It made me feel very proud to be part of such a great team.

Barista Carnival Pride

Hotel Services Technician Carnival Magic fun ashore Carnival Cruise Lines

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CREW SPOTLIGHT Bringing the Fun

ILDIKO KOTELES BARTENDER

Carnival Pride

ZSANETT PAP SENIOR BARTENDER

Carnival Sunshine

JULIUS ARANCIS ENGINE

ADMINISTRATOR Carnival Dream

What is the best part about your job?

Besides offering people a nice drink, I get to chat with guests and help them to forget their day-to-day worries.

How do you bring the fun?

I always joke with people, so they can have the opportunity to laugh and have a fun time. It makes me happy when I see my guests are happy and enjoying their vacation.

Why did you decide on a career with Carnival?

I always wanted to travel and work with people, so working on a ship seemed just right. Also, my husband started to work for Carnival, and I thought it would be especially nice if we could work together.

What do you love about cruising?

I never get bored. It is a great experience to meet different people and visit beautiful ports.

How do you bring the fun?

Saying “Hi” with a smile to my fellow crew members and guests, and calling them by their names.

Describe a time you really made a difference.

There was a guest who was having a lot of difficulties in his life and with his health. Together with my bar team, we really engaged with him, so he pretty much forgot his problems. Near the end he said, “I’ve been cruising so many times, but this cruise was my best one because I had the best bar team!”

Do you have any tips for guests?

To see the live shows in the theatre onboard and visit The Fun Shops — and try the steakhouse.

Where do you like to relax on the ship?

I like spending time on the crew open deck.

“My favorite place to be onboard is my workshop, doing my job.”

Jose Martinez

Senior Joiner Carnival Paradise

“What I like best about cruising is that every day is like a vacation.”

Kris Liebsch

Why did you decide on a career in the cruise industry?

With the salary I could help support my parents, and I wanted to experience different countries.

What is the best part of your job?

Having a lot of friends of different nationalities and being appreciated by my fellow crew members and supervisors.

“My favorite part of the ship is the open deck, because I can see how big the sea is.”

Triana Komang Hotel Steward Carnival Freedom

Casino Host Carnival Fascination

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What do you love about cruising?

I love being at sea, just watching the sea. Cruising also gives me the opportunity to visit many places in a short period of time.

What is the best part about your job?

I enjoy getting to know people from all over the world and learning about their traditions and history. I like helping others, even with little things.

Sometimes it can be just a tiny effort for me, but it could make a world of difference to someone else.

So far, what is your favorite memory working for Carnival?

My sister used to work for Carnival, and on my second contract we worked on the same ship, even shared the same cabin. We spent all our free time together, explored the ports together and made mutual friends.

“The best part of my job is making sure that the machinery in the engine room — my favorite place on the ship — is working properly.”

Atul Kumar Pandey Wiper Carnival Inspiration

SUpERVISOR Carnival Sensation How did you end up working for Carnival?

I studied tourism management in college, and I wanted to combine my passion for travel and meeting new people with my education. My boyfriend (now husband) worked on Carnival Fascination and loved the experience. I applied shortly after, and it has been amazing ever since.

How do you bring the fun?

It’s about little things we do to make guests feel welcome, involved and part of our onboard family. It really makes their vacation experience better.

What makes your job so rewarding?

The best part of my job is to see a smile on the face of our guests after they have been assisted or just simply greeted when passing by.

“My advice for guests is to release all the tensions . . . Relax and enjoy their vacation. Have FUN!”

FELIX ORTIZ TELLEZ TEAM LEADER

Carnival Inspiration Why did you choose to work for Carnival?

At first, I joined Carnival to make money, but now I feel like it’s my second family. When I’m home, I miss my fellow crew members.

What do you love about cruising?

Meeting people from other countries that become your onboard family has been a very wonderful experience.

What do you like most about your job?

Even after 19 years, I still enjoy doing the work I do. It’s always interesting and challenging helping all departments onboard. Everyone needs construction work done, just like on land!

“I chose to work for Carnival because I know that it will help give a better life and future for me and my family.

I remember when I was first able to send money home to my children so they could go to private school.”

Rico Villamor Senior Welder Carnival Dream

Jeanybelle Jimenez

Human Resources Coordinator Carnival Glory 38

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ALL FOR THE KIDS: TImE TO CARE Carnival steps up its support for the young patients at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®.

By Sam Stanton

LInDSEy:

Inspiring Godmother and

Goodwill Ambassador

Lindsey was 10 years old when she was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Her family turned to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® to provide treatment and in two and a half years, she was cancer-free. Lindsey now serves as a brand ambassador to support the hospital she credits with saving her life, and she is the godmother to Carnival Magic.

“I’m so honored. It’s such an amazing opportunity because, more than anything, just seeing the heart and compassion behind Carnival, and their dedication to the children of St. Jude,” says Lindsey. “It’s a very personal thing for me because without St. Jude, I wouldn’t be alive today.”

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A 10-year-old girl, battling leukemia, arrived with her parents at a hospital, not quite sure what to expect. The man who checked them in assured them of two things: They were in the absolute best place for their daughter’s care, and they would never have to worry about medical bills.

That was 20 years ago, and his assurances were correct. The little girl who entered St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® that day has grown into a woman: Lindsey Wilkerson. After overcoming acute lymphoblastic leukemia at St. Jude, she now serves as a senior brand ambassador, helping to share the St. Jude story.

She has plenty to share. Due to the research and treatment plans developed at St. Jude, the survival rate for her form of leukemia is 94 percent — 90 percent higher than it was in 1962, when the hospital opened. No matter where they’ve come from or what they’re seeking treatment for, the families of St. Jude, past and present, share a story of comfort and hope.

Located in Memphis, Tennessee, St. Jude is the global leader in finding cures and saving children with cancer and other deadly diseases. Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall survival rate for childhood cancer from 20 percent in 1962 to more than 80 percent today. St. Jude is working to drive that overall survival rate to 90 percent by 2020. Thanks to the generosity of donors, families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food — because all a family should worry about is helping their child live.

ABOVE LEFT: Lindsey Wilkerson as a 10-year-old patient at St. Jude. ABOVE RIGHT: At the naming ceremony for Carnival Magic, with Carnival President and CEO Gerry Cahill and the ship’s captain, Giovanni Cutugno. Lindsey is Carnival Magic‘s godmother.

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How Guests Can Help Carnival is providing guests with a number of ways they can get involved with the rewarding initiative. During their travels and upon their return home, guests are encouraged to show their support for the young patients of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®.

Here are some ways you can help: • Each day onboard, check your daily Fun Times for the day’s St. Jude activities.

• Come out for Groove for St. Jude, a large-scale charity dance celebration; 100% of proceeds benefit St. Jude.

• Participate in a Beary Cuddly workshop and create a St. Jude-themed stuffed animal. All profits, no less than 60% of the purchase price, benefit St. Jude.

• Remember, your cruise director is championing the initiative. Ask him or her for additional ways to help out onboard the ship.

• Once you return home, keep informed by visiting the St. Jude portal on Carnival’s website: www.carnival.com/stjude.

FROM TOP: Heading to the St. Jude prom for teen patients; Carnival provided the young men’s tuxedos.

Partners in hope Carnival Cruise Lines is helping to create more stories of hope as St. Jude’s official Celebration Partner. After giving $3 million over three years, the company has pledged another $5 million to support St. Jude’s mission to advance cures and prevent deadly childhood diseases through research and treatment.

Carnival has organized a variety of new fundraising activities, both onboard and ashore, as part of its ongoing support. Proceeds of special bingo games, waterslide rides and bakery purchases benefit the hospital.

Carnival’s travel-agent partners also donate to St. Jude when participating in the line’s ship familiarization tours and luncheons.

Carnival gives in many ways besides financial support. The cruise line revamped the St. Jude portal within its website, which includes information on the expanded partnership and an updated chart reflecting progress toward the new $5 million fundraising goal. DJ IRIE, the official DJ for both Carnival and the 2013 NBA champion Miami HEAT, appeared at the prom that St. Jude hosts for young patients who can’t attend their own school dances. Carnival provided free tuxedos to the young men.

“We are pleased to expand our relationship with St. Jude and become its Official Celebration Partner, while at the same time increasing our fundraising goal to $5 million over the next four years,” says Gerry Cahill, Carnival’s president and CEO. “We hope that our fun in-hospital celebrations will bring smiles to kids’ faces and the funds raised will support St. Jude’s life-saving research and education programs.”

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(lopez) s_bukley/shutterstock.com; (campbell) FeatureFlash/shutterstock.com; (saldana) FeatureFlash/shutterstock.com; (beauvais) s_bukley/shutterstock.com; (washington) helga esteb/shutterstock.com.

Style

SetterS

of the Caribbean Chic Paradise

Five famous island girls who dress to impress

By Dorothy Cascerceri

Island fashion usually means sundresses, sarongs, flip-flops and a beach bag. But Caribbean style gets a whole new meaning from several Hollywood stars with roots in the tropics. Time and again, they’ve landed on best-dressed lists with their glamorous — yet seemingly effortless — looks.

FROM LEFT: Jennifer Lopez, Naomi Campbell, Zoe Saldana, Garcelle Beauvais, Kerry Washington. fun ashore Carnival Cruise Lines

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STyLe SeTTeRS Caribbean Fashionistas

Jennifer Lopez

Above, Naomi Campbell posing on the runway at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in New York City; right, appearing at the Cannes film festival.

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Naomi CAMpBeLL

“Jenny from the Block,” whose parents are from Puerto Rico, started out in the spotlight with big, curly hair, wide hoop earrings and sneakers. But at the 2000 Grammy Awards, she exploded onto the fashion scene with a very revealing green palm-print Versace gown. Since that dramatic entrance, her style has evolved from what she described to Harper’s Bazaar as first “boyish, hip-hoppy sensibility” to “classic

things, movie stars, Jackie O” and finally “all of these things mixed together — that’s my style.” A huge fan of Valentino and Marchesa, Lopez went from Fly Girl on In Living Color to international recording artist, actress and designer. “There’s a lot of different sides of me,” she has said of her personal style, “kinda like the Jenny from the Block side and this glamour Hollywood persona, red carpet thing.”

The international supermodel and executive producer and coach of The Face on Oxygen Network is such a fashion icon that her shoes — a pair of 10-inch Vivienne Westwood platform heels that she wore in 1993 — now reside in London’s Victoria and Albert Museum.

Born to a Jamaican mother, Campbell has walked the runway for all the big design houses — including Roberto Cavalli, Zac Posen — and for two decades, Versace cast her

in every single runway show.

Campbell got her start at age 7 when she appeared in a music video for Bob Marley’s “Is This Love.” She began modeling at 15, and at age 18, she became the first black woman on the cover of Vogue’s French and British editions. Campbell used her passion for style as a springboard to create a nonprofit organization, “Fashion for Relief,” which raises money for disaster cleanup efforts around the world.

(lopez) FeatureFlash/shutterstock.com; (campbell) FeatureFlash/shutterstock.com, Jaguar ps/shutterstock.com, anton oparin/shutterstock.com; (westwood stamp) catwalker/shutterstock.com.

Jennifer Lopez wearing the famous Versace dress at the 2000 Grammy® Awards; getting star No. 2,500 on the Hollywood Walk of Fame; looking glam in Los Angeles, June 2013.

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The star of Avatar and Star Trek spent a good portion of her teenage years living in the Dominican Republic, where her father is from. Her grandmother and great-grandmother worked as seamstresses, so Saldana embraced fashion at a very early age. She often browsed her grandmother’s books of Coco Chanel designs.

“Fashion wasn’t like a religion to us, but it is in my ancestry. It was never about luxury; it was about art,” she told Gotham magazine.

“My entire sense of fashion is

Zoe Saldana dazzles in white at the 2013 Academy Awards; shines in color at Cannes, 2011.

Zoe Saldana

Garcelle Beauvais arrives at the 2013 ESPY Awards.

Garcelle BeauvaiS Kerry Washington at Variety’s Power of Women Luncheon, Los Angeles; backstage at the 2011 ESPY Awards.

Kerry waShington hington 48

This down-to-earth beauty, who was born in Haiti and lived there until she was 7, is known for her fashion sensibility. She loves clothing by Rachel Zoe as well as Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen’s line, Elizabeth and James.

Beauvais’ star turns have included the films White House Down and Flight and the popular TV show Franklin & Bash. She is also well known for her roles on

The Oscar-nominated actress said in an interview that her love of fashion dates back to her childhood, when she dressed up in her Jamaican mother’s colorful scarves. But there was one person who influenced her style the most: actress Tracee Ellis Ross ((Girlfriends, Daddy’s Girls). “My friend took me Little Girls under her wing,” Washington told Philadelphia Style magazine. “She was born with a Vogue magazine in her hand and an inherent awareness about fashion. She never uses a stylist and looks

shaped by my family, especially my grandmother, and knowing whom she would think about.”

The designers on Saldana’s list of favorites include Chanel, Gucci, Versace and her close friend, Prabal Gurung. “Collecting from certain designers is like collecting art and will always remain as memorable as the very first Chanel bag that I bought myself,” she has said. Saldana has described her personal style as “unexpected” and “emotional,” but don’t expect her to wear that most emotional of colors, pink.

The Jamie Foxx Show and NYPD Blue. Early in her career, she appeared in print ads for Avon, Mary Kay and Clairol, and Calvin Klein and Isaac Mizrahi hired her to strut down their runways. But she’s not seduced by designer names. “It doesn’t have to be a high label. It can be anything from Zara to H&M to Dolce & Gabbana. It all works,” she told Style Network.

beyond flawless.” Washington, who stars in the popular TV show Scandal and also starred in Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained, has several favorite big-name designers including Jason Wu, Francisco Costa at Calvin Klein, Stella McCartney and Tory Burch, but says the best dress she ever sported was part high-fashion, part “mall brand”: “The Thakoon for Gap gown that I helped to design for [the 2010] Met Ball is my favorite thing that I’ve ever worn,” she told Philadelphia Style.

(zaldana) s_bukley/shutterstock.com, FeatureFlash/shutterstock.com; (beauvais) Joe seer/shutterstock.com, helga esteb/shutterstock.com; (washington) helga esteb/shutterstock.com.

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TROPICAL SPLURGE: TASTInG PARAdISE

From cocktails to desserts, some of our favorite treats were created in the Caribbean and beyond.

By Jen Karetnick

Frozen cocktails For every vacation that involves sun and fun — and on a cruise that visits Caribbean islands and/or Mexico, that’s pretty much always the case — travelers consistently require two things to accompany their swimsuits: a towel and a frozen “umbrella drink.”

Certain bartenders might disagree, but in our book, nothing says “relax” faster than the piña colada, a frosty froth of white rum, pineapple juice, cream of coconut and ice. It’s the national drink of Puerto Rico; its invention is credited to Ramon “Monchito” Marrero Perez, who first served it at the Caribe Hilton’s

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Beachcomber Bar in 1954. The piña colada was actually created as a shaken version, but go right ahead and order it frozen if that’s the way you prefer it.

Similar sentiments can be expressed about the frozen margarita. This combination of tequila, triple sec, lime juice, ice and salt (always optional, of course) has become as customary to down while on vacation as a piña colada. It’s also easily flavored with fruits ranging from mango to strawberries. But its history is less clear. While certainly the drink stems from Mexico, various inventors have come forward since the early 1930s to claim it as their personal vision.

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(mojITo) Igor KlImov/shuTTersToCK.Com

From Cuba to Key West Unlike the margarita, the Cuba libre, mojito and daiquiri have sterling origins: They all hail from Cuba. While you can’t make port there to sample this trio of lime-heavy quaffs, you can try them in the subtropical isle that Cuba-phile Ernest Hemingway made famous — Key West — as well as all over Miami. The Cuba libre, a take on rum and Coke, is the easiest to find, followed by the mintinfused mojito.

The simplest to make, however, is the daiquiri. It was named, appropriately enough, for a beach: Daiquirí, near Santiago, Cuba. Often offered in a variety of flavors other than lime, it can be served as a blended frozen drink or as a shaken cocktail. Tradition calls for it to be strained into a martini glass. Feeling akin with Hemingway? Taste his special daiquiri, created in 1921

by Constantino Ribailagua, bartender at El Floridita in Havana. It includes maraschino liqueur, grapefruit juice and simple syrup.

It really is better in The Bahamas The Bahama mama is another drink you can find in just about any port. The history of the drink isn’t clear, but the strength of it is: The recipe calls for white and dark rums as well as coffee and coconut liqueurs.

The equally powerful Goombay smash is a drink that can be traced back to definitive Bahamian origins: Miss Emily’s Blue Bee Bar in Green Turtle Cay, in the Bahamas. This potent combo includes equal measures of white, gold, dark and coconut rums. Its coconut-pineapple flavor led some to believe that this Bahamian national drink is simply a cousin to the piña colada, but it carries a lot more punch.

A punch for your pleasure Classics in their category are planter’s punch from Jamaica and Bajan punch from Barbados. Both are five-ingredient mixtures, which is the definition of a punch; it takes its name from the Hindi word panch, meaning “five.” They have distinct flavors, however. Planter’s punch contains grenadine among its elements; Bajan punch counts on nutmeg and Angostura bitters for a distinctive flavor profile. Either way, if you want to make a punch, you can always count on this adage: “One of sour, two of sweet, three of strong, four of weak.”

A classic mojito will refresh you on a day in the Caribbean sun.

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tropical splurge Tasting Paradise

LEFT and BELOW: Key lime pie; delicious flan.

OPPOSITE: A refreshing piña colada.

RECIPES Very Fruity Frozen Piña Colada with a Float

By Jen Karetnick • • • • • • • • • •

1 ounce white rum 1 ounce coconut rum 4 ounces pineapple juice 2 ounces cream of coconut ½ banana* 1 ½ ounces heavy cream 1 ounce Myer’s dark rum 1 chunk pineapple 1 maraschino cherry 1 chunk banana

* For a more traditional piña colada, leave out the banana.

Intoxicating desserts it’s hard to escape either rum or lime in any drink in the caribbean, and that goes for desserts, too. perhaps the most famous caribbean sweet is rum cake, a ubiquitous treat that varies very little from port to port. You can sample or purchase the rum cakes in various flavors — golden, chocolate, key lime, coconut — and even bring them home as souvenirs.

Non-alcoholic, but just as intensely flavored, key lime pie, a favorite of locals in Key West, is made from a lime that is puckeringly tart. also called West indian lime or Mexican lime, the key

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lime lends a distinct acidity to the intensely sweet condensed milk in the pie’s base.

Flan, also known as flan de leche or crème caramel, is a rich, creamy custard topped with sticky caramel. it’s also a typical way to end a meal on islands like puerto rico, or in Mexico. some popular variations include vanilla bean, coffee and chocolate. unfortunately, as with a cocktail, it’s difficult to settle for just one serving of sweets. on the other hand, the only penalty for overindulging in flan is served by your bikini.

Add two cups of ice to a blender. Add white rum, coconut rum, pineapple juice, cream of coconut, banana and heavy cream.

Blend until smooth.

Pour into a glass and carefully pour rum on top.

Thread a long toothpick with the chunks of fruit and balance on top for a garnish.

Makes 1 drink.

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RECIPES Key West in a Jar: Coconut Panna Cotta, Local Mango, Key Lime Gelée, Orchid Petal, Micro Basil

By Rodney Barchi, Pastry Chef at The Palms Hotel & Spa, Miami

Gelatin Mix (Make this first) • 2 tablespoons plain Knox powdered gelatin • 2 ⁄3 cup cold water Stir gelatin into water and mix until water is absorbed. This process is called blooming. Melt gently over low heat until dissolved. Let cool in the refrigerator until set, about 2 hours.

You will use this Gelatin Mix as needed.

Coconut Panna Cotta

photos by: (key lime pie) AnjelikAGr/shutterstock.com; (flAn) rAfA irustA/shutterstock.com; (drink) tyler olson/shutterstock.com.

• • • • • •

1 ½ cups coconut purée ½ cup milk ½ teaspoon sugar ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract 1 8 ⁄ teaspoon rum extract 1 teaspoon Gelatin Mix

Gently boil coconut purée and milk together in a sauce pan.

Once gently boiling, add sugar; simmer for 2 minutes. Add extracts. Add Gelatin Mix and remove from heat. Stir until completely dissolved. Strain the mixture and evenly portion into eight 6-ounce Mason jars. Allow this to set for about 3 hours in the refrigerator.

Key Lime Gelée • • • • •

¼ cup key lime juice ¼ cup water 1 tablespoon sugar 2 limes, zested 1 tablespoon Gelatin Mix

Gently boil key lime juice, water, sugar and zest together in a sauce pan. Once gently boiling, add Gelatin Mix and remove from heat. Stir until completely dissolved. Pour mixture into a shallow dish and allow it to set for approximately 3 hours in the refrigerator.

Topping (per Mason jar) • 2 teaspoons mango purée • 2-4 pieces of mango • Pinch micro basil • 2-4 petals of an edible flower To serve: Add a layer of Key Lime Gelée into each jar on top of Coconut Panna Cotta. Top each with mango purée, chopped mango, micro basil and an orchid flower.

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FUN FINDS

CarNIval’S SHOPPING PrOGram HelPS yOU FIND tHe beSt DealS, tHe beSt StyleS aND tHe beSt tImeS ON yOUr vaCatION

Duty-free deals…the latest looks… stunning values onboard and ashore.

It all begins right here!

FUN FINDS SHOPPING eXPert One of our highly trained, experienced professionals will guide you in the fun of shopping and saving. Besides hosting a highenergy show at the start of each voyage, the Shopping Expert shares insights at seminars on watches, jewelry and gemstones. Be sure to stop by the Shopping Desk for even more valuable guidance; see your daily Fun Times for hours.

Look for the FUN FINDS Wheel at the FUN FINDS Shopping Show

FUN FINDS SHOPPING SHOW

FUN ASHORE AN 2013 -14 CARIBBE

GETTING THERE

AT SEA FUN Members

Crew Onboard Who Bring It

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THE KIDS ALL FOR Carnival How Makes a Difference

STYLE SETTERS Fashionistas

Famous Caribbean Flock to the

TREATS TROPICAL in Paradise Splurging

GUIDE TO THE PORTS

BEACHES, CULTURE AND MORE starting on page

up oN EA N Co

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LEAVE ENJOY AND PLEASE READ, AT CRUISE’S END IN STATEROOM

COZUmel

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CA RI BB

For only $25, this value package includes over $2,000 in deals from our guaranteed shops ashore. See your Fun Finds Shopping Expert for details.

ASON SAILING SE

CRUISE LINES

HOT ON THE GRILL

Smooth sailing to value begins with this preview of all the fun ahead. Watch the wheel spin for opportunities to win prizes that’ll make this vacation even more special. You’ll also learn about exclusive deals on the best shopping during your cruise.

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FUN FINDS SHOPPING tv

Miss some of the excitement? No worries! Just tune in to your stateroom TV for replays of the live show, news about one-of-a-kind specials, and the Style For All show, which brings the Style For All fashion magazine to life.

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for Him

for Her

Men’s Fine Leathers

Gold • Blue Diamonds • Mexican Exotic Opals Tanzanite • Pearls • Tennis Bracelets • Men’s Rings • Watches Sapphire • Ruby • Emeralds & Diamond Jewelry

OLD SAN JUAN: 151 Fortaleza, San Juan, Puerto Rico • 787 723 8420 COzUmeL: Puerta Maya Pier & Downtown on Rafael E. Melgar Ave • 213 291 8164

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OBJECTS Kabana

DESIRE Korite

Eye pendant

18k-gold Solara pendant

Perfect your look with one of these little luxuries: a dramatic pendant, a sparkling ring, a shimmering bracelet or timepiece. It’s a vacation memory of the best kind.

Sara G. Diamonds Diamond bracelet

Crown of Light White-gold diamond ring

Blue Heaven

Blue and white diamond bracelet

Philip Stein

Signature Collection watch

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CHRONO CLASSIC 1/100 FROM A 1/100TH OF A SECOND CHRONOGRAPH TO A PERPETUAL CALENDAR 3-year warranty I Swiss Made I 41 mm I Water resistant to 100 meters I Scratchresistant, triple-coated anti-reflective sapphire crystal I Ref. 241618

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OBJECTS

DESIRE Mark Henry

18k-gold Circle pendant with natural alexandrite

Safi Kilima

Tanzanite drop pendant

Forevermark 5-stone anniversary band

WonderStud Diamond stud earrings

Jewelry to rock your world: Diamonds top the must-have list, but they’re not the only way to attract a crowd. The looks that matter?

Whatever matters to you.

Gift Collection Diamond hoop earrings

Day 2 Night

Reversible tanzanite diamond earrings

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photographer/ giuseppe bigliardi

Gold • Blue Diamonds • Mexican Exotic Opals Tanzanite • Pearls • Tennis Bracelets • Men’s Rings • Watches Sapphire • Ruby • Emeralds & Diamond Jewelry

OLD SAN JUAN: 151 Fortaleza, San Juan, Puerto Rico • 787 723 8420 COzUmeL: Puerta Maya Pier & Downtown on Rafael E. Melgar Ave • 213 291 8164

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Michal Bednarek /ShUTTerSTOck .cOM

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Guide to Ports 68 82 114 128 132 136 152 168 172 186 188 212 220 222 244 246 248 252 276 288 290 292 340 342 368 386 396 428 460 462

Antigua Aruba Barbados Belize Costa Maya Cozumel Curaçao Fort Lauderdale Freeport Galveston Grand Cayman Grand Turk Half Moon Cay Key West La Romana Mahogany Bay Miami Montego Bay Nassau New Orleans New York City Ocho Rios Port Canaveral San Juan St. Kitts St. Lucia St. Maarten/St. Martin St. Thomas Tampa Tortola

464 Canada – New England 466 New Brunswick: Saint John 468 Nova Scotia: Halifax 472 Boston 473 Portland

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Norfolk New York Boston and Portland

Port Canaveral

FLORIDA Fort Lauderdale Miami

Freeport THe BAHAMAS Nassau

GULF OF MEXICO

Half Moon Cay

Key West

CUBA

Cozumel

MexICO

Grand Cayman Costa Maya

Ocho Rios JAMAICA

Mahogany Bay, Isla Roatรกn

BeLIze

HONDURAS

GUATeMALA

CARIBBEAN SEA CeNTRAL AMeRICA

COSTA RICA

PACIFIC OCEAN

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PANAMA

COLOMBIA

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Ports of Call

Grand Turk TURKS AND CAICOS

HAITI

ATLANTIC OCEAN

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Tortola

San Juan La Romana

PUERTO RICO

St. John

St. Maarten/ St. Martin

St. Thomas St. Kitts

Antigua

St. Lucia Barbados Aruba Curaรงao

VENEZUELA

COLOMBIA

SOUTH AMERICA

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photos by: (View of english harbour) eric baker/shutterstock.com

ANTIGUA

Part of the two-island nation of Antigua and Barbuda, this locale is even more focused on the waters surrounding it than you might expect. The scalloped shores, once beloved by colonial navies and smugglers, are now favored by the most zealous beachgoers and sailors.

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Boaters find many cozy spots to drop anchor.

FUNTREKS

TOP SHORE EXCURSIONS Here are just a few of the many tours you can experience during your visit. See your onboard shore-excursion specialist to book today.

Please ask about age requirements, physical considerations, proper dress and other details.

Deluxe Lobster Lunch & Champagne Cruise It’s a day of luxury and relaxation on the water aboard the catamaran Mystic. Guests dine on lobster and sip champagne as they sail beside the beautiful coastline of Antigua, taking in its white-sand beaches and boutique resorts. The day includes a stop at one of the beaches for sunbathing or swimming and more refreshments.

PHOTOS BY: (VIEW OF ENGLISH HARBOUR) ERIC BAKER/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

4x4 Island Safari & Beach Escape A convoy of open-air, safari-rigged Land Rovers goes where ordinary bus tours can’t reach. The off-road expedition explores the breathtaking south coast, passing through quaint Bendal’s Village by the Body Pond to view rare tropical plants. The expedition continues through the rainforest along Fig Tree Drive and ends with a swim at a beach.

See Antigua by Sea A five-star catamaran takes guests to secluded Green Island for an afternoon of sun and serenity.

Passengers are serenaded with calypso and reggae music on the trip to the island, where the crew serves lunch and offers an open bar. On the return trip, the catamaran sails across English Harbour to the famed Nelson’s Dockyard.

Beach Horseback Riding

Quick Guide Famed for: Beaches, sailing and rich maritime history.

It’s a Fact: Rock legend Eric Clapton owns a home on the island, and you can see it from the bluffs of Shirley Heights.

Signature Souvenirs: Rum, hot pepper sauce and toy steel drums.

How to Get to Town: The lively center of St. John’s is an easy walk from the pier. It takes only a minute or two, and you may not even lose sight of your ship.

Guests saddle up for a scenic horseback ride that includes beautiful beaches and views of Antigua’s historic Fort James. The trek continues to Runaway Bay with its gently sloping sand, cool water and lovely views and where riders have the opportunity to take their horses into the Caribbean Sea.

Canopy Tour & Challenge Course Participants soar across a lush forest, gliding along zip lines and through a challenge course. The experience includes walking across suspension bridges and flying along several zip lines with a ropes-challenge course that does not require physical strength, but offers an excellent view of the landscape below. Safety instructions and equipment are included.

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Port View Called "the Gateway to the Caribbean,” Antigua has been tops with sailors since Britain’s Adm. Lord Horatio Nelson sailed into port in 1784. Today, Nelson’s Dockyard National Park is the world’s only remaining Georgian naval yard, a favorite with yachties and the site of one of the world’s top five regattas. Historic stone buildings house boutiques, restaurants and museums.

Antigua's beaches offer everything from family fun to romantic relaxation to challenging watersports. And shoppers can dive into two special areas on the island. Duty-free shopping reigns at Heritage Quay, where shops sell fine jewelry,

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V. J. Matthew/shutterstock.coM

PORTs OF CALL Antigua

Sailboats are popular on the beaches of Antigua.

perfumes, clothing and more. At the waterfront Redcliffe Quay, shops in colorful colonial buildings sell handicrafts and Caribbean artwork.

When it’s time for a break, restaurants tempt with the national dish of Antigua: cornmeal-based funghi and the thick stew known as pepperpot.

Dessert is an extra-sweet Antigua black pineapple.

Don’t be surprised to see familiar faces in Antigua’s restaurants. Through the years, Eric Clapton, Oprah Winfrey, Denzel Washington and Morgan Freeman have owned homes on this island, named the Caribbean’s best for celebrity spotting. — John Bigley and Paris Permenter

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PoRTS oF cALL Antigua

LEFT: The dockyard where ships and sails were overhauled and repaired. BELOW: Adm. Lord Horatio Nelson, commander of the dockyard for the Royal Navy’s West Indies Fleet during the late-18th century.

Harbor History By 1704, the harbor was sheltering a large part of the British fleet, which set out from here on raids and forays over the next 100 years — a period of constant power struggles between British, Spanish, French and Dutch explorers, settlers and pirates.

The only remaining Georgian naval dockyard in the world achieved its greatest fame when Adm. Lord Horatio Nelson, the man who was to become Britain’s most celebrated naval hero, was headquartered there.

During Nelson’s days in Antigua, the Antillean islands ranked higher in importance than the North American

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colonies, thanks to sugar. The crop was so lucrative that the British government spent a fortune on the dockyard to maintain the might of the Royal Navy and to discourage invaders who sought this precious natural resource.

The yard was officially abandoned by the navy in 1889 and soon fell into disrepair. It was restored and reopened in 1961 by a group of Anti guans and expatriates who formed an organization known as the Friends of English Harbour. Now a national park, this area is a lively center for sailors, history buffs and anyone who enjoys a nautical atmosphere. — Deborah Williams

Jules swickard/istockphoto.com; library of congress.

It was 1671 when Sir Charles Wheeler, governor of the Leeward Islands, first urged the British Crown to consider the deep, expansive bay called English Harbour, Antigua, as a seaport for the British Navy.

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Ports of call Antigua s p e c i a l a d v e r t i s i n g f e at u r e

Tropical

Adventures Await

Tropical Adventures is Antigua’s most established and awarded tour company. We endeavor to provide you with only the best shore excursions during your stay.

The Excellence power catamaran, which operates the See Antigua

By Sea tour, will take you on a 100 percent circumnavigation of Antigua’s exotic coastline with a visit to the idyllic Green Island.

The Mystic sailing catamaran offers the Lobster Lunch & Champagne Cruise. Relax with a refreshing drink as we sail to many beaches on the west coast. Enjoy a grilled-lobster lunch onboard the catamaran.

Looking for an adventure? Join the Island Safari Land Rovers, and let our fun drivers take you through the island’s uncharted territories. Make your way through Antigua’s off-road forest reserves and quaint traditional villages. Stop at a white-sand beach for a swim.

a swimsuit for every body men, women, kids

Heritage Quay, Antigua GOTTEX · TRINA TURK · NAUTICA VIX · QUIKSILVER · BILLABONG

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POrtS Of CAll Antigua

The pastel buildings of St. John's

Whether you feel like shopping or taking in some local history and culture, you’ll find a delightful experience in St. John’s, the capital of Antigua for more than 300 years.

St. John’s

Colonial buildings with corrugated-iron roofs and louvered West Indian-style verandas line the downtown streets, making for a lovely stroll on a sunny afternoon.

Originally a busy trading area for merchants and shopkeepers centered around the harbor, St. John’s has retained much of the charm and scale of the past while offering excellent dutyfree shopping at several international retailers.

Popular Antigua attractions such as Nelson’s Dockyard and Shirley Heights are only a few minutes’ car ride away from the ship’s dock at St. John’s.

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Style

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Chocolates, Imported Cigars, Scented Candles, wide variety of Cigarettes, Wines, Sodas, Snacks

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PORTS OF CALL Antigua

ANTIGUA’S Architecture The island capital, St. John’s, is a neatly laid-out port city crisscrossed by cobblestone sidewalks. Colonial buildings with corrugated-iron roofs and louvered West Indian-style verandas line the downtown streets.

Cathedral of St. John the Divine

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VUKOLAU ALIAKSANDR/SHUTERSTOCK.COM

Twin baroque towers top the lovely Cathedral of St. John the Divine, originally built in 1682 and replaced by a stone building in 1789. The latter structure was twice hit hard by earthquakes, once in 1843 and again in 1973, but the restored towers and southern section are interesting sights.

Atop the hills of Shirley Heights lie the remains of Palladian arches that once were part of the barracks for Gen. Thomas Shirley, governor of the Leeward Islands in 1781. The Block House, erected at Shirley Heights in the 18th century as a stronghold, still stands.

— Marty Leshner

CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES FUN ASHORE

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Fashi o n a ble reso r t w ea r fo r the st y l ish w o m an

gingerlily

BCBG · HALE BOB · SPANX · T’BAGS · GYPSY · YOUNG FABULOUS AND BROKE

Vukolau aliaksandr/shuterstock.com

Located upstairs Heritage Quay, Antigua

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PORTS OF CALL Antigua

BIRDS

When skies turn gray up north, snowbirds aren’t the only sunseekers heading south to Antigua. Some 150 species of birds wing their way to the island annually, about two-thirds migratory and one-third native.

Among the local feathered friends, one of the most frequently observed is the forktailed frigate bird. Unlike most seabirds, which plunge into the Caribbean for a meal, frigate birds do their fishing by skimming along the surface. Their feathers lack the water-resistant oils necessary for diving.

If surface fishing fails, frigate birds have an alternate means of securing their catch of the day. Known also as man-of-war birds, they pester other seabirds into dropping their prey.

The frigate birds then swoop in and snatch the fish before they fall into the water.

Awkward on the ground, frigate birds are graceful in flight and delightful to watch. Their light weight and wingspans, which are up to six feet, allow them to soar for hours without touching down. — Ginger Dingus.

PHOTOS BY: (BIRD) PHAT T./SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; (FEATHERS) ELEONORA KOLOMIYETS/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM.

of a feather

Frigate bird

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PHOTOS BY: (BIRD) PHAT T./SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; (FEATHERS) ELEONORA KOLOMIYETS/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM.

Redcliffe Quay, Redcliffe Street, St. John’s, antigua, W.i.

Tel/fax: 1.268.462.3127 e-mail: noreenphillipscouturiere@hotmail.com FUN ASHORE CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES

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photos by: (Dock on palm beach, aruba) Jo ann snover/shutterstock.com

ArubA

It has some of the best beaches in the Caribbean and interesting inland landscapes. Aruba also draws visitors to its capital city, Oranjestad, where the island's Dutch heritage is evident in colorful architecture and the wares in its shops.

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A sunny spring day in Palm Beach

FUNTREKS

TOP SHORE EXCURSIONS Here are just a few of the many tours you can experience during your visit. See your onboard shore-excursion specialist to book today.

Please ask about age requirements, physical considerations, proper dress and other details.

Best of Aruba & Beach Two of Aruba’s natural and man-made wonders, one of its lovely beaches and an aloe factory, are featured on this tour by air-conditioned motor coach.

Sights include the California Lighthouse, the Casibari Rock formations, the collapsed Natural Bridge and the Baby Natural Bridge; the tour offers a one-hour beach break.

PHOTOS BY: (DOCK ON PALM BEACH, ARUBA) JO ANN SNOVER/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

North Coast Jeep Safari An open-air 4WD Land Rover takes guests off-road to explore Aruba’s north coast. Stops include the Ayo Rock formation and the site of the collapsed original Natural Bridge. Guests have the opportunity to explore the Bushiribana Ruins of Gold, the Chapel of Alto Vista and the California Lighthouse, and go swimming and snorkeling at a picturesque beach before returning to the ship.

De Palm Island Beach & Snorkel This all-in-one getaway offers three hours of fun on De Palm Island. Besides its white sandy beach, the island boasts a water park and a coral reef that is one of Aruba’s best snorkeling spots. A buffet lunch, alcoholic beverages and soft drinks are included; the island is equipped with lounge chairs, freshwater showers and changing rooms.

Atlantis Submarine

Quick Guide Famed for: Palm Beach, windsurfing and jeep rides into the countryside.

It’s a Fact: The unusual, sculptured-looking watapana (dividivi), Aruba’s national tree, always points to the southwest — like nature’s compass.

Signature Souvenirs: Wheels of Gouda and Edam cheese, aloe products and Delftware porcelain.

How to Get to Town: To reach the colorful shops and attractions of Oranjestad, just walk through the cruise terminal and turn left onto L.G. Smith Boulevard.

Guests ride U.S. Coast Guard-approved submarine Atlantis VI on a 50-minute viewing of a sunken airplane or the wreck of the retired Danish sailboat Mi Dushi I, together with the sunken coaster Morgenster. Exotic marine life comes into sight during the descent that goes as deep as 130 feet.

Sea & See Island Tour The air-conditioned Seaworld Explorer takes guests five feet below the surface of the water to view marine life through large glass windows. Sights include the largest shipwreck in the Caribbean, the 440-foot German freighter Antilla. The trip back includes a visit to the California Lighthouse, the original collapsed Natural Bridge and the Casibari rock formations, where guests may climb 80 rugged steps to the top of the highest boulder.

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Port View Everything Dutch comes alive in Oranjestad — from gabled architecture to delicious cheeses and exquisite blue Delft china. But not all of its attractions are imported.

Oranjestad’s picturesque harbor boasts many tempting boutiques at the Renaissance Mall and Marketplace. Treasures such as Mopa Mopa art await in the shops along Caya G. F. Betico Croes, a delightful setting with its classic Dutch gabled, pastel-hued store facades. The legacy at the Numismatic Museum is a rich one, literally: some 40,000 historic coins and paper money from more than 400 countries. More heritage is on display at the Aruba Historical Museum; it

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meunierd/shutterstock.com

PORTS OF CALL Aruba

Aruba's architecture

can be reached with a walk down bustling L.G. Smith Boulevard, to Fort Zoutman and the King Willem III Tower.

At lunchtime, try a bowl of tasty keshi yena, an island specialty made with minced tenderloin and chicken stewed with golden raisins, prunes and nuts, all topped with Dutch Gouda cheese.

Adventurous types explore the rugged, arid north side and famous natural bridges, or head to De Palm Island for snorkeling and swimming. It might be wise to first visit the Aruba Aloe Museum and Factory, where Aruba’s signature moisturizing miracle and sunburn remedy is extracted from the island’s bountiful aloe plants. — Richard Varr

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PORTS OF CALL Aruba

Island Highlights

by Sara Churchville

Sand Dunes and Lighthouses

Pastechis These pastries, served at any meal and filled with dried fruit, spices and meat or seafood, are one of the island’s best-loved specialties.

Natural Bridges Aruba has several bridges formed naturally from coral limestone, but one was known above all: the Natural Bridge. Spanning 100 feet and rising 23 feet above sea level, it was a national treasure. Unfortunately, it collapsed in 2005. The nearby Baby Natural is only 25 feet long and 3 feet high, but it has taken the original's place as a favorite attraction for visitors and locals alike.

Rock Formations Hikers can experience a bit of Stonehenge in the Caribbean thanks to Aruba’s as-yet-unexplained rock and boulder formations. Some of the formations are full of quartz-diorite, while others, like the ones at Ayo, are decorated with petroglyphs. A few even seem to have been stacked atop each other, though apparently not by human hands. If you scale one, you’ll be rewarded with wonderful views of the island.

PHOTOS BY: FERNANDO ARRONIZ/ARUBA TOURISM BOARD; PRASAD GONDI/WIKIPEDIA.COM; LIMEINTERACTIVE/ISTOCKPHOTO.COM.

Exploring the island’s desert topography on foot will net you tumbleweed, aloe, cacti — and sand dunes. At Hudishibana, on the northwesternmost part of Aruba, are the sweeping California Sand Dunes on which sits the California Lighthouse, which is not named for the U.S. state but for a ship that sank here in 1910. The area around the structure is a popular spot for picnics and beach strolling, and the waters off the beach offer excellent swimming and snorkeling.

FROM TOP: A lighthouse stands guard on a sand dune; pastechis, a favorite island snack; Baby Natural Bridge; rock formations afford great views.

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POrTS Of CAll Aruba

A Diverse, Friendly

PoPulation

by Gerald Zarr

Aruba is home to a mixture of people from South America, Europe, the Far East and other islands of the Caribbean, though most are descended from Arawak, Dutch and Spanish ancestors. No fullblooded Indians remain.

Aruba’s people are keen linguists, using Dutch, English, Spanish and Papiamento with ease, often all in the same conversation.

Underground caves at Arikok National Park

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the Dutch come to stay With their lukewarm attitude toward Aruba, the Spanish didn’t resist too fiercely when the Dutch came calling in 1636 to seize Aruba and the sister islands of Bonaire and Curaçao. Once again, Aruba was saved from the slave trade and a plantation economy because of its poor soil and aridity. Instead, the Dutch left the Arawaks to graze livestock on the parched landscape, using the island to produce meat for other Dutch possessions in the area. With the exception of a short period during the Napoleonic Wars, when the island fell to the British, Aruba has remained Dutch.

Zina SeletSkaya/ShutterStock.com

Beginnings Two thousand years ago, the Arawak people settled Aruba and were still there, in 1499, when the Spanish conquistador Alonso de Ojeda came to claim the island for Queen Isabella of Spain. The Spanish didn’t think highly of Aruba, finding it too arid for cultivation — a bad judgment call, because they missed the gold that was right under their noses and didn’t foresee the economic boom in oil and high-rise hotels that the island would experience. This was a lucky break for the Arawaks, though, who were left alone by the Spanish for more than a century. Thus the Arawak heritage is stronger in Aruba than on most Caribbean islands, thanks to that laissezfaire approach.

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M or e n a B a c c a rin for H ea rts on fire. heartsonfire.com 877-PERFECT

Noble Jewelers Weststraat #4, Shop #1, Oranjestad, Aruba | 297.583.8780 / 8785 | nash@setarnet.aw

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POrTS OF CAll Aruba

19th-century gold rush In 1824, Aruba experienced its first economic boom when gold was discovered on its northern coast.

A flood of gold-hungry immigrants arrived from Europe and Venezuela, and the gold rush was on. A smeltery at Bushiribana processed over three million tons of raw material until 1916, when the mines were shut down.

After gold petered out, Aruba became the world’s top producer of aloe, just as the sunbathing craze was taking off in the United States.

One can still visit the Aruba Aloe Balm Factory and see the production process from aloe leaf to finished lotions and creams.

Underground caves

20th-century black-gold rush Oil gave Aruba its next economic boom. In 1929, the Standard Oil Company of New Jersey (now Exxon) built what was then the world’s largest oil refinery in San Nicolas, on the southeastern coast. This refinery employed more than 8,000 people — 16 percent of Aruba’s population — making San Nicolas the island’s second-largest city. Exxon closed the refinery in 1985 during a global oversupply, but the Coastal Oil Company of Houston, Texas, reopened it in 1991.

Modern politics and tourism In the 1940s, Aruba began to resent playing second fiddle to Curaçao in the federation known as the Netherlands Antilles (then composed of Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao and Suriname). By 1986, Aruba had enough and became an autonomous state within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, with its own constitution and a high degree of self-government.

For a while, Aruba toyed with the idea of proceeding to full independence but then decided to stay Dutch.

In the capital of Oranjestad, or “orange city,” honoring Holland’s reigning House of Orange, a 21-member legislative assembly elected by popular vote meets regularly, and a prime minister heads an eight-member council of ministers.

The Netherlands is still responsible for defense and foreign affairs. Despite its separate status, Aruba still retains strong economic, cultural and political ties with the mother country and her sister islands.

Before the first luxury hotel was opened in 1959, cruise ships provided the main source of visitors to the island. Since then, both ship- and land-based tourism have grown phenomenally.

Aruba now boasts more than 6,000 hotel rooms and over a million visitors each year.

Having supplanted oil as a revenue earner, tourism is now the mainstay of the island economy.

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Noble Jewelers Weststraat #4, Shop #1, Oranjestad, Aruba | 297.583.8780 / 8785 | nash@setarnet.aw heartsonfire.com

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PORTS OF CALL Aruba

PAPIAMENTO Spoken Here

The language, like the people, has evolved from a wonderful mix of cultures and reflects the friendly and open nature of the country and the people. Of course, most also speak English and Dutch, but Arubans have a natural aptitude and flair for language and it is not uncommon to hear four or five languages used in a single conversation.

Papiamento is basically a Creole language that was derived from African and Iberian Romance languages with influences from Native American languages, English and Dutch.

The language has two main dialects. Papiamento, which is spoken primarily in Aruba, and Papiamentu, heard in Bonaire and Curaçao.

The name of the language is derived from “papear,” which means “to jabber” in Portuguese or “to speak incoherently” in Spanish. The name also has the same meaning as the word “parliament,” which is derived from the French word “parler” (to speak).

Through the middle of the 19th century, Papiamento was the main language for written materials on the island, including hymnals and schoolbooks printed by the Catholic Church. The language thrived until Dutch was named as the language of instruction in schools.

Official or not, the locals continued to prefer their own locally grown language, with its lilting, rhythmic tones, for personal communication. Finally, in 2003, after being spoken since the 1500s, Papiamento joined Dutch as the official language of Aruba. — Jim Thompson

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Here are some words and phrases to help you communicate like a native while in Aruba.

Welcome Have a nice day!

How are you?

I am fine My name is...

What is your name?

Thank you very much You are welcome See you later Very good Congratulations Good-bye Good morning Good afternoon Good evening Good night

Bon bini Pasa bon dia!

Con ta bai?

Mi ta bon Mi nomber ta...

Con jamabo?

Masha danki Di nada Te aworo Hopi bon Masha pabien Ayo Bon dia Bon tardi Bon nochi Bon nochi

DUDAREV MIKHAIL/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

If someone in Aruba says “Bon bini” to you, don’t think they are being forward. They are only saying “Welcome” in their native language of Papiamento.

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PORTS OF CALL Aruba

Aruba flags flutter in the breeze.

FLYING HIGH

The four-pointed star, or sun (located in the upper corner, or the canton position, so it can be seen even in a slight breeze), symbolizes both the importance of the sun to Aruba’s way of life and the four points of the compass, representing the rich diversity and backgrounds of its citizens. It also represents the island’s four major languages: Papiamento, Dutch, English and Spanish.

The red color of the star (Union Jack red) is a symbol of love of the country and the island’s clay soil, while the white outline represents purity, a respect for justice and freedom, and the white sandy beaches of Aruba.

The blue background (United Nations blue) signifies

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the Aruban sky and the surrounding Caribbean Sea. The yellow stripes running along the bottom represent Aruba’s position of freedom and independence with respect to The Netherlands and other islands (it is an autonomous part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands) and its closeness to these same places.

In addition to the sun, gold and abundance, the bunting yellow color is said also to represent the native wanglo flower. One stripe represents the flow of tourists; the other stands for the industries of gold, aloe and oil.

Aruba celebrates National Flag Day and National Anthem Day on March 18. — Jim Thompson

REGISSERCOM/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Officially adopted in 1976, Aruba’s flag symbolizes the best elements of this beautiful island nation. The flag incorporates a red star with a white outline and two parallel yellow stripes along the bottom, all floating on a sea of blue.

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But gold wasn’t discovered in Aruba until 1824 when 12-yearold Willem Rasmijn stumbled upon lumps of the pure stone while tending his father’s sheep near Rooi Fluit on the island’s north coast. Word soon got out, and a prospecting frenzy erupted on the island. But the fever was quelled several years later when the Dutch government stepped in and declared the gold off-limits while establishing a mining industry of its own.

For mining and processing the new bounty, the Aruba Island Gold Mining Company built the Bushiribana gold smelter, which included a stamp mill, furnaces, zinc tanks and trams. Aruba’s first pier and port, at Forti Abou, was built six miles away to ship the gold. The mine was eventually sold to the London-based Aruba Gold Concessions Ltd., which moved operations to the then-state-of-the-art Balashi gold mill smelter, built in 1899 in the southwest of the island. The new facility included several furnaces, tanks for cyanide refining, an ore crusher, an electrical plant and a system of three railway lines. Operations continued until 1916 when the onset of World War I made it difficult to acquire materials for processing.

In all, the mines in Aruba produced more than three million pounds of gold over nearly 100 years of production.

The mines have long been out of use, and today Bushiribana’s ruins offer visitors a glimpse into the island’s past.

Soaring exterior walls of granite — quarried from nearby boulders — are set along Aruba’s rugged and pristine eastern coastline, with the blue waters of the Caribbean Sea 100 feet away. The Balashi ruins are in a lush setting overlooking Spanish Lagoon and the rocky canyon of Frenchman’s Pass. The ruins can be reached via the most common transportation of the period: horseback, with several horse ranches on the island that offer riding tours. For more modern modes, Jeep tours are also available with stops at the ruins. — John Anderson

ANDREY BURMAKIN/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Crown of Light S p ar k C o llecti o n p en d ant

They came in search of gold. In the 1400s and 1500s, the Caribbean was teeming with Spanish speculators and other adventurers (and pirates!) hunting for the precious metal, lured to the region by the promise of riches, and the island of “Oro Ruba” or “red gold” — now known as Aruba.

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PORTS OF CALL Aruba

BASEBALL:

The Great Aruban Pastime

Aruba has a surprising affinity for the American sport of baseball, all the more remarkable considering its connection to the soccer-crazed Netherlands. On average, more people watch baseball on TV in Aruba, and neighboring Curaçao, than anywhere else in the world.

Baseball in Aruba dates back decades. Its amateur baseball federation was established in 1950 and today has a number of teams from each of its four largest cities: Oranjestad, Noord, Santa Cruz and San Nicolas. Even before 1950, baseball was played on the sandlots and dirt fields of the island.

One theory says the sport was introduced by American oilmen based here in the 1920s and 1930s as they formed an informal league of several teams and passed the finer points of the game to curious locals.

However baseball got its start here, the results include an active Little League system that regularly competes internationally. Aruba represented the Caribbean region in the 2011 Little League Baseball World Series, and in 2010, a team from San Nicolas won the Senior League Baseball World Series for 13- to 16-year-olds. Some of these Little Leaguers have gone on to represent the Aruba national

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baseball team, which is now combined with Curaçao’s team. They also play for the Kingdom of the Netherlands during the annual World Baseball Classic, a tournament they nearly won in 2013.

A number of Arubans have signed with professional teams in the minor league system in the United States.

Xander Bogaerts, a rangy shortstop from San Nicolas, starred for the national team as a youngster and went on to become a top prospect for the Boston Red Sox in 2013, while his twin brother, Jair Bogaerts, was a minor leaguer with the Chicago Cubs in the same year. The list of past Aruban stars includes Sidney Ponson, a pitcher with a blazing fastball for the Baltimore Orioles and other teams until 2009. Calvin Maduro pitched for Baltimore until 2002, while Gene Kingsale was an outfielder for several big league teams until 2002. — John Anderson

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in Design

But they soon discovered the heat and humidity of the islands were too powerful for the wooden furniture to endure. So local craftsmen were given the task of duplicating imported furnishings using sturdier woods indigenous to the islands. The reproductions proved to be less identical and more interpretive as the years went by.

Thus were born the distinctive island design styles. Michael Connors, a distinguished scholar of West Indian decorative arts and furniture, explores this evolution in Caribbean Elegance (New York City: Henry N. Abrams, Inc., 2002).

Connors, founder of the art and antiques company Michael Connors International, is the author of several similar books on island design and has designed two lines of colonial-style furniture; he is often credited with establishing colonial West Indian furniture as an independent collecting field.

Elegant interior detail

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As the colonizing nations of Western Europe competed for control of the Caribbean, their planters and merchants brought with them their fine European furniture.

A favorite among design aficionados, his Caribbean Elegance presents the islands’ alignment of form and function, and focuses on the historical events and socioeconomic factors that contributed to the development of Caribbean furniture designs. Its 176 pages include the vivid color photography of Bruce Buck.

Connors reveals that although the region’s heritage dates back more than 3,000 years, the development of West Indian furniture did not begin until the 18th century. Over the succeeding 300 years, Spain, England, Holland, Denmark and France all influenced furniture design in the Caribbean. Add to that African and North American influences, as well as expressions from the Caribbean’s history of slavery, and the result is an international art form representing a melting pot of style.

Subbotina anna/ShutterStock.com

Elegance

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PORTS OF CALL Aruba

A divi-divi tree on Eagle Beach

BOWING IN THE WIND If you’re curious to know which way the wind is blowing on this breezy island, just take a look at the watapana, or divi-divi, trees.

These fragile trees have such a weak bark that they bend easily. As the divi-divi grow under the influence of the trade winds that caress Aruba, they maintain their bowed shape, sometimes running almost completely parallel to the parched land of the countryside.

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DUTCH TREATS

The Dutch influence on the island of Aruba is pervasive, and it’s decidedly apparent in downtown Oranjestad’s charming shops.

MEDIAGRAM/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Alongside the typical array of luxury goods are some real Dutch treats, including Delftware, the familiar blueand-white porcelain.

Delftware dates to late-16th-century Netherlands and takes its name from the town of Delft, where potters and craftsmen created these works of art. The earliest Delftware style was shaped by the influence of products imported from Italy and Asia.

The value — and hence the price — of a piece of modern Delftware is determined by the intricacy of design and the amount of hand-painting involved. To ensure the highest quality, look for the artist’s initials on the bottom of a piece or get a certificate of authenticity to accompany your purchase. — Suzanne L. Carmel Delftware plates

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PORTS OF CALL Aruba

PHOTOS COURTESY OF ARUBA TOURISM BOARD

46 Years in Aruba

A rocky beach

SHIMMERING SHORES

This area is known as the Turquoise Coast for good reason: The color of the sea is definitely the best of blues.

In Aruba since 1969 Fine Jewelry, Watches, Silver, Porcelain, Embroidered Tablecloth, Mats and Runners wi-fi available

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Bon bini — Welcome to Aruba. The island boasts some of the best beaches in all the Caribbean. All beaches on the island are public; the most popular are situated along the southern and protected western coasts.

Palm Beach, 30 yards deep with mounds of fine talc-white sand, is one of the most famous beaches in the West Indies.

This shore is lined with busy resorts and active windsurfers.

Closer to Oranjestad, Eagle Beach is another favorite choice.

This beach is generally less crowded than Palm Beach and offers a variety of water sports.

Other possibilities on the leeward coast include Druif Bay Beach, less frequented by tourists. Toward the northern tip lies Arashi Beach, boasting an excellent offshore dive site. The easternmost tip of the island cradles a charming cove called Baby Beach, perfect for quiet snoozing.

On the windward coast to the north, one happens upon hideaway strips and coves cut out of the limestone brittle of the coastline. Here the water tends to be rough — not advisable for swimming but ideally suited for the local windsurfers and kitesurfers, who especially favor Bachelor’s Beach and Boca Grandi. — Lynn Seldon

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PORTS OF CALL Aruba

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SUNNY AND WARM Yes, “sunny and warm” would certainly be a surething weather prediction for Aruba, caressed as it usually is by 82 delightful degrees of Fahrenheit.

But the description applies to more than just the mercury level. It’s also a perfect forecast for the islanders themselves. Now that you’re on vacation, subject yourself to the best antidote to daily-life stress available: the smiling faces and bubbly personalities of the Aruban people.

Don’t fight it! Accept that you’ve traveled through a time warp and have emerged in a different world, one where a congenial, laid-back attitude is the rule rather than the exception. You wouldn’t expect anything less from those whose national anthem proclaims: “The greatness of our people is their great cordiality.” Now that’s friendly. They’ll even go out of their way to let you know when things will be slightly delayed. One shop window recently advised: “Today’s Papers Will Be in Tomorrow.”

There’s a rumor floating around that those little sunshiny smiley faces you run into back home are actually portraits of typical island residents.

Hey, it could be. But true or not, you’ll discover that when someone in Aruba says “Have a nice day,” they mean it. — Raymond Niedowski

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BARBADOS

With manicured gardens, a centuries-old parliament and plenty of polo games and cricket matches, charming Barbados wears its British heritage like a comfortable tweed cape. But Barbadians have added their own twists to these traditions.

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Swaying palms at Bottom Bay, near Bridgetown

FUNTREKS

TOP SHORE EXCURSIONS Here are just a few of the many tours you can experience during your visit. See your onboard shore-excursion specialist to book today.

Please ask about age requirements, physical considerations, proper dress and other details.

Harrison’s Cave This tour begins with interpretive exhibits at the new cliff-top Visitor Centre of the attraction and then descends to the valley floor via a cliff trail, a valley trail or glass-enclosed elevators. Harrison’s Cave has an amazing array of stalactites and stalagmites, crystalclear subterranean streams and a magnificent waterfall plunging into a deep emerald pool.

Aerial Trek Zipline Adventure Participants traverse seven platforms on an extensive pulley system with scenic views of “Jack-in-the-Box.” They soar over 260 feet on the longest traverse, and finish with a short walk along a nature trail to a bus back to the ship.

Atlantis Submarine

GRAHAM TOMLIN/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Guests descend 55 feet below the waters of Barbados in the 48-person submarine Atlantis. The air-conditioned cabin offers spectacular views of coral, fish and other marine life. Atlantis then goes 115 to 150 feet deep to view a shipwreck.

Sea Turtle & Shipwreck Snorkel

Quick Guide Famed for: Sugarcane plantations, landscape paintings and cricket matches.

It’s a Fact: The island’s signature Crop Over Festival started, as its name suggests, to celebrate the end of sugarcane harvesting.

Signature Souvenirs: Rum, flying fish (yes, they do fly — sort of) and cricket paraphernalia.

Guests get an exhilarating high-speed ride aboard a sleek powerboat to one of Barbados’ fantastic snorkel sites, where they can get up close and personal with the endangered hawksbill and green turtles. They snorkel the Berwyn Shipwreck in Carlisle Bay, home to a great variety of tropical fish and other marine life, and stop at one of Barbados’ most beautiful beaches to swim, relax and explore.

Five Star Catamaran & Turtle Encounter This luxurious cruise by catamaran includes food, drinks, scenery, snorkeling and even a swim with turtles. Participants may swim in a sheltered bay or join a guided snorkel expedition on a reef. The tour then moves on to a second spot for a turtle encounter and a stroll on the beach; lunch is served on the way.

How to Get to Town: The downtown area of Bridgetown is located about a mile from the cruise ship pier, about 10 minutes away by taxi. Shuttle buses also are available. The shuttle pick-up point is just to the right of the cruise terminal; drop-off and pick-up for the return trip to the cruise terminal is at the head of Broad Street.

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Port View Bridgetown, capital of Barbados, is a favorite among travelers who want to see “the real Caribbean.” A bustling metropolis in its own right, it doesn’t have the touristy feel some hot spots do. And the island’s panoramic landscape is among the most lush and majestic in the southern Caribbean.

Hiking and driving tours of seaside villages, plantations, gardens and 17th-century English country churches make Barbados a great place for adventure or relaxation.

Diving is the grand pursuit here: Underwater visibility usually exceeds 100 feet and provides stunning views of magnificent hawksbill turtles and more than

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Pixachi/shutterstock.com

PoRtS of CAll Barbados

Promenade in Bridgetown

50 varieties of fish gliding through shallow reefs.

Popular dive sites include three in particular: Asta Reef, Dottins Reef and a spot two minutes by boat from Sandy Beach.

Duty-free shopping is as close as the cruise ship terminal at Bridgetown Harbor, where dozens of shops offer everything you would expect: collectible watches, big diamonds and other outrageously luxurious goods not found in any other port.

In Bridgetown, Broad Street is home to vendors specializing in fine local products such as watches, gold jewelry, crystal, perfumes and locally produced Barbados rum and liqueurs. — Jim Thompson

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PORTS OF CALL Barbados

Island Highlights

By Jim Thompson

Flying Fish Called “land of the flying fish,” Barbados has a special reverence for this unusual marine creature, which is depicted on currency, in sculptures and in the logo of the nation's tourism authority. Using large pectoral fins like wings, the fish can leap from the water and “fly” for up to 45 seconds at speeds of over 40 mph.

Barbados Flag

Currency Vivid colors and a fixed rate of two Barbadian dollars to one U.S. dollar make it simple to understand Barbados’ currency. The blue $2 bill and the sevensided silver $1 coin with the image of a flying fish on the face are the most-used currency on the island.

Cou-Cou Tracing its roots to the island’s African ancestry, cou-cou has been a staple in Barbados since early colonial days. When paired with flying fish, this Caribbean polenta — made from cornmeal mixed with okra, pepper, butter and water — is the island’s national dish.

Rum “Yo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum.” This liquid libation, distilled from molasses and sugarcane juice, was born in Barbados (Mount Gay Rum dates to the 1600s) and has refreshed thirsty rebels from pirates to America’s colonial revolutionaries. George Washington insisted on having a barrel of Barbados rum at his 1789 presidential inauguration.

FROM TOP: Flying fish gliding above the water; Barbados flag flying on top of the Parliament Buildings in Bridgetown; Barbados dollar notes; baked polenta with vegetables; rum cocktail.

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PHOTOS BY: (FLYING FISH) BARTUCHNA@YAHOO.PL/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; (BARBADOS FLAG) V. J. MATTHEW/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; (DOLLARS) KAREN HADLEY/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; (POLENTA) ALENAKOGOTKOVA/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; (DRINK) DMITRY LOBANOV/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM.

Adopted on the island’s first Independence Day in 1966, the flag of Barbados incorporates two bands of blue to symbolize the ocean, a central band of yellow for the sand, and a black trident. The three points of the trident represent a democratic government of, for and by the people.

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PORTS OF CALL Barbados

CANE & CRICKET CA Barbados had felt other cultural influences before the British arrived and left their indelible stamp.

labor-intensive crop. White indentured servants from the British Isles became the backbone of the labor force prior to the use of African slaves.

Contemporary times Even as the economy suffered from the 1800s onward, cane cultivation was still the dominant industry. But since independence from Britain in 1966, tourism has flourished.

Today, Barbados enjoys a healthy economy in its own right, but one British tradition still remains cherished here.

When Barbados hosts England in a cricket Test Match, English fans flock to the island to watch the national sport of both countries in a carnival-like setting. Some of Barbados’ most celebrated modern heroes are cricket players, including Clyde Walcott, Frank Worrell and Everton Weekes — the “Three Ws,” all knighted in the 1960s — as well as Garfield “Gary” Sobers, considered to be the greatest cricketer of all time. — John Anderson

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Beginnings As early as 1600 B.C., Amerindians canoed across dangerous currents to arrive first on Barbados, followed centuries later by tribes such as the Arawak and the Carib. But the Indians had abandoned the island by the time of its discovery by Europeans in the 1500s. It wasn’t until Portuguese sailors landed here on their way to Brazil in 1536 that Barbados finally got its name, meaning “bearded ones,” from the “bearded” aerial roots of fig trees abundant on the island.

When the first British settlers landed here in 1627, establishing Holetown on the island’s western coast, Barbados was uninhabited.

In 1639, together with the British governor and the Anglican Church, a local House of Assembly was elected and ruled the island, an unusual amount of autonomy to be given to a British colony.

Sugarcane was introduced in the 1650s, and as demand for sugar took off, local plantations struggled to find workers for the

A cricket match

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www.theroyalshop-barbados.com

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF SUNBURY PLANTATION HOUSE

PORTS OF CALL Barbados

Sunbury Plantation House

At Home

WITH THE PAST When gentleman farmer Matthew Chapman — one of Barbados’ original settlers — arrived from England and built his plantation house around 1660, little did he know that it would reign, some 350 years later, as one of the island’s foremost tourist attractions.

Chapman Plantation included a sugar plantation and a cattle mill by the time Chapman died in 1693, after which it changed hands — and names — several times. When brothers John and George Barrow purchased the estate in 1775, they renamed it “Sunbury,” after their childhood home in Kent, England.

Today known as Sunbury Plantation House, the property is owned by the Melville family, who opened it as a museum in January 1984. After a fire in July 1995 nearly destroyed the “great house,” a meticulous restoration

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returned it to its former glory, and it reopened the following year in its present incarnation.

The estate serves as a historical tribute to the genteel side of Barbados’ history, with antique furnishings, a unique collection of horse-drawn carriages and farm implements, and both china and silver, attesting to its storied past. The grounds, gardens and small wooded area surrounding the house are also open to the public and offer a romantic venue for weddings and other special events. — Michelle da Silva Richmond

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PORTS OF CALL Barbados

BORN FREE

Green vervet monkeys roam as they like in Barbados, but you may prefer to meet them at the Barbados Wildlife Reserve. armadillos, plus five types of tortoise and dozens of bird species. There are wonderful natural-history exhibitions to observe and photograph. Brick pathways, open to both people and animals, wind through the woods. If you walk to the flamingo pond and through the huge, screened aviary, remember to watch your step.

BARBADOS BEAUTY Islands have a specific appeal; the boundaries of an island offer the possibility that we can truly get to know it.

In Barbados, let the trade winds be your compass.

To the west, a walk across the island’s miles of sandy beaches followed by a float on the calm turquoise water is a delightful way to spend a few hours. To the north, a rugged, picturesque coastline enchants the eye, while to the east, the pounding Atlantic surf fills the ears until the only other sounds that penetrate are the calls of the clamorous seabirds.

Sugarcane fields lie inland, along with the exquisite Flower Forest, an 8-acre former sugar plantation where almost every plant on the island 124

thrives, including the famed bearded fig tree for which the island was named. Bewitching Welchman’s Hall Gully, just south of the Flower Forest, has footpaths that meander through Barbados’ only rainforest. Nearby Andromeda Gardens is home to some of the Caribbean’s finest indigenous tropical flora, flaunting rich botanical blossoms.

No matter where one wanders on this island, at the end of the day, the senses will be sated. — Richard Carroll

PHOTOS BY: (MONKEY) ERIC ISSELEE/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; (FIGS) VALENTYN VOLKOV/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM.

Here, the agile monkeys move freely through the mahogany forest. Indeed, during the day, the primate population — estimated at 8,000 — scampers in and out of the refuge at will, generally returning in time for scheduled afternoon snacks.

Opened in 1985, the nearly cage-free reserve houses deer, mongooses, agoutis, iguanas and

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PORTS OF CALL Barbados

A Bit Of Britain

IN BARBADOS

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It was a group of Portuguese visitors, passing by in the late 1500s, who called the island Los Barbudos, the Portuguese translation for “bearded ones,” after the long, knotted boughs of the banyan trees found along the coast. But over the 350 years since English explorers first established colonies here, Barbados has reflected, more than anything else, the traditions of Great Britain.

In a region where islands changed hands regularly, colonial Barbados was ruled by Britain for three uninterrupted centuries. As a result, Barbadian customs and institutions are bound inextricably with those of England.

Bajan neighborhoods still bear British names, including Hastings and Worthing. Similarly, downtown Bridgetown boasts its very own Trafalgar Square, dominated by a statue of Lord Adm. Horatio Nelson and a building that is home to the Barbados Parliament. In the island’s House of Assembly, a stained-glass window pays tribute to the monarchs of England, from James I to Victoria. In true British fashion, life on Barbados comes to a standstill when a cricket match is being played. Cricket is the Barbadian national sport, played all over the island — in organized weekend matches and spontaneously on the streets.

Barbados provides countless international players and has won the regional championship more times than all the other Caribbean islands combined.

But the British tradition to which the islanders are most attached is high tea, their ideal way to top off a day’s activities. A stronger libation usually associated with Barbados is rum, whose name was coined from an English version of the Dutch and German roemer, or “large glass.”

Parliament

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Enjoyable dining experience. Featuring an open-air balcony, overlooking Broad Street.

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BELIZE

For a country of its tiny size, Belize is blessed with an incredible share of natural treasures — including the world’s only jaguar preserve and the Western Hemisphere’s longest barrier reef. Belize also offers a bounty of historical and cultural artifacts, especially in ruins of the ancient Maya civilization that made its home here.

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A perfect seat on the beach in Belize

FUNTREKS

TOP SHORE EXCURSIONS Here are just a few of the many tours you can experience during your visit. See your onboard shore-excursion specialist to book today.

Please ask about age requirements, physical considerations, proper dress and other details.

Shark, Rays & Island Getaway

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Led by an expert guide, guests have the opportunity to interact with nurse sharks and rays in crystal-clear waters at the edge of the famous Belize Barrier Reef.

They then get to explore the peaceful fishing village on Caye Caulker; pleasures include dining at Las Olas Restaurant, relaxing under a thatched roof and shopping. Rum punch or plain punch is served on the return to the ship.

Barrier Reef Snorkel With Beach Break A catamaran takes participants to the largest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere, where they snorkel among colorful tropical fish. The encounter is followed by a visit to the serene beach of a private island, where guests can enjoy complimentary kayaks (if available) or just relax on the white sands of the beach.

Altun Ha Mayan Site & River Wallace The important Mayan ruin of Altun Ha and Belize’s tropical rainforest are the stars of this tour, which begins with an exhilarating ride along Belize City’s scenic coast. The boat then enters the Belize River, called Rio Wallace (“River Wallace”) by the Spaniards during the conquistadores’ rule of the New World.

Finally, an air-conditioned motor coach heads to Altun Ha, an ancient Mayan ceremonial center.

Xunantunich Mayan Ruins with Lunch

Quick Guide Famed for: Diving, nature preserves and beaches.

It’s a Fact: The Garifuna people of Belize are descendants of the original Caribbean residents, the Caribs and Arawaks.

Signature Souvenirs: Mayan astrological charts and pendants; tropical-fruit preserves; and nance liqueur, made with cherries grown in the Yucatán.

How to Get to Town: Cruise guests take a tender from the ship to Belize’s Tourism Village, a 15-minute ride from the ship.

Taxis into the city are available at the village.

Guests explore this famous Mayan archaeological site and then have a Belizean lunch in San Ignacio Town. Next they take a relaxing scenic journey to the Mopan River and then a five-minute ferry ride across the river to the remote ruins. The tour includes lunch in the San Ignacio area.

Zipline & Crystal Cave Tubing This tour combines breathtaking views above and thrilling exploration below. Guests walk on a trail to the zipline, where they fly 500 to 700 feet through jungle flora and fauna. They then float through crystal caves. The tour concludes with a hike to a frozen waterfall. Snacks are available for purchase.

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PORTS OF CALL Belize

ToSS BaCk aN iCe-CoLd BeLikiN Beer. reLax WiTh a TaSTy MargariTa or Try The BeST Piña CoLadaS iN ToWN...

Welcome to

The Wet Lizard… where fun and good food are always a given!

No. 1 Fort Street, Belize City 501-223-5973 www.thewetlizard.com

Port View Belize is a country with a rich natural and cultural mix — from jungle animals and colorful fauna, Mayan ruins and artifacts, to its watery landscape of more than 200 tropical island cays that make up the nearly 200-mile-long Belize Barrier Reef. The largest, Ambergris Caye, is reached on a shore excursion where manatee-watching is a must and where a dazzling variety of colorful marine life awaits scuba divers and snorkelers. Caye Caulker, just south of Ambergris, has quiet beaches for the perfect relaxing day trip.

A short walk along Albert Street, on the Belize City waterfront, leads to the Fort George Lighthouse and to the nearby House of Culture

PHOTOS BY: (LEFT) CLIMBERJAK/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; (RIGHT) LASZLO HALASI/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM.

only steps away from the tender area in the center of the Belize City Tourist Village is where you’ll find fun, casual dining with views of the Caribbean Sea and the Belize City harbor as your backdrop. Savor appetizing tropical dishes: lobster, shrimp, conch, and whole snapper served with rice and beans in Belizean style cuisine. or just sit back and relax in our open air verandah while enjoying one of the many concoctions available from the bar.

But don’t leave without one of our exclusive Wet Lizard T-Shirts.

Mayan ruins at Tikal

Museum, which was once the governor’s residence. The Marine Terminal houses the Coastal Zone Museum showcasing the Barrier Reef’s marine life. Mayan history, through artifacts and pottery, awaits visitors at the Museum of Belize.

Many shoppers also snap up hand-carved treasures made from local wood at Market Square.

Outside the city limits, visitors flock to the Belize Zoo with its native ocelots and jaguars, or to the Community Baboon Sanctuary where Black Howler monkeys frolic.

The 6th-century Temple of the Green Tomb and the Temple of Masonry Altar dominate Altun Ha, Belize’s most extensively excavated Mayan ruin. — Richard Varr

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photos by: (Left) CLimberJAK/shutterstoCK.Com; (right) LAszLo hALAsi/shutterstoCK.Com.

Altun Ha

Sacred center Thirty miles north of Belize City and a few miles inland lie the remains of one of the Mayan world's most important places: Altun Ha (Water of the Rock). The site was a major trading center for the Maya from A.D. 250 to 900, when, like the rest of the civilization, it fell into decline.

Altun Ha consists of 13 temples and other structures grouped around two plazas. Among the artifacts that have been recovered here are

numerous pieces of jade, a gemstone which was important in Mayan society but is not native to the region; thus its presence is proof that Altun Ha was a trade hub.

One of the pieces found is Kinich Ahau, a 6-inch-high jade bust of the Mayan sun god, the largest piece of Mayan jade sculpture ever recovered. The image now adorns Belizean currency notes.

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Costa Maya

Situated on the Caribbean coast of the Yucatån Peninsula near Mexico’s border with Belize, Costa Maya leads to the peninsula's lush interior and stirring Mayan ruins. It also boasts the world's second-largest coral reef system, home to more than 60 types of coral and some 500 species of fish.

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The Mayan ruins at Chacchoben, about 45 miles west of Costa Maya

FUNTREKS

TOP SHORE EXCURSIONS Here are just a few of the many tours you can experience during your visit. See your onboard shore-excursion specialist to book today.

Please ask about age requirements, physical considerations, proper dress and other details.

Dune Buggy & Beach Safari Sandy beach paths, the Caribbean Sea and a dune buggy — what could be more fun? Guests travel offroad by dune buggy to a pristine beach, where they can swim, stroll, play or relax and enjoy refreshments.

Jungle Beach Break Participants visit Uvero Beach, one of Costa Maya’s newest and most popular beaches. Beach chairs are available for relaxing on the powder-sand beach; more-active visitors can try activities such as kayaking. Uvero has a bar serving cocktails, for a nice finishing touch to the day.

Catamaran Sail & Snorkel Guests explore Costa Maya’s vibrant reefs at one of the coast’s secluded snorkel sites. After snorkeling, drinks are served on a relaxing cruise back to the pier. Participants can stay in town, but are responsible for arranging their own transportation back to the ship.

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Chacchoben Mayan Ruins Visitors explore the virtually un-excavated Chacchoben Mayan ruins, a nearly 10-acre site in a secluded part of the jungle near the border of Belize. Guides describe the history of the ruins and lead participants through Mayan temples, the main pyramid and the site’s manicured gardens.

Quick Guide Famed for: Mayan archaeological sites; ceviche and stews; and diving.

It’s a Fact: Many historians believe that the winners of the Mayan ball game, pok-ta-pok, were beheaded to honor the gods.

Dolphin Encounter / Dolphin Swim Adventure Two dolphin excursions are available. The Dolphin Encounter takes place on a submerged platform where participants may pet and kiss the animal.

The Dolphin Swim Adventure is a full-on swim, with the guest holding the dolphin’s pectoral fins for an exhilarating ride through the water.

Signature Souvenirs: Hammocks, replicated Mayan masks and blue agave tequila.

How to Get to Town: Majahual is about five minutes from the pier. A limited number of taxis are available at the tourist village exit.

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Port View The ancient Mayan civilization is on fascinating view in Costa Maya, which has the most archaeological sites in Mexico, and where the greatest numbers of Mayan people still live. Yet the sparkling locale is every bit a modern destination, with a far-ranging choice of attractions: beaches and water sports; ecotourism; fine dining; and exquisite shopping.

The ruins at Kohunlich and Dzibanché offer enthralling examples of Mayan architecture. Costa Maya’s verdant rainforests beckon nature lovers, and the turquoise waters of the western Caribbean offer excellent diving or simple relaxation. And

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PorTs oF CALL Costa Maya

Mayan ruins

what’s not to love about a place that calls itself “the birthplace of the rainbow”? The seven colors of the rainbow can be seen in Lake Bacalar, inspiring the magical sobriquet.

This is the place to acquire Mayan artifacts and replicas of Mayan art, crafts and jewelry, along with fine silver, beautiful pottery and leather goods. It's also home to one of the largest diamond and watch stores in the western Caribbean.

For a simple indulgence, nothing's better than the treat created from locally grown chicle plants: chewing gum.

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Detail from the Temple of the Masks in Kohunlich

CryptiC CountenanCes A journey into the jungle of the Yucatรกn affords the opportunity to peer into faces of the past: extraordinary masks that date back 1,500 years.

Photos by: (Ruins) John CoPland/shutteRstoCk.Com; (mask) eRkki & hanna/shutteRstoCk.Com.

The striking Temple of the Masks at Kohunlich, not far from Costa Maya, is adorned with eight 6-foot-high stucco sculptures on its faรงade, mysterious visages still bearing traces of red and blue paint. The Temple of the Masks is one of the oldest structures at the Mayan site, which also includes several ball courts and evidence of an irrigation system.

Located in the southern part of the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico, near the border with what is now Belize, Kohunlich dates from about

A.D. 100 to 900. Accordingly, its structures, many of which are still being excavated, represent more than one ancient architectural style. The Temple of the Masks, built around A.D. 500, represents the Early Classic period. Sometime after A.D. 700, it was overbuilt with a Terminal Classic structure, covering the huge masks and resulting in their remarkable state of preservation. They were uncovered, in fact, by site looters in 1969 and have since been protected, along with the rest of the site.

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photos by: (temple) Anton_IvAnov/shutterstock.com

Cozumel

This lovely stop on Mexico’s Yucatån is known for its amazing dive sites, and for well-preserved archaeological remnants of the Maya. It was once a sacred destination for that ancient civilization, making it a top attraction for students of history.

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Mayan temple ruins in Cozumel

FUNTREKS

TOP SHORE EXCURSIONS

PHOTOS BY: (TEMPLE) ANTON_IVANOV/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Here are just a few of the many tours you can experience during your visit. See your onboard shore-excursion specialist to book today.

Please ask about age requirements, physical considerations, proper dress and other details.

Fly High Adventures Zip Line Tour and Beach Resort This unique adventure takes participants high above the trees, through a 2,400-foot circuit of zip lines. The exhilarating experience is followed by a visit to a beach resort, where recreation includes swimming in a pool or snorkeling off the shore.

Mayan Ruins of Tulum Cruise explorers immerse themselves in the ancient Mayan world, one of Mexico’s best-preserved archaeological sites.

Hidden carvings and colorful frescoes adorn crumbling temple walls, and the site features a cliff-top castle. The tour includes time to shop for Mexican handicrafts at a local cooperative center and, later, time to take a dip in the Caribbean from a tranquil white-sand beach.

Beach Buggy & Snorkel at Punta Sur A beach buggy takes riders to Punta Sur Ecological Park, with stops at a 1,200-year-old Mayan ruin and a lighthouse that offers a spectacular bird’s-eye view. At the end of the road lies a secluded white-sand beach — perfect for snorkeling, taking a refreshing swim or simply basking in the sun. The trip ends with a delicious Mexican snack buffet.

Dolphin Swim & Ride with Lunch This family-friendly outing lets guests kiss, ride and hug gentle, playful bottlenose dolphins. Participants swim into the ocean cove for a ride on the back of a dolphin, and then they don snorkel equipment to swim alongside the affectionate creature. The excursion includes a complimentary lunch at Dolphinaris’ palapa-style restaurant, with time for shopping.

Quick Guide Famed for: Beaches, diving and eco-parks.

It’s a Fact: At the island’s south-end eco-park, whistling can cause the crocodiles to rise to the lagoon’s surface.

Signature Souvenirs: Silver jewelry, serapes and embroidered Mayan blouses.

How to Get to Town: The Punta Langosta pier is right in the downtown area. From the International Pier or the Puerto Maya terminal, you’ll want to take a taxi.

Passion Island by Power Catamaran This luxury tour of Passion Island offers a picture-perfect beach where guests can play or simply sway to the gentle breezes in a hammock. Sports include kayaking, beach soccer, kite flying and trampolines, and everyone can help themselves to the Mexican dishes at the buffet, which is served all day. An open bar offers local cocktails.

Isla Pasion By Twister!

Incredible acceleration and high-speed maneuvers are part of this adrenaline-rushing boat ride to a private island on northern Cozumel. At secluded Isla Pasion, guests can enjoy amenities such as beach chairs, hammocks, a thrilling water trampoline and kayaks. Other attractions include shopping and, for the kids, the Ewan-O Club. The visit includes a complimentary Mayan lunch buffet and domestic open bar.

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Port View Cozumel neatly balances its cultural experiences with its more playful reputation for shopping. In San Miguel, the charming town that hugs the waterfront, locally made treasures include silver, turquoise and leather goods, as well as pottery, stone carvings and wooden masks from Cozumel’s artisans. The port also claims its share of duty-free shops offering diamonds, watches and designer jewelry.

The avenidas and calles of the town’s core are easily explored by foot. Pleasant encounters are likely with some of the Caribbean’s friendliest people, the Maya, who first settled in Cozumel some 1,700 years ago. Many still live in the thatch-roofed homes

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POrTS Of CaLL Cozumel

Brain coral with colorful sea sponges and tropical fish

designed by their ancestors.

Lunch in town should always begin with guacamole; Cozumel’s restaurants are said to serve some of Mexico’s best versions of this classic avocado dip.

Many visitors, especially families, head south from San Miguel to visit the dolphins and sea lions at Chankanaab Park. Other attractions include the landmark Punta Sur Lighthouse, part of an ecological and cultural preserve, where Mayan El Caracol meteorological structures have been preserved.

The road to ruins also leads many visitors to the archaeological site of San Gervasio, close to San Miguel in the island’s center. — Chelle Koster Walton

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Ports of call Cozumel

Island Highlights

by Sara Churchville

A Diving Paradise

Cochinita Pibil This traditional Yucatán Mayan dish is still one of the most popular foods served in Cozumel and throughout the region. Originally, the dish was made with wild boar covered with achiote, or annatto seeds, wrapped in banana leaves and cooked in a coal-fired stone pit. Today, achiote paste and banana leaves are still an obligatory part of the preparation, although the boar has been replaced by pork and an oven is the preferred cooking method. Bitterorange juice and various local spices are added to the achiote marinade, and the banana leaves give a distinctive flavor.

Mexican Flag You’ll see the distinctive green, white and red colors of the bandera mexicana, or Mexican flag, celebrated everywhere from cocktails to quilts. Green symbolizes the hope of the independence movement that ended in 1821; white, the purity of the Catholic faith; and red, the union of Mexico after its rebellion against Spain.

The eagle on the crest symbolizes the Aztec heritage.

Mezcal It looks exactly like tequila, but this spirit has a few important distinctions. For one, it’s made from agave plants other than the blue agaves of Jalisco that signal true tequila. For another, the agave piñas — pineapple-shaped, pulpy bulbs that fermentable juice is extracted from — are baked in underground wood-charcoal-fired ovens rather than in steam ovens, giving them a smoky flavor that’s enhanced still more in mezcal añejo, which is aged in oak barrels for at least one year.

Photos by: (scuba) brian Lasenby/shutterstock.com; (PLate) Peter kim/shutterstock.com; (FLag) traPPy76/shutterstock.com; istockPhoto.

Teetering on the shelf of a 3,280-foot drop teeming with brilliantly colored marine life, Palancar Reef is the second-largest natural coral formation in the world and is considered one of the world’s outstanding diving destinations.

FROM TOP: A scuba diver explores a coral reef; a plate of cochinita pibil; the Mexican flag; an agave plant.

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PORTS OF CALL Cozumel

Picture: Handmade black pottery from San Bartolo Coyotepec. Oaxaca, Mexico. (Zapotec Culture)

You’ll be amazed at what Mexican hands are capable of ...

Shop Los Cinco Soles for Mexican Art, Crafts, Sterling Silver and the perfect souvenir.

Downtown Flagship store, Waterfront and 8 St, also find us at Puerta Maya Pier & International Pier

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FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Fajitas and other examples of Mexican cuisine

Traveling means expanding your horizons, and that includes trying new foods. Here’s what’s cooking on the island of Cozumel.

If you’re a meat lover, you’ll be interested in carne asada, charcoalgrilled beef or pork. Or perhaps the chuleta yucateca, a pork chop soaked in a spicy marinade called adobo, then perfectly grilled and smothered with sautéed onions.

On the lighter side is mole: chicken or turkey baked in a spicy brown sauce. Also pibil — chicken or pork baked in a tangy red sauce with orange juice and wrapped in banana leaves. And there are always tamales — meat or chicken seasoned with chili, rolled in dough and steamed. Seafood lovers will swoon for ceviche — fish, shrimp or conch marinated with lime or lemon, vinegar, onions, tomatoes and cilantro. Or huachinango — red snapper, usually served whole. Those who prefer their fish to be filleted should try mero — fresh grouper. Mojo de ajo is fish, conch or shrimp that is cooked in a mouthwatering butter and garlic sauce.

Other treats include plátanos fritos — fried plantains, relatives of the banana; queso relleno, or stuffed cheese; and flan, a delectable custard with a slightly burnt topping.

Whatever your choice, beware the salsa. In particular, ixnepech, a sauce made with turbocharged habañero chilies, is blowtorch-hot.

For relief, try horchata, a cold soft drink made from rice or barley with added flavorings, or jamaica (hah-MY-kuh), a mellow flower-based drink. — Raymond Niedowski

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Since 1963, Matis has been famous for its unique selection of handcrafted jewelry and carpets.

With 14 chain stores in Turkey and MĂŠxico, including one in Cozumel Unlimited customer service and guaranteed satisfaction for all our clients

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PORTS OF CALL Cozumel

Shopping in

Cozumel Here’s the ultimate insider guide to what’s hot in town.

See it? Like it? Buy it!

Sara G Diamonds D i am o n d r i n g

FIDEICOMISO PARA LA PROMOCIÓN TURÍSTICA DE LA RIVIERA MAYA

Safi Kilima D ro p p en d ant

Kabana El e m e nts C o ll e ct i o n b an gle b ra ce l e t

UNDERGROUND

A cenote near Tulum

WONDERS Philip Stein Si g n a tu re C o ll e ct i o n wa tch

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Cozumel has no surface lakes or freshwater rivers, but it does have many underground ponds and caves known as cenotes (seh-NOH-tays). Some reach a depth of 210 feet — and to add to their mystery, the opening builds from the bottom up. A cenote forms when a combination of water and carbon dioxide dissolves the limestone. This process cuts fissures in the rocks and creates an upward-reaching cavern resembling a reverse hole. Its vertical walls continue to erode, filling the bottom of the pit with debris, which causes the “hole” to rise. The early Maya believed cenotes were inhabited by gods and provided an underground gateway to heaven.

Gifts of gratitude were dropped into the cenotes as thanks to Chac, the god of water. — Eleanor Wilson

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This is why cruises make Cozumel a port of call

Av. Rafael E. Melgar km 3.5, across the street from the SSA International Cruise Terminal.

“Check us out upon docking, we’re right across the street!”

Royal Village Cozumel @RoyalVillageCZM

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PORTS OF CALL Cozumel

Mayan arch at San Gervasio

SCOUTING SAN GERVASIO Once a pilgrimage site for the ancient Maya, the tiny island of Cozumel is home to a number of fascinating Mayan ruins.

BCAMPBELL65/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

San Gervasio, the largest site on the island, is incredibly well preserved. The structures at San Gervasio were used by the Maya primarily as altars and shrines and for gatherings of government officials. The site is divided into four historic districts, ranging from the early Classic period (A.D. 200 to 600) to the late Postclassic period (A.D. 1200 to 1519). Individual ruins are identified by plaques. In addition to tourist services, the site offers a snack bar and several gift shops. — Suzanne L. Carmel

Now open at

Puerta Maya Beach Bags Suncare Lotions Fashion Sunglasses Beach Sandals SPF Colorful Hats & Much More!

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PORTS OF CALL Cozumel

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Ruins of a Mayan temple in Tulum

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A TALE OF TULUM

Tulum’s awe-inspiring temple remains, set against a backdrop of aquamarine Caribbean waters, are a striking sight to behold.

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Perched high on the cliffs of the Yucatán Peninsula is the ancient city of Tulum, the only Mayan city known to have been built on the coast.

Following the paths, visitors can visualize the Indian religious ceremonies that took place here and appreciate the magnificent beauty of this sacred locale. Today there is little to fear from the sacrificial pit, and the only ritual that must be followed is paying a fee for permission to use your video camera.

Generally coupled with a trip to Tulum is a visit to Xel-Há Lagoon. An oasis on a hot day, this soothing lagoon contains a national underwater park and provides a wonderful respite after exploring.

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The RemaRkable

maya

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PoRTS of CALL Cozumel

The Maya fashioned one of the most advanced cultures of the Western Hemisphere during the period A.D. 200 to 900.

They flourished throughout the Yucatán Peninsula in southeastern Mexico — including today’s Cozumel island — erecting huge, imposing pyramids and temples, creating striking stone sculptures, and achieving a remarkable proficiency in mathematics and astronomy before mysteriously falling into decline.

The Maya believed Cozumel to be sacred. A shrine to Ixchel, a moon goddess, invited visitation at least once in a lifetime. She could be a rather testy old crone and was often depicted with crossbones and a serpent. When feeling particularly nasty, Ixchel unleashed calamitous rainstorms and floods on the earth from a large water jug. No wonder common folk were eager to appease the goddess by visiting her shrine. But she also had a bright side — they called her Lady Rainbow — and was worshiped as the protector of weavers and also of women in childbirth. Ixchel’s mate was Itzamná, a mellow moon god who balanced out his spouse’s temper tantrums. — Raymond Niedowski

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A Mayan pyramid

30 years of Mexican dining excellence Great food and drinks, Mexican music and ice cold beer

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CuraÇao Curaçao’s picturesque capital, Willemstad, is built around a wellformed natural harbor and glows in soft pastel shades. Dutch influence pervades the port, with its manor houses, neatly kept streets and delicious varieties of cheese and chocolate.

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Willemstad’s waterfront is lined with colorful buildings as pretty as dollhouses.

FUNTREKS

TOP SHORE EXCURSIONS Here are just a few of the many tours you can experience during your visit. See your onboard shore-excursion specialist to book today.

Please ask about age requirements, physical considerations, proper dress and other details.

Beach Fun by Boat A scenic boat ride alongside Curaçao’s coastline offers views of the island’s notable monuments and beautiful beaches. During the three-hour trip, participants can relax with a complimentary beverage, take a refreshing swim or stroll along the beach. Guests are dropped off at the Sea Aquarium beach, which has a restaurant and bar.

Discover Curaçao Island Tour Guests visit three island favorites: the Hato Caves, a dramatic collection of grottos filled with stalactites, stalagmites and crystal-clear pools; Curaçao Museum, which combines contemporary art with an exhibition of life in Curaçao during the mid-19th century; and the Chobolobo factory, to sample the famous Blue Curaçao liqueur and see how it is made.

Curaçao Highlights HARRIS SHIFFMAN/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM.

Visitors explore highlights of this historic Dutch island.

They visit Curaçao Museum in Otrobanda, then cross the Queen Juliana Bridge and pass the Franklin D. Roosevelt House on the way to Chobolobo, a colonial mansion where the original Curaçao liqueur is distilled in 100-year-old barrels. Other stops include Curaçao’s Handicraft Market and the beautiful old merchant estates in Scharloo on the scenic drive back to Willemstad.

Quick Guide Famed for: Dutch architecture, plentiful shopping and Christoffel National Park.

It’s a Fact: The Amstel beer brewery on the island is the only one in the world that uses seawater in its recipe — desalinated, of course.

Signature Souvenirs: Wooden shoes, painted porcelain windmills and Curaçao liqueur.

How to Get to Town: Willemstad’s shopping area, called Punda, is about a 15-minute walk from the pier. Some visitors prefer to take one of the taxis that are available at the pier.

Curaçao’s Coastal & Country Drive A drive to the island’s rugged north coast takes guests to Boka Tabla national park. Visitors then stop at Tula Museum to learn about island life before and after slavery. Their next stop is the most beautiful tropical beach on the island, with its crystal azure water and white sand. After time for photos, the adventure ends at the Jan Kock salt pans, where the island’s famous flamingoes may make an appearance.

Curaçao Sightseeing & Sea Aquarium An overview of Curaçao begins at Chobolobo, the colonial mansion where the famous Blue Curaçao Liqueur is made; guests can sample the beverage before continuing to the Sea Aquarium. Here they enjoy marine exhibits and the highlight of the park, the dolphin show. The tour concludes with a scenic drive through the city center back to the ship.

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Port View Willemstad is a history museum within itself. One look at its classic waterfront reveals why this natural harbor and scenic city center are on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The brilliant Caribbean hues of the Dutch-designed buildings along Santa Ana Bay, with their rows of gabled-roofed townhouses gleaming with red tiles, make this one of the most photographed Caribbean waterfronts.

Just getting from the Punda district to Otrobanda is a treat: over Santa Ana Bay on the swinging 19th-century Queen Emma Bridge. Crossing into Otrobanda, you’ll find winding and narrow streets with gabled, Dutch-style houses that delight sightseers and locals alike.

Many visitors begin with a trolley tour from Fort Amsterdam, where a British cannonball remains embedded in the 1769 Dutch

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PORTS OF CALL Curaçao

A building in Willemstad's Old Town

Reform Church. Popular destinations include the renowned Kurá Hulanda museum of African history, which courageously highlights the past slave trade, and the Mikvé Israel-Emanuel Synagogue — the Western Hemisphere’s oldest, dating from 1651 — with its unique floor of beach sand.

Amid the kaleidoscope of colors in Otrobanda’s Floating Market is a vast selection of fresh tropical fruits and vegetables, unloaded from Venezuelan schooners. More-lasting mementos are available in the Punda district, along Heerenstraat and Breedestraat, where bargains range from cameras to high-end jewelry. If you’re in the market for something to help you remember this colorful island, the famed Curaçao liqueur or a wheel of Edam or Gouda cheese is a wise choice. — Richard Varr

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PORTS OF CALL Curaçao

Island Highlights

By Sara Churchville

Currency The color-coded bills of the Netherlands Antilles florin or guilder, as Curaçao’s currency is interchangeably known, are decorated with drawings of birds that are commonly found here: the hummingbird, the flamingo, the rufous-collared sparrow and the bananaquit.

Amstel Bright Straight from the Amstel brewery on Curaçao comes this light, refreshing Caribbean beer, typically served with a lime and made entirely from ingredients found on the island, including desalinated seawater.

Because it’s not exported outside the Antilles, the beer has gained something of a mystique.

Curaçao Liqueur One man’s fruit is another man’s spirit, as the Spanish discovered when they tried to grow Valencia oranges in Curaçao. The new soil yielded only small, green and inedibly bitter laraha oranges. The oils in the peel, however, became the basis for the clear Curaçao liqueur still made by the original 1896 distiller, Senior Curaçao, as well as for Grand Marnier and Cointreau.

Hollowed-out Edam or Gouda cheese is the shell for this Dutch treat of “stuffed cheese,” filled with chicken, vegetables, spices, and raisins or prunes, and baked in the shell.

FROM TOP: Birds adorn Curaçao’s currency; the beer brewed only for local tastes; the signature spirit; Gouda cheese.

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PHOTOS BY: CURACAO TOURIST BOARD; ISTOCKPHOTO.COM; ROBERT FREEMAN; CURACAO LIQUEUR.

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POrTS Of CALL Curaçao

Deep Dutch Roots

Floating market at Willemstad

by Richard Varr

The ornate gables on Willemstad’s colorful waterfront buildings highlight some of the most intriguing architecture in the Caribbean.

They are a reminder of how Curaçao was governed and influenced by the Dutch, who claimed this arid island in 1634, and, since then, have helped to shape its history and culture. Similar to the Dutch capital of Amsterdam, Curaçao espoused racial tolerance through the years and opened its doors to many faiths. Today about 50 different nationalities call this beach-lined island home.

Beginnings Curaçao was one of the first inhabited Caribbean islands. Archaeological studies have revealed traces of native settlements some 4,500 years ago.

At the turn of the 16th century, the Spanish, under the leadership of Lt. Alonso de Ojeda, were the first Europeans to reach Curaçao; they arrived a mere seven years after Christopher Columbus initially landed in the New World. According to legend, de Ojeda’s crew suffered from scurvy, and upon eating citrus fruit they were “miraculously” cured. The sailors named the island Corazón, or “heart." In 1526, a small group of Spanish settlers and slaves arrived and set up small ranches and farms; they maintained control of Curaçao for just over a century.

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Dutch control A dramatic shift occurred on the island in 1634.

Tipped off that the Spanish colony was very small, a Dutch fleet of warships and soldiers sailed in and conquered Curaçao. The Dutch West India Company now ruled and appointed the onelegged Peter Stuyvesant, who would later become governor of New Amsterdam (New York), as governor of the island. In the decades that followed, Stuyvesant set up a slave depot that grew to be the largest in the Caribbean; close to half of all slaves who crossed the Atlantic passed through the port. It was also a hub for merchants trading goods along the South America-CaribbeanEurope trade routes.

During the height of the slave trade, Curaçao became the birthplace of the Papiamento language. A mixture of Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch and different African dialects, Papiamento evolved as a means for slaves to communicate with Europeans.

At the same time, Jews from Europe and South America fled to Curaçao to escape the Spanish Inquisition; these included the Sephardic Jews from Brazil, who became successful merchants. By the early 1700s, the island’s Jewish community topped 2,000. They

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Curaçao

Timeline built the Mikvé Israel-Emanuel Synagogue in Willemstad, one of the oldest in the Western Hemisphere, which remains a house of worship today.

In the meantime, the importance of Curaçao along the trade routes captured the attention of England and France. The island came under both English and French control for short durations, but Dutch rule prevailed once again in 1815 with the signing of the Treaty of Paris.

Emancipation and the 20th century Curaçao had several plantations, but was not a particularly active agricultural society. Nonetheless, slaves did revolt, unsuccessfully, in 1765 and 1795. Not until 1863 did the Netherlands’ King William III proclaim the abolition of slavery, and more than 6,000 slaves on the island finally gained their freedom.

Following emancipation, the island’s economy suffered until 1915, when the Dutch established a Shell oil refinery. Subsequently, a large influx of workers took place as Shell became the island’s largest employer.

During World War II, the Allies established a military base on Curaçao for refueling aircraft; after the war, the island sought independence. However, in 1954, Curaçao instead settled for being part of the Netherlands Antilles, with the seat of government in Willemstad.

While tourism is thriving today, Curaçao is still a major trading hub with one of the largest and most active ports in the world.

Kurá Hulanda Museum

1499

Curaçao is discovered by Alonso de Ojeda, a lieutenant of Christopher Columbus.

1634

The Dutch conquer Curaçao.

1642

The Dutch West India Company appoints Peter Stuyvesant as governor.

1815

Dutch rule prevails with the signing of the Treaty of Paris.

1863 1954

Curaçao becomes part of the self-governing Netherlands Antilles.

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curacao tourist board; musEum kura hulanda.

Netherlands’ King William III proclaims the emancipation of slaves.

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POrTS Of CALL Curaçao

Aloe vera field

Lotions And Potions:

All About Aloe

The answer is aloe vera, nature’s one-plant wonder.

Aloe is a common ingredient in hand creams and a must for cooling burns caused by too much fun in the hot Caribbean sun. The fleshy leaves produce both a gel and a juice.

Although the healing properties of aloe vera have been espoused for centuries, it wasn’t until the 1700s that the first plants arrived in Curaçao. They came from Africa via ships loaded with slaves. The sun-loving, drought-resistant plants adapted readily to the island’s desert-like climate and thrived on vast plantations overseen by Dutch entrepreneurs. In the beginning, the money-making crop was harvested for the bitter resin in the leaf’s outer layer, rather than for the soothing sap. The resin was boiled, turned into a laxative and shipped to Europe and the United States.

Unlike early plantation owners, the Creole people took advantage of the healing benefits of aloe’s gooey sap. The pure gel contains more than 50 nutrients, including vitamins and minerals. In the local Papiamento language, aloe vera is called sentebibu.

Loosely translated, it means “live to be 100.”

Visitors of all ages can learn how aloe is cultivated by touring the Curaçao Aloe Vera Plantation. The farm, created in 1999, boasts 100,000 organically grown plants. Each plant takes three to five months to mature and can be harvested for up to 10 years, cutting a few leaves at a time. To obtain the purest gel, workers collect the succulent leaves at dawn.

Once unloaded in the factory, the spiney leaves are washed by hand and fed into machines to extract the juice. The liquid is the prime ingredient in the plantation’s various lotions and potions. — Ginger Dingus

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Name the miracle plant used to soothe sunburns, moisturize dry skin and concoct a feel-good health drink.

It helps treat insect bites, rashes and stings. In ancient Egypt, it’s said Cleopatra applied it to make her skin glow. Today, it’s found in refreshing body wraps in upscale spas. In fact, there’s a good chance you’re already using extracts of this plant without even realizing it.

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PORTS OF CALL Curaçao

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SHOPPING SPREE Willemstad’s bustling shopping areas, the Otrobanda and Punda districts, boast a few hundred shops and vendors offering an enticing grab bag of international items: Italian silks, French perfumes, Swiss watches, Lladró collectibles from Spain, Hummel figurines from Germany. But what about finding a gift that specifically reflects the island’s proud Dutch heritage?

Among the most popular mementos are blue Delft porcelain and ceramic, crafted into lovely pieces such as plates, tea sets, tiles, candleholders and decorative replicas of Dutch windmills and houses. Hand-embroidered linens from Holland add a cozy touch to home décor. Shoes, clogs and even tulips carved of wood are famed national symbols.

Other gifts satisfy the palate. Wheels of Dutch cheeses (aged Gouda, slightly salty Edam) are easy to transport home.

Dutch chocolate can be of the dark variety, mint-flavored or mixed with hazelnuts and raisins. Dutch cookies and jams make great welcoming gifts for those visiting Curaçao for the first time.

Curaçao’s artists combine both Dutch and island heritage in their work. An oil or watercolor painting with a scenic view of Willemstad’s timeless Dutch architecture is an unforgettable keepsake. — Richard Varr

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An aerial view of the Punda District

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PORTs OF cAll Curaçao

Several forts were built to protect Curaçao from attack. They figured in key moments in the island's history.

Curaçao’s Forts

Fort Beekenburg

Fort Amsterdam is also the official residence of the governor and is not open to the public.

Initially, Waterfort was the outer defense of Punda, one of the capital’s two districts. The original structure was built in 1634 and replaced two centuries later. An imposing building with 136 turrets, Waterfort played an important role during World War II. Riffort, erected in 1828, is the most recent fort. It was constructed across from Waterfort, complementing the earlier fort while defending the outer section of Otrobanda, the city’s other district. During World War II, a steel net was stretched across the bay between the two forts to keep alien ships out.

Fort Nassau was named after the Royal House of Orange.

This massive structure dates back to 1797 and has been preserved almost in its original state. For years, it was the office from where the Queen Emma Bridge was opened and closed.

In 1804, Fort Waakzaamheid was besieged by the English captain William Bligh, who commanded the infamous Bounty.

During World War II, Americans mounted guns here.

Fort Beekenburg was named after Director van Beek, who created the design for Willemstad. The fort fought off pirates as well as both the French and the English throughout the 18th century. The tower and the fort itself are in a wellpreserved state. — Marty Leshner 166

Photos by: (toP) Adstock RF/shutteRstock.com; (bottom) nAtAs/shutteRstock.com.

The original center of Willemstad was Fort Amsterdam, built by the Dutch around 1675 and now serving as the seat of the government of the Netherlands Antilles.

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Café Copa Cabana Don’t miss this quaint café located in a scenic downtown square.

Serving delicious Curaçao food with a Dutch accent – lunch or dinner.

Stop in for a coffee and try a typical Curacaolean pastry.

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FORT LAUDERDALE

With more than 300 miles of navigable waterways, a waterfront park in the middle of downtown, miles of spiffy beaches and the International Swimming Hall of Fame, it’s no wonder Fort Lauderdale has a reputation for loving all things aquatic.

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Fun on the sand and in the sky

Quick Guide Famed for: Beautiful beaches to the east, unspoiled Everglades to the west.

It’s a Fact: The city became the No. 1 spot for college kids on spring break after the 1960 movie Where the Boys Are was filmed here.

IVAN CHOLAKOV/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Signature Souvenirs: Seashells, alligator trinkets and juicy oranges.

FUNTREKS

TOP SHORE EXCURSIONS Here's one of the tours you can experience during your visit. See your onboard shore-excursion specialist to book today. Please ask about age requirements, physical considerations, proper dress and other details.

• The Everglades Experience With Airport Transfer

Fort Lauderdale’s beaches seem to go on forever.

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place where the shopping is sublime, the fashions

exquisite, and the attitude pure Fort Lauderdale.

Among our three world-class department stores, Neiman Marcus, Macy’s and Dillard’s you’ll find an expansive array of the most sought after names. Over one-hundred luxurious stores are available for your shopping pleasure that include Apple, Coach, Williams-Sonoma, and J.Crew, to name a few.

Sophisticated, in every sense.

The moment you enter our Palm Court you know you’re about to experience exceptional cuisine. Dine Florida style at an inviting array of enticing restaurants including The Capital Grille, Truluck’s, Seasons 52, PF Chang’s and Blue Martini. Enjoy!

Located just minutes north of Port Everglades and steps from the beach on Sunrise Boulevard.

2414 East Sunrise Boulevard | Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33304 | 954.564.1015 | www.galleriamall-fl.com Monday-Saturday | 10 am to 9 pm | Sunday | Noon to 6 pm

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Freeport

At first sight, you’ll love Freeport for its Lucaya resort scene. Then you discover the natural side of 96-milelong Grand Bahama Island and realize that this is much more than just another pretty tourist magnet.

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Taino Beach

FUNTREKS

TOP SHORE EXCURSIONS Here are just a few of the many tours you can experience during your visit. See your onboard shore-excursion specialist to book today.

Please ask about age requirements, physical considerations, proper dress and other details.

All-Inclusive Viva Wyndham Resort Carnival guests get full access to the secluded beach and luxurious amenities at this top oceanfront resort. Recreation includes kayaking, snorkeling and volleyball. For the less active pursuits, the beach has quaint thatched palapa huts and a bar serving tropical cocktails.

Freeport Reef Snorkel Adventure Snorkelers explore decorative corals and colorful fish in crystal-clear water during a tour supervised

by PADI-certified divemasters. The trip includes a complimentary underwater camera for capturing the vibrant scene.

Freeport Kayak & Nature Experience

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A tour of Freeport’s Lucayan National Park passes through mangrove forests on inland creeks and along paths used by the Lucayan Indians centuries ago. Participants also get a short narrated nature walk along a shady trail and then cross the creek on a Tom Sawyer-style raft. The visit includes lunch and refreshments under a shady shelter and fun time on a beautiful beach.

Dolphin Close Encounter

Quick Guide Famed for: Quiet beaches, diving with dolphins and sharks, and old fishing settlements.

It’s a Fact: For Pirates of the Caribbean scenes filmed here, moviemakers built a special maneuverable seaside platform to give the pirate-ship set the illusion of pitching and yawing.

Signature Souvenirs: Make-your-own perfume, junkanoo music CDs and batik-fabric clothing.

How to Get to Town: Lucayan Harbour lies 10 minutes west of Freeport. Taxis and limos meet all cruise ships.

This educational, interactive encounter begins with a short bus ride to the UNEXSO facility in Port Lucaya, followed by a 20-minute boat ride to Sanctuary Bay, a natural 9-acre lagoon that is home to 14 Atlantic bottlenose dolphins. Participants learn about the dolphins and then have a close encounter with them from a submerged platform.

Western Heritage & Snorkel Tour Participants visit five heritage sites: Mermaid Pond; Pinder’s Point Lighthouse, which guided 17th-century mariners; Hawksbill Creek, with the famous Boiling Hole geologic formation; Holmes Rock, with a nature trail leading to Josey’s Cave; and Fern Gully, a serene wetland. The tour ends with snorkeling from a lovely beach, followed by a lunch served fresh from the grill.

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PORTS OF CALL Freeport

Port View The most diverse island in The Bahamas, Grand Bahama flexes its vacation muscle well beyond the metro-resort Freeport-Lucaya scene.

The ultimate island swimming experience involves dolphins at UNEXSO (Underwater Explorers Society). The Lucaya-based operation also offers scuba-diving excursions. A number of other tour operators take you underwater for snorkeling at lovely Peterson Cay National Park or on brilliant offshore reefs, where tropical fish and spiny lobsters hang out. At Paradise Cove resort, west of the port, you can snorkel to Deadman’s Reef from the beach.

Nature lovers can head east to the lush and historic Garden of the Groves for a serene tour of

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Welcome to Freeport!

Mother Nature’s finest and lunch at the café. More active sorts can kayak and hike through Lucayan National Park, where ecosystems range from bat caves to remote beaches.

Lively activities at Our Lucaya Radisson Resort include water sports and a waterslide, and a variety of restaurants and bars lie footsteps away.

For more seclusion, visit Taino Beach just east of Lucaya for soft white beaches that beg for bare feet and splashing in marbled blue-green waters.

The beach also is a short walk from the authentic Bahamian settlement of Smith’s Point.

For those seeking local culture, outlying beachfront settlements and funky conch shacks make an intriguing introduction. — Chelle Koster Walton

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PORTS OF CALL Freeport

Island Highlights

by Sara Churchville

Androsia Batik Cloth One of the artisanal prides of The Bahamas, Androsia is made on the small island of Andros and sold all over Freeport. The fabric is waxed, hand-dyed, cut and sewn at the island factory. The brightly colored fabric is decorated with stenciled shapes of shells, birds, fish and flowers.

Conch The sweet meat of this mollusk, similar to clam, is used in various dishes in The Bahamas and elsewhere in the Caribbean. Conch chowder may remind you of Manhattan-style clam chowder, but there's nothing else like batter-fried conch fritters.

Guava If you like jellyrolls, you’ll love The Bahamas' signature dessert: guava duff, made from guava pulp, flour, butter, eggs, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves and topped with a hard sauce of butter, eggs, sugar, vanilla and rum. If you can locate guava pulp, you can make this at home.

Kalik Beer

FROM TOP: Bright batik; conch shell; the start of something sweet; the local brew.

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PHOTOS BY: R. GINO SANTA MARIA/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; ISTOCKPHOTO.COM; ROBERT FREEMAN

Locals take this Bahamas-brewed beer as seriously as any other culinary treasure of the islands. The name itself is mimicry of the sound of cowbells, an instrument in junkanoo bands. Though Heineken is a major investor in the firm, the beer — in original, light and higher-proof gold — is only available on the islands.

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Photos by: tree of Life/shutterstock.com; GriGory kubatyan/shutterstock.com; michaeL J. thomPson/shutterstock.com; iDesiGn/shutterstock.com.

PORTS OF CALL Freeport

bats to beaches

FROM LEFT: Kayaking through the mangroves; bats in a cave; belted kingfisher; hummingbird.

Lucayan National Park on Grand Bahama Island embraces the entire range of Bahamian ecology, from limestone caves where bats nest to mangrove tidal creeks and beautiful, secluded beaches..

Twenty miles east of Freeport along a lonely road lined with Caribbean yellow pines, the park encompasses 40 acres of land and three hiking trails. On the north side of the road, the trail leads to two caves you can climb down into — doorways to one of the longest mapped underground cave systems in the world.

In the Burial Mound Cave, archaeologists once discovered the remains of ancient Lucaya people. Ben’s Cave is where you’ll find the bats (it closes in June and July for nesting season). But they’re not the only unusual creatures here. A rare species of the crustacean Remipedia, with no eyes or pigmentation, was discovered and exists exclusively in the caves.

Across the road, one trail crosses a tidal creek popular with 178

kayakers. Birds are the most gregarious wildlife in this part of the park; look for great blue herons, green herons, hummingbirds, belted kingfishers and the Bahama yellowthroat. Winter is the best season for sightings because birds are migrating and most plentiful; mornings and low tide are the best time to catch them actively feeding.

The Creek Trail boardwalk snakes through the mangroves to Gold Rock Beach — a good place for a swim and picnic. The return Mangrove Swamp Trail is older and sometimes wetter, but reveals an entirely different environment of orchids and native shrubs. All in all, Lucayan National Park is the easiest way to access the “bush,” as locals call it, without the assistance of a native guide. — Chelle Koster Walton

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PORTS OF CALL Freeport

S P E C I A L A D V E R T I S I N G F E AT U R E

Grand Bahama

Nature tours Experience the natural beauty, history and culture of Freeport, Bahamas, through a variety of tours and attractions.

A leisurely 12-mile bike ride takes you along the shoreline, through a historic settlement and to a tropical garden for lunch. You will have time for a dip in the ocean at Junkanoo Beach Club and even a shopping stop at Port Lucaya Marketplace.

Would you like to experience a pristine mangrove creek by kayak, swim and enjoy a picnic lunch on Gold Rock Beach — one of the Bahamas’ most spectacular beaches — and then follow your guide into the forest to observe native vegetation and birds?

The Kayak, Nature and Beach Excursion will be the perfect choice for you.

How about an adventurous ATV ride through forested terrain and along the Grand Lucayan Waterway, with breathtaking vistas over the turquoise ocean? This excursion allows you to spend time at Garden of the Groves and at Junkanoo Beach Club as well.

Another exciting way to see the island is by driving your own Jeep in a convoy led by an experienced island guide. There will be many interesting stops of historic interest and natural beauty as well as time for lunch, a stroll in a tropical garden and a dip in the ocean.

The Garden of the Groves is a lush tropical garden, dedicated in 1973 to Freeport’s founder, Wallace Groves. It is an informal garden with ponds, waterfalls and wildlife. Visit the historic chapel on the hill or walk the only spiritual Labyrinth in the Bahamas. Browse and buy authentic Bahamian souvenirs at the quaint shops. Relax for lunch or sip a cool Bahamian drink on the deck of the Garden Café overlooking the ponds and waterfalls.

Junkanoo Beach Club is situated on Taino Beach, one of the best beaches on Grand Bahama Island.

It is a private club and totally dedicated to providing a wonderful beach experience for the day visitor.

Native specialty dishes and local beers are available.

Your Junkanoo Beach and Shopping Tour includes round-trip transportation from the harbor, a beach chair and free use of kayaks. You do not have to stand in line for lunch and drinks; they are served to you by your beach attendant, directly on the beach. On this tour you also have the option to be transported to Port Lucaya Marketplace for shopping prior to returning to your ship.

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Freeport - bahamas

The Junkanoo Beach Club

Jeep, Beach and Garden Excursion

Biking, Beach and Shopping Tour

ATV, Tropical Garden and Beach Adventure

Kayak, Nature and Beach Experience

The Tropical Garden of the Groves

see your shore excursion desk For details

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PORTS OF CALL Freeport

The Bahamas’ annual Junkanoo Festival contains many of the elements of Carnival, plus its own special blend of accoutrements. Held annually on December 26 and January 1, this sight-and-sound extravaganza celebrates the Bahamian national culture by drawing heavily on ancient African tribal rituals. Parades are held in Nassau and Freeport and on most of the Out Islands..

No one knows for certain where the name "junkanoo” comes from, although it is said to be a corruption of John Canoe, the name of a former African king. The festival can be traced back to the “free” time accorded to slaves during the Christmas holiday season.

Beginning at 4 a.m. December 26, the Boxing Day Junkanoo Parade is a raucous procession; masked revelers dressed in incredibly elaborate costumes parade through the streets to the pounding rhythms of goatskin drums, mixed with the shrill sounds of whistles and the tinkling of cowbells. Teams of participants with names like the Vikings and the Valley Boys compete for prizes for best costumes, best theme and best float.

The New Year’s Day Parade on January 1 is a repeat of the Boxing Day Parade, but with different themes and, accordingly, different costumes. — Jonathan Siskin

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Bright costumes and exuberant dancing are part of the Junkanoo Festival, a Bahamas tradition.

JO CREBBIN/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

JUMPING JUNKANOOS

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DOLPHINs

B

Dolphin Swim

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Open Ocean Swim

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Dolphin Encounter

SCUBA DIVING & Snorkel

B

Reefs

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Wrecks

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Reef Snorkel Adventure

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Two-tank Dives

See your shore excursions desk for reservations Certificate of Excellence 2013 winner 2384.indd 1

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PORTS Of CaLL Freeport

Shacking Up anD chOWing DOWn

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More than a dozen open-air, no-need-for-shoes shacks populate Grand Bahama Island’s sandy shores. Here, local cooks chop up fresh conch for salad, fry up fresh fish, and dispense cold Kalik beer and Bahama Mama rum cocktails like there’s no real world beyond their beaches.

You can start your beach shack-hopping just west of Lucayan Harbour in the settlement of Eight Mile Rock, where a strip of lollipop-colored shacks known as Sunset Village sell fried chicken, stewed conch and fresh catch of the day.

In Lucaya, an old favorite, Billy Joe’s, specializes in grilled conch. Roasted conch and Gully Wash cocktails star at Tony Macaroni’s on silkysanded Taino Beach. Next door in Smith’s Point, Outrigger Beach Club is the place to nosh and sip. In William’s Town, check out barefoot places with names like Bikini Bottom and Toad’s on the Bay. If you’re headed to the island’s East End, stop at Bishop’s Beach Club in High Rock for authentic cracked conch, barbecued ribs, broiled lobster, burgers and a superlative get-outta-town beach. — Chelle Koster Walton

Grilled fish

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Big selection of 10kt and 14kt gold earrings, anklets, chains and more

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all precious gemstones and large selection of silver jewelry

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The Jewellery Box

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Galveston

An island off the Texas coast south of Houston, Galveston offers 32 miles of beaches and a charming historic downtown.

Quick Guide Famed for: Victorian architecture; the city has one of the nation’s largest and bestpreserved collections of the fancifully designed houses.

It’s a Fact: Galveston’s 10-mile-long Seawall protects the city from storms and supports the See-Wall, which the city says is the world’s longest mural.

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Signature Souvenir: A piece of art or sculpture from Gallery Row.

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Grand Cayman

Once the sanctuary of plundering pirates and shipwrecked sailors, Grand Cayman now is a haven for nature lovers, scuba divers and pleasure-seeking visitors from around the world. The diving is especially good in the turquoise waters that surround this former British colony. Back on land, visitors busy themselves with shopping, dining or explorations of local history and nature.

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Limestone forms the craggy edge of Smith Cove in Grand Cayman.

FUNTREKS

TOP SHORE EXCURSIONS Here are just a few of the many tours you can experience during your visit. See your onboard shore-excursion specialist to book today.

Please ask about age requirements, physical considerations, proper dress and other details.

Dolphin Swim, Stingray Interaction & Turtle Farm This tour offers interaction with dolphins, stingrays and turtles. The dolphin encounter occurs on a submerged platform. Participants are then led into deeper water to swim with dolphins that push them on boogie boards. The tour moves on to the Stingray Enclosure to interact with the gentle creatures and wraps up at the world-famous Cayman Turtle Farm.

All-Inclusive Tiki Beach-Seven Mile Beach Getaway

JO ANN SNOVER/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

A day at Tiki Beach Club, on Seven Mile Beach, begins with a welcome orientation and beverage, followed by a beach barbecue with unlimited Caybrew beer, rum punch, fruit punch and soda.

This tour is ideal for families and guests with limited mobility. Restrooms and freshwater showers are available. For an additional fee, guests may use the beach water-sports center, beach massage center, à la carte bar and restaurant.

Coral Garden & Stingray Sandbar Guests make two stops: the beautiful, exotic Coral Garden, to swim alongside colorful fish amid the coral; and Stingray Sandbar, where hundreds of friendly, gentle stingrays greet visitors in waisthigh water. The staff hold and feed the stingrays while describing the creatures’ names and habits; participants may hold the rays if they wish.

Explore Cayman by Land & Sea

Quick Guide Famed for: Seven Mile Beach, considered by expert sunseekers to be one of the Caribbean’s best and least crowded stretches of sand.

It’s a Fact: The Cayman Islands are home to people of more than 120 nationalities.

Signature Souvenirs: Replicas of pirates, blue iguanas and the Caymans’ mascot, Sir Turtle.

How to Get to Town: Take the ship's tender to Royal Watler Pier, a 15-minute ride. Turn right from the pier to explore downtown.

The tour begins aboard Nautilus, the world’s most luxurious semi-submarine, for up-close views of Cheeseburger Reef and the shipwrecks Cali and Balboa. Guests then take a bus tour along the west bay peninsula; stops include the governor’s residence on Seven Mile Beach; Cayman Turtle Farm, on Boatswain’s Beach; and the quirky town of Hell, so named for its unusual rock formations.

Turtles, Turtles & More Turtles Deluxe At the world-famous Cayman Turtle Farm, visitors interact with marine turtles, flora and other fauna as well as swim and snorkel in the park’s lagoons.

The marine park features a breeding pond, a turtle hatchery and an education center showing a variety of turtles, from hatchlings to 600-pound adults. The tour ends with lunch at Schooners Bar and Grill.

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Port View Grand cayman is well-known as a hub of international banking and finance, but more visitors are lured here by its extensive natural and man-made attractions. it’s a favorite getaway for many Hollywood celebrities, enticed by its serene beauty and by its variety of things to see and do. the centerpiece of the island is the magnificent seven Mile Beach, a vast expanse of powdery white sand. famed for diving, the island offers more than 200 named sites. other natural attractions include the Mastic trail, a restored 200-year-old footpath that meanders through a two-million-year-old forest and mangrove swamp in the heart of the island; Pedro st. James national Historic site, a restored

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Ports of call Grand Cayman

George Town's small waterfront is reached by tender.

great house dating from 1780; and the 59-acre Queen elizabeth ii Botanic Park.

You will take a tender into port, where you'll have plenty of time to explore. at lunchtime, save room for dessert: a slice (or more) of Grand cayman’s world-famous rum cake. shopping is especially rewarding in the capital, George town, home to some of the caribbean’s best duty-free shopping — at attractive discounts. Great finds include black-coral jewelry, luxury watches, fine perfumes and gracious dinnerware. seekers of unique souvenirs choose caymanite — a hard stone with striations ranging in color from pale pinkish beige to deep russet — found only in the caymans. —Jim Thompson

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PORTS OF CALL Grand Cayman

Island Highlights

by Sara Churchville

Black Coral Carvings Divers thrill to come across expanses of black coral at sites off Grand Cayman, and jewelry carved from the coral is one of the island’s most popular gift items.

The islands’ flag is a pairing of Britain’s Union Jack with the Cayman Islands’ crest against a dark blue background. At the top of the crest is a pineapple, representing the islands’ one-time dependence on Jamaica. Under it, a turtle, the national symbol of the Caymans, stands on a thatch rope — the manufacture of which was once a thriving industry on the islands.

The Lion of England signifies the obvious ties to Britain, while the three green-and-gold stars on blueand-white waves stand for the three Cayman islands and the sea.

Grand Cayman Blue Iguana Like the Grand Cayman parrot, the Grand Cayman blue iguana, or Cyclura nubila lewisi, is found only on the island. With its blue coloring, it should be easy to spot, but because it’s endangered and not very social to boot, it may take some searching to locate one. A subspecies of the Cuban rock iguana, the Blue can grow to be as long as five feet.

Grand Cayman Parrot Grand Caymanians once took in these loudly squawking birds as pets, but this practice is now illegal. About 4,000 Grand Cayman parrots, so-called because they are found nowhere else in the world, still remain on the island. Green, red and white, this subspecies of the Cuban parrot is the island’s national bird.

PHOTOS BY: (CORAL) CAYMAN ISLANDS DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM; (FLAG) GARY YIM/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; (IGUANA) FRONTPAGE/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM, (PARROT) ELLIOTTE RUSTY HAROLD/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM.

Cayman Islands Flag

FROM TOP: Black coral growing underwater; Cayman Islands flag; rare blue iguana, also known as Grand Cayman iguana; Cayman’s parrots are actually two subspecies of the Cuban parrot.

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EVERY SECOND IS SWEET makE TImE SWEETER EVERY DaY kirk Freeport welcomes you to a collection of the most luxurious shopping destinations in the Caribbean offering the world’s most prestigious brands. kirk Freeport is proud to be the official Rolex dealer of the Cayman Islands and in addition offers prestigious watch brands including Cartier, Patek Philippe, Breitling, Omega, Tag Heuer, Panerai and many others.

Visit us today at: kIRkFREEPORT.NET or on Facebook.

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POrTS OF CaLL Grand Cayman

From Privateers to master Fishermen

Seagoing adventurers have long been drawn to the Caymans.

by Marjorie Klein

The wide beaches and cool caves of Grand Cayman echo with the rich history of its early inhabitants: turtles, crocodiles, pirates, sailors, soldiers, settlers and slaves.

Beginnings Christopher Columbus first spotted the islands he called Las Tortugas on May 10, 1503, when his ship was blown off course from Panama to Hispaniola on his final trip to the New World. The three islands, so populated with tortoises that they looked like rock piles, became a way station for sailors to replenish their freshwater supply and stock up on turtle meat. Perhaps the presence of turtle on the menu resulted in the animals’ decline; by 1586, crocodiles had become so dominant that Sir Francis Drake, the first recorded English visitor, renamed the islands caiman (the Carib word for “crocodile”), from which their present name Cayman is derived.

The Cayman Islands’ population stayed the same — comprising primarily sailors and pirates — until Oliver Cromwell’s British army defeated Spain in 1655. The Treaty of Madrid brought both the Caymans and Jamaica under British rule and made Grand Cayman a destination for settlers.

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Rule Britannia: the settlers settle in The first influx arrived: emigrants from England, Holland, Spain and France, plus refugees from the Spanish Inquisition and deserters from Cromwell’s army.

Privateers, the genteel name for pirates such as Sir Henry Morgan who had their governments’ permission to plunder ships — ostensibly to retrieve wealth stolen from their country — discouraged these early settlers, many of whom high-tailed it back home.

Blackbeard, as well as other pirates, found the caves, nooks and crannies of Grand Cayman to be the perfect hideout. Some pirates never made it to land, their ships having been lured onto the reefs by the beacon fires of the Caymanians, who strenuously resisted these invaders.

By 1700, the first royal land grant in Grand Cayman signaled permanent settlement, followed by others throughout the island.

The first recorded inhabitant was Isaac Bodden, grandson of the original settler, a soldier from Cromwell’s army for whom Bodden

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POrTS OF CAll Grand Cayman

Town was named. Other districts can be traced back to that period of settlement as well; among them is Hog Stys, once the site of a pigpen whose name — thankfully — was changed to George Town in the early 18th century in honor of King George III. In 1713, the Treaty of Utrecht officially ended privateering (although freelance pirates continued to attack ships regardless), encouraging settlers to set up camp permanently and call Grand Cayman home.

Many of these early settlers brought slaves with them to help farm crops such as cotton, which they exported, and the corn, yams, plantains, melons, citrus fruit and sugarcane grown for their own consumption.

An 1802 census shows 933 people, 545 of whom were slaves.

Democracy is born Self-rule for the Caymans began on December 5, 1831, when a historic meeting of residents took place to form the first representative government and elections were held. The Emancipation Act of 1833 brought an end to slavery on an island where slaves then outnumbered whites five to one. a tourist mecca Tourism and banking became Grand Cayman’s primary economic sources in the 20th century.

On February 22, 1937, the Atlantic, the first cruise ship to bring tourists to the island’s shores, deposited 450 wealthy, mostly elderly passengers ashore for the day. During World War II, the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard operated bases on the island. When Bob Soto opened the first dive shop in 1957, Grand Cayman became the birthplace of recreational scuba diving.

In 1962, the Caymans chose to remain a British Crown Colony, a decision that helped lead to the introduction of major banking legislation in 1966.

The face of Grand Cayman has changed dramatically from that first sighting by Columbus; those turtles and caimans that once roamed the island now smile at us from a respectful distance on T-shirts.

Grand Cayman

Timeline

1503

Columbus spots islands he names Las Tortugas.

1655

The islands come under British rule.

1700

Permanent settlement begins with the first royal land grant.

1713-14

Piracy officially ends with the Treaty of Utrecht.

1831-33 1962

Caymanians opt to remain a colony of Britain.

Colorful coral reefs attract divers.

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First elections are held; slaves are emancipated.

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Discover the

adventure

Visit the Cayman Islands’ #1 land-based attraction. Meet the turtles, enjoy the wildlife, snorkel in our lagoon and splash down our water slide. It’s a full day of fun and adventure.

Opening hours: Mon – Sat 8:00am – 4:30pm | Inquire about Sunday hours Book with your Shore Excursion Desk today!

786 Northwest Point Road, West Bay, Grand Cayman

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PORTS OF CALL Grand Cayman S P EC I A L ADV E R T I S I N G F E AT U R E

A Treasure for the Sea Master watchmaker Rolex makes waves with the Oyster Perpetual Submariner Date Rolesor, available at its Grand Cayman retail partner, Kirk Freeport.

The Submariner Date Rolesor is the absolute reference in divers’ watches.

The case features a unidirectional rotatable bezel in 18-karat yellow gold with blue Cerachrom disc. It is waterproof to a depth of 1,000 feet.

The movement is equipped with a Parachrom hairspring, highly resistant to shocks and magnetic fields, ensuring superlative chronometric precision and remarkable reliability.

For more information on this and other timepieces, visit www.rolex.com.

CARIBBEAN VIEWS

A Tradition of Service

Rolex Oyster Perpetual Submariner Date Rolesor

KIRK FREEPORT

The Kirkconnell family built Kirk Freeport into an island legacy.

by Jim Thompson

Shipwrecked in the Caribbean as a young British naval ensign in 1840, William Kirkconnell set out on an adventure that took him from ruin to riches, and forged a bond between his descendants and the Cayman Islands that would endure for generations.

The Kirk Shipping empire was begun by Kirkconnell’s son, Walter.

Kirk Shipping’s vessels once numbered more than 40, and plied the waters from the Caymans to Haiti, Jamaica and the United States for more than a century. The glory days of Kirk’s tall ships are today immortalized in the image of the Kirkconnell schooner, Kirk B, on the Cayman 25-cent coin.

“My grandfather, who started the company in 1896, would have been proud,” says Gerry Kirkconnell, a fourth-generation descendent of William Kirkconnell who now runs the family’s Kirk Freeport group of duty-free shops.

As times changed, the Kirkconnells moved from shipping and built on their many other enterprises. Real estate, farming, the Kirk Home Centre, the Kirk Supermarket and even a Coca-Cola distributorship are some of their ventures.

Kirk Freeport grew from a small general store, which was founded in the 1800s and later became a supermarket. Jewelry, perfumes,

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crystal and watches from such esteemed brand names as Cartier, Rolex, Lalique, Baccarat and Mikimoto grace the company’s 23 locations in Grand Cayman.

“It’s a big operation, but, for us, it’s just a family business,” says Gerry Kirkconnell, who oversees the shops from a modest office in the Kirk Freeport building in central George Town. “Anyway, I’m just Gerry to everyone.”

For generations, the Kirkconnells have served the Caymans through government service and countless charitable works. Since 1962, every general election except one has seen at least one member of the family chosen for the Legislative Assembly of the Cayman Islands.

“People come here for the beautiful beaches, the clear waters and perfect weather, but the real beauty of the Caymans — and the reason we love it here — is the friendliness and warmth of the people.," Gerry Kirkconnell says with a smile. “It is a true slice of paradise.”

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Special Advertising Feature

II

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF CAYMAN ISLANDS DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM

PORTS OF CALL Grand Cayman

FREEDOM’S HOME

The Pedro St. James historic site, with cultural artifacts on the grounds and throughout its rooms.

Known as “the birthplace of democracy in the Cayman Islands,” the Pedro St. James National Historic Site has been likened to the United States’ Independence Hall in Philadelphia.

Caymanians met here on Dec. 5, 1831, and voted to form their first elected parliament. They gathered at “the Castle” on May 3, 1835, to hear the proclamation ending slavery in the British Empire.

The mansion originally was the private home of planter William Eden. The three-story landmark was built from quarried native rock in about 1780. It was the only survivor of a 1785 hurricane, making it the Caymans’ oldest stone structure. The family abandoned it in 1877, and it

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was put to various uses until the Cayman government purchased it in 1991.

Restoration work on Pedro St. James took seven years. Guests enter through the Visitors Center, which perches on a bluff overlooking the Caribbean Sea and surrounds a landscaped courtyard. The featured attractions are a 20-minute multimedia theater presentation of Cayman history and a self-guided tour of the imposing great house.

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PORTS OF CALL Grand Cayman

REGAL RETREAT

During her visit to Grand Cayman in 1994, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II officially opened the botanic park named in her honor.

A lush refuge

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF CAYMAN ISLANDS DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM

Located on 65 acres in the North Side district, Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park is home to some 40 percent of the Caymans’ 600-plus native plant species.

Research into traditional gardens led to the addition of the Heritage Garden. Island settlers once relied heavily on their gardens, and homes boasted flowering shrubs, medicinal herbs, fruit trees and vegetable plots. The twoacre Heritage Garden showcases a restored Caymanian wooden cottage from the early-20th century. The house was relocated here and surrounded by classic flora to give visitors a better understanding of life in bygone times.

The Botanic Park is also home to the endangered blue iguana, found only on Grand Cayman. An estimated 150 mature blue iguanas remain in the wild. The park offers sanctuary in the Blue Iguana Habitat to others as part of a captive breeding program. — Ginger Dingus

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PortS oF Call Grand Cayman

Snorkeling the CaymanS

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Swimming with fish in the sea always seems to be reserved for elite divers like Jacques Cousteau and his companions, or for island water babies who learned to swim before they could walk. But the Cayman Islands, long a mecca for divers and marine ecologists, welcomes snorkeling aficionados to swim with sea creatures in a crystal-clear aquamarine sea. Filled with miles of healthy coral reefs, it’s the perfect home for a dazzling array of sea life. Slipping away from the constraining bonds of land, snorkelers on a soft ecotourism adventure will see the flower-like beauty of the sea anemone, revel in splendid displays of fan-shaped coral, and be awed by reefs splashed with such vivid hues of orange, pink, violet, red and blazing yellow that they might have been created by Picasso. — Richard Carroll

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PORTS OF CALL Grand Cayman

A diver with a bluespotted stingray

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS

One of Grand Cayman’s most popular city visits isn’t to a city at all — at least not in the usual sense of the word. Meet the inhabitants of Stingray City and its neighbor, Stingray Sandbar.

People are merely drop-in visitors who dive down to discover what makes this stretch of real estate so attractive to the rays.

Fortunately, the area’s southern stingrays seem to relish all the attention. They certainly like being fed the handfuls of squid offered by cruise guests and other visitors. And they know the ropes. As soon as a tour-boat motor stops, a flotilla of rays gracefully glides onto the scene. From the deck of the boat, the saucer-shaped rays, which may

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reach up to six feet across, can be seen approaching. Visitors have the choice of watching them from above the surface or jumping in the waist-high water and swimming beside the fiercelooking but gentle creatures.

Before it became a popular tourist attraction, Stingray Sandbar served as a protected area where fishermen cleaned their catch en route to shore. The chance for a free lunch attracted the rays then, just as it does now.

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xt

on te

Capti

Book Now! Visit your shore excursions desk.

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PORTS OF CALL Grand Cayman

Shopping in

Grand Cayman Here’s the ultimate insider guide to what’s hot in town.

See it? Like it? Buy it!

Hearts On Fire Lo relei Blo o m Pen d ant

PROUD PALM The silver thatch palm is a tall tree with fanlike fronds. To fully appreciate its name, one has to observe this indigenous tree by moonlight, when the underside of the fronds beam in silvery splendor atop trunks that often grow 30 feet tall.

The fronds’ qualities provide an excellent roof thatch — they're rainproof, unusually tough and resistant to heat absorption. Once the fronds are picked, thatchers must work quickly. If the leaves dry out before use, the ends curl and the roof will leak.

At one time, silver thatch was the principal component of the islands’ main industry: rope making. While the men went to sea to fish, women and children hiked inland to gather the fronds. After hanging the leaves to dry for a few days, they split them into strands and wove them into long cords. Today, this kind of rope is found in local craft shops in the form of attractive woven hats, baskets, fans and mats. — Eleanor Wilson

Wenger Sea Fo rc e Ch ro n o watch

Silver thatch palm detail

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PORTS OF CALL Grand Cayman

ONE HELL OF A TOWN If your cruise director tells you to go to Hell, don’t be insulted. He’s probably just recommending a tour that includes the town of Hell.

That’s the town’s real name, inspired by the jagged limestone formations resembling menacing flames, which jut up from much of the ground in this small hamlet near George Town. People do live here, but you’re more likely to meet one of the island’s ubiquitous green iguanas.

Hell’s chief export? Postcards, available at the gift shop and the post office, on which visitors scrawl such devilishly clever greetings as “Having a Hell of a time — wish you were here.” Inside the gift shop, a staff member in a red devil suit demands with mock impatience, “What the Hell do you want?”

It’s a must-do for the first-time Grand Cayman visitor — if only so you can say you’ve been to Hell and back.

Cayman

Q&A

How long is Seven Mile Beach?

The beautiful, powdery white sands actually stretch along the waterfront for only about five and a half miles.

Why is the water surrounding the islands so clear?

There are no rivers or streams flowing from the islands into the sea, so there’s no runoff to spoil the renowned clarity of the water.

The whimsical, peg-legged pirate/turtle serves as the mascot and logo of the Cayman Islands. He was designed in 1963 by Suzy Soto and later sold to the Department of Tourism for $1. Sir Turtle commemorates the prime role played by both turtles and pirates in the islands’ history.

If Grand Cayman doesn’t have any mountains, why is it called "the Switzerland of the Caribbean"?

George Town alone has more than 500 banks, a financial community which reminds many of that in Zurich. — Ginger Dingus

Limestone formations inspired the town's name; the devil’s gift shop; welcome to . . . oh, you know.

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PHOTOS BY: KATE MCCLARE; CAYMAN ISLANDS DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM; (SAND) ANATOLI STYF/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Who is Sir Turtle?

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Grand Turk

Turks and Caicos is an idyllic archipelago of islands and cays offering 230 miles of white, sandy beaches and some of the world’s choicest dive sites. The main island is Grand Turk, where the capital, Cockburn Town, boasts pretty frame houses with gingerbread verandas.

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An aerial view of Cockburn Town's beach in Grand Turk

FUNTREKS

TOP SHORE EXCURSIONS Here are just a few of the many tours you can experience during your visit. See your onboard shore-excursion specialist to book today.

Please ask about age requirements, physical considerations, proper dress and other details.

Reef & Rays Snorkeling and stingrays are part of this combination excursion to a private reef off the coast of Grand Turk. Participants meet two of the reef’s famous residents: Shaun, a 3½-foot docile nurse shark; and Harry, a 3-foot-long curious barracuda. Next stop is the stingray playground to interact with the friendly inhabitants. The water is shallow and crystal-clear — a perfect spot for a memorable vacation photograph.

Gibbs Cay Beach & Stingray Encounter

RAMUNAS BRUZAS/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Guests have close encounters with stingrays on this fun and unique island experience. On the pristine, uninhabited island of Gibbs Cay, visitors snorkel among a myriad of colorful reef fish; they also can swim with stingrays, assisted by the crew.

Afterward, there’s time for relaxing on the beach with a complimentary beverage.

Sail Grand Turk & Snorkel The sails go up on a luxurious 78-foot catamaran and so does the excitement, as the boat glides along Grand Turk’s famous coral reef “wall.” After snorkeling with the reef’s colorful fish, guests re-board the boat and cruise along the coastline while enjoying island music and beverages.

Ultimate Snorkeling Adventure

Quick Guide Famed for: Pristine beaches, thrilling scuba diving and pretty pink flamingos.

It’s a Fact: After orbiting the earth in 1962, astronaut John Glenn’s Friendship 7 space capsule splashed down off Grand Turk.

Signature Souvenirs: Natural sea salt, seashell art and colorful postage stamps.

This excursion shows why Grand Turk is considered one of the world’s top dive destinations. Participants get to snorkel at two famed sites: Horseshoe Reef and Round Cay. Both spots are famed for their beautiful turquoise waters and amazing coral and marine life.

Captain Explorer Out-Island & Snorkeling Expedition Guests experience an exhilarating boat ride, worldclass snorkeling and an uninhabited island on this action-packed expedition! The sleek, 38-foot Captain Explorer whisks passengers to Hidden Bay for snorkeling, followed by a guided tour of the island’s historical sites and natural wonders. The tour ends with a cruise past Penniston Cay, where Christopher Columbus once sailed.

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Port View It’s not very hard to find your slice of Caribbean paradise in sun-soaked Grand Turk. Snorkeling clear turquoise waters, kayaking gentle surf, riding horseback and watching birds are just some of the activities on this flat island, only six miles long and a mile wide. Beyond its shoreline, humpbacks frolic to the delight of whale-watchers, and coral reefs with dramatic 7,000foot wall drops attract bold divers to one of the world’s best diving sites.

Located in easternmost Turks and Caicos, a British Overseas Territory, Grand Turk is home to the archipelago’s capital, Cockburn Town. Stroll down Front Street and see limestone buildings emblazoned with vibrant pastel colors highlighting Bermudan-style architecture — a testament to how Grand Turk was settled by late-17th-century Bermudan salt rakers. The Turks and Caicos National Museum houses artifacts from the Molasses Reef Wreck dating back to 1513: brine-worn cannons, olive jars and pottery pieces from the earliest European shipwreck excavated in the Americas.

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PORTS OF CALL Grand Turk

A relaxing spot in Grand Turk

The island’s historic past also includes visits from Fountain of Youth explorer Ponce de Leon and, in recent memory, from U.S. astronaut John Glenn, whose Friendship 7 Mercury space capsule splashed down nearby in 1962. Debate still lingers as to whether Christopher Columbus’ first New World landing was actually in the Bahamas or, as the explorer’s writings may suggest, within what’s now Grand Turk’s Columbus Landfall Marine National Park, which includes a protected reef zone.

Other excursions include trolley train tours, glass-bottom kayaking, dune buggy adventures and bicycle riding on roadways skirting the island’s many salt ponds. Snorkeling with stingrays brings you up close and personal with the sea creatures. If you’re not sure what to do, you can always think about it while looking out at stunning ocean vistas from Governor’s Beach or another such pure-sand stretch along Grand Turk’s inviting shoreline. — Richard Varr

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GRAND GUARDIAN The lighthouse in Grand Turk has protected ships approaching the island for more than 150 years, but its first few years were rocky ones.

Grand Turk's historic lighthouse

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According to Nigel Sadler of the Turks and Caicos National Museum, the lighthouse was built in 1852 at the insistence of the United States, which was concerned about the safety of ships trading with the Turks Islands. But Sadler notes that shipwrecks continued for decades, “along with complaints that the light was either not lit or too dim.” A kerosene light and a new Freshnel lens — a kind of lens specifically created for lighthouses — were installed in 1943. The beacon they created was visible for 15 miles at sea, Sadler says.

In 1971, the lighthouse underwent an extensive renovation, including electrification. The Turks government donated the lens and the clock to the museum, which proudly displays it.

The lighthouse and its keeper’s house have been designated historic sites by the Turks and Caicos National Trust. Besides acting as a sentinel for vessels at sea, it also is a popular picnic spot and is considered to be an excellent spot for viewing migrating whales in February and March.

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PORTS OF CALL Grand Turk

JOHN GLENN

NASA

After three orbits around Earth, what better way to unwind from an historic space flight than by making a stop in scenic Grand Turk? U.S. astronaut John Glenn did just that after the Atlantic Ocean splashdown of his Mercury space capsule on February 20, 1962. He actually set foot back on Earth when brought to what was then a U.S. Air Force base and missile-tracking station on the island’s southern edge.

Although not the first man in space, Glenn was the first American to orbit Earth, his journey taking just under five hours. Islanders celebrated his short stay in Grand Turk, encompassing a two-day medical evaluation and debriefing, by crowding the airport and cheering him on during an early-morning departure. The Turks and Caicos National Museum showcases an exhibit of visits by Glenn and fellow astronaut Scott Carpenter, the second American to orbit our planet, after his nearby splashdown three months later. A replica of Glenn’s Friendship 7 capsule at Grand Turk International Airport commemorates the historic visits. — Richard Varr

John Glenn

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FINE ART

The Premier International Art Source in the Caribbean Bruno Fine Art · Grand Turk Cruise Center · Grand Turk · Turks & Caicos Islands · BWI · Tel +1 561 584 8177

Agam, Chagall, Fazzino, Ferjo, Gerstein, Meisler, Tarkay, Royo and many others

David Gerstein Infinity Tour Hand Painted Wall Sculpture 95 x 160 cm, 37 1/2'' x 63'', 2010

Exceptional quality & value · Hassle-free return / Exchange policy U . S . C u s t o m e r S e r v i c e · To l l f r e e + 1 8 7 7 6 4 3 23 2 4 Bruno Art Group Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos Islands | Tel Aviv, Israel | Singapore | Florida, USA w w w .brun o ar tg r o up . c o m · in f o @b r un o ar tg r o up . c o m

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Half Moon Cay

There's plenty of fun to be had at this island getaway in The Bahamas.

Splash it up at the water park, enjoy a cocktail at the open-air Bahamian bar, or shop at the craft market. Want more? Book a shore excursion to explore the island and the waters surrounding it.

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Horseback riding on the shore

FUNTREKS

Top Shore excurSionS Here are just a few of the many tours you can experience during your visit. See your onboard shore-excursion specialist to book today.

Please ask about age requirements, physical considerations, proper dress and other details.

Half Moon Cay Snorkel By Boat Visitors travel by boat to a site off the coast of half Moon cay and get an up-close view of the sparkling caribbean Sea.

Horseback Riding By Land & Sea it’s the horseback riding experience of a lifetime!

Aqua-Trax Watercraft Adventure Guests experience half Moon cay from the seat of their own Aqua-Trax watercraft.

Stingray Adventure Guests get an educational encounter with the southern stingrays that make their home at half Moon cay.

Glass-Bottom Boat

carnival cruise lines

Thanks to a state-of-the-art glass-bottom boat, guests can explore the undersea world without getting wet.

Quick Guide Famed for: recreation and relaxation on this private Bahamian island, also known as Little San Salvador island.

It’s a Fact: half Moon cay is 17 miles from the nearest island neighbor.

Signature Souvenirs: Bahamian arts and crafts sold by local vendors.

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Key West The southernmost point in the continental United States, Key West — with its balmy weather and Bohemian atmosphere — is a free spirit that holds a special place in our hearts. How can you not love a place that has a party every day to celebrate the sunset?

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Key West is the center of the universe for those who fall under its spell.

FUNTREKS

TOP SHORE EXCURSIONS Here are just a few of the many tours you can experience during your visit. See your onboard shore-excursion specialist to book today.

Please ask about age requirements, physical considerations, proper dress and other details.

Key West Parasailing This ride combines the thrills of offshore powerboating with parachuting, ballooning and gliding. Guests ride in pairs and launch directly from the onboard flight deck.

The Big 3: Dolphin, Snorkel & Kayak Adventure

FLORIDASTOCK/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Participants experience the Florida Keys’ most popular activities. They first cruise along the wildlife sanctuary off Key West, than take a kayak through mangroves and, finally, don snorkel equipment to discover the corals and fishes that inhabit the waters of the Florida Keys. The tour ends with a cruise to a special area known by locals as “the Dolphin Playground.”

Catamaran Sail & Snorkel The 60-foot catamaran Fury takes guests to a coral reef in the waters off Key West, which teem with dolphins and flying fish. Instruction and snorkel equipment are provided, and refreshments are served on the way back to the ship.

Nature Kayak Tour

Quick Guide Famed for: Sunsets, the green flash (a special glint of light in the water at sunset) and Ernest Hemingway’s old haunts.

It’s a Fact: President Harry S. Truman chose Key West for his winter White House.

Signature Souvenirs: Key lime juice, conch shells and sunkentreasure replicas.

How to Get to Town: Key West’s historic Old Town, with its many charming shops and other attractions, is only a few blocks from the dock. It’s easily reached on foot, which also happens to be the best way to explore it. Old Town is split approximately in half by Duval Street, which leads to Mallory Square.

Kayakers travel from Key West’s Gulf coast to its Atlantic side; it’s a leisurely and informative guided nature tour in the mangrove creeks and beautiful shallow waters of Key West. Common sightings in the shallow water include conch shells, nurse sharks, tropical fish and the occasional manatee and stingray, while bird lovers will enjoy the frequent sightings of herons, egrets and ibis.

Discover Key West — Hop On, Hop Off The Conch Tour Train or Old Town Trolley takes riders along the appealing streets of Old Town Key West.

The history of this charming little island is revealed on a drive past Ernest Hemingway’s Home and Museum, President Truman’s Little White House, the pretty harbor area, the Southernmost Point, Henry Flagler’s hotel and a Civil War fort. Stops include the Shipwreck Historeum, with the best view of the island from a 120-foot tower.

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Port View This picturesque enclave offers delights of many kinds, from its pastel-toned homes and shops to its offbeat sunset celebration, where colorful characters ring out the day in Mallory Square.

Many visitors devote a good bit of their day to shopping on Duval Street and the network of charming routes that connect with it. Best buys include dazzling local art, tropical home accessories and hand-rolled Dominican cigars. Collectors of the unique are drawn to beautiful treasure-coin jewelry, made from authentic pieces recovered from old shipwrecks near the island.

Key West has many historic stops, most notably the landmark homes of writer Ernest Hemingway and

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PorTS oF CAll Key West

Key West beckons.

naturalist John James Audubon; museums devoted to the shipwrecks and lore of the island’s past; and the Truman Annex, site of the winter White House during the presidency of Harry S. Truman. Families enjoy the breathtaking natural beauty of the Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory. And one of the most-often-packed mementos is a photo snapped at The Southernmost Point, which notes Key West’s geographic status in the continental United States.

For refreshment, the Historic Seaport is filled with colorful waterfront restaurants. The island’s signature key lime pie stars on almost every menu — and souvenir bottles of tart key lime juice are available for sale almost anywhere.

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PORTS OF CALL Key West

Island Highlights

by Sara Churchville Key Lime Pie This cool, creamy, sweet-tart mixture of condensed milk, key lime juice and egg yolks is folded into a grahamcracker crust, refrigerated until firm and served with a meringue topping or a dollop of whipped cream. Not to be confused with the green fruit you find in most parts of the country, the key lime is small, yellow and very tart.

Tennessee Williams and Ernest Hemingway lived here, and Key West still manages to lure major writers who are charmed by the city’s eccentricity. The written word is celebrated each winter with the Key West Literary Festival.

Grand Entrance This is how you know you’ve arrived: the Seven Mile Bridge, linking Marathon in the Middle Keys to Little Duck Key in the Lower Keys. Key West is about 40 miles farther on. First built in 1912, the bridge was replaced by the current span in 1982.

Saloons Sloppy Joe’s, the infamous Hemingway hangout, is the quintessential saloon in a city where friendly spots for enjoying a cold beer on a warm night, often outdoors, are almost the raison d’être. The saloon names — Hog’s Breath, Green Parrot, Lazy Gecko — still evoke the area’s history of piracy, rum running and general Margaritaville-style lazing.

PHOTOS BY: (PIE) ANJELIKAGR/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; FLORIDA KEYS TOURISM BOARD; (BRIDGE) PICTURIN/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; (SALOON) DANIEL KORZENIEWSKI/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM.

Famous Writers

FROM TOP: Key lime pie; the Tennessee Williams House; the historic Seven Mile Bridge; a popular gathering place.

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As colorful and memorable as a Key West sunset.

Visit the Tervis store for 100s of unique drinkware designs that are made for a lifetime of fun. ÂŽ

431 Front Street, Unit-3

| Key West, FL

Left on Front Street from port, then 500 ft. on your left.

For more locations, go to tervis.com/stores.

Š TERVIS 2013

personalized designs & made in America

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PorTS oF CALL Key West

Row of cannons in Fort Zachary Taylor

LOST AND FOUND

by John Anderson

Many have come to Key West to start lost lives over and find their fortunes.

It should come as no surprise that a place as special as Key West has a history as unusual to match. This southernmost point on the map was the last stop for many a castaway and dreamer, and few ever looked back.

Beginnings Spanish explorers first arrived on Key West in 1521 and dubbed the place Cayo Hueso, or Bone Island, due to the discovery of human bones supposedly found in mangrove clumps. But for centuries after, the area was largely left to its own devices. Eventually, settlers were drawn there for a number of reasons. Among the new residents were Bahamians known as “conchs,” who harvested the hardwood trees; Cuban fishermen; salty New Englanders; and marauding pirates who had been plundering ships in the Caribbean for years.

Ceded to the United States in 1819, Cayo Hueso became

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Anglicized and was soon known simply as Key West. In 1821, U.S. businessman John W. Simonton bought the island for $2,000 and divided it into four parts; he sold three to fellow businessmen Fleming, Whitehead and Greene — you’ll find streets named after them today — and kept one for himself.

Simonton next convinced the U.S. Navy that Key West would be an ideal base of operations for the northern Caribbean region. Thus, in 1823, following Lt. Matthew Perry’s assessment that desperados were a bigger problem than malaria and mosquitoes, the Navy sent in Capt. David Porter and his West Indies Anti-Pirate Squadron.

However, with the dispatching of the pirates, the islanders found themselves under Porter’s military dictatorship until a court-martial finally rid the residents of both the pirates and Porter himself.

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The richest town in America In the 1800s, Key West was an industrious place, with fishing and sea turtle canneries as mainstays of the economy for decades. From 1830 until the Civil War, salt production was a huge industry as well; the island supplied much of the country’s salt. But by 1860, it was the fortunes made from shipwrecks on the coral reefs just seven miles offshore that made Key West the richest U.S. town per capita.

People came from all over to bid on the salvaged bounty at the newly established customhouse. Millions of dollars’ worth of wreckage was being adjudicated on the island, supplying the fine furnishings and chandeliers found in local homes and the formal clothes people wore around town.

With the building of the reef lighthouses in the late 1800s, the profitable wrecking business began to wane. Fortunately, two other businesses picked up the slack and kept Key West in the money: sponging and cigar production. Hundreds of skiffs patrolled the surrounding waters, harvesting millions of sponges from shallow seabeds; the sale of the sponges accounted for 90 percent of all sponges sold in the United States. At the same time, the cigar industry began to flourish when Cubans came to the island to escape their country’s revolution from Spain. By 1890, 129 cigar factories were in operation in Key West.

The 20th century and beyond Key West was an isolated island accessible only by boat until Henry Flagler built his Overseas Railway in the early 1900s.

A massive undertaking, it included one of the world’s longest bridges, which connected Key West to the mainland and was completed in 1912.

While the rail business Flagler foresaw never materialized, another industry began to flourish in the 1920s with the passing of Prohibition: bootlegging. The demand for booze was met by newly rich smugglers from Key West who supplied beer and rum from Cuba and whiskey from Nassau.

This devil-may-care environment attracted the writers who helped to make Key West famous. Ernest Hemingway, Tennessee Williams, Robert Frost and a long list of Pulitzer Prize winners called it home at one time or another.

Key West

Timeline

1521

Spanish explorers arrive and name the island Cayo Hueso (Bone Island).

1819

Florida and the Keys are ceded to the United States.

1821

John Simonton buys Key West for $2,000.

1860

Key West becomes known as the wealthiest town in America.

1912

1982

In a humorous protest, Key West “secedes” from the U.S. and becomes The Conch Republic.

Cannon balls rest against an exterior wall of Fort Zachary Taylor.

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Henry Flagler’s Overseas Railway is completed.

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Silver

that will keep you buzzzin...

Bumble Bee Silver Co 419 Greene St., Key West, FL 33040 Tel: 305 394 3976

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JON WILLIAMS; FLORIDA KEYS TOURISM BOARD; LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.

PORTS OF CALL Key West

Rescue and Rebirth in

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: The Audubon House & Tropical Gardens; explanatory plaque; portrait of John James Audubon.

KEY WEST

Capt. John H. Geiger’s lovely 19th-century mansion, where Geiger and his family lived in the mid-1800s, was scheduled for demolition in the late 1950s.

It was saved by the Mitchell Wolfson Family Foundation and renamed the Audubon House & Tropical Gardens. Today, the restored home holds many of the key works of ornithologist John James Audubon, including first-edition lithographs and many engravings dating from 1830 to 1859. Audubon sighted and drew 18 new birds when he was in Key West in 1832 and is said to have visited the property. The house was built shortly thereafter in his honor.

The museum is situated on an acre of tropical gardens resplendent with trees and plants — each labeled with its name

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and country of origin — plus a variety of orchids and bromeliads, an herb garden and a period nursery.

Visitors can admire the European furnishings in the house and buy Audubon posters, as well as books on nature and local history, in the museum. Bird lovers can purchase first-, second- or third-edition lithographs in a number of sizes from the adjacent gallery. Among the most popular subjects are the bald eagle, the white-crown pigeon and the Key West dove.

Every lithograph comes with a certificate of authenticity and a copy of Audubon’s field notes. — Sara Churchville

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PORTS OF CALL Key West

Key West’s

CUBAN CONNECTION Key West is closer to Cuba than any other U.S. city — both geographically, at less than 100 miles, and culturally.

A new home Cubans began emigrating to Key West in the early 1830s, establishing a strong presence and bringing with them their culture, their traditions and a thriving cigar industry. They continued through two revolutions: in 1868, when thousands came to work in Key West’s then-flourishing cigar factories, and in 1959, when millions began fleeing political oppression by the Communist dictator Fidel Castro.

Cuba’s proximity became a sobering reality with the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, when U.S. President John F. Kennedy and Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev narrowly averted what may have been the closest the world ever came to nuclear war.

Memories remain Key West has several tangible reminders of its Cuban past. The San Carlos Institute, on Duval Street, was founded in 1872 to preserve Cuban culture and promote freedom. Revolutionary leader José Marti ignited passion in 1892 with a stirring speech from the institute’s balcony. Still revered today, Marti is honored with a memorial in Bayview Park.

A monument to the U.S.S. Maine, located at the historic cemetery in the center of Old Town, is another important link with Cuba. The monument is dedicated to the more than 260 men who lost their lives when the battleship, which sailed from Key West, exploded in Havana Harbor in 1898, touching off the Spanish-American War. — Jim Thompson

FROM TOP: Salsa and merengue dancers; a Latin bongo drummer; arroz con pollo.

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PHOTOS BY: (PEOPLE DANCING) ARENA CREATIVE/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; (PERCUSSIONIST) ROXANA GONZALEZ/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; (CUBAN DISH) ROXANA GONZALEZ/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM.

At night spots, the rhythms of Cuban music pulsate with a beat born in Africa and influenced by jazz, Big Band, reggae, salsa and hip hop. Cuban food — fusing Spanish, African, Caribbean, Creole and even Chinese cuisine — also is easily found. Stop for a cup of Cuban coffee or café con leche. Dine on sweet fried plantains, black beans, arroz con pollo or a Cuban sandwich.

In Key West, you don’t have to look far for Cuban music, cuisine and culture.

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We offer gluten free key lime pie Key lime products such as Key lime chipotle bbq sauce, jelly, sauces, candies, cooKies, fresh coffees, ice cream, all Key lime pie made daily in Key West

Shipping of all products national pie Champions 2008 & 2009 throWdoWn With BoBBy flay on food netWork

Nautical Treasures

tWo loCations in key West 1108 Duval St 305-453-6219 | 511 Greene St 305-517-6720 Hours 9am-10 pm 7 Days www.keywestkeylimepieco.com

PHOTOS BY: (PEOPLE DANCING) ARENA CREATIVE/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; (PERCUSSIONIST) ROXANA GONZALEZ/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; (CUBAN DISH) ROXANA GONZALEZ/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM.

Nautical Treasures T Tr reasures

47 Green Street, Key West, FL 33040

305 296 6299 FUN ASHORE CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES

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S P E C I A L A D V E R T I S I N G F E AT U R E

Flowers

of the Sky The 13,000-square-foot pavilion houses a glass-enclosed greenhouse, which is home to hundreds of free-flying butterflies and exotic, colorful birds.

The conservatory is a top-rated attraction in Key West: ranked No. 1 by TripAdvisor and a four-time People’s Choice Award winner.

Visitors can examine the butterfly world with a wall-size map that identifies butterflies by country of origin, provides illustrated information on butterfly anatomy and physiology, and offers a detailed look

at the incredible Monarch migration. Guests also get a rare close-up view of a variety of caterpillars feeding and developing on their host plants.

The conservatory offers a journey through a collection of flowering plants, colorful birds, cascading waterfalls and trees that set the stage for the magnificent “flowers of the sky.” View 50 to 60 varieties of butterflies, over 25 bird species and some 3,500 plants that share the tropical climate-controlled environment of the greenhouse.

The final point of interest is the specially designed display nursery, offering a rare close-up look at the miracle of metamorphosis. Witness butterflies and moths develop, emerge on to their adult life cycle and get released into their idyllic environment.

Wings of Imagination, the gallery, offers the artwork of artist and founder Sam Trophia. The gift shop also offers a wide assortment of butterfly and unique naturerelated items.

Key West Butterfly & Nature CoNservatory

Excite your senses, expand your mind at the Key West Butterfly & Nature Conservatory.

S P E C I A L A D V E R T I S I N G F E AT U R E

Mel Fisher

tReASUReS

Key West has an incredibly rich maritime heritage, which includes the most famous shipwrecktreasure find in history.

The ship Nuestra Senora de Atocha was the Almirante, or Admiral, of Spain’s Tierra Firme fleet. On Sept. 4, 1622, the fleet set sail from Havana, Cuba, heading back to Spain with an unprecedented amount of copper, silver, gold and priceless jewelry.

Just days into the voyage, the fleet was struck by a massive hurricane and sank 35 miles off the coast of Key West. The Spanish attempted to salvage the Atocha for 70 years without success.

Hundreds of years later, Mel Fisher’s

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search for the famed Atocha made international headlines as he uncovered the richest treasure find in history. So far the haul is valued at over $500 million, with hundreds of millions in treasure still to be found.

Although it takes dedicated professionals to be successful in the salvage business, Mel Fisher’s Expeditions welcomes you to discover first-hand the fun, romance and adventure of treasure hunting, with no scuba-diving experience needed.

To find and hold an artifact after it’s been

on the ocean floor nearly 400 years sends tingles from the tips of your toes to the top of your head; the feeling is indescribable. You are encouraged to experience it for yourself.

While in Key West, you can visit 200 Greene Street to learn more about joining the hunt for the Atocha and experiencing the adventure of a lifetime. Hold authentic shipwreck treasure in the palm of your hand and go home with your very own piece of history. As Mel Fisher always believed, today’s the day!

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Key West Butterfly & Nature CoNservatory

with over 130 cafes around the world, there’s always something happening at hard rock.

key west

313 duval st. / +1-305-293-0230 join hardrockrewards .com

/ hardrockcafekeywest

@ hardrock

Š2013 Hard Rock International (USA), Inc. All rights reserved.

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PORTS OF CALL Key West

Safe to swim once more

OFF THE MENU

From 1849 to the early 1970s, marine turtles also accounted for one of Key West’s primary industries: the fishing of these stately creatures and their processing into steaks and soups. As old-time fishermen tell it, the Caribbean Sea was once filled with abundant herds of sea turtles, enough to keep several competing Key West canneries going strong. But after years of declining populations, two sea-turtle families — which include the green turtle, the leatherback, the hawks bill, the loggerhead and the ridley — became protected under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. This, of course, put an end to the cannery business in Key West.

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Green-turtle soup was once a delicacy found on gourmet menus from Manhattan to New Orleans.

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Open daily 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Coastal Home Décor

BLUEORANGE STUDIO/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Bath & Body

Gifts & Jewelry 620 Duval Street 305.294.4211 www.shopfantasea.com FUN ASHORE CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES

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No Excuses

NEEDED

We specialize in larimar, pink conch, australian opals, atocha coins and amber. providing Key West with quality merchandise

105 Fitzpatrick Street, Key West, FL Tel: 305 296 2016 We accepT aLL major crediT cardS 240

Not that it needs one, but Key West has plenty of reasons to celebrate.

Sunsets, for one. Late in the afternoon, visitors and locals flock to Mallory Square to be entertained by jugglers, mimes, animal trainers and musicians while applauding the sun as it sinks into the Gulf of Mexico.

Around Halloween time, the costume party is raised to high art in Key West’s very own Fantasy Fest, when lavish floats and outrageously dressed (or undressed) revelers parade down the streets until the wee hours.

Most visitors don’t resist the urge to stop at one of Duval Street’s famous bars. Key West was a favorite watering hole of Ernest “Papa” Hemingway, one of the greatest writers of the 20th century.

Key West honors its Papa each July with Hemingway Days. Literary tours, theatrical events and a fishing tournament pay tribute to Hemingway, as does the Running of the Bulls, a simulation of the event in Pamplona, Spain, that Hemingway helped to make famous.

The centerpiece of the week is the Ernest Hemingway Look-Alike Contest, in which white-bearded men vie to be declared most Ernest-looking.

Fun and games are not limited to dry land.

The waters surrounding Key West teem with world-class game fish pursued by anglers in fierce tournaments throughout the year.

MR. TOBIN/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Every day’s a party

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A band plays during the sunset celebration.

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PORTS OF CALL Key West

Conch If You

LOVE KEY WEST The Florida Keys are home to two distinctly different varieties of conch (pronounced “konk”).

There’s the conch, a mollusk whose sweet meat tastes something like a clam and is batter-fried in fritters, stewed in chowder, or steamed and eaten in salad. The queen conch is the large occupant of the pretty pink-and-white shell that is a popular collector’s item; it’s illegal to take queen conch without a license in most U.S. waters.

Then there’s the Conch, proud human inhabitants of the Keys archipelago. You could look it up: This definition is even listed in the dictionary.

A marker notes Key West's status as the southernmost point in the continental United States.

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Rebellion and reunion Residents of the Keys still call themselves citizens of the Conch Republic, which celebrated its 30th anniversary in April 2012. Spurred by a Border Patrol checkpoint on the main road in and out of the Keys, which caused traffic jams and headaches for islanders and residents alike, Keys residents “seceded” from the Union and founded the Conch Republic.

They elected a Cabinet and declared war on the United States — and immediately surrendered and requested $1 billion in foreign aid.

The Conchs returned to the union with no ill will, of course, and those who celebrate the annual Conch Republic Independence Day do so with their tongues planted firmly in their cheeks.

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KEY WEST

OPEN DAILY

108 Duval St • 305.293.9939 Ripleys.com/KeyWest © Ripley Entertainment Inc.

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LA ROMANA

Pampering spa services, exciting water sports and several challenging golf courses are yours to sample. Art and history lovers enjoy visiting nearby Altos de Chav贸n, a cultural village where traditional Dominican artistic traditions are brought to life.

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An idyllic beach retreat under swaying palms and sun-filled skies

Quick Guide Famed for: Golf, beaches and other pleasures.

It’s a Fact: The legendary oscar de la renta, a native of the Dominican republic, designed the interiors of the original casa de campo resort.

Photos by: Jamey ekins/istockPhoto.com; (altos de chavon) samewll/shutterstock.com.

Signature Souvenirs: ceramics, local crafts and hand-rolled Dominican cigars.

FUNTREKS

Top Shore excurSionS Here are just a few of the many tours you can experience during your visit. See your onboard shore-excursion specialist to book today. Please ask about age requirements, physical considerations, proper dress and other details.

• Casa de Campo Horseback Riding • Altos de Chavón and River Boat Cruise • Countryside Experience • Santo Domingo City Tour with Lunch • Speedboat to Saona Island

Altos de Chavón is a popular attraction.

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TONY MORAN/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

MAHOGANY BAY The serene isle of Roatán is famed for its splendid diving: Some 95 percent of the Caribbean’s known corals are thought to be found here. It’s also a delight for those who prefer to stay dry, offering butterfly and iguana reserves and colorful botanical gardens.

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A perfect beach awaits at Mahogany Bay.

FUNTREKS

TOP SHORE EXCURSIONS Here are just a few of the many tours you can experience during your visit. See your onboard shore-excursion specialist to book today.

Please ask about age requirements, physical considerations, proper dress and other details.

Mayan Princess All-Inclusive Beach Escape A perfect beach getaway awaits at the Mayan Princess, on a stretch of Roatán’s finest beach.

Maya Key Private Island Snorkeling with Lunch

TONY MORAN/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

A private island offers white-sand beaches and crystal-clear water for snorkeling and much more, just minutes across the bay.

Carambola Gardens & Island Tour Everything Roatán has to offer is included in this tour. Carambola Gardens is a glorious location for nature lovers.

Canopy Tour & Tabyana Beach Participants defy the law of gravity by “flying” down from the ridge of the mountain into beautiful Gumbalimba Park.

Canopy & Gumbalimba Park It’s a gravity-defying rush down a mountain ridge, sliding from cable to cable into a beautiful tropical park.

Quick Guide Famed for: The largest barrier reef in the Caribbean, with easily accessible dive sites offering visibility from 50 to 100 feet.

It’s a Fact: Local wildlife includes the basilisk, which is often called the Jesus Lizard because it can walk on water.

Signature Souvenirs: Carved-wood designs and ceramics hand-painted by Lenca Indians.

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Photos by: (Lifeguard tower) aLexander demyanenko/shutterstock.com; (art deco district) sPirit of america/shutterstock.com

miami

History, culture and entertainment converge with unsurpassed synergy in Miami, a city that has remade itself time and again. It began as an Old South outpost, and in latter days has been a magnet for fashion models and business moguls. It's still a hot spot for beautiful people, but you needn't be wealthy or famous to find a warm welcome here.

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A colorful lifeguard tower on the sands of Miami Beach

FUNTREKS

TOP SHORE EXCURSIONS Here are just a few of the many tours you can experience during your visit. See your onboard shore-excursion specialist to book today.

Please ask about age requirements, physical considerations, proper dress and other details.

Hop On, Hop Off Miami City Tour with Airport Transfer

PHOTOS BY: (LIFEGUARD TOWER) ALEXANDER DEMYANENKO/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; (ART DECO DISTRICT) SPIRIT OF AMERICA/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Sightseeing, shopping, beaches, restaurants and bars are all part of this fully narrated tour; participants can hop off and hop back on at more than 20 locations. The open-air double-decker bus provides fantastic views and a great atmosphere to explore.

The tour includes luggage storage service and transfer to the area’s two international airports: Miami or Fort Lauderdale.

Jungle Island Tour with Airport Transfer (MIA) Wildlife shows, exhibits and tropical landscaping create an enthralling farewell to Miami at Jungle Island, where visitors encounter playful monkeys, colorful macaws and other parrots, scary alligators, pretty pink flamingos and many other creatures. The museum grounds include a lakeside café.

Everglades Tour with Airport Transfer (MIA) For guests leaving from Miami International Airport, a tour of the Everglades is a memorable final look at South Florida. The adventure includes an airboat ride across the water, with likely sightings of alligators, exotic fish and tropical birds.

South Beach Experience with Airport Transfer (FLL )

Quick Guide Famed For: Neighborhoods such as Little Havana, Coral Gables and Coconut Grove.

It’s a Fact: Many hit TV shows have been filmed or set here, from The Jackie Gleason Show and Flipper in the 1960s to Miami Vice in the 1980s and CSI: Miami recently.

Signature Souvenirs: Postcards from an Art Deco hotel, a pink plastic flamingo, or a jersey from the Miami HEAT.

How to Get to town: It takes about 10 minutes to drive to downtown Miami and a few minutes more to get across Biscayne Bay to Miami Beach. The best mode is by taxi; you’ll find cabs readily available at the port.

Guests waiting to fly home via Fort LauderdaleHollywood International Airport can spend the time exploring Miami’s world-famous South Beach, including the historic Art Deco District. After a guided bus tour, participants can explore the area on foot, shopping at the designer boutiques along Collins Avenue or relishing lunch and a cocktail at one of the many outdoor cafés on beachfront Ocean Drive.

Family Fun at Miami Children’s Museum Learning really is fun at the Miami Children’s Museum, which is filled with interactive exhibits that engage kids’ imaginations. Besides examining traditional science topics, youngsters can climb a two-story sand castle, design their own money and explore Miami’s different cultures. Visitors of all ages can record their own CD at the World Music Studio or become a camera operator, news anchor or weather reporter at the television studio.

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Photos by: (Art deco district) sPirit of AmericA/shutterstock.com

PorTS oF CALL Miami

The Magic ciTy

In ultra-hip modern Miami, it’s sometimes hard to believe anything existed before last week. But this city’s story is one of the oldest in Florida.

Seminole tribes had lived peacefully in South Florida for centuries when the Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León sailed into Biscayne Bay in 1513. Then it all changed. For 50 years, the Spanish warred with the Indians. Then the French and British arrived. In 1763, the French and Indian War ended with Florida’s becoming a British colony. Shortly thereafter, Britain swapped with Spain and traded Florida for The Bahamas.

In 1821, the United States gained control of the peninsula. During the late 1800s, northern developers began to move in.

Julia Tuttle, the daughter of an early settler, persuaded Henry M. Flagler to extend his railroad from Palm Beach to Miami in 1896,

CHAMPIONS of a better childhood

To advocate, donate or volunteer, visit www.wementor.org

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and Miami became a city later that same year. The 1920s brought a slew of developers, and the 1930s was an era of fabulous Art Deco hotels in Miami Beach. Tourism expanded and luxury hotels were built in the 1940s. In the late 1950s, when Fidel Castro took over in Cuba, and throughout the 1960s, Cuban exiles settled in Miami and began to prosper. But the countrywide economic recession of the 1970s jolted Miami just as it did everywhere else.

The 1980s TV series Miami Vice helped make Miami the place to be again. Today, the self-proclaimed Magic City is the cruise capital of the world. Celebrities flock here, along with other visitors who appreciate the region’s dazzling energy.

Art Deco hotels face the water in Miami Beach.

Port View Miami has perhaps more cultural diversity than any other city in the country.

Little Havana is primarily a Cuban neighborhood, with a cigar factory and the Bay of Pigs Monument, while Little Haiti is full of Caribbean flavor.

The lovely Mediterranean-style town of Coral Gables boasts the grand Biltmore Hotel and the Venetian Pool.

In Key Biscayne, visitors can swim at gorgeous beaches, tour an historic lighthouse and participate in water sports galore.

Browsing for trendy items in Coconut Grove is a fun diversion. For a quicker shopping fix, try Bayside Marketplace, right across from the port.

Far west of the city lies the Everglades, home to various kinds of wildlife.

And last, but hardly least, is South Beach.

Pastel promenade by day, neon nucleus of amusement by night, Miami Beach’s Ocean Drive — the heart of celebrated South Beach — has been a colorful backdrop for countless photo shoots and film productions featuring stunning models and glitterati from around the world. Images of cotton-candy-colored buildings, scantily clad skaters and bronzed beauties sipping icy drinks at chic sidewalk cafés pervade fashion catalogs, international magazines and the silver screen.

The dazzling scene just couldn't get any better. It’s no wonder the whole world has been captivated.

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MICHAEL J. PALMER

MONTEGO BAY In this exuberant resort area, the streets are something of a local theater, and the beaches buzz with vacationers frolicking in the sun. But the best of MoBay, as the port is known, was here long before vacationers discovered the place. As at most everywhere else on the island, you’ll find warm, openhearted people eager to share their culture.

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MoBay, as it’s known, shimmers under the Caribbean sky.

FUNTREKS

TOP SHORE EXCURSIONS Here are just a few of the many tours you can experience during your visit. See your onboard shore-excursion specialist to book today.

Please ask about age requirements, physical considerations, proper dress and other details.

Tranopy Adventure This tour combines the Sky Explorer chairlift, the Jamaica Bobsled and a zip-line canopy in one adventurous tour at Mystic Mountain. After riding the chairlift 700 feet up the mountain, participants ride the bobsled down the mountain, covering 3,280 feet of twists and turns. They then get an orientation and equipment and “fly” across the jungle canopy on a series of cables and pulleys. Lunch is included.

Dolphin Swim & Doctor’s Cave Beach The tour begins with a narrated journey along Jamaica’s coastline to Dolphin Cove Negril. After a brief orientation, guests interact with dolphins in the water and experience the thrill of riding the creatures; they may even get a kiss or two. Visitors then go to Doctor’s Cave Beach in Montego Bay.

Bobsled Jamaica & Dunn’s River Falls

MICHAEL J. PALMER

Guests experience three top attractions: Dunn’s River Falls and, at Mystic Mountain, the Sky Explorer chairlift and the Jamaica Bobsled ride. At Dunn’s River, a guide leads participants up the 600-foot waterfall. The tour then heads to Mystic Mountain for the chairlift, rising 700 feet; guests ride the bobsled down the mountain, covering 3,280 feet of twists and turns. Lunch is included.

Rose Hall Great House & Shopping

Quick Guide Famed for: Plantation houses, jerk shacks and golf courses.

It’s a Fact: When Columbus sailed into Montego Bay in 1494, he called it the Gulf of Good Weather.

Signature Souvenirs: Jamaican rum, jerk sauce and Blue Mountain coffee.

How to Get to Town: Montego Bay’s downtown and shopping area is about two miles from the pier. There are two ways to get there: by jumping in a taxi or by taking an all-day shuttle that stops at all the important sites in town, including the City Center Shopping Center.

A scenic drive takes visitors to Rose Hall Great House, the former home of the infamous “White Witch,” Annie Palmer. Besides learning about Annie and her bewitching story, guests taste the exotic "Witches Brew.” The tour includes time at the Shoppes at Rose Hall, where duty-free items include watches, crystal, Italian handbags, Indian silks, Jamaican rum, liquors and liqueurs.

Catamaran Sail & Snorkel A state-of-the-art catamaran takes guests on a ride to either Athol or Rose Island reef for an afternoon of snorkeling and sea exploration. The 82-foot ocean voyager allows for a relaxing ride to and from the reef with fellow passengers. After donning gear and a life vest, guests descend into the clear waters. On the return, they can enjoy a refreshing complimentary rum or fruit punch.

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Port View Montego Bay scores a hole-in-one with travelers in search of world-class golf, great shopping — even ghost stories. None of MoBay’s photogenic great houses is as popular among visitors as Rose Hall, said to still be haunted by the ghost of the murderous Annie “the White Witch” Palmer.

The Rose Hall area hits all three pursuits.

Besides phantasmic Annie, it is well-known for its championship golf courses and for delightful shopping at The Shoppes at Rose Hall and

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col/shutterstock.com

PoRTS of CAll Montego Bay

Doctor's Cave Beach

Half Moon Shopping Village. Both tempt travelers with jewelry, Jamaican rum, and lignum vitae woodcarvings, made from the wood of Jamaica’s national tree.

The coolest spot is downtown’s Doctor’s Cave Beach for a swim and Jamaica’s famed jerk chicken and pork. Enjoy it with the sweet bread called festival and a cup of the island’s famous Blue Mountain coffee, and you may have a true taste of paradise. — John Bigley and Paris Permenter

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PORTS OF CALL Montego Bay

Island Highlights

by Sara Churchville

Jamaican National Flag “The sun shineth, the land is green, and the people are strong and creative” is the symbolic meaning of the flag. The black triangles on each side represent the strength of the people; the green triangles at the top and bottom, the lushness of the land; and the gold diagonal cross, sunlight and wealth. The flag was first hoisted in 1962, the year Jamaica declared independence from Britain.

Doctor’s Cave Beach Tourism in Jamaica essentially began at this beach in the early-20th century, when wealthy North American and English bathers were attracted by its purported curative mineral springs, lapping waves and constantly warm temperature. The doctor in question was Alexander James McCatty, M.D., who began a private bathing club accessible only by cave.

Today the cave, the club and the doctor are gone, but the beach remains a tourist attraction.

Soursop Ice Cream Made from soursop purée, ginger, lime juice, vanilla and condensed milk, soursop ice cream is one of the most popular desserts in Montego Bay. The yellowish fruit from which the purée is made is sometimes called guanabana.

Few can claim to have left the island without trying this nationally produced beer at least once. Islanders swear by it as a way of cooling down after a meal of curried goat, jerk chicken or the national dish of akee and saltfish.

FROM TOP: Jamaican flag; Doctor's Cave Beach; delicious soursop ice cream; locally brewed Red Stripe beer.

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Red Stripe Beer

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OCHOS RIOS

MONTEGO BAY

NEGRIL

FALMOUTH

Island Village Downtown 876 • 675 • 8998

24 Shoppes at Rose Hall 876 • 953 • 9755

2 Time Square Mall 876 • 957 • 4922

#106 Historic Falmouth Pier.

876.632.4875

9/24/13 10:44 AM

PoRTS oF CALL Montego Bay

Walter Quirtmair/shutterstock.com.

Sugarcane field

A Plantation

by Marjorie Klein

PASt

Like many other Caribbean ports, Montego Bay looks back on a past formed by a plantation economy and marked by adventure, rebellion and not a few ghost stories. As with many histories of the Caribbean, the story of MoBay begins with Columbus.

Beginnings In 1494, when Columbus first sailed into what is now Montego Bay, he named it El Golfo de Buen Tiempo, or Fair Weather Bay. The name Montego evolved from the Spanish word for “lard,” when the bay was known as Bahía de Manteca, or Lard Bay, then the export point for lard produced from roaming herds of wild hogs hunted by the settlement’s Spanish occupiers.

Sadly, the native Taino Indians (also known as the Arawak), who had inhabited this region since A.D. 600, disappeared after 80 years of Spanish occupation, decimated by the diseases contracted from their conquerors.

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the British occupation In 1655, Spain relinquished Jamaica to Britain, surrendering with little resistance and leaving almost no evidence of its occupation. Founded in 1671, St. James was one of the poorest parishes, due to a scarcity of real towns, few inhabitants and little commerce except for lard production.

The fortunes of the parish turned when plantation owners began bringing slaves from Africa to work their sugar crops, and the sugar economy boomed. By the end of the 18th century, Montego Bay was a bustling port city; 150 ships arrived annually, importing slaves and supplies and exporting sugar. In 1720, Capt. Jonathan Barnett subdivided a portion of his sugarcane fields and created Charles Town. Merchants and planters became wealthy and built elaborate homes, one of which became the setting for the most famous legend in the parish: the “White Witch of Rose Hall.”

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SHOPPES AT ROSE HALL - MONTEGO BAY TAJMAHAL PLAZA - OCHO RIOS HISTORIC PORT OF FALMOUTH - FALMOUTH PHONE: 876- 953-4600 WWW.JEWELSANDTIME.COM

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PORTS OF CAll Montego Bay

In 1774, the Montego Fort was constructed to protect the town, although Montego Bay was never invaded and pirates weren’t a great threat. The only occasions on which the cannons were fired were to celebrate the king’s birthday or to announce a visit from the governor.

In 1795 and again in 1811, fire destroyed many parts of Montego Bay. But the most devastating destruction came during the Christmas Rebellion of 1831, a slave uprising led by Sam Sharpe, who is today listed as a national hero. Sharpe, a house slave and part-time preacher, planned a nonviolent strike that got out of hand and had an unfortunate end. Many plantations were set on fire and Sharpe was put on trial at the Old Court House, now the location of Sam Sharpe Square; he was tried and hung, an act that accelerated the abolition of slavery in 1834. Following this chain of events, the fortunes of the town declined, along with the sugar economy, but rose again with the development of the banana trade.

20th-century independence In 1908, the proud members of the Montego Bay Citizens Association advertised their city as the most beautiful spot in Jamaica — and only a four-and-ahalf-day trip by steamer from New York. Adding to its appeal were the curative powers of seawater, as touted by English chiropractor Sir Herbert Barker. Doctor’s Cave, a bathing club donated to the town in 1906 by its owner, the eccentric Dr. Alexander McCatty, was promoted as well, inspiring the construction of a surrounding nucleus of small hotels.

As the century progressed, tourism became the new economy. A landing strip built during World War II became an airport, and a free port opened in 1960, followed by a cruise ship terminal. In 1962, the island became an independent nation. Today the bay once known for its lard exports worldwide now imports vacationers from across the globe.

Montego Bay

Timeline

1494

Columbus sails into Montego Bay.

1655

The British conquer Spanish occupants.

1671

St. James Parish is founded.

1770

Rose Hall is built.

1795

Fire destroys the town..

1831

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Andrew PArk/shutterstock.com

Sharpe’s Christmas Rebellion occurs.

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FALMOUTH, MONTEGO BAY, OCHO RIOS JAMAICA WWW.JEWELSANDTIME.COM

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JAMAICA TOURIST BOARD; JESSICA THOMAS; GREENWOOD GREAT HOUSE.

PORTS OF CALL Montego Bay

FROM LEFT: Rose Hall Great House; Annie Palmer’s bedroom in Rose Hall; Greenwood Great House ballroom.

MoBay’s

GREAT HOUSES Jamaica’s second-largest city boasts a number of great houses, sprawling plantation homes dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries, when the area served as a primary port for the export of sugar and bananas.

Today the main remnants of this industry are the magnificent homes of the prosperous sugar barons.

Rose Hall is one of the Caribbean’s most famous great houses. Situated on a hillside 10 miles outside Montego Bay, this mansion dates back to 1770 and has been restored to its former splendor. Many legends surround Rose Hall’s early mistress, Annie Palmer, the notorious, voodoopracticing White Witch. Annie purportedly murdered her three husbands, numerous lovers and anyone who got in her way. A tour guide will gladly provide the gory details.

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After your tour, relax in Annie’s Pub — where Annie kept “the dungeons” — and sample a drink called the Witch’s Brew in the eerie ambience.

The ownership of Greenwood, on the same hillside, but four miles farther on, is traced back to relatives of English poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning. The house still contains many of the Browning family’s original books, letters, musical instruments, furniture and other household items. Visitors can also walk around the grand verandas offering views of the sea — Marty Leshner

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POIS MOI COLLECTION

Shoppes at Rose Hall, Montego Bay, Jamaica

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PORTS OF CALL Montego Bay

Shopping in

Montego Bay Here’s the ultimate insider guide to what’s hot in town.

See it? Like it? Buy it!

Alex and Ani Cl a s s i c m i xe d ch a r m b ra cel e t

John Hardy B ra ce l et

Technicolor

TEMPTATIONS If a pickled parrot lands next to a hummingbird, would you find they are closer to a big bamboo or to a dirty banana?

Whichever one you answered — you’re absolutely right. Pickled Parrot, Hummingbird, Big Bamboo and Dirty Banana are all colorful Jamaican tropical drinks. What these concoctions have in common are tropical fruit juice, plus Jamaican rum or Tia Maria. For a Purple Rain drink, just mix vodka, Blue Curaçao, fruit syrup, lime juice and grenadine. It’s

No Problem — blend fruit juices with coconut rum and crème de banana.

Here’s a simple recipe dating from the heyday of the sugar plantations: “sour, sweet, strong, weak.”

The translation? Mix one part lime juice, two parts sugar, three parts rum and four parts fruit juice (your choice). For Purple Rain without the haze or Pickled Parrot punch without the punch, skip the “strong” kick.

Then see if you can find the real hummingbird near that big bamboo.

— Ginger Dingus

Raymond Weil Watch

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PHOTOS BY: BOULE/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; CREPESOLES/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM.

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Ports of call Montego Bay

and Jamaica Johnny Cash grew up a country boy, sang about country life, made it big in country music and, when it was time for a little R&R, turned again to the country — in the hills near Montego Bay. in Barrett Town. The duo financed the first family home at the village, performing concerts at the nearby Rose Hall Great House to raise funds for the project.

Cash also wrote “The Ballad of Annie Palmer,” inspired by the supposed haunting of Rose Hall by its voodoo-trained mistress. All profits from the song were donated to the children’s home.

Today the connection between Cash and the Children’s Village lives on.

One of Jamaica’s premier musicians, Abdel Wright, who has shared the stage with U2’s Bono, grew up at S.O.S. Village, where he often saw Cash perform in concert. — John Bigley and Paris Permenter catwalker/shutterstock.com

For nearly 30 years, Cash and his wife, June Carter Cash, made their home away from home at the Cinnamon Hill great house. Surrounded by tropical beauty, the Cashes enjoyed peace, privacy and the restorative nature of the island.

“Jamaica has saved and renewed me more times than I can count,” the legendary musician, now deceased along with his beloved wife, wrote in his autobiography. Cash praised the down-toearth atmosphere of the countryside, which he compared to his childhood home.

The Nashville star gave back to Jamaica as well. Starting in the early 1970s, Cash and his wife worked to establish an S.O.S. Children’s Village for orphaned and abandoned children

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Sonata Streamline Self-winding. Patented manufacture movement with Silicium technology and 24 hour alarm and countdown.

Titanium case with ceramic bezel.

Also available with 18ct gold bezel.

W W W . U LY S S E - N A R D I N . C O M

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Shoppes at Rose Hall • Montego Bay • 953-4611 Taj Mahal Plaza • Ocho Rios • 974-2769 Port of Falmouth • Falmouth • 620-4141 colors@cwjamaica.com

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Ports of call Montego Bay

SpecialBond

James Bond, the fictional spy immortalized in novels and then on film, got his name during one of his creator’s many vacations in Jamaica.

saswell/shutterstock.com

Ian Fleming, author of the 13 Bond novels, explained: “I was looking for a name for my hero . . . and I found it . . . on the cover of one of my Jamaican bibles, Birds of the West Indies, an ornithological classic by James Bond.”

Fleming questioned whether the Bond books, which have sold more than 18 million copies in 23 languages, would have been born if he had not been in the “gorgeous vacuum of a Jamaican holiday.” From 1946 until his death in 1964, the author wintered at GoldenEye, his home on 30 acres of land overlooking Jamaica’s fashionable north shore.

— Deborah Williams

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OPPOSITE: Sean Connery as James Bond. HERE: Ian Fleming, creator of James Bond.

fun ashore carnival cruise lines

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PORTS OF CALL Montego Bay

Edible

STARS

Irresistible slices of carambola

by Toni Crane

The exotic-tasting fruit called carambola originated in China, where the tree is still grown both as an ornament and for its fruit.

The Portuguese introduced the tree to Brazil, and from there it found its way to the Caribbean.

Carambola contains ascorbic acid and oxalic acid; the more oxalic acid present, the tarter the fruit. When using the tarter variety, the cook can trim away the ribs, where most of the oxalic acid lies, without spoiling the star shape. The crisp, juicy yellow flesh, which has a lemony-apple flavor, can be eaten raw, but the fruit tends to be more delicious cooked and served with fish, or made into jellies or desserts.

The carambola is difficult to produce commercially as it should ripen on the tree and spoils very quickly once picked.

However, carambola trees can be found in many backyard gardens in the Caribbean, and the fruit is now available in the produce markets of many cities in the United States. Try it — the pretty shape will add to the appeal of your dinner-party table.

PHOTOS BY: THEWADA1976/SHUTTERESTOCK.COM; SMIT/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM.

The spreading carambola tree normally grows to a height of about 30 feet. Its light-green feathery leaves close at night and open again in the morning; they will also close up in a high wind. The small pinkish flowers, which have a pleasant fragrance, usually grow directly out of the trunk or main branches. These are followed by the striking bright-yellow orange waxy fruits, which give the carambola tree the appearance of a stumpy yellow cucumber.

Carambola is popular among chefs throughout the world for the unique star-shaped pieces obtained by cutting the fruit in slices.

And that’s why the fruit is also called star fruit. All varieties of carambola appear much the same, up to about five inches long with five distinctive ribs running the length of the fruit that turn brown as the fruit ripens. But some varieties are much tarter than others.

The pretty carambola yields star-shaped fruit.

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Book Now! Visit your shore excursions desk.

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On the Hip Strip next to Doctor’s Cave Beach.

Montego Bay get ready for world renowned Barbeque restaurant!!

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POrTs Of cALL Montego Bay

A Sticky Wicket

Shops at Rose Hall # 10

Montego Bay, Jamaica Tel: 876 953-3236 Fax: 876 952-7174 e-mail: aanchall@hotmail.com

NEW LOOK... Always Superior Flavour

It is the national sport of Jamaica and mirrors the essence of life in this former British colony. The game has vague similarities to American baseball. But cricket games are long — and that is a real understatement. A cricket match can last 30 hours spread over five or six days, with breaks for lunch, tea and restroom visits.

Given the time span of typical cricket matches, scores can range from 200 to 500 runs per team. On rare occasions, teams have tallied more than 1,000 runs in two innings. Largely because of the prowess of Jamaican cricket players, the West Indies has dominated the sport since the mid-1970s.

Jamaicans at all levels of society love their cricket. When there is no match at home, an important test match across the sea brings the entire island to a near standstill. Ears are glued to radios. Parties begin early and continue all night because of the time difference.

— Deborah Williams

Cricket players

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jamaica tourist board

Souvenirs, T-shirts, Usian Bolt shirts, Island wear, Crystal Jewelry, Island Jewelry Kids Shop: Swimwear, Toys, Outfits, Gifts galore

Cricket comes across as an utterly preposterous game to those who aren’t in the know.

But to the knowledgeable, cricket is nothing of the sort.

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Shoppes at Rose Hall, Montego Bay, Jamaica

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Nassau The focal point of Nassau, the capital of The Bahamas, has always been the harbor, which has lured gangs of buccaneers, bootleggers and various other wily adventurers over the years.

Beyond the harbor are many more delights: brightly painted buildings, intriguing history and alluring shopping, for starters.

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A lighthouse guards the entrance to Nassau Harbor.

FUNTREKS

TOP SHORE EXCURSIONS Here are just a few of the many tours you can experience during your visit. See your onboard shore-excursion specialist to book today.

Please ask about age requirements, physical considerations, proper dress and other details.

Atlantis Beach Day & Discover Atlantis The world-famous Atlantis Resort welcomes Carnival guests, who get a reserved area on the beach and are provided a chair and towel to bask in the sun, sand and surf. The resort's 141-acre waterscape comprises 20 million gallons of freshwater and seawater, with exhibits and lagoons containing over 200 species of sea creatures. Atlantis also features a maze of archaeological ruins and excavations called “The Dig,” and serves lunch at Pisces, Cave Bar or River Bend Cart snack bars.

Atlantis Aquaventure Full Day with Lunch Carnival guests may explore the Caribbean’s largest water-themed attraction. The 141-acre waterscape of pools, water coasters, body slides and rivers holds over 20 million gallons of freshwater and seawater and is home to more than 50,000 sea creatures.

Shopping and casino gaming are also available, and the tour includes lunch.

Balmoral Island Beach Day PAM BLIZZARD/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Participants escape to paradise: a secluded island surrounded by white-sand beaches and crystal-clear water. This luxurious island experience features four bars, an indoor food venue, a plunge pool and a pristine white-sand beach.

Balmoral Island Dolphin Encounter & Beach

Quick Guide Famed for: Pink-hued buildings, Junkanoo revelers and pirate lore.

It’s a Fact: American rebels briefly occupied the British port after the two-day Battle of Nassau in 1776.

Signature Souvenirs: Local crafts from the Straw Market.

How to Get to Town: It takes almost no time to reach the center of Nassau and its many shops and attractions — it’s all just a short walk from the pier.

Guests get a chance to have a close encounter with one of nature's smartest creatures on their visit to Balmoral Island.

Catamaran Sail & Snorkel A sleek catamaran takes guests to lush coral gardens filled with colorful tropical fish. Upon arrival at the snorkel spot, participants get an orientation and may then explore the reef, with time to lounge on the deck and take in the serene view. The return trip includes a complimentary drink of lemonade.

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Port View Slip on your walking shoes if you plan to get to know the spirit and culture of The Bahamas in one day. If you’d rather save your feet or want to add an element of romance to your visit, hire a horse-drawn surrey ride from the dock.

Near the dock, you’ll pass all of Nassau’s most important and impressive government buildings, churches and monuments.

Some of downtown’s historic buildings house specialty museums, such as the intriguing Pompey Museum of Slavery & Emancipation at the old slave marketplace and The Balcony House Museum, be-

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PorTS oF CAll Nassau

Colorful homes line Nassau's waterfront.

lieved to be The Bahamas’ oldest wooden structure.

Families will want to stop at the interactive Pirates of Nassau Museum.

Downtown’s Bay Street shopping area offers everything from duty-free jewelry and perfume to the vibrant work of local artists. For the wares at the Straw Market, you’ll need cash if you want to bargain.

Among islanders’ favorite local secrets found on West Bay Street: Arawak Cay, a collection of casual and colorful eateries and shops, where fresh conch salad prepared ceviche-style is the specialty — made to order before your very eyes. — Chelle Koster Walton

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PorTS oF cALL Nassau

Government House

Capital of the Bahamas

As the seat of government and the hub of commercial activity, Nassau is a lively city — yet one that still retains its Old World (more specifically, British) charm.

Traffic in Nassau stays to the left, as in Britain, and is directed by bobbies sporting white jackets, navy pants with red seams, and pith helmets — a tropical version of their London counterparts. A grand 18thcentury European mansion is the residence of the governor-general, and the neoclassical buildings of Parliament Square serve as a backdrop for a statue of Queen Victoria.

Nassau is divided into three main areas: the commercial district, down by the waterfront; the colonial residential area, which features 17th- and 18th-century

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mansions and large town houses on top of the cliff; and the poorer area ‘‘over the hill.’’

All Nassau’s most interesting sights are within walking distance of each other and are situated around Bay Street, running parallel to the waterfront, just a short walk from the cruise ship dock. Don’t overlook the Bahamas House of Assembly on Parliament Square; the National Historical Museum on Elizabeth Avenue; or the Queen’s Staircase, leading to Fort Fincastle at the top of the cliff. From here, Nassau and its environs are something special to behold.

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THE LONG TRADITION OF DETROIT WATCHMAKING HAS JUST BEGUN. TH E R U NWE LL FEATU R I NG A WH ITE DIAL WITH R E MOTE SWE E P SECON D I N A STAI N LESS STE E L CASE AN D DETROIT-B U I LT ARGON ITE 1069 MOVE M E NT.

As makers of handcrafted watches, bicycles, leather goods, and journals, we believe that products should be built to last, and they should be built here in America. Shinola stands for skill at scale, the preservation of craft, the beauty of industry.

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PORTS OF CALL Nassau

Shopping in

Nassau Here’s the ultimate insider guide to what’s hot in town.

See it? Like it? Buy it!

Korite A m m o li te c o lu m n ear r i n gs

MARCHING FLAMINGOS

Almost everyone has seen marching horses and marching elephants. But marching flamingos?

You can see them yourself every day at Ardastra Gardens and Zoo, a cool retreat amid the bustle of Nassau.

Audiences wait in eager anticipation for the arrival of the more than one dozen flamingos trained to spread their wings and march on command, responding to the voice of the trainer. All spectators are invited to enter the show arena after the performance for a close-up encounter with the amazing pink birds.

In addition, animal lovers can see a meerkat family, as well as parrots, iguanas, lemurs, monkeys, sloths and even kinkajous. — Deborah Williams

Marahlago Mar i n a b rac elet

PHOTOS BY: PAGINA/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; ILYA AKINSHIN/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM.

Gift Collection Gift ribbon di am o n d r i n g

Day 2 Night Reve rs i ble r i n g

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For more information, download our FREE app at atlantis.com/app.

An

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like

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Only at Atlantis

can you find 20 million gallons of nonstop excitement at Aquaventure, one of the world’s largest and most amazing water parks. Visit the Mayan Temple and take the Leap of Faith into shark-infested waters. Then embark on a mile-long river ride through rolling waves and rapids.

At Dolphin Cay, come nose to bo lenose with our dolphins during our Shallow Water Interaction. Or glide alongside them on a unique hand-held scooter in our Deep Water Swim.

At Atlantis, there’s no such thing as too much amazing.

To book one of these once-in-a-lifetime excursions, visit your Shore Excursions Desk.

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PorTS of call Nassau

Stairway to Heaven

Perhaps the most unusual sight in Nassau is the Queen’s Staircase on top of Elizabeth Avenue hill, which pays homage to the 65-year reign of Queen Victoria.

In the early 19th century, 600 slaves began to build a level road through the limestone ridge that lies between downtown Nassau and the rest of the island to provide better access. When slavery was abolished, so was the project. What was done at that point looked like a long stairway at the dead end of the cut.

In the 1920s, a promoter noticed that there were the same number of steps as there were years in Queen Victoria’s reign, and thus the name was bestowed on the stairway. Today, palm trees and an adjacent cascading waterfall make the Queen’s Staircase a shady, cool oasis with a view that takes your breath away. — Linda Marx

The Bahamas minisTry of Tourism

Visitors get a history lesson along with their exercise when ascending the stairs.

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PORTS OF CALL Nassau

Where

CONCH IS QUEEN

It’s as ubiquitous as it is delicious. The large queen conch (pronounced “konk”) found in abundance in the waters around Nassau has been intertwined with the country’s culture dating back to the first European settlers.

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CHIYACAT/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Not surprisingly, it all starts with the country’s uniquely flavored cuisine. The mollusk’s firm, white meat with pink fringe can be fried (cracked conch), steamed, or served in fritters, chowders and gumbos. And it’s especially tasty served raw as part of a conch salad, much like ceviche, that includes lime juice, spices, onions and chili peppers. This often-made-to-order treat is prized by locals, owing to conch’s sweet flavor and supposed power as an aphrodisiac. For the health-conscious, conch is high in protein and Omega-3 fatty acids.

Besides being a popular food source, conch can also produce a rare pink pearl. Its shell is used for decorations and ground up as building material. Homeowners in Nassau may also use it as a crime deterrent by placing the shell’s sharp edges atop exterior walls.

Conch populations have been dwindling from over-fishing, but organizations like Community Conch are working to aid the Bahamas’ queen conchs by promoting sustainable harvesting.

In addition to education and conservation at the grassroots level, the nonprofit organization conducts research in collaboration with the Bahamian government and conservation groups, collecting needed data for better conch fishery management. — John Anderson

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with over 130 cafes around the world, there’s always something happening at hard rock.

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Tel.: 242-322-7914 FUN ASHORE CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES

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New OrleaNs

Its people’s diverse heritage makes this city uniquely alive with tradition and a love for one’s roots. The Big Easy has had some hard times lately, but it’s ready to party again and to entertain visitors with its food, its music and its own special take on Southern hospitality.

Quick Guide Famed for: Mardi Gras, jazz music and French Creole food.

It’s a Fact: The famed po'boy sandwich consists of French bread filled with meat or seafood topped with sauce or gravy.

Succulent seafood, like this plate of crawfish, is one of the many delights of New Orleans cuisine.

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Signature Souvenirs: Mardi Gras masks and a bottle or two of hot sauce.

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CRUISE NEW ORLEANS! It’s like 2 vacations in 1!

The Big Easy way to launch your Caribbean vacation!

Port of New Orleans

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P.O. Box 60046, New Orleans, La. 70160

www.portno.com

504.528.3318

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PHOTOS BY: (MAIN) JEREMY EDWARDS/ISTOCKPHOTO.COM; (BRIDGE) EVGENY DUBINCHUK/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM.

NEW YORK

Considered the cultural capital of the United States, New York City is an international center for the arts and entertainment and for fashion and finance. The world-class museums, performing-arts venues and restaurants of its five boroughs give the Big Apple a vibrant and unmatched energy.

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The city that never sleeps

Quick Guide Famed for: Broadway shows, central park tours and delicious deli food.

It’s a Fact: The city’s nickname, “the Big Apple,” comes from the days when “the apple” referred to the many horseracing tracks around new York. in the 1920s, a sportswriter started referring to “the big apple,” the ultimate place to race.

Photos by: (main) Jeremy edwards/istockPhoto.com; (bridge) evgeny dubinchuk/shutterstock.com.

Signature Souvenirs: An “i Love new York” T-shirt, photographic scenes from street vendors and new Yorkstyle cheesecake.

FUNTREKS

Top Shore excurSionS Here are two tours you can experience during your visit. See your onboard shore-excursion specialist to book today.

Please ask about age requirements, physical considerations, proper dress and other details.

• Manhattan Sightseeing with EWR (Newark) Airport Transfer • Manhattan Sightseeing with JFK & LGA (LaGuardia) Airport Transfer

The Brooklyn Bridge lights up.

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OchO RiOs

Jamaica’s natural beauty is evident at every turn in the road. In Ocho Rios, rivers rush down mountains covered in thick foliage, the sea laps golden shores, and tropical flowers accent every view.

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A bright day in Ocho Rios

FUNTREKS

TOP SHORE EXCURSIONS Here are just a few of the many tours you can experience during your visit. See your onboard shore-excursion specialist to book today.

Please ask about age requirements, physical considerations, proper dress and other details.

Tranopy Adventure The Sky Explorer chairlift, the Jamaica Bobsled ride and a zip-line adventure are combined in this triplethreat outing to Mystic Mountain. The chairlift takes riders up 700 feet to the top of the mountain, where they get in the bobsled and plunge down 3,280 feet of twisting track. Back at the top, they get a safety orientation and “fly” through the jungle canopy on a series of cables and pulleys.

Paradise Beach Club with Dunn’s River Falls

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Guests visit Dunn’s River Falls to climb the rocks leading up this 600-foot-high natural attraction; then they head to Paradise Beach for fun in the sun and unlimited food, drinks and entertainment. A DJ plays reggae music, and colorfully costumed Jamaican dancers perform. The day ends with shopping for local souvenirs in town.

Horseback Ride & Swim with Dunn’s River Falls Guests saddle up for a ride along the coastline overlooking the ocean. At Chukka Beach, they unsaddle for a bareback ride in the Caribbean Sea. After visiting the gift shop, they climb up 600-foothigh Dunn’s River Falls.

Canopy Adventure & Dunn’s River Falls with Lunch

Quick Guide Famed for: Soulful reggae music, gorgeous beaches, and breathtaking waterfalls like the one at Dunn’s River.

It’s a Fact: Ian Fleming named his James Bond 007 character while living in Jamaica.

Signature Souvenirs: Red Stripe beer, Rastafarian knit caps and all things Bob Marley.

A series of high platforms and rope pulleys takes guests across the jungle canopy of Cranbrook Flower Forest. Participants swing along traverses from 105 to 600 feet long, with views of the valley and mountains carved from ancient waters. Participants then enjoy a Jamaican lunch and climb 600-foot Dunn’s River Falls.

Dolphin Swim & Dunn’s River Falls After climbing the 600-foot-high Dunn’s River Falls, guests travel to Dolphin Cove for a brief presentation and swimming session with the marine mammals.

The tour includes time for shopping.

How to Get to Town: Your ship docks just a few steps from the heart of Ocho Rios' shopping and dining area. Taxis are readily available at the pier.

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Port View Ocho Rios may not have the eight rivers its name implies, but you wouldn’t know that standing in the powerful cascade of Dunn’s River Falls. The island’s most recognized site offers one of the Caribbean’s most unusual experiences: climbing through 600 feet of rushing mountain water, holding hands in daisy-chain formation with other adventurers.

The climb ends in one of the island’s busiest craft markets, where vendors sell wood carvings and straw goods, but most travelers prefer to head

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Traditional jerk cuisine.

to the numerous duty-free malls for more relaxed shopping. At Soni’s Plaza, Harbor Shops, Taj Mahal and Island Village, fine jewelry, watches, Jamaican rum, and cigars are popular purchases. Also much sought are spices to bring home a taste of the island’s signature jerk cuisine.

Ocho’s elegant side is revealed in such attractions as Firefly, the serene estate where famed British playwright Noël Coward often came to find ‘‘room to write.’’ — John Bigley and Paris Permenter

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PORTS OF CALL Ocho Rios

Island Highlights

by Sara Churchville

Paper Heroes Jamaica's currency bears the portraits of several men revered as national heroes. On the $100 bill is Sir Donald Sangster, for whom Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay is named. Activist leaders Sam Sharpe and George William Gordon are on the $50 and $10 bills, respectively. On the $20 bill is Noel N. Nethersole, the revered former finance minister whose work on Jamaica monetary policy earned him the title "father of the Central Bank."

Swallowtail Butterfly The world’s largest swallowtail butterfly, the Papilio homerus, is found only in Jamaica, where it's called a bat — as are all butterflies and moths. The blackand-yellow butterfly has a wingspan of six inches, making it the largest butterfly in the Americas. It’s also larger than the three-inch winged Jamaican fruit bat, a rat-bat as the nocturnal creatures are called.

The endangered homerus is commemorated on Jamaica’s $1,000 note.

Tropical Ferns Ferns aren’t exactly rare in tropical climes, but Ocho Rios, with its nearby rainforest, has more than the usual amount. In fact, from the Ocho Rios beaches to about four miles inland up the mountains is a deep ravine with some 500 species of ferns. The area is called, with unceremonious accuracy, Fern Gully.

This red-throated, upwardly staring Jamaican bird is said to have gotten its color from a drop of blood from the Crucifixion. Unusual among birds, it makes its nest underground. It appears topside often enough, however, to be a common sight for birders.

FROM TOP: Jamaica’s $20 note bears the likeness of Noel N. Nethersole; the swallowtail butterfly is nocturnal; lush tropical ferns are long-lived; the tiny Jamaican tody.

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PHOTOS BY: ISTOCKPHOTO.COM; KAREN GIVENS/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; JAMAICA TOURIST BOARD.

Jamaican Tody

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PORTS OF CALL Ocho Rios S P EC I A L ADV E R T I S I N G F E AT U R E

Caribbean Views:

Love At First Sight

by Jim Thompson

In 1931, B. D. Dadlani thought Jamaica would be only a brief stop on his journey from India to Trinidad or America. But when he stepped off the boat and saw the lush green forests and soaring mountains beyond the island nation’s alabaster beaches, he knew this would be his new home.

“For him, like so many who come here, it was love at first sight,” says Dadlani’s son, Indru Dadlani.

B. D. Dadlani and his brother stayed and set up a small dry-goods store in Kingston. Over the years, with the help of his wife, his son Indru and other family members, he saw his simple shop grow, along with his love for the island and its people. Today, the Dadlani family owns Casa de Oro, a successful jewelry store with five locations in Jamaica: two in Ocho Rios, two in Montego Bay and one in Negril. Specializing in high-end watches and jewelry, Casa de Oro is the exclusive Jamaica distributor of Cartier and of specialty items from Tiffany, TAG Heuer and Mikimoto.

Indru Dadlani shares his father’s affection for Jamaica,

and he was awarded the National Honor of the Order of Distinction in 1994 for his community service. The feeling is reflected in the family’s philosophy of always putting the customer first and is echoed in their motto: “Always with the family tradition.”

Many things in Jamaica have changed since B. D. Dadlani first arrived. But Jamaica’s greatest resource — the open, friendly nature of the people —has always remained constant, notes Indru Dadlani.

“There is just nothing like the people of Jamaica,” he says with a smile in his voice. “If you add the great food and places in Ocho Rios like Dunn’s River Falls, the dolphins and Mystic Mountain, it’s a real slice of heaven.”

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PORTS OF CALL Ocho Rios

THE VIBE KEEPS HOLDING STEADY

Artist's depiction of St. Ann's Bay

by Marjorie Klein

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Ocho Rios has attracted visitors since Christopher Columbus made landfall in 1494. The area has evolved through roller-coaster times: England’s triumph over the Spanish; the huge influence of wealthy plantation owners; the subsequent slave revolution; international industrialization; and the tourism of today.

pay a gold tribute, provide work and convert to Christianity. The demands went unmet, and between the retribution they suffered and the diseases they contracted from their conquerors, the Taino disappeared from Jamaica only 80 years later. Soon the Spanish would be displaced as well.

Beginnings The advanced culture of the original settlers in Jamaica, the pre-Columbian Taino Indians, is reflected in what remains of their Arawak language, still spoken today; in the ruins of ceremonial ball parks; and in their complex religion, based on cosmology.

Incredibly, the Taino managed to survive for centuries.

Columbus first anchored in St. Ann’s Bay, Jamaica, in 1494. A few years later, on another voyage, problems with his ships caused him to be stranded in Maima, which was renamed Sevilla la Nueva — the first and largest Taino settlement, located just a few miles west of Ocho Rios.

There he remained for a year, abandoning two ships that archaeologists are still seeking. Sevilla was later the site of the island’s first sugar mill, which fueled an industry that became central to Jamaica’s economic growth.

The Taino were expected to acknowledge the king of Spain,

England brings prosperity and slavery The British wrested control of Jamaica from the Spanish in 1658, although skirmishes continued sporadically. They ended 150 years of Spanish rule with a decisive victory at Rio Nuevo, a small river that also lends its name to a village outside Ocho Rios.

Today, the battlefield site is marked by a monument honoring the Jamaicans who fought there with the Spanish.

Sugar plantations spread across Jamaica, bringing great wealth to their owners, whose costs were cut by the free labor of slaves they brought from Africa. Runaway slaves called Maroons are said to have hidden in the Green Grotto caves near Ocho Rios, as well as in the mountainous interior. With Jamaica as the largest producer of sugar in the world, plantations formed the basis of the country’s economy until the emancipation of slaves in 1834. Agriculture became more diversified and fishing became a major industry.

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From sleepy village to industrial magnet Away from the bustling fishing piers, off in the hills just north of Ocho Rios, one Sir Alfred d’Costa suspected that the distressing condition of his cattle was caused by the strange red dirt on his ranch.

Analysis revealed a high content of bauxite, a principal source of aluminum, which quickly attracted the attention of Reynolds Aluminum and accelerated the good fortune of Ocho Rios in the 1940s. Fishing piers evolved into deep-water shipping piers fed by conveyor belts that reached six miles to the mines. In 1984, Reynolds Jamaica Mines decided to leave the island altogether, and pulled out of both the port and the mines. Today the Reynolds pier is used mainly as a cruise ship port — an indication of Jamaica’s next economic phase.

Tourism thrives After gaining independence from Britain in 1962, Jamaica focused on celebrating its multiple virtues as a draw for vacationers, and the tourism industry boomed. In Ocho Rios, grand hotels and excellent restaurants sprouted along its beaches. Historic sites with their explosive tropical beauty became destinations unto themselves: Dunn’s River Falls; Shaw Park; Noël Coward’s home, Firefly; and, in Nine Mile, the Bob Marley Mausoleum honoring Jamaica’s father of reggae.

In these places, past tense became present perfect.

Ocho Rios

Timeline

1494

Columbus anchors in St. Ann’s Bay.

1655

The British conquer Spanish occupants; Ocho Rios is named.

1940

Bauxite is discovered; Reynolds Aluminum begins mining operations.

1952

The first shipment of Jamaican bauxite leaves the port of Ocho Rios.

1962 Jamaica gains independence from Britain.

Beautiful beaches are among the biggest draws in Ocho Rios.

Jamaica's beautiful countryside has inspired a thriving tourism industry.

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Harmony Hall, a mid-1800s Methodist manse east of Ocho Rios, has been showcasing the finest Jamaican arts and crafts since 1981.

BUILDING ON THE PAST Ocho Rios has grown into a thriving resort town with a mix of eye-popping architecture — from gingerbread to Georgian, from plantation-style to mega-modern.

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With its popularity as a destination for the rich and famous, it is not unusual to see wellpreserved colonial buildings located next to glistening high-rises. The island boasts an abundance of 1880s plantation homes that are still in use long after their construction.

The White River Valley, located high in the hills, has an especially vast array of classic homes.

Here a visitor is transported into a world of Jamaica’s intriguing past, viewing the many styles of Georgian architecture that seem to tell the story of Ocho Rios itself. Another fascinating find is the Village of Flowers, where the beautifully colored buildings look like they could be framed inside a watercolor painting. Other parts of the property feature the ruins of an old plantation home and smaller houses re-created in their original design. — Linda Marx

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PoRTS oF call Ocho Rios

Dunn’s RiveR Falls

Jamaica’s most celebrated site is, without question, Dunn’s River Falls — having starred in numerous magazine advertisements and television commercials promoting this Caribbean hot spot.

These often-photographed falls cascade down a rocky mountainside on the right, rush under the road and join the sea at the white-sand beach on the left — not only a sight to see but to tackle, as well. For those not afraid to get their feet wet, climbing 600 feet to the top of the cascades is a real high. But this get-wet experience (there’s no escaping the water) calls for old sneakers or scuba boots. Join a conga line of hand-holding tourists, and pick your way gingerly up the slippery rocks and boulders.

Guides will hold your cameras, take your picture under the falls, and point out placid pools among the lively rapids. Traditionally, climbers top off their trip with a cold Red Stripe beer, one of Jamaica’s most famous exports. — Marty Leshner

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The Name Game A common belief is that ocho rios takes its name from the spanish words for ‘‘eight rivers,’’ which is the literal translation. that interpretation is faulty, for the town doesn’t have eight rivers. the name instead may have been a corruption of las chorreras — spanish for ‘‘rapids,’’ as in the rushing waters of Dunn’s river falls.

Jamaica itself has had many names, as the english struggled to spell the word the way they heard it. According to visitJamaica.com, the nation in its early years was called gemecoe, gemegoe, Jamico, Jammaca, Xaymaca, even mamecah. the younger brother of christopher columbus, bartholome, was the first to put Jamaica on a map — although he spelled it "Jamaicha."

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Ascending the falls

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PORTS OF CALL Ocho Rios

FLOWERS, FERNS AND WATERFALLS When Christopher Columbus first arrived in Jamaica, he called it the fairest isle of all. Landing in what is now St. Ann’s Parish, Columbus saw a lush, verdant landscape that would earn the nickname ‘‘the garden parish.’’

Today, some five hundred years later, St. Ann’s natural beauty is in full bloom. Visitors can see, sniff, touch and photograph gorgeous flowers, ferns and waterfalls at tropical gardens tucked away in the countryside a short ride from the cruise pier.

Coyaba Gardens A sparkling stream runs through this tranquil oasis set midway up the amazingly green hills behind town. The name coyaba says it all. It comes from the Arawak word for “paradise.” Pathways wind past pink ginger plants, lipstick-red heliconia, giant cedars and banyan trees. The waters of Mahoe Falls splash down rocky cliffs into a tempting plunge pool. In British colonial days, these grounds were part of a plantation. The few remaining buildings house a gift shop and small museum displaying artifacts from Jamaica’s pre-Columbian inhabitants, the Taino Indians.

Shaw Park Gardens This botanical garden, named after sugar plantation owner John Shaw, is considered one of Jamaica’s finest. The property was transformed into an exclusive resort in the mid-1900s, when Flora McKenzie Pringle Stuart applied her green thumb to the landscape. Her magic touch lives on in hundreds of flowering plants nurtured by a picturesque waterfall.

FROM TOP: Shaw Park Gardens; Mahoe Falls at Coyaba Gardens.

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Cranbrook Flower Forest The 130-acre haven welcomes visitors to discover its tropical flower forest, wander through a rainforest, wade in the Little River, or simply enjoy the birds. Hundreds of orchids flourish in the greenhouse, and there’s a restored sugar mill to explore. — Ginger Dingus

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GOING WITH THE FLOW IN OCHO Legend has it that Martha Brae, an Arawak girl, once used magic to divert the flow of a river to drown her Spanish captors. Some of that magic still remains on the river that bears her name.

The Martha Brae River winds through a pristine forest full of bamboo, exotic fruits and many species of tropical birds. The best way to see all this is from the river itself.

Travelers ride 30-foot bamboo rafts along the river’s gentle waters. Once used by plantation workers to haul bananas down the Rio Grande on the east coast, the rafts became tourist attractions back in the 1940s when Hollywood swashbuckler Errol Flynn used them to entertain his friends. Today, they come with cushioned seats for one or two passengers, and the guides, who navigate with long poles as they stand on the deck, talk a bit about their homeland or even stop to grab a fruit or flower from the riverbank.

This is not a whitewater experience; the stable rafts and tame currents won’t even get a traveler’s feet wet. Lasting an hour or more, the tours are a relaxing up-close look at Jamaica’s Eden-like beauty.

DIGITAL VISION PHOTOS

Rafting on the Martha Brae River

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A STATELY VIEW Compared to the massive Rose Hall and Greenwood great houses, the manor at Prospect Plantation is an unassuming structure.

Though hardly small, it comprises just a few compact rooms in two stories, unlike the sprawling mansions of those better-known landmarks. Rising gracefully from the broad, manicured lawn leading from the road, it first seems less like an historic estate and more like the upscale vacation home of a modern family.

Inside, however, the house’s history comes alive in the rich wood accenting its walls and the antiques that fill the smallish rooms. From the columned veranda on the rear of the house is a sumptuous view of colorful gardens leading down stone steps, with the Caribbean Sea seeming close enough to touch.

FROM TOP: The great house’s veranda offers a majestic view of the Caribbean; the front entrance, set on a sweeping lawn; the home’s gardens, at the bottom of a flower-adorned stairway.

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Fertile history The great house was built in the early 1800s, but the plantation itself dates from 1721. After three ownership changes, it was purchased in 1936 by Sir Harold Mitchell of Scotland, an Oxford-educated scholar and former vice chairman of Britain’s Conservative Party. Mitchell later founded Prospect College, an all-boys school that still operates on the plantation grounds. The plantation is now owned by a sightseeing company, which offers tours by open-air jitney, horses and, surprisingly, camels. Views include White River Gorge and the spot where Christopher Columbus was shipwrecked for more than a year during one of his visits to the new world.

The plantation is lush with plants, trees and agricultural crops that include bananas, cassava, sugarcane, coffee and allspice. Many of the trees were planted by famous visitors, including Winston Churchill, Henry Kissinger, Charlie Chaplin, Pierre Trudeau, Noël Coward and Drew Barrymore.

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PORTS OF CALL Ocho Rios

Marley was an emotional performer.

NATURAL MYSTIC

by Garry Steckles

Far be it from me to cross swords with Keith Richards when it comes to music — any kind of music. But when the legendary Rolling Stones guitarist and rock ’n’ roll survivor tells people “reggae music died with Bob Marley” — and I’ve heard him say it — I must beg to differ.

There have been some dry spells. But the fact is, as any serious reggae fan will attest, the music’s alive and kicking. And Bob Marley, reggae’s greatest singer, songwriter and performer, is more popular, more influential, and more esteemed today than he was when he died in 1981. Come to think of it, Marley, some three decades after his death at the age of 36, may well be the most popular, influential and esteemed artist of any music genre the world has ever known.

Marley’s global impact is often hard to comprehend to those of us who first heard his name in the early 1970s. Back then, the buzz from Jamaica was that a sensational young group called The Wailers were going to be the next big thing in reggae — a style of music that was already making an international impact with chart hits by Desmond Dekker and a hard-edged cult movie, The Harder They Come.

The buzz was right on the money. In less than a decade, Nesta Robert Marley (the name he was given at birth) rose from obscurity to become the Third World’s first superstar. He broke attendance records in Europe. He toured and recorded virtually nonstop. He made headlines everywhere — for his music, his outspoken views on marijuana, his fervent belief in the then-virtually-unheard-of Rastafarian religion, and the parade of beautiful women who came and went in his life.

Then, almost as swiftly as it began, it was all over. The news that

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Marley had cancer broke in 1980, and he died in May of the following year. And that is when the legend really started. In death, Marley has become even bigger than he was in life. His image, his message and his music, collectively, have taken on almost mythic proportions. A whole new generation has grown up listening to and revering Marley.

His image adorns everything from T-shirts to shoes, from purses to posters, from bumper stickers to designer jeans, and his albums continue to account for some 50 percent of reggae sales worldwide.

Marley’s music has received numerous accolades in recent years: Time magazine chose his classic mid-’70s Exodus as its album of the century; the BBC selected “One Love” from Exodus as its anthem of the century during its marathon millennium broadcast; and The New York Times put only one video, Marley’s 1977 performance at London’s Rainbow Theatre, into its millennium time capsule, which was placed under the Metropolitan Museum of Art to be opened on the first day of the year 3000. And Marley himself has received many posthumous tributes: He was featured on PBS’ prestigious American Masters biography series; he has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and honored with a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame; and he received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2001 Grammy® Awards ceremonies.

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‘‘If you know your history then you know where you’re coming from’’ —‘‘Buffalo Soldier’’

Impressive as they are, these achievements only hint at the impact Marley has had on the countless millions whose lives have been influenced by his timeless anthems. With the possible exceptions of John Lennon and Paul McCartney, no other songwriter in history has given the world so many songs that are entrenched in our collective memories. Reggae fans around the world, particularly in Africa, worship Marley as a god — an expression of veneration that would undoubtedly come as a surprise to a man who regarded himself as simply a musician with a message he wanted to share.

Marley’s story started in rural Jamaica on February 6, 1945. He was born in the small village of Nine Mile in the parish of St. Ann, and from infancy, it was obvious that he was special. But Marley never had it easy. His father had gone back to Kingston the day after marrying Bob’s mother, Cedella; she was already pregnant. Capt. Norval Marley, a member of a wealthy Jamaican family, had virtually nothing to do with the upbringing and support of the youngster until he “sent for” Bob to join him in the Jamaican capital. But when he reached the big city, Marley was put in the care of an elderly, infirm lady, and in fact ended up fending for both her and himself before he was even 10 years old. About a year later, his worried mother finally tracked him down and returned with him to Nine Mile, which is where he first struck up what would develop into a historic friendship with another youngster, Bunny Wailer.

Marley, this time accompanied by his mother, returned to Kingston at the age of 12 and spent the next few years in Trenchtown, the ghetto that he was to immortalize in song. The grim concrete jungle and the music that permeated it shaped Marley’s personality and, eventually, his destiny. It was on the streets of Trenchtown that the slight boy from “country” learned to handle himself, and he soon earned the street nickname Tuff Gong — rough translation, a tough customer not to be trifled with. And it was here that he started to apply himself seriously to a career in music.

Marley, Bunny Wailer — who had also moved to Trenchtown — and another ambitious Kingston teen, Peter Tosh, joined forces to form The Wailers. After honing their vocal and instrumental skills under the guidance of the late Joe Higgs, one of Jamaica’s most respected musicians, they cut their first records in the early sixties. Despite having hit after hit, they made practically no money and were still living in desperate conditions.

But The Wailers were special talents, even by standards of a nation that has produced more brilliant musicians per capita than any other on earth, and they came to the attention of a young Jamaican record label owner, Chris Blackwell. Against the advice of many, in 1972, he advanced them the money to cut what became the first authentic reggae album (as opposed to a collection of singles): the epochal Catch a Fire.

The album got rave reviews, sold well, and suddenly reggae music was an international phenomenon. The following year, The Wailers came out with Burnin’, which cemented their reputation as reggae’s first real international stars.

It was the last album they recorded as a trio. Tosh and Wailer, neither of them happy with Blackwell’s determination to make Marley the focal point of the group, each decided to go his own way. Marley immediately recruited three female backup singers: his wife, Rita; Judy Mowatt; and Marcia Griffiths — known as the I-Three — for his next album, 1974’s Natty Dread.

Again sales went well, but it wasn’t until 1975 that Marley went from star to superstar status. The album that sent his career into the stratosphere was Live, recorded at London’s Lyceum ballroom. While the album as a whole is somewhat uneven, it contains the song that is perhaps Marley’s most famous: a majestic, soaring version of “No Woman No Cry.” After that, with the brilliant publicist Charles B. Comer working on his behalf, you couldn’t pick up a paper or a magazine or turn on the television without encountering Marley.

ADRIAN BOOT

PORTS OF CALL Ocho Rios

Bob Marley’s roots in Jamaica influenced his powerful music.

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Reggae fans around the world eagerly awaited his annual album.

Rastaman Vibration was huge in 1976, and the following year brought Exodus, which was even bigger. Then in 1978 came Kaya and the lessthan-successful live double album Babylon by Bus; 1979’s Survival; and 1980’s Uprising.

By the late ’70s, Marley’s health had started to fail. A soccer injury to a toe turned cancerous, and in keeping with his Rastafarian beliefs, he refused to let doctors remove part of his foot — an operation that might have saved his life. The cancer spread and Marley made his final appearance onstage in Pittsburgh in September 1980. Members of The Wailers wept as he performed “Redemption Song,” arguably the greatest of his many memorable compositions, for the last time.

Marley died in a Miami hospital on May 11, 1981, and his body was flown home to Kingston. His funeral was the biggest and most emotional in Jamaican history, and his remains were taken across the island by motorcade to the village of Nine Mile, where he was laid to rest in a white mausoleum a few feet from the tiny house in which he was born.

After Marley’s death, reggae went through what undoubtedly will be remembered as the musical equivalent of the Dark Ages. Purposeful, uplifting “roots” reggae gave way to crude, repetitive dancehall, a reggae/rap hybrid often with openly sexist and/or violent lyrics. As the ’80s

dragged on, the great roots groups that had dominated the music were virtually driven out of Jamaica by the dancehall “posses.” They still spend most of their time on the road, touring in Europe, North America and Asia, where their music has found an adoring public.

But reggae’s nothing if not resilient, and as it continued to change, a new wave of social-minded dancehall artists emerged in the early and mid-’90s. Today, performers like Buju Banton, Anthony B, Capleton and the chart-topping Shaggy have taken dancehall to new levels and captivated new audiences.

Meanwhile, many of Bob’s children continue to spread his musical message: Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers have been international stars since the ’80s; sons Damian and Julian Marley have recorded with considerable success; and Bob’s youngest son, Kymani, a dynamite talent equally at home with roots reggae and driving hiphop, is the latest to burst on the scene. The legend lives on.

Garry Steckles is the author of Bob Marley (Signal Books, 2008). He has worked as a newspaper editor in England, Canada, Barbados and the United States, and has written about reggae and all aspects of Caribbean culture in major newspapers and magazines in North America and the Caribbean.

“Hit me with the music, hit me with music now’’ —‘‘Trenchtown Rock’’ Here are recommendations of 10 CDs for a basic reggae starter kit. The list includes everything from Bob Marley standards to classic roots and dancehall. All are readily available at Caribbean specialty stores and at major North American and European outlets with reggae sections.

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African Herbsman, The Wailers The collaboration between the eccentric Jamaican studio genius Lee “Scratch” Perry and The Wailers in the late ’60s resulted in music many reggae aficionados insist is the best the group ever made.

Hot Shot, Shaggy A huge international hit from the current king of reggae’s “lover men.” The hit single “It Wasn’t Me” propelled the charismatic Shaggy to superstar status — and it isn’t even the best track on this CD.

Blackheart Man, Bunny Wailer The first album from Bunny after his split with The Wailers, it’s still widely regarded as the singer’s masterpiece. Gorgeous melodies, incisive lyrics, not a single weak track. Roots reggae at its finest.

Inna Heights, Buju Banton Quality dancehall — terrific melodies, conscious lyrics — from the undisputed king of the genre.

Country Journey, Kymani Marley Is this what Bob would have sounded like if he’d been born in the ’80s? Quite likely. Kymani is a prodigious young man who’s got a knack for writing melodies that stay with you.

One Stone, Culture Joseph Hill, Culture’s lead singer, is regarded by many as reggae’s finest living vocalist. Culture has been making superb roots reggae since 1977 with “Two Sevens Clash,” and they’ve never sounded better than on One Stone.

Exodus, Bob Marley and The Wailers Time magazine’s editors chose it as the album of the 20th century, and they may just be right. The only contender, in my book, would be another Marley masterpiece, Survival.

Touting I-Self, I-Roy The early DJs — U-Roy, Big Youth, King Stitt and Co. — set the stage for today’s dancehall, rap, and hip-hop. Nobody does it better than the late Roy Reid, known professionally as I-Roy.

Honorary Citizen, Peter Tosh This three-CD set is virtually a history of one of reggae’s most accomplished and most controversial talents, the late Peter Tosh. It combines early Tosh singles with classic album tracks from the ’80s — including “Reggaemylitis” and “Equal Rights” — along with some outstanding live performances.

Universal Struggle, Anthony B Pure, undiluted dancehall from one of Jamaica’s most respected young artists. Anthony B’s lyrics are uncompromising and clichéfree, and like the best of the contemporary wave of dancehall stars, he can write a melody with staying power.

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The Blue Mountains seen from Firefly

AN AFFAIR OF THE HEART

Like an eagle’s nest overlooking the Caribbean Sea, Noël Coward’s beloved home, Firefly, is perched on a 1,000-foot hill some 20 miles east of Ocho Rios.

From this vantage point, visitors can see the Blue Mountains to the south and the north-coast headlands surrounding Port Maria — an absolutely awe-inspiring vista. It was here that the famous British man-abouttown, author, playwright, actor and composer found peace, happiness and “the time to write.” At this charming Jamaican dwelling, Coward wrote his only novel, Pomp and Circumstance.

Firefly Hill also served as the site of countless parties and social gatherings, with Coward entertaining the likes of Winston Churchill, Queen Elizabeth II and celebrities, including John Gielgud, Katharine Hepburn,

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Claudette Colbert, David Niven, Joan Sutherland and Errol Flynn. Coward even personally cooked for the Queen Mother at his Caribbean home. The house, which is open to the public, is much as Coward left it. Tour guides take visitors through the interior while painting such a vivid picture of his life that it is easy to imagine the owner will appear at any moment.

Coward died suddenly in his big mahogany fourposter on March 26, 1973, at the age of 74. His grave, marked by an engraved marble headstone, is on the property. Coward’s friends thought it only fitting that he should be buried here. — Deborah Williams

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Alexandrite

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PORTS OF CALL Ocho Rios

Shopping in

Ocho Rios CURAÇAO Here’s the ultimate insider guide to what’s hot in town.

See it? Like it? Buy it!

Philip Stein P res ti ge C o llecti o n

JAMAICAN JERK A highlight of any visit to Jamaica is a taste of jerk meat, prepared in a unique cooking style.

This island nation has a particular way of barbecuing seasoned meats over a wood fire for a one-of-a-kind flavor.

Jerk seasoning is a fiery mix of as many as 20 spices, including Scotch bonnet peppers, pimento (allspice) and scallions. Bite-size pieces of chicken, pork and beef are marinated, or “jerked,” and then thrown over slats of green pimento wood stretched across a pit in the ground or, sometimes, a garbage can or anything else that will do. The result is a spicy, savory meal that must be washed down with an ice-cold Red Stripe beer. If you want some of the best Jamaican jerk, try one of the ubiquitous roadside stands. Or buy a jar or two of prepared jerk marinade to enjoy at home — the price is right. — Lynn Seldon

Mark Henry Alexandrite A lexan d r i te r i n g

PHOTOS BY: THEODOROS STAMATIADIS/ISTOCKPHOTO.COM; BONCHAN/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM.

Blue Heaven

By Gift Blu e D i am o n d Tw i s t Ri n g

Hearts On Fire C o p l ey Love Pe n d a nt TOP: Jerk chicken plate. ABOVE: For roadside gourmets.

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PORTS OF CALL Ocho Rios

MAKING SCENTS OF RUM Jamaican rum, once known as “kill devil,” has come a long way since the mid-1700s, when it was a rough, fiery, knockout concoction. like “chocolate” and “cigar box.” On the negative side, there are “wet dog,” “tar” and “diesel.” It’s the job of the blender to nose (and taste) various rums and to mix them into an appealing blend, one that can be duplicated by following a closely guarded formula.

Here’s a bit of rum trivia for your next cocktail party. Rum aged for 21 years in sunny Jamaica is equivalent to a 63-yearold brew from cooler climates. Rum ages best in oak barrels. Jamaica’s oldest sugar estate and distillery, Appleton, matures its rum in oak barrels once used for making Jack Daniels whiskey.

Note: That olive-green ring around the edge of your glass is a sign of a well-aged rum.

So while you’re on the island, order a snifter of fine Jamaican rum. See, sniff, sip. And enjoy! — Ginger Dingus

PHOTOS BY: (RUM GLASS) JOSHUA RESNICK/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; (BARRELS) DIM DIMICH/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM.

These days, no other Caribbean island boasts a wider variety of rums, ranging from crisp and crystal-clear to a smooth, golden-honey-colored sipping delight. You can mix the lighter varieties with fruit punch, or pack a punch by pouring a potent overproof — as in over 151 proof.

Aside from color, the nose distinguishes one blend of rum from another. To be precise, that nose would be the master blender’s nose. In blending rum, as in creating a superb wine or an exotic perfume, you’re either blessed with “the nose” or you’re not. According to Joy Spence, master blender at Appleton Estate, women have better noses than men.

What does a discerning nose know about rum? An aroma wheel offers a clue. Originally created for wine experts and later modified to describe the nuances of such spirits as brandy and rum, the aroma wheel identifies positive scents

FROM LEFT: Rum over ice; rum barrels.

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Taj Mahal Shopping Centre, Ocho Rios, Jamaica

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MAGIC BEANS Why is Jamaica’s Blue Mountain coffee the world’s most expensive and sought after? Biology and economy.

PHOTOS BY: TOMAS HAJEK/DREAMSTIME.COM; (COFFEE BEANS) ANDRII GORULKO/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM.

Of the island’s 23,000 acres of coffee trees, only 10,000 produce Blue Mountain coffee, which legally must be planted above 2,000 feet. At this elevation, the daytime-nighttime extremes provide the perfect climate for a slow-ripening process that produces a unique bean, bluegreen in color, with little resistance to pests and disease. Its frailty means small yields. Blue Mountain coffee cherries, furthermore, are handpicked to ensure optimal ripeness.

The other factor is supply and demand. Blue Mountain farmers can’t seem to grow enough coffee, so they can theoretically set their prices as high as they wish. Stateside, the beans go for $50 a pound; in Jamaica, you can buy them for about $15 a pound. — Chelle Koster Walton

Coffee plants thrive at high elevation.

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PORTS OF CALL Ocho Rios

S P E C I A L A D V E R T I S I N G F E AT U R E

Chili peppers

Jablum Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee

PHOTOS BY: (PEPPERS) JOOP HOEK/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; (COFFEE) IRYNA1/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM.

Jamaica Blue Mountain® Coffee has a strong heritage, dating back to the early18th century. Today, JABLUM® Jamaica Blue Mountain® Coffee maintains its rank as one of the world’s most soughtafter coffees. Vibrant, bright, smooth as silk — often described as the “best coffee in the world” — Jamaica Blue Mountain® Coffee is in great demand from coffee connoisseurs globally.

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Pick a PePPer Chili peppers are a trademark ingredient in Caribbean cuisine, dating to the time of the Arawak Amerindians. The most famous pepper of the islands, the Scotch bonnet, has 50 times the firepower of the (relatively) wimpy jalapeño. It goes by the name “bonney” in Jamaica, “habañero” in the Spanish islands and “goat pepper” or rocotillo in The Bahamas.

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PorTs of call Ocho Rios

The Spices

Of Island lIfe In Zadie Smith’s novel White Teeth, native Jamaican Clara, who lives in London, notes to her husband, “You said the Iqbals are comin’ to dinner.

I was just thinkin’…if they’re going to want me to cook dem some curry — I mean, I can cook curry — but it’s my type of curry.” Clara is worried that the Iqbals, who are Bangladeshi, will find her Caribbean curry unfamiliar, a different species entirely from Southeast Asian curry.

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Krzysztof slusarczyK/shutterstocK.com

by Jen Karetnick

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Spices and herbs

Curry is an ambiguous label for a fish or meat course stewed with a mixture of pungent spices. The Caribbean and Southeast Asian varieties are not in fact dissimilar, though each has a unique flavor. Christopher Columbus is almost directly responsible for the parallel: A little more than 500 years ago, when he stumbled on the islands of the West Indies as he looked for new trade routes to India, he discovered chili peppers, one of the prime components of curry. Columbus brought the native Caribbean chilies — which are referred to as Scotch bonnet peppers, Congo, habanero or bird peppers, depending on the island culture or language — to India and China, which incorporated them into their cuisine.

Ironically, about 200 years later, when Indian and Chinese immigrants settled on many Caribbean islands, they brought chili peppers with them. That’s when they introduced the islanders to curry, which in addition to chili peppers occasionally contains ginger, a root that has taken so well to the Jamaican climate it might as well be an indigenous crop; you can find ginger in the marketplaces in its natural root form, crystallized or as a powder. The Indian method of preparing curry became common,

so much so that in Jamaica, curry goat is practically a national dish. In the end, the only real difference between Jamaican and Indian curry is the inclusion of allspice, also known as pimento, a dried berry native to Jamaica that tastes like a combination of nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves.

Likewise, Scotch bonnet chilies and allspice berries are the main ingredients of Jamaica’s rightfully famous jerk seasoning, which is a combination of up to 21 different spices. Depending on who is doing the cooking, ginger may also be added to jerk recipes; every chef has his own culinary style and application. The blend, wet or dry depending on how much oil, lime juice and rum are mixed into the ground spices, is rubbed onto pork or chicken. The meat is then grilled over allspice branches often stretched across a pit in the open ground; this process adds a new piquancy to the meat.

While in Ocho Rios, head down to any of the bustling marketplaces and check out the incredible array of spices. Whether indigenous to the island or imported, the tangy peppers, aromatic mace, golden turmeric and other delectable ingredients add unparalleled gusto to Jamaica’s culinary life.

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PORT CANAVERAL

The deep-water harbor of Port Canaveral leads visitors to the Kennedy Space Center on Cape Canaveral. Miles of sandy shoreline stretch along the cape, and the hugely popular theme parks are not far away.

Quick Guide Famed for: Kennedy Space Center.

It’s a Fact: The nearby Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge has more endangered species than any other such haven in the country.

Signature Souvenirs: A miniature capsule or other memorabilia of the Space Age.

FUNTREKS

TOP SHORE EXCURSIONS Here are just a few of the many tours you can experience during your visit. See your onboard shore-excursion specialist to book today. Please ask about age requirements, physical considerations, proper dress and other details.

• Kennedy Space Center • Airboat & Alligator Tour Plus Cocoa Village Shopping

• Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom® • SeaWorld® Adventure Park

The Rocket Garden at Kennedy Space Center.

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SONGQUAN DENG/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

• Universal Islands of Adventure® Theme Park

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SAN JUAN

This vibrant city blends spectacular natural scenery with historic architecture and a lively culture. Fascinating galleries and museums mix with fashionable shops, thrilling nightlife and beautiful beaches.

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A colorful building in Old San Juan

FUNTREKS

TOP SHORE EXCURSIONS Here are just a few of the many tours you can experience during your visit. See your onboard shore-excursion specialist to book today.

Please ask about age requirements, physical considerations, proper dress and other details.

Hidden Paradise Zipline Adventure Just five minutes from the San Juan metro area is paradise of lush coastal plains and the impressive karst region. Within the locale is an exhilarating zipline adventure of canopy bridges and ziplines, including one of the longest ziplines in Puerto Rico.

Breathtaking views of mountains and lagoons are the highlights of the adventure.

Rainforest Drive Guests see El Yunque, the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. territory. Sights include the Luquillo mountain range, featuring spectacular jungle-like vegetation.

The tour stops at La Coca Falls, a natural pool and the Tourist Recreation Center, as well as at handicraft and local product stores.

GERARDO BORBOLLA/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

San Juan City Tour & Bacardi Distillery The attractive, historic city of San Juan is home to one of the most prolific rum distilleries in North America. At the famous Bacardi Rum distillery, guests at the visitor center get to know the process of turning sugarcane into molasses and finally into rum.

Tasting samples are included. The drive continues through Old San Juan to view 17th-century architecture, cobblestone streets and magnificent historic buildings in the region.

San Juan ATV Adventure

Quick Guide Famed for: The walled Old San Juan district, with 400 restored buildings dating to the 16th and 17th centuries.

It’s a Fact: The piña colada, that creamy concoction of rum, pineapple and coconut, was invented here.

Signature Souvenirs: Guayabera shirts and folk art found in local-designer clothing boutiques and art galleries.

How to Get to Town: The ship will dock at one of three different piers in San Juan: Pier 1, Pier 4 or the Pan American Pier. From Pier 1, it’s just a short walk to the Old San Juan historic district and shopping area. Pier 4 is a 10- to 15-minute walk or a short taxi ride to town. From the Pan American Pier, you’ll want to take a taxi as it’s not within walking distance.

Guests drive ATVs on several trails, led by an experienced guide. The tour offers views of mountains, caves (weather permitting), mangroves, lagoons, limestone formations, and wildlife roaming freely on this lush Jurassic Park-like landscape.

Horseback Riding Adventure Gentle but spirited Paso Fino horses take riders through breathtaking countryside, just minutes from metropolitan San Juan. Participants visit a private ranch, soaking up the sun while enjoying the sights and sounds of wildlife while riding their well-trained horses. Experienced guides lead the way around lagoons, tropical vegetation, and Karsts Mountains with vast trails of coastal plains.

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Port View The heart and soul of the island is the historic district, Old San Juan, which dates to the 1500s. Visitors explore historical and cultural attractions throughout the cobblestoned, walled city, strolling the ramparts where Spanish solders once held watch. An energetic nightlife, including casinos and creative dining, draws visitors to different districts in San Juan. In SOFO — the neighborhood “South of Fortaleza” Street — fine restaurants double as bars for after-hours entertainment.

A 10-minute ride leads to the beautiful beaches of the chic Condado, Isla Verde and Santurce areas, where sea kayaking, surfing and windsurfing are poplar sports during the day, and lounges and

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Songquan Deng/ShutterStock.com

PORTS OF CALL San Juan

Old San Juan ocean view

nightclubs fire up at night. Across the lagoon from Condado, Santurce is a cultural center with attractions that include the Museum of Art, the Fine Arts Center, Central Park and La Placita de Santurce, an open-air plaza with diverse local cuisine that turns into an allout street fest on weekend nights.

Outside the city, the El Yunque rainforest is a must for those seeking Puerto Rico’s natural side. The only rainforest in the U.S. Forest System, it offers 28,000 acres of walking and hiking trails, bird-watching opportunities and idyllic waterfalls, in which to take a refreshing dip, with rapelling and zip-lining for the more adventurous types.

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oyster perpetual submariner date

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PORTS OF CALL San Juan

by Sara Churchville

Coqui Frog This tiny, indigenous frog — even the largest measures only about an inch — is the national symbol of Puerto Rico. The “ko-kee” song of the male, which begins at dusk and continues throughout the night, is one of the distinctive sounds of San Juan and of the island.

Bacardi 8 Everyone knows the globally distributed Bacardi brand, and as the Bacardi Rum Distillery within the San Juan metro area is the largest rum distillery in the world, imagine just how ever-present the famous bat-symboled bottle is here. If you’re looking for something more sophisticated than the white rum, Bacardi 8 might be the way to go. It’s aged eight years in charred white-oak barrels; features hints of vanilla, toffee, honey, caramel and bittersweet chocolate; and is “reminiscent of an aged cognac.”

Cocina Criolla San Juan is rife with restaurants and cafés specializing in cocina criolla, local cuisine that reflects Puerto Rico’s centuries of varied cultural influences. Two of the most distinctive local foods are bacalaitos (“codfish fritters”) and mofongo. Mofongo is made of tostones (“deep-fried green plantains”) mashed with olive oil and garlic, and it can come in any number of presentations, including relleno (“stuffed”) with seafood, pork or chicken, sometimes topped with tomato and garlic sauce.

PHOTOS BY: (COQUI) PANACHAI CHERDCHUCHEEP/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; (BACARDI) JOSHUA RESNICK/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; (MOFONGO) OTOKIMUS/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Island Highlights

FROM TOP: A cute coqui frog; Bacardi 8 served over ice; mofongo, a classic island dish.

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Ports of call San Juan

The

Walled City

photo by: CedriC Weber/shutterstoCk.Com

By Gerald Zarr

Ocean view from El Morro

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If the explorers had had their way, you would be visiting the city of Puerto Rico on the island of San Juan, rather than San Juan on the island of Puerto Rico.

Columbus landed on the beautiful island in 1493 and named it San Juan Bautista (Saint John the Baptist). In 1511, Ponce de León named the town Puerto Rico. An unknown mapmaker seems to have switched the names in the 16th century, and it's stayed that way ever since.

Beginnings As the second-oldest city in the Americas, San Juan is known as La Ciudad Amurallada (“the walled city”), because of its massive encircling stone wall anchored by two mighty forts, El Morro and San Cristóbal; the wall was started in 1539 and not finished until 1782. Up until 1897, the city was accessible only through five enormous, heavily guarded wooden doors that closed at nightfall.

phOtO By: CedRIC WeBeR/ShUtteRStOCk.COm

Spain’s neighbors come calling The wall was not merely for show. San Juan Bay soon became the central hub for the export of New World riches and a magnet for the British, Dutch and French privateers or pirates who sought fame and fortune. And their motherlands lusted for the most lucrative piece of real estate in the Western Hemisphere.

With all this attention, it’s surprising how infrequently the city was overrun. The British managed to seize and burn San Juan in 1598, but dysentery did them in. On their heels, the Dutch attacked in 1625 but were overcome by disease as well and had to retreat.

18th-century Irish interlude As Spain’s prominence declined in the 18th century, Puerto Ricans became resentful of getting so little return on their labor for the Spanish. Islanders were not allowed to participate in government, and Spain’s mercantilist practices did not allow them to trade with other nations. As a result, the Puerto Ricans took to trading sugar and rum illegally.

On this one occasion, the Spanish Empire took decisive action and sent two Irishmen to take charge. The first was Tomas O’Daly, an experienced engineer, who fortified San Juan’s defenses. The second was his boss, field marshal Alejandro O’Reilly, an Irish mercenary who fought in the Spanish army and quickly rose through the ranks. O’Reilly built schools and roads, dropped trade restrictions and lowered taxes; consequently, Puerto Rico’s economy boomed in the late-18th century.

O’Reilly is also known as the father of the Puerto Rican militia, because he built up a local constabulary force. After leaving San Juan, O’Reilly went to New Orleans to become the governor of Spanish Louisiana.

Under the American flag Following the Spanish-American War, Puerto Rico came under American rule. In 1917, Puerto Ricans became American citizens. They have voted overwhelmingly to retain their commonwealth status, making San Juan the oldest city under the U.S. flag today.

Rescue Old San Juan After the city walls came down in 1897, the city expanded to include Miramar, Santurce, Condado, Hato Rey and Río Piedras, but Old San Juan remained its heart and soul.

In 1973, San Juan gained the coveted title of World Heritage Site. Once considered a dingy assemblage of colonial ruins that seemed to have crumbled in tandem with the empire that constructed them, the sevenblock square comprising Old San Juan is now considered the best repository of Spanish colonial architecture in the Western Hemisphere.

The charming blue adoquine (“cobblestones”) that pave the streets originally served as ballast on Spanish ships. One of the old city’s jewels, La Fortaleza is the oldest executive mansion in the Western Hemisphere.

San Juan

Timeline

1493

Columbus reaches Puerto Rico.

1511 1782

San Juan is settled.

The great encircling wall is completed.

1898

Puerto Rico comes under U.S. rule.

1947

The governor becomes popularly elected.

1973

San Juan becomes a World Heritage Site.

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Special Advertising Feature

Puerto Rico, the ideal destination for stunning jewelry FELIX BARED diamonds

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The streets of Old San Juan are best known for their cobblestones and colorful historic buildings. But perhaps the most brilliant feature of the historic walled city is the cluster of jewelry stores filled with world class collections offered at great prices.

Among the most visited jewelry retailers is BARED, on the corner of La Fortaleza and San Justo streets in Old San Juan and Plaza Las Americas in Hato Rey. BARED is the only authorized Rolex jeweler in Puerto Rico. Inside, gleaming in glass display cases is a collection of exquisite diamond rings and pendants that make up its Felix Bared Collection.

Hundreds of fine diamond jewelry – most on white gold and platinum Pavé settings – are the heart of the signature collection. Pictured above, fourth generation jeweler, Felix Bared specializes in the Pavé technique essentially covering the entire surface of the white gold and platinum settings with diamonds.

As many as 350 individual pieces are included in the seasonal collection. Designed by BARED

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and members of his staff, the pieces are handcrafted and fitted with specially cut diamonds.

Zeroing in on that one magnificent piece in the collection is nearly impossible; each one is more magnificent than the next. The handmade pieces in the Felix Bared Collection are only available for a period of 18 of 36 months, making each a one of-a-kind treasure every time the line is reinvented. The precious stones used to make each piece are bought in Israel and Belgium, a process in which Bared is personally involed.

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Bared who is certified by the Gemolical Institute of America, says “crafting such breathtaking pieces comes from a place of love”, which he says “is passed on to the customer who walks out of the store”.

Considering the vast amount of beautiful treasures you will find, it’s no wonder Puerto Rico is known by many as the jewel of the Caribbean.

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Ports of call San Juan

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FROM LEFT: La Garita Del Diablo; El Morro; an old wooden cart in Castillo San Cristobal.

Colonial Charm in Old San Juan

If you are drawn to historic cities, the seven blocks that make up Old San Juan will enchant you. Besides the area’s rich heritage, the district offers plenty of shopping, dining and nightlife opportunities in and around beautiful courtyards encircled with striking arches and ornamented with colorfully patterned tiles.

Within Old San Juan’s walls are three stunning Spanish Colonial structures that are designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the forts El Morro and San Cristóbal, and La Fortaleza palace. The best place from which to set out is El Morro, a fortress boasting walls 20 feet thick and 140 feet high on the western point of the peninsula. Built from 1539 to 1783, this massive edifice defended Puerto Rico from a slew of enemies over the years. Sir Francis Drake was one of the first to attack it, in 1595, and it was last bombarded by U.S. troops in 1783.

One of the few buildings in the city older than El Morro is Casa Blanca (White House), built in 1521 as the residence of the Ponce de León family. For 250 years, Casa Blanca remained in the family. In

modern times, the structure was restored as two museums, one of which features much of the original wooden furniture.

Back in the heart of Old San Juan, the buildings and historical sites are much more concentrated.

Some of the best stops are the San Juan Museum of Art and History, the Pablo Casals Museum, the San Juan Cathedral, La Puerta de San Juan (the original port) and the Museum of the Americas.

The district’s best photo spot is probably La Garita del Diablo (Devil’s Sentry Box), which is one of the oldest parts of the San Cristóbal fort, built around 1634. With all the other incredible scenery here, digital photographers will be glad they don’t have to worry about running out of film.

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PORTS OF CALL San Juan

Shopping in

San Juan Here’s the ultimate insider guide to what’s hot in town.

See it? Like it? Buy it!

MarahLago Len a p en d ant

Sara G. Diamonds S p li t-s h an k clu s ter di am o n d r i n g

Fendi P reci ou s Pave C raz y C arats wa tch

Bulova Bul ova P re ci s i o n i s t Ch a m p l a i n C o ll e ct i o n wa tch

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THE OLDEST MANSION

Old San Juan is filled with hundreds of preserved buildings that tell the history of the city and the island. La Fortaleza (The Fortress), the Western Hemisphere’s oldest executive mansion in continuous use, has been home to more than 200 Puerto Rican governors. Its original single tower and patio were built in 1540 to protect the Spanish population from the Carib Indians. Its more-palatial elements were 19th-century additions, including the polished reception rooms, the stately mahogany staircase and the mosaiclined chapel that was once used for a storeroom for gold bullion. — Deborah Williams

ANTIGUA TOURISM BOARD

Colonial street to La Fortaleza (governor's mansion).

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Tell the world

YouR StoRY

Welcome to the Ring uPon Ring collection. Choose from inspired stackable designs that come together to fit your unique style and your mood of the moment. one by one, each is rich with color and texture made of 14K gold, sterling silver and carefully selected gems.

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photos by: (cigar) Volodymyr KrasyuK/shutterstocK.com; (cigar maKer) dotshocK/shutterstocK.com.

PORTS Of CAll San Juan

Puerto Rican

LEFT: Rum and a cigar, the perfect pair. ABOVE: A cigar-maker at work.

DELIGHTS

Think of San Juan, and quite likely three little words come to mind. Coffee. Rum. Cigars. Once the mainstays of Puerto Rico’s economy, these locally made delights still know their way around the table.

Coffee made its Caribbean debut in the 1700s, when plants imported from the Old World first arrived on the scene. The shiny green shrubs flourished on Puerto Rico’s mountain slopes.

Plantation owners grew rich, and coffee mills soon dotted the landscape. Although production has decreased over the years, a few top estates still grow the island’s prized black gold.

Rum and alcohol are nearly synonymous in Puerto Rico. Distilled from fermented molasses,

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a by-product of sugarcane processing, this island spirit has a long history in the region. The best rum is aged in oak barrels, either charred to give the spirit color or left uncharred for clear, white rum.

Cigars, as the story goes, date back to the island’s pre-Columbian inhabitants, the Taino Indians. The Tainos cultivated tobacco and rolled the dried leaves into cigars, which the Europeans observed in their early encounters with the natives. Intrigued, the explorers took their newfound habit back to Europe — and the cigar craze began. More than 500 years later, hand-rolling remains the preferred method of making fine cigars. — Ginger Dingus

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PORTS OF CALL San Juan

LEGENDS

& Lore

Who hasn’t heard of Ponce de León and his search for the legendary Fountain of Youth?

Unfortunately, Ponce de León’s mission was cut short before he realized his dream: He met his fate at the hands of local natives while searching out magic potions in Florida.

His remains were eventually shipped to Puerto Rico, where he had served as the first governor.

He was buried in the San José Church, the second-oldest church in the New World. In 1913, his body was moved to the San Juan Cathedral, where it lies today, encased in a marble crypt.

Although Ponce de León never discovered the secret of eternal youth, he did manage to find immortality in Old San Juan.

If you believe in miracles, a visit to the Capilla del Cristo, at the end of Cristo Street, may be just what you're looking for..

Long ago, the story goes, the young men of San Juan used to race their horses down the steep city streets. One day, a particularly lucky daredevil narrowly escaped death when his horse stopped inches from the edge of a seaside precipice. The rider’s grateful family built a small chapel, Capilla del Cristo, on the spot of the near mishap. Now true believers, hoping to be cured of whatever ails them, place tiny replicas of arms, legs and hearts on the chapel’s silver altar, which is dedicated to the Christ of Miracles. — Ginger Dingus

ZORAN KARAPANCEV/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

It stands to reason that the history of one of the oldest cities in the Western Hemisphere — it was founded in 1521 — would feature some colorful characters.

San José Church in San Juan, founded c.1523, is the oldest church in continuous use in the Western Hemisphere.

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257 Cruz Street Old San Juan, PR 00901 Tel 787 723-2432 www.butterflypeople.com cemilinc@coqui.net Copyright Š 2005 The Butterfly People. All Rights Reserved.

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PoRTS oF cAll San Juan

Hope for

the Future

El Yunque rainforest is home to a great variety of vegetation and wildlife, including one species that almost disappeared: the Puerto Rican parrot.

El Yunque rainforest

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According to the U.S. Forest Service, the bright-green bird has lived in the forests of Puerto Rico for well over a thousand years and once numbered in the millions. But the species (Amazona vittata) began dwindling soon after European colonization began in the 15th and 16th centuries. By the mid-1900s, its habitat was nearly eradicated by the conversion of forested land to farms and cities.

In 1968, when the birds’ population had diminished to a mere two dozen, the Puerto Rican Parrot Recovery Program was created. The multi-agency group has helped bring the number of birds up to about 40 — slow but steady progress that wildlife supporters are working hard to maintain.

Kjersti joergensen/shutterstocK.com

If you’re curious to know which way the wind is blowing on this breezy island, just take a look at the watapana, or divi-divi, trees. These fragile trees have such a weak bark that they bend easily. As the divi-divi grow under the influence of the trade winds that caress Aruba, they maintain their bowed shape, sometimes running almost completely parallel to the parched land of the countryside.

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PORTS OF CALL San Juan

A Gastronome’s

Tour

Dining is an integral part of discovering Old San Juan, as much as sightseeing or shopping.

The neighborhood called SOFO — South of Fortaleza — is known for fine dining and for outdoor food festivals that draw many a hungry crowd. In the chic Condado and Isla Verde areas, chefs combine modern Latin-fusion meals with traditional Creole cuisine, and diners enjoy mouthwatering blends of Latin, French, Asian and even Indian cuisines.

Traditional tastes The lively town of Santurce is home to fashionable Spanish restaurants, a local farmer’s market and the delightful fondas: small eateries serving homestyle Puerto Rican cooking. Here you might enjoy asopao, a hardy chicken-and-rice gumbo. Your meal will likely come with a generous helping of arroz blanco (white rice) and habichuelas: beans stewed in sofrito, a blend of onions, peppers, cilantro, garlic and salt pork. And you’re sure to want to a dessert of flan — baked custard topped with a caramel glaze — or tembleque, a bread pudding made with coconut milk and custard. No meal is complete without a cup of rich Puerto Rican coffee.

Puerto Rican dish

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the puerto rico tourism company

¡Buen apetito!

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Your Best Source For Fine Watches in Puerto Rico.

PHILIP STEIN Feel it

202 and 252 Forteleza Street, Old San Juan 787-721-0855 Open 7 days a week, 10am - 6pm

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PORTS OF CALL San Juan

Come smoke a complimentary Puerto Rican Tobacco Cigar, and try our Hookah Lounge We have 100% local Tobacco Cigars made in Puerto Rico A fine selection of Premium and Gourmet Cigars in our walk-in Humidor Souvenirs and Jewelry

154 Calle Fortaleza, Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, 00901 Tel: 787.390.9249 Store: 787.723.0729 email: sanjuanretailer@gmail.com 364

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202 Calle Fortaleza • Old San Juan, PR 00901 • 787.721.0855 • sales@bluediamondgems.com

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PORTS OF CALL San Juan

In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue and confirmed that the Earth was round, not flat. He landed in Puerto Rico during his second voyage in 1493, only to sail right back home across the Atlantic.

Now Christopher Columbus has come full circle. The explorer has returned to San Juan in statue form; the impressive figure stands on a pedestal in the Plaza de Colón, or Columbus Plaza.

A more recent homage to the Great Admiral, Plaza del Quinto Centenario (Quincentennial Plaza) was created to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the European discovery of the Americas. The multilevel square, located on the highest hill in the old city, overlooks the busy harbor with its cruise ships and multitude of other vessels.

Old San Juan’s colonial central square, the Plaza de Armas (Arms Plaza), was originally used for military drills — hence its name. The plaza, graced by a fountain and statues representing the four seasons, is a lively gathering spot for locals and a convenient place for visitors to take a break from the shopping circuit. — Ginger Dingus

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RJ LERICH/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Circles & SQUARES

Kids playing in Quincentennial Plaza

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MBoe/shutterstock.coM

st. kitts

Often regarded as the jewel of the Caribbean, this volcanic island offers some of the region’s most dramatic panoramas and dynamic photo opportunities. Formally named St. Christopher, St. Kitts is part of the two-island nation of St. Kitts and Nevis (pronounced NEE-vis).

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FUNTREKS

TOP ShORe exCuRSiONS Here are just a few of the many tours you can experience during your visit. See your onboard shore-excursion specialist to book today.

Please ask about age requirements, physical considerations, proper dress and other details.

4x4 Island Safari & Beach Guests take off-road vehicles through the tropical rainforest and then enjoy a refreshing swim in the Caribbean. The trip by specially modified 4x4 Land Rover heads inland through villages and up into the cool mountain rainforest. The tour stops at a private mountaintop property 1,000 feet above sea level, continues through the mountains to the opposite side of the island and ends at the beach.

Catamaran Fan-ta-sea & Nevis Beach Escape This tour covers two islands in one day: St. Kitts and the neighboring island of Nevis, reached by catamaran. Guests spend 90 minutes on relaxing Pinneys Beach under towering Mount Nevis before sailing back to the ship

St. Kitts by Rail & Sail The St. Kitts Railway offers a memorable journey around the beautiful island, followed by a relaxing catamaran sail along St. Kitts’ southwestern coastline.

Sail & Snorkel Adventure MBoe/shutterstock.coM

A catamaran trip ends in a snorkeling experience in Shittens Bay, a secluded and unspoiled cove accessible only by sea. This is home to an abundance of marine life with several varieties of reef fish and resplendent coral formations. Guests may snorkel, swim or relax on the spacious catamaran. On the return trip, they may savor rum punch, sodas, beer and other beverages.

Quick Guide Famed for: A romantic aura, making this place a popular honeymoon destination.

It’s a Fact: in 2007, St. Kitts and Nevis became the smallest nation to host the Cricket World Cup.

Sky Safari Zip-Lining Adrenaline runs high on this “flight” over the rainforest, 25 stories above ground. Participants travel by Land Rover to the zip-line course, which crosses valleys and a stream and goes through tunnels of vegetation to the landing point.

Signature Souvenirs: Locally designed batik print clothing, and sculptures created from dried coconut shells.

How to Get to Town: You can walk to the historical center at Basseterre in just a few minutes — no taxi needed

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Darryl Brooks/shutterstock.com

PoRTS oF CALL St. Kitts

Port View Through the centuries, changes in governments gave many Caribbean islands a mélange of influences seen in cuisines, languages and architectural styles.

St. Kitts’ British heritage is showcased at Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park, where one needn’t be a military buff to enjoy the view of Nevis, Montserrat, Saba, St. Martin and St. Bart’s on a clear day. An even loftier summit is found atop Mt. Liamuiga, an all-day challenge.

The easiest sightseeing is aboard the historic

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A colorful shopping area at the port of St. Kitts

St. Kitts Scenic Railway, a 30-mile ride around the island aboard a narrow-gauge railway that once carried cane from the plantations.

The train returns to the capital of Basseterre, the home of the island’s shopping scene, where batik and local artwork are especially popular buys. And for serious shopping for crystal, gold jewelry, watches, china and porcelain, shops along the Circus and in Pelican Mall and TDC Mall offer a wide assortment of tempting dutyfree goods. — John Bigley and Paris Permenter

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Marina Village I Port Zante I Basseterre, St. Kitts Ph: 869.465.8817 I E-mail: goldminesk@gmail.com

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Ports of call St. Kitts

Island Highlights

by Raymond Niedowski

National Flower The flamboyant, a vibrant red-and-yellow flower with long black seedpods, blooms from May to August.

It’s also known as the poinciana after Monsieur de Poincy, the island’s first French governor. No matter what you call it, St. Kitts has chosen this beauty as its national flower.

Honored Heritage St. Kitts may be small, but that doesn’t mean it can’t have its own coat of arms. The main features include a barge under sail, a red chevron, poinciana flowers and a Carib Indian’s head flanked by a fleur-de-lis and a rose. These symbolize the island’s early inhabitants and its French and English influences, respectively.

St. Kitts Flag The colors of St. Kitts’ national flag reflect the past and present: green for the land’s fertility, red for the struggle from colonial slavery to independence, black for African heritage and yellow for — what else? — year-round sunshine. Its two white stars represent hope and liberty.

St. Kitts also has a national bird — the brown pelican.

Graceful and swift, these large brown-and-white creatures with the seemingly never-ending beaks patrol the sea for tasty morsels, soaring in lazy curves before plunging toward lunch or dinner. What better symbol of the island than these free spirits?

FROM TOP: The St. Kitts coat of arms; a poinciana flower; a donkey in full patriotic gear; a brown pelican.

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Photos by: (tree) Dr AjAy KumAr singh/shutterstocK.com; (shielD) istocKPhoto.com/shutterstocK.com; (DonKey) thomAs crosley/shutterstocK.com; (PelicAn) michAel D. sKelton/shutterstocK.com.

National Bird

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Marina Village I Port Zante I Basseterre, St. Kitts Ph: 869.465.8817 I E-mail: goldminesk@gmail.com

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st. kitts tourism board

POrTS OF CALL St. Kitts

A Fertile

Land

St. Kitts can claim some of the oldest settlements in the entire Caribbean.

St. Kitts offered European nations an important base in the Caribbean.

Beginnings For centuries, the island of St. Kitts had been an attractive home to various Indian tribes; its rich, productive volcanic soil earned it the name Liamuiga, or “fertile land,” by the Carib people who arrived around A.D. 1300. It was the northernmost island in the Caribbean that the tribe would settle.

St. Kitts’ central location made it an important base for trade throughout the Caribbean.

On his second voyage to the New World in 1493, Christopher Columbus discovered the island and named it San Jorges. But inaccuracies in maps of the time made it difficult to identify the islands, and San Jorges became San Cristobel (named after Columbus’ patron saint), which was later Anglicized to St. Christopher.

The first French colony In 1623, hungry for a foothold in the Caribbean, the Englishman Thomas Warner landed on St. Kitts and claimed it as the first British territory in the West Indies; he established a colony a year later.

In 1625, a French ship badly in need of repair

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appeared in the harbor. It had run into the Spanish Armada. Warner took pity and allowed the French to settle on the island, which made St. Kitts the first French colony in the Caribbean.

The richest island St. Kitts changed hands numerous times between the French and English throughout its early history until 1783, when the Treaty of Versailles definitively recognized British rule. The island’s economic fortunes were bolstered with a switch to raising sugarcane in 1640, eventually becoming the leading sugar producer in the Caribbean. But from the late 1800s on, profits from the sugar industry began a long, slow decline.

Today’s island In 1967, St. Kitts, along with its sister island, Nevis, became an associated state of Britain and attained full independence as a single nation in 1983.

With its intriguing coves, excellent interior hiking paths, dramatic panoramas and palm-lined beaches, St. Kitts is a classic Caribbean destination.

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colors@cwjamaica.com

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PorTS of CALL St. Kitts

Mt. LiaMuiga:

Into the Dormant Volcano

St. Kitts’ most commanding landmark, Mt. Liamuiga, reaches high enough into the sky to touch clouds drifting over its lush and verdant slopes.

hiking the volcano Many visitors to St. Kitts take on the challenge of reaching the summit. Casual hikers, be warned: Bring your hiking boots, but don’t tackle this peak without an experienced guide. Most hikes to the rim use well-traveled trails from Belmont Estates on the island’s northwest side, but trails soon become rugged with protruding roots amid slippery and muddy, narrow and rocky paths. The more adventurous cling to ropes along steep ledges from the mountain’s rim to dip 400 or so feet into the vast volcanic crater.

The hike can be exhilarating. Tropical plants and flora enhance dramatic views stretching down to aquamarine shorelines. Green Vervet monkeys scamper nearby the dense forested trails. And those who descend into the crater, where occasional whiffs of sulfur waft on warm Caribbean winds, will get the thrill of a lifetime. — Richard Varr

John WollWerth/shutterstock.com

At 3,792 feet, this dormant volcano is taller than Mt. Nevis on St. Kitts’ sister island and is one of the highest peaks in the Eastern Caribbean. At its summit sits a crater more than a half-mile wide, containing a shallow but shimmering lake that is often shrouded in fog — a geological wonder formed by fiery eruptions of past millennia.

Mt. Liamuiga was known as Mt. Misery to the British, but legend has it that native Carib Indians actually gave it that ominous name after suffering through volcanic eruptions. The name stuck until 1983, when St. Kitts won independence from Great Britain. The current name is Carib for “fertile land” or “fertile isle.” Volcanic activity was recorded as recently as 1843.

Mt. Liamuiga rises above an abandoned sugar plantation.

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POrTS OF CAll St. Kitts

Unspoiled

Caribbean Splendor

It takes only 20 minutes to completely circle the rounded island of Nevis, a lush, unspoiled tropical paradise.

Calm and quiet prevail: no crowds clamoring on beaches, hardly a traffic jam — not even a traffic light. Plantations that once dotted the landscape are now home to quaint inns and bungalows, many with old water cisterns and towering stonechipped sugar mills transformed into plush sleeping accommodations and fine dining rooms.

Often cloaked in puffy clouds, Nevis Peak is a landmark 3,232-foot mountain at the island’s center, flanked by nearby Saddle Hill, where British Adm. Horatio Nelson once watched for approaching French ships. Today, rainforests with mango, coconut and breadfruit trees shade hiking trails where sheep, goats and monkeys roam freely.

Along the mountain’s base, locals grow oranges, papayas and guavas that thrive in the cooler tropical temperatures. Nearby, the Botanical Gardens of Nevis provide a shady retreat with rare plants and trees, including the spiny Burglar Palm and the aptly named Old Man Palm, with shaggy, beard-like fibers spread generously over its trunk.

The splendor continues at nightfall, when the mellifluous chatter of whistling frogs breaks the silence, and the skies above St. Kitts glow with deep orange and burgundy streaks of light — the hues of a dramatic sunset that islanders cherish and visitors will never forget. — Richard Varr

Kjersti joergensen/shutterstocK.com

LEFT: Hiking through the rainforest. BELOW: The Botanical Gardens’ Tea House..

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Hold on to summer.

Port Zante & R.L. Bradshaw Int’l Airport P.O. Box 14 Basseterre • St. Kitts, WI 869.466.5853 • Fax: 869.466.5871 icjewels@sistersles.kn 2424.indd 1

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PORTS OF CALL St. Kitts

Beautiful

BATIK

Just a few miles from the magnificent fortress of Brimstone Hill, the road passes close to Romney Manor, an elegant former estate house set among 13 acres of rainforest, the ruins of a sugar estate and stunning formal botanical gardens.

At Caribelle Batik Studio, founded in 1974, visitors can watch the batik process unfold. Local artists employ centuries-old hot-wax techniques to create unique batik designs on Sea Island cotton fabrics that will become shirts, skirts, sundresses and other apparel. Designs include abstracts, flora, fish and birds; another popular batik design includes replicas of Carib petroglyphs found alongside the access road leading to Romney Manor. — Jonathan Siskin

ABOVE: The batik painting process. RIGHT: Entrance to the batik factory.

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PHOTOS BY: (BATIK FACTORY) THOMAS CROSLEY/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; (PROCESS) PZAXE/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM.

For decades, Romney Manor has housed the studio and showroom of Caribelle Batik.

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Exot ic MAYAN FIRE OPAL

ARUBA 25-A Havenstraat Oranjestad Tel: +297 588 9978

ST. KITTS Building #29 • Unit #1 Port Zante, Basseterre Tel: +1 (869) 465 8213

ST. MAARTEN DOWNTOWN 65-A Front Street Philipsburg Tel: +1 (721) 54 30356

ST. MAARTEN HARBOR VILLAGE #7 Harbor Point Village At Cruiseship Terminal Tel: + 1 (721) 54 27247

ST. THOMAS 38A Dronningens Gade St. Thomas, VI 00802

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E-mail: info@kaysfinejewelry.com ◆ www.kaysfinejewelry.com Friend us on Facebook: Kfj Caribbean

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Bastions OF BRAVERY

JASON PATRICK ROSS/SHUTTERESTOCK.COM

PORTS OF CALL St. Kitts

The Citadel at Brimstone Hill Fortress

Perched on a hill high above the northern coast of St. Kitts is a 38-acre stronghold aptly referred to as the Gibraltar of the West Indies, otherwise known as Brimstone Hill Fortress.

The massive fortress, which played a pivotal role in the battle for control of the Leewards, takes its name from the lingering odor of sulfur (brimstone) constantly being released from nearby volcanic vents. In 1690, after dislodging the French from the island, the British decided to construct the behemoth. Over the next decades, some 2,000 slaves worked every day to build five bastions — linked by walls of burnt black stone 7 to 12 feet thick — and position 50 cannons.

Its British builders believed that Brimstone’s vantage point some 800 feet above the Caribbean made it impregnable, but it was stormed successfully by the French in 1782. After their surrender, the British soldiers were permitted — as a tribute to their bravery — to march out in uniform with drums beating and colors flying. A year later, the British retook the fort and accorded the French the same honor.

Of the original five bastions, three have been fully restored, including the Prince of Wales Bastion, which was completed in 1973. The old barracks and officers quarters now contain interesting displays of artifacts and paintings related to the fort’s construction. Still visible, etched into the inside walls of the barracks, are the names of those who fought and died there a long time ago. The fort is a powerful and silent reminder of the island’s violent past.

— Michael De Freitas and Deborah Wilson

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THE WHISTLE Blows Since the first sugarcane was planted in St. Kitts’ fertile soil around 1650, sugar has been the mainstay of the island’s agriculture-based economy. In 1912, the small individually owned estate mills and boiling houses scattered throughout the island were replaced by one large sugar refinery capable of processing the island’s entire crop. During this time, a narrow-gauge railway was built between the pier in Basseterre Bay and a drop-off point about a mile north in order to haul cane and construction material for the new factory.

By 1925, the railway had been extended around the island in a single loop. It remains in operation

ST. KITTS TOURISM BOARD

PORTS OF CALL St. Kitts

The railway has been in operation since 1912.

today. In all, the railway contains over 40 miles of track and 26 bridges. The original steam locomotive, Number 8, taken out of service many years ago, still sits in the sugar factory’s yard. During the peak harvest period, the new diesel engines haul over 2,700 tons (900 wagon loads) of cane each day. Currently, the railway is one of only six operating systems in the Caribbean. And despite the occasional collision and derailment, it still remains a vital part of the island’s economy.

So railway enthusiasts needn’t fret — the clatter of wheels and locomotive whistles will be heard for many years to come. — Michael De Freitas

Shell Souvenirs Features a variety of seashells, as well as T-Shirts, hats and other casual apparel for all ages!

Port Zante, St. Kitts Tel.: 869-466-3364 384

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Lucia Pitter/shutterstock.com

ST. LUCIA

The island’s striking landscape is washed with green-mantled mountains, broad swaths of sand, exotic rainforests and a steaming volcanic crater. This is one of the Caribbean’s most romantic places, and many visitors end up falling in love with St. Lucia itself.

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The Pitons, also known as the twin peaks, stand like sentries on St. Lucia’s coastline.

FUNTREKS

TOP SHORE EXCURSIONS Here are just a few of the many tours you can experience during your visit. See your onboard shore-excursion specialist to book today.

Please ask about age requirements, physical considerations, proper dress and other details.

Land & Sea Combo to Soufrière

LUCIA PITTER/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

A combination excursion begins with a motor-coach drive through Castries to the picturesque town of Soufrière, including a drive by Petit Piton on the way to the Botanical Gardens and Diamond Mineral Waterfall for a guided tour and a photo moment of this natural wonder. In Soufrière Bay, guests board a catamaran, are served a Creole lunch and sail to the tranquil cove of Anse Cochon for a swim.

Ultimate Rainforest Adventure: Zip, Hike & Sky Ride This tour offers three exciting activities: an aerial tram, a zipline and a hike through the rainforest. The thrills begin with a gondola ride above the forest canopy.

Participants then take a short walk through a peaceful part of the forest and scramble across a suspension bridge to the first zipline platform. After being hitched to a series of cables, they zip from platform to platform high up in the tree canopy.

Hoofprint Horseback & Beach Ride Guests saddle up for a ride through St. Lucia’s countryside and on to the beach for a horseback swim. The ride meanders through one of St. Lucia’s many banana plantations, which were once sugarcane fields serving the island’s only rum distillery. At Roseau’s sandy beach, they have the opportunity to swim with a horse or just enjoy the beach.

Pitons Cruise & Snorkel Adventure

Quick Guide Famed for: The twin volcanic peaks called the Pitons, and palm-studded beaches.

It’s a Fact: When France’s King Louis XVI controlled the island, he ordered mineral baths built for the benefit of his troops.

Signature Souvenirs: Batik or silk-screened fabrics, and paintings by local artists.

How to Get to Town: If your ship docks at La Place Carenage, take a three-minute ferry ride into town. If it docks at Pointe Seraphine, just walk down the gangway and you’re there.

A double or single decker powerboat takes guests to the famous Pitons for a photo op and then to a nearby sheltered bay for a unique snorkel experience. The fun begins with a cruise along the island's rugged west coast to the snorkel spot.

Participants get a photo opportunity and then explore the underwater life of coral reefs and tropical fish.

Segway, Sightseeing & Beach Fun Riders steer off-road Segways through a groomed long trail, stopping to feed fish, enjoy local fruits and learn about military history associated with the ruins of Mt. Pimard. Then they board an air-conditioned bus to tour St. Lucia’s rugged West Coast. The tour ends at St Lucia’s most popular national landmark, Pigeon Island, where guests can swim, snorkel, hike or just relax.

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Port View on the southwest coast of romantic st. lucia, the island’s famed twin peaks — 2,620-foot Gros Piton and 2,460-foot Petit Piton — are among the caribbean’s most photographed sights, appearing to rise from the sea at the water’s edge. these volcanic heights are for experienced climbers only. But hikes in the misty rainforest below, home of the rare st. lucian parrot, offer plenty of satisfaction for the less-seasoned and for couples in search of romantic getaways. at the sulfur springs volcano, travelers walk to the edge of the volcano that last erupted two centuries ago. nearby, the Diamond Waterfalls and Gardens cascade

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AliciA DAuksis/shutterstock.com

Ports of call St. Lucia

The Soufrière waterfront

in a spray of “diamond” twinkles, and locals and visitors use steamy mineral baths built alongside the ruins of the baths commissioned by french King louis Xiv. st. lucia’s capital, castries, is also its shopping hub, thanks to duty-free malls offering treasures such as fine jewels and crystal. Here, fragrant spices, from cinnamon to nutmeg, are a sweet hint of this fertile island ripe with citrus. the island’s spices also liven up creole cuisine. favorite dishes such as saltfish and green fig are served in local hideaways in the fishing village of anse la raye and in tiny Gros islet, which is famous for its friday night jump-up party. — John Bigley and Paris Permenter

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Ports of call St. Lucia

Island Highlights

by Sara Churchville

The Pitons The so-called Twin Peaks are St. Lucia's most famous landmarks. At well more than 2,000 feet high, they’re recommended for only the most experienced climbers, but vehicle excursions are available.

St. Lucia Parrot Known locally as the jacquot, this colorful creature is found only in St. Lucia. Destruction of the bird’s forest habitat had caused its numbers to dwindle to only about 100 in 1979, when the parrot was officially named the national bird. Thanks to education programs, about 500 birds are now believed to live in the wild.

St. Lucia has produced two laureates: Sir W. Arthur Lewis (Economics, 1979) and Derek Walcott (Literature, 1992).

FROM TOP: The Pitons from a distance; the St. Lucia parrot; the facade detail of the Nobel Peace Center in Oslo, Norway.

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Photos by: (the Pitons) Lucia Pitter/shutterstock.com; (Parrot) eduardo rivero/shutterstock.com; (nobeL Prize)catwaLker/shutterstock.com.

Nobel Prize Winners

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Sterling silver charms from $25

Hewanorra Airport • La Place Carenage Pointe Seraphine • St. Lucia Tel: 758.451.6799 • Fax: 758.452.7587 www.HarryEdwardsJewelers.com

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PORTS OF CALL St. Lucia

STEVE GEER/ISTOCKPHOTO.COM

Iguanas are so populous that St. Lucia was first named for them.

ISLAND OF THE IGUANAS

by John Anderson

St. Lucia is endowed with scenic waterfalls and an easy pace of life. It’s a multicultural locale enhanced by a distinctive past.

Beginnings St. Lucia’s first inhabitants, the Arawak Indians, arrived around A.D. 200. They were replaced by the Carib tribe around A.D. 800.

The Caribs called the island Hewanorra, or Island of the Iguanas, a word that inspired the naming of Hewanorra International Airport in Vieux Fort, on the island’s southern tip.

While some say Christopher Columbus discovered St. Lucia in 1502, that honor most likely goes to a Spanish explorer, possibly Juan de la Cosa, who arrived in the early 1500s.

The fi rst colony was attempted in 1605 after an English vessel on its way to Guyana was blown off course and landed on St. Lucia’s shores.

But the settlement lasted only five weeks; disease and conflict with the Caribs forced the settlers to abandon the island.

The French/British seesaw France claimed the island in 1635, declaring it had purchased 392

it for the French West Indies Company, and attempted its own colony in St. Lucia in 1651.

It was the beginning of 150 years of conflict between the French and British that saw the island change hands 14 times.

In 1746, the French founded the town of Soufrière, and by 1780, another 12 settlements were established, as well as numerous sugar plantations.

Finally, in 1814, after years of prolonged battles, the Treaty of Paris transferred the island to the British once and for all.

Modern times arrive St. Lucia gained its full independence from England in 1979 but still recognizes Queen Elizabeth II as the titular head of state.

French influences have remained, not only in the names of towns and landmarks, but also in the Creole culture of its people, many of whom continue to speak a French patois — all part of the unique flavor of St. Lucia.

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See the Onboard Shore Excursions Desk for details.

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Baywalk aywalk Living

IN THE HEART OF RODNEY BAY, SAINT LUCIA

Location Centralized atop St. Lucia’s premium shopping centre, Baywalk Mall, affording easy access to shopping, dining, business and leisure with its abundance of renowned hotels and hotel chains, vibrant restaurants and bars. An elevator ride two floors down takes you to 80 stores including a supermarket, pharmacy, banking and telecommunication services, brand-name shopping and fine dining.

Security Both 24-hour electronic security and foot patrol are provided in and around the entire property, with private elevators and access-controlled

entry and exit from our five-story, sheltered car park, adding the finishing touches to a quality and relaxed lifestyle.

Luxury These ready-to-move in, elegantly furnished penthouses boast two en-suite bedrooms, master bathroom with spa tub and overhead shower and double sinks, a spacious living room and balcony, state-of-the-art kitchen with granite counter top and guest half-bathroom.

Starting from US$500, 000

Tel: +1 758 452 6666, email: info@baywalkslu.com website: baywalkslu.com, facebook: facebook.com/baywalkmall

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John WollWerth/ShutterStock.com

St. Maarten/ St. Martin

Half Dutch and half French, the two-nation island of St. Maarten / St. Martin enjoys the best that its dual heritage has to offer — with a tropical twist.

Like so many other Caribbean nations, this picturesque destination has stunning beaches; but with a profusion of sporting facilities, shops and restaurants, it is a paradise on many other levels as well.

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Philipsburg, on the Dutch side of the island.

FUNTREKS

TOP SHORE EXCURSIONS Here are just a few of the many tours you can experience during your visit. See your onboard shore-excursion specialist to book today.

Please ask about age requirements, physical considerations, proper dress and other details.

Power Rafting Adventure – Snorkel, Shop & Beach A comfortable high-speed vessel takes guests for an exhilarating ride across Simpson Bay Lagoon to Marigot, where they can shop and explore Marina Royale before snorkeling at one of the island’s best locations. The tour includes time to relax on the beach.

America’s Cup Regatta Guests experience the thrill of racing the famous 12-meter race boats Stars & Stripes, Canada II and True North, on a shortened version of the legendary America’s Cup course. Day sailors participate in one of the most exclusive sporting events in the world as they grind the winch, trim the sails or take the helm to help lead the crew to victory.

JOHN WOLLWERTH/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

St. Maarten Island Tour Both the French and Dutch sides of the island are featured on this tour, which begins on the Dutch side in Philipsburg and continues to Marigot, on the French side. Guests may shop in Marigot before returning to Philipsburg.

Sea & See Island Tour / French St. Martin

Quick Guide Famed for: Shopping, yacht races and clothingoptional beaches.

It’s a Fact: The island is the world’s smallest territory shared by two sovereign states: the Netherlands and France.

Signature Souvenirs: Duty-free spirits, including the island’s own guavaberry liqueur, plus French fashions.

Visitors experience the best that St. Maarten has to offer, both above ground and beneath the sea. They travel to the quaint fishing village of Grand Case and board the Sea World Explorer semi-submarine for a narrated tour of the coral reefs surrounding Creole Rock. Back on land in the French capital, Marigot, they explore the sidewalk cafes, open-air markets and duty-free shops of this beautiful port city.

Golden Eagle Catamaran Sail & Snorkel The Golden Eagle, a glamorous catamaran, takes guests for a memorable day on the water: snorkeling, swimming or lying on the deck under the 80-foot sail listening to music. The Golden Eagle stops at a sugar-sand beach, and the trip includes cocktails and snacks.

How to Get to Town: Most ships dock at the A.C. Wathey Pier, and taxis can be hired at Wathey Square.

Those docking at Great Bay can take the ship’s tender into port or hop a water taxi from the ship.

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Port View Do you speak Dutch or French? It really doesn’t matter when you arrive at this Caribbean paradise of two sovereign nations living side-by-side and celebrating distinctive influences from their European roots. And St. Maarten is the only Caribbean stop where all attractions — restaurants, shops and beaches — are a stone’s throw away from the ship, making it one of the easiest island destinations to get around.

Philipsburg on the Dutch side, St. Maarten, is the more popular of the two stops. Live music wafts through the air, and quaintly cobblestoned Front Street is lined with inviting duty-free shops, jewelry stores and boutiques, most of

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PortS oF CALL St. Maarten

A colorful home in St. Maarten

which offer a free drink to anyone entering to browse or buy.

Wathey Square, across from the white 1793 Courthouse that is topped with a cupola, is a lovely spot to stroll. And both Philipsburg and French-side Marigot have history museums with exhibits going all the way back to the pre-Columbian days of the Arawaks.

Philipsburg has grown even lovelier since a revitalization added enhancements, including the boardwalk that meanders between shops and the beach; it’s not only a pretty place to walk but also offers a lovely photo opportunity of your cruise ship in the harbor. — Richard Varr

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Ports of call St. Maarten

Island Highlights

by Sara Churchville

St. Maarten Flag First flown in 1985, the St. Maarten flag features the colors of the Netherlands flag — red, white and blue — arranged as the St. Maarten coat of arms within a white triangle intersecting a red color on the top and a blue one beneath. The coat of arms, with a courthouse, a sprig of sage, the sun and a pelican, represents elements of solidarity with the island's French Antillean neighbors as well as with the Netherlands.

Zouk Zouk, from the French Creole word for “party,” may have originated in the French Antilles, but this style of dance music that combines African drumming with influences from reggae, salsa and 1980s pop music is equally popular in the clubs on the Dutch side of the island.

Saba Lace On a small island about 30 miles south of St. Maarten is Saba, where lace making has been an artisanal tradition since the late-19th century. One Mary Gertrude Johnson returned to the island from a Venezuelan convent having learned the craft, which she then passed on to the local women. Today you don’t need to travel to Saba for the delicate lace; it’s available throughout St. Maarten.

Lantana camara, or “yellow sage,” is the national flower of St. Maarten, depicted on the island’s coat of arms.

FROM TOP: St. Maarten's flag; party time!; delicate Saba lace; colorful blooms.

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Photos by: st. maarten toUrIsm boarD; Pressmaster/shUtterstock.com; DoUG raPhaeL/shUtterstock.com; an nGUyen/shUtterstock.com.

Yellow Sage

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st. maarten tourism board; Jon Williams.

PORTS OF CALL St. Maarten

Boats rest quietly in a serene harbor.

Two Nations,

Side by Side in Harmony

by John Anderson

The people of St. Maarten and St. Martin offer proof that having the good fortune to inhabit one small island paradise is all anyone needs to coexist peacefully with folks of another nationality. beginnings The first settlers on the northeastern Caribbean island were the Arawak Indians, a tribe of Amerindians who migrated northward from the Orinoco river basin of South America, hopping from one island to the next along their journey. Finding an abundance of salt pans and brackish water on the future Franco-Dutch isle, they named it Soualiga, or Land of Salt. Due to the lack of freshwater sources, the island’s population remained small.

A relatively cultured and innovative people, the peaceful Arawaks introduced agriculture and pottery-making. Their social structure was ruled by hereditary chieftains, believed to possess the powers of ancestral deities known as zemis. The tribe established a network of fiefdoms throughout the Caribbean; archaeologists, however, believe the Arawaks on St. Martin were an independent society and were free of such alliances.

In the century leading up to the arrival of Christopher Columbus, the Arawaks were supplanted by the Carib Indians, a more aggressive tribe also from South America for whom the Caribbean is named. The Carib were skilled in the arts of boatbuilding and sailing — as well as war, which explains their dominance of the region. They also harbored large quantities of gold, obtained through trade with the mainland, which made them the target of many expeditions.

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Columbus sights an island On his second voyage to the New World in 1493, Columbus sighted the island on his way to the Spanish settlement on Hispaniola. The fortuitous day was November 11, the feast day of St. Martin of Tours, in whose honor Columbus named the island. A dispute exists among historians as to whether the island Columbus sighted was indeed St. Martin or the more southerly Nevis. Regardless, the Spanish never took much interest in the 38-square-mile piece of property, and St. Martin sat mostly uninhabited for 138 years.

In 1623, after the English colonized St. Kitts, their first stronghold in the Caribbean, both the French and Dutch followed suit in 1631 with their own settlements on St. Martin. For their part, the Dutch were in search of an outpost between their colonies in Brazil and New Amsterdam (New York). Once settled, they began producing salt, a precious preservative in the New World. Two years later, upon realizing the commercial potential of the island, the Spanish returned to reclaim their land and ran the settlers off onto neighboring islands.

In 1644, the Dutch attempted to retake St. Martin and attacked Spanish strongholds, including the fort at Pointe Blanche. Leading the charge was the famed Dutchman Peter Stuyvesant, director of the Dutch West India Company and, later, New Amsterdam's governor.

Stuyvesant lost a leg in the month-long campaign, thus earning the

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st. maarten tourism board; Jon Williams.

nickname Peg Leg Pete. The Spanish prevailed against the Dutch attack; however, just four years later, after reevaluating their interests in the Eastern Caribbean, they loaded their ships and sailed away. a land divided With the Spanish gone, the French and Dutch quickly reestablished themselves on the island. After a spate of skirmishes, both nations signed the 1648 treaty atop Mount Concordia that divided the island between them. But despite the treaty and the islanders’ reputation for peaceful coexistence, the border changed 16 times over the next 150 years. Finally, in 1815, the Treaty of Paris established the boundary once and for all. During the 19th century, the island became a busy trading center for the export of salt, cotton and tobacco. And after the introduction of the sugarcane crop, the island’s economy flourished with the growth of plantations. the scene today With the abolition of slavery in the mid-19th century, the plantations closed and the island’s prosperity came to an end, ushering in an economic malaise that continued for nearly 100 years.

In 1939, the trend was finally reversed when import and export taxes were lifted; this act paved the way for the economic boom of dutyfree shopping. In 1943, the Princess Juliana International Airport was opened, and four years later, the island’s first hotel was built.

With large-scale development projects, the Dutch side of the island rapidly became a favorite vacation destination for North Americans and Europeans. In the 1980s, the French side followed suit after new government policies encouraged investment. Nowadays, St. Maarten/St. Martin boasts one of the most lively tourist scenes in the Caribbean.

St. Maarten

Timeline

1493

Christopher Columbus sights the island, naming it St. Martin.

1631

French and Dutch settlers arrive.

1633

The Spanish reclaim the island.

1648

The French and the Dutch sign a treaty that divides the island.

1815

The Treaty of Paris ends the border dispute.

1943

Princess Juliana International Airport opens.

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PORTS OF CALL St. Maarten

Shopping in

St. Maarten Curaçao Here’s the ultimate insider guide to what’s hot in town.

See it? Like it? Buy it!

Forevermark Fan cy P r i n c es s ring

Blue Heaven La rg e blu e r i n g

Korite A m m o li te c o lu m n p en d ant

a Tale of Two CiTies Philipsburg The capital of Dutch St. Maarten stretches across a narrow isthmus between the waters of Great Bay to the south and Great Salt Pond to the north. The bustling, contemporary town has two main downtown streets, Front Street and Back Street, spliced by narrow lanes (steegjes) supporting a slew of boutiques, eateries and shopping arcades.

It wasn’t so long ago that the city needed only two small streets. But St. Maarten’s boom as a vacation resort changed all that. Two thoroughfares, Cannegieter Street (formerly Pond Fill Road) and Walter Nisbett Road (formerly Ring Road), have been added — through landfill of Salt Pond — to relieve the downtown traffic congestion.

Philipsburg was founded in 1733 as a free port, a status it enjoys to this day; it's known as "the shopping center of the Leewards."

Front Street (Voorstraat) offers the public 16 blocks of every kind of store imaginable carrying duty-free bargains on everything from watches, cameras, liquor, clothing and linens to loose gems and exotic jewelry.

Also situated on Front Street is the St. Maarten Museum, where island archaeology and history are reflected in colonial maps, Spanish buttons and pipes, china plates and pottery shards. Back Street (Achterstraat) was once the site of warehouses that stored harvested salt in vast

white sacks. Today most of Philipsburg’s administrative buildings and churches are found along this road.

Marigot The capital of French St. Martin is unmistakably Gallic, from the international border sign that reads “Bienvenue en Partie Française” and the khaki-clad gendarme walking his beat, to the inviting sidewalk bistros and baguette-laden locals on bicycles.

The original town was established in the 1680s, when the fear of raids, forcing the islanders inland to Orléans, had passed.

Now stretching from the harbor to Port La Royale on the lagoon, Marigot’s handful of streets have been restored to their original charm and still contain plenty of colonial buildings with wrought-iron balustrades scattered among the more-contemporary, pastel-colored shopping arcades. The old warehouses of the esplanade, boulevard de France, now contain smart shops and cafés sporting street-front awnings and tables with umbrellas, encouraging folks to linger all day.

Visitors to Marigot can spend a leisurely afternoon browsing in chic boutiques and gourmet shops that offer the best of France, stopping in at the small museum devoted to local prehistory or strolling the yacht-filled marina, one of the best people-watching spots in town. — Raymond Niedowski

st. Maarten tourisM board

Wenger Squ a d ro n La d y Sw i s s wa tch

The Dutch and French happily share the two-nation island.

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CNABICKUM/ISTOCKPHOTO.COM

PORTS OF CALL St. Maarten

Market at Marigot Harbor, St. Martin

BIENVENUE EN MARIGOT It may be hard to believe you’re actually stepping on French soil when visiting St. Martin, with its Caribbean breezes and string of pure-sand beaches. The hilly northern half of this dual-nation island is a part of France known as an overseas collectivity. Proof of nationality is quickly discovered at brasseries serving fine French cuisine, boutiques sporting a Parisian flair, and supermarket shelves crowded with crusty baguettes.

While cruise ships dock in Dutch St. Maarten, day excursions take guests to the heart of Marigot, St. Martin’s laid-back capital, where paintings of flower-filled island scenes hang in galleries along rue de la République and rue de la Liberté. Turn a corner or two and you can’t miss the impressive yachts moored within La Royale Marina.

Designer shops and boutiques in town are a shopper’s delight, while dockside bistros spice freshly caught red snapper and spiny lobster with creamy French and Creole sauces.

A five-minute walk to the shores of Marigot Bay leads to a popular market where vendor stalls brim with fresh produce, handmade jewelry and carved wooden trinkets.

Fine French and international restaurants — some specializing in fusion flavors — line the main street of Grand

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Case, the quaint village on the island’s northern shores.

St. Martin’s prettiest beaches are at Orient Bay, a fourmile stretch of sand often referred to as the Saint-Tropez of the Caribbean. Windsurfers skip across the aquamarine water as they cling to puff y red sails, and parasailers seem to float against the clear blue horizon. Beachside restaurants serve cooling sushi and tangy fish salads alongside upscale French cafes.

The exhibit “On the Trail of the Arawaks” at Le Musée de Saint-Martin (Museum of St. Martin) displays artifacts and pottery from native tribes dating back a few millennia.

A short drive from the capital, the Butterfly Farm features hundreds of the elaborately patterned insects from throughout the world. Wearing bright Caribbean colors and a touch of citrus-scented cologne might lead to a close encounter with the fluttering creatures.

For yet more dramatic Caribbean panoramas, hike up the bluff to Marigot’s aging Fort Louis. Views stretch to St. Maarten’s sailboat-filled coves and beyond — to the mountainous silhouette of neighboring Saba and, in stark contrast, to the flat and peaceful island of Anguilla to the north. — Richard Varr

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BEAUTIFUL BUTTERFLIES

Imagine sipping nectar under a tropical sky while splendidly hued birds fly by and the lilting sounds of exotic music play in the background. Not bad, you say? While that image may reflect the lifestyle of the jet set vacationing on the island, it’s also the way butterflies thrive at La Ferme des Papillons (The Butterfly Farm) in Marigot, on the island’s French side. La Ferme is located on St. Martin’s east (Atlantic) coast, on the road to Bayside and Galion Beach, close to popular Orient Beach.

If you consider that the average life span of a butterfly is a mere two weeks (although some live up to nine months), that nectar and tropical-sky concept may be rather less appealing. Yet a visit to La Ferme is a delightful and enriching outing. Many species have been imported; others are homegrown in a specially created Butterfly Sphere. The lush setting offers an oasis of tranquility and harmony, while providing an educational experience for people of all ages.

Visitors are urged to wear bright colors and fragrance to attract the butterflies.

La Ferme was created in 1994 when two self-described “eccentric” Englishmen, John Coward and William Slayter, chose to share their love of butterflies with the public. Since then, thousands of visitors have stopped by to see the exquisite butterflies and to learn about their four-stage life cycle: developing from a microscopic egg to a strange, exotic caterpillar that sheds its skin four to six times as it grows; moving on to become a delicate pupa/chrysalis resembling a piece of elegant designer jewelry; and in early morning hours, emerging from the chrysalis as a beautiful butterfly. The guided tours provide a variety of entertaining butterfly facts and unusual insight into the butterfly’s existence. For example, did you know that butterflies usually hang from the undersides of leaves or crawl into crevices between rocks or other objects in bad weather and at night?

Information is also available on butterfly gardening. More than 20,000 types of butterflies have been cataloged worldwide, and about 80 percent of the species are in the Tropics. The largest is New Guinea’s Queen Alexandra Birdwing, with a wingspan of just under a foot; the smallest is the Pygmy Blue, with a wingspan of just under an inch, found in the southern United States.

The grounds contain landscaped gardens, waterfalls and ponds filled with Japanese fish. A refreshment stand and gift shop round out the sprawling complex. — Marty Leshner

PHOTOS BY: SCOTT WONG/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; SUNS07/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM.

La Ferme was created in 1994 when two self-described “eccentric” Englishmen, John Coward and William Slayter, chose to share their love of butterflies with the public.

Breathtakingly resplendent creatures

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PHOTOS BY: SUBBOTINA ANNA/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; ANDREY BAYDA/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM.

PORTS OF CALL St. Maarten

The thrill of yacht racing

A DAY AT THE RACES

Go ahead, admit it. You’ve always wanted to be a winch wench or a grinder. Or maybe being captain of the ship for a day is more your style. Well, you’re in the right place.

St. Maarten/St. Martin is the only island in the Caribbean where novice sailors get the chance to race an authentic America’s Cup yacht. Simply watching these sleek sailboats cut through the water is pretty awesome, too. You may even find a ringside seat right on the deck of your cruise ship.

For over 10 years, visitors to Philipsburg have been thrilling to the daily 12-meter regatta. The streamlined multimillion-dollar sailboats, transported to the Caribbean after the 1987 America’s Cup in Fremantle, Australia, race around a shortened America’s Cup course. The fleet includes three Canadian contenders and Dennis Conner’s Stars and Stripes, the proud U.S. vessel that won the cup after racing in nearly 350 individual matches. — Ginger Dingus

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THE SPEED OF LIFE

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MEET THE ARAWAKS

The museum’s permanent exhibition, “On the Trail of the Arawaks,” traces the history of this particular Amerindian tribe from its origins thousands of years ago.

Archaeologists funded by the Hope Estate Archaeological Association took part in a 10-year dig to reconstruct information about Amerindian culture and populations. The Hope Estate, located near Grand Case Salt Pond, was once a plantation and is now St. Maarten’s most important archaeological site.

Using carbon-14 dating, scientists concluded that St. Maarten’s first settlers built villages near Orient Bay and Grand Case around 500 B.C., bringing with them the arts of pottery and horticulture.

Finds from the dig are also on display in the museum.

Amerindians traveled from their native Andes to the northeastern coast of Venezuela and on to the Antilles. Archaeologists believe that the Arawaks lived on the island now known as St. Maarten as early as A.D. 800, farming, fishing and living a quiet life. The Arawaks, who revered their women, called the island Oualichi, meaning “the island of women.”

At the museum, visitors can see the Arawaks’ eating and farming tools, ornaments made of shell and stones, a burial site and funeral gifts in large clay pots. Ceramics and animal skulls are among the many well-preserved pre-Columbian relics exhibited.

Also showcased are artifacts of the Arawak community’s religious and spiritual life, including zemis — images of gods made from a variety of materials — as well as astrological symbols and religious accoutrements worn by shamans.

A more recent historical exhibition includes photos of the first airport built by the United States during World War II. That airport helped lure the first major influx of tourists to the island after the war. St. Maarten is now one of the Caribbean’s most popular cruise destinations.

By the way, the Arawaks traveled via canoes made from hollowed-out trees — a far cry from today’s luxury cruise ships.

Who knows? Maybe one day, hundreds of years from now, our flip-flops and suntan-lotion bottles will wind up in the museum to document that fact.

ARCHÉOLOGIQUE HOPE ESTATE

Amerindians were the earliest settlers on many Caribbean islands, but their stories sometimes get overshadowed by the morerecent history of the European settlers. Their lives come to light at the St. Martin Museum in Marigot.

Human remains on display at the museum

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Jewelry Avenue Please come and collect a free pair of earrings

White Diamonds

Blue Diamonds

Black Diamonds

CafĂŠ Diamonds

Jewelry buffet: wide variety of fine jewelry, also tanzanite, emerald, ruby, sapphire, opals, larimar, rainbow topaz, and all birthstones starting from US $10 and up.

Jewelry Avenue Front Street Kannal Steeg Unit 2 Bobby’s Marina Near Water Taxi Terminal and Green House Philipsburg, St. Marteen N.A. Tel: (721) 542-1237 | Fax (721) 542-1293 | USA (646) 415-7607 E-mail: jewelryavenueinc@hotmail.com

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PORTS OF CALL St. Maarten

PETAL POWER

Hibiscus flower

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MIKELEDRAY/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Visitors to the Caribbean region can’t help but stare at the vivid splendor of the hibiscus flowers that blossom almost everywhere in the islands. Indeed, Hibiscus rosa sinensis, as it is known to horticulturists, is an instantly recognizable island icon. One of the easiest varieties of tropical flowers to cultivate, its colors range from the deepest scarlet to delicate shades of pink, peach, yellow and white. New shades appear every year as local enthusiasts compete to breed the fullest and most colorful blooms. A little-known fact: The petals of the versatile hibiscus are dried, finely crushed and used all over the world in commercially produced herbal and fruit teas.

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PORTS OF CALL St. Maarten

SECLUDED SHORES The island’s world-famous beaches are extraordinary even by Caribbean standards.

Most are bustling, but there are stretches of sand still undiscovered by the masses.

The island’s French side boasts 36 beaches that are generally quieter than their Dutch counterparts. Here are five of the best:

PHOTO COURTESY OF ST. MAARTEN TOURISM BOARD

Baie Longue (Long Bay) Rated by many as the best beach on the island, Baie Longue stretches for a mile on the western end of St. Martin.

Orient This is one of the most popular clothing-optional beaches.

Hordes of beachgoers come to shuck their clothes, catch some sun and gape.

Unlike the neighboring French shores, almost all beaches on the Dutch side discourage nude or topless sunbathing. These beaches are relatively close to the pier in Philipsburg.

Great Bay Smack in the middle of town, this strip of beach provides an oasis of peace.

Simpson Bay This crescent-shaped sweep of sugar-white sand is a center for windsurfing activity. Set against a small fishing village, Simpson Bay offers a laid-back environment.

Maho Bay This palm-shaded beach is strewn with lounge chairs belonging to the numerous beachfront resorts lining the shore.

45D & 97, Frontstreet - Philipsburg Phone (599) 542 2533 | Fax (599) 542 3963 MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE

www.linengalore-sxm.com

Tablecloths & Napkins | Placemats & Runners and much more...

Nappes | Serviettes | Sets de table | Chemins et bien plus encore ...

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PORTS OF CALL St. Maarten

HOW TO SAY IT

It never hurts to speak more than one language, but it’s especially helpful in Dutch/French St. Maarten/St. Martin.

So here’s a quick translation guide to get you through a day on either side of this bilingual island:

Dutch • Hello: Hallo (HAH-low) • Good-Bye: Dag (dahg) • How much is it? Hoeveel is het? (who-feel es et?)

• Please: Alstublieft (ALST oo bleeft) • Thank you very much: Dank u zeer (DONK oo seer)

French • Hello: Bonjour (bone JHOOR) • Good-Bye: Au revoir (oh-rev-WAHR) • How much is it?: C’est combien? (say cohm-bee-EN) • Please: S’il vous plaît (seel-voo-PLAY) • Thank you very much: Merci beaucoup (mare-SEE boh-KOO)

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“Available at Boolchand's, your preferred Nikon dealer since 1970.”

50 Front Street, Philipsburg, ST. MAARTEN • Tel: 721-542-2245 5 Harbour Point Village, ST. MAARTEN • Tel: 721-542-3964 E-mail: cameras.sxm@boolchand.com

Website: www.boolchand.com

Nikon® and D7100™ are registered trademarks of Nikon Corporation. ©2013 Nikon Inc.

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PORTS OF CALL St. Maarten

Special Advertising Feature

The Yoda Guy Movie Exhibit is a non-profit foundation built around Nick’s private collection of rare Hollywood relics. Encouraging kids to strive to be exceptional, there are incredible behind-the-scenes insights that no fan should miss, displays about ALIEN TERMINATOR & MEN IN BLACK and an incredible collection of lifecast faces, Hollywood stars and historical figures, like Johnny Depp & Angelina Jolie, Marlon Brando & Bogart, even Abraham Lincoln and Benjamin Franklin.

19a Front Street, Philipsburg, St. Maarten Tel: 542-4009 www.thatYodaGuy.com

Visitors to sunny St Maarten probably don’t expect to find Darth Vader and Michael Jackson nestled amidst the duty free jewelry stores. But the Yoda Guy Movie Exhibit, acclaimed as one of the 3 most popular Caribbean museums in TripAdvisor’s 2013 Traveler’s Choice Awards, has that and much, much, more. The Museum is the brainchild of Hollywood creature effects wizard Nick Maley, known as “that Yoda Guy” for his contribution to the creation of Yoda for STAR WARS. Nick worked on over 50 movies, including the SUPERMAN and HIGHLANDER sagas.

A MUST SEE for art and movie fans, the museum is described by many as the most surprising enterprise in the Caribbean, where rare STAR WARS production items can be purchased, hand signed, from a movie insider.

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The Museum Shop sells SIGNED movie memorabilia, posters, behind-the-scenes photos and Nick’s biography reads like a romantic novel. storyboards… unique autographed slices of He grew up in the midst of the entertainment STAR WARS history that become an heirindustry, worked with Hollywood legends like loom to pass on through the family. There’s also Sean Connery, Sir Anthony Hopkins Nick’s celebrated Caribbean artwork and his and Harrison Ford, was featured in CIN- famed Caribbean Cruise Ship Map. This romantic EMAX and HBO specials, won a place in map, inscribed with the route of your ship, is dedTHE GUINNESS BOOK OF WORLD icated in gold (at no extra charge) for birthdays, RECORDS and was nominated for an EMMY. honeymoons, anniversaries or special occasions.

It’s the perfect inexpensive cruise souvenir.

But, at the height of his career, Nick shocked his colleagues when he and his wife Gloria traded their Ferrari for a sailboat to pursue Nick’s passion for painting... in the Caribbean.

His paintings reflect the serenity to be found in simple living, have toured the world with the UNITED NATIONS and hang in galleries and museums in 18 countries.

With a 20-40% ship discount, the Yoda Guy Movie Exhibit provides entertainment for the whole family. There’s something for every budget and if you are lucky enough to find Nick there, he will dedicate purchases and do photos with customers. Don’t miss this once in a lifetime opportunity to visit a STAR WARS celebrity.

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Hank SHiffman/SHutterStock.com

st. thomas

Once the home of notorious pirates such as Captain Kidd and Bluebeard, St. Thomas still offers plenty of treasure in its duty-free shops and remains the commercial capital of the Caribbean. It also offers rich history and fascinating sightseeing opportunities.

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A view of Charlotte Amalie from the harbor

FUNTREKS

TOP SHORE EXCURSIONS Here are just a few of the many tours you can experience during your visit. See your onboard shore-excursion specialist to book today.

Please ask about age requirements, physical considerations, proper dress and other details.

The Best of St. Thomas & Downtown Shopping A camera is a must on this trip to the highest point on St. Thomas, world-famous Mountain Top, which offers fantastic views of the nearby British Virgin Islands. The attraction also boasts unique shopping for local wares. After exploring Mountain Top, guests head to downtown Charlotte Amalie for two hours of unparalleled duty-free shopping.

St. John Trunk Bay Beach & Snorkel Trails Guests sample the many pleasures of the beach at Trunk Bay, one of the world's most highly rated stretches of sand. After a ferry ride across Pillsbury Sound, visitors travel past Cruz Bay, Hawksnest Bay and well-known Caneel Bay, arriving at Trunk Bay for snorkeling in the crystalline waters.

Captain Nautica’s Ultimate Snorkel Expedition

HANK SHIFFMAN/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

This tour offers some of the best snorkeling in the Caribbean. Guests visit two remote locations and have up to a full hour at each site to snorkel. They can discover underwater treasures such as stingrays, turtles, spotted eagle rays and some of the most beautiful coral formations in the world.

St. John Champagne Catamaran Sailaway

Quick Guide Famed for: A swashbuckling past as the home of pirates such as Blackbeard and Captain Kidd.

It’s a Fact: Charlotte Amalie, the island’s capital, was originally called Taphus, from the Dutch word for “beer hall.”

Signature Souvenirs: Diamonds, crystal and perfumes.

How to Get to Town: Historic downtown Charlotte Amalie is about 1 ½ miles from the ship’s dock. Taxis are plentiful.

A custom-designed catamaran takes guests from Charlotte Amalie Harbor to the island of St. John. A brisk sail across Pillsbury Sound leads to a special anchoring destination for swimming, snorkeling, beachcombing and relaxation. Complimentary champagne and snacks are served before the return trip.

Castaway Barefoot Sail & Snorkel to Shipwreck Cove Experience the thrill of sailing the crystal clear waters of the Caribbean Sea in a 65-foot catamaran and snorkeling around world-famous Buck Island.

No matter what your skill level, you will be at ease snorkeling in these waters that feature an abundance of colorful tropical fish, brilliant corals and even a wartime shipwreck.

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Port View One of the busiest cruise destinations in the world, Charlotte Amalie is a shopper’s delight. Downtown’s main shopping streets — Waterfront Highway and Main Street — are a maze of side alleys connected by mini-malls, most notably A. H. Riise. Even closer to the docks, you will find Havensight Mall, Yacht Haven Grande and Crown Bay, where dozens of stores and boutiques feature goods of every price. Main Street’s buildings are protected as historic structures, making them a cultural delight as well.

St. Thomas’ historic attractions are well-known and much explored: Fort Christian, with its landmark clock tower, dating to 1671; the nearby Government House and Legislature Building, with its bright Caribbean-green façade; the large mahogany altar

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Steve Heap/SHutterStock.com

PORTS OF CALL St. Thomas

Charlotte Amalie at night

inside Frederick Lutheran Church. Also worth a visit is the Emancipation Garden, which commemorates the island’s end to slavery in 1848. Near the garden is Vendors Plaza, a source of African artwork, handbags and jewelry.

You can take it all in at once on the Skyride to Paradise Point, which carries passengers to the top of Flag Hill. The seven-minute ride offers a fantastic view of Charlotte Amalie and the harbor.

A similarly breathtaking vantage point is Drake’s Seat, from which the legendary English admiral Sir Francis Drake supposedly watched the Spanish Armada sail through the harbor below. Today, the view is that of sun worshippers enjoying the stunning white-sand beach on Magens Bay. — Richard Varr

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PORTS OF CALL St. Thomas

Island Highlights

by Sara Churchville

Handmade Brooms Artists make decorative brooms from date-palm and thatch-palm fronds applied to birch wood. They're used in local wedding ceremonies that follow the African custom of "jumping the broom."

The official bird of the U.S. Virgin Islands, this yellowbreasted chirper is four inches long and loves gardens.

Like a hummingbird, the bananaquit, or sugar bird, can use its small curved beak to extract nectar from certain flowers without having the bother of pollenating them.

Because of its sweet tooth, it’s called a sugar thief in some languages.

Banana Daiquiri Where else to indulge in this sweet concoction of rum, bananas, lime juice and sugar than on the island where the flavorful cocktail was invented? The tropical classic was created 60 years ago by bartender Sonny Bernier, who is now deceased but left a legacy worth toasting.

Ginger Thomas As the official flower of the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Ginger Thomas grows abundantly on St. Thomas.

Not only do the lovely yellow blooms offer up the scent of champagne, but the leaves are said to cure a host of ailments.

FROM TOP: Handmade brooms; A bananaquit resting on flowers; delicious banana daiquiri; Ginger Thomas flowers.

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PHOTOS BY: (DRINK) PINKCANDY/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; (BIRD) STUBBLEFIELD PHOTOGRAPHY /SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; (FLOWER) YURIY CHERTOK/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; (BROOM) WINAI TEPSUTTINUN/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM.

Bananaquit

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PORTS OF CALL St. Thomas

The most developed of the U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Thomas boasts the distinction of being the Caribbean’s shopping capital and busiest cruise ship port, with as many as 10 ships docking each day during the thriving tourism season.

Beyond Charlotte Amalie’s bustling streets and alluring boutiques, scenic vistas from atop the island’s peaking hills are only a quick taxi ride away.

And a closer look at the culture here reveals an intriguing past — a mix of native folklore, Spanish conquistadores and marauding pirates who brought their treasures and left behind a legacy of enchanting tales and superstitions for the generations that followed.

Beginnings Migrating Indian tribes from South America were the first settlers to see St. Thomas’ towering hills and landscapes framed by warm, aquamarine waters. They inhabited the island for 3,000 years before it was actually “discovered” by Christopher Columbus in 1493.

First spotting St. Thomas and its surrounding islands during his second voyage to the New World, Columbus named the island group Las Once Mil Virgenes, after the martyred St. Ursula and her companion virgins. The explorer and his crew, however, didn’t stay for very long. Upon dropping anchor to replenish their drinking-water supply, they were met by unfriendly Indians and instead set sail for Puerto Rico.

Danish colonization Although Spain immediately claimed the Virgin Islands, St. Thomas wasn’t quickly colonized, except by small groups of settlers. This left its shores and natural harbors unguarded, thus leading to struggles for domination among the Dutch, English and French.

It wasn’t until 1671 — nearly two centuries after Christopher Columbus first set foot here — that Danish colonization began. The Danish West India Company had sailed two ships to the island, followed by other ships over the next several years. Although illness hampered population growth, within nine years, more than 300 colonists and slaves were farming over 50 plantations.

Scenic grassy fields on the smaller neighboring islands served as pastures for goats and sheep.

With the turn of the 18th century, St. Thomas had become the base for the Caribbean’s legendary pirates, such as

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Blackbeard and Sir Francis Drake. The island was eventually declared a free port, and with plantations continuing to prosper, the slave trade flourished.

At the same time, the streets along the shoreline of what is now Charlotte Amalie had become home to taverns, which attracted many a seafarer; by the early 1700s, the population swelled to more than 3,000.

The Danish West India Company eventually established plantations on neighboring St. John in 1717, and later bought St. Croix from the French in 1733.

With a booming slave trade, tensions and uprisings in the area increased. In 1792, Denmark proclaimed it would end the slave trade on its islands — a promise that didn’t become a reality until 1848. By the mid-1800s, St. Thomas had become a refueling port for coal-fired steamships that journeyed between North and South America. But low demand for the staple sugar-beet crop thwarted the economic boom created just a few decades earlier.

Most islanders today are descendents of the African slaves who brought with them their culture — from music and crafts to language. Danish influences remain as well, as evidenced today in surnames, street names and architecture. In fact, the port city of Charlotte Amalie was named after a Danish queen.

American interest in the region The United States first realized the strategic importance of the Virgin Islands during the Civil War, when seeking to establish a naval base in the Caribbean; but no deal was struck until World War I. Fearing Germany would attempt to capture the islands and the Panama Canal, the United States bought the Virgin Islands for $25 million. After more than three centuries of Danish rule, the American flag was hoisted above St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix for the first time in 1917.

Throughout the second half of the 20th century, immigrants flooded St. Thomas and tourism helped revive the economy. Today these idyllic islands remain a U.S. territory and draw tourists and travelers from all over the world.

U.S. Virgin iSlAnDS DepArtment of toUriSm

The QuinTessenTial Caribbean isle

By Richard Varr

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PORTS OF CALL St. Thomas S P EC I A L ADV E R T I S I N G F E AT U R E

Timeless Style Master watchmaker Rolex introduces the Oyster Perpetual Datejust Rolesor, available at its St. Thomas retail partner, A.H. Riise.

Resolutely feminine in white, this is a timeless companion for women. The bezel is set with 52 brilliant-cut diamonds, and the dial has a floral motif and Arabic numerals — a dazzling yet elegant look.

For more information on this and other timepieces, visit www.rolex.com.

A.H. Riise was founded by one of St. Thomas’ pioneer families.

A St. Thomas legacy

ROLEX

LIVES ON

The Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust Rolesor

by Jonathan Siskin

Filippo Casinelli Paiewonsky’s fondest memory of his grandmother, Charlotte Paiewonsky, is her passion for family. She often led sailing jaunts around the Virgin Islands in her chartered catamaran carrying family and friends.

The family shared her delight, gathering at their 200-year-old house overlooking Blackbeard’s Harbor when her husband, Isidor Paiewonsky, reached the age of 90 in 1999.

The connection with St. Thomas and the Virgin Islands has always been strong among the Paiewonsky clan, who began making their mark when patriarch Isaac Paiewonsky purchased an apothecary on the island in 1928. The business later became A.H. Riise, which today is one of the Caribbean’s premier sources of fine watches, perfumes, skin-care products, crystal, liquor and art prints.

Isaac Paiewonsky eventually passed ownership of the original store to his son, Isidor Paiewonsky, who became a naturalized American citizen in 1917 — the same year that St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John were acquired by the U.S. government from Denmark and collectively became the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Isidor Paiewonsky was a Renaissance man whose talents

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extended far beyond the business world, to horticulture, poetry, and history. He was regarded as the most important historian of the Virgin Islands and also wrote a weekly newspaper column that appeared in the Virgin Islands Daily News. Filippo Paiewonsky notes that his grandfather’s passion for preservation was key to restoring the historic A.H. Riise buildings to feature their original brick and stonework facets.

A.H. Riise took a big step forward in the early 1950s when Charlotte Paiewonsky founded the A.H. Riise Gift Shop. She stocked the store with luxury brands such as Patek Philippe watches and Lalique and Waterford crystal, which she had acquired on her frequent travels to Europe. “The gift shop established by my grandmother eventually led to the development of A.H. Riise into the duty-free company it is today,” says Filippo Paiewonsky, who, along with his brother Sebastiano, represents the fourth generation of Paiewonsky family members to own the business.

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Steve Heap/SHutterStock.com

PoRTS oF CALL St. Thomas

The 99 Steps, framed by red flowers

Chalotte Amalie

walkabout Perhaps no other city in the Caribbean is as wellknown as Charlotte Amalie.

Thousands of cruise ship guests and other seagoing visitors have made the capital of the U.S. Virgin Islands the virtual capital of the Caribbean, at least when it comes to shopping.

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A walking tour that includes some shopping and a stop for refreshment is the ideal way to experience the city.

The best place to start is Emancipation Park.

Walking from the harbor and heading up Fort Pladsen, you will hit Emancipation Park, the site of a historic episode that took place on July 3, 1848. Governor-General Peter Von Scholten freed the slaves of the Virgin Islands 17 years before emancipation in the United States. A replica of the American Liberty Bell and a sculpture of King Christian V of Denmark are on display.

Nearby is the two-story mint-green House of Legislature of the Virgin Islands. This 118-year-old Italian Renaissance structure was once used as a barracks for Danish police based here. From 1917, when the United States acquired the Virgin Islands, to 1930, it was similarly used by the U.S. Marines. Now the outside staircase leads up to the Senate chambers.

Right across the street, you'll encounter

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The Perfect Match: Rose Gold and Morganite

14 Main Street, St. Thomas, USVI 877-77-MAKUR

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POrTS OF CALL St. Thomas

Shopping in

St. Thomas Photos by: (church) steve heaP/shutterstock.com; (boutiques) ruth Peterkin/shutterstock.com.

Here’s the ultimate insider guide to what’s hot in town.

See it? Like it? Buy it!

Day 2 Night Reve rs i b l e w h i te - di am o n d earrings

Kabana Seah o rs e p en d ant

Crown of Light C row n Blu e p e n d a nt

Mark Henry A lexan d r i te ring

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TOP: An alley off Main Street, known for excellent duty-free shopping RIGHT: The clock tower on historic Fort Christian.

the oldest building on the island, Fort Christian, a landmark dating from 1671. Named after the Danish King Christian V, the fort has served over the years as the governor’s house, a church, the police station and the local prison. Today, Fort Christian is a National Historic Site currently under renovation.

Walk up Tolbod Gade to the intersection of Norre Gade, where the busy Central Post Office stands. While waiting to purchase your stamps, peruse the pretty murals painted by Stevan Dohanos, a former Saturday Evening Post artist.

From the post office, walk east along Norre Gade and you will come upon the 18th-century Frederick Lutheran Church. The original Georgian-style structure was rebuilt in 1825 after a fire and reconstructed once again in 1870 after it was damaged in a hurricane. Today, the historic church is in active use.

Continue east along Norre Gade to Lille Taarne Gade and turn left. As you climb to Kongens Gade, you'll pass a handful of law firms before reaching Government House, the official residence and administrative offices of the island’s governor. This three-story building with wrought-iron balconies was built in 1867 for the Danish colonial council. The reception rooms on the first and second floors are open to the public. Visitors can see several small paintings by former St. Thomas resident and French Impressionist painter Camille Pissarro on display in the second-floor ballroom. As you climb the

99 Steps to the top of the hill, do not be surprised if it feels like you are tackling more — there are at least 125 steps in all, comprising one of the city’s oldest “streets.”

Atop Government Hill sits St. Thomas’ Haagensen House. The restored 1820s town house is now a museum featuring authentic West Indian period furnishings and accessories. Adjacent to the museum is a landmark building, Hotel 1829. The original town house has been extended behind to enhance this hotel, which has accommodated many of the island’s most famous guests over the years.

You’ll want to go back down the hill to Main Street for shopping. The old warehouses that once were used to store pirates’ booty today house many of Charlotte Amalie’s trendy boutiques and shopping arcades. — Lynn Seldon

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Ports of call St. Thomas

the spot

The famous seat affords a magnificent view.

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from here, you have a bird’s-eye view of where the caribbean sea meets the atlantic ocean. schools of fish may even be visible as dark formations swirling in the turquoise waters. according to legend, Drake sat on this “seat” — a bench marks the exact spot — while monitoring the movements of the spanish armada sailing through the passage below that today bears his name as well (Drake’s Passage). the notorious buccaneer also kept watch on his fleet, anchored in nearby Magens Bay. one of the greatest navigators of the 16th century, Drake gained fame and fortune for his daring voyages around the globe. a fearless sea captain who was revered as a hero by his countrymen, Drake was reviled by the spanish, who called him “El Dragón” for his frequent attacks on spanish galleons. Many brutal encounters took place in the caribbean, where Drake confronted the spanish on land and at sea — often making off with piles of loot. one of his most famous exploits took place in the Isthmus of Panama, where he landed in 1573 with 73 men under his command and proceeded to seize the spanish silver train that was laden with gold and silver from Peru. Drake eventually sailed back to England carrying over a ton of gold, which was more than enough to make every man in his company rich for life.

Drake’s epic voyages lasted several years and saw him cross vast expanses of uncharted oceans and seas. His most celebrated journey began in 1577, when he was commissioned

by Queen Elizabeth I of England to sail around the world aboard his flagship, The Golden Hind. this journey tested Drake to the limits of endurance as he weathered many vicious storms and survived a series of hard-fought battles, including raids on spanish settlements on the coast of south america for five months. Despite every imaginable hardship, he returned home triumphant in the fall of 1580, nearly three years and 36,000 miles after his journey had begun; he was the first Englishman to circumnavigate the globe. for this remarkable achievement, he was knighted by the queen the following year. Drake continued to sail far and wide for another 15 years, until his death in 1596. — Jonathan Siskin

photos by: (bench) linda brockman; (view) norm diver/shutterstock.com

A Bench marks

Drake’s Seat, a breathtaking vantage point that gets its name from the English admiral Sir Francis Drake, is situated at the highest point on St. Thomas — 1,500 feet — and overlooks more than 100 of the U.S and British Virgin Islands.

carnIval cruIsE lInEs fun ashore

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“Available at Boolchand's, your preferred Nikon dealer since 1970.”

31 Main Street, ST. THOMAS • Tel: 340-776-0794 Havensight Mall Bldg. 2, Suite C, ST. THOMAS • Tel: 340-776-0302 E-mail: cameras.stt@boolchand.com

Website: www.boolchand.com

Nikon® and D800™ are registered trademarks of Nikon Corporation. ©2013 Nikon Inc.

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PORTS Of CALL St. Thomas

Sacred

& CELEbratEd

The synagogue reopened in 2002 after a major restoration and received the 2004 National Trust for Historic Preservation Honor Award, the highest national award for preservation. The site is also a National Historic Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Opened in 1833 by Sephardic Jews on the site of an earlier synagogue dating from 1803, it is the second-oldest continuously used synagogue in the Western Hemisphere (Curaçao’s is the oldest) and the oldest synagogue in continuous use under the American flag. The Hebrew Congregation of St. Thomas was founded in 1796.

The synagogue itself conforms to Sephardic design, with seats facing inward and a floor of sand.

The four pillars that support the synagogue’s outside awning were handmade in Denmark from rounded bricks. The interior pillars symbolize the four matriarchs in Judaism. The dark mahogany benches, bimah (pulpit) and ark housing ancient Torah scrolls, as well as the brass chandeliers with Baccarat crystal hurricane shades — the central ones still lit by candles — make the interior a dramatic indoor sight. Located at 16 A&B Crystal Gade, also called Synagogue Hill by local residents, the synagogue is a steep climb up from Main Street.

ABOVE: Inside the synagogue. RIGHT: Antique lamp at entrance to synagogue.

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photos by: (lamp) steve heap/shutterstock.com; (inside synagogue) the hebrew congregation of st. thomas.

The bustling streets of Charlotte Amalie belie the quiet of the St. Thomas Synagogue. This beautiful historic house of worship, the only synagogue in St. Thomas, is still used today.

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St. John

IDREAMPHOTO/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

PORTS OF CALL St. Thomas

One of St. John's glorious beaches

TROPICAL PARADISE On a sailing trip in the early 1950s, American millionaire Laurance Rockefeller was so bewitched by the lovely, undeveloped isle of St. John that he bought thousands of acres and donated the land to the United States. Because of Rockefeller’s foresight, two thirds of St. John’s 21 square miles officially became the Virgin Islands National Park in 1956. Its tasteful, restrained development is owed to Rockefeller’s influence. The park also includes more than 5,000 acres offshore.

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Birds are abundant in and around the park; as many as 160 species have been recorded in the area. The hawksbill turtle nests on St. John’s beaches, and the green turtle inhabits the island’s waters, particularly at Francis Bay. The park is crisscrossed with clearly mapped hiking trails, some of which were old Danish roads.

Trunk Bay, named one of the world’s 10 best beaches, is famous for its underwater trail, which has markers to guide snorkelers along the reef just off the beach. — Deborah Wilson

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Some of the brands available in store...

AH Riise Mall Main Street | Havensight | Crown Bay www.dfstthomas.com | 800-524-2037

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The stunning beauty 0f Blue Diamonds will always remind you of your vacation in paradise.

E-mail: info@kaysfinejewelry.com ◆ www.kaysfinejewelry.com Friend us on Facebook: Kfj Caribbean

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ARUBA 25-A Havenstraat Oranjestad Tel: +297 588 9978

ST. KITTS Building #29 • Unit #1 Port Zante, Basseterre Tel: +1 (869) 465 8213

ST. MAARTEN DOWNTOWN 65-A Front Street Philipsburg Tel: +1 (721) 54 30356

ST. MAARTEN HARBOR VILLAGE #7 Harbor Point Village At Cruiseship Terminal Tel: + 1 (721) 54 27247

ST. THOMAS 38A Dronningens Gade St. Thomas, VI 00802

9/18/13 11:49 AM

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PORTS OF CALL St. Thomas

S P E C I A L A D V E R T I S I N G F E AT U R E

St. Thomas

Almost anything you’re looking for, you’ll find in the ports of call. Not only will the selection amaze you, but the quality of the merchandise is second to none. The stores featured on these pages carry the finest in every product category. You’ll see the famous brand names you know from around the world and many others that you’ve only heard about. Just remember: If you see something you like, buy it!

A.H. RIISE A.H. Riise is the U.S. Virgin Islands’ authorized Rolex dealer, offering the Caribbean’s largest selections of Rolex watches as well as an After Sales Service Center. Every Rolex watch sold carries the Rolex International Warranty, plus A.H. Riise offers an additional one-year warranty — ensuring the highest standards of performance throughout the lifetime of the watch.

Rolex watches can be found in a new, beautifully appointed boutique located in historic downtown Charlotte Amalie, at the A.H. Riise Mall. There is a Rolex Service Center located inside the A.H. Riise Mall at 37 Main Street. Call 340-777-6789 or visit www.ahriise.com.

CARILOHA Come feel the difference of the softest fabric in the world, Cariloha Bamboo™. Cariloha is the premier retailer of products made from bamboo — apparel, bedding, active wear, bath towels and handbags all made from irresistibly soft bamboo. When you think of bamboo, tall green shoots likely come to mind. But did you know that bamboo can actually be made into the world’s most comfortable fabric?

Cariloha Bamboo clothing is crazy soft!

It's also 3 degrees cooler than cotton and wicks moisture away from your body. Bamboo itself contains naturally occurring properties that are antibacterial and antimicrobial. It also provides full UVA/UVB protection, saves trees, regenerates naturally and is among the most eco-friendly, renewable resources on the planet. Visit any Cariloha store today to pick up a free bamboo lei and to feel the luscious softness of bamboo clothing for yourself. Cariloha — Stay Cool, Wear Bamboo. Cariloha is located in the Grand Galleria shops at the end of Main Street.

DEL SOL Get the perfect gift at Del Sol, where you’ll find clothing and accessories that change colors with

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sunlight and then return to their original colors indoors. Don’t let your vacation end without first seeing Del Sol’s worldfamous, color-changing products.

Del Sol’s popular T-shirt designs magically change color when exposed to the sun’s UV rays. Everything at Del Sol changes color when in the sunlight — hair clips, jewelry, hats, shorts, shirts, tote bags, ladies’ tees and more than 20 different shades of nail polish that change colors right on your fingers and toes. Experience Del Sol’s colorchanging eyewear, Solize™ sunglasses, which feature polarized, polycarbonate lenses, color-changing frames and, best of all, Del Sol sunglasses come with a lifetime guarantee against theft, loss and damage. Del Sol is the world’s largest color-change retailer, and its products are guaranteed to change colors for life. You can get a T-shirt anywhere, but only Del Sol shirts and products burst into rainbows of color outside in the sun. Visit any store today for a free demonstration and a free color-changing gift (no purchase necessary). Del Sol — Just Add Sun! Del Sol is located at the Grand Galleria shops at the end of Main Street.

DIAMONDS INTERNATIONAL Diamonds International, the most recommended jeweler in the Caribbean, has spent more than a quarter-century acquiring select luxury goods and jewelry for its customers. Its mission has always been to provide shoppers with fine jewels at exceptional prices.

Shoppers in the Caribbean expect the latest designer goods from around the world at values they cannot get at home. Diamonds International exceeds these expectations.

Forevermark, the diamond brand from the De Beers group of companies, is a premium diamond brand inscribed with a promise that it is beautiful, rare and responsibly sourced. The

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brand is available exclusively in the Caribbean at Diamonds International, naturally. Forevermark diamonds are the world's most carefully selected diamonds and come from sources committed to the highest standards.

Fewer than 1 percent of the world’s diamonds are destined to become Forevermark. Responsibly sourced from a small number of carefully selected mines, each Forevermark diamond is chosen for its exceptional qualities and then perfected by the world’s finest artisans using skill and artistry passed down through the generations. Bespoke patented technology inscribes each Forevermark diamond with the Forevermark icon and an individual identification number directly onto the diamond's table. While not visible to the naked eye, the Forevermark viewer magnifies the inscription to reveal the Forevermark promise — the promise that each diamond is as precious as the bond it signifies.

Diamonds International is committed to surpassing consumer expectation and delights in offering Forevermark. Experience Forevermark and other world-class brands available only at Diamonds International.

Diamonds International is located at A.H. Riise Mall on Main Street and at Havensight Mall on Norre Gade; Yacht Haven Grande, Crown Bay, Marriott Frenchman’s Reef and the Grand Galleria. Call 1-800-444-4025 or 1-340-776-5570 or shop online at www.

DiamondsInternational.com.

DUTY FREE ST. THOMAS Duty Free St. Thomas offers the world’s finest brand names in perfumes, skin care, cosmetics, liquor and tobacco. It is home to the island’s only boutiques for MAC, Chanel, Swarovski and Swatch.

Duty Free St. Thomas also exclusively offers Sisley, La Prairie, Shiseido, L’Occitane, Creed and Bond No. 9,

1. Transcend Double Halo Pendant by Hearts On Fire; Royal Caribbean, Diamonds International

Shopping guide

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URBAN MINI dIAMoNd, dIAMoNd dIAl URBANoN MININAVY dIAMoNd, dIAMoNd dIAl AllIGAToR oN NAVY AllIGAToR

ROYAL ROY AL CARIBBEAN CARIBBEAN

Main Street • Havensight Mall • Crown Bay St.Thomas, US Virgin Islands Tel: (340) 776-4110 www.royalcaribbeanvi.com Main Street • Havensight Mall • Crown

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to name a few. Duty Free St. Thomas … Island Shopping at its Finest. All purchases guaranteed. Duty Free St. Thomas is located at Main Street, Waterfront, Havensight Mall and Crown Bay. Call 347-776-2303 or visit online at www.dfstthomas.com.

GET CHARMED! CHARM FACTORY O U T L E T E x plo re the b eaut y of a unique and original selection of fashion and semiprecious jewelry, featuring the genuine Sandals For Your Neck brand of sandal pendants, charms, bracelets and earrings — hand-enameled and accented with beautiful Swarovski crystals, with 14k yellow or white gold overlay. Try on handmade bracelets and necklaces of pure silk, which can be paired with the store’s exclusive Swarovskicrystal-studded Virgin Islands bead.

Hundreds of sterling silver pendants feature island-inspired themes, such as turtles, palm trees, stingrays, starfish, mermaids and so many more.

Stop by and Get Charmed! It’s a mustfind treasure — all the bling-bling without the cha-ching! Get Charmed! is at 2329 Commandant Gade (Garden Street, up the road from the Main Street Post Office), at Crown Bay Dock and in the St. Thomas Airport Lounge.

Call 340-775-6381, e-mail Info@sandalsforyourneck.com, or follow on FaceBook at Sandals For Your Neck.

JEWELS Over the past 20 years, Jewels St. Thomas has established itself as the preeminent authorized representative and retailer of fine watches and jewelry in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Jewels has four stores on St. Thomas, with a prominent presence on Main Street in downtown Charlotte Amalie, the Havensight and Crown Bay cruise ship terminals and The Ritz-Carlton Resort & Spa. Jewels offers the most desired collections of designer watches and jewelry including Patek Philippe, Parmagiani,

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Jaeger-LeCoultre, Chopard, Breitling, TAG Heuer, Omega, David Yurman, John Hardy, Carrera y Carrera and Roberto Coin, to mention just a few.

Jewels also is home to the customdesigned David Yurman Boutique on Main Street, featuring the largest selection and latest styles of David Yurman to be found anywhere in the world.

Visiting Jewels is a must when visiting St Thomas. Be sure to ask about Jewels’ no-interest preferredfinancing offers, available on the spot for an effortless duty-free shopping experience, as well as their extended watch warranty.

KAY’S FINE JEWELRY As a familyowned business, Kay’s is proud to have instilled a strong culture of excellence in customer service and care in each and every one of jewelry and watch boutiques across the Caribbean. We also place a strong emphasis on innovation in jewelry design, producing our own unique collections encompassing the most cutting-edge trends in gemstones, and diamonds in the industry.

A purchase of a fine timepiece or a piece of jewelry is a significant event in our customers’ lives and a highlight of their vacation to the Caribbean.

We personally see to it that each of our guests is taken care of by our knowledgeable staff in a comfortable and relaxed shopping atmosphere.

In each of our boutiques across the Caribbean, we have a large selection of diamonds, colored diamonds, rubies, sapphires, tanzanite, ammolite and emeralds. We also carry many exotic gemstones, such as alexandrite, paraiba, tourmaline and imperial topaz. We have bench jewelers in each of our locations to better serve our clientele. Like a stone, but don’t like its setting? No problem! We will be able to customize each and every

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piece to your specifications.

Be sure to stop in to experience “Luxury with a Family Touch.”

LITTLE SWITZERLAND The world’s leading watch and jewelry companies have appointed Little Switzerland as their authorized and, in select destinations, exclusive, representatives in Key West and throughout the Caribbean.

Over the past 60 years, hundreds of thousands of discerning customers have placed their trust in Little Switzerland as well, allowing the store’s expert sales associates to help them select only the finest watches and jewelry.

You are invited to visit and find out why. With 30 stores throughout the Caribbean region — in St. Thomas, St. John, Tortola, St. Maarten, Aruba, Curaçao, Barbados, Nassau, Puerto Rico and Key West — Little Switzerland offers the most desired collections of designer watches and jewelry at dutyfree and tax-free values. Its portfolio includes TAG Heuer, David Yurman, Breitling, Roberto Coin, Omega, John Hardy, Movado, Chopard, Pandora, Tif fany & Co., Car tier and other top brands.

Little Switzerland also features Avance, its exclusive collection of elegantly intriguing jewelry.

Shopping at Little Switzerland is a must when visiting the Caribbean.

Be sure to ask about on-the-spot preferred credit, with no-interest options available.

MR. TABLECLOTH Nearly 40 years after opening its doors, Mr. Tablecloth is still providing customers with legendary personal service and an amazing array of tablecloths in modern designs. Don't be misled — the original Mr. Tablecloth has only one location in downtown St. Thomas. Most of the tablecloths are available in microfiber — an easy-care fabric that

2. Selleria Chronograph - Fusing Roman Design and Swiss made quality. Innovative interchangeable strap system. 3. Verona collection pendant by Marahlago; Diamonds International and Royal Caribbean. 4. Crown of Creation earrings by Crown of Light; Diamonds International, Tanzanite International and Watch & Design. 5. His and hers bamboo T-shirts; Cariloha.

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is stain-resistant and requires no ironing. For the discriminating buyer, the store also sells exquisite Irish linen and organdy patterns. Also available are the hard-to-find sizes — including tablecloths up to 252 inches long and 90 inches wide, and many patterns in squares and ovals.

Mr. Tablecloth in St. Thomas also has a large assortment of accessories for your home: runners, placemats, aprons, bed sheets and shams, to name just a few items. In the store’s clothing section, you will find beautiful hand-made infant wear and children’s clothing, day-to-night maxi dresses and super-soft pima cotton nightgowns. The store is also well known for its beautiful selection of ladies’ evening jackets, available in a variety of colors. You can find all of these items at a tremendous savings compared to stateside prices.

PANDORA An unforgettable moment is something different to every woman, but it’s always special. That’s why an unforgettable moment is a story worth sharing. At Pandora, we believe that every woman in the world has her own unique style, with her own stories to be celebrated and shared.

Pandora offers an exciting collection of jewelry with countless possibilities.

Every piece in the collection is meticulously designed and crafted using the highest-quality gold, sterling silver and gemstones. Combining centuries-old craftsmanship with modern thinking and beautiful design, Pandora offers a robust collection that is beyond compare.

Pandora Boutique has three locations: 15A Main Street, 340-7743672, pandora.stt@boolchand.com; 9002 Havensight Mall (Building 2),

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8 340 -776 -8550, pandora.hs@boolchand.com; and Boolchand’s, 31 Main Street, 340-776-0794, jewelry. stt@boolchand.com. For more information about Pandora jewelry, visit Pandora.net PeRfumANiA Perfumania is a leading specialty store that carries a wide range of brand-name and designer fragrances at prices lower than those at department stores, with over 340 locations nationwide. One of Perfumania’s Certified Fragrance Sales Specialists can show you a selection of fragrances at incredible savings! Don’t forget to ask about Manager’s Specials when you spend $50 or more. If you are looking for your signature scent, a sales specialist will help you find what you are looking for.

Visit Perfumania at 5304 Yacht Haven Grande, in front of Fat Turtle next to Aqua Beach Wear.

Call 340 -777-1116 or go online to www.perfumania.com.

PRiNCeSS WORLD JeWeLeRS The friendly and knowledgeable staff at Princess World Jewelers, a favorite shop for frequent island visitors, welcomes you with the finest personalized service in St. Thomas. A family-owned and -operated business since 1902, Princess World Jewelers shares the knowledge of diamonds, tanzanite, emeralds and all precious gemstones that ensures comfortable decision-making.

Since the introduction of tanzanite, a radiant blue-purple gemstone discovered in East Africa in 1967, Princess World Jewelers has maintained one of the largest and most impressive selections of tanzanite in the world.

This is made possible by frequent

travel to Africa and by negotiating the finest “rough” for precision stonecutting in Germany. Once the gemstones are artfully cut, they are flown directly to St. Thomas and offered both set and unset.

Harry Mirpuri promises once again this season to offer the finest quality available anywhere for the lowest direct pricing. In addition to tanzanite, the selection of unset diamonds in all sizes will impress the most experienced of diamond buyers. And if necessary, the staff will provide the time and information it takes to make you a diamond expert!

Princess World Jewelers is open seven days a week. Visit early in the day to allow time for complimentary custom fitting and design work. The store is located in the heart of St. Thomas’ famous Main Street shopping area, at 9A Main Street. You may also visit www.princessjewelers.com.

ROyAL CARibbe AN One of the foremost stores in the Virgin Islands with over 30 years in business, Royal Caribbean is known for its brandname watches and jewelry.

Royal Caribbean of fers a sup erb colle ction of Swiss hand crafted timepieces, featuring worldfamous brands such as A. Lange & Söhne, Baume & Mercier, Bell & Ross, Blancpain, Breguet, Bulgari, Cartier, Chanel, Corum, de Grisogono, Dior, Ebel, Fruitz, Glashütte Original, Gucci, Hamilton, IWC, Longines, Montblanc, Movado, Panerai, Philip Stein, Piaget, Rado, Raymond Weil, Roger Dubuis, Tissot and Vacheron Constantin. Fashion-conscious and trend-savvy shoppers can select from brands such as Casio, ESQ, Fossil, Luminox , Michele, Seiko,

9 6. Forevermark Halo Pendant. Diamonds International. 7. Sara G. Diamonds ring; Diamonds International.

8. Bulova Highbridge Collection; Colombian Emeralds International. 9. A variety of linens; Mr. Tablecloth.

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St. RoSe ARcAde • Unit #35-02 • PhiliPSbURg, St. MAARten • netheRlAndS AntilleS Phone: & FAx: 599-542 8122 • e-MAil: MikePwj@yAhoo.coM 9A MAin StReet • St. thoMAS, USvi 00802 • e-MAil: SAleS@PRinceSSjeweleRS.coM www.princessjewelers.com

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10 TechnoMarine, Toy Watches and TW Steel.

At Royal Caribbean, you will be captivated by the most exquisite collection of Hearts On Fire Diamonds.

Come in to see our rare collection of fancy yellow, pink, blue and white diamonds, the finest 14k- and 18k-gold and diamond jewelry and the largest selection of precious and semiprecious jewelry. The world-renowned Mikimoto cultured pearls are perfect for that special someone. Take home a piece of the Caribbean with Larimar jewelry by Marahlago.

Pamper yourself with Judith Ripka silver and 18k-gold jewelry and other designer brands such as Scot t Kay, Rebecca and Angélique de Paris. Also available is a wide assor tment of Car tier sunglasses and pens by A.T. Cross, Montblanc and Montegrappa.

Royal Caribbean also has the three largest camera stores in the Virgin Islands. Come and get the latest in digital and video cameras, iPods, laptops and cell phones. An authorized dealer for top brand names such as Nikon, Canon, Leica, Pentax , Olympus, Sony, Panasonic and all other major brands of cameras, binoculars and electronics, Royal Caribbean continues to offer huge savings in all categories.

Royal Caribbean’s knowledgeable staff will assist you, making your selection more enjoyable. Customers receive a free fi ve-function digital watch with a $50 purchase. In St. Thomas, Royal Caribbean is located on Main Street, at the Havensight

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13 12 14 Mall and Crown Bay Center. Open Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. In St. John, it is located at Mongoose Junction.

M O NTB L ANC BOUTIQ U E AT ROYAL CARIBBEAN In 1906, three visionar-

ies came together in Hamburg, Germany, to perfect the revolutionary invention of a fountain pen with its own ink reservoir independent of an inkwell. Their vision: handmade writing instruments, produced in accordance with the highest demands of technology, design and finish.

Today this uncompromising quality standard and traditional European craftsmanship still form the unshakable foundation of the brand. The white Montblanc star named after the highest mountain in Europe, has long adorned not only fountain pens but also elegant leather goods, precious jewelry, fine accessories and fashionable eyewear. All belong to the Montblanc lifestyle world, as do exclusive watches produced in the Swiss factory of Montblanc Montre S.A. The crowning white star stands for world-famous luxury goods representing culture and a special way of life. Montblanc products are contemporary style icons and as limited editions, coveted collectors’ pieces.

All Montblanc products are available exclusively at Royal Caribbean. e-mail: info@royalcaribbeanvi.com website: www.royalcaribbeanvi.com.

ROYAL DESTINATION This is the place in St. Thomas for unique fine jewelry, housewares and gifts with

a Caribbean flavor. Take home your own piece of the islands and escape back to paradise. You will find tasteful gifts from the islands for everyone on your list, including tableware, candles, pillows, ornaments, handbags and gifts for men and children. Royal Destination is the place for silver and “designer look” travel jewelry to commemorate your trip. The store is located at 5332 Raadets Gade; call 340-774-2110.

ROYAL JEWELERS Royal Jewelers invites you into the wonderful world of fine jewelry and the special memories that the gift of jewelry creates.

Whether it’s an engagement, an anniversary or just to say “I love you,” Royal Jewelers will help you find the perfect piece to help you celebrate.

Fo r o v e r 2 0 y e a r s , t h e o w n er of R oyal Jewelers has b e en c o m m i t te d to o f fe r i n g t h e f i n est jewelry and personal service t o e a c h c u s t o m e r. T h e R o y a l Jewelers team understands that their customers are far more valuable than the jewelry they carry.

It’s no wonder that thousands of visitors who return to St. Thomas re g ul a rly m a ke R oyal J ew e l e rs their only stop on Main Street for fine jewelry.

By combining their exp er tise in fine jewelr y with their strong commitment to excellent customer service, Royal Jewelers offers a unique sho p ping exp erience that will be remembered for years to come.

10. Rolex watch; A.H. Riise. 11. Alexandrite and diamond earrings by Mark Henry; Royal Jewelers. 12. John Hardy Naga women’s Gold and Silver dangling bracelet; Little Switzerland. 13. Sterling Silver Ivy and black sapphire domed comfort fit band ring; Diamonds International. 14. Philip Stein watch; Philip Stein Boutique, Diamonds International, Watch & Design, Royal Caribbean.

PORTS OF CALL St. Thomas

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Tanzanite

World’s finest gems, meet Sterling Silver.

Sterling Silver, meet world’s finest gems.

Larimar

Mother of Pearl

Blue Diamonds

Black Coral

Sapphires

Rainbow Sapphires

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The #1 Linen Shop in the Caribbean

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L E C B L A O T TH,IN . r

Visit the largest linen store in North America. ee! R S ust IBE HS M A ROF OT L k C MIBLECn Loo IN e TA Lin STA N NOO IRO N

Beautiful Ladies’ Day-to-Night Maxi-Dresses Assorted Pima Cotton Lace Trim Nightgowns EVENING JACKETS STARTING AT

$2995 Up to 5XL

We have a wonderful assortment of small thoughtful gifts.

Handmade Infant & Toddler Wear Placemats Runners

OUR ONLY LOCATION

5180 Dronningens Gade, Ste 1 • St. Thomas, U.S.V.I 00802 MAIL & ON-LINE ORDERS ACCEPTED (340) 774-4343 • www.mrtablecloth-vi.com

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TAMPA

The Gulf Coast city of Tampa embraces its past while welcoming modern attractions such as the city aquarium and nearby theme parks. Art galleries and gorgeous beaches also reward the visitor.

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The glittering Tampa skyline

Quick Guide Famed for: Ybor City, the historic neighborhood founded by Cuban, Italian and Spanish immigrants.

It’s a Fact: The magnificent Sunshine Skyway Bridge across Tampa Bay is 191 feet above the water.

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Signature Souvenirs: A Tampa Bay Buccaneers cap or a cigar from Ybor City.

The pier in nearby St. Petersburg

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TORTOLA

Tortola is the hub from which the British Virgin Islands radiate. But with its small bays and hidden coves — once havens for pirates — the island is still a paradise for escapists.

Quick Guide Famed for: Sailing, made more enjoyable by a coastline of bays, coves and inlets.

It’s a Fact: The island is the epicenter of the Caribbean yachting community.

Signature Souvenirs: Locally crafted pottery, and gold and silver jewelry.

FUNTREKS

TOP SHORE EXCURSIONS Here are just a few of the many tours you can experience during your visit.

See your onboard shore-excursion specialist to book today. Please ask about age requirements, physical considerations, proper dress and other details.

• Dolphin Swim Adventure • Jost Van Dyke Beach Escape & Lunch • Long Bay Beach & Lunch • Virgin Islands Sailaway

Tortola, the perfect escape.

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• Virgin Gorda & The Baths

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CANADA and NEW ENGLAND Home to charming cities and rugged coastal towns, these neighbors hold the treasures of both man and nature. Canada's special gems include Saint John in New Brunswick, and Halifax in Nova Scotia, while Yankee pride lives on in Boston and Portland.

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The Cains River flows through New Brunswick.

The Vancouver skyline

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New Brunswick

SaiNT JohN Quick Guide Famed for: The Bay of Fundy, the Reversing Rapids and whale watching.

Signature Souvenirs: Dulse, a local snack made from dried seaweed; and whale-themed crafts.

FUNTREKS

Top ShoRe exCuRSionS Here are just a few of the many tours you can experience during your visit.

See your onboard shore-excursion specialist to book today. Please ask about age requirements, physical considerations, proper dress and other details.

photos by: gary yim/shutterstock.com; gVictoria/shutterstock.com.

It’s a Fact: Saint John is the hometown of the first Miss Canada, Winnifred Blair (1923).

• Coastal Kayak & Lobster Bake • St. Martins & the Bay of Fundy • Hopewell Rocks Tidal Discovery • Top 10 Best of Saint John • St. Martins & Saint John Highlights

FROM TOP: Low tide reveals why New Brunswick’s famous Hopewell Rocks are known as “Flower Pot Rocks.”; city view of downtown area of Saint John.

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Nova Scotia

HaliFax Quick Guide

It’s a Fact: The legendary Oscar de la Renta, a native of the Dominican Republic, designed the interiors of the original Casa de Campo resort.

Signature Souvenirs: Ceramics, local crafts and hand-rolled Dominican cigars.

FUNTREKS

TOp ShORe exCuRSiOnS Here are just a few of the many tours you can experience during your visit.

See your onboard shore-excursion specialist to book today. Please ask about age requirements, physical considerations, proper dress and other details.

photos by: V. J. Matthew/shutterstock.coM; paul Mckinnon/shutterstock.coM.

Famed for: Golf, beaches and other pleasures.

• Peggy’s Cove & Double Decker City Tour • Peggy’s Cove & Titanic • Nature & Whale Watch Cruise • Top 10 Best of Halifax Tour • Lobster & Lighthouses

FROM TOP: A lighthouse guarding Peggy's Cove; tens of thousands of people visit the waterfront to partake in the Tall Ships event.

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BOSTON Famed for: stirring colonial history on the Freedom trail and peaceful moments on boston common.

It’s a Fact: the ted Williams tunnel burrows 90 feet below street level, making it the deepest tunnel in north america.

Signature Souvenirs: a red sox cap, a harvard t-shirt or anything from quincy market.

FUNTREKS

top shore excursions Here are some of the tours you can experience during your visit. See your shore-excursion specialist to book today. Please ask about age requirements, physical considerations, proper dress and other details.

• Historic Boston & Cambridge • Scenic Salem & Historic Witch Museum • Old Town Trolley Tour • Scenic Boston & Harbor Cruise

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Quick Guide

• Boston Highlights by Duck

FROM TOP: The Public Garden; sailing on the Charles River.

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pOrTlaNd Quick Guide this page: (main) col/shutterstock.com; (bottom) songquan Deng/shutterstock.com. opposite: (main) aeypix/shutterstock; (bottom) eDella/shutterstock.com.

Famed for: lobster, blueberries and gorgeous coastal scenery.

It’s a Fact: residents of the state are called mainers or sometimes Downeasters, but never mainiacs.

Signature Souvenirs: a replica of the portland head lighthouse, which was commissioned by george Washington and dedicated by the marquis de lafayette.

FUNTrEKS

top shore excursions Here are some of the tours you can experience during your visit. See your shore-excursion specialist to book today. Please ask about age requirements, physical considerations, proper dress and other details.

• Best of Portland & Kennebunkport • Kennebunkport & Scenic Cruise • Lighthouses of Maine • Mt. Washington & the Cog Railway • Portland by Land & Sea

FROM TOP: The Portland Head lighthouse; fishing boats line a dock. fun ashore carnival cruise lines

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Handcrafted quality from 100% family-grown apples

From tree to bottle, quality takes time. available in the Fun shops on select ships.

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With every Korite Ammolite purchase, receive a FREE Korite Ammolite Pendant.

Available Exclusively at: Diamonds International速

The A m m o lite Mine Ask for the Korite certificate of authenticity as a guarantee of quality and craftsmanship.

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“WELCOME TO OUR WORLD”

The seven pilots of the Breitling Jet Team belong to the international elite of aviation professionals. In performing their aerobatic figures at almost 500 mph, flying 7 feet from each other and with accelerations of up to 8Gs, errors are not an option. It is for these masters of audacity and daring exploits that Breitling develops its chronographs: sturdy, functional, ultra high-performance instruments all equipped with movements chronometer-certified by the COSC – the highest official benchmark in terms of reliability and precision. Welcome to the

CHRONOMAT 44 FLYING FISH

Breitling world.

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