2014-15 Carnival Fun Ashore Caribbean, Region 2

FUN ASHORE 2014 –15 CARIBBEAN SAILING SEASON REGION 2

FUN ASHORE GETTING THERE WITH CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES

ROCK THE BOAT

RASCAL FLATTS and the Stars of

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

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2014 -15 CARIBBE AN SAILING SE ASON

KIDS RULE THE SHIP

Tons of Fun for the Young at Heart

PARTY TIME Celebrate Like a Local

ISLAND JAMS

Music Keeps the Caribbean Grooving

GUIDE TO THE PORTS

BEACHES, CULTURE AND MORE starting on page

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Global Customer Service | Certified Appraisal | 30 Day Insurance Plan | Follow us on Facebook Member of the Dufry Group, a Swiss company established in 1865 and operating in over 60 countries | www.colombianemeralds.com

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beauty in the details.

ANTIGUA & BARBUDA • ARUBA • BAHAMAS (FREEPORT & NASSAU) • BARBADOS • CURACAO • GRAND TURK • GRENADA • JAMAICA (FALMOUTH, WHITEHOUSE, OCHO RIOS) • MEXICO (CANCUN, COZUMEL, PUERTO VALLARTA) • PROVIDENCIALES • PUERTO RICO • HONDURAS (ROATAN) SANTO DOMINGO • ST. KITTS • ST. LUCIA • ST. MAARTEN • ST. THOMAS

TAX FREE & DUTY FREE

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CONTENTS 2014–2015 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

Sharing a spa for two, spinning the best beats at sea and more from the fleet

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Kids Rule the Ship

Carnival has more options than ever before to keep kids entertained

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Rocking the Boat ALEXANDER DEMYANENKO/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Grooving on board like never before with Rascal Flatts, part of the Carnival LIVE concert series

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Party Like a Local Rejoice in the many

regional celebrations

Miami Beach.

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Fun Ashore Carnival Cruise Lines

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CONTENTS 2014–2015 Sailing Season

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Caribbean Jams

From salsa to reggae, the islands are alive with song

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Fun Finds Shopping Program

The search for savings and value begins here

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Objects of Desire

Indulge in the hottest looks from the top names in style

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Ports of Call

History, culture and attractions in the places you’ll visit on your cruise —

ANTON_IVANOV/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

including the top shore excursions

Visit the Mayan ruins of Cozumel.

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Fun Ashore Carnival Cruise Lines

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© D.YURMAN 2014

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1691 Michigan Avenue, Suite 600, Miami Beach, FL 33139 Tel: (305) 673-. 0400, Fax: (305) 674.9396 www.onboardmedia.com

Robin Rosenbaum-Andras Senior Vice President, Marketing

Carrie Julier Vice President and General Manager

Norma Vila Vice President, Finance

Vikki Knudsen Associate Vice President, Operations

Editorial & Design MaryAnna Estomba Rousseau Editor in Chief

Elizabeth Fernandez Managing Editor Virginia Gil Moghani Senior Editor

Lauramay LaChance Associate Editor

Brigid Cotter Corporate Communications Manager

Contributing Writers/Editors

John Anderson, Christine Blank, Richard Carroll, Sara Churchville, Lisa Constantino, Toni Crane, Michelle da Silva Richmond, Ginger Dingus, Joanna Hall, Brandon Hardin, Jen Karetnick, Marjorie Klein, Marty Leshner, Kelly Liszt, Linda Marx, Kate McClare, Janette McIntyre, Raymond Niedowski, Jacquelynn Powers, Patti Roth, Claudia Sánchez-Bustamante, Lynn Seldon, Jonathan Sisken, Gary Steckles, Jim Thompsom, Richard Varr, Chelle Koster Walton, Deborah Williams

Virginia C. Valls Publishing Director

Beth Wood Senior Art Director

Dayana Ramirez Associate Art Director

Christian Rosario Project Graphic Designer

Raquel Figueroa Project Graphic Designer

Jose Cuevas Graphic Designer

Gilberto D. Perez Graphic Designer

James Perdomo Production Coordinator

Gail Abrams Ad Services Director

Violeta Manco-Rojas Ad Services Manager

Cover Photography by Sheryl Nields

Advertising Sales

Tasha Riekstins Director, International Sales & Brand Marketing

Rod Musum Executive Director of Sales

Tyler Condon Sales Manager

Jeffrey Meister Sales Manager

Lèmar Scott International Sales Coordinator

Video/Film Production

Todd Hedge Executive Producer

Dan Shaw Director, Operations

Kevin Maschke Senior Editor

Juan Carlos Peña Director of Photography

Haley Struthers Production Coordinator

Dawn Minkow Assistant Editor

Alexa Caravia Videographer/Editor

Port Shopping Revenue

Victoria Rossi Senior Regional Marketing Manager

Jimmy Marks Regional Marketing Manager/Sales Manager

Robert Yonskie Regional Marketing Manager

Leanne Ronellenfitch Coordinator, Cruise Revenue

Port Shopping

Rachel Castro Director, Operations

Rina Alvarado Coordinator, Operations

Nadine Winter Manager, Customer Relations

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©2014 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 CANADA. 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.

Fun Ashore Carnival Cruise Lines

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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 out of your “Fun Ship� cruise.

Wishing you a great vacation. Bon voyage!

Gerry Cahill President and CEO Carnival Cruise Lines

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Fun Ashore Carnival Cruise Lines

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Š KABANA. All designs protected by copyright laws. All rights reserved. Reproduction/Duplication prohibited.

The RivieRa ColleCTion multicolor spiny oyster and mother of pearl, yellow gold

MADE IN U.S.A. Since 1975

DiamonDs international Caribbean & Mexican Riviera

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

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Global Customer Service | Certified Appraisal | 30 Day Insurance Plan | Follow us on Facebook Member of the Dufry Group, a Swiss company established in 1865 and operating in over 60 countries | www.colombianemeralds.com

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beauty in the details.

ANTIGUA & BARBUDA • ARUBA • BAHAMAS (FREEPORT & NASSAU) • BARBADOS • CURACAO • GRAND TURK • GRENADA • JAMAICA (FALMOUTH, WHITEHOUSE, OCHO RIOS) • MEXICO (CANCUN, COZUMEL, PUERTO VALLARTA) • PROVIDENCIALES • PUERTO RICO • HONDURAS (ROATAN) SANTO DOMINGO • ST. KITTS • ST. LUCIA • ST. MAARTEN • ST. THOMAS

TAX FREE & DUTY FREE

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Keeping Up With Carnival Cruise Lines

PHOTOS BY: (DJ IRIE) OMAR VEGA/INVISION/AP; (DJ SET) MAXIM BLINKOV/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

FUN TAKES:

DJ Irie has been spinning tunes for Carnival guests since 2011.

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PHOTOS BY: (DJ IRIE) OMAR VEGA/INVISION/AP; (DJ SET) MAXIM BLINKOV/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

DJ IRIE

SPINNING THE SOUNDTRACK OF THE CARIBBEAN

Carnival DJs learn the tricks to spinning all the best beats at DJ Irie’s Spin’iversity.

Miami-based DJ Irie is more than just the official DJ of the Miami HEAT. He is the personal spinmaster to Jamie Foxx, an event consultant, a philanthropist and the man behind the music at Carnival Cruise Lines. Named the official DJ of Carnival Cruise Lines in 2011, this St. Croix native began spinning tunes on numerous sailings while expanding Carnival’s fleetwide musical catalog. His skills proved so popular that by late 2011, Carnival launched DJ Irie’s Spin’iversity, a pioneering two-week program that instructs the line’s spinmasters on how to keeping cruisers grooving day and night.

As DJ RBK, senior instructor at Spin’iversity, tells his students, “I’ll teach you how to have the most fun possible, and be professional at the same time. We’re taking your DJ game to the next level.”

On board a Carnival ship, music matters. Through Spin’iversity, DJ Irie has emphasized the importance of having a personable, proficient and positive DJ to set the right tone and mood, no matter the occasion. As he told the website Nightclub & Bar, “I don’t have a schedule where I’m able to be on every ship, though I try to be on as much as possible. Carnival loved my spinning style, so I work very closely to train our DJs to perform at the level I approve of personally.”

DJ Irie or one of his protégés directs the musical programming shipwide, not just at the nightclubs. Spin’iversity’s philosophy is that the background music should always suit the space. On Lido deck, the DJs bring the energy during theme deck parties and sail-aways. During the day, they keep the vibe right with a wide variety of music for all, while unobtrusive ambient music at the adults-only Serenity retreat keeps cruisers relaxed and happy. The made-to-fit music is a hallmark of the DJ Irie brand, and it keeps Carnival’s DJs always on beat. — Lisa Costantino

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Fun Takes | Keeping up with Carnival Cruise Lines

The only thing better than a soothing massage is a soothing massage for two.

SPA FOR TWO Body wraps, soothing facial treatments, hot stone massages… Carnival’s spa provides the ultimate in pampering. What could be better than enjoying it together?

Share the delight with those you love most, whether it’s a manicure and pedicure with your daughter or a trip to the sauna with your best friends.

Enjoy a romantic couples massage with your sweetheart that will leave you both utterly relaxed.

If you’re planning an evening of dining and dancing instead, the salon can make you both look stunning, with options like expert hairstyling and a traditional barbershop shave.

On select ships, you can experience a luxury retreat for two by booking a spa stateroom with access to the elegant, two-deck Cloud 9 Spa. Indulge in Cloud 9’s steam rooms, thermal suites and thalassotherapy pool, while ensuring you both feel your best by taking advantage of acupuncture and water therapy treatments.

The more celebrations, the merrier on board Carnival.

During the holidays, the ships go all-out. Thanksgiving at sea includes a traditional turkey dinner with all the trimmings, without anybody worrying about who will cook or clean up. Throughout the Christmas season, expect to see decorated trees, wreaths and spectacular light displays. And during Hanukkah, participate in a traditional menorah-lighting ceremony every evening.

Catch holiday movies on Carnival’s Seaside Theatre’s huge outdoor screen, enjoying tropical breezes that make winter frost seem like a distant memory.

Personal celebrations are extra special on board Carnival, too. For birthdays, honeymoons and anniversaries, options range from booking a lounge for a custom celebration to arranging for stateroom decorations and special treats. And what’s a celebration without cake and champagne? Don’t worry. Carnival has plenty of both.

There’s always a reason to celebrate on a Carnival ship.

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PHOTOS BY: (SPA) WAVEBREAKMEDIA/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; (CELEBRATION) PRESSMASTER/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

SO MUCH TO CELEBRATE

Fun Ashore Carnival Cruise Lines

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Let Us Tell Your Story

Sterling silver charms from $25

Introducing the new 2014 Winter Collection from PANDORA

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

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Fun Takes | Keeping up with Carnival Cruise Lines

It’s always a pleasure to wake up to breakfast in bed.

ROMANCE AT SEA

There are countless ways to fill your days and nights with romance on a Carnival cruise.

Think of your time at sea as one long date.

Start your mornings right with breakfast in bed.

With 24-hour room service, sleep in as long as you’d like and enjoy a romantic breakfast for two whenever you’re ready in the comfort of your stateroom.

Next, head to Serenity, an adults-only retreat where you can spend your afternoon in one of the shaded clamshell loungers, enjoying the soothing sea breezes and relaxing music. Slip into one of the whirlpools and order a refreshing cocktail from the attentive staff always eager to make your stay unforgettable.

When it’s time for dinner, the more intimate, the better. Book a spot at The Chef’s Table for a cozy, multicourse meal limited to just 12 guests that takes place in unexpected settings like the library or the galley. Or enjoy a romantic dinner for two at the elegant

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Steakhouse, feasting on mouthwatering cuts of beef cooked to your exact specifications. Afterward, head to the Piano Bar, grab a drink and sing along as the piano player performs your favorite songs.

If you’ve gone past the dating stage and you’re ready to take the next step, there’s no more memorable place to propose than on a cruise ship. The jewelry experts at The Fun Shops can help select the perfect ring to win your honey’s heart. Then, for dinner, ask the maître d’ to help arrange a special surprise dessert — a covered dish containing the ring. Or do something truly different at SuperStar Live Karaoke and propose onstage while the band plays your song. With all the love on board, your next voyage together might just be your wedding cruise. And Carnival has everything you need to plan the perfect nuptials, too!

Fun Ashore Carnival Cruise Lines

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Fun Takes | Keeping up with Carnival Cruise Lines

THE CURE FOR WHAT AILS YOU Looking for the right prescription for a night of fun? Let the inventive mixologists at the vintage-pharmacy-themed Alchemy Bar prescribe the ideal remedy. Distinctive, tantalizing ingredients like lavender syrup and butterscotch are blended to create uncommon, yet tasty, concoctions. Learn to make your own heady potions by enrolling in a cocktail class conducted by an onboard expert and earn a certificate once you’ve finished sampling your potent brews. — Janette McIntyre

SPICY CHIPOTLE PINEAPPLE MARTINI Ingredients • • • • •

2 ounces Skyy vodka 1 ounce Monin chipotle pineapple syrup 1 ounce pineapple juice ½ ounce simple syrup 6 – 8 mint leaves

GLENN PRICE/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Step by Step Add all ingredients in a shaker with ice.

Shake vigorously and double strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with mint.

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Fun Ashore Carnival Cruise Lines

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EXPLORE A TROPICAL PARADISE

12-2 Front Street Philipsburg, St. Maarten Across Pasangrahan hotel 1.721.542.1109 pandora.sxm@boolchand.com 9002 • Havensight Mall • Bldg 2 St. Thomas • VI 00802 340.776.8550 pandora.hs@boolchand.com

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Kids 2 to 11 will find plenty to do at the new Camp Ocean.

KIDS RULE THE SHIP

By Patti Roth

From wild waterslides to the latest video games, the Fun Ships are packed with excitement for all ages. Carnival has recently rolled out plenty of imaginative features to redefine the way kids big and small spend their time at sea.

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Kids, and the young at heart, will love seeing Dr. Seuss’s timeless characters come to life.

WHERE THE OCEAN IS THEIR PLAYGROUND

While the beloved Camp Carnival will remain an option on most ships until the end of 2016, the new Camp Ocean will offer dozens of new activities. The 2- to 5-year-olds, aka Penguins, play creative ocean-themed games like musical icebergs and ocean bingo. While the 6- to 8-year-old Stingrays and the 9- to 11-year-old Sharks can stay busy with video games, keep active with sea-themed relay races and other team games or even make sea salt art and design their own aquarium at the way cool Pirate Game Nights. Kids under 12 can stay up late at Camp Ocean, with Night Owls babysitting offered until 1 a.m., leaving parents free to dine, dance and play their evening away.

Featuring a bright blue décor and sea-inspired murals, playrooms are designed to capture the beauty of marine life and the wonders of the sea. “Talking to our kids, talking to the parents, that’s how we came to this Camp Ocean theming — really listening to our guests,” said Mark Tamis, senior vice president of guest operations. “The idea of embracing the oceans of the world that we sail was obvious and came back to us very loudly and very clearly from all of our guests and our kids. It’s fun and engaging.”

WHIMSICAL WAYS TO LAUGH AND PLAY

Parents, flashback to your younger years and let the nostalgia flow, because Dr. Seuss is jumping on board with Carnival’s Seuss at Sea program.

On select ships, the recently launched program, an exclusive agreement with Dr. Seuss Enterprises, immerses children and their families in the whimsical world of Dr. Seuss. The playful festivities include the Green Eggs and Ham Breakfast with The Cat in The Hat and Friends, where guests can order actual green eggs and ham, Moose Juice and Goose Juice, colorful pancake stacks and more.

Don’t be surprised if the beloved Dr. Seuss characters wander over to the table to pose for pictures and sign autographs during what’s sure to be an unforgettable breakfast.

The Cat and some of his pals, including Thing One and Thing Two, also take part in the popular Seuss-a-palooza Parade, which attracts hundreds of guests and flows along the promenade into the theater for Seuss-a-palooza Story Time. Youngsters gather at a Dr. Seuss-themed tent for a front-row seat to hear the beloved rhyming tales. “The parents act out parts and the kids act out parts, so it literally comes to life,” said Tamis.

Seuss at SeaTM & ©DSE Fun Ashore Carnival Cruise Lines

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Fun Ashore | Kids Rule The Ship

Club O2 caters to older teens with parties, dance competitions and DJ contests.

TEENAGE PARADISE

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While the children play, tweens and teens can

brings late-night movies and dancing supervised

experience the ultimate hangout venues designed

by the staff.

strictly with them in mind. Circle “C,” for 12- to

Older teens will love the sleek, high-tech décor

14-year-olds, and Club O2, for 15- to 17-year-olds,

of Club O2. Teens start their voyage right with a

are designed as hip spaces where they can mingle

Welcome Aboard party and receive exclusive Club

with other teens on board, play games, take part

O2 gifts. They can hang out at Club O2’s legendary

in age-appropriate scavenger hunts, join a round

parties, offering the latest music, while the dance

of dodgeball and participate in teens-only dance

floor gives teens plenty of space to show off their

parties and karaoke jam sessions.

moves at dance competitions. On select ships, they

Younger teens will love the fun and upbeat

can even sign up for classes at Spin U and learn how

atmosphere at Circle “C,” with flat-screen TVs

to scratch and mix beats just like DJ Irie, official DJ

showing their favorite movies and music videos and

of Carnival Cruise Lines. Some ships also feature

gaming stations featuring the latest video games.

a touchscreen jukebox sound system that blasts

During the day, they can burn some energy with a

their favorite tunes and a photo booth to take those

game of basketball or dodgeball, while nighttime

popular selfies with all their new friends.

Fun Ashore Carnival Cruise Lines

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Fun Ashore | Kids Rule The Ship

The whole family can splash the day away at WaterWorks.

WHAT’S YOUR ADVENTURE STORY? For the young and the young at heart who prefer daredevil thrills, the new SkyCourse is a must-try. This top-deck feature, available on select ships, gives Carnival guests a bird’s eye view of what’s going on below. Slip into a safety harness and traverse an adventurous aerial course that includes rope bridges and suspended beams with views of 150 feet to the sea below.

For a splashing good time, WaterWorks, poised on the top deck of select ships, attracts action-loving folks of all ages with a variety of different waterslides for every level of adventure. Despite all the high thrills, pint-sized participants always seem to make a beeline for interactive, spritzing water toys. Be sure to glance up if the ship offers the aptly named PowerDrencher, an oversized bucket of water that is continually refilled before raining down on anyone who happens to be standing below. Bonus: This isn’t just for kids.

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Experiencing the thrilling SkyCourse is not for the faint of heart.

Fun Ashore Carnival Cruise Lines

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MAKERS OF THE ORIGINAL SWISS ARMY KNIFE I WWW.SWISSARMY.COM

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FAMILY FUN FOR

EVERYONE

Carnival has always been dedicated to bringing on the fun at sea, ensuring that, at the end of the day, kids and parents alike have exciting stories to share. “Youth programs are something we do very well,” said Tamis. “Bringing families together, as you can see, is a big theme for us.”

WHAT’S A PARENT TO DO WITH ALL THAT FREE TIME? With the kids happily busy, all you moms and dads will be eager to enjoy some precious free time to yourselves.

LAUGH TOGETHER

Take in a show. There’s lively musical revues in the main theater, including the spicy rhythms of Latin Nights and the swinging sounds of the UK in The Brits! The adults-only performances in The Punchliner Comedy Club will have you laughing along to hilarious comedians, some of whom may have been personally recruited by Carnival’s very own “curator of comedy,” funny man George Lopez.

DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT

Routines are fine for back home, but you’re on vacation. Do something different. If your usual workout is yoga, go for a run with a seaside view on the jogging track, or schedule a training session with one of Carnival’s fitness experts.

PLAY YOUR OWN GAME

If poker is your game, swing by the casino and try your luck on the blackjack table, or give the roulette wheel a go for that true Vegas feel.

MAKE MUSIC TOGETHER

Strut into the Piano Bar, pull up a seat and join the sing-along. And if you’re feeling bold, grab the mic at karaoke and belt out one of your favorite tunes.

ENJOY SOME QUIET TIME

Relish these moments alone. Select a book from the library and read the whole thing. The perfect venue for reading, or simply relaxing in the sun, is Serenity, an adults-only outdoor lounge with plush seating, shady umbrellas, whirlpools, bar service and soothing music. Go ahead and take a nap. The kids are too busy to interrupt you.

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Carnival LIVE | Rocking the Boat

THE BOAT

By Jacquelynn D. Powers

PHOTO COURTESY OF RASCAL FLATTS

Carnival LIVE brings the hottest names in country, rock and pop on board for a series of exclusive live performances.

Rascal Flatts is one of the many acts rocking the boat as part of Carnival LIVE.

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Imagine you’re on board your cruise ship, rocking to the melodic music of Jennifer Hudson or Lady Antebellum. Except this is no DJ or prerecorded track. Your favorite singer is crooning live. Thanks to the Carnival LIVE Concert Series, many of your favorite recording artists are bringing their award-winning sound aboard Carnival ships for exclusive performances.

BELTING OUT THE HITS Carnival Live kicked off January 2014 with a soulful bang: a three-song set by Grammy® Award winner Jennifer Hudson. “Performing live is one of my favorite things,” said Hudson during a special media event in New York City in support of Carnival LIVE’s exceptional onboard offering for music fans. “I’m excited to be part of this unique concert series that will allow me to interact with my fans in such an intimate and memorable setting.”

Audiences on board share the R&B singer’s sentiment, showing up in throngs to watch Hudson perform during several highly anticipated, nighttime concerts on board Carnival Breeze and Carnival Ecstasy.

A SHOW LIKE NO OTHER

PHOTO COURTESY OF RASCAL FLATTS

More than just a normal concert, Carnival LIVE takes place in venues so cozy and intimate it’s as though the artists are singing just for you. On average, the ship’s lounges top out at 900 people. Plus, there are no hassles associated with stadium shows. Parking, traffic, long lines? Forget about it! Instead, Carnival guests simply walk from their stateroom to the lounge for a so-closeyou-can-almost-touch-them show.

For an even more VIP experience, a limited-edition package is available for Carnival guests (for an extra fee).

Truly immerse yourself in the musical world with an artist meet-and-greet and complimentary photo and photo op, seating in the first three rows and a commemorative, laminated concert pass. It’s an interactive, unique and highly personalized encounter for true music lovers.

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Carnival LIVE | Rocking the Boat

MUSIC for Everyone Fans of all genres have been getting their dose of music on the high seas since April 2014, when Carnival LIVE launched aboard Carnival Fantasy with sold-out performances by world-famous band Styx — singing hits like “Lady,” “Too Much Time on My Hands” and, most appropriately, “Come Sail Away.” Tommy Shaw, the act’s longtime guitarist, noted: “All I know is our boats were rockin’. We had a great time and it looked like our fans loved it, too.”

The inaugural year has featured plenty of Seventies and Eighties sing-along favorites, including Chicago, Foreigner, 38 Special, REO Speedwagon and Kansas.

If singer-songwriters are more your thing, noteworthy performers such as Olivia Newton-John, Gavin DeGraw and Jewel have also belted out their top hits on the high seas. While country music fans jammed to performances by chart-busters Lady Antebellum, LeAnn Rimes, Martina McBride and Trace Adkins.

Itineraries available for future musical adventures include Cozumel, Mexico; Nassau, Bahamas; and Catalina Island, California. These heavy-hitting headliners join the ship while in port, perform in the main show lounge that night and disembark following the concert.

But the musical fun doesn’t end there. Even after Jewel, Chicago or your other favorite Carnival LIVE artist debarks, there will be plenty of opportunities to rock out. Carnival’s dedication to providing the best music at sea is present everywhere — from shipboard house bands boosted by elaborate choreography and diverse set lists to theme-specific costumes and increased audience interaction. So you can enjoy the contagious energy of live music every night of your cruise.

Tickets for the Carnival LIVE Concert Series can be purchased through Carnival’s online shore excursion system before sailing or on board (subject to availability).

FROM TOP: Martina McBride; REO Speedwagon; Chicago.

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Carnival LIVE | Rocking the Boat

SPOTLIGHT

Making Waves With

RASCAL FLATTS Country music fans rejoice! This year, powerhouse act Rascal Flatts takes to the high seas as a part of the Carnival LIVE Concert Series, performing such chart-topping hits as “These Days,” “Bless the Broken Road,” “What Hurts The Most” and “My Wish.” “We’re delighted to be part of the Carnival LIVE Concert Series and connecting with our fans aboard these awesome ships,” said Gary LeVox, lead singer of Rascal Flatts, on announcing that the band was joining Carnival LIVE.

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PHOTO COURTESY OF RASCAL FLATTS

By Jacquelynn D. Powers

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PHOTO COURTESY OF RASCAL FLATTS

Carnival LIVE | Rocking the Boat

Since debuting in 2000, Rascal Flatts has been one of the most prolific country music acts in America, selling more than 22 million records and producing 15 No. 1 hits. Their music has been widely acclaimed and has garnered the trio numerous Country Music Television Awards and People’s Choice Awards, as well as a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame — a long way from where the trio first started in Nashville, the home of country music.

LeVox and bass guitarist Jay DeMarcus grew up as second cousins in Columbus, Ohio, while third member, guitarist Joe Don Rooney, was raised in Oklahoma. The three met during a jam session in Printer’s Alley and immediately hit it off — spawning the musical sensation critics and fans have come to know and love.

And just like their backgrounds vary, so does Rascal Flatts’ music. Though firmly country, the band veers into the world of pop as well, creating a modern sound that is beloved by fans of all genres.

Rewind, the band’s most recent offering (and ninth studio album), is a testament to their musical diversity. Produced by Howard Benson, known for working with pop and alt-rock stars such as Kelly Clarkson, My Chemical Romance and Daughtry — another Carnival LIVE alum — Rewind is packed with the contagious up-tempo tracks and melancholy ballads signature to the group’s unique blend of country pop and country rock.

With sold-out stadium tours all over the country accommodating upwards of 60,000 spectators — including a special concert during the Super Bowl festivities in 2013 — Rascal Flatts is one of the most successful touring bands. And Carnival guests have the chance to experience Rascal Flatts up close and personal like never before.

Joining Rascal Flatts for the first half of the 2015 Carnival LIVE concert series are Journey, Little Big Town, Smokey Robinson and returning fan favorite Styx.

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PARTY LIKE A LOCAL

By Lisa Costantino

Carnival All Year Long There’s no party like Carnival. Originally, Carnival was a pre-Lent extravaganza derived from 18th-century celebrations by slaves and laborers that paralleled the masked balls of plantation owners and other members of high society. Over time, the two events crossed class lines to meld into islandwide bashes enjoyed by all. Each Caribbean island holds its own distinctive Carnival celebration at different times of the year, with tens of thousands of revelers flocking to the streets for parades and street parties. Whether it’s the Cayman Islands Carnival Batabano in May, the Antigua Carnival in August, or one of the many celebrations taking place on Ash Wednesday, the sheer quantity of Carnival celebrations makes it easy for travelers to join in the fun.

While each island adds its own flavor to the celebrations, throughout the Caribbean, Carnival celebrators enjoy parades of wildly costumed masqueraders, street parties and masked balls, all with a general sense of good-natured bacchanalia. Most also include naming a king and queen, costume competitions, the paint-splashing tradition of J’ouvert and music contests.

Of the Caribbean’s three largest Carnival-style celebrations, the Bridgetown, Barbados, Crop Over Festival is one of the longest, lasting a good two months, from June until the first Monday in August.

This colorful event evolved from a dance to mark the sugarcane harvest to a festive celebration of calypso music. Calypso groups compete in “tents,” a term that once referred to actual tents but now means any venue, vying for the Pic-Of-De-Crop award. Street fairs and art exhibitions provide cultural insight, and Kadooment bands parade in elaborate costumes.

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Dancers parade through the streets in traditional multicolored Carnival costumes.

PHOTOS BY: (DANCERS AT CARNIVAL) MSTYSLAV CHERNOV/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; (DRUMS) EASYSHUTTER/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; (COLORFUL DANCERS) ANDREY GONTAREV/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; (STEEL DRUM) KATIE SMITH PHOTOGRAPHY/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

The islands of the Caribbean may have distinct cultures, but if there’s one thing that unifies them, it’s a party. The spirit of celebration is deep-rooted here, and revelry is never hard to find.

Fun Ashore Carnival Cruise Lines

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PHOTOS BY: (DANCERS AT CARNIVAL) MSTYSLAV CHERNOV/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; (DRUMS) EASYSHUTTER/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; (COLORFUL DANCERS) ANDREY GONTAREV/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; (STEEL DRUM) KATIE SMITH PHOTOGRAPHY/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Music, dancing and revelry abound during Carnival celebrations.

Have a Blast on the Beach and on the Water With all those sandy shorelines, there’s sure to be a beach party somewhere.

There are festivities for those who love to sail as well as for those who enjoy the view from the shore, preferably while dipping their toes in the water.

Many island communities throw regular seaside parties, like the Jump Up family-oriented block party and parade in St. Croix to celebrate Caribbean culture and cuisine, held four times a year along the Christiansted boardwalk.

Early in the year, regattas ply the crystal waters off Barbados (mid-January), Grenada (early February), St. Maarten (midMarch) and more. However, none have the prestige of Antigua Sailing Week. Since 1967, the Caribbean’s longest-running regatta has attracted sailors with its steady trade winds and variety of courses (determined by yacht class) that run the length of Antigua’s southern side. Spectators can choose to watch from many shoreside vantage points. If you simply must get as close to the races as possible, spectator boats follow all the action. Beach barbecues and steel-drum bands are part of the festivities, and the week culminates in an awards ceremony at Nelson’s Dockyard.

Sailboats aren’t the only way to ride the wind. Aruba’s HiWinds Tournament lures professional and amateur windsurfers and kiteboarders alike to Malmok Beach for a week of wind-driven competition. Kids races, beachside feasts, parties and live music mean you don’t have to be on the water to join in the fun.

So Many Celebrations There are plenty of ways to party. If swashbuckling is more your style, well then, matey, turn yer sails toward the Cayman Islands. For 10 days in November, the streets run wild, not with blood and booty, but with music, dancing, fireworks and a motley crew of costumed pirate partygoers.

Pirates Week begins with two buccaneer-filled vessels staging a mock-invasion of George Town harbor and ends with a float parade. In between are enough competitions and pirate-themed frivolity to fill any treasure chest.

If your itinerary lands you in the Bahamas over the Christmas holidays, you’ll be just in time for Junkanoo, a joyous affair that originated in the 17th century, when slaves celebrated their time off for Christmas by donning masks and dancing in the streets.

Now, thousands celebrate by performing energetic dance routines in spectacular crepe paper costumes to the sounds of

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Fun Ashore | Party Like a Local

goombay drums, horns, whistles and cowbells. The party parade begins with the pre-dawn Rush-Out, when participants rush out into the streets, and continues throughout the day with food, family fun and plenty of music.

While many festivals celebrate homegrown musical genres — Jamaica’s Reggae Sumfest and Dominica’s World Creole Music Festival, for example — others also highlight a broader range of artistic expression. Catch spoken word and improv artists every last Thursday of the month in St. Lucia’s Saamans Park. Or stop by the St. Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival from April through May, where concert venues across the island share space with performance poets, dance groups, local theater troupes and a fashion extravaganza called St. Lucia HOT Couture.

For foodies, a November port stop in Barbados would be ideal, hopefully in time for the annual Food & Wine and Rum Festival — four days of cooking demos and fine dining courtesy of local and international chefs.

With so many islands and so many celebrations, there’s always something going on somewhere in the Caribbean.

If your itinerary doesn’t coincide with these celebrations, rest assured that it will still feel like a party in port. Of course, if you simply refuse to miss another festival, keep the party calendar in mind and start planning your next Caribbean cruise.

Top 10 WAYS TO PARTY Junkanoo Nassau, Bahamas: December 26 and January 1 Antigua Sailing Week English Harbour, Antigua: Last week of April Jazz & Arts Festival St. Lucia: First two weeks in May Carnival Batabano Grand Cayman: Early May Crop Over Festival Bridgetown, Barbados: Early June to early August

Reggae Sumfest Montego Bay, Jamaica: Mid-July Antigua Carnival St. John’s, Antigua: Last week of July to first week of August Pirates Week George Town, Grand Cayman: Early November Barbados Food & Wine and Rum Festival Bridgetown, Barbados: Late November 52

(DANCER) KENDRA NIELSEN/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Hi-Winds Tournament Malmok, Aruba: Early July

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Fun Ashore | Caribbean Jams

CARIBBEAN JAMS

By Lisa Costantino

FOLK ROOTS

The colorful medley of Caribbean islands has produced an ample variety of musical styles. From early traditional rhythms to recent hits that have topped the global music charts, Caribbean beats fuel celebrations around the world.

DAY-O FUN

Harry Belafonte, widely recognized as the “King of Calypso,” first performed the Jamaican folk song “Day-O” on the Colgate Comedy Hour in 1955. This instant smash hit reached No. 5 on the Billboard charts. Lil Wayne has sampled the song, and the classic comedy Beetlejuice features “Day-O” during a memorable dinner scene with a young Winona Ryder.

Early Caribbean folk music has had a tremendous global influence.

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PHOTOS BY: (FOLK DANCERS) ANDREW PARK/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; (CONCERT) WASSILIY-ARCHITECT/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; (SALSA DANCERS) MIHAI BLANARU/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

The steel drums and cheerful tempo of calypso music are part of any tropical vacation, but where did that distinct sound so associated with sun, sand and Caribbean cruising come from? Its origins reach back to early forms of Caribbean folk music and customs traceable to the slave trade. The traditionally upbeat music was first sung in French patois, masking the sly political humor and social commentary of the lyrics. Its heritage is similar to American blues but with a danceable beat.

Probably one of the most well-known calypso songs is Harry Belafonte’s “The Banana Boat Song.” Who hasn’t sung “Day-O”?

There’s no need to island hop to enjoy the Afro-Caribbean sound of calypso — the Trinidadian art form has spread across the Caribbean and often provides the soundtrack to Carnival parades and revelry.

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(SALSA DANCERS) MIHAI BLANARU/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

JAMAICAN JAMS

Jamaica’s rich musical heritage includes many musical forms that influence popular artists all over the world. Soca, which melds calypso with American-style soul and funk, has also become popular at Carnival celebrations and jazz festivals.

The widespread flavors of soca all share heavy percussion that defies listeners not to dance — the wildly popular dance song “Hot Hot Hot” is soca-born and bred.

Mento shares calypso’s sly commentary but has a lighter beat and is often referred to as the granddaddy of both ska and reggae. Ska’s influence can be heard on albums like Gwen Stefani’s No Doubt and has even been mixed with punk rock by bands such as The Mighty Mighty Bosstones.

Reggae is probably Jamaica’s greatest and longest-lasting hit. When Bob Marley infused the genre with the soulful essence of his Rastafarian beliefs, the world pricked up its ears and listened — not only to Marley and the Wailers, but also to Peter Tosh, Jimmy Cliff, Burning Spear and contemporary practitioners of Rasta culture and reggae beats such as Marley’s youngest son, Damian Marley.

While reggae can be heard at any Jamaican festival, club or beach party, it’s also easy to find on other islands. Barbados hosts a reggae festival every April, while Anguilla’s March Moonsplash celebrates both vintage reggae styles and newer ones such as dance hall and reggae fusion.

SALSA FEVER

With deep roots in Cuban and Puerto Rican dance hall traditions, salsa instantly brings to mind Latin culture, dance and romance. However, the term salsa only came to be used to refer to the blend of Latin melodies, African rhythms and North American jazz in New York City during the 1970s.

By then, the Big Apple had become a hotbed of Latin music and dance, with its diverse blend of cultures attracting talent from across the world, including salsa pioneers like Celia Cruz.

Salsa quickly found its way back home, gaining widespread popularity throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, with footholds in Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and Mexico.

Puerto Rico’s passion for salsa has only gotten hotter, and salsa dancing is a popular pastime. Dance classes in San Juan give everyone a chance to get swept up in the Caribbean rhythms.

FROM TOP: Caribbean music festivals are popular with visitors and locals alike; salsa and romance go hand in hand.

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2) Take the safari-bus taxi at the end of the pier. They will drop you downtown to the location marked on the inside of your map. Walk to the post office located on Main St. to start your shopping day.

3) Shops are surrounded by historic buildings and sights. Bring your camera!

CARILOHA

1a 1b 1c 1d

Bomberg | DI / DI Watch Bulova | DI / DI Watch &

WH AT TO SE E AN D DO DO WN TO WN

4) For U.S. guests, don't forget

Longines | DI Watch & Design

bod

GUARANTEE

(DI)

Bolongo Beach Buck Island

/ DI

Lagos | Little Switzerland

Blue Heaven | DI / DI Watch & Design / DI Collection

Havensight Water Island

This 60-day guarantee negligence, and lost or assures buyers that the stores listed on this excluding watches and stolen merchandise are excluded from this map stand behind the quality of their merchan and will be repaired or some other branded merchandise. Watchesguarantee. Participating stores will repair or dise. Buyer’s remorse, buyer’s For tracking purposes, replaced by the brand service centers. When and some other branded merchandise carryreplace any unsatisfactory item, international brand warrante that do not participate all merchandise shipments must be authorizeunsatisfactory items cannot be repaired or replaced es in the program, offer , a refund will be offered. purchase. their own guarantees. d by the store or brand service center. Many stores in Please inquire about individua l store return policies port, including stores For purposes of determin before finalizing any ing quality and value of jewelry and branded merchan Only appraisals stating dise: retail replacem ent value for insuranc recognized gemological e purpose on retail prices offered laboratory such as: EGL (USA) or IGI. Valuation s will be accepted. The appraisal must by authorized brand retailers, come from an internatio comparisons of watches clearance sales by authorize nally d brand retailers cannot and the brand names must be mentioned in and other branded merchandise must be based of the sales transaction, the appraisal. Internet be accepted for valuation i.e. written or imprinted pricing offers claims. Claims are based receipts, appraisals, and/or on documentation received and special To initiate a claim: certificates. at the time If a problem arises during this cruise regarding a onboard for immediate purchase from a store listed on this map, please contact onboardmedia.com or assistance. If a problem arises within 60 days your contact the Customer 33139. Toll Free: 800-396 Relations Department of the purchase date, file a claim online at Fun Finds Shopping Expert our website: customerservice.

Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to -2999 Phone: 305-673-0400 Fax: 305-673 at Onboard Media: 1691 Michigan Avenue, 6:00 p.m. Friday 9:00 a.m.

-2741 E-mail: shopping Suite 600, Miami Beach, .issues@onboardmedia.co to 5:30 p.m.

Program Operator: m Hours (EST): MondayFL – The port shopping program is operated by Onboard All merchants participa Media, which stands ting in this program have behind all custome promotional fee to the cruise line. Neither Onboardpaid a fee to be included in the shoppingr relations claims relating to the buyer’s guarante program Media nor the cruise line e. owns any of the retailers . Onboard Media pays a publishing and participa ting in this program.

05/8/14 10/2/14

consumers factory, then directly to cut in their Namibia, Africa Ivanka Trump, Di Light, Safi Kilima, Gift Collection, , Konstantino, Crown of • Brands: Forevermark Gucci Kabana, Philip Stein, Bulova, Modolo, Movado, Hamilton, brighter diamond bigger, a for diamond your Trade in • Lifetime Diamond Upgrades: staff and master jewelers on gemologists Graduate • Certified GIA/EGL Appraisals: diamond, choose the mounting of Jewelry: Select your • Design Your Dream Piece

Ferry To St. John

Crown Bay

Korite | DI / Ammolite Gallery

Alex And Ani | Kay's Fine Jewelry / Little Switzerland

Coki Point Coral World

Charlotte Amalie

Buyer’s Free 60-Day

DIAMONDS INTERNATIONAL

Magens Bay

Botany Bay

Garde

Gosmile Tooth Whiten ing Manicures and Pedicu res Signature Spa Facials Deep Tissue Massages Detoxification Progra ms

Bring your Fun Finds Map into port. Tuck it into your purse or pocket and put the port at your fingertips.

SHOPPING CHECKLIST

S ONBOARD

Our onboard spa offers world-class beauty and massage treatme nts Choose among:

FUN DAY IN PORT

offers and special clearance sales by authorized brand valuation claims. Claims retailers cannot be accepted are based on documentat for ion received at the time transaction, i.e, written of or imprinted receipts, appraisals, and/or certificates. the sales To initiate a claim: a store listed on this map, please contact your Princess immediate assistance.

Shopping Host onboard If a problem arises within for 60 days of the purchase a claim online at our website: date, file customerservice.onboa Customer Relations Department rdmedia.com or contact the at Onboard Media: 1691 Miami Beach, FL 33139.

Michigan Avenue, Suite Phone: 305-673-0400 600, Toll Free: 800-396-29 Fax: 305-673-2741; E-mail: 99 shopping.issues@onbo ardmedia.com; Hours Monday – Thursday, 9:00 (EST): a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Program Operator: stands behind all customer relations claims relating All merchants participating to the buyer’s guarantee. in this program have paid a fee to be included in the

Tol

TrEaT yOurSElf ThiS cruiSE

Chains $1 per inchGuarantee Penda FIND Snts IN& Charms $9.99 each Buy 1 Chain, Buy 2 50% (equal or lesser value) Off

ST. THOMAS

FREE

a battery. Technology of Eco-Drive is designed to provide the wearer a lifetime of use while having minimal impact on the environ ment.

INV ICTA WATCHES AT THE FUN SHOP

OnbOard Spa ExpEriEncE

Port Shopping Buyer’s

This 60-day guarantee assures the quality of their merchandis buyers that the stores listed on this map stand behind e. Buyer’s remorse, buyer’s stolen merchandise negligence, and lost are excluded or repair or replace any unsatisfacto from this guarantee. Participating stores will ry item, excluding watches merchandise. Watches and some other branded and some other branded merchandise carry internationa brand warrantees and will be repaired or nd l replaced by the brand unsatisfactory items cannot service centers. When be repaired or replaced, tracking purposes, all a refund will be offered. merchandise shipments For must brand service center.

Many stores in port, including be authorized by the store or program, offer their own stores that do not participate guarantees. Please inquire in the before finalizing any purchase. about individual store return policies For purposes of determining merchandise: only appraisals quality and value of jewelry and branded stating replacement value for insurance purposes will

Alley

LS!

FUN FUN FINDS FINDS

Links of Luxury

Govt Hill

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CAN BALCIOGLU/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Your Fun Finds Map is available from your Fun Finds Shopping Expert at any of their live events or scheduled desk hours. Check your Fun Times for more information.

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BluE

DiamonDs

GrEEn

DiamonDs

Exotic FirE opal

ST. THOMAS

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E-mail: info@kaysfinejewelry.com www.kaysfinejewelry.com Friend us on Facebook: Kfj Caribbean

9/4/14 4:23 PM

OBJECTS Le Vian Chocolatier® Link’ing 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.

DESIRE

Korite 18k-gold Solara pendant

Roberto Coin Pois Moi Diamond Chain Link bracelet

Chopard Imperiale ring

Gucci Bamboo bracelet in 18kt yellow gold Rolex Sea Dweller 4000

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DECO DIAMOND, DIAMOND DIAL ON BLUE NIGHTS CRYSTAL

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OBJECTS OBJECTS

DESIRE DESIRE

Kabana Alhambra Collection Safi Kilima Tanzanite ring

Forevermark Fancy Oval ring

Gift Collection Tiara Diamond ring

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.

David Yurman Confetti Narrow bracelet

Mark Henry Pave Collection alexandrite ring

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Montblanc Extreme Steel ScreenWriter Crafted for New Heights The Montblanc Extreme Steel ScreenWriter enables the writing, drawing and sketching of ideas not only traditionally on paper but also on the touch-screens of mobile devices with pen-like precision, thanks to its interchangeable Screenwriter-Disc, Fineliner and Rollerball reďŹ lls. Visit and shop Montblanc.com Enjoy ďŹ ne writing culture on your mobile devices. Download the new Montblanc Screenwriter App.

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PHOTOS BY: ALEXANDER CHAIKIN/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

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Guide to

PORTS Belize Cozumel Freeport Galveston Grand Cayman Grand Turk Key West Mahogany Bay Miami Montego Bay Nassau New Orleans Ocho Rios

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Catalina Island

Los Angeles

Ensenada Galveston

Cabo San Lucas

MEXICO

GULF OF MEXICO Puerto Vallarta

CENTRAL AMERICA

KAUAI

BELIZE

Nawiliwili

OAHU Honolulu

GUATEMALA

HAWAII Kahului MAUI

PACIFIC OCEAN

Kona

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BIG ISLAND HAWAII

Hilo

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New York Bermuda

PORTS of Call

New Orleans

Port Canaveral

Tampa

FLORIDA Freeport Fort Lauderdale Miami THE BAHAMAS

Key West

Nassau

ATLANTIC OCEAN

Half Moon Cay

CUBA TURKS AND CAICOS

Grand Turk

Cozumel Grand Cayman

Montego Bay

DOMINICAN St. Thomas San Juan HAITI REPUBLIC PUERTO La Romana RICO

Falmouth Ocho Rios JAMAICA

Tortola St. John St. Maarten/ St. Martin

St. Kitts

Antigua

Mahogany Bay, Isla Roatรกn

CARIBBEAN SEA HONDURAS

St. Lucia Barbados

Aruba

Curaรงao

COSTA RICA COLOMBIA

VENEZUELA

PANAMA SOUTH AMERICA Fun Ashore Carnival Cruise Lines

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ERIC LEMAR/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Ports of call | Belize

Belize’s barrier reef is one of the longest in the world, making it a popular spot for divers.

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 boasts numerous historical and cultural artifacts, especially in the ancient ruins of the Mayan civilization that called Belize home.

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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.

Altun Ha Mayan Site & River Wallace

ERIC LEMAR/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

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 airconditioned motor coach heads to Altun Ha, an ancient Mayan ceremonial center.

Exclusive Crystal Cave Tubing & Zipline

This tour combines breathtaking views above and thrilling exploration below. Guests walk on a trail to the zip line, 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.

Gallows Point Reef & Snorkel Cruise

Experience extreme fun cruising aboard a 63-foot motorized catamaran and snorkeling at Belize’s famous barrier reef. Board your catamaran and glide on the emerald green Caribbean Sea while listening to Caribbean reggae and Punta music. At the snorkel site, the certified instructors will brief you on safety and accompany you into the water where you will discover the most unique marine life this region has to offer. After snorkeling, enjoy complimentary rum punch at the open bar while the friendly crew gets you dancing on the upper deck in the open air. Then enjoy a leisurely cruise back to the ship.

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.

Starfish Island Snorkel & Island Gateway

Enjoy the family friendly Starfish Island created exclusively for Carnival guests. A short boat transfer will bring you to your own private retreat for the day.

Swim, relax or stretch out your towel and sunbathe.

Enjoy great music, kayaking or volleyball. Sit in the shade beneath the main thatched bar or at the terrace restaurant and enjoy your Belize buffet style lunch.

Xunantunich Mayan Ruins

Guests explore this famous Mayan archaeological site and then have a Belizean lunch in San Ignacio. Next they take a relaxing, scenic journey to the Mopan River and then a 5-minute ferry ride across the river to the remote ruins. The tour includes lunch in the San Ignacio area.

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Ports of call | Belize

PORT VIEW Belize is a country with a rich natural and cultural mix — from jungle animals and colorful fauna to Mayan ruins and artifacts to its watery landscape of more than 200 tropical island cays making up the nearly 200-milelong Belizean Barrier Reef.

The largest one, Ambergris Caye, can be 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 a relaxing day trip.

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

PHOTOS BY: (MAYAN RUINS) CLIMBERJAK/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; (ALTUN HA) LASZLO HALASI/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Things We Love About Belize Museum, which was once the governor’s residence.

The Marine Terminal houses the Coastal Zone Museum, which showcases 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.

T h e s i x t h - c e n t u r y Te m p l e o f the Green Tomb and the Temple of Masonry Altar dominate Altun Ha, Belize’s most extensively excavated Mayan ruin. — Richard Varr The Mayan ruins at Tikal.

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PHOTOS BY: (MAYAN RUINS) CLIMBERJAK/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; (ALTUN HA) LASZLO HALASI/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

OF THE

Where to find local mementos in port Belize YoGert

YoGert has it all—calcium, protein and live active probiotics that are good for your body. Unlike other desserts that often contain artificial ingredients or excessive calories from fat and sugar, frozen YoGert is all natural, low calorie, nonfat, low sugar, gluten-free and certified kosher. With six assorted flavors and 18 available toppings, it’s the new healthy alternative to ice cream! Indulge yourself with the sweet pleasure minus the guilt. Now featuring homemade frozen cookie sandwiches.

8 Fort Street | belizeyogert.com | 501-620-9161

Black Pearl Harley Davidson

Here at Black Pearl Harley Davidson, customer service is our top priority. We offer custom T-shirts for men and women.

Also available is a huge assortment of our custom Black Pearl Harley Davidson accessories. Stop in for all your Black Pearl Harley Davidson needs.

108 Cemetery Road | 501-623-6674

Jungle Gift Shop

Come visit the one place in the jungle you won’t want to leave — Terminal 3 Jungle Gift Shop! All your shopping needs are met, including shot glasses, magnets, coffee mugs, dresses, T-shirts and a wide variety of swim wear. Come to the place where you can rock the beach, Jungle style.

Altun Ha was a major trading center for more than 600 years.

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 that 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.

8 Fort Street, Tourism Village, Terminal 3 paprika.mh@gmail.com 501-623-9755 | 501-602-8350

Made in Belize Gift shop

Travel is a constant adventure! Made in Belize Gift Shop is an ideal spot for new discoveries, specializing in products handmade in Belize, all at low prices. The variety will surprise you.

8 Fort Street, Store 10C, Terminal 1 8 Fort Street, Store 22, Terminal 4 belize_unique@hotmail.com 501-223-0889 | 501-223-1411

Silver Mayan Factory

Welcome to the Silver Mayan Factory house of silver, where you will experience a wide variety of natural Caribbean stones and fashionable silver designs. We also have a wide selection of Mayan art and souvenirs. With three locations to serve you.

Stores 4 and 5, Terminal 1 | 207-1022 Store 13, Terminal 2 | 207-1023 Store 11, Terminal 4 | 203-2840 Fun Ashore Carnival Cruise Lines

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RANTON_IVANOV/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Ports of call | Cozumel

Mayan temple ruins in Cozumel.

COZUMEL

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

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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.

Passion Island by Power Catamaran

Travel by motorized catamaran along Cozumel coast to Isla de Pasion, a beautiful, picture-perfect, private island where white sandy beaches are surrounded by crystalclear turquoise waters. Free for children 5 and under!

Mayan Ruins of Tulum

Experience the ancient Mayan paradise kingdom rising high above the magnificent, crystal-blue Caribbean Sea.

Dolphin Swim and Ride With Unlimited Food and Drink

This is the optimum dolphin adventure, offering couples and families the opportunity to swim with dolphins for 40 minutes in calm, protected ocean coves. Free for children five and under!

RANTON_IVANOV/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

ATV Jungle Adventure and Beach

Maneuver your way through the Cozumel jungle on this unique ATV adventure.

Deluxe Beach, Catamaran Sail and Snorkel

The 65-foot catamaran will whisk you away to the snorkel site for some underwater exploring. Afterward, enjoy complimentary beer, margaritas and sodas while you sail to one of the island’s beautiful beaches. Free for children 5 and under.

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

It’s a Fact: At the Parque Punta Sur eco-park on the south end of the island, whistling can cause crocodiles in the lagoon to rise to the 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.

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VILAINECREVETTE/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Ports of call | Cozumel

PORT VIEW

Sea sponges and colorful fish surround a striking brain coral.

Things We Love About Cozumel Cozumel neatly balances its cultural experiences with its more playful reputation for shopping.

In San Miguel, a charming town that hugs the waterfront, tourists can find locally made treasures of silver, turquoise and leather goods, as well as pottery, stone carvings and wooden masks by Cozumel artisans.

The port also claims its share of duty-free shops offering diamonds, watches and designer jewelry.

The avenidas (avenues) and calles (streets) of the town’s center are easy to explore 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.

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Many still live in the thatch-roofed homes originally 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 Ecological Park and Lighthouse, home to a Mayan-ruin site, and the Celerain Lighthouse, as well as a navigation museum.

The road to the ruins leads many visitors to the archaeological site of San Gervasio, near San Miguel. — Richard Varr

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Ports of call | Cozumel

Island Highlights Diving Paradise 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.

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 a mandatory part of the preparation, although the boar has been replaced by pork and an oven is the preferred cooking method. Bitter-orange 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 its 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 are used in true tequila. For another, the agave piñas — pineappleshaped, pulpy bulbs from which the fermentable juice is extracted — are baked in underground wood-charcoalfired ovens rather than in steam ovens, giving them a smoky flavor that’s even more enhanced 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; (PLANT) TINA_RENCELJ/ISTOCKPHOTO.COM

By Sara Churchville

COUNTERCLOCKWISE: 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

Ruins of a Mayan temple in Tulum.

A TALE OF TULUM Set against a backdrop of aquamarine Caribbean waters, Tulum’s awe-inspiring temple remains a striking sight.

PATRYK KOSMIDER/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

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 indigenous 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 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 inland sea contains a natural underwater park and provides a wonderful respite after exploring.

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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!

Bulova Caravelle CRYSTAL Collection: Ladies Boyfriend watch with crystal bezel

A cenote near Tulum.

Crown of Light Spark Collection: Spark brilliant ring

John Hardy Classic Chain Collection: Reversible bracelet sterling silver & 18 kt gold

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FIDEICOMISO PARA LA PROMOCIÓN TURÍSTICA DE LA RIVIERA MAYA

Kabana The Constellation Collection: A heart shaped starburst pendant, inlaid with orange, purple and red spiny oyster and mixed mother of pearl; Set in 14k yellow gold and accented with diamonds

UNDERGROUND WONDERS Cozumel has no surface lakes or freshwater rivers, but it does have many underground ponds and sinkholes known as cenotes (seh-NOH-tays).

Some reach a depth of 210 feet — and to add to their mystery, they have openings that build from the bottom up.

A cenote forms when a combination of water and carbon dioxide dissolves underground limestone. This process cuts fissures in the rocks and creates upward-reaching caverns resembling reverse holes. Their vertical walls continue to erode, filling the bottom of the pits with debris and causing the “holes” to rise.

The early Maya people believed cenotes were inhabited by gods and provided an underground gateway to heaven. In gratitude to Chac, the god of water, they would drop gifts into the caves. — Eleanor Wilson

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Ports of call | Cozumel

The Remarkable

MAYA

The Maya were one of the most advanced cultures of the Western Hemisphere for hundreds of years, with an empire that reached its peak from A.D. 200 to 900. serpents and carried a jug of water. She is said to protect those who make the sacred pilgrimage to her shrines in Cozumel and Isla Mujeres, a trip Mayans aspired to make at least once in their lifetime.

When feeling particularly nasty, Ixchel unleashed calamitous rainstorms and floods from her large water jug. No wonder common folk were eager to appease the goddess. However, she also had a bright side. They called her Lady Rainbow and worshiped her as the protector of weavers and women in childbirth. Ixchel’s mate was Itzamná, a mellow moon god who balanced out his spouse’s temper tantrums. — Raymond Niedowski

Mayan ruins in Cozumel.

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SCOTTEN/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

They flourished throughout the Yucatán Peninsula in southeastern Mexico — including today’s Cozumel Island — and erected huge, imposing pyramids and temples with striking stone sculptures.

They achieved remarkable proficiency in mathematics and astronomy before mysteriously falling into decline.

The Maya believed Cozumel was sacred and built shrines to honor their gods. Ixchel, jaguar goddess of childbirth, fertility and healing, was said to control the tides and all water on Earth.

She was often portrayed as a wise crone who wore a skirt decorated with crossbones and a crown of

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Ports of call | Cozumel

SCOUTING SAN GERVASIO Once a pilgrimage site for the ancient Maya, the tiny island of Cozumel now hosts a number of fascinating 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 people primarily as altars and shrines, and for gatherings of government officials.

The site is divided into four historic districts, ranging from the early Classic Era (A.D. 200 to 1000) to the late Postclassical Era (A.D. 1000 to 1500). Plaques with a brief description of the ruin’s history identify individual ruins. In addition to tourist services, the site offers a snack bar and several gift shops. — Suzanne L. Carmel Mayan arch at San Gervasio.

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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

Cappadocia

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Ports of call | Cozumel

FOOD FOR THOUGHT Traveling means expanding your horizons, and that includes trying new foods. Something’s always cooking on the island of Cozumel.

Spice is a hallmark of Mexican food.

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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. There’s also mole, a spicy, brown, chocolate sauce served over baked chicken or turkey, and 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 try huachinango — red snapper, usually served whole. Those who prefer their fish filleted should try fresh grouper, known as mero. Mojo de ajo is fish, conch or shrimp cooked in a mouthwatering butter and garlic sauce.

Other treats include plátanos fritos, a side dish of fried plantains, relatives of the banana; queso relleno, or stuffed cheese; and flan, a delectable custard with a soft caramel topping.

Whatever your choice, beware of ixnepech, a salsa made with turbocharged habanero peppers that is blowtorch-hot. For relief, try horchata, a cooling drink made from rice or barley with added flavorings, or jamaica (hah-MY-kuh), a mellow brew made from an infusion of hibiscus flowers. — Raymond Niedowski

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Ports of call | Freeport

The endless stretch of Taino Beach.

FREEPORT At first sight, you’ll love Freeport for its Lucaya resort scene. Then you’ll 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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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.

Island Drive With Shopping, Beach and Lunch

A guided bus tour of Freeport takes guests past such sights as Millionaires Drive and includes shopping at Lucaya Marketplace or relaxation on the local beach.

Guests also stop at a fruit market to purchase and enjoy delicious local fruit.

All Inclusive Beach Getaway

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, the beach has quaint, thatched, palapa huts and a bar serving tropical cocktails.

Western Heritage & Snorkel Tour RAMUNAS BRUZAS/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

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 lunch served fresh from the grill.

Freeport Kayak & Nature Experience

Explore Freeport’s “Lucayan National Park” as you paddle through the inland creeks of the mangrove forests and walk the paths used by the Lucayan Indians.

This tour is safe in any weather.

Freeport Reef Snorkel Adventure

Quick Guide Famed for: Diving with dolphins and sharks, quiet beaches and old fishing settlements.

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

Discover your adventure with a snorkel trip on the beautiful Bahamian reefs just a 10-minute boat ride away. Enjoy the crystal clear water while seeing decorative corals and colorful fish. Capture your underwater experience on film with the complimentary underwater camera included in your tour.

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 line up to meet the cruise ships.

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Ports of call | Freeport

PORT VIEW

Welcome shade on the beach at Freeport.

Things We Love About Freeport Grand Bahama, the most diverse island in the Bahamas, flexes its vacation muscle well beyond the Freeport-Lucaya resort 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 Mother Nature’s 90

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 Grand Lucayan Beach & Golf Resort include water sports and a waterslide, and a variety of restaurants and bars lay footsteps away. For more seclusion, find soft, white beaches that beg for bare feet and splashing in marbled blue-green waters at Taino Beach just east of Lucaya. The beach is also 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 jelly rolls, you’ll love the Bahamas’ signature dessert: guava pulp, flour, butter, eggs, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves, all topped with a hard sauce of butter, eggs, sugar, vanilla and rum. If you can find guava pulp, you can make this at home.

CLOCKWISE 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

Kalik Beer 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 most popular on the islands.

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Ports of call | Freeport

OF THE

Where to find local mementos in port La Parrilla Latina

La Parrilla Latina Restaurant, Steak House and Bar brings a Dominican flare to a variety of Caribbean dishes. This quaint eatery serves tropical, flavorful dishes and drinks.

Stop by for lunch while shopping at the marketplace.

Port Lucaya Marketplace, Unit 7 242-602-3480

THE JEWELLERY BOX

Port Lucaya, Freeport, Grand Bahamas • 242.373.8319 94

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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

B

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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SPECIAL ADVERTISING FEATURE

Grand Bahama

NATURE TOURS E

xperience 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. Your Junkanoo Beach and Shopping Tour includes round-trip transportation from the harbor, a beach chair, free use of kayaks, and optional shopping in Port Lucaya Marketplace.

Check with your Shore Excursion Desk for the popular Western Heritage Sightseeing and Snorkel Excursion as well as the Brewery, Perfume Factory and Sightseeing Tour.

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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

SHACKING UP AND CHOWING DOWN More than a dozen open-air, no-need-for-shoes shacks populate Grand Bahama’s sandy shores. Here, local cooks chop up fresh conch, fry up the day’s catch 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 specializes in fried chicken, stewed conch and the catch of the day.

Billy Joe’s, an old favorite in Lucaya, specializes in grilled conch.

Roasted conch and Gully Wash cocktails star at Tony Macaroni’s on silky-sanded 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.

A refreshing conch salad.

BLUEORANGE STUDIO/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

By Chelle Koster Walton

SWIMWEAR • BEACH + KIDS GEAR • MENS + LADIES WEAR • BAHAMIAN MADE SOUVENIRS

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

TANZANITE EMERALDS RUBIES SAPPHIRES

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Ports of call | Galveston

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 best-preserved collections of the fancifully designed houses.

It’s a Fact: Galveston’s 10-mile-long seawall protects the city from storms and is covered in miles of murals depicting underwater life.

Aglow in Galveston.

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Signature Souvenirs: A piece of art or sculpture from Gallery Row, between 21st and 23rd streets on Post Office Street.

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Ports of call | Grand Cayman

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

GRAND CAYMAN Once a sanctuary for plundering pirates and shipwrecked sailors, Grand Cayman is now 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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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.

Seven Mile Beach, Party Boat & Snorkel

Cruise aboard a mega tiki party boat that includes music and dancing, fun in the sun, snorkeling and beach bumming at Grand Cayman’s famous Seven Mile Beach.

All Inclusive Tiki Beach — Seven Mile Beach Getaway

An enjoyable and relaxing way in which to spend your day in Grand Cayman with family and friends, on world famous Seven Mile Beach! Children 5 and under are free, and special child rates are available.

Dolphin Swim and Stingray City

JO ANN SNOVER/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Experience the fun of swimming with bottlenose dolphins and interacting with stingrays in this combination tour.

Coral Gardens and Stingray Sandbar

Snorkel over the Coral Gardens Reef formation and afterward stop at the famous stingray sandbar and get up close and personal with the stingrays as you swim around.

Explore Cayman by Land and Sea

Experience the best that Grand Cayman has to offer, both aboveground and beneath the 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.

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PORT VIEW

Frolicking with stingrays in the waters of Grand Cayman.

Things We Love About Grand Cayman 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 who are drawn by its serene beauty and the variety of things it offers 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 2-million-year-old forest and mangrove swamp in the heart of the island; Pedro St. James National Historic Site,

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a restored 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 of 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

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

Ports of call | Grand Cayman

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Island Highlights

By Sara Churchville

Black Coral Carvings Divers are thrilled 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.

Cayman Islands Flag 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 blue-and-white waves represent the three Cayman Islands and the sea.

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

Grand Cayman Blue Iguana Like the Grand Cayman parrot, the blue Grand Cayman iguana (Cyclura nubila lewisi) is only found on the island. With its blue coloring, it should be easy to spot, but because it’s endangered and not very social, it may take some searching to locate one. A subspecies of the Cuban rock iguana, the blue iguana can grow to be as long as 5 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, are still on the island. This green, red and white subspecies of the Cuban parrot is the island’s national bird.

COUNTERCLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Black coral growing underwater; Cayman Islands flag; A rare blue iguana, also known as a Grand Cayman iguana; A Grand Cayman parrot.

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Special Advertising Feature

J

ust a one minute walk from the port lies one of the Caribbean’s shopping Meccas. The level of glamour, sophistication and service provided in the George Town shopping district are rivaled only by world centers such as London, Paris and New York. One of the main reasons that George Town has developed such a reputation is largely due to the Kirk Freeport network of retail stores.

If you are taking advantage of the duty free prices and the absence of sales tax, and treating yourself (or someone else) to something special, you will want to make a stop at one of the Kirk Freeport stores.

Kirk Freeport Plaza Ltd. is celebrating over 40 years as Cayman’s premier retailer of duty free jewelry, watches, fragrances, leather, crystal, china and accessories.

In 2003 Kirk Freeport expanded into the Bayshore mall with the largest jewelry store

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in the Caribbean, and has become the center piece of downtown George Town.

Kirk Freeport has become a must see for any watch connoisseur, with over 40 watch brands in one location and one of the largest selections of Rolex watches in the world. Some of the premier houses that are represented are: Rolex, Patek Philippe, A.Lange and Sonne, Jaeger-leCoultre, IWC, Breguet, Blancpain, Vacheron Constantin, Cartier, Omega, Breitling, Tag Heuer, Panerai, Chopard, Bvlgari and Chanel.

These are complimented by an even broader range of fashion and designer brands.

Bayshore Mall Offers everything you need for a wonderful day in port. After browsing the largest selection of luxury goods in the Caribbean, have a healthy bite at La Creperie or take a break from the gorgeous Cayman sun with a delicious ice cream cone from Haagen-Dazs.

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PHOTOS.COM

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

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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.

Rule, Britannia! The first influx of settlers arrived: immigrants 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 hightailed it back home.

Blackbeard, as well as other pirates, found the caves, nooks and crannies of Grand Cayman to be the perfect

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Ports of call | Grand Cayman

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 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 the name of which — 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 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 outnumbered whites 5 to 1.

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 US 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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DUDAREV MIKHAIL/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

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

special advertising feature

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

By Jim Thompson

KIRK FREEPORT

The Kirkconnell family built Kirk Freeport into an island legacy.

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. Jewelr y, perfumes, cr ystal and watches from

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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” Kirkconnell says with a smile. “It is a true slice of paradise.”

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While in Grand Cayman, visit the Guy Harvey Gallery & Shoppe Shop from the largest collection of Guy Harvey products under one roof. Complete selection of classic t-shirts, ladies clothing, original artwork, gifts and much more.

And possibly meet Guy!

49 Church Street, Grand Cayman tel. 345.943.4891

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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 December 5, 1831, and voted to form their first elected parliament. They gathered at “the Castle” on May 3, 1833, to hear the proclamation ending slavery in the British Empire.

The mansion was originally 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 was put to

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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 include a 20minute 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

SNORKELING THE CAYMANS

A vibrant coral colony.

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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 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 reach 120

up to 6 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 fierce-looking 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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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!

Philip Stein Classic square

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 undersides 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 you use them, the ends curl and the roof will leak.

At one time, the palm was the principal component of the islands’ main industry: rope making. While the men went out 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

Silver thatch palm.

Forevermark Eternal pendant

Kabana Constellation Collection: Ring is inlaid with onyx, set in 14K yellow gold and accented with diamonds

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Blue Heaven Blue diamond hoop earrings

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Ports of call | Grand Cayman

OF THE

Cayman Keepsakes

Prides itself in “Keeping it Local”! Here you will find a splendid selection of local delights, including coffees, hot sauces, pepper jelly, sea salts and many more locally made products. We have keepsakes to suit everyone.

Royal Watler Cruise Ship Terminal | 345-916-8713

Coastal Colours

In a class all its own, Coastal Colours offers original local artwork, hand-painted glassware, fragrant soaps and lotions, along with a fine selection of resort wear and quality gift items. Coastal Colours is a lovely must-see store. Located across the street from the cruise terminal, on the left.

The Waterfront Centre | 345-945-7500

Jingle Shells THE CARIBBEAN CHRISTMAS STORE

Visit Cayman’s year -round Caribbean Christmas store, where you’ll find an outstanding array of handmade tropical ornaments, along with a fabulous selection of souvenirs and wind chimes made from beautiful sea shells. Jingle Shells is Santa’s favorite store!

Royal Watler Cruise Ship Terminal

Sterling & Stone

This small boutique sells duty-free jewelry specializing in Caymanite and sterling silver. Also selling a range of gemstones, charm bracelets and stainless-steel styles. Caymanite jewelry fashioned by local artists. At the corner of Harbour Drive in the heart of Cayman duty-free shopping.

Cayside Courtyard, Shedden Road, George Town 345-925-8955

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Cayman

Q&A

How long is Seven Mile Beach?

The beautiful, powdery white sands actually stretch along the waterfront for only about 5½ 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.

Who is Sir Turtle?

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

PHOTOS BY: ANATOLI STYF/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Where to find local mementos in port

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Grand Cayman’s clear waters let divers experience stunning

PHOTOS BY: ANATOLI STYF/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

underwater adventures.

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Ports of call | Grand Turk

An aerial view of the beach at Cockburn Town.

GRAND TURK

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

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PHOTOS BY: (VIEW) RAMUNAS BRUZAS/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; (DOCK) ROBERT CROW/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Strolling on the dock at Grand Turk.

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.

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Ports of call | Grand Turk

PORT VIEW

Relaxing spots abound in Grand Turk.

Things We Love About Grand Turk 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 6 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 of Cockburn Town. Stroll down Front Street and see limestone buildings emblazoned with vibrant pastel colors highlighting Bermudan-style architecture — a testament to the island’s Bermudan salt rakers’ settlement in the late 17th century.

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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The island’s historic past also includes visits from Fountain of Youth explorer Ponce de Leon and, in recent memory, from US 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, bicycle riding on roadways skirting the island’s many salt ponds and snorkeling with stingrays to get 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 choose another stretch of pure sand along Grand Turk’s inviting shoreline. — Richard Varr

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Ports of call | Key West

Key West is the center of the universe for those who fall under its spell.

KEY WEST

Located at 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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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 power boating with parachuting, ballooning and gliding. Guests ride in pairs and launch directly from the onboard flight deck.

Nature Kayak Tour

Explore the amazing ecosystem of Key West from the seat of a kayak. On this excursion you will: • Paddle from the Gulf to the Atlantic as you explore Key West from the water.

• Kayak through the winding mangroves. The shallow, clear waters allow for easy viewing of sea life and your guide will identify creatures above and below the water.

FLORIDASTOCK/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

• View many species of birds as well as a variety of marine life in their natural habitats.

Catamaran Sail & Snorkel

The 60-foot catamaran Fury takes guests to a coral reef in the waters off Key West, which teems with dolphins and flying fish. Instruction and snorkel equipment are provided, and refreshments are served on the way back to the ship.

Glass-Bottom Boat and Conch Train Combo

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 loved Key West so much, he chose the island to build his winter White House there.

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 attractions, is only a few blocks from the dock. It’s easy to reach on foot, which also happens to be the best way to explore.

The entire family can explore the wonders of the underwater world from a state-of-the-art glass-bottom boat on this tour. As the guide shares facts about the surrounding species, guests can feed the fish and spot all types of aquatic creatures.

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 the Ernest Hemingway 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 Key West Shipwreck Museum, with the best view of the island from a 66-foot tower.

Old Town is split approximately in half by Duval Street, which leads to Mallory Square.

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Ports of call | Key West

PORT VIEW

Key West beckons.

Things We Love About Key West This picturesque enclave offers delights of many kinds, from its pastel-toned homes and shops to its offbeat sunset celebration, where colorful characters enliven 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 home of writer Ernest Hemingway; the Audubon House and Tropical Gardens, honoring naturalist John 132

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 can enjoy the breathtaking natural beauty of the Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory. One of the most popular mementos is a photo snapped at the Southernmost Point, which notes Key West’s unique geographic status in the continental United States.

For food and 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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Island Highlights

Famous Writers Tennessee Williams and Ernest Hemingway lived here, and Key West still manages to lure many 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. Cross 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

Key Lime Pie This cool, creamy, sweet and tart mixture of condensed milk, Key lime juice and egg yolks is folded into a graham cracker crust, baked, 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.

FROM TOP: Key lime pie; The Tennessee Williams House; The historic Seven Mile Bridge; Sloppy Joe’s, a popular gathering place.

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As colorful and memorable as a Key West sunset.

Visit the Tervis Key West store for 100s of unique drinkware designs and enjoy a lifetime of sunny sipping satisfaction. ÂŽ

Š 2014 TERVIS

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.

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Ports of call | Key West

LOST AND FOUND

Row of cannons in Fort Zachary Taylor.

Many have come to Key West to start lost lives over and find their fortunes.

By John Anderson

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 anglicized and was soon known simply as Key West. In 1821, US businessman John W. Simonton bought the island for $2,000 and divided it into 136

four parts; he sold three to fellow businessmen John Fleming, John Whitehead and P.C. Greene — you’ll find streets named after them today — and kept one for himself.

Simonton next convinced the US 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-Piracy Squadron.

However, after dispatching 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.

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

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Ports of call | Key West

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 7 miles offshore that made Key West the richest US 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. Completed in 1912, the massive undertaking included one of the world’s longest bridges, which connected Key West to the mainland.

While the rail business Flagler foresaw never materialized, another industry began to flourish in the 1920s with the passing of Prohibition: bootlegging. Newly rich smugglers from Key West supplied beer and rum from Cuba and whiskey from Nassau.

This devil-may-care environment attracted the many writers who helped make Key West famous. Ernest Hemingway, Tennessee Williams, Robert Frost and a long list of Pulitzer Prize winners have called the island 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 US and becomes the Conch Republic.

Cannonballs rest against an exterior wall of Fort Zachary Taylor.

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Henry Flagler’s Overseas Railway is completed.

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Ports of call | Key West

Key West’s

CUBAN CONNECTION

Key West is closer to Cuba than any other US 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 thenflourishing cigar factories, and in 1959, when millions began fleeing political oppression by the Communist dictator Fidel Castro.

Cuba’s proximity became a sobering reality during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, when US President John F. Kennedy and Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev narrowly averted what may have been the closest the world has come to nuclear war since World War II. 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 Martí ignited passion in 1892 with a stirring speech from the institute’s balcony. Still revered today, Martí is honored with a memorial in Bayview Park.

A monument to the USS 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 CLOCKWISE 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

The rhythms of Cuban music in Key West night spots pulsate with a beat born in Africa and influenced by jazz, Big Band, reggae, salsa and hip-hop. Cuban food — fusing Spanish, African, Caribbean and even Chinese cuisine — is also easy to find. 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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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, ranking No. 2 on Trip Advisor and winning the People’s Choice Award four times.

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 conser vator y 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 unique look at the miracle of metamorphosis. Witness butterflies and moths develop, emerge in their adult form and get released into their idyllic environment.

Wings of Imagination, the conservatory's art gallery, offers the works of artist and founder Sam Trophia. The gift shop also offers a wide assortment of butterfly and nature-related items.

KEY WEST BUTTERFLY AND NATURE CONSERVATORY

Excite your senses and expand your mind at the Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory.

FREE

Clinton Square Market one

MALL that has it all

Comfort Shop Air-Conditioned comfort Shop in air-conditioned AA 33 minute cruise ship ship the cruise from the walk from minute walk Between & Aquarium Aquarium House & Custom House Between Custom 142

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The waters off Key West became safer for sea turtles after a ban on fishing them was enacted.

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, many species, including the green turtle, the leatherback, the hawksbill, 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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Ports of call | Key West

A band plays during the sunset celebration.

NO EXCUSES

NEEDED 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 of the morning.

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

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“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, which Hemingway helped make famous. The centerpiece of the week is the Ernest Hemingway Look-Alike Contest.

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.

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Every Day’s a Party

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Treasures Nautical Treasures

47 Green Street, Key West, FL 33040

305 296 6299

47 Green Street, Key West, FL 33040

MR. TOBIN/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

305 296 6299

103 Fitzpatrick St. | Key West, FL 33040 | Phone & Fax 305.292.3010 Fun Ashore Carnival Cruise Lines

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Ports of call | Key West

A marker notes Key West’s status as the southernmost point in the continental United States.

Conch If You

LOVE KEY WEST

The Florida Keys are home to two distinctly different varieties of conch (pronounced “konk”).

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 in 1982. 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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There’s the conch, a mollusk with sweettasting meat similar to that of a clam. It’s batter-fried in fritters, stewed in chowder or steamed and eaten in salad. The queen conch is the largest occupant of the pretty pink-and-white shell and a popular collectors’ item. However, keep in mind that it’s illegal to take queen conch without a license in most US 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.

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JORG HACKEMANN/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

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 Fun Ashore Carnival Cruise Lines

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Ports of call | Key West

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, including the most famous shipwreck-treasure find in history.

The ship Nuestra Señora 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

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 firsthand 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 St. 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!

The World’s Most Famous® Surf Shop offers the best apparel and accessories for the Florida vacation lifestyle.

503 Front Street, Key West

305.293.8880 • OPEN DAILY

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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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Ports of call | Mahogany Bay

MAHOGANY BAY

Mahogany Bay, on the serene isle of Roatán, is famed for its splendid diving.

Some 95 percent of the Caribbean’s known corals are found here. It’s also a delight for those who prefer to stay dry, offering butterfly and iguana reserves and colorful botanical gardens.

Quick Guide Famed for: Housing part of the largest barrier reef in the Caribbean Sea, 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 run across water.

Signature Souvenirs: Carved wooden designs and ceramics hand-painted by Lenca natives.

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.

• Maya Key Private Island Snorkeling with Lunch • Mayan Princess All Inclusive Beach Escape

• Carambola Gardens & Island Tour • French Key Private Island Getaway Break

A perfect beach awaits in Roatán.

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• Canopy Tour and Tabyana Beach

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PORT VIEW Things We Love About Mahogany Bay Home to West Bay — considered by many to be the finest beach in all of Honduras and one of the top shores in the Caribbean — Roatán offers diverse environmental and recreational attractions. Lush forests and spectacular beaches, sensational diving and excellent shopping can all be found here.

With more than 130 underwater sites, divers can experience everything from coral reefs to canyons, tunnels and wrecks in a single day. Many of the best dive and snorkeling sites — like the El Águila, a sunken cargo ship more than 200 feet long, where green moray eels mingle with giant gag groupers and blue parrotfish — are just off the dock or within five minutes by boat.

For a spectacular aerial view of all the

luxuriant colors of the coral reef, head up to Carambola Botanical Gardens in nearby Sandy Bay, where jungle trails through wild orchids and exotic fruit and spice trees are perfect for a day of hiking, bird watching and photography.

Never seen an iguana? Stop at Arch's Iguana and Marine Park, where you will see them everywhere. More than 3,000 iguanas live in, on or near this house. It’s best to visit at midday, which is feeding time for the spiny, prehistoric lizards.

All shops in Roatán are on Main Street in the West End, so shopping is easy.

Look for colorful baskets hand-woven from pine needles or try Lenca pottery, Garifuna art or one of the pre-Columbian artifacts known in local slang as “yaba ding dings.”

OF THE

Where to find local mementos in port IMEXU TONY MORAN/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

IMEXU

Receive a gift when you purchase more than $25 in merchandise. Our treasures are handmade by local artisans, and our unique shop offers painted feathers, paintings, jewels, carved wood, cedar (cahoba), ceramics, rattan baskets, animal figurines and rosaries.

Mahogany Bay Roatán Craft Market

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Ports of call | Miami

A colorful lifeguard tower on the sands of Miami Beach.

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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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.

Miami Seaquarium with Airport Transfer (MIA)

ALEXANDER DEMYANENKO/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Marine life is the star at the Seaquarium, one of Miami’s oldest attractions. The Seaquarium offers several marinemammal shows and an ocean-reef presentation. Visitors can feed a sea lion, watch sharks dining, touch starfish and experience other fascinating creatures.

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 apes and monkeys, colorful parrots and macaws, 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, more recently, Dexter and CSI: Miami.

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 more minutes 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 their time exploring 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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Ports of call | Miami

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 a 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.

On the far west of the city lies Everglades

National Park , home to var ious 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.

Art Deco hotels face the water in Miami Beach.

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Things We Love About Miami

Champions of a better childhood To advocate, donate or volunteer, visit www.wementor.org

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LUXURIOUS AMENITIES, AMAZING FOOD AND EXOTIC CULTURES. A CRUISE SOUNDS JUST LIKE MIAMI.

Explore Miami on your way to or from your cruise. Have a “cafecito” in Little Havana with the local Cubans, shop the market in Little Haiti, and bring out your inner artist in Wynwood. Miami’s neighborhoods offer adventures you won’t find anywhere else – they just might be the most exciting part of your vacation. Visit MiamiandBeaches.com for great deals.

©Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau – The Official Destination Sales & Marketing Organization for Greater Miami and the Beaches.

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MICHAEL J. PALMER

Ports of call | Montego Bay

MoBay, as it’s known, shimmers under the Caribbean sky.

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, open-hearted people eager to share their culture.

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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.

Tranopy Adventure

This tour combines the Sky Explorer chairlift, the Jamaica Bobsled ride and a zip-line canopy tour in one adventurous outing 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 to fly across the jungle canopy on a series of cables and pulleys. Lunch is included.

Dolphin Swim and 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 and experience the thrill of riding them in the water; they may even get a kiss or two. Visitors then go to Doctor’s Cave Beach in Montego Bay.

Jamaica Bobsled and 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.

Seawinds Family All-Inclusive Beach Day

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: Jamaica rum, jerk sauce and Blue Mountain coffee.

How to Get to Town: Montego Bay’s downtown and shopping area is about 2 miles from the pier. There are two ways to get there: by jumping in a taxi or taking an all-day shuttle that stops at all the important sites in town, including the City Center Shopping Center.

Guests enjoy a day of complete relaxation on the beach at one of Jamaica’s finest oceanfront properties, Seawinds Beach Club. Visitors can have a bite to eat at the Beach Grill; groove to lively Jamaican entertainment; and snorkel, kayak and sail in the blue waters of Montego Bay.

Catamaran Sail and Snorkel

A state-of-the-art catamaran takes guests on a ride to either Athol or Rose Island reefs for an afternoon of snorkeling and sea exploration. The 82-foot sleek 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 refreshing complimentary rum or fruit punch.

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Ports of call | Montego Bay

PORT VIEW

Doctor’s Cave Beach.

Things We Love About Montego Bay Montego Bay scores a hole-in-one with travelers in search of world-class golf, great shopping and even ghost stories.

None of MoBay’s photogenic great houses are 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 delightful shopping at The Shoppes at Rose Hall and Half

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Moon Shopping Village. Both tempt travelers with jewelry, Jamaica rum and lignum vitae wood carvings made from the wood of Jamaica’s national tree.

The coolest spot is downtown’s Doctor’s Cave Beach for a swim accompanied by some of Jamaica’s famed jerk chicken and pork. Enjoy this treat with 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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Shoppes at Rose Hall, Montego Bay Island Village Plaza, Ocho Rios Historic Port of Falmouth, Falmouth Tel: 876 953 4600 | www.jewelsandtime.com

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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, 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.

Red Stripe Beer 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.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Jamaican flag; Doctor’s Cave Beach; Delicious soursop ice cream; Locally brewed Red Stripe beer.

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PHOTOS BY: (FLAG) DAVID N MADDEN/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; (BEACH) COL/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; (ICE CREAM) ELENAKOR/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; (BEER) GREENWOOD GREAT HOUSE

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.

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Marine Chronometer Manufacture Manufacture chronometer movement with Silicium technology.

Self-winding. Water-resistant to 100 m. 18 ct rose gold case.

Available also on leather strap or gold bracelet.

W W W . U LY S S E - N A R D I N . C O M

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Taj Mahal Plaza • Ocho Rios • 974-2769 Port of Falmouth • Falmouth • 620-4141 Shoppes at Rose Hall • Montego Bay • 953-4611 colors@cwjamaica.com

10/3/14 11:05 AM

Ports of call | Montego Bay

A Plantation

PAST

By Marjorie Klein

WALTER QUIRTMAIR/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Sugarcane field.

Like many other Caribbean ports, Montego Bay looks back on a past formed by a plantation economy and marked by adventure, rebellion and ghost stories. As with many histories of the Caribbean, the story of MoBay begins with Christopher 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, because it was the export point for lard produced from roaming herds of wild hogs hunted by the settlement’s Spanish inhabitants.

Sadly, the native Taíno people (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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PRIMAVER A COLLECTION

Montego Bay: Shoppes at Rose Hall

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Ports of call | Montego Bay

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. There were few inhabitants, and there was little commerce besides 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.

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

Jamaican folklore dancers.

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Sharpe’s Christmas Rebellion occurs.

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PHOTOS BY: JAMAICA TOURIST BOARD; JESSICA THOMAS; GREENWOOD GREAT HOUSE

Ports of call | Montego Bay

CLOCKWISE 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 industr y 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, voodoo-practicing White Witch. Annie purportedly murdered her three husbands, numerous lovers and anyone who got in her way.

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A tour guide will gladly provide the gory details. 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 4 miles further 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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On the Hip Strip next to Doctor’s Cave Beach.

Montego Bay get ready for world renowned Barbeque restaurant!!

Bigg’s BBQ Restaurant & Bar The world famous Midwestern BBQ on The Hip Strip

Amazing lip smackin finger suckin good BBQ, and sides like Baked Mac and Cheese, Potato Salad, Sweet Corn Bread and Honey Your favorite dining choice in Montego Bay. Relaxed Patio Dining Huge Multiple HD TVs Live Entertainment!

Montego Bay’s Sporting HQ

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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 & Ani Blue bead and charm bangle stackable bracelets

Bulova Precisionist Chronograph

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 Jamaica 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 Pur ple R ain without the haze or Pickled Parrot without the punch, skip the “strong” kick. Then see if you can find the real hummingbird near that big bamboo. — Ginger Dingus

Hearts on Fire Aerial Diamond Drop Necklace

PHOTOS BY: BOULE/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; CREPESOLES/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Safi Kilima Drop Earrings

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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. The duo financed the first family home at the village by 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 the SOS 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 the Cinnamon Hill great house their home away from home. 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 late, legendary musician wrote in his autobiography. Cash praised the downto-earth 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 SOS Children’s Village for orphaned and abandoned children in Barrett Town.

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Ports of call | Montego Bay

SPECIALBOND

By Deborah Williams

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.

PHOTOS BY: ASSOCIATED PRESS

Ian Fleming, author of the 13 original 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.

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PHOTOS BY: ASSOCIATED PRESS

FROM LEFT: Sean Connery as James Bond; Ian Fleming, creator of James Bond.

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Ports of call | Montego Bay

Edible

STARS

Irresistible Slices of Carambola

By Toni Crane

The exotic-tasting carambola fruit originated in China, where the tree is still grown as both an ornament and a fruit.

The Portuguese introduced the tree to Brazil, and from there it found its way to the Caribbean.

But some varieties are much tarter than others. Carambola contains ascorbic acid and oxalic acid: the more oxalic acid, 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 because it needs to 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: (CARAMBOLA) THEWADA1976/SHUTTERESTOCK.COM; SMIT/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; (SOCCER BALL) NATTANAN726/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 also close up during high winds.

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. That’s why the fruit is also called star fruit. All varieties of carambola appear much the same, up to about 5 inches long with five distinctive ribs running the length of the fruit that turn brown as the fruit ripens.

The pretty carambola yields star-shaped fruit.

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THE REGGAE BOYZ

By Toni Crane

PHOTOS BY: (CARAMBOLA) THEWADA1976/SHUTTERESTOCK.COM; SMIT/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; (SOCCER BALL) NATTANAN726/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Every four years, the FIFA World Cup unites the globe, bringing together teams from 32 countries to compete for weeks in a series of matches. Most recently, in the 2014 World Cup, Germany bested Argentina 1–0 in the final round to claim the championship.

The soccer fever is just as fervent in the Caribbean, and Jamaica is no exception. Records indicate the game was introduced to the island in the late 1800s, and international meets were held with neighboring Haiti as early as 1925. Jamaica’s National Men’s Team, widely known as the Reggae Boyz, first tried for World Cup qualification in 1965. At the 1998 World Cup in France, the Reggae Boyz finally made their first, and so far only, appearance in a World Cup tournament.

The path to the World Cup’s group stage is not an easy one for small island nations. Since the World Cup championships first began in 1930, only two island teams had made it as far as the final tournament by 1998.

But long odds are no match for ambition, and sometimes lightning does strike twice. Every Jamaican schoolboy still practices assiduously, with dreams of one day starring on the team.

We Carry a beautiful and extensive collection of Souvenirs, T-shirts, Usain Bolt shirts, Island wear, Crystal Jewelry, Island Jewelry Kids Shop: Swimwear, Toys, Outfits, Gifts galore Shops at Rose Hall # 10

Montego Bay, Jamaica • Tel: 876 953-3236 Fax: 876 952-7174 • e-mail: aanchall@hotmail.com Fun Ashore Carnival Cruise Lines

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Ports of call | Montego Bay

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.

Cricket players.

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JAMAICA TOURIST BOARD

A STICKY WICKET

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 are no matches at home, important test matches across the sea bring 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

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PAM BLIZZARD/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Ports of call | Nassau

A lighthouse overlooks the entrance to Nassau Harbor.

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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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.

Private Island Beach Day

Experience tropical paradise on Balmoral Island, located just off the coast of Nassau. Balmoral is a Carnival exclusive beach excursion, and features pristine beaches, a heated pool overlooking the ocean and four themed bars. The island has its own food market, with fresh sandwiches, salads and wraps — and the only Starbucks on a private island!

Atlantis Aquaventure Full Day with Lunch

PAM BLIZZARD/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

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.

Nassau Parasail Adventure

Participants are paired up and soar for an uninhibited seven minutes at 400 feet above the crystal-clear waters of the Bahamas.

They experience bird’s-eye views of Paradise Island, Atlantis Resort, Cable Beach and Nassau’s downtown.

Catamaran Sail & Snorkel

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.

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 complimentary lemonade.

Highlights of Nassau by Jeep

This caravan-style, off-road adventure explores the countryside of New Providence Island; one guest drives each group of four in the Jeep, assisted by a guide narrating by walkie-talkie.

Participants learn the island’s history and pass landmarks such as the House of Parliament, Fort Charlotte and the former homes of the island’s famous and infamous residents.

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CARLOS ARGUELLES/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Ports of call | Nassau

PORT VIEW

Colorful homes line Nassau’s waterfront.

Things We Love About Nassau 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 thought-provoking Pompey Museum of Slavery & Emancipation at the old slave marketplace, and The Balcony House Museum,

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believed 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 the islanders’ favorite local secrets found on West Bay Street is Arawak Cay, a collection of casual and colorful eateries and shops where fresh conch salad prepared ceviche-style is the specialty and made to order before your very eyes. — Chelle Koster Walton

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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!

MARCHING FLAMINGOS

Almost everyone has seen marching horses and marching elephants. But marching flamingos?

Korite Korite column set

You can see them yourself every day at Ardastra Gardens, Zoo & Conservation Centre, a cool retreat amid the bustle of Nassau.

Audiences wait in eager expectation of the arrival of the more than a dozen flamingos trained to spread their wings and march on command, responding to the voice of their trainer. All spectators are invited to enter the show arena after the performance for a close-up encounter with the amazing pink birds.

Animal lovers can also see a meerkat family as well as parrots, iguanas, lemurs, monkeys, sloths and even kinkajous. — Deborah Williams

Safi Kilima Trillion Ring — over 1 carat weight of trillion-shaped tanzanite with white diamonds

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Pink flamingos.

PHOTOS BY: PAGINA/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; ILYA AKINSHIN/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Gucci Guccissima with a pink-gold PVD case, black sun-brushed dial and pink-gold PVD bangle

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An

experience like nowhere else.

DOLPHIN CAY

Atlantis holds a lifetime of spectacular memories. Only at Dolphin Cay can you get up close to playful dolphins and interact with friendly sea lions. Dive in for an underwater adventure as you Snorkel the Ruins of Atlantis, or glide alongside over 100 sleek stingrays in our Stingray Experience. At Aquaventure, one of the world’s largest and most amazing water parks, every day is filled with nonstop fun, thrills and adventure. Embark on a mile-long river ride through rolling waves and rapids, or take the Leap of Faith into shark-infested waters. There’s no such thing as too much amazing.

AQUAVENTURE

To book one of these once-in-a-lifetime excursions, visit your Shore Excursions Desk.

Shallow Water Interaction

“Splashers” Kids Pool

“The Current” River Ride

Mayan Temple “Leap of Faith”

Deep Water Interaction

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Ports of call | Nassau

OF THE

Where to find local mementos in port.

Conch Fritters & Grill

Conch N’ Kalik

Marlborough Street | 242-433-6454

Pompey Square, Downtown, Bay Street 242-325-2544

Enjoy native dishes right on the downtown strip at Conch Fritters & Grill. Watch the game while feasting on dishes from the across the Bahamas or choose one of our American dishes, including sandwiches and appetizers.

Come in and visit this unique restaurant and sports bar, offering a variety of specialty conch dishes, fresh grilled fish, delicious cocktails and more. The perfect spot to enjoy conch and a Kalik beer.

T-Shirt Factory Outlet

Every kind of souvenir under one roof, including T-shirts from small to 5XL, tank tops, muscle shirts, Caribbean spices, coffees and teas. In-store specials every day!

Corner of Bay and Frederick streets acforsythe@hotmail.com | 242-356-2334

Come in and visit this unique restaurant and sports bar, offering a variety of specialty conch dishes , fresh grilled fish, delicious cocktails and more.

The perfect spot to enjoy conch and a Kalik beer.

GALYNA ANDRUSHKO/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Pompey Square, Downtown on Bay Street, Nassau, Bahamas Tel. 242-325-2544

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Ports of call | New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS

It’s the diverse heritage that makes this city uniquely alive with tradition.

The Big Easy has had some hard times, but it’s ready to party again and entertains visitors with its food, its music and its own special take on Southern hospitality.

Quick Guide Famed for: Mardi Gras, unique architecture and creole cuisine.

It’s a Fact: With a long history of being associated with many diverse music styles, New Orleans is universally recognized as the birthplace of jazz.

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, chicory-style coffee from Café du Monde and a bottle or two of hot sauce.

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CRUISE NEW ORLEANS A JOURNEY & A DESTINATION

It’s no secret that New Orleans is one of America’s most vibrant and exciting cities. And if you’re planning a cruise, keep us in mind. Carnival sails year-round to destinations in the Eastern and Western Caribbean. But most passengers sailing from New Orleans enjoy two vacations in one by staying in the Big Easy before or after their cruise.

• Aquarium of the Americas • 1,000+ 5-star restaurants • Historic French Quarter • Audubon Zoo • Swamp tours • World War II Museum • Antebellum plantation homes • World-class shopping and art • Steamboat excursions

Cruise New Orleans and Enjoy 2 Vacations In 1

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R. GINO SANTA MARIA/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Ports of call | Ocho Rios

A bright day in Ocho Rios.

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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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 triple threat 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.

Bamboo Beach Club Package

R. GINO SANTA MARIA/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

As a VIP guest, you will be taken to a gorgeous section of the beach, which has been sectioned off for your exclusive use. You'll have unlimited access to the regular Bamboo Beach Club, but you can also relax and enjoy the tranquility of this beautiful area. Pick your spot on a padded lounge chair that is grouped amongst shady random clusters of hundred year old coconut and almond trees. Enjoy cocktails at the exclusive VIP bar, and feast on local specialties such as fresh fish and jerk chicken.

Horseback Ride and 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 horse ride along the Caribbean Sea. After visiting the gift shop, they climb up 600-foot-high Dunn’s River Falls.

Canopy Adventure and 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 Dunn’s River Falls.

Dolphin Swim and Dunn’s River Falls

After climbing the 600-foot-long 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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FOODIO/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Ports of call | Ocho Rios

PORT VIEW

Traditional jerk cuisine.

Things We Love About Ocho Rios 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

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head to the numerous duty-free malls for more relaxed shopping.

Popular purchases at Soni’s Plaza, Harbor Shops, Taj Mahal and Island Village are fine jewelry, watches, Jamaican rum and cigars. Spices are highly sought 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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heartsonfire.com

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Beloved Pendant Necklace

Fulfillment Pendant Necklace

Transcend Dream Pendant Necklace

Transcend Dream Stud Earrings

Beloved Engagement Ring-Diamond Band

Acclaim

Falmouth, Montego Bay, Ocho Rios www.jewelsandtime.com

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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 black-andyellow butterfly has a wingspan of 6 inches, making it the largest butterfly in the Americas. It’s also larger than the 3-inch-winged Jamaican fruit bat, a “rat-bat” as the nocturnal creatures are called. The endangered P. homerus is commemorated on Jamaica’s $1,000 note.

Jamaican Tody This red-throated, upwardly staring Jamaican bird is said to have gotten its color from a drop of blood from the Crucifixion. Unlike other birds, it makes its nest underground. It appears topside often enough, however, and is a common sight for birders.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Jamaica’s $20 note bears the likeness of Noel N. Nethersole; A swallowtail butterfly; 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

Tropical Ferns Ferns aren’t exactly rare in tropical climates, but Ocho Rios, with its nearby rain forest, has more than the norm. In fact, a deep ravine with some 500 species of ferns is located from the Ocho Rios beaches to about 4 miles inland up the mountains. The area is called, with unceremonious accuracy, Fern Gully.

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ANTONIO ABRIGNANI/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Ports of call | Ocho Rios

THE VIBE KEEPS HOLDING STEADY

Artist’s depiction of St. Ann’s Bay.

By Marjorie Klein

Ocho Rios has attracted visitors since Christopher Columbus made landfall in 1494. The area has evolved through rollercoaster 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.

Beginnings The advanced culture of the original settlers in Jamaica, the pre-Columbian Taíno people, is reflected in what remains of their Arawak language — still spoken today — in the ruins of ceremonial ballparks and in their complex religion, which is based on cosmology. Incredibly, the Taíno 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, the first and largest Taíno settlement, located just a few miles west of Ocho Rios, and renamed Sevilla la Nueva.

He remained there 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 Taíno were expected to acknowledge the king of Spain, 202

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 Taíno disappeared from Jamaica only 80 years later. Soon the Spanish would be displaced as well.

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 a monument honoring the Jamaican people who fought alongside the Spanish marks the battlefield site.

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. Then agriculture became more diversified and fishing became a major industry.

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Executive Dual Time Self-winding. Patented time zone quick setting.

Black ceramic bezel and 18 ct rose gold case.

Water-resistant to 100 m. Rubber band.

W W W . U LY S S E - N A R D I N . C O M

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Taj Mahal Plaza • Ocho Rios • 974-2769 Port of Falmouth • Falmouth • 620-4141 Shoppes at Rose Hall • Montego Bay • 953-4611 colors@cwjamaica.com

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Ports of call | Ocho Rios

From Sleepy Village to Industrial Magnet Away from the bustling fishing piers, in the hills just north of Ocho Rios, one Sir Alfred d’Costa suspected that the strange red dirt on his ranch was responsible for the distressing condition of his cattle. 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 deepwater shipping piers fed by conveyor belts that reached 6 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.

Jamaica’s beautiful countryside has inspired a thriving tourism industry.

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 Today Beautiful beaches are among the biggest draws in Ocho Rios.

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JAMAICA TOURIST BOARD

Jamaica gains independence from Britain.

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JAMAICA TOURIST BOARD

Ports of call | Ocho Rios

BUILDING ON THE PAST

By Linda Marx

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.

Harmony Hall, a mid1800s Methodist manse east of Ocho Rios, has been showcasing the finest Jamaican arts and crafts since 1981.

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EXPLORE A TROPICAL PARADISE

Sterling silver charms from $25

Duty-Free Jewelers

Taj Mahal Plaza & Harbour Shops Ocho Rios, Jamaica 876.795.2921 • houseofdiamonds@cwjamaica.com

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Ports of call | Ocho Rios

FLOWERS, FERNS AND WATERFALLS

By Ginger Dingus

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 500 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 Taíno.

Cranbrook Flower Forest The 130-acre haven welcomes visitors to discover its tropical flower forest, wander through a rain forest, 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.

FROM TOP: Shaw Park Gardens; Mahoe Falls at Coyaba Gardens.

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PHOTOS BY: FOTOSEARCH.COM; COYABA GARDENS

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.

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Light up

THE NIGHT.

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Experience at: Ocho Rios: Island Village Shopping Centre Jamaica

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DUNN’S RIVER FALLS

By Marty Leshner

Jamaica’s most celebrated site, without question, is Dunn’s River Falls — a location that’s been featured 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.

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PHOTOS BY: (LEFT) NEWPHOTOSERVICE/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; (RIGHT) COL/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Ports of call | Ocho Rios

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, in its early years, the nation was called Gemecoe, Gemegoe, Jamico, Jammaca, Xaymaca, even Mamecah. The younger brother of Christopher Columbus, Bartholomé, was the first to put Jamaica on a map — although he spelled it “Jamaicha.”

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PHOTOS BY: (LEFT) NEWPHOTOSERVICE/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; (RIGHT) COL/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Ascending the falls.

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Ports of call | Ocho Rios

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.

Rafting on the Martha Brae River.

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DIGITAL VISION PHOTOS

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 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.

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Ports of call | Ocho Rios

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 a historic estate and more like the upscale vacation home of a modern family.

Inside, however, the house’s history comes alive in rich wood wall accents and 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.

CLOCKWISE 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; A flower-adorned stairway.

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PHOTOS BY: KATE MCCLARE

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. Famous visitors, including Sir Winston Churchill, Henry Kissinger, Charlie Chaplin, Pierre Trudeau, Noël Coward and Drew Barrymore, planted many of the trees.

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Ports of call | Ocho Rios

The Blue Mountains as 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 María — an absolutely awe-inspiring vista. It was here that the famous British man-about-town, author, playwright, actor and composer found peace, happiness and “the time to write.” It was at this charming Jamaican dwelling that 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 Sir Winston Churchill, Queen Elizabeth II and celebrities including John Gielgud,

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Katharine Hepburn, 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 bed 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.

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Ports of call | Ocho Rios

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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

PHOTOS BY: THEODOROS STAMATIADIS/ISTOCKPHOTO.COM; BONCHAN/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

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FROM TOP: Jerk chicken plate; For roadside gourmets.

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MAKING SCENTS OF RUM Jamaica 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-year-old brew from cooler climates. Rum ages best in oak barrels. Appleton, Jamaica’s oldest sugar estate and distillery, matures its rum in oak barrels once used for making Jack Daniels whiskey.

That olive-green ring around the edge of your glass is a sign of well-aged rum.

So while you’re on the island, order a snifter of fine Jamaica rum. See, sniff, sip. And enjoy!

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 the 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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A C I A M A REE & J

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The Spices

OF ISLAND LIFE

By Jen Karetnick

KRZYSZTOF SLUSARCZYK/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

In Zadie Smith’s novel White Teeth Jamaican native 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.”

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Spices and herbs.

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L.F/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Clara is worried that the Iqbals, who are Bangladeshi, will find her Caribbean curry unfamiliar, a different species entirely from Southeast Asian curry.

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, 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 20 different spices.

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Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee OF THE

Where to find local mementos in port

Jamaica Blue Mountain® Coffee has a strong heritage, dating back to the early 18th century. Today, JABLUM® Jamaica Blue Mountain® Coffee maintains its rank as one of the world’s most sought-after 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.

Tobacco Shop

Specializing in authentic Caribbean cigars, with an especially wide selection of Jamaican cigars, we are your one-stop Tobacco Shop in Ocho Rios. Our comfortable cigar lounge is perfect for a relaxing smoke, and our walk-in humidor is stocked with high quality brands such as Cohiba, Romeo y Julieta, H. Upmann, Partagás, Montecristo and Royal Jamaica Cigars.

Island Village Shopping Center Breddy21@hotmail.com | 1-876-881-7384

Tuff Gong Trading Post

The Tuff Gong Trading Post is the place in the Caribbean for one-stop shopping for Bob Marley and Tuff Gong merchandise. Come check out our extensive selection of books, apparel, posters, DVDs, CDs and classic vinyl records. Open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

Shop 30, Island Village Shopping Center gongtrading.com

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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, blue-green in color, with little resistance to pests and disease. Its frailty means small yields.

Blue Mountain coffee cherries, furthermore, are hand-picked 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.

Coffee plants thrive at high elevations.

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POIS MOI COLLECTION

Island Village Shopping Centre, Ocho Rios, Jamaica

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Ports of call | Ocho Rios

PICK A PEPPER

The Scotch bonnet pepper has a special kind of heat.

JOOP HOEK/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

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, “habanero” in the Spanish islands and “goat pepper” or rocotillo in the Bahamas.

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