2014-15 Princess Cruises Discover Caribbean, Region 2

DISCOVERY CARIBBEAN

Caribbean — 2014/2015 Cruises 2

PLEASE RETURN MAGAZINE TO STATEROOM AT VOYAGE END

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My favorite way to unwind is to

.

Everyone has their own way of finding peace in life. Maybe you like to close your eyes, imagine you’re on a tropical vacation and escape for a little while. Or maybe your preferred escape is to shop, preferably for well priced, exquisite jewelry. Either way, this is shaping up to be an EXCEPTIONAL week for you!

Come and discover the Royal Jewelers difference. A store created by a woman to deliver what every woman needs...to be treated like Royalty!

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Here it just feels right.

Ensenada

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Cabo San Lucas

Juneau

Marina 8-6, Harbourside, Cabo San Lucas Lopez Mateos 455, Zona Centro, Ensenada

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TABLE

OF CONTENTS

DISCOVERY 2014–2015 Cruises

418 0

26 22

18 20

Let Your Journey Begin

22

Delicious Dilemma

At Your Service

The Night Belongs to You Nighttime Activities

When the sun goes down, the curtain rises on a constellation of thrilling nighttime enticements.

Freshly prepared cuisine Dining options to match your tastes and mood — that’s dining on board your Princess ship.

26

40

44

42 Casino 44

Shows & Entertainment

46

Princess Cruises Captain’s Circle SM

Do It All or Nothing At All Daytime Activities

You’ll discover an incredible variety of activities, enrichment programs and other entertaining options each day on board.

28

Lotus Spa ® & The Sanctuary

30

Boutiques Onboard

32

Princess Photography

33

Enrichment Programs

33

Fine Art Auctions

photography, artwork or other material. Electronic queries only will be acknowledged. E-mail to:

34

Princess Cays

those of the cruise line. Princess Cruises is not responsible for any claims or offers made in

36

Movies Under the Stars ®

38

Youth & Teen Programs

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The contents of this magazine are protected by copyright. Reproduction, either in whole or in part, including but not limited to transmission by any means, in any form — digital, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, or otherwise — is forbidden without express, written permission from the publisher.

The magazine assumes no responsibility for the safekeeping or return of unsolicited manuscripts, editor@onboardmedia.com. Commentary and opinions expressed in Discovery are not necessarily advertisements appearing in Discovery.

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Earn rewards and relax more with the Princess Cruises Rewards Visa Card! ®

®

Enjoy great benefits like these: • NO annual fee1 • NO foreign transaction fees1 • Earn 5,000 BONUS points after your first Princess Visa purchase2 • Earn DOUBLE points on all Princess purchases – onboard and ashore3 • Redeem points toward Princess cruises with NO blackout dates, cruise discounts, airfare discounts, Lotus Spa® treatments & other onboard amenities4

See your Princess Captain’s Circle Host or Future Cruise Consultant and apply today!

1. Offer subject to credit approval. Not everyone will qualify for the Visa Signature credit card and its benefits. If at the time of your application you do not meet the credit criteria previously established for this offer, or the income you report is insufficient based on your obligations, we may not be able to open an account for you or you may receive a Platinum card. Benefits will vary depending upon the card for which you are approved. Please review the materials provided with the Cardmember Agreement you will receive after account opening for more information about the benefits that will apply. This offer is available to new Cardmembers only. For information about rates, fees, other costs and benefits associated with the use of the credit card program, please see the Terms and Conditions.

$0 Annual Fee. 0% introductory APR on balance transfers made within 45 days of account opening is applicable for the first fifteen billing cycles that immediately follows each balance transfer made within the first 45 days (the “Introductory Period”). For purchases, and for balance transfers after the Introductory Period, the variable APR is 13.99%, 16.99% or 20.99% depending upon our review of your application and your credit history at account opening. The variable APR for cash advances is 25.24%. The APRs on your account will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate. The minimum monthly interest charge will be $2 ($.50 if you are a resident of Iowa at time of account opening). Balance Transfer Fee: Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater. Cash Advance Fee: 5% of each transaction (min. $10). Foreign Transaction Fee: 0%. The fee for the purchase of cash equivalent transactions (purchase of money orders, traveler’s checks, foreign currency, lottery tickets, gambling chips or wire transfers): Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each cash equivalent, whichever is greater. Disclosure of Required Credit Information: The information about the costs of the card described in this application is accurate as of July 2014. This information may have changed after that date. To find out what may have changed, call us at 866-504-8224.

2. Applicants will receive five thousand (5,000) bonus points after the first use of their account for a Purchase or Balance Transfer (that are not later returned or rescinded and will then be credited to your Princess Rewards Visa Signature Card or your Princess Rewards Platinum Visa Card Account. Balance Transfer Bonus Points: Cardmembers can earn one (1) bonus point per one dollar ($1) in balances transferred to their Princess Rewards Visa Signature Card, up to a maximum of five thousand (5,000) points.

The Balance Transfer is subject to the Balance Transfer Fee set forth in the Terms and Conditions.

3. Princess Rewards Visa cardmembers will earn two (2) points for every one dollar ($1) of net purchases of Princess purchases with the credit card account, and (1) point for every one dollar ($) of net purchases made everywhere else the account is used. Restrictions apply.

4. The Princess Rewards Program offers cardmembers the opportunity to earn rewards towards discounted, reduced and even free cruise redemptions. Taxes and fees may apply. Cardmembers will be responsible for all charges incurred in connection with their cruise (including travel to port of departure). Additional charges may include, but are not limited to, gratuities, onboard purchases and other charges. Other cruise related redemption options are available such as onboard spa experience and merchandise offers. See the Terms and Conditions for complete details about this offer.

The Princess Rewards Visa Card is issued by Barclaycard (Barclays Bank Delaware) pursuant to a license by Visa USA Incorporated. Visa is a registered trademark of Visa USA Incorporated.

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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

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

10

©2014 Onboard Media. No claim to original works of Princess Cruises or advertisers.

Ships of Bermudan registry.

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 Princess Cruises and under no circumstances constitute assurances or guarantees concerning the quality or safety of any such attraction or activity. Onboard Media Inc. and Princess Cruises 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.

PRINCESS CRUISES DISCOVERY

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Turquoise waters caressing soft, sandy beaches; verdant mountains rising from lush forests; delightful shopping choices from merchants who stock wares to fulfill your heart’s desire. These are just some of the pleasures that await you on your cruise.

We are happy to act as your guide with Discovery, which is both a directory of Princess® services and activities and an introduction to the ports of call you’ll be visiting.

Whether you prefer to stay busy with sports and other active pursuits, or your idea of keeping a hectic schedule is squeezing in an extra massage at the Lotus Spa®, you’ll find this journey to be a perfect fit. Read on for helpful listings and other information on the onboard experiences you’ll enjoy as a passenger with Princess, from delicious dining to exclusive shopping.

You’ll also find a calendar of the year’s cruises.

Finally, our Ports of Call guide offers a wealth of helpful and intriguing information on Princess destinations. You’ll find fascinating insights into the culture and traditions of ports you will visit, while also learning where to find the best deals when shopping.

You’ve begun a journey that we know you’ll never forget. Here’s to smooth seas, a fair wind and your most rewarding journey ever. Bon voyage!

The staff of Discovery

14

PHOTOS BY: (BEACH) ORANGECRUSH/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; (UNDERWATER) VILAINECREVETTE/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

A DV EN T UR E AWAIT S

PRINCESS CRUISES DISCOVERY

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HEL L O from your PRINCE S S SHOPPING HO S T

SAVV Y TR AV EL ER 2015 EDITION

BEAUTY BUZZ

HAIR AND MAKEUP TIPS FROM HOLLYWOOD INSIDERS

NIC ROLDAN

POLO’S BEST-DRESSED ATHLETE

ACCESSORIZE ON BOARD

JEWEL COLLECTIONS FIT FOR THE STARS

GO DEEP

MEET FRENCH FREE DIVER GUILLAUME NÉRY

+

THE HOTTEST DIVE WATCHES ON THE MARKET WANDERLUST

ON THE MOVE WITH VOGUE EDITOR KELLY TALAMAS

Naomi Watts THE A-LISTER ON CAREER RISKS, PERSONAL GAINS

FREE

HEART NECKLACE

$

More Than

2,000

Worth of Value

With Exclusive Special Offers and Discounts

FREE

DEL SOL BAG

A few of the resources available for your days on board and ashore.

16

Welcome aboard! I’m your Princess Shopping Host — your personal shopping consultant. I’m here to save you time and money both in the boutiques onboard and in our fabulous ports of call.

During this voyage, I’ll provide you with everything you’ll need to know about shopping. I’ll be hosting the live Shopping Spotlight Show and special events on watches and jewelry, and I’ll be available each evening at the Princess Shopping Desk. I’ll also provide you with maps, brochures, Passport to Value booklets and VIP cards upon request.

Few things are more thrilling on a cruise vacation than shopping for dazzling treasures such as watches, diamonds and jewelry — all at amazing duty-free prices. For inside information on how you can indulge your taste for the best, be sure to read Discover Style, our celebrity-packed magazine in your stateroom — and watch the Discover Style show on your stateroom television. You’ll find even more expert guidance on your television, with video replays of the Shopping Spotlight Show and special features about our boutiques on board.

With all this expert guidance, you’ll know exactly how to enjoy the unsurpassed savings and selection of shopping on vacation!

At your service, Your Princess Shopping Host

PRINCESS CRUISES DISCOVERY

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FINALLY, YOU’RE HERE. Now is the time to do as much or as little as you like. Get out on deck and experience the fresh air, explore your ship and all its amenities. Every aspect of this vacation was designed for you because we provide you with a variety of enriching ways to discover more about yourself and the world around you.

this book of discovery. We call it that for a reason — not only because of the wonderful ports you’ll be visiting, but also because of all the distinct pleasures you will find, one by one, on your Princess ® ship. What will be your favorite venue, activity, restaurant? Enjoy the freedom to spend your days your way.

On the following pages, you can learn a bit more about what you can expect in the coming days in

18

PRINCESS CRUISES DISCOVERY

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WELCOME

ABOARD

LET YOUR JOURNEY BEGIN

PRINCESS CRUISES DISCOVERY

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AT Y O U R SERVICE Princess Cruises — The Consummate Host

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®

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THE CONSUMMATE HOST

SERVICE

On your Princess® ship, gracious and attentive crew members are there to serve you and make your entire vacation memorable.

YOU FIRST NOTICED IT on the lapel of the officer who welcomed you aboard as you crossed the gangway: a blue-and-gold pin that read “Cruise.” Then you saw it again worn by the concierge, and your stateroom steward, and ... What are these pins, and what does CRUISE stand for?

CRUISE began as a program to help keep the passenger experience top-ofmind for all Princess staff and crew, and that is still one of its important goals. But CRUISE is also how we recognize and reward employees for great performance. CRUISE is how we educate our employees for career and personal growth. CRUISE is how we support our employees’ health and welfare so they can perform their jobs with excellence every day. CRUISE is the vehicle through which Princess delivers our core values — we serve, we respect our team, we innovate,

we are consistent, we are accountable and we do it right — to our staff, and motivates them to live out those values and be The Consummate Host.

What does CRUISE mean to you? It means you can expect consistently warm, welcoming service — from courteous greetings in the dining room at dinner to friendly smiles by the stewards — on every ship in our fleet. It means everyone on board is working together to make your vacation a relaxed, rejuvenating retreat at sea. It means all of us know your vacation memories are infinitely precious — and we want you to remember not only our spectacular ships sailing to fantastic destinations, but also how valued you felt while you were on board.

PRINCESS CRUISES DISCOVERY

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DINING

FRESHLY PREPARED

DELICIOUS DILEMMA Your ship is a floating destination of culinary delights, with options to match every taste and mood.

ONE OF THE MOST ENTICING THINGS about your spectacular Princess® ship is the wide variety of tempting onboard options to delight your palate. From specialty restaurants and gracious dining rooms, a warm, freshly cooked meal is never far away. You can have a burger grilled to order out on deck, or grab a slice of handmade pizza to eat by the pool. Maybe all you need is some soft-serve ice cream to fend off the heat. Or keep your eyes open for cookies & milk on deck in the afternoon on sea days. From breakfast to dinner to late-night snacks, Princess raises the bar on dining at sea.

WE UNDERSTAND

how important dining is to the vacation experience, which is why we put such an emphasis on the quality and range of our dining options. Our own Master Chef, Alfredo Marzi, designed the menus for our Traditional and Anytime Dining SM rooms to truly make sure the food

is the star. From our signature pastas to our lighter selections, you’ll savor freshly prepared cuisine, utilizing ingredients with regional influences.

FOR VARIETY, you can choose a specialty restaurant like Sabatini’s, SM with traditional Italian fare; the elegant Crown Grill SM or Sterling Steakhouse SM for an aged prime steak; or the Bayou Café & Steakhouse for a more Southern ambience.

Ask about the Chef’s Table, yet another unique offering — you’ll be invited into the galley for champagne and hors d’oeuvres, and you'll later dine on a special menu conceived by the Executive Chef himself. Or if you happen to have a balcony stateroom, you can stay in one evening and we’ll bring the experience to you — with Ultimate Balcony Dining.

WE INVITE YOU to indulge in all this and more during your cruise.

PRINCESS CRUISES DISCOVERY

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RESTAURANTS & DINING VENUES ON BOARD RESTAURANTS

STYLE

Main Dining Rooms*

SPECIALTY DINING

Traditional & Anytime

BREAKFAST HOURS

LUNCH HOURS

Lunch is available on days, sea days 7:30 AM - 9:30 AM turnaround and in select ports. (see Princess Patter)

STYLE

BREAKFAST HOURS

LUNCH HOURS

TRADITIONAL DINING HOURS

ANYTIME DINING

CHARGES

5:15 PM, 6 PM and 8:15 PM

5:30 PM - 10 PM

None

DINNER HOURS

Sea Days 7:30 AM - 10:30 AM

Sabatini’s

SM

Caribbean, Coral, Crown, Diamond, Emerald, Golden, Grand, Island, Ocean, Pacific, Regal, Royal, Ruby, Sapphire, Star Princess

Specialty

Complimentary breakfast for suites only.

Port Days 7:30 AM - 9:30 AM

CHARGES

$25 per person

N/A

6 PM - 11 PM

Opening times subject to change dependent upon itinerary.

(adults & children over 12 years of age)

$12.50 per person

(children 3 - 12 years old)

No charge

(children 0 - 2 years old)

Complimentary Breakfast for Suites only.

$25 per person

(adults & children over 12 years of age)

Crown Grill

Caribbean, Crown, Emerald, Golden, Grand, Regal, Royal, Ruby, Star Princess

Specialty

N/A

N/A

6 PM - 11 PM

Opening times subject to change dependent upon itinerary.

$12.50 per person

(children 3 - 12 years old)

No charge

(children 0 - 2 years old) Surcharges apply for select food items regardless of the age of the passenger.

$25 per person

(adults & children over 12 years of age)

Sterling Steakhouse

SM

Dawn, Diamond, Ocean, Pacific, Sapphire, Sea, Sun Princess

Specialty

N/A

N/A

6 PM - 11 PM

Opening times subject to change dependent upon itinerary.

$12.50 per person

(children 3 - 12 years old)

No charge

(children 0 - 2 years old) Surcharges apply for select food items regardless of the age of the passenger.

Bayou Café & Steakhouse Coral, Island Princess

Specialty

N/A

N/A

6 PM - 11 PM

Opening times subject to change dependent upon itinerary.

$25 per person and $12.50

(children 3 - 13 year olds)

No charge

(children 0 - 2 years old)

Kai Sushi Restaurant Diamond, Sun Princess

Ultimate Balcony Dining** All Princess ships

Chef’s Table***

Caribbean, Coral, Crown, Diamond, Emerald, Golden, Grand, Island, Ocean, Pacific, Ruby, Sapphire, Sea, Star Princess

Chef’s Table Lumiere Regal, Royal Princess

Specialty

N/A

5:30 PM - Midnight

Nominal pricing applies Breakfast USD $32 per couple or A $35 per couple

Specialty

7 AM - 11 AM

N/A

6 PM - 10 PM

Specialty

N/A

N/A

Onboard reservations accepted only

$95 per person with wine and $80 per person without

Specialty

N/A

N/A

Onboard reservations accepted only

$115 per person with wine and $100 per person without

ATTIRE Smart Casual Evenings: Skirts/dresses, slacks and sweaters for ladies.

Pants and open-neck shirts for men.

Formal Evenings: Evening gowns, cocktail dresses or elegant pant

suits for women. Tuxedo, dark suit or dinner jacket and slacks for men.

Note: Dress code is subject to change with the ship’s itinerary.

The above is a general guide. ©2014 Princess Cruises. Ships of British and Bermudan Registry.

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11 AM - 5:30 PM

Dinner USD $100 per couple or A $125 per couple

LENGTH OF CRUISE

# OF FORMAL EVENINGS

# OF SMART CASUAL EVENTS

1-4 days

0

1-4

5-6 days

1

1-5

7-13 days

2

5-11

14-20 days

3

11-17

21-28 days

4

17-24

29+ days

5

24+

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RESTAURANTS & DINING VENUES ON BOARD (CONTINUED) CASUAL DINING

STYLE

BREAKFAST HOURS

LUNCH HOURS

DINNER HOURS

CHARGES

Casual

N/A

11 AM - 5:30 PM

5:30 PM - Midnight

None

Pizzeria/Trattoria

Casual

N/A

11 AM - 2:30 PM

6 PM onward

None

Burger & Hot Dog Grill

Casual

N/A

11 AM - 6 PM

(Except on Ocean and Pacific Princess)

6 PM onward

None

Casual

6 AM - 10 AM

11:30 AM - 3:30 PM

5:30 PM - Midnight

None

Casual

(Continental Breakfast)

5 AM - 6 AM

11:30 AM - 3:30 PM 3:30 PM - 5:30 PM

Pizzeria (poolside)

Caribbean, Coral, Crown, Diamond, Emerald, Golden, Grand, Island, Regal, Royal, Ruby, Sapphire, Star Princess

Dawn, Ocean, Pacific, Sea, Sun Princess

All Princess ships

Café Caribe

Caribbean, Crown, Emerald, Ruby Princess

Horizon Court

Caribbean, Coral, Crown, Dawn, Diamond, Emerald, Golden, Grand, Island, Ruby, Sapphire, Sea, Star, Sun Princess

Horizon Court Bistro Regal, Royal Princess

Panorama Buffet

Ocean, Pacific Princess

Crab Shack

Casual

Casual

6 AM - 11:30 AM 5 AM - 6 AM

(Continental Breakfast)

6 AM - 11:30 AM 5 AM - 6 AM

(Continental Breakfast)

6 AM - 11:30 AM

(sea days only)

5:30 PM - Midnight

(closed for dinner Caribbean, Crown, Emerald & Ruby Princess)

None

(Afternoon Snack)

11:30 AM - 3:30 PM 3:30 PM - 5:30 PM

5:30 PM - Midnight

None

11:30 AM - 3:30 PM 3:30 PM - 5:30 PM

6 PM onward

None

(Afternoon Snack)

(Afternoon Snack)

6 PM - 9 PM

Casual

N/A

N/A

(Venue does not operate nightly. Operates in Horizon Bistro on GP and RP.)

Fondues

Casual

N/A

N/A

(Venue does not operate nightly. Operates in Horizon Bistro on GP and RP.)

$20 per person

The Pastry Shop

Casual

6 AM - 11 AM

11 AM - 6 PM

6 PM - Midnight

None

N/A

24 hours

24 hours

24 hours

None

Casual

N/A

3:30 PM - 4:30 PM

N/A

None

Caribbean, Coral, Crown, Emerald, Golden, Grand, Island, Regal, Royal, Ruby, Star Princess.

Regal, Royal Princess

Regal, Royal Princess

Room Service

All Princess ships

Afternoon Tea

All Princess ships (Not available on Sapphire when operating in Asia)

Royal Afternoon Tea

Regal, Royal Princess (Served in Piazza)

English Afternoon Tea

Sapphire Princess (Applicable to China season only)

Pâtisserie

Coral, Dawn, Diamond, Island, Ocean, Pacific, Sea Princess

International Café

Caribbean, Coral, Crown, Emerald, Golden, Grand, Regal, Royal, Ruby, Sapphire, Star, Sun Princess

Vines Wine Bar

Caribbean, Crown, Emerald, Golden, Grand Regal, Royal, Ruby, Sapphire,^ Star Princess

6 PM - 9 PM

$20 per person

Casual

N/A

3:30 PM - 4:30 PM

N/A

$20 per person with champagne and $10 per person without

Casual

N/A

3:30 PM - 4:30 PM

N/A

$20 per person with champagne and $10 per person without

Casual

6 AM onward

N/A

N/A

None

Casual

24 hours

24 hours

24 hours

None

Casual

N/A

(4:30 PM port days)

11 AM onward

5 PM - 11 PM

Complimentary food with beverage purchase. (on select ships)

Alfredo’s Pizzeria

Casual

N/A

11 AM - 5:30 PM

5:30 PM onward

None

Gelato

Casual

N/A

11 AM - 5:30 PM

5:30 PM onward

Nominal a la carte pricing applies.

Casual

N/A

11 AM - 5:30 PM

5:30 PM onward

None

Ocean Terrace Seafood Bar

Casual

N/A

N/A

4 PM onward

Nominal a la carte pricing applies.

English Pub Lunch

Casual

N/A

11:30 AM - 2 PM

N/A

None

Grand, Regal, Royal, Sapphire Princess

Regal, Royal Princess

Ice Cream Bar

Caribbean, Coral, Crown, Dawn, Diamond, Emerald, Golden, Grand, Island, Regal, Royal, Ruby, Sapphire, Sea, Star, Sun Princess

Regal, Royal Princess

All Princess ships

Note: Dining options, menu selections, locations and venues may vary by ship, and actual meal times are subject to change. While room service is complimentary, charges will apply to certain food and beverage items. Corkage fee of $15 applies. ©2014 Princess Cruises. Ships of British and Bermudan Registry.

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ACTIVITIES

DAYTIME

DO IT ALL OR NOTHING AT ALL FREE TIME — something each of us has precious little of these days. Of course, that’s why you take a vacation. And on your Princess ship, you’ll find you have plenty of time to enjoy the fabulous options your ship offers.

WHAT’S YOUR TYPE? Are you a fitness fanatic? Do you like arts & crafts? Do you wish you simply had more hours in the day after work and family commitments to just sit down and read a book?

On a Princess voyage, we offer opportunities for every interest to be engaged, which is one of the reasons people often unexpectedly find that it is their time on the ship they remember most fondly.

So now that you’re here, we encourage you to follow your mood to whatever activities and entertainment most interest you. You’ll find a full schedule of what’s offered each day in your Princess Patter. This is your time to do as much as or as little as you like.

PRINCESS CRUISES DISCOVERY

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RENEW YOURSELF BODY & SOUL

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PRINCESS CRUISES DISCOVERY

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HEALTH & WELLNESS

REJUVENATE

Rejuvenate with luxurious treatments in the Lotus Spa or on deck in ®

The Sanctuary.

SITTING OUT ON DECK, you’ll be lulled into a

THE SANCTUARY – TRULY SPECIAL.

blissful state by the sound of waves, the fresh sea air and the knowledge that while you are out here with Princess, you don’t have a single care in the world. And if you think that’s a good feeling, just imagine how you’ll feel after a massage or spa treatment!

Rejuvenate in the open air at the outdoor oasis reserved exclusively for adults, The Sanctuary, available on select ships.*

PAMPERING never felt as good as it does on a Princess ship. The onboard Lotus Spa® rivals most you’ll find on land — offering a sensational selection of services and treatments from facials, scrubs and massages to hot stone therapy, body therapy and body wraps, as well as a full-service salon should you choose to beautify after you unwind.

In this popular haven you can get a massage under a cabana to the sound of the sea lapping far beneath you.

Or you can find yourself an empty chaise lounge in which to enjoy healthy smoothies, energy drinks and flavored waters. A spa menu exclusive to The Sanctuary highlights a variety of light snacks served by special Serenity Stewards. MP3 players are also available with themed playlists, so you can enjoy the soothing sounds of music.

The Lotus Spa Fitness Center offers fitness programs designed to help you maximize your wellness with Tour de Cycle, personal training and classes such as Pilates, yoga, Body Sculpt Boot Camp and TRX suspension training. The Lotus Spa Fitness Center also features world-class exercise equipment so you can tone on your own. * The Sanctuary is available on most ships. Covered cabanas not available in The Sanctuary on all ships.

PRINCESS CRUISES DISCOVERY

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DISCOVER THE FINER THINGS AND COME BACK NEW Visit the Boutiques onboard and discover tax and duty free shopping. Enhance your shopping experience with exciting events like our Runway at Sea, trunk shows and our exclusive onboard outlet.

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BEST ONBOARD SHOPPING MAGAZINE

6 CONSECUTIVE YEARS - READERS’ CHOICE AWARD

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ENRICHMENT

EXPERIENCES

THE PRINCESS PHOTO & VIDEO TEAM CAPTURES

YOUR MEMORIES AT SEA A PICTURE IS WORTH

a thousand words —

especially of your cruise with Princess. And we offer many ways for you to relive your vacation with both photos and video including:

• Formal & casual portraits with multiple backgrounds • Candid photos from gangways and ports to onboard events • Wall portraits, turning your memories into works of art • Souvenir and decorative frames, albums & scrapbooks

• Reflections DVD, featuring video highlights from your cruise • Digital cameras, binoculars & accessories • Prints from your digital camera

PLATINUM STUDIO

by Joe Craig

YOUR LIFE. OUR ART. YOUR LEGACY. Created by internationally recognized photographer Joe Craig, the Platinum Studio experience puts the focus on your inner spirit. Using creative lighting techniques, our specially trained Platinum Artist creates a unique style of art with sessions taking place in a private studio, with no session fee and no obligation to purchase.

CALL OR VISIT THE PHOTO & VIDEO GALLERY TO BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT TODAY!

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ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS SET SAIL WITH PRINCESS, and you’re in for an adventure that’s more than just sightseeing. You will discover an array of engaging onboard offerings to expand your cultural horizons.

An adventure in the

CULTURAL Engaging enrichment opportunities and exciting art auctions bring refinement to your cruise.

Among the wonderful offerings of our enrichment programs is an array of classes, from singing to culinary skills and art history. You can brush up on your cooking knowledge, expand your navigational awareness, or join the Zumba® Fitness dance party.* Get creative and have fun learning new craft activities and much more. Enrichment programs also present intriguing lectures on select cruises, including those focusing on the history, culture and geography of the region you are visiting.

GET INTO THE AUCTION** Our live art auctions are fun, fast-paced and offer an exciting opportunity to collect exceptional works of art. You’ll find some of the art world’s biggest stars — from Picasso to Chagall to Rockwell to Max — all represented, with hundreds of works available from contemporary art’s most popular figures.

So immerse yourself, and experience our auctions, gallery events and enrichment lectures this voyage. And don’t worry about carrying your new collection off the ship, because most works are shipped to your door. * Zumba available on select voyages. ** N ot available on Ocean Princess and Pacific Princess.

PRINCESS CRUISES DISCOVERY

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PRINCESS C AY S ®

There is a cabana with your name on it — that is, should you choose to stay on shore versus plunging into the cool blue.

Of course, on your own Bahaman island, you can do it all.

THE INFINITE BLUES of Caribbean sea and sky just seem all that much more inviting when you’re enjoying them from a secluded beach in the Bahamas. So Princess® has reserved just such a sparkling seaside retreat for our passengers. Welcome to Princess Cays.®

waves, or join a pick-up game of beach volleyball or basketball.

You can paddle about the surf on an aqua bike, or relax on a towel to soak up the sun with your toes in the breakers. Local vendors offer handmade souvenirs at a straw market, while bartenders mix rum drinks at the Banana Beach Bar. And pastel bungalows may be reserved in which to relax and watch the hours go by.*

AHOY KIDS!

Pelican’s Perch offers a fantastic play area where children can build sandcastles or swashbuckle on a replica pirate galleon. It’s all you could imagine of your own Bahamian playground!

What will a day at this private paradise look like? That all depends on your mood. The dress code is extremely casual — so put on your bathing suit, grab your flip flops and come ashore. Once here, you’ll be able to select from an inviting menu of activities. You can look for fish as you snorkel in the gentle 34

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PRINCESS

CAYS®

There’s always plenty for families to enjoy together on Princess Cays® — including fabulous snorkeling.

You can reserve one of our pastelcolored bungalows to enjoy food and drinks with your own private perspective of the island.*

*Charges apply

PRINCESS CRUISES DISCOVERY

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MOVIES

UNDER THE STARS®

THE SKY’S THE LIMIT

Princess pioneered the concept — passengers ®

enjoying a feature film poolside on a giant screen — Movies Under the Stars . ®

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ORDER A DRINK,

grab a bag of complimentary popcorn, get yourself a lounge chair by the pool — or even better, a coveted spot in the hot tub for the greatest show on the sea. Movies Under the Stars® is a real crowd-pleaser, with up to five movies shown poolside during the day, and two feature films at night. What a great way to take advantage of warm nights in the region. A high-tech 300-square-foot LED screen and 69,000watt stereo system assure clarity and quality of sound from wherever on the deck you might be sitting.

EVEN KIDS GET IN

on the fun. Some of the most popular offerings on the Movies Under the Stars big screen are our special Playstation® or Nintendo® Wii TM tournaments. And teens will enjoy latenight screenings just for them, while younger cruisers can take in a colorful matinee with newfound friends!

TO KEEP THE ENTERTAINMENT FRESH, there are other showings besides movies. Major sporting events such as the Super Bowl,® NBA Finals, World Series, NCAA Basketball® tournament and NCAA Bowl Championship Series™ are shown on the big screen, weather permitting.* And you’ll often find yourself grooving to a concert video of one of the world’s most popular performers.

*Satellite coverage permitting.

Note: Movies Under the Stars is featured on most Princess ships.

PRINCESS CRUISES DISCOVERY

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YOUTH

AND TEEN

Kid-sized fun that’s simply

“ S E A S AT I O N A L ”

MOMS AND DADS,

OUR YOUNGEST GUESTS

be forewarned — aside from mealtimes, you may not see your kids much on this cruise. That’s because Princess® has one of the best programs for children and teens from 3–17 of any cruise line.

On days at sea and in port, the fun begins in the morning and continues throughout the day and into the evening in our supervised Youth Centers & Teen Lounges.

ages 3–7 will love our Princess Pelicans program. They can participate in a variety of programs including art projects, sports and games, educational activities, and even pizza and ice cream parties.

Plus, kids can take part in fun events such as talent shows, dance parties, pajama parties and special gettogether dinners. They’ll even paint their own T-shirts and create

other custom souvenirs of their cruise.

’TWEENS WILL REVEL in Shockwaves — a special venue with activities just for them. They can enjoy parties, join sports tournaments

and scavenger hunts, watch movies, learn to cook with our Jr.CHEF@Sea program, participate in talent shows, or enjoy educational programs.

Whatever their age, kids on a cruise with Princess will find fun-filled activities suited just for them.

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PARTIES • GAMES • DANCE PARTIES PLAYSTATION ® • NINTENDO ® WII TM

REMIX What’s a teen to do

SPORTS COMPETITIONS • AND MORE

on a Princess ship? Plenty — because our

Remix teen program is the hottest thing on the ocean. Come make new friends and hang in your own dedicated Teen Lounge with music, games, dance parties, yoga and Playstation.® There are hip hop classes, karaoke, mocktail parties, late-night poolside movies, talent shows, and sports competitions.

If you haven’t checked it out,

come to Remix.

It’s the place to be at sea!

PRINCESS CRUISES DISCOVERY

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THE NIGHT BELONGS TO YOU Step out for an evening of adventure and excitement on a ship of dreams.

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ACTIVITIES

NIGHTTIME

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME you could go out without a single worry — and have so much to choose from? It’s a rare luxury to be able to walk out of your stateroom any evening, and within a short stroll be able to take in a musical, roll the dice in a lively casino, settle into a piano bar for some cocktails and live music or dance the night away in a state-of-the-art nightclub.

From comedy and magic acts to movies by the pool to champagne in an intimate lounge, there’s always more to do than you could fit in an evening.

Fortunately, you’ve got many nights ahead to enjoy all the evenings Princess® holds in store for you.

Whether for a few hours in the lounge or an evening of dancing, don’t miss this chance to cut loose and be enchanted by the night.

Be sure to drop by the Atrium for the fabulous champagne waterfall, or get out on deck for a stroll beneath the stars in the balmy tropical air.

PRINCESS CRUISES DISCOVERY

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CASINO

GAMING

Princess is your

LADY LUCK The onboard casinos offer a chance to play, watch the wheel spin, press the slot buttons and bring home the winnings.

ARE YOU FEELING LUCKY? An evening of gaming and good fortune is beckoning you to the casino, where you can try your luck at any of your favorite games of chance.

Our fabulous, contemporary casinos blend a bit of the excitement of Vegas with an elegant ambience to create a gaming experience unique to Princess. In these lively rooms, you can join other passengers for blackjack, roulette and, of course, an array of slot machines. There may even be a poker tournament getting under way with a seat just for you.

Whether you’re an avid gamer or just an occasional enthusiast, you’ll love the Princess casinos. Those on our grand ships are some of the largest at sea!

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SHOWS

ENTERTAINMENT

Music, dance & all that

JAZZ LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, please take your seats. The lights are dimming, the curtain’s opening, and the show is about to begin.

OUR ORIGINAL MUSICALS

are unforgettable — combining lavish stage sets and compelling scores with the song and dance of a troupe of professional singers and dancers. On every voyage with Princess,® you’ll have the opportunity to attend several different musical productions, each custom created just for our passengers. Check your Princess Patter each day to find out about that evening’s offering. And we’ll see you at the show!

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PRINCESS CRUISES

CAPTAIN’S CIRCLE

®

WELCOME TO

THE CIRCLE

Whether it’s your first cruise with Princess,® or you’ve sailed with us many times before, you’re sure to enjoy the benefits and rewards of the best loyalty program at sea.

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GOLD MEMBERS After your 1st completed cruise • Special Launch Savings • Reduced Deposit • Preferential pricing offers • Circle CenterSM Online - StandBy Program - Referral Rewards - Circle Savings AccountSM • Princess Cruises Captain’s Circle Magazine • Princess Cruises Captain’s Circle eNewsletter • Free Cruise Photo Contest • Access to a Circle Host on board • Members-only onboard events • Princess Passport • Gold Member Pin

BY VOYAGE’S END, it’s likely

TO THE RIGHT YOU’LL FIND

you will have made a new circle of friends at dinner or perhaps in the fitness center, boutiques, bars and lounges of your Princess® ship. Like you, they’re all members of a very special group — those who’ve sailed with Princess, and those we hope will sail again.

a chart listing the benefits of the various levels of membership. To learn more about the program, we encourage you to visit with the Circle Host on board, who can answer any questions you may have.

WELCOME to the best loyalty program at sea. The Princess Cruises Captain’s Circle® was created to thank those passengers who cruise with us frequently — and to offer an incentive to our new passengers joining us for the very first time. A range of rewards awaits you, from exclusive onboard parties and events to access to a Circle Host on board every cruise who can answer any questions you might have about benefits. At higher levels, you’ll receive other perks like Preferred Check-In, complimentary wine tasting, complimentary Internet credit, priority disembarkation and more!

You’ll receive a special Member Number as a Circle Member. Be sure to provide this number each time you make a booking so you can be certain to take advantage of all your benefits.

BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE...

Complete 20 cruises and you’ll earn Loyalty Commends onboard credits from $25 to $100. Other benefits include a private luncheon for the top 20 Most Traveled Passengers or a commemorative gift and bottle of champagne for the top 3 Most Traveled Passengers on each voyage.

NOTE: Captain’s Circle Benefits are subject to the terms and conditions of the Captain’s Circle Program. Please visit princess.com or your Captain’s Circle Host on board to review the full terms of the program and to obtain further details on Member benefits.

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RUBY MEMBERS From your 4th–5th cruise, or 31­–50 cruise days • Exclusive shoreside access to the Captain’s Circle Help Desk phone line • Upgrade to Princess Platinum Vacation Protection - Double benefits for Accident & Sickness Medical Expense and Baggage/Personal Effects coverage - Increases Special Cancellation Credit Feature to 100% • 10% discount off the purchase of our Reflections DVD on board • Ruby Member Pin

PLATINUM MEMBERS From your 6th-15th cruise, or 51-150 cruise days • Credit toward Internet Café packages Voyage

Minutes

7 days or less

150

8 - 20 days

250

21+ days

500

• Preferred check-in at Embarkation • Platinum Disembarkation Lounge • Complimentary Cruise Atlas • Platinum Member Pin

ELITE MEMBERS From your 16th cruise on, or 151+ cruise days • Complimentary shoe polishing, laundry and professional cleaning services • Priority ship-to-shore tender embarkation • Priority disembarkation • 10% boutique discount • Complimentary Grapevine Wine Tasting • Complimentary mini-bar setup • Deluxe canapés on formal nights (upon request) • Upgraded stateroom amenities • Traditional afternoon tea in stateroom (upon request) • Elite Member Pin PRINCESS CRUISES DISCOVERY

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PLAN

A FUTURE JOURNEY

BOOK YOUR NEXT CRUISE

ON BOARD

Let a Future Cruise Sales Consultant help you plan a future getaway, and you’ll get a reduced deposit and up to $300 in shipboard credits, even if you don’t yet know where you want to sail.

Book a cruise or place a deposit while you’re on board and receive a special offer — up to $300 shipboard credit per stateroom. With a reduced refundable deposit of just $100 per person, you’ll get a shipboard credit good on your next cruise with Princess.

If you’re unsure of your future travel plans, simply make a deposit and take up to two years to decide. This exclusive offer is available only to our onboard passengers. See your Future Cruise Consultant for details.

Shipboard Credit*

Cruise Length

Stateroom Type

3-6 days

Interior/Oceanview Balcony/Mini/Suites

$15 $25

7-10 days

Interior/Oceanview Balcony/Mini/Suites

$25 $50

11-16 days

Interior/Oceanview Balcony/Mini/Suites

$75 $100

17+ days

Interior/Oceanview Balcony/Mini/Suites

$125 $150

(U.S./CAN)

C heck the Princess Patter daily for office hours and location.

Shipboard credit is per person, for 1st and 2nd passenger only. On Sun, Dawn & Sea Princess shipboard credit converts to AUD while in Australia.

Note: Future Cruise deposits are available to international passengers. See Future Cruise Sales Consultant for details.

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THE EXCITING NEXT GENERATION OF THE PRINCESS CRUISES FLEET Discover how our new ships’ evolutionary design builds on the hallmarks of the Princess Cruises® experience to transform the way you see the world.

Royal Princess® entered service: June 2013 Regal Princess® enters service: May 2014

From the breathtaking Atrium & Piazza – now over 50 percent larger than our other ships’ Atriums and featuring exciting new eateries – to elegant decor specifically chosen to reflect the warmth and sophistication that’s synonymous with Princess Cruises, to exciting new signature features ® like The SeaWalk , a dramatic glass-bottomed walkway which USA TODAY calls one of the “Top Gee-Whiz Features at Sea” – the next generation of the Princess fleet is sure to impress.

The Enclave

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The SeaWalk®

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Shopping Spotlight

Your daily guide to onboa

Cozumel

From The Desk Of Your Prince

rd and in port shopping.

S h o p p i n g Che ckli st Find this season’s must-h ave brands!

ss Shopping Host

2(X)IST | DI

The “Island of the Swallow s” is steeped in Mayan history, renowned dive sites, and a wide variety of shoppin g experiences. Upon exiting the ship, you will find yourself in the oceanside town of San Miguel, which offers world class diamonds, tanzanite and watches in several upscale shops.

For a historic experience, Liz Wadden you can take in the sites at San Gervasio, which was home to Mayan altars and shrines dating back to A.D. 300, or travel south to explore the Celarain lighthouse Punta Sur. Just as Jacque at Cousteau showed the world the Palanca r Reef, you too can discover one of the 100+ world class dive sites along the coast or head to Chankanaab Park to swim with dolphins.

H AV E A PER FEC T DAY

Bring your Shopping Spotlight newsletter into port. Tuck it into your purse or pocket and put the port at your fingertips.

3.

Gett ing arou nd is as easy as 1, 2, 3

Visit your Fun Shopping Expert on the to pick up yourFinds gangway shopping coupons and VIP cards.

If your ship is at Punta steps away—nodocked a Pier, downtown shoppin taxis necessary.Langost g is If your ship is docked Pier, take a taxi downtown. at Internationaljust Your shopping fun starts along historic waterfront at Forum Shops in downtown Cozume for the guaranteed stores l. Walk for lunch and great restaura nts

& Design

Fendi | DI Forevermark | DI Fruitz | DI / Colombian

Emeralds International

Gift Collection | DI Internatio Gucci Jewelry | Abbott's

nal Watch & Design

Jewellery & Perfumery Jewellery & Perfumery

Kabana | DI

PRINCESS SHOPPING HOST DESK HOURS:

/ DI International Watch

Dior Timepieces | DI

John Hardy | DI / Abbott's

Arrival:

1.

nal Watch & Design

Charles Krypell | DI Crown of Light | DI / TI Day 2 Night | DI

Hublot | DI

Departure:

2.

Blue Heaven | DI Internatio

Gucci Watches | Abbott's

F E AT U R E D P O R T E V E N TS

OFFICIAL PORT TIMES

Alex And Ani | DI

Jewellery & Perfumery

Korite | DI Marahlago | Abbott's Jewellery &

Perfumery Mark Henry | DI / Abbott's Jewellery & Perfumery Movado | Abbott's Jewellery & Perfumery Philip Stein | DI / Colombian Emeralds International Raymond Weil | Colombian Emeralds International / Abbott's Jewellery & Perfumery Safi Kilima | TI Sara G Diamonds | DI Shinola | Colombian Emeralds

International TAG Heuer | Colombian Emeralds International / Abbott's Jewellery & Perfumery WonderStud | DI

Port Shopping Buyer’s

el Shops Downtown Cozum 1c 1d 1e

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Avenida Rafael Melgar

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4c 4d

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Calle Dr. Adolfo Rosado Salas

Calle 1 Sur

Plaza

Avenida Benito Juarez

21b

Tender Pier

must be based on retail prices offered by authorized brand retailers, and the appraisal. Internet pricing brand names must be offers and special clearance mentioned in the sales by authorized brand valuation claims. Claims retailers cannot be accepted are based on documentatio for n received at the time of receipts, appraisals, and/or the sales transaction, i.e. certificates. written or imprinted To initiate a claim: If a problem arises during this cruise regarding a please contact your Princess purchase from a store Shopping Host onboard listed on this map, for immediate assistance. the purchase date, file If a problem arises within a claim online at our 60 days of website: customerservi Relations Department ce.onboardmedia.com at Onboard Media: 1691 or contact the Customer Michigan Avenue, Suite 600, Miami 800-396-2999 Phone: 305-673-0400 Fax: 786.276.0434 Beach, FL 33139. Toll Free: E-mail: shopping.issue Monday – Thursday, 9:00 s@onboardmedia.com a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Friday Hours (EST): 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Program Operator: The port shopping program is operated by Onboard relations claims relating Media, which stands behind to the buyer’s guarantee. all customer All merchants participating included in the shopping in this program have paid program. Onboard Media a fee to be pays a publishing and Onboard Media nor the promotional fee to the cruise line owns any of cruise line. Neither the retailers participating in this program.

Sur

10

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Viva Mexico

8

QUE MARK HENRY BOUTIrite and Hearts on Fire, just steps from

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& Gifts

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al, Diamonds Off d Roof: Diamonds Internation Official Taxi Drop under One Air Conditione

4a A TOUCH OF GOLD Dollar teed Value for your

for 30 years regarded by cruise lines fine jewelry store, highly Mexican opals, pearls • Distinguished: Cozumel’s gold, diamond jewelry, topaz Factory direct prices on rubies, emeralds and Caribbean • Exceptional Savings: diamonds, tanzanite, sapphires, • Luscious Colors: Blue and Ani Glam Rock, Citizen, Alex for peace of mind • Special Brands: Bulova, Money Back Guarantee 30-Day Unconditional • Renowned: Exclusive

Guaran

al • Unsurpassed Shopping Design, Tequileria Internation Korite International Watch & On Fire, Philip Stein, Movado, Light, Kabana, Hearts • Boutiques: Crown of Terrace Bar • DI Lounge: Ocean View 1c 1d 1e

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in St. Thomas Diamonds Internation What began as one store the world. Throughout savings to Caribbean travelers. it is one of the largest diamond retailers in shopping atmosphere Today, more than 125 locations. by providing a comfortable timepieces, distinguished themselves of luxury jewelry and elegant their history, they have service. With a vast assortment value. and outstanding customer providing unsurpassed al pride themselves in location Diamonds Internation Up to 70% off at 1a

Start your day here

5

• Largest selection of emeralds tanzanite sapphires, pearls, and Tisento and Troll Beads • Large selection of diamonds, Marah Lago, Quattour, CZ, Lauren G Adams, • Jewelry: Charriol, Fire free financing no payments and interest • Up to one full year of educated sales staff • Local, experienced, and

at DI -

diamonds savings on loose and set Fire, Gift Collection • Largest selection and Forevermark, Hearts on Brands: Crown of Light, • Exclusive Diamond diamond • Featuring Kabana jewelry for a bigger and brighter Trade in your diamond staff • Lifetime Diamond Upgrades: and master jewelers on Graduate gemologists • Certified GIA/EGL Appraisals: Jewelry: Select your diamond, choose the mounting Piece of • Design Your Own Dream

CARILO HA

6a 6b

Where Everything

Is Made from Bamboo

Most Recomm

from the source at incredible Since 1988: Buy direct ima collection • Tanzanite One Sightholder Shira and the newest—Ml Tanzanite: Kibo, Mawenzi, 100 cts • Safi Kilima Designer ranging from 1 to over Thousands of loose tanzanite, • Incredible Selection: a certificate of authenticity Every stone comes with Couture collection • Authentic Tanzanite: their hottest Safi Kilima see to opportunity • Don’t miss this

DEL SOL

Home to MH Alexand Jewelry color changing Alexandrite the ship!

Mark Henry's natural with • Become One in a Million to vibrant mossy green cabernet red transform • Experience dramatic waiting to be discovered perfectly cut diamond, • Hearts on Fire, the most you can't afford to miss! and Tanzanite specials • Multi-color Sapphire budget to suit every style and • Mexican Fire Opal Jewelry

Store Most Recommended Hardy, Kabana, Hearts On Fire, John Watches and Jewelry Light, Charriol, Gift Collection,

on this map provide

PANAM A JACK

15

Since 1974

tour essentials! get all your beach and • "The" shop to visit to great prices. you know and trust at • Suncare & sunglasses in here, make great presents! for you. & caps, only available fun something casual and • Cool Panama Jack tees Panama Jack always has • Timeless and intriguing, new this week now! Find out what is • Something is on sale 16 BALLES TEROSStores in Mexico: TALLER ES DE LOS Recognized Silver

the tradition Silver Emporium that has always respected by by renowned local family to finding the most unique designs and trends Martha Vargas and silver, they are committed and designers such as and exceptional famous Mexican silversmiths to find extraordinary service Hector Salgados. Be sure reasonable prices. at jewelry and silver items Jewelry in Mexico looks for less Expensive ; #1 Store for Silver from casual to extravagant omegas and chains • Seductive silver jewelry bracelets, earrings, rings, s stones, silver sculptures • Stunning sets of necklaces, mother of pearl, semipreciou Map for a charm • .925 sterling silver with in Town: Stamp your Shopping • Look for the Silver Triangle

One of the Most Sterling Silver Authentic Mexican fine sterling jewelry from Taxco, Guerrero

and more s stones, silver sculptures • More than 70 years offering with Larimar, semipreciou • .925 sterling silver jewelry available quality and home delivery products in Mexico certifies all • Affordable prices, best of Jewelry and Silversmith • The National Chamber

10b

Vanilla, coffee, pewter, hand-blown glass • Made-in-Mexico Products: gifts and souvenirs, onyx, • Wide selection of colorful all at incredible discounts blanket, bag • 100% cotton T-shirts maraca, Mexican hat, Tequila, 2 shot glasses, • Mexican Survival Kit:

7a 7b

11c

11a 11b teed DUFRY DUTY-F REE n, Best Prices Guaran Best Brands, Best Selectio

products • Just Add Sun: Del Sol shorts, hats Shirts, beach dresses, • Color-Change Apparel: guarantee New, polarized, lifetime more • Solize™ Sunglasses: : New styles, colors and • Nail Polish & Hair Accessories accessories & nail polish Apparel, • Disney, Marvel, Pixar:

vs. US Retail liquor, tobacco and confections • Savings up to 70% off for fragrances and cosmetics, • Recommended Retailer Products • Exclusive Duty Free

g Plaz a Roy al Vill age Sho ppin

12b

12a dinary Store LOS CINCO SOLES A Unique and Extraor Simply Spectacular;

in Cozumel

art, crafts, glass and pottery Not to be Missed: Mexican handcrafted jewelry boutique • A Shopping Experience Mexican .925 silver and coffee , tequila, hot sauce and • Every Taste, Every Budget: Clothing, souvenirs, collectiblesCalle 8 • 100% Made in Mexico: corner of the flagship store at the • Come downtown to

of • Designer Jewelry: Crown Forevermark Yvel, Lauren G Adams, Stein, Piaget, Raymond Marahlago Larimar, Rebecca, I.W.C., Movado, Philip Fendi, Fruitz, Gucci, Hublot, • Fine Timepieces: Dior, Bulova, ESQ Weil, TAG Heuer, Breitling,

Pue rta May a Pier

LOCA

STARL

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IUM Owned SILVER EMPOR silver stores in Cozumel. of the art of is one of the longest existing

hange Retailer World’s Largest Color-C change colors with sunlight

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3a L WATCH & DESIGN Designer your DIAMO NDS INTERN ATIONA in the Caribbean for

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13a l RON JON SURF SHOP® Surf Shop… in Cozume

The World Famous fun collectibles and accessories Famous Ron Jon T-shirts,

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Inc. © Onboard Media, All Rights Reserved 07/29/14

gear and sunscreen • The Brand You Know: trendy bags, hats, snorkel • Beach Gear: Logo towels, wear for the entire family • Surf, beach and sun sticker with every purchase your Cozumel Ron Jon • Not to be Missed: Collect

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14a KES & GIFTS Great Service and MAYAN FIESTA RUMCA tic Mexican Gifts,

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rum cakes own Mayan 6-pack of flavors to customize your Free tastings • Choose from 9 tropical Cake; Made in Cozumel; and Mexican Vanilla Rum herbs, spices and more • Must Try: Pina Colada organic coffee, chocolates, spices • Authentic Mexican vanilla, of hot sauces, herbs and Cozumel’s largest selections • Wall of Fire: One of

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Inc. © Onboard Media, . All Rights Reserved the 60-day buyer's guarantee

10a VIVA MEXICO Store for Mexican Gifts #1 Destination Tequila, Talavera ceramic

goods apparel, bedding & bath • Feel the Difference: Bamboo cotton as soft and 3º cooler than • Why Bamboo? Twice hats Shirts, shorts, socks, polos, • Bamboo-Soft Apparel: free to your home Ultra-soft sheets; ship • Bamboo Bed & Bath: & shorts pants, cross tanks, tees • Bamboo Fitness: Yoga

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Punta Langosta Mall

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Only the stores listed

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Museum Of Cozumel

Synagogue Calle 12 Norte

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Dufry Duty-Free Los Cinco Soles

Calle 7

Calle 5 Sur

Calle 3 Sur

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Silver Emprium

Mayan Fiesta Rumcakes

Calle 2 Norte

Calle 4 Norte

Calle 6 Norte

Calle 8 Norte

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Del Sol

Ron Jon Surf Shop

Official Taxi Drop Off

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Cariloha A Touch of Gold

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in downtown Cozume

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Guarantee

This 60-day guarantee assures buyers that the stores listed on this map Buyer’s remorse, buyer’s stand behind the quality negligence, and lost or of their merchandise. stolen merchandise are stores will repair or replace excluded from this guarantee. any unsatisfactory item, Participating excluding watches and and some other branded some other branded merchandise. merchandise carry international Watches brand warrantees and will be repaired or replaced by the brand service centers. repaired or replaced, a refund When unsatisfactory items will be offered. For tracking cannot be purposes, all merchandise store or brand service center. shipments must be authorized Many stores in port, including by the stores that do not participate guarantees. Please inquire in the program, offer their about individual store return own policies before finalizing any purchase.

For purposes of determining quality and value of jewelry and branded merchandise: replacement value for insurance Only appraisals stating purposes will be accepted. retail The appraisal must come gemological laboratory from an internationally such as: EGL (USA) or recognized IGI. Valuation comparisons of watches and other branded merchandise

Only the stores listed

on this map provide

Planet Hollywood Swarovski al Diamonds Internation Watch & Design Lacoste GNC Harley Davidson Martí Cartier Kool Sunglasses

Money Back Café Punta del Cielo Oxxo Nutrisa Hecho en México Majórica Lladró La Ruta de las Indias Rosalia Zingara

Daniel Espinosa Q Bar Mont Blanc Adidas Vilebrequin Sunglas Island Pama CIBanco TAF Camasha

Roger Boots Talleres de Ballesteros 98 Coast Av. Too Late Kafri Ahal Chula

. the 60-day buyer's guarantee

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CAN BALCIOGLU/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Your Shopping Spotlight newsletter will be delivered to your stateroom each night.

Make sure to take it with you into port. You can also see your Princess Shopping Host for more specific information. The host’s desk hours are listed in your Princess Patter.

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Shopping Made Easy

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Whether you’re looking for luxury items or souvenirs for family and friends, the Savvy Traveler is your must-have for shopping in our ports of call.

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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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OBJECTS

DESIRE

Kabana Alhambra Collection Safi Kilima Tanzanite ring

Forevermark Fancy Oval ring

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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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PHOTOS BY: ALEXANDER CHAIKIN/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

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GUIDE TO

PORTS Aruba Cabo San Lucas Cartagena Ensenada Fort Lauderdale Grand Cayman Los Angeles Mazatlan Ocho Rios Puerto Vallarta

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PHOTOS BY: (MAIN) JO ANN SNOVER/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; (RIGHT) RUIDOBLANCO/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Ports of call | Aruba

The dock on Palm Beach on a sunny spring afternoon.

ARUBA

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

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PHOTOS BY: (MAIN) JO ANN SNOVER/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; (RIGHT) RUIDOBLANCO/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Another view of Palm Beach.

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

It’s a Fact: The unusual, sculptured-looking watapana (aka divi-divi), the national tree of Aruba, always points to the southwest. It’s shaped by the trade winds that constantly blow to the northeast.

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

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

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MEUNIERD/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Ports of call | Aruba

T HINGS WE L OVE ABOU T

Colorful architecture lines Aruba’s streets.

ARUBA

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

Oranjestad’s picturesque harbor boasts many tempting boutiques at the Renaissance Mall and Marketplace.

Treasures such as Mopa Mopa art await in the shops along Caya G.F. Betico Croes, a delightful setting with classic Dutch-gabled, pastel-hued store facades. The legacy at the Numismatic Museum is a rich one — literally. It contains some 40,000 historic coins and paper money from more than 400 countries. More heritage is on display at the Aruba Historical Museum. It can be reached with a walk down

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bustling L.G. Smith Boulevard to Fort Zoutman and the King Willem III Tower.

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

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

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Hearts On Fire heartsonfire.com 877.PERFECT

Weststraat #4, Shop #1, Oranjestad, Aruba | 297.583.8780 / 8785 | nash@setarnet.aw 3568.indd 1

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Ports of call | Aruba

Island Highlights

By Sara Churchville

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

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

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

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

Sand Dunes and Lighthouses Explorers of the island’s desert topography on foot will find tumbleweed, aloe, cacti — and sand dunes.

The California Lighthouse, named for a ship that sank offshore in 1910, stands amid the sweeping sand dunes of Hudishibana, on the northwest tip of Aruba. The area around the structure is a popular spot for picnics and beach strolling, and the waters off the beach offer excellent swimming and snorkeling.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: A lighthouse overlooks the water from a sand dune; Pastechis, a favorite island snack; Baby Natural Bridge; Impressive rock formations.

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Hearts On Fire heartsonfire.com 877.PERFECT

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

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Ports of call | Aruba

A Diverse, Friendly

POPULATION

By Gerald Zarr

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

Keen linguists, the people of Aruba use Dutch, English, Spanish and Papiamento with ease, often all in the same conversation.

The Dutch Come to Stay With their lukewarm attitude toward Aruba, the Spanish didn’t resist too fiercely when the Dutch came calling in 1636 to seize Aruba and the sister islands of Bonaire and Curaçao. Once again, Aruba was saved from the slave trade and a plantation economy because of its poor soil and aridity.

Instead, the Dutch left the Arawaks to graze livestock on the parched landscape, using the island to produce meat for other Dutch possessions in the area. With the exception of a short period during the Napoleonic Wars, when the island fell to the British, Aruba has remained Dutch.

Nineteenth-Century Gold Rush In 1824, Aruba experienced its first economic boom when gold was discovered on its northern coast.

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Underground caves at Arikok National Park.

ZINA SELETSKAYA/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

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

Thanks to that laissez-faire approach, the native heritage is stronger in Aruba than on most Caribbean islands.

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Ports of call | Aruba

A flood of gold-hungry immigrants arrived from Europe and Venezuela, and the gold rush was on. A smeltery at Bushiribana processed over 3 million tons of raw material until 1916, when the mines were shut down. After gold petered out, Aruba became the world’s top producer of aloe, just as the sunbathing craze was taking off in the United States. One can still visit the Aruba Aloe Balm Factory and see the production process from aloe leaf to finished lotions and creams.

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

Underground caves.

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ZINA SELETSKAYA/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Modern Politics and Tourism In the 1940s, Aruba began to resent playing second fiddle to Curaçao in the federation known as the Netherlands Antilles (then composed of Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao and Suriname). By 1986, Aruba had enough and became an autonomous state within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, with its own constitution and a high degree of self-governance. For a while, Aruba toyed with the idea of proceeding to full independence, but decided to stay Dutch. In the capital of Oranjestad, literally “orange town” in Dutch in honor of Holland’s reigning House of Orange, a 21-member legislative assembly elected by popular vote meets regularly. The prime minister heads an eight-member council of ministers.

Despite its separate status, the Netherlands is still responsible for defense and foreign affairs, and Aruba retains strong economic, cultural and political ties with the mother country and her sister islands. Before the first luxury hotel was opened in 1959, cruise ships provided the main source of visitors to the island. Since then, both ship- and land-based tourism have grown phenomenally. Aruba now boasts more than 6,000 hotel rooms and over a million visitors each year. Having surpassed oil as a source of revenue, tourism is now the mainstay of the island economy.

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fancy

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

9/5/14 9:39 AM

Ports of call | Aruba

PAPIAMENTO Spoken Here

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

Papiamento is a Creole language derived from African and Iberian Romance languages, with influences from Amerindian languages, English and Dutch. The language has two main dialects. Papiamento, which is spoken primarily in Aruba, and Papiamentu, heard in Bonaire and Curaçao.

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

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

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

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

Welcome Have a nice day!

How are you?

I am fine My name is...

What is your name?

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

Bon bini Pasa bon dia!

Con ta bai?

Mi ta bon Mi nomber ta...

Con jamabo?

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

DUDAREV MIKHAIL/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

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

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Ports of call | Aruba

Shopping in

Aruba CURAÇAO

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

See it? Like it? Buy it!

GOLD RUSH

Day2Night Tanzanite interchangeable earrings

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

Sara G Split-shank cluster diamond ring, 14K white gold

Safi Kilima Kilehe trillion tanzanite bangle

Wenger Escort mens black dial with red numbers, a black strap and a stainlesssteel case.

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ARUBA’S

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

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

In all, the mines in Aruba produced more than 3 million pounds of gold over nearly 100 years of production.

The mines have long been out of use, but Bushiribana’s ruins offer visitors a glimpse into the island’s past. Soaring exterior walls of granite — quarried from nearby boulders — are set along Aruba’s rugged and pristine eastern coastline, with the blue waters of the Caribbean Sea just 100 feet away. The Balashi ruins are in a lush setting overlooking Spanish Lagoon and the rocky canyon of Frenchman’s Pass. The ruins can be reached on horseback, the most common transportation during Aruba’s gold rush. Several horse ranches on the island offer riding tours. Jeep tours are also available. — John Anderson

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DANNY E HOOKS/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Ports of call | Aruba

Children and adults alike are frequently seen playing baseball in Aruba.

BASEBALL:

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

Baseball in Aruba dates back decades. Its amateur baseball federation was established in 1950, and today has a number of teams from each of its four largest cities: Oranjestad, Noord, Santa Cruz and San Nicolas.

Even before 1950, baseball was played on sandlots and dirt fields across the island. According to one theory, American oilmen introduced baseball to Aruba in the 1920s and 1930s, forming an informal league of several teams and sharing the finer points of the game with curious locals.

Since then, baseball’s popularity has spread across the island, beginning with the littlest players. Aruba’s active Little League system regularly competes internationally, with Aruba’s team representing the Caribbean region in the 2011 Little League Baseball World Series.

In 2010, a team from San Nicolas won the Senior League Baseball World Series for 13- to 16-year-olds. Some of 72

these Little Leaguers have gone on to represent Aruba’s national baseball team. They also play for the Kingdom of the Netherlands during the annual World Baseball Classic, a tournament they nearly won in 2013.

A number of Arubans have signed with professional teams in the United States. Xander Bogaerts, a rangy shortstop from San Nicolas, starred for the national team as a youngster and went on to become a top prospect for the Boston Red Sox in 2013, while his twin brother, Jair Bogaerts, joined the Chicago Cubs. The list of past Aruban stars includes Sidney Ponson, a pitcher with a blazing fastball who played for the Baltimore Orioles, among other teams, until 2009. Calvin Maduro played for the Philadelphia Phillies and the Baltimore Orioles before becoming a baseball scout in 2002, while Gene Kingsale played as an outfielder for several big-league teams until 2002. — John Anderson

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Ports of call | Aruba

BOWING IN THE WIND

A divi-divi tree on Eagle Beach.

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KJERSTI JOERGENSEN/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

If you’re curious to know which way the wind is blowing on this breezy island, just take a look at the watapana. Also known as divi-divi, these flexible trees can grow up to 30 feet and have a dome-shaped canopy.

However, on Aruba, the strong trade winds that caress the island influence the growth of the divi-divi, contorting it into a bowed shape.

Divi-divis can bend so low their trunks sometimes run completely parallel to the parched land of the countryside.

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Ports of call | Aruba

Dutch

TREATS

Alongside the typical array of luxury goods, visitors to Aruba can discover some truly Dutch treats, including the iconic blue and white porcelain Delftware.

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

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

MEDIAGRAM/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

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

Delftware plates.

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Ports of call | Aruba

ARUBA TOURISM BOARD

In Aruba since 1969

It’s easy to find places to relax on the beach in Aruba.

SHIMMERING SHORES This area is known as the Turquoise Coast for good reason.

Fine Jewelry, Watches, Silver, Porcelain, Embroidered Tablecloth, Mats and Runners Wi-Fi AVAILABLE

Locations: L. G. Smith Blvd. 90-92 and at the Holiday Inn. Tel.: 297 582 3142 - Email: artistic25@yahoo.com

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

Palm Beach is 30 yards deep with mounds of fine talc-white sand and is one of the most famous beaches in the West Indies. The shore is lined with busy resorts and the waves are usually full of active windsurfers.

Closer to Oranjestad, Eagle Beach is another favorite choice. This beach is generally less crowded than Palm Beach and offers a variety of water sports.

Other possibilities on the leeward coast include Druif Bay Beach, a more private beach less frequented by tourists. Toward the northern tip lies Arashi Beach, boasting an excellent offshore dive site. The easternmost tip of the island cradles a charming cove called Baby Beach, where the calm, shallow, crystal-clear water is ideal for children and snorkelers.

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

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Ports of call | Aruba

Sunny

AND WARM

BOYKOV/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Yes, “sunny and warm” would certainly be a safe weather prediction for Aruba, where the temperature usually hovers at 82 delightful degrees Fahrenheit. But the description applies to more than just the mercury level. It’s also the forecast for the islanders themselves. Now that you’re on vacation, subject yourself to the best antidote to daily-life stress available — the smiling faces and bubbly personalities of the Aruban people.

Don’t fight it! Accept that you’ve traveled through a time warp and have emerged in a different world, one where a congenial, laidback attitude is the rule rather than the exception. You wouldn’t expect anything less from a place where the national anthem proclaims: “The greatness of our people is their great cordiality.”

Now that’s friendly. They’ll even go out of their way to let you know when things will be slightly delayed. One shop window recently advised: “Today’s Papers Will Be in Tomorrow.”

There’s a rumor floating around that those little sunshiny smiley faces you run into back home are actually portraits of typical island residents. True or not, you’ll discover that when someone in Aruba says, “Have a nice day,” they mean it. — Raymond Niedowski Enjoying the sun on a rock formation.

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Colour Diamonds Collection

DIAMONDS & FINE JEWELRY

Downtown Bus Terminal Bldg # 108 - Oroubo Plaza, Weststraat # 13 - Oranjestad, Aruba T (297) 5830080 - F (297) 5822978 - E odiamondsnjewels@yahoo.com O’Diamonds N Jewels

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PHOTOS BY: (MAIN) R. PETERKIN/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; (RIGHT) RAMUNAS BRUZAS/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Ports of call | Cabo San Lucas

Sunset at Land’s End in Cabo San Lucas.

CABO SAN LUCAS Sunsets glow for hours over the vast terrain of Los Cabos, as this gem of a port is known. Its lovely beaches rival those in Brazil, and the waters offshore are home to playful seals, gray whales and a medley of other marine life.

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PHOTOS BY: (MAIN) R. PETERKIN/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; (RIGHT) RAMUNAS BRUZAS/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Different shaped rocks on Lover’s Beach.

Quick Guide Famed for: The rock formation El Arco, whale watching and sport fishing.

It’s a Fact: Cabo claims to be the striped-marlin capital of the world.

Signature Souvenirs: Tequila, pottery and dolphin-swim photos.

How to Get to Town: A tender brings visitors from the ship to the pier. After disembarking, it’s about a 15-minute walk to town.

You may prefer to take a taxi.

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Ports of call | Cabo San Lucas

The view of the marina in downtown Cabo San Lucas.

T HINGS WE L OVE ABOU T

CABO SAN LUCAS Cabo San Lucas is a vacationer’s paradise — done in style.

This once-sleepy fishing village at the southernmost tip of the Baja Peninsula now ranks as Mexico’s golfing capital and a high-end resort destination. Here, visitors indulge and relax in abounding sunshine upon beaches where a day of fun could include sport fishing and kayaking excursions, whale watching and, for the boldest adventurers, parasailing and ATV treks.

For a taste of cultural sightseeing, a stroll along Calle Cabo San Lucas leads to San Lucas Church, completed by Spanish missionaries in 1746. It sits near the town’s main

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square, which is surrounded by shops and restaurants.

Shoppers find plenty to enjoy at the Puerto Paraíso Entertainment Plaza, or within the many other shops and boutiques along nearby Marina Boulevard.

Still other adventures may include an expedition to the Amerindian pueblo of La Candelaria in the nearby mountains. The many tours along the scenic 20-mile corridor connecting Cabo San Lucas with San José del Cabo pass a string of remote beaches and grassy golf courses that shout “world-class” on this strip of the Pacific coastline.

— Richard Varr

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Los Arcos, Cabo San Lucas

Spectacular scenery, spectacular gems.

When you are considering which sites to visit on your cruise this week, don’t forget the amazing stones you’ll see in Cabo.

And you can even see Los Arcos from our window!

So many ways to remember your cruise, all at Royal Jewelers!

Here it just feels right.

Ensenada

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Cabo San Lucas

Juneau

In Cabo San Lucas at Marina 8-6 Darsena, Dock Side

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Ports of call | Cabo San Lucas

T OP SIGH T S IN

CABO

El Faro Viejo Come at the right time of year, and you can watch baby sea turtles hatch near the fragments of a wrecked ship on the beach at El Faro Viejo, where sand dunes rise 500 feet above the water. The sea turtles nest between June and December and between November and February, depending on the species, and the hatchlings emerge 45 days after the mother lays her eggs. The other appeal of the spot is the remnants of an 1890 lighthouse, but it’s the view from the sand dunes that’s sure to be remembered later.

Turtle hatchlings taking their first steps.

OF THE

Where to find local mementos in port Catrina’s Closet

Desert Surroundings It may feel like the tropics, but all around are constant reminders of the desert that is Cabo San Lucas. Just as they do in the American Southwest, palo verde and mesquite trees abound, and much of Cabo’s water supply comes from an artesian well. Cabo’s most famous spot is Los Arcos, a rock formation at Land’s End that resembles a dragon drinking from the ocean.

KJERSTI JOERGENSEN/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Here are a few of the many things that make Cabo San Lucas unforgettable:

Striped Marlin Cabo San Lucas is the fishing capital of the world for striped marlin. Even a novice casting out a line can haul in a catch of these blue, black and silver fish with swordfish bills and lavender stripes.

Fortunately for these fish, they aren’t tasty, so after being photographed with their prize, most fishermen release them.

La Candelaria Palm, mango and bamboo trees are everywhere in this old Amerindian village in the mountains north of Cabo. The real lure for some, however, is the practice of witchcraft that’s said to be still going on there.

An original and amazing store in Cabo San Lucas. Catrina invites you to discover and appreciate her secrets, fine handmade works and many things you will not find at other stores in Cabo. Come to this magic place full of color and surprises. Catrina’s Closet — surely there is something here for you.

Plaza Del Sol Local 2 (Blvd. Marina) the.whales.house@gmail.com | 52-624-105-0524

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Ports of call | Cabo San Lucas

What Color Is

YOUR T EQUIL A? One classic cocktail is made of red sangrita (a mix of lime, orange juice and grenadine spiced with chilies), tequila (white or light golden) and lime juice, each served in a separate glass and lined up side-by-side.

Yes, tequila comes in several shades. White tequila, or blanco, is colorless like water and is generally used to mix the classic margarita. The next step up in color, quality and taste involves aging in oak barrels. By law, the pale-gold reposado must rest at least two months in the barrel, where it acquires a mellow, slightly woody taste. Añejo tequila is barrel-aged for more than one year. It turns dark amber in color and is smooth and meant for sipping.

Mexican law requires genuine tequila to contain at least 51 percent blue agave. A plant with long, spiny leaves that make it resemble an enormous pineapple top, blue agave takes eight to 12 years to mature. Only then can the 40-to-70-pound core be harvested and boiled, and the sweet liquid mosto extracted to produce tequila.

What about the worm in the bottle that you’ve heard so much about? Here’s a clue. If there’s a worm, it’s not tequila — it’s mezcal.

Margaritas are one of the tastiest ways to enjoy tequila.

NITR/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

By Ginger Dingus

Casanova Fine Jewelry & Accessories If you LIKE jewelry, you will LOVE Casanova: Fine Silver Jewelry & Semi Precious Gem Stones Exotic Fire Opals Original pieces designed in Mexico Family Owned

Main Location Hidalgo Street Cabo San Lucas

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Ports of call | Cabo San Lucas

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Ports of call | Cartagena

C A R TA GE N A Formally known as Cartagena de Indias, this city on the Caribbean Sea offers a unique mix of military for tresses and Spanish colonial architecture. Walls that were erected around the city and under the sea in the 17th century are still standing and can be visited today. Forts and strongholds transport visitors back to the days when the city often had to defend itself against pirates.

Quick Guide Famed for: The walled Old Town, cool beaches and sizzling nightlife.

It’s a Fact: Cartagena’s historic buildings are a favorite setting for filmmakers.

Signature Souvenirs: Coffee, Colombian emeralds and handmade leatherwork.

The Old City overlooks the more modern structures of Cartagena.

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PROEXPORT COLOMBIA

How to Get to Town: Take the free shuttle bus from the ship to the end of the pier to get a taxi.

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Ports of call | Cartagena

Carnaval revelers in Cartagena.

T HINGS WE L OVE ABOU T

C A R TA GE N A It’s all here — colonial architecture, a 17th-century fort, fine beaches, a massive cathedral, excellent restaurants and a gold museum. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Cartagena is a wonderful city for walking.

Cartagena’s walled Old City and fortress are the center of social life and shopping. If you are looking for a special gift, remember that Colombia is arguably the world’s finest source of emeralds: A dazzling 98 percent of the world’s emeralds are mined here.

The white-sand beach of Playa Blanca is nearby,

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but most visitors prefer to walk the battlements and stroll through underground passages in the fort or soak up the colonial style of the Old City, with its redtile roofs covering colorful, flower-filled courtyards and balconies.

The Museo del Oro y Arqueología has a wonderful collection of gold and pottery from the ancient Sinú culture. Nestled in the cliffs above the fortress, the flowered patios and buildings of the Convento de la Popa offer a perfect spot for photos of the city, especially at sunset. — Jim Thompson

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Ports of call | Cartagena

Inside the walled city.

THE OLD CIT Y ’S AGELESS CHARM A wall around El Centro encloses the Spanish Colonial buildings, many with facades in different colors. The area is jam-packed with elegant mansions, monasteries, churches, shops, sculptures, plazas and palaces.

With bustling crowds gathering both day and night, people watching is a popular pastime here.

Strolling along winding streets, visitors pass horse-drawn carriages, outdoor cafés, bistros, torch-lit restaurants, overhanging balconies and shaded porches. Locals, tourists and international celebrities dine on rich pastries and sip Colombian coffee while enjoying the sights and sounds of the historic city.

Visitors are drawn to the Museo del Oro y Arqueología, which boasts a respected collection of gold and silver pottery from the Sinú culture; the Palacio de la Inquisición in Plaza Bolívar, a stellar example of colonial architecture; and the Muelle de los Pegasos, the old port of Cartagena on the Bahía de las Ánimas. — Linda Marx

HOLGER METTE/SHUTTERSTOCK

The charm and romance of El Centro in Cartagena make it one of the city’s most popular and beloved areas.

Coffee And...

Upstairs Pierino Gallo Cartagena, Colombia

* Premium coffee whole beans & ground * Christmas ornaments * T-shirts * Handcrafts * Cigars * Pre-Columbian reproductions & lovely, affordable jewelry * Single-origin Colombian chocolates * Refreshments & beer 96

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PHOTOS BY: JENNIFER KING/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; CREATIVE JEN DESIGNS/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Ports of call | Ensenada

Rolling hills overlook the busy port.

ENSENADA A noted commercial fishing center, Ensenada attracts boaters, divers, snorkelers and serious anglers in search of the big one.

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PHOTOS BY: JENNIFER KING/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; CREATIVE JEN DESIGNS/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Fishing is one of Ensenada’s main attractions.

Quick Guide Famed for: Sport fishing, beaches and La Bufadora, one of the world’s largest water spouts.

It’s a Fact: The Guadalupe Valley region is home to 80 wineries, where 90 percent of Mexican wine is produced.

Signature Souvenirs: Silver jewelry, serapes, Aztec-style pottery and baskets from the Kumiai and Pai Pai tribes of Northern Baja.

How to Get to Town: It’s a short walk from the pier to town.

Taxis and horse-drawn surreys are also available.

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Ports of call | Ensenada

MAKE MINE A

MEXICAN WINE

OF THE

It’s been dubbed the new Napa Valley. Exploring Baja California’s unique Ruta del Vino from Ensenada is a wine lover’s dream.

When most people put Mexico and alcohol in the same sentence, tequila is

Where to find local mementos in port

often the first thing that comes to mind. However, the Mexican state of Baja, California, and its capital, Ensenada, have become famous for a different kind of drink. Baja’s temperate climate, combined with its porous soil and cooling

Bazar Casa Ramirez

At Bazar Casa Ramirez, discover high-quality Talavera pottery and ceramics, wrought-iron pieces and papier-mâché figurines. This lovely two-story shop also offers an ample selection of amazing Mexican folk art, including figurines and designs inspired by Día de Muertos as well as a wide variety of unique crosses, mirrors, nativity scenes, woodcarvings and sterling silver.

496 López Mateos Avenue, Centro 646-178–8209

sea breezes, make the region ideal for grape cultivation. Nearly 90 percent of Mexico’s wine is produced here. Ensenada’s countryside is part of the Ruta del Vino or “wine route” — a 14-mile region of green valleys and gently sloping hills that stretches from the Valle de Guadalupe to Tecate, a small town on the US border famous for its beer.

When the Spanish conquistadors arrived in the 16th century, they brought along vines and wine culture. This marked the beginning of Mexico’s long history producing wine, with the first vineyard established in 1597. The northern end of the Baja peninsula is one of the New World’s oldest wine regions, and the Vine and Wine Museum near Ensenada eloquently tells the story of Mexican wine cultivation through its fascinating exhibits.

The highest concentration of wineries is in the Valle de Guadalupe, where approximately 50 vineyards of varying sizes produce both red and white wines.

Enjoy our selection of sterling silver, Lladró figurines, handicrafts, fashion handbags and more — all tax-free.

498 López Mateos Avenue, Centro mc@bolsasymaletas.com

The desert environment allows nearly all the world’s warm-climate grape varieties to thrive. Reds include cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, merlot, zinfandel, shiraz, tempranillo and malbec. The region’s red wines are full-bodied and high in alcohol, with black-fruit flavors and an occasional blast of heat.

Top picks among the lineup of white wines include early harvested oak-free chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, sémillon and viognier, all with zesty fruit flavors such as pineapple and peach and frequent notes of butter and dark sugar.

August is harvesting season, marked by the annual Fiesta Nacional de la Vendimia, but Ensenada’s wineries along the Ruta del Vino are open all year long. Visitors along the scenic route are welcome to attend tastings at select

Mariscos Ensenada

With 35 years’ experience in seafood and Mexican food, Mariscos Ensenada, located in the city center, always has fresh seafood, delicious Mexican food and exquisite margaritas. Our attentive, bilingual staff is at your service.

vineyards, where they can sample local wines and pick up a bottle to enjoy

HORIYAN/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Mario’s Silver Shop

back home. — Joanna Hall Raise a glass (or two).

First Street between Ruiz and Gastelum 526-461-173726

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Life is a collection of special moments.

Spectacular sunrises over the desert that you never imagined could have so many colors, and spectacular enamel rings in shades to match each moment.

Some call it serendipity, we prefer to call it Royal Jewelers!

Here it just feels right.

Ensenada

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Cabo San Lucas

Juneau

Lopez Mateos 455 Zona Centro, Ensenada

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PHOTOS BY: (MAIN) IVAN CHOLAKOV/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; (LOWER) R. PETERKIN/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Ports of call | Fort Lauderdale

Discover fun on the sand and in the sky on the city’s beaches.

FOR T L AUDERDALE With more than 300 miles of navigable waterways, a waterfront park in the middle of downtown, miles of spiffy beaches and the International Swimming Hall of Fame, it’s no wonder Fort Lauderdale has a reputation for loving all things aquatic.

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PHOTOS BY: (MAIN) IVAN CHOLAKOV/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; (LOWER) R. PETERKIN/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Fort Lauderdale’s beaches seem to go on forever.

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

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

Signature Souvenirs: Seashells, alligator trinkets and juicy oranges.

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A

place where the shopping is sublime, the fashions exquisite, and the attitude pure Fort Lauderdale.

Among our three world-class department stores, Neiman Marcus, Macy’s and Dillard’s you’ll find an expansive array of the most sought after names.

Over one-hundred luxurious stores are available for your shopping pleasure that include Apple, Brighton, Michael Kors, J.Crew, and Williams-Sonoma to name a few.

Sophisticated, in every sense.

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

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

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2414 2414 East East Sunrise Sunrise Boulevard Boulevard| |Fort Fort Lauderdale, Lauderdale, Florida Florida 33304 33304| |954.564.1015 954.564.1015| |www.galleriamall-fl.com www.galleriamall-fl.com Monday-Saturday Monday-Saturday | 10 | 10 am am toto 99 pm pm | Sunday | Sunday | Noon | Noon toto 66 pm pm

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PHOTOS BY: (LIMESTONE ROCKS) JO ANN SNOVER/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; (DOCK) JO ANN SNOVER/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Ports of call | Grand Cayman

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

G R A N D C AY M A N 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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PHOTOS BY: (LIMESTONE ROCKS) JO ANN SNOVER/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; (DOCK) JO ANN SNOVER/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Grand Cayman’s Rum Point.

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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T HINGS WE L OVE ABOU T

Frolicking with stingrays in the waters of Grand Cayman.

GR A ND C AY M A N 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

F R O M P R I VAT E E R S TO MAS TER 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 | info@turtle.ky

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| 1 345.949.3894

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Ports of call | Grand Cayman

special advertising feature

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C A RIBBE A N VIE WS 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

SNOR K ELING T HE C AY M A N S

A vibrant coral colony.

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FRANTISEKHOJDYSZ/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

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

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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 PAL M 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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GWOEII/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

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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PHOTOS BY: (MAIN) MICHAEL C. GRAY/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; (RIGHT) ALBO/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Sunrise over Los Angeles.

LOS ANGELES A vibrant, glittering city favored with balmy weather and an endless stretch of beach, Los Angeles also boasts lavish boutiques, eclectic eateries and a celebrity seemingly appearing at every turn.

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PHOTOS BY: (MAIN) MICHAEL C. GRAY/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; (RIGHT) ALBO/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Rodeo Drive in Los Angeles.

Quick Guide Famed for: Hollywood, ultra-luxury shopping on Rodeo Drive and a wide variety of ethnic cultures and cuisines.

It’s a Fact: In the 1700s, the city was originally called El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de Los Ángeles de la Porciúncula, which means Town of Our Lady the Queen of the Angels of the Small Portion (of land).

Signature Souvenirs: Surfer paraphernalia and a map of the stars’ homes.

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PHOTOS BY: (MAIN) HOLLY KUCHERA/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; (RIGHT) TYLER BOYES/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM.

Ports of call | Mazatlán

Beach at sunrise in Mazatlán.

M A Z AT L Á N Dubbed the “Pearl of the Pacific,” Mazatlán has grown from a quaint colonial town to a booming resort destination that’s widely regarded as one of Mexico’s most friendly beach destinations.

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PHOTOS BY: (MAIN) HOLLY KUCHERA/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; (RIGHT) TYLER BOYES/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM.

Mazatlán’s busy shoreside.

Quick Guide Famed for: Twelve miles of sandy beaches, shrimp and a resplendent historic zone with cobbled streets and restored historic architecture.

It’s a Fact: Mazatlán’s balmy waters serve as the meeting point for the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific Ocean, giving it a dynamic underwater ecosystem.

Signature Souvenirs: Silver jewelry from nearby mining towns, a handmade leather mask and ceramics from the art studios in the Centro Histórico (Old Town).

How to Get to Town: Cruise ships dock at the commercial port, which is a 15-minute walk to the Centro Histórico. Taxis are also available outside of the terminal.

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PHOTOMATZ/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Ports of call | Mazatlán

Mazatlán’s Centro Histórico.

T HINGS WE L OVE ABOU T

M A Z AT L Á N Mazatlán’s stunning coastline, complete with glitzy hotels and sandy beaches, has earned this Mexican port stop the welldeserved reputation of an ideal beach town. But a short stroll further inland reveals there’s more to Mazatlán than just sun and sandy beaches, including a picturesque city center rich in history and culture.

Stroll over cobblestoned streets to Centro Histórico (Old Town) and discover newly revived 19th-century buildings washed in a vibrant palette of pastels, a place where the traditional mingles with the new. The centerpiece is the Teatro Ángela Peralta, named for a famous opera singer. This beautifully restored Italian-style theater is at the heart of the city’s

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cultural renaissance, a lively transformation that has turned a section of the city that had once been left to decay into a thriving cosmopolitan arts district. Music now fills the streets, with sidewalk cafés standing side-by-side with modern art galleries and restaurants offering traditional Mexican cuisine.

Lovers of the great outdoors will also have a plethora of options, from taking a day trip to the offshore beach paradise of Isla de la Piedra, to testing their sportfishing skills on the local tuna, swordfish and marlin. For sweeping panoramic views of the ocean and the city, there’s the 45-minute hike out to El Faro lighthouse, dating back to 1879 and towering over 500 feet above sea level on top of Cerro del Creston. — Joanna Hall

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Ports of call | Mazatlán

Island Highlights Beginnings Mazatlán dates back to prehistoric times, although the city itself is fairly new. Spanish conquistador Nuño de Guzmán burned his way through what is now the state of Sinaloa in 1531. In the 18th century, English and French pirates used Mazatlán’s hill-screened harbor as a lair from which to pounce upon rich galleons plying the coast. The Spanish responded by establishing a small presidio on the harbor and watchtowers on Cerro del Vigia (Lookout Hill).

The City Blossoms In the late 19th century, the railroad arrived and the port was modernized. Improvements included a grand opera house: Teatro Angela Peralta, named for the beloved coloratura soprano who visited in August 1883. Mazatlán boasts the busiest port between Los Angeles and the Panama Canal. In the 1970s, the city expanded to include the white-sand beaches known as Playa Norte, located north of the original old port town. High-rise hotels now line the Zona Dorada tourist area, and the city’s industrial and commercial base serves an increasingly affluent population.

FROM TOP: Old colonial building in Mazatlán; The coast of Mazatlán.

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PHOTOS BY: (DOOR) HUGO BRIZARD/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; (COAST) TYLER BOYES/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

19th-Century Turbulence Mazatlán’s growth in a newly independent Mexico was abruptly curtailed during the Mexican War, when US forces marched in and closed the port. Then, in 1864, French forces, supporting Emperor Maximilian against the Mexican patriot Benito Juárez, bombarded the city and controlled it for several years. These and other incursions gave rise to the tradition of window bars and iron fences, which have become ornamental features in finer neighborhoods.

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Ports of call | Mazatlán

By Chelle Koster Walton

Everyone’s favorite sweet indulgence traces its roots to Mexico, where ancient civilizations considered it a divine blessing from the gods. Who could dispute such heavenly origins?

Chocolate residue found in a Maya pot dating to 400 B.C. suggests that the prehistoric dwellers of Mexico and Central America may have been the first to use the beans of the wild cacao in their diet. Mexico’s modern day chocolate factories continue the ancient and tasty Maya tradition.

The Maya usually drank chocolate for ceremonial reasons, including weddings, royal celebrations and religious occasions, but it was also served as a luxurious treat. It was a long process to turn cacao beans into the frothy, bitter beverage they enjoyed. They first washed

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the beans and dried them in the sun, then toasted them and ground them to a paste in a mortar. After mixing the paste with water, the women would pour the liquid chocolate from container to container to build up a thick froth, or whisk it with a special tool called a molinillo.

Finally, they added vanilla, chili peppers and sometimes a touch of honey.

Spanish Conquistadors developed a taste for it and eagerly transported chocolate to their homeland, where fellow countrymen, well, ate it up. It didn’t take long before all of Europe, and the rest of the world, was enamored with chocolate.

MAYA-STYLE HOT CHOCOLATE 3 cups water 2 cinnamon sticks 1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise 8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped 2 tablespoons wild honey pinch of cayenne pepper Boil water over medium-high heat and add cinnamon sticks. Reduce to 2½ cups. Remove cinnamon sticks; add vanilla bean. Bring to a low boil, reduce heat to low and add chocolate and honey. Stir until chocolate melts.

Remove from heat and discard vanilla bean. Whisk briskly until foamy, sprinkle with cayenne and serve.

ALENA OZEROVA/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

C HO C OL AT E: A GIF T F R OM THE GODS

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Ports of call | Mazatlán

PEARL OF T HE PACIFIC

By Richard Varr

It takes only a short stopover to see why Mazatlán is called the Pearl of the Pacific. Dramatic ocean views and golden beaches welcome visitors to this traditional Mexican town.

OF THE

Where to find local mementos in port Golden Star Sports Bar + Restaurant

Open from 7 a.m. to 4 a.m. for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Golden Star Sports Bar + Restaurant offers fresh seafood, chicken, steaks and hamburgers.

Featuring daily live music, high-definition TVs and nearby beach access. Ask about the daily bar specials.

204 Avenida Playa Gaviotas, Zona Dorada 52-669-160-1629

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TRAVEL BUG/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Mazatlán.

For a bit of “real Mexico,” stroll the old town’s zócalo, or main square — Plaza Revolución — where chatty children and visitors alike stop for cooling shaved-ice treats. It’s where the dual spires of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception tower over the square, as they have for more than a century. A quick walk through Plaza Machado, with its colonial architecture and bustling sidewalk cafés, leads to the bright-pink façade of Teatro Angela Peralta, a restored 19th-century opera house.

Along the waterfront, the Malecón links the old town with the hotel-packed Zona Dorada.

Pedestrians enjoy shimmering ocean views along this pathway dotted with maritime-themed statues, including the centerpiece Fisherman’s Monument, a tribute to Mazatlán’s fishing heritage.

The aptly named Zona Dorada, Spanish for Golden Zone, offers a full day of shopping, dining or just sun-worshiping on the beautiful beach. A hike up to the El Faro lighthouse affords excellent views. Kids can marvel at sea lions and tropical fish at Mazatlán Aquarium. And seekers of solitude can find it at Playa Los Cerritos and Playa Las Brujas, both with golden sand and hardly a crowd.

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Pa ss D ay Fr ee

While in Mazatlan....

Beach, Pool, Drinks, Food Right on the Beach, Golden Zone

Las Flores Beach Resort Golden Zone Walking distance: Spa and Shopping District

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PHOTOS BY: (MAIN) R. GINO SANTA MARIA/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; (HANDICRAFTS) RITU MANOJ JETHANI/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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PHOTOS BY: (MAIN) R. GINO SANTA MARIA/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; (HANDICRAFTS) RITU MANOJ JETHANI/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Jamaican handicrafts are popular souvenirs.

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.

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

Traditional jerk cuisine.

T HINGS WE L OVE ABOU T

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

T HE VIBE K EEP S HOL DING S T E A DY

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, 150

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

10/3/14 10:58 AM

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

B UIL DIN G O N T H E PA S T

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

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Ports of call | Ocho Rios

FLOWERS, FERNS AND WAT E R FA L L S

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.

Sterling silver charms from $25

Experience at: Ocho Rios: Island Village Shopping Centre Jamaica

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

Ports of call | Ocho Rios

DUNN’S RIV ER FA L L S

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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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 S TAT E LY VIE W 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

A N A F FAIR OF THE HE AR T

The Blue Mountains as seen from Firefly.

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

Shopping in

Ocho Rios

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Philip Stein Signature Small w/ white ostrich strap, rose gold and mother of pearl dial

JAMAIC AN 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

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

See it? Like it? Buy it!

TAG Heuer Carrera Calibre 1887 Chronograph 43mm

Le Vian Chocolatier® Gladiator Weave ring

FROM TOP: Jerk chicken plate; For roadside gourmets.

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M A KING 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

F Y T U D ION OF

T C E L E WIDE S

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Ports of call | Ocho Rios

THE SPICES OF ISL A ND LIF E

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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colors@cwjamaica.com

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ACROSS FROM THE CRUISE SHIP PIER

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Ports of call | Ocho Rios

SPECI A L A DV ERT ISING FE AT U R E

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 BE ANS 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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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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Advertising copyright © 2014 ALOR International LTD. All designs copyright © ALOR International LTD.

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PHOTOS BY: VIVID PIXELS/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; KARAMYSH/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Ports of call | Puerto Vallarta

The coast of Banderas Bay in Puerto Vallarta.

PUERTO VALLARTA Relaxed and welcoming, this former fishing village now lures visitors with whitewashed villas, cobblestone walkways and a backdrop of beautiful bougainvilleas.

Puerto Vallarta’s intimate charm has survived the port’s discovery years ago by Hollywood celebrities and jetsetters — and then by the rest of us.

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PHOTOS BY: VIVID PIXELS/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; KARAMYSH/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

A beach view in Puerto Vallarta.

Quick Guide Famed for: The mile-long Malecón, a seaside promenade featuring large sculptures by Sergio Bustamante, Alejandro Colunga and Ramiz Barquet.

It’s a Fact: The city became a tourism hot spot after the Richard Burton and Ava Gardner movie The Night of the Iguana was filmed here in 1963.

Signature Souvenirs: Huichol art, Raku pottery and Talavera tile and tableware.

How to Get to Town: Most visitors take a taxi into the center of Puerto Vallarta, which is about 3 miles from where the ships dock.

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KARAMYSH/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Ports of call | Puerto Vallarta

T HINGS WE L OVE ABOU T

Puerto Vallarta perches on the Pacific Ocean.

P UE R T O VA L L A R TA Puerto Vallarta is a colonial gem. Downtown is a crisscross of cobblestoned streets lined with traditional Mexican architecture.

But any stroll within one of Mexico’s most popular resort towns should begin along the Malecón, the pedestrian, statue-studded boardwalk featuring The Friendship Fountain by California artist James Bottoms and the Roman-like Los Arcos Amphitheater.

A short walk from the square, the Plaza de Armas leads visitors to the cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe and its distinguishing crowned clock tower. A few blocks away, the “Gringo Gulch” neighborhood still attracts American expatriates who enjoy living

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in an exotic destination with all the comforts of home.

Seafar ing and adventurous t y pes may opt for whale watching, diving with manta rays and even parasailing.

Lovers of sand and surf should head to Playa de los Muertos at the downtown’s southern edge.

For the many, however, shopping may be the best option. The Malecón has a dazzling array of diamonds, leather, watches, silver and other fine wares, as well as excellent restaurants when it’s time for a break.

The best selections of Huichol Amerindian art and original cotton fashion designs are found just a block away, on Corona and Morelos Streets. — Richard Varr

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Ports of call | Puerto Vallarta

Puerto Vallarta’s seaside promenade glows at night.

By John Anderson

Beginnings In 1525, explorer Francisco Cortés de San Buenaventura, the nephew of the infamous conquistador Hernán Cortés, arrived in the region and was unexpectedly confronted by a large force of native warriors geared for battle. With less than 100 men, and facing over 18,000 warriors, Cortés tried to convince the natives to surrender but they refused.

Before taking up arms, Cortés asked his men to pray to the Virgin Mary for help; among the Spanish was a monk carrying a flag of the Immaculate Conception. After they invoked their patroness, a brilliant ray of light suddenly illuminated the flag, leaving the warriors and Spaniards awe-struck.

Believing it had been a miracle of divine grace, the two sides promptly withdrew from battle. In commemoration of the event, Cortés called the site Valle de Banderas, or Valley of the Flags, though nowadays the bay is known by the name Bahía de Banderas.

Rediscovery For the next 300 years, the valley remained free of any permanent settlement. At the beginning of the 1800s, silver mines in the nearby mountains were the predominant source of income for the region.

By 1880, the population of Puerto de las Peñas had reached 186

1,500, and in 1885 a Maritime Customs Office was established and the port opened for official business. But it wasn’t until 1918 that a congressional decree finally promoted the settlement to the status of municipality. The act was capped off by a name change to Puerto Vallarta, in honor of Don Ignacio Vallarta, governor of the state of Jalisco and signer of the Mexican Constitution.

After the Montgomery Fruit Company bought 70,000 acres of land in the area in 1925, the new town saw its fortune rise even higher. With plentiful jobs at the new banana plantations, the port boomed with the exportation of the “green gold.”

A Burst of Growth Puerto Vallarta remained relatively isolated and unknown until the 1960s. In 1964, the port was finally put on the map when director John Huston filmed The Night of the Iguana in the picturesque town.

Tourists descended by the thousands, and in 1970 a new airport opened with direct flights to the United States and Europe. The once-tiny community of expatriated Americans and Canadians swelled to a large colony of year-round residents.

These days, Puer to Vallar ta has a population of over 255,000 — with an estimated 3 million visitors each year — but it still manages to retain its charm.

KARAMYSH/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

IN FULL BLOOM

Puerto Vallarta remained a mostly forgotten paradise for centuries, even after Western explorers happened upon it. It wasn’t until Hollywood came calling, only a few decades ago, that the pretty village found its niche as a resort.

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OF THE

Where to find local mementos in port

Galeria Indigena

One of the oldest and largest ethnic art galleries in PV invites you to marvel at a fascinating collection of over 5,000 handmade Mexican objects housed on two spacious floors. Review the history of indigenous Mexican art through museum quality replicas of ceramic pre-Columbian sculptures by internationally known ceramist Mama Mono and modern hand-blown glass art by Jose Luis Martinez.

Discover traditional hand-carved animal figures, black clay pottery, ceremonial masks, hand-woven rugs from Oaxaca, handmade silver jewelry from Taxco and much more. Enjoy a free cold drink and free literature with purchase.

Si Se単or Beach Restaurant

Taste the authentic flavors of Mexico at Si Se単or Beach Restaurant. They offer a complete menu of traditional Mexican recipes and popular house specialties. The full-service bar mixes up the best frozen margaritas in town, plus they add the liquor right at your table to your specifications. Please mention this magazine for your FREE appetizer.

Amapas 114-C Col. Emiliano Zapata www.sisenorbeach.com 322-22-20577 | 322-22-38238

The Blue Shrimp

The Blue Shrimp Restaurant in Puerto Vallarta features fresh shrimp, lobster, fish and oysters. They offer shrimp served in over 30 different ways. Their dedication to quality is found in every aspect of this family owned and operated eating establishment.

Mention this magazine for your FREE appetizer.

Olas Altas 336 Col. Emiliano Zapata www.theblueshrimp.com 322-22-24246 | 322-22-31840

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628 Juarez Centro | galeriaindigena.com 322-222-3007

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Ports of call | Puerto Vallarta

The Quiet Charm of

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YELAPA AND LAS CALETAS Located 45 minutes south of Puerto Vallarta by boat, the town of Yelapa has a certain otherworldly charm.

Its appeal derives from many things, including the complete absence of roads and cars, the thatchedroof structures on poles known as palapas that constitute most of the town’s buildings and simply the still beauty of this small village of 1,500 inhabitants.

Nestled in a natural cove, the fishing village of Yelapa, the name of which means “gathering place,” continues to appeal to travelers who want to commune with nature.

Fishing, swimming, hiking to one of the area’s numerous waterfalls and simply relaxing on the gorgeous beach are all popular ways to while away the time.

To the south of Puerto Vallarta, and accessible only by boat, is the town of Las Caletas, which means “the coves” in Spanish. Surrounded by jungle and tucked into the mountains, the town was director John Huston’s private getaway for many years.

Today, the area is a tropical sanctuary and nature lover’s paradise. Guided nature walks introduce visitors to the many charms of the island, including various Aztec plants, exotic orchids and an aviary complete with macaws.

Popular activities revolve around nature, such as feeding deer, swimming with sea lions, kayaking and snorkeling. Visitors can also scuba dive or, if they’re still learning, take diving lessons.

Of course, not all activities are so energetic.

Plenty of visitors to Las Caletas spend their time simply drowsing in one of the many hammocks randomly situated in the area. — Sara Churchville

Yelapa’s inviting beach.

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PHOTOS BY: MARVIN PERTON; INGRID MAASIK/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Ports of call | Puerto Vallarta

Many sportfishermen are lured to Puerto Vallarta. Here’s why!

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Hooked on

PUERTO VALLARTA The waters off Puerto Vallarta are home to a tempting variety of marine life that makes this one of the world’s great sportfishing destinations. In a region known for the pursuit of the sea’s riches, that’s really saying something.

Centuries ago, the Spanish brought their

Old World skills and artistry in fine leather to the New World.

Today, México is famous for its leather products and craftsmanship.

One of the widest

selections of custommade leather can be found right here in Puerto Vallarta:

PHOTOS BY: MARVIN PERTON; INGRID MAASIK/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Many visitors are content to merely dive the reefs and ogle the small, colorful specimens that flit about.

Others are hooked on larger denizens of the deep.

For the game fisherman, there are bigger fish to fry in these waters: sawfish, snapper, tuna, marlin, dorado and sailfish, to name just a few. Alert divers can even grab lobster off the reefs.

Not feeling that ambitious? You can also reel in a satisfying catch at one of Puerto Vallarta’s restaurants, where the claim of offering fresh seafood is no fish story.

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