MSC Divina brings you all the elegance and glamour of the golden age of sea travel in a new vision. You will really enjoy MSC Divina’s real stone piazza, her Broadway-size theatre, the sweeping grace of her Swarovski crystal staircases, the calm of her Infinity Pool. A spacious, ultramodern interpretation will pamper you with sumptuous comfort and an immense variety of sports and leisure facilities, plus world-class entertainment.

INSPIRED BY SOPHIA LOREN HERSELF

Originally, MSC Divina was to be christened MSC Fantastica. Nevertheless, the actress Sophia Loren had disclosed to Gianluigi Aponte, MSC’s owner and a close personal friend, that she would one day love to have a ship named after her. It was a wish he instantly fulfilled by suggesting the name Divina, which means ‘divine’. The naming ceremony is scheduled for 26 May 2012 in Marseille, planned, true to the tradition of MSC Cruises, baptized their new ships in a major port for the shipping company.

ITINERARIES

MSC Divina’s itineraries cover Mediterranean ports including Marseille; Bari; Dubrovnik; Katakolon; Pireus; Civitavecchia; Messina; Valletta; Alexandria; Haifa; Ashdod; Izmir; Istanbul; St Nazaire; Lisbon; Cadiz; Gibraltar and Valencia.

Itineraries for Summer 2012: Eastern Mediterranean: Bari – Katakolon – Izmir – Istanbul – Dubrovnik – Venice – Bari

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The ship is 333.3m in length and is 38m in width. It can travel at a speed of up to 23.7 knots (43.9km/h; 27.3mph). With 1739 staterooms, she has more than 100 additional staterooms compared to her two sister ships. As part of the (Modified-Fantasia) Divina class, MSC Divina has two additional elevators.

Naval architect De Jorio Design International also introduced a completely redesigned deck, in addition to a new restaurant. The exclusive MSC Yacht Club has been enlarged and redesigned and features many improvements. The ship-in-ship concept allows guests the highest level of comfort and privacy.

MSC Divina features a revised rear-lounge, casino and disco in addition to a new “infinity pool” exclusive to adults only. Aurea Spa will have Balinese massage, saunas, Turkish bath, and more. MSC Divina will also debut Aurea Spa Suites, these are exclusive to Yacht Club members and are part of the Yacht Club complex. MSC Divina also features various improvements in order to keep guests entertained. These include the new “4D” cinema along with a Formula 1 simulator.

CABINS AND SUITES

• MSC Yacht Club Royal Suite (about 52m²): Double bed can be converted into two single beds. Air conditioning, walk-in wardrobe, bathroom with bathtub, interactive TV, telephone, cable internet connection (for a fee), Nintendo Wii console, mini bar, safe deposit box.
• MSC Yacht Club Executive & Family Suite with panoramic sealed window (from 45 to 53m²): Double bed can be converted into two single beds.  Air conditioning, walk-in wardrobe, bathroom with bathtub, interactive TV, telephone, cable internet connection (for a fee), Nintendo Wii console, mini bar, safe deposit box.
• Aurea Suites with balcony or panoramic window (from 21 to 47m²): Double bed can be converted into two single beds. Air conditioning, walk-in wardrobe, bathroom with bathtub, interactive TV, telephone, cable internet connection (for a fee), Nintendo Wii console, mini bar, safe deposit box.
• Balcony Cabins Balcony cabins (from 17 to 26m²): Double bed can be converted into two single beds. Air conditioning, spacious wardrobe, bathroom with shower or bathtub, interactive TV, telephone, cable internet connection (for a fee), mini bar, safe deposit box.

• Ocean View Cabins with porthole (from 12 to 20m²): Double bed can be converted into two single beds. Air conditioning, bathroom with shower, interactive TV, telephone, cable internet connection (for a fee), mini bar, safe deposit box.
• Inside cabins (from 13 to 16m²): Double bed can be converted into two single beds. Air conditioning, bathroom with shower, interactive TV, telephone, cable internet connection (for a fee), mini bar, safe deposit box.
• Cabins for guests with disabilities: Balcony Cabins (from 32 to 42m²), Ocean View (29m²), Inside (24m²). Double bed can be converted into two single beds. Air conditioning, spacious wardrobe, bathroom with shower, interactive TV, telephone, cable internet connection (for a fee), mini bar, safe deposit box.

ECO SHIP

The sea is an ecosystem rich with life and diversity – a fragile system which can be damaged by harmful emissions. MSC Cruises respects the ocean, aiming to carry their passengers around the world with a minimum of effect on the sea itself. They maintain high standards in disposing of waste materials and monitoring our energy usage. They ensure their vessels are as environmentally friendly as possible. The passengers on an MSC cruise will be able to enjoy the lagoons of Venice, the clear seas of the Caribbean or the crystalline fjords of Northern Europe without worrying about the effects of their holiday on the environment.

Enjoy a cruise like no other on the spectacular floating city that is MSC Divina – a superb holiday destination in her own right, offering something for everyone at all times.

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Kuala Lumpur International Airport is capable of handling 35 million passengers and 1.2 million tones of cargo a year in its current phase. It was ranked as the 18th busiest airport in the world by international passenger traffic, and is the 7th busiest international airport in Asia. The increase in cargo volume made Kuala Lumpur International Airport the 28th busiest airport by cargo traffic in 2009.

The airport is operated by Malaysia Airports Sepang Sdn Bhd and is the airline hub or home base for Malaysia Airlines, MASkargo, AirAsia, and AirAsia X.

Kuala Lumpur International Airport has become one of the key economic strengths for the nation, where it is well connected via expressways to all parts of Peninsular Malaysia, highly industrialized areas like Shah Alam, and the information and communications technology hub, the Multimedia Super Corridor. It is one of the important components in the economy of Malaysia, as the airport is the main import-export center for the country. Kuala Lumpur International Airport is one of the five airports to be ranked as a 4-star airport by the independent research consultancy firm Skytrax along with Zurich, Frankfurt am Main, Beijing-Capital and Amsterdam-Schiphol.

The IATA airport code, KUL was inherited from the previous international gateway for Malaysia, Subang International Airport, which currently handles only turboprop aircraft, general aviation and houses a military air base.

History

The planning of KLIA began in 1990 when the government decided that the existing Subang International Airport. With the airport site spanning 100km², it is one of the largest airport sites in the world. It is built on a piece of agricultural land and required no demolition of private property. The master plan of Kuala Lumpur International Airport involves constructing five runways, and two terminals accompanied by two satellite terminals for each terminal over three phases.

Phase One development includes constructing one main terminal accompanied by one satellite terminal that is enough to accommodate 25 million passengers and dual full service runways. Under the implementation of Phase One, sixty contact piers, twenty remote parking bays with eighty aircraft parking positions, four maintenance hangars and fire stations will be built. Implementation of phase two and three will be expansions of the airport to include increasing number of passengers. Ultimately, the airport will be able to handle 100 million passengers per annum once all three phases are implemented. With the workforce of 25,000 workers working 24 hours a day, the airport was built within four and half years. The airport was officially inaugurated on 27 June 1998.

KLIA features a number of modern design features that assist in efficient operation of the airport. It is one of the first Asia Pacific airports to become 100% BCBP – Bar Coded Boarding Pass – capable.

Terminals

The Passenger Terminal Complex (PTC) was built with an emphasis on allowing natural light into the building. Thus, there is a huge expanse of glass throughout the building, and the spectacular roof has cut-outs for natural light to filter in. The PTC comprises three buildings – the Main Terminal Building, the Satellite Building and the Contact Pier. Besides the 80-room hotel at the Satellite Building, there is a 450-room 5-star Pan Pacific KLIA hotel a 10 minute (indoor) walk away. Shopping spots are available in an area encompassing 85,000m². Currently, the retail space at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport stands at 63,644m² (685,060 sq ft). The airport operator plans to increase the retail space to 103,251m² (1,111,380 sq ft), an 62.2% increase in retail space. Malaysia Airports’s retail arm Eraman will boost retail shops to 277 from 242 and add more food and beverage outlets to 99 from 88 presently.

As there are international flights operating out from the airport, therefore terminals of the airport are equipped with immigration processing facilities and security scanning for all passengers including domestic passengers. The Satellite terminal handles most of the international flights, while the main terminal building’s contact pier handles domestic traffic, regional international flights and international flights routed to other hubs within Malaysia. Malaysia Airlines operate from both terminals, where main terminal building’s contact pier is their preferred terminal for domestic flights. Conversely, low cost carries such as AirAsia Group of Airlines, Tiger Airways and Cebu Pacific operates domestic and international flights out of the low cost carrier terminal.

Inter-terminal transportation

Terminals of Kuala Lumpur International Airport are well connected with the KLIA Automated People Mover (Aerotrain), a three-car driverless train that runs on elevated rail and under the taxiways and also the bus system.

Main Terminal Building – LCCT

The LCCT is connected with the Main Terminal Building with a NadiKLIA bus for RM1.50. The Malaysian government announced in November 2006 that it had approved in principle the construction of a rail link between the Main Terminal Building and LCCT. However, the construction is pending until the new LCCT hub complex is fully constructed by 2010.

Main Terminal Building – Satellite Terminal A

The Main Terminal Building and Satellite Building are connected by Aerotrain at three to five minute intervals. The journey between terminals takes under two minutes, and each 250-person capacity train is able to transport 3,000 passengers per hour per direction with the maximum speed being 56 km/h (35mph). This is a complimentary service for all passengers traveling to/from Satellite Terminal

KLIA can be reached by the KLIA Express and the KLIA Transit train services. KLIA Express provides a non-stop express train service to the KL City Air Terminal – the non-stop trip between Kuala Lumpur and KLIA is 57km kilometers and takes 28 minutes.

KLIA maintained its place in the worlds top -10 airports with a 9th place finish, and a win in the Best Immigration Service category. Another repeat win from the 2010, KLIA continues to maintain a high level of staff service for the immigration formalities.

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Costa Rica, which means “Rich Coast”, is a country in Central America. In the north it borders Nicaragua and in the southeast Panama. To the west, there is the Pacific Ocean and to the east, the Caribbean Sea. From rain forests, to dry tropical and temperate forests, to volcanoes, to Caribbean and Pacific beaches, to high mountains, and marshy lowlands.

By Constitution, Costa Rica abolished its army permanently in 1949. It is the only Latin American country included in the list of the world’s 22 older democracies. Costa Rica has consistently been among the top Latin American countries in the Human Development Index, ranked 62nd in the world in 2010, and is cited by the UNDP as one of the countries that have attained much higher human development than other countries at the same income levels. The country is ranked third in the world, and first among the Americas, in terms of the 2010 Environmental Performance Index.

Climate

Costa Rica’s seasons are defined by how much rain falls during a particular period and not to the four seasons in the Northern Hemisphere. Because Costa Rica is located between eight and 12 degrees north of the Equator, the climate is Tropical year round. However, the country has many microclimates depending on elevation, rainfall, topography, and by the geography of each particular region. Humidity is also higher on the Caribbean side than on the Pacific side. The mean annual temperature on the coastal lowlands is around 27°C, 20°C in the main populated areas of the Central Cordillera, and below 10°C on the summits of the highest mountains.

The year can be split into two periods, the dry season known to the residents as summer, and the rainy season, known locally as winter. The “summer” or dry season goes from December to April, and “winter” or rainy season goes from May to November, which almost coincides with the List of Atlantic hurricane seasons, and during this time, it rains constantly in some regions. The location receiving the most rain is the Caribbean slopes of the Central Cordillera mountains with an annual rainfall of over 5000 mm.

Ecotourism

Costa Rica is one of the world’s most popular destinations for eco-tourists because of its biodiversity. Ecotourism draws many tourists to Costa Rica to visit the extensive national parks and protected areas around the country. Costa Rica was a pioneer in this type of tourism, and the country is recognized as one of the few with true ecotourism. In terms of the 2011 Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index, Costa Rica ranked 44th in the world and second among Latin American countries after Mexico. Costa Rica ranks sixth worldwide in the natural resources pillar.

Flora and fauna

Costa Rica is world famous for having an incredibly high level of biodiversity throughout its tropical forests (this covers what you may hear referred to as rain forests, cloud forests, and dry forests). It has been stated in various places that Both tropical plant and animal species abound in Costa Rica. With 25% of the country being national parks and protected areas, there are still many places you can go to see the abundant wildlife and lush vegetation of the country. Just like anywhere, the farther you get off the beaten path, the more likely you are to see a wide variety of flora and fauna.

Some of the more impressive plants range from huge ficus trees with epiphytes abounding on their limbs to approximately 1500 different orchids.

The animals are equally as impressive, whether it’s a jaguar (the largest cat in the New World), the ever-elusive Margay, or the wonderful birds like the green or scarlet macaws (lapas in Costa Rican Spanish.) The amphibians are also quite impressive; the poison dart frogs with their bright colors are bound to catch your attention, or the giant cane toads. There are tropical mammals such as monkeys, sloths, tapirs, and wild cats as well as an amazing assortment of insects and other animals. There are many birds (both migratory and resident) – more on that below.

There is such biodiversity in Costa Rica not only because it’s a land bridge between North and South America, but also because the terrain is so varied and there are weather patterns moving in from both the Pacific and Atlantic/Caribbean.

Volcanoes

Costa Rica is one of the most seismological active countries in the western hemisphere, and as a result several volcanoes have sprouted over the years- most notably volcanoes Poas, Irazu, and Arenal.

Beaches

There are many beautiful beaches – most of the popular ones are on the Pacific side but the Caribbean has many excellent beaches as well. Costa Rica is a country with an extraordinary wealth of things to do, but regardless of your travel interests, you’re going to want to spend time at one of the country’s great beaches. The lion’s share of beach tourism is concentrated on the Pacific side, in the Central Pacific region near San José, the Nicoya Peninsula, and in the dry tropical forests of Guanacaste. Less touristed, but no less beautiful are the beaches in the tropical rainforest of the southern Pacific coast near Corcovado National Park, or on the exotic, Rastafarian, eco-tourism paradise of the Caribbean side. While some of the best beach vacations will be found on tiny quiet beaches off the beaten path, or even at exclusive resorts, there are some country’s biggest and most popular beach destinations such as Corcovado, Dominical, Playa Grande and others.

Rafting

Costa Rica is one of the countries with more rivers per square kilometer than anywhere else in the world. Anywhere you go you will find some kind of float trip to enjoy nature from a very unique point of view. For many years, the rafting Mecca of Costa Rica was Turrialba, a large town embedded in the mountains near the Reventazon and Pacuare Rivers, on the Caribbean slope of Costa Rica. Second in popularity was always the Sarapiqui River shed which pushed the opening of rafting companies near the Arenal Volcano. Then, rivers such as the Penas Blancas (now dammed) and Toro started delighting rafting enthusiasts in the northern slopes of the country. On the Pacific slope is the river with the largest volume, El General. This river is famous for multi-day adventures and for being an incredible playground for kayakers.

Surfing

Costa Rica has many surfing hotspots. The best time of year to surf is from November – August. The Pacific coast, particularly in the Central Pacific and Guanacaste, has some of the best surfing in Central America. In the Guanacaste there are several beaches to choose from if you intend to go surfing. Among them, Playa Negra and Playa Grande are two stand out breaks. Playa Negra breaks over a shallow lava reef producing fast hollow waves for advanced surfers only. Playa Grande is the most consistent break in the area with surfable conditions most days of the year. It breaks over a sandy bottom and is good for beginner and experienced surfers.

Golfing

Costa Rica is also know as a haven for some of the most lush, tropical golfing environments in the world. At any course, you can expect to an ensemble of exotic, indigenous animals; jungle; mountainous terrain; and a surreal, blue ocean painting a brilliant, seclusive experience. Courses are located in 3 major areas of Costa Rica: Guanacaste, San Jose and Mid Pacific. Due to road conditions, you should check the driving times between courses. There are many tournaments during the year that any traveler can participate in. Most courses offer shoe and club rentals.

Extreme Sports

Wind surfing in the Tilarán area is some of the best in the world. “Canopy tours” are very popular in Monteverde and Montezuma. These typically cost between $30-$50 depending on the company and involves using a series of zip-lines to travel between platforms attached to the trees, through and over the forest canopy. The person is secured with harnesses to the metal cords, as some go very high off the ground.

Simple but Wholesome Costa Rican Cuisine

The spiciness often associated with Latin America has typically originated in Mexico, most Costa Rican foods are not spicy, but, as they simmer in a large pot, the flavors are blended.

• Gallo pinto is a mixture of rice and beans with a little cilantro or onion thrown in. While more common at breakfast, it can also be served at lunch or dinner.
• Casado, which means married, is the typical lunch in Costa Rica, containing rice and beans with meat, chicken or fish, always served with salad and fried plantain.
• Plato del dia, is the ‘Plate of the Day’ and is often a Casado, but has the meat or fish selection of the day. Usually around 5.00 USD and includes a natural juice.
• Salsa Lizano is a mild vegetable sauce that has a hint of curry and is slightly sweet. It’s often referred to as Costa Rican ketchup. It tastes good on just about anything! Bring some home with you! You can find smaller sized bottles at any market.

Good, fresh fruit is abundant in variety and low in cost. The mango found in store in North America are much more fibrous and less sweet than the mangos found in Costa Rica. The fingerling bananas are much more creamy and less tart than the ones found in North America. Vegetarians will find it surprisingly easy to eat well in Costa Rica.

The beef cattle are raised on grass; the meat will taste differently from corn fed cattle. The cuts of meat at the local restaurants are also different. The taste of chicken is not discernibly distinct.

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Mardan Palace is located 10km from International Antalya Airport and 15km from Antalya city center. It was built by Azerbaijani businessman Telman Ismailov. It was opened on 23 May 2009 and attended by Mariah Carey, Sharon Stone, Richard Gere, Monica Bellucci, Paris Hilton, Seal, Tom Jones and the Kazakhstani President Nursultan Nazarbayev. Some well-known football clubs like Shakhtar Donetsk and Steaua Bucharest, 2011 and respectively 2012, were guests of honor. The teams held their training camps in Antalya at the invitation of Telman Ismailov, who supported all the costs. It’s considered as Europe’s and the Mediterranean’s most expensive luxury resort. It cost $1.4 billion.

The corporate identity and website for the hotel was created by Brash Brands in Dubai, for which they received an International Design Award.

Mardan Palace Hotel is almost a unique throughout the world with its 24,000m² swimming pool within which is a sunken aquarium containing 2,400 fish. The hotel has 560 rooms, a 12,000 sq ft (1,100m²) spa, and its own beach containing 9,000 tons of sand imported from Egypt. 10,000m² of gold, 500,000 crystals, 23,000m² of Italian marble are used in the construction of the hotel.

A luxury spa retreat offers a comprehensive menu of pampering indulgence to help you to relax and revitalize. It includes saunas, aromatherapy bath, sole steam room, a variety of showers, Turkish bath, relaxation areas, fitness center with state-of-the-art equipment and meditation room overlooking the indoor pool.

Mardan Palace has extensive conference, meeting and banquet facilities with latest state-of-the-art technology, entertainment areas (amphitheater, cinema, and night club), fantastic children facilities and magnificent public places for guests to indulge all day and night long. Mardan Palace’s facilities offer all the services and sophistication that is expected of a top class hotel. And it is probably the most expensive hotel in the world where champagne costs £36 a glass which means that this place is awesome in every sense of the word.

Mardan Palace is a perfect decision and ideal choice to have a relaxing holiday, to enjoy a romantic break, to hold a business meeting, to unwind after accumulated stress, to delight in the best conditions of privacy and tranquility and to regain the well-being at any time of the year.

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1315 Finch Ave W, unit113

Toronto, ON, M3J 2G6

416-633-9404

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Every century except the 21st Warwick castle has seen major building work or adaptations at the castle. Now Warwick Castle is protected against unauthorized change as a Scheduled Ancient Monument, in recognition of its status as a “nationally important archaeological site”.

History

Over its 950 years of history Warwick Castle has been owned by 36 different individuals, plus four periods as crown property under seven different monarchs. It was the family seat of three separate creations of the Earls of Warwick, and has been a family home for members of the Beaumont, Beauchamp, Neville, Plantagenet, Dudley and Greville. The first creation of the Earldom specifically included the right of inheritance through the female line, so the castle three times had a woman (or girl) as the owner. Eleven of the owners were under 20 when they inherited, including a girl aged two and a boy aged three. At least three owners died in battle, two were executed and one murdered.
Warwick Castle is a medieval castle in Warwickshire, England. It sits on a bend on the River Avon. After the Norman conquest of England, William the Conqueror built a castle at Warwick in 1068 to maintain control of the Midlands as he advanced northwards. It was used as a fortification until the early 17th century, when Sir Fulke Greville converted it to a country house. It was owned by the Greville family, who became earls of Warwick in 1759, until 1978.
From 1088, the castle traditionally belonged to the Earl of Warwick, and it served as a symbol of his power. The castle was taken in 1153 by Henry of Anjou, later Henry II. It has been used to hold prisoners, including some from the Battle of Poitiers in the 14th century. Under the ownership of Richard Neville – also known as “Warwick the Kingmaker” – Warwick Castle was used in the 15th century to imprison the English king, Edward IV.
Since its construction in the 11th century, the castle has undergone structural changes with additions of towers and redesigned residential buildings. Originally a wooden motte-and-bailey, it was rebuilt in stone in the 12th century. During the Hundred Years War, the facade opposite the town was refortified, resulting in one of the most recognizable examples of 14th century military architecture.

In the 17th century the grounds were turned into a garden. The castle’s defences were enhanced in the 1640s to prepare the castle for action in the English Civil War. Robert Greville, 2nd Baron Brooke, was a Parliamentarian, and Royalist forces laid siege to the castle. Warwick Castle withstood the siege and was later used to hold prisoners taken by the Parliamentarians.
In 1978, the Tussauds Group purchased Warwick Castle and opened it as a tourist attraction. It is protected as a Scheduled Ancient Monument and a Grade I listed building.
THE WARWICK CASTLE ATTRACTIONS
“The Royal Weekend Party” attraction is opened within the Castle since 1982, when the expertise of the Tussaud’s Studios was used, introducing wax portraits into the Castle for the first time.
“The Victorian Rose Garden” is opened by HRH The Princess of Wales in 1986 having been restored back to its original design.
The Kingmaker attraction – the largest, multi-million pound,  investment in the medieval under-croft.
“Death or Glory”, the Armoury attraction – To mark the millennium, The Armoury is refurbished and the ‘Death or Glory’ attraction opens in February 2000, telling the stories of battles over the centuries, as well as hosting events including Jousting Knights and Christmas Festivals.
“Flight of the Eagles‘” – a bird show, featuring bald eagles, vultures, and sea eagles
Jousting Nights
“The Trebuchet Show” – The owners have spent £20million on restoration.

“The Sword in the Stone Show”
“The Castle Dungeon” – a live actor experience
“Warwick Ghosts Alive” – a live-action show telling the story of Fulke Greville’s murder. Nearly 400 years after his brutal murder, Sir Fulke Greville is back… Warwick Castle’s famously haunted Ghost Tower gets a terrifying fear infusion with Warwick Ghosts – Alive, a spooky live action experience that quite literally brings the story of one of the Castle’s most famous ghosts to life, nearly 400 years after his murder. Using a mix of live actors and atmospheric sound, visual and light effects the story of Sir Fulke Greville’s tragic murder is recreated
Victorian Mill – The Castle Mill & Engine House opened following extensive renovation
The Mill Garden is a private garden adjacent to Warwick Castle measuring half an acre open to the public and situated on the bank of the River Avon. It is owned by Julia Measures, whose family has owned the gardens since 1938 and whose father Arthur worked on it for 60 years. Its informal planting to highlight picturesque river views (and views of Warwick Castle in which shadow it stands) has made this garden renowned among the United Kingdom’s garden enthusiasts. The garden once stood by the bridge carried most of the traffic to Warwick over the River Avon but the bridge now lies in ruins. It is not uncommon to see swans nesting near the garden

The collection of armory on display at Warwick Castle is regarded as second only to that of the Tower of London. In June 2005, Warwick Castle became home to one of the world’s largest working siege engines. The trebuchet at Warwick Castle is the largest catapult in the world. It is operated twice daily. The trebuchet is 18m (59ft) tall, made from over 300 pieces of oak and weighs 22 tones. The machine takes eight men half an hour to load and release. It is designed to be capable of hurling projectiles distances of up to 300m (980ft) and as high as 25m (82ft) and can throw up to 150kg (330lb) of ammunition at a time.
Ghost Stories
Warwick Castle is the subject of many ghost stories. One such instance is that of Fulke Greville who is said to haunt the Watergate Tower despite being murdered in Holborn. The castle’s reputation for being haunted is used as a tourist attraction.
Tourism
People had been visiting the castle since the end of the 17th century. In 1858 Queen Victoria visited the 4th earl with great local celebrations. However by 1885 the earl closed the castle to visitors, causing consternation in the town. Nowadays it is getting over half a million visitors a year.
Admissions
Open daily October-March 10am-5pm, April-September 10am-6pm, closed Christmas Day only, last admission 1/2 hr before closing; complicated seasonal pricing plan: adults £12.95 – £16.95, child £7.95 – £8.95, family £34 – £45; senior and student concessions available; car parking £2.50 – £5.00.

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Ocho Ríos (Spanish for “Eight Rivers”) is a town on the northeastern shore of Jamaica. It is a popular vacation destination and a port of call for cruise ships. It features a bulk of resorts and tourist attractions. The name “Ocho Rios” is a misnomer because there are not eight rivers in the area. It is most likely a British corruption of the original Spanish name “Las Chorreras” (“the waterfalls”), a name given to the village because of the nearby Dunn’s River Falls.

Although he landed in many spots along the Jamaican coast, many believe that Christopher Columbus first set foot on land in Ocho Rios. Just outside the city, travelers and residents can visit Columbus Park, where Columbus supposedly first came on land, and see maritime artifacts and Spanish colonial buildings.

The north coast highway from the international airport at Montego Bay to Ocho Ríos has been improved since 2000 and the journey is now an hour and forty five minutes drive. On 26 August, 2011, the Jamaican government announced a $21 million revitalization plan for the resort area.

Ocho Rios is perhaps most notable for its use in Dr No, the very first James Bond film, which was released in 1962. It was the home of Miss Taro, played by Zena Marshall, who was an adversary of Bond (Sean Connery) and in alliance with the main villain Dr Julius No (Joseph Wiseman). It was the site of a location shoot for the 1988 Tom Cruise film Cocktail.

Jamaica has a gastronomy, which is rich in tastes and colors, that’s why you will find the best menus and variety that Jamaican chefs put on your plates in the number of thematic restaurants.

The Newest Riu Ocho Rios All-Inclusive Hotel

The Club Hotel Riu Ocho Rios (All Inclusive 24h) is located in the banks of the privileged beach Mammee Bay in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, and surrounded by thick woods and waterfalls. This exceptional Jamaica resort features five-star accommodations, fabulous amenities, and superb service. Riu Ocho Rios is a Caribbean resort that has been designed with fun and entertainment in mind.

There is the extensive white-sand beach right in front of the hotel. Windsurfing, sailing, kayak, snorkeling, table tennis, diving, volleyball are the possibilities you can chose from, but you can also practice golf in the nearby court.

In addition to the beautiful beach, Riu Ocho Rios features two spectacular swimming pools with fresh water, Jacuzzi, a solarium terrace, a gym, sauna and the wellness center “Renova Spa” with different kinds of treatments and massages, and world class dining in a variety of specialty restaurants. At this superb Jamaican beachfront location, stage productions are abundant. The Pacha Discotheque is a popular attraction in addition to the Sports Bar which is open 24 hours. Children’s activities are supervised at the Kid’s Club, a favorite amongst parents and children. The all-inclusive Riu Ocho Rios resort also boasts the ideal setting for unforgettable destination weddings and honeymoons. The hotel’s meeting facilities can accommodate up to 100 guests.

What to see and do

There are many different adventure-type activities from rafting to zip-lining.

• Dolphin Cove: Visit the beach of Dolphin Cove where you can swim with dolphins and sharks accompanied by guides. Highway A3. Dolphin encounters and swims. US$129 to swim with one, US$195 to swim with three for 30min. US$50 entrance.

• Dunn’s River Falls, Highway A3 (5 km from Ocho Rios). Climbing these waterfalls in a human chain is one of Jamaica’s most famous attractions. The series of waterfalls span about 900 feet and the park includes a private beach as well as a cafe and craft shops. Park admission US$15. There are lockers available, but they aren’t safe.

• Calypso Rafting: A small business set up a little ways up the White River. They have personal inner tubes down the river for US$25 and bamboo rafts for US$55 per 2-person raft. They can also supposedly do jet-ski rentals for US$70 each. No credit cards, cash/travelers check only.

• Rainforest Adventures Mystic Mountain: A small amusement park 2km west of Ochi, which is a popular cruise ship activity so come early or avoid on cruise ship days. The chairlift (sky lift explorer) is US$46.20. The lift with zip-lining is US$114.40. The lift with a Jamaican ‘bobsled’ (roller coaster for US$68.20. All 3 for US$137.50. The zip-lining includes 5 zip-lines and a 100ft abseil drop. There is a waterslide, small pool, restaurant and viewing tower at the top.

Dunn’s River Falls

Dunn’s River Falls is one of Jamaica’s national treasures. They are described by geologists as a “living phenomenon” because they are continuously rebuilt from deposits of calcium carbonate and sodium from the river water. The Fall is one of the very few waterfalls in the world that actually empties directly into the sea.

Dunn’s River Falls is the most famous and visited attraction of Ocho Rios, which cascades like giant stair steps over the rock terraces down a 600-foot-plus (over 180m) cliff to the sea. The steppingstones of Dunn’s River Falls shower and cool off guests and allow easy walking access up and down the cliff for guided tours. People can see the coastline from the top and participate every week in a feast that features music, dancing and swimming.

Climbing up the waterfalls is a popular tourist activity and is often, but not exclusively, performed with the help of tour guides from the park. The falls are bordered by lush, green vegetation that shades the area from the sun. This helps keep the area cool as people try to climb the waterfall. The falls can be hiked with relative ease, often in a hand-holding human chain lead by a guide.

Jamaica’s climate is tropical, supporting diverse ecosystems with a wealth of plants and animals. In the areas of heavy rainfall are stands of bamboo, ferns, ebony, mahogany, and rosewood. Cactus and similar dry-area plants are found along the south and southwest coastal area. Parts of the west and southwest consist of large grasslands, with scattered stands of trees.

Duppy Fly Trap, or Pelican Flower, is the local name of a plant (Aristolochia Grandiaflora) which is an insect-trapping flower. It is a deciduous vine with enormous flowers that emit an odor that humans consider unpleasant but attractive to insects. The plant does not eat the insect but use it as a means of propagation. After being trapped inside the flower and fully covered with pollen grains, they are allowed to escape, so that when attracted into another “Duppy Fly Trap”, the powder is rubbed off and fertilization takes place.

Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee, James Bond’s favourite coffee, is grown in the Blue Mountains. The best lots of Blue Mountain coffee are noted for their mild flavour and lack of bitterness. Over the last several decades, this coffee has developed a reputation that has made it one of the most expensive and sought-after coffees in the world. Over 80% of all Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee is exported to Japan. In addition to its use for brewed coffee, the beans are the flavor base of Tia Maria coffee liqueur.

Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee is a globally protected certification mark, meaning only coffee certified by the Coffee Industry Board of Jamaica can be labeled as such. It comes from a recognized growing region in the Blue Mountain region of Jamaica, and its cultivation is monitored by the Coffee Industry Board of Jamaica.

The Blue Mountains are generally located between Kingston to the south and Port Antonio to the north. Rising to 2,300m (7,500ft), they are some of the highest mountains in the Caribbean. The climate of the region is cool and misty with high rainfall. The soil is rich, with excellent drainage. This combination of climate and soil is considered ideal for coffee.

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Mexico is one of the most popular tourist countries on earth (over 20 million foreign visitors last year). Much of the tourist industry is centered on the beach resorts.

Mexican extensive coastlines include the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Mexico has nice and warm people, unique food, art and archeology, pyramids, museums, Haciendas, 6,000 miles of shoreline, excellent fishing, superb architecture, lots of golf courses throughout the country, and 21st century cities.

The Mexican Riviera refers collectively to twenty cities and lagoons lying on the western coast of Mexico. Although there are long distances between these cities, they are often referred to as the Mexican Riviera because of their popularity among tourists.

The Mexican Riviera is filled with rich culture, bright flavors, scenic vistas, and most definitely, fun in the sun. Major cruise lines offering Mexican Riviera itineraries for all or part of the year include Carnival, Princess Cruises, Crystal, Holland America, Norwegian and Royal Caribbean. Others, like Silversea, incorporate Mexican Riviera stops into long Panama Canal itineraries.

Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas are the traditional ports of call in a Mexican Riviera cruise. Acapulco and Manzanillo are two other frequent stops. The ports of Ixtapa and its neighbor, Zihuatanejo, are increasingly showing up on itineraries as well. Cruise ships often visit three or four of these destinations on their longer cruises.

Acapulco is one of Mexico’s oldest coastal tourist destinations. Hollywood stars and millionaires vacationed here. Mexican wealthy celebrities, such as Luis Miguel, Plácido Domingo and Dolores Olmedo, have their villas in Acapulco. Acapulco is a party-town with wild nightlife: one can have dinner at midnight, dance until dawn then relax in the daytime on the beach crowded with sexy bodies in bikinis. Acapulco’s landmark and enigmatic attraction is the legendary La Quebrada cliff divers. The tradition started in the 1930s when young men casually competed against each other to see who could dive from the highest point into the sea below. Eventually, locals began to ask for tips for those coming to see the men dive. Today the divers are professionals, diving from heights of 40m into an inlet that is only seven meters wide and 4m deep, after praying first at a shrine to the Virgin of Guadalupe. The spectacle can be seen from a public area for a small fee or from the Hotel Plaza Las Glorias/El Mirador from its bar or restaurant terrace.

Cabo San Lucas is an anchor port for all cruises sailing on Mexico’s Riviera and Sea of Cortez itineraries. The Cabo San Lucas’ landmark is a distinctive sea arch El Arco de Cabo San Lucas, a picturesque rock formation at the southern tip of the city where the Pacific Ocean meets the Sea of Cortez. This spot is a popular gathering area for sea lions. Here, pods of whales can be observed in the ocean. With the population about 60 thousand people and with its rich colonial past, Cabo San Lucas has become an important vacation destination, known for its sandy beaches, world-class scuba diving locations, and amazing marine life. The Los Cabos Corridor has become a heavily trafficked holiday destination with numerous resorts and timeshares along the coast between San Lucas and San José del Cabo.

Puerto Vallarta: Long before it became a world popular tourist destination, Puerto Vallarta was a thriving Mexican village and now it still keeps its village charm. It has over 40km of spectacular beaches along the Banderas Bay. The important agricultural and mining area has given this city a more interesting past than most Mexican tourist destinations. The Night of the Iguana was filmed here in 1963. Walk the streets to the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe and you will feel the atmosphere of colonial past.

Enjoy the authentic Mexican cuisine. Visit many small shops full of local crafts. Puerto Vallarta has typical tropical climate. Winter is a dry season.

Lively Pacific coast town, Mazatlan is a shipping port, a transportation hub with ferries to Baja California, and a beach resort destination with miles of sandy shore. Mazatlán is a Nahuatl word meaning “place of the deer.” The city was founded in 1531 by an army of Spaniards and Indian settlers. By the mid-19th century a large group of immigrants had arrived from Germany. These new citizens developed Mazatlán into a thriving commercial seaport, importing equipment for the nearby gold and silver mines. It served as the capital of Sinaloa from 1859 to 1873. The German settlers also influenced the local music, Banda, which is an alteration of Bavarian folk music. Mazatlán is a popular tourist destination, with its beaches lined with resort hotels. In September 2007, Mazatlan was considered one of the 13 Wonders of Mexico made by man.

Mazatlan is not only a booming resort town, but also the largest port on Mexico’s Pacific coast. Surfing, sailing and scuba diving are popular activities, and the town is a haven for sports fishing enthusiasts. Stroll along Mazatlan’s 10-mile seaside promenade, and stop in a local cafe for a snack of shrimp tacos and beer. Dozens of merchants sell jewelry, woven belts and trinkets along the promenade.

Eat delicious Mexican food:

Chicharrón – Deep fried pork skin. Quite crunchy and if well-prepared slightly oily. Heavenly spread with guacamole. Or sometimes cooked in a mild chili sauce and served with eggs.

Enchiladas – Chicken or meat stuffed soft tortillas covered with green, red or mole sauce. Some may have melted cheese inside and/or on top.

Tacos – Soft corn tortillas filled with meat (asada (steak strips), pollo (shredded chicken), carnitas (fried shredded pork), lengua (tongue), cabeza (meat from cow skull), sesos (cow brains), tripa (cow gut), or pastor (chilli pork beef). In the north sometimes flour tortillas are used. Do not expect the crispy taco shell anywhere.

Tamales – corn dough shell with meat or vegetable fillings. Tamales Dulces contain fruit and/or nuts.

Tortas – Fancy mexican sandwich. Bread roll that is grilled lightly, meat fillings are same as tacos, lettuce, tomatoes, jalapeños, beans, onion, mayonaise and avocado. One is beginning to find tortas with the American styled cold cuts available, as well, in urban areas.

Guacamole – crushed avocado sauce with green serrano chile, chopped red tomato and onion, lime juice, salt, and served with somewhat thick (1/8 inch)fried tortilla slices or “totopos”.

Do not forget to try Tequila, distilled from Agave – a specific type of cactus.

Enjoy your cruise to the Mexican Riviera!

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The west coast holds numerous deluxe resorts. The interior highlands have several historical sites with picturesque views. Barbados also has a number of sites of architectural and natural interest that make it unique! In the interior there is a beautiful Botanical Garden with more fauna information than most similar places across the planet.

Barbados is an island in the Caribbean, northeast of Venezuela. The island is portrayed as the Little Britain of the Caribbean because of its long association as a British colony. The name “Barbados” comes from a Portuguese explorer Pedro Campos. In 1536, he called the island Los Barbados (“The Bearded Ones”), after the appearance of the island’s fig trees, whose long hanging aerial roots resembled beards.

Barbados beaches

Barbados is a relatively flat island, shaped somewhat like an upside-down leg of ham, narrow at its northern end, its west coast almost straight, and its east coast gently curving outwards before bending back to form the south.

There are beaches everywhere:

• The East Coast: Along the East coast they are wide and wind-blown. Here the shore is pounded by the Atlantic making it a delight for the surfers who come from all over the world.
• The South and West Coasts: On the calmer South and West coasts, you may walk for miles along unbroken white sand beaches, sometimes stopping at a cluster of coral rocks jutting out to sea. All along the shore large and small beaches are broken by coral formations, the soft coral rocks weathered by the ocean surf, forming abstract sculptures pleasing to an artist’s eye.
• The North Coast: In the North, coral and sandstone cliffs rise straight out of the sea reaching up to a hundred feet in height. But even here, you will find the occasional sheltered cove.

BARBADOS’ WONDERS

Harrison’s Cave

At the heart of Barbados lays one of its greatest wonders, Harrison’s Cave. Located in the central uplands of the island, this breathtakingly beautiful, crystallized limestone cavern is a testament to nature’s mastery. Flowing streams, deep pools of crystal clear water and towering columns characterize this living cave. Gaze in wonder at the white flowstones and in awe at the beauty of the speleothems which adorn the cave. Be sure to make Harrison’s Cave your stop while in Barbados!

Baobab Trees

One of magnificent Barbados’ wonders is a baobab. The generic name honors Michel Adanson, the French naturalist and explorer who first described the tree – Adansonia digitata. Baobabs store water inside the swollen trunk (up to 120,000 litres / 32,000 US gallons) to endure the harsh drought conditions. It was said that the baobab tree was brought to Barbados around 1738 from Guinea in Africa. Two giant trees with possibly the widest tree-trunks to be found in the Caribbean grow in Barbados! The largest can be seen in our Queen’s Park in Bridgetown. To give an example of the size of this tree of great distinction, it takes 15 adults joining with outstretched arms to cover its circumference. It is a well deserved place in the Barbados. Do not miss it!

Historic Jacobean Mansions

St. Nicholas Abbey is one of the more famous landmarks on Barbados. It is one of only three genuine Jacobean mansions in the Western Hemisphere. It is similar to the English Jacobean manor houses of the first half of the seventeenth century, the period between the Tudor and Georgian styles, beginning in the reign of James I.

St Nicholas Abbey has no church connection. It has always been a sugar plantation house. Colonel Benjamin Berringer built the house between 1650 and 1660. The exact origin of its name is not known but rumour has it that it was named after George Nicholas, husband to Berringer’s granddaughter, Susanna. Berringer was killed in a duel with his neighbor, Sir John Yeamans, who then married Berringer’s widow and claimed the abbey as his property. In 1669, The Colonel’s children took the matter to court and were awarded ownership of the property. Sir John and his wife then moved to the United States, where they helped found South Carolina.

The mansion is well-preserved, with curvilinear Dutch gables with tall finials of carved coral stone and corner chimneys. The entrance portico, Chinese Chippendale staircase and cedar panelling are later additions. The fireplaces and walled Medieval herb garden were almost certainly included in the original plans brought from England, and copied faithfully. Sugar has been grown on the plantation since 1640 and there is still the evidence of the mill and sugar making edifices. Processed on the property until 1947, the cane is now trucked eight miles to the Portvale Sugar Factory for processing. There is a rare 1930s film of life on a sugar plantation that is available for viewing. Listed by the Barbados Tourism Authority as one of the “Seven Wonders of Barbados,” the property has attracted several thousand visitors a year. Amongst the mahogany trees are box, cabbage palm, silk cotton, and avocado trees.

Morgan Lewis Mill

Morgan Lewis Windmill in St. Andrew, is the last sugar windmill to operate in Barbados. The mill stopped operating in 1947. In 1962 the mill was given to the Barbados National Trust by its owner Egbert L. Bannister for preservation as a museum.

The site was listed in the 1996 World Monuments Watch by the World Monuments Fund. Restoration began by the Barbados National Trust during the following summer. In 1997, financial support was provided by American Express for emergency repairs. The mill was dismantled for restoration, and reopened in 1999. With all its original working parts having been preserved intact, the sails were able to turn again after the project was completed, and cane was ground again after more than half a century.

It is a unique historic and architectural monument – it is one of the only two working sugar windmills in the world today. (Betty’s Hope, in Antigua, was refurbished and restored some years ago and is also functional.) During the ‘crop’ season, February through July, its sails are put in place and it operates one Sunday in each month, grinding cane and providing cane juice. The resulting cane juice is absolutely delicious! Around the interior of the mill wall is a museum of sugar mill and plantation artifacts, and an exhibition of old photographs. Visitors can climb to the top of the mill.

Bridgetown Jewish Synagogue

The Nidhe Israel Synagogue (Synagogue of the Scattered of Israel) is currently the only synagogue situated in Bridgetown. It also holds the distinction of being one of the oldest synagogues in the western hemisphere.

Built in the 17th century (1654) it was destroyed by hurricane in 1831, was rebuilt, fell into disrepair and was sold in 1929. In 1983, it was bought back by the Jewish community and was restored to its present state with its beautiful Gothic arches, and is now a Barbados National Trust protected building and an active synagogue.

About 300 Jewish people of Recife, Brazil, persecuted by the Dutch, settled in Barbados in the 1660′s. Skilled in the sugar industry, they quickly introduced the crop and passed on their skills in cultivation and production to the Barbados land owners. With their help Barbados went on to become one of the world’s major sugar producers.

Cannon Galore

The Caribbean is still full of secrets. One recently revealed is that Barbados has the world’s rarest collection of 17th century English iron cannon. Not too long ago it was decided to create a National Ordnance Collection of all the old guns on the island and to date more than 400 have been unearthed.

“The island is littered with old cannon”, said Major Michael Hartland, who is the driving force behind this collection’s acquisition. The reason there were so many guns on the island was that during the 17th & 18th centuries Barbados was an important military base which the British used to protect their interests in the southern Caribbean.

When a nucleus of cannon had been collected, Charles Trollope, an English apple farmer (who also happens to be a world authority on ordnance), was invited to come to Barbados and catalogue the collection. He arrived armed with copies of the Royal Armory archives now stored in the Tower of London. The British kept meticulous records of all cannon shipped to and from the West Indies. The oldest cannon found was cast in 1620 and the youngest, dated 1870 is one of the rarest called the Victoria Gun. Twenty-six of the most important pieces in the collection are mounted in front of the Main Guard House and make a fine photographic display.

Flying Fish

Do flying fish fly? Yes and no. Flying fish can break through the surface of the water and fly distances of up to 100yd at about 30mi/h, but they do not actually fly the same way as birds, because birds vibrate their wings during flight. Instead, the flying fish gets its power and speed from its tail fin, which it moves from side to side with powerful strokes.

Grapefruit Tree

The grapefruit (Citrus paradisi), is a subtropical citrus tree known for its sour fruit, an 18th-century hybrid first bred in Barbados. Its parents were Shaddock and Sweet Orange, “immigrants” from across the Asian Sea. As a result, the “Forbidden Fruit” (as it was named many moons ago) was born for the first time! The name was changed to “Grapefruit” because it grows in large “grape-like clusters”. This original Barbadian fruit has now become a world wide favourite.

Barbados

Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is 34km in length and 23km in width. Barbados is outside of the principal Atlantic hurricane belt.

Barbados was initially visited by the Spanish around the late 1400s to early 1500s and first appears on a Spanish map from 1511. The Spanish explorers may have plundered the island of whatever native peoples resided therein to become slaves. Thereafter, the Portuguese in 1536 then visited, but they too left it unclaimed. The first English ship, the Olive Blossom, arrived in Barbados in 1625. They took possession of it in the name of ‘James, King of England’. It became an English and later British colony.

Barbados has an estimated population of over 280 thousand, with around 97,000 living in or around Bridgetown, the largest city and the country’s capital. In 1966, Barbados became an independent state and Commonwealth realm, retaining Queen Elizabeth II as Head of State.

Barbados is one of the Caribbean’s leading tourist destinations and is one of the most developed islands in the region, with an HDI number of 0.788. In 2010 Barbados also ranked in the top 3 in The Americas on Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index beating out Chile in 3rd, and coming after Canada in the top spot.

Bridgetown

Bridgetown is the capital of Barbados and the only city on Barbados. It is the port of call for many cruise ships and is known for its duty-free shopping as much as for its more cultural and historical attractions. On 25 June 2011, Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison were added as a World Heritage Site of UNESCO.

Barbados has a well-deserved reputation for producing excellent rum, e.g., Mount Gay. Rum distilleries are usually open for tours, and typically offer samples and product for sale at prices often equal to the best found anywhere else. Do not forget to bring one home!

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Everything Started from the Hard Rock Cafe

The world-wide known theme chain of hotels started from Hard Rock Cafe forty years ago, in 1971, when two Americans Peter Morton (born Chicago in 1947) and Isaac Tigrett (born Jackson, Tennessee in 1947) opened the doors of the first Hard Rock Café in London’s fashionable Mayfair district. In 1979, the cafe began covering its walls with rock and roll memorabilia. The restaurant combined rock music, memorabilia related to rock ‘n’ roll and American cuisine. The cafe-music-museum concept became very popular. Hard Rock Café was the first theme restaurant chain in the world. The chain began global expansion in 1982 when the two agreed to develop their own cafes across the world. Tigrett bought Morton out, and took on the original Cafe in London along with rights to the name in most of the world including the US States East of the Mississippi; Morton had rights to the name in states West of the Mississippi and in Israel, Colombia and Australia. Morton founded Hard Rocks in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, and Houston, Las Vegas; San Diego, La Jolla, and Newport Beach, California; Sydney and Melbourne, Australia; Honolulu and Maui, Hawaii; among many others.

Eventually, in 1995 both sold their interests in Hard Rock Café to the Rank Organization (now The Rank Group) for $410 million, but Morton retained the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. In May 2006, Morton sold the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas to New York-based Morgans Hotel Group for $770 million. W. Edward Scheetz, a Morgans’ executive, described the 11-story, 670-room Hard Rock Hotel as a “trophy property” that will never be replicated in Las Vegas because of land values. The Hard Rock pool alone, ranked #1 of the top 10 hotel pools by Travel Channel, occupies land valued at $50 million. Hard Rock is headquartered in Orlando, Florida. Currently, there are 150 Hard Rock locations in 53 countries.

On December 7, 2006, Rank sold its Hard Rock business to the Seminole Tribe of Florida for US$965 million. Included in the deal were 124 Hard Rock Cafes, four Hard Rock Hotels, two Hard Rock Hotels and Casinos, two Hard Rock Live! concert venues, and stakes in three unbranded hotels. The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas was not part of the deal, as it was sold by Peter Morton to Morgans Hotel Group in May 2006.

Music memorabilia

Hard Rock is known for its collection of rock and roll memorabilia. The cafes solicit donations of music memorabilia but also purchase a number of items at auctions around the world, including autographed guitars, outfits from world tours and rare photographs are often to be found mounted on cafe walls. Hard Rock’s archive includes over 70,000 items.

HARD ROCK HOTEL AND CASINO (LAS VEGAS)

The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino is located in Paradise – an unincorporated town in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. Paradise contains McCarran International Airport, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and most of the Las Vegas Strip, including other world-famous hotels. Therefore, many tourists visiting the Las Vegas area actually spend most of their time in Paradise, rather than in the City of Las Vegas.

The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino is an entertainment resort. The property is located on 16.7 acres (6.8ha) on the corner of Harmon and Paradise Road, inside the Paradise Corridor. Features of the property include the hotel tower, a 30,000-square-foot (2,800m²) casino, Tahitian-style beach and swimming pool, a nightclub, five restaurants, three cocktail lounges, several retail stores, a spa, a poker room, and “The Joint”, a music venue. Hard Rock earns only about 30% of its revenue from gaming, probably the lowest percentage of any major resort in the Las Vegas strip region.

History: The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino was built in 1995 by Peter Morton, co-founder of the Hard Rock Cafe. It was expanded in 1999, and began another expansion in 2007. In June 2002 influential rock bassist John Entwistle of The Who died in one of the hotel’s rooms. The hotel management originally refused to release the room number out of respect, but later reports indicate that Entwistle died in Room 658 (considered a “deluxe suite”). Many fans still pay tribute to Entwistle, by visiting the hotel. In 2006, the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino was sold to the Morgans Hotel Group for $770 million. On October 25, 2008, professional wrestling show TNA iMPACT! broadcast their first HD show from the building.

The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino is an 11-story tower with 648 guestrooms, 64 suites, designed by Mark Zeff, and penthouses.

Casino – a 30,000-square-foot (2,800m²) casino that includes table games including, blackjack, roulette, and poker, and swim-up blackjack. The casino also features the Fender Room, a high-limit slot machine room and the Peacock Lounge, a high-limit gaming room.

Meeting Space is over 60,000 square feet (5,600m²) area for meetings and an additional 136,000 square feet (12,600m²) of special event space.

Restaurants:

• Nobu – Japanese, Michelin Star Restaurant
• Rare 120 – Modern American Steakhouse
• Ago – Contemporary Italian
• Mr. Lucky’s
• Pink Taco – Mexican

Shops and Boutiques

• Love Jones – boutique
• Brannon Hair Salon

The Joint is a 4,000 seat showroom located inside the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. This is a common venue for classic and modern rock bands. The Joint is a rock club which has featured performances by the Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, The Black Crowes, David Bowie, Coldplay, Kenny Chesney, Foo Fighters, Alicia Keys, Nine Inch Nails, and The Killers. The versatility of the venue is demonstrated by its ability to host other events like the World Extreme Cagefighting (was an American mixed martial arts promotion) and TNA Wrestling iMPACT! The Joint tends to book groups who traditionally favor arena types of venues. The original “Joint” closed its doors in February 2009. The new “Joint” opened on April 17, 2009, with The Killers performing the inaugural concert. The opening weekend also included shows by Avenged Sevenfold on April 18 and Paul McCartney on April 19. The new venue is nearly twice the size of the original and features three levels including private skyboxes and VIP table seating.

Vanity is the nightclub at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Originally, it was Body English night club. Its final day of operation was December 31, 2009. Designed by Kelly Wearstler, the space featured two self-contained bars on different levels, a large dance floor, 48 VIP booths, and a vintage $250,000 Baccarat chandelier. Body English was the home of “Sunday Pervert School” and “Indulge Fridays”, mainstays of Las Vegas nightlife. The Godskitchen party was also held at Body English every Wednesday, bringing headline dance music and talent to the venue. Body English was notably the first Las Vegas residency for the late DJ AM. Now the Vanity Nightclub is part of the property expansion and occupies new space. Designed by Mr. Important, the 14,000-square-foot (1,300m²) venue has two bars and 60 VIP booths. The signature feature of the club is the “cyclone” chandelier which sprawls over the dance floor. The chandelier has over 20,000 crystals, each lit with individually controlled full-color LED lights. It is open Thursday through Sunday, with Thursday nights continuing the Godskitchen house music party which was hosted at Body English. The other nights are “open format”; resident DJs Clinton Sparks, Eric D-Lux, DJ Five, and Presto One provide music on the weekends. The venue is co-owned by the hotel and Jason Giambi. The venue opened on December 31, 2009, and its grand opening weekend featured performances by DJ Vice and Bob Sinclar, as well as a party hosted by Sean “Diddy” Combs.

Rehab is the original pool party in Las Vegas. Each Sunday during pool season, the Beach Club at the Hard Rock transforms into a massive outdoor party that runs from 11:00 AM until 8:00 PM. Thousands of people attend each week and party from morning till night. While the resident DJ corps plays a wide variety of music, Rehab has become a noted destination for headline dance music DJs. Guest DJs have included Tiësto, Sharam of Deep Dish, Fedde Le Grand, Bad Boy Bill, BT, Donald Glaude, and Jonathan Peters. It has also become a frequent site for celebrities including Akon, Paris Hilton, Clinton Sparks, DJ Vice, and Sugar Ray. Lady Gaga made her Las Vegas debut at Rehab.

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is a premier destination entertainment resort. Built in 1995, the property completed its $750 million expansion in early 2010. Hard Rock Hotel & Casino offers an energetic entertainment and gaming experience with the services and amenities associated with a boutique luxury resort hotel.

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Princess Cruises is a British-American owned cruise line, based in Santa Clarita, California in the United States and operated by Carnival Corporation & PLC.

The company became famous by The Love Boat TV series, which aired on the ABC Television Network from September 24,1977 until May 24,1986 and in which two of Princess’ ships, the Island Princess and Pacific Princess were featured.

Princess Cruises began in 1965, when founder Stanley McDonald chartered Canadian Pacific Limited’s Alaska cruise ship Princess Patricia for Mexican Riviera cruises from Los Angeles during a time when she would have usually been laid up for the winter. However, Princess Pat, as she was fondly called, had never been designed for tropical cruising, lacking air-conditioning, and Princess ended her charter in favor of a more purpose-built cruise ship – Italia. The Italia had originally been ordered in 1963 and was one of the first to implement modern design elements, such as lifeboats mounted lower on the ship, allowing for uncluttered upperdecks, and engines placed far in the rear, allowing for spacious public rooms amidships. Gustavo Finali and Romano Boico had designed the ship’s interiors (designers of such ships as the Augustus, Raffaello, Oceanic, and Homeric.

In 1986, P&O Princess Cruises acquired Tour Alaska, which operated on the Alaska Railroad. Based in Anchorage, Alaska, Princess Tours now operates ten luxury railcars with full-service scenic tours of Mount McKinley and can accommodate over 700 passengers per day.

P&O Princess Cruises acquired Sitmar Line in 1988 and transferred all of its major tonnage to Princess, including three cruise ships then under construction. The Dawn Princess and Fair Princess were both ex-Cunarders, and the former Sitmar Fairsky became Princess’s Sky Princess. The first of the three new Sitmar ships came into the Princess brand in 1989 as the Star Princess, the largest British exclusively cruising ship. Two 70,000 grt cruise ships entered service in 1990 as the Crown Princess and Regal Princess, bringing Princess’s fleet up to ten deluxe cruise ships.

Ruby Princess

Ruby Princess is a Grand-class cruise ship owned. She was built in 2008 by Fincantieri in Trieste, Italy and was officially named at Fort Lauderdale, Florida on November 6, 2008. It cost 400 million.

General characteristics:

• Class and type: Grand class cruise ship
• Tonnage: 116,000 gross register tons
• Length: 951ft (290m)
• Beam: 118ft (36m)
• Draught: 8m (26ft)
• Decks: 19 decks
• Installed power: Gas turbines (25,000kW each)
• Propulsion: Twin propellers Speed: 23-knot (43km/h; 26mph)
• Capacity: 3,080 passengers
• Crew: 1,200

“Anytime Dining” program gives passengers the freedom to dine when and with whom they wish. Another popular concept is the “Chef’s Table”. It costs $75 per person and gives passengers the chance to enjoy hors d’oevoures and champagne in the galley, followed by a multi-course tasting menu at the Chef’s VIP table in the dining room. It also includes wine pairing. This can only be booked once you are onboard.

Recently Princess Cruises has introduced the “Bon Voyage Experience – a new program that allows the cruise travelers invite friends and relatives to visit them onboard before sailaway. The guests can join them onboard for approximately four hours, including lunch and a tour. It costs $39 per person. If you get enough of a taste and buy a real cruise, Princess Cruises will credit the $39 toward it.

The Royal Princess – Future Ship

In May 2013, the brand new Royal Princess will become the flagship of Princess Cruises and Carnival Corporation. The ship is designed to have a tonnage of 141,000-GT, with a passenger capacity of 3,600. The ship’s design will be evolutionary, from the current Princess fleet and will offer new innovations in the fleet. 100% of its outside staterooms will have balconies, which will comprise the 80% of all staterooms. The signature Piazza atrium will have an expansion. Other innovations is yet to be unveiled in the upcoming months. Mid-March 2011 Princess released a video of their new ‘Royal Princess’ to debut in May 2013. New features include a cantilevered walkway and bar on the top deck; enlarged Sanctuary with adult-only pool and the largest Movies Under The Stars screen Princess has built so far.

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