tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2577867186438893612024-03-05T13:58:42.331-05:00Cruising Squared<b>On Land -- Or Sea<br>
This is Pam... and Gerry.<br> <i>Join us!</i></b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger924125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-257786718643889361.post-46984823862285897602015-11-18T15:28:00.004-05:002015-11-18T15:29:36.047-05:00WE'VE MOVEDCruising Squared is back ... but in a new wrapper.<br />
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Pam and I have officially launched <a href="http://northpalmbeachlife.com/">NorthPalmBeachLife.com</a>, "celebrating the South Florida lifestyle." While it will cover a much broader spectrum of topics, travel and cruising are still new and dear to our hearts. So look for our travel coverage to continue there, and please like our new <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Northpalmbeachlife">Facebook page</a>.<br />
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Safe travels and thanks for reading. <b><i>-- Pam and Gerry</i></b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-257786718643889361.post-85922567050368491452015-06-19T15:29:00.001-04:002015-06-19T15:29:35.389-04:00SPECIAL MESSAGE TO OUR READERS<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><i>To our readers:</i></b> After over three years and 900-plus posts, Cruising Squared is taking a break. You may see us on one of those beautiful Florida beaches, like the one below, teaching Cate how to throw a shell into the sea. Stay safe and to paraphrase one of our favorite British comedies, "CRUISE ON!"</span><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-257786718643889361.post-26182411092780846562015-06-08T13:14:00.000-04:002015-06-08T13:14:10.542-04:00SINGER ISLAND MARRIOTT FACEBOOK CONTEST<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikGMhzpE5b0-qJjFgqzumYtnTJqwaIdC-ZO_I9pcYMn_EMP_O5Rmz9Ml0DwKDrqSEhhTjyEl6kHE4VxFTTUuN9ipTp5xcjrp1vwRejkHnKQkaLMufagKlMYC1C-eEWDJfl9VQslsBiYqNx/s1600/marriott.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikGMhzpE5b0-qJjFgqzumYtnTJqwaIdC-ZO_I9pcYMn_EMP_O5Rmz9Ml0DwKDrqSEhhTjyEl6kHE4VxFTTUuN9ipTp5xcjrp1vwRejkHnKQkaLMufagKlMYC1C-eEWDJfl9VQslsBiYqNx/s200/marriott.jpg" width="163" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">One of Cruising Squared's favorite happy hour haunts -- Palm Beach Marriott Singer Island Beach Resort & Spa -- has launched the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/PalmBeachMarriott">Singer Island Discover Scuba Sweepstakes on Facebook</a>. The winner and a guest will spend four days "dining, sunbathing and discovering sunken treasure at Singer Island, where spectacular shipwrecks and lush coral reefs attract divers year-round." Here are the details:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"The trip includes a four-day, three-night stay for two in a luxury suite, a personalized dinner at the hotel’s on-property restaurant 3800 Ocean, massage treatments at the resort spa, and an underwater day trip in the Atlantic to swim with reef life all around the island. Jim Abernathy Scuba Adventures, Palm Beach’s leading diving shop, will provide full equipment and an instructor-led dive excursion for those just getting their flippers wet, or arrange a two-tank dive for certified divers."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You can enter through July 17 by visiting the “Discover Scuba” tab on Palm Beach Marriott’s Facebook page at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/PalmBeachMarriott">https://www.facebook.com/PalmBeachMarriott</a>. You can earn a bonus entry by sharing on Twitter. And by sharing the sweepstakes with their Facebook network, they will receive a bonus entry for every friend that enters as well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The travel prize is good through July 31, 2016, and subject to availability and blackout dates. Prize does not include transportation and entrants must be over the age of 21. Scuba participants must be at least 10 years of age.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And if drop by the bar at 3800, say hello to Jay and Holly. They have it going on. <b><i>-- Gerry and Pam</i></b></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-257786718643889361.post-35142180091938591812015-06-07T10:11:00.002-04:002015-06-07T10:11:26.712-04:00HISTORY OF CUNARD: 'AQUITANIA'<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Here is another chapter in the history of Cunard, cdelebrating its 175th year in 2015.</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>From Cunard</i></span><br>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMujeSXF67sl_1HJRZbbxqfs_2cdBRlWAwCP6i9vEiAVzV4uu1D6SEensgWxORlFSOGGWnQjMZM2aPRAiXagpcCsM7rQYhmAkfklxtE0-Y_k_5_czvh2D5G3HdgUvT8_j-4NnkVv39KGxy/s1600/cunard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="121" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMujeSXF67sl_1HJRZbbxqfs_2cdBRlWAwCP6i9vEiAVzV4uu1D6SEensgWxORlFSOGGWnQjMZM2aPRAiXagpcCsM7rQYhmAkfklxtE0-Y_k_5_czvh2D5G3HdgUvT8_j-4NnkVv39KGxy/s200/cunard.jpg" width="200"></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">In 1915 the British Government War Office requested that <i>Mauretania</i> and <i>Aquitania</i> be made available to transport three divisions of troops to the Mediterranean where the Allied armies were heavily involved in the ill-fated Gallipoli expedition.</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Painted black (including her funnels) <i>Aquitania</i> left Liverpool on 18 May 1915 for Mudros with over 5,000 troops of the 13th Division. She left Liverpool again on 3 July, again with over 5,000 troops, including much of the 11th (Northern Division) and two days out <i>Aquitania</i> was fired upon by a submarine, possibly Austrian, but fortunately the torpedo missed by some fifty feet astern. <i>Aquitania</i> reached Mudros on 10 July. During the next three months she made a number of trooping voyages between Liverpool and Mudros and conveyed around 30,000 troops. The troops delighted in the “ample accommodations” found on <i>Aquitania</i> and recalled adequate breakfasts of porridge, eggs and bacon and a whole pint of coffee as well as sports and parades on deck being the order of the day.</span><br>
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<a href="http://cruisingsquared.blogspot.com/2015/06/history-of-cunard-aquitania.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-257786718643889361.post-44246425302574067122015-06-07T09:54:00.000-04:002015-06-07T09:54:22.950-04:00CARNIVAL LAUNCHES fATHOM: SOCIAL IMPACT TRAVEL<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This week Carnival added a new brand to its portfolio: fathom -- a new category they describe as "social impact travel." You might call it the "Peace Corps of the waves."</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It will offer consumers "authentic, meaningful impact travel experiences to work alongside locals as they tackle community needs." The</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> first destination will be the Dominican Republic, where "the average household income</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> is approximately $6,000 a year and more than two million Dominicans do not have access to piped water."</span></span><br>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">B</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">eginning in April 2016, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">fathom</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> will embark on seven-day voyages from PortMiami aboard the <i>MV Adonia</i>, a 710-passenger vessel. "Depending on their passions, interests and skills, travelers will have the opportunity to choose from a range of social impact activities and experiences both onboard and onshore."</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Here are more details from Carnival:</span><br>
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<a href="http://cruisingsquared.blogspot.com/2015/06/carnival-launches-fathom-social-impact.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-257786718643889361.post-83362220981927034912015-06-07T09:22:00.000-04:002015-06-07T09:22:08.100-04:00AZAMARA SHIPS GETTING MAJOR UPGRADE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivEq4bnVtwTKSLbpCMka-3Ymn6RrbEODWC8hn-LFets9tx5oh3q3Y2mIj34Z-PghLh62u6fxXxJmwecuNdy14JRDNWff6F3BySelp4ndqzizOFsT_LctUWr1z4MfMai7vZqbK8phRKEbW_/s1600/305px-Azamara_cruises_logo.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivEq4bnVtwTKSLbpCMka-3Ymn6RrbEODWC8hn-LFets9tx5oh3q3Y2mIj34Z-PghLh62u6fxXxJmwecuNdy14JRDNWff6F3BySelp4ndqzizOFsT_LctUWr1z4MfMai7vZqbK8phRKEbW_/s1600/305px-Azamara_cruises_logo.svg.png" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">One of our favorite cruise lines -- Azamara -- is giving their two ships a major upgrade.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Here's the announcement:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"Azamara Club Cruises announced that its two ships – <i>Azamara Journey</i> and <i>Azamara Quest</i> – will undergo 'major upgrades' while in dry dock in early 2016, reinvigorating the onboard guest experience. The mid-size ships that accommodate up to 686 guests will be outfitted with new venues, public spaces and technologies to bring fresh services and amenities to guests. From bow to stern, there is no area on the line's ships that will be untouched. The upgrades include all staterooms and suites, dining, spa and entertainment.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The <i>Azamara Journey</i> will enter dry dock in January 2016 in the Bahamas, and the <i>Azamara Quest</i> in April 2016 in Singapore.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You can read about our trip on the <i>Azamara Quest</i> <a href="http://cruisingsquared.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-12-days-of-azamara-quest.html">here</a>.</span><br />
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<center><script src="http://player.ooyala.com/player.js?deepLinkEmbedCode=Q5czRndTolXt_GMKGT1ji0o4KdIBdan3&embedCode=Q5czRndTolXt_GMKGT1ji0o4KdIBdan3&video_pcode=g1eTQ6bWC45uOcULC3zKz5-mqFji&width=640&height=360"></script></center>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-257786718643889361.post-10877921725557462122015-05-26T14:35:00.001-04:002015-05-26T14:35:34.325-04:00'ANTHEM'S' REALLY BIG SHOWS<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Passengers aboard <i>Anthem of the Seas</i> may be asking themselves, "Am I in Las Vegas or out to sea?" That's because of all the entertainment options aboard this Royal Caribbean ship. Here's a video that gives you a taste of what to expect, with a tip of the headline hat to Ed Sullivan:</span><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-257786718643889361.post-40176064166508809652015-05-25T22:21:00.001-04:002015-05-25T22:21:46.520-04:00CUNARD MARKS 175 YEARS AT LIVERPOOL<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Today was truly a red letter day for Cunard. The three Queens, <i>Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria</i> and <i>Queen Elizabeth</i>, gathered in Liverpool to mark the cruise line's 175th anniversary. From Cunard:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"At midday on 25 May, Cunard’s current fleet will become the largest ships ever to sail in formation on the Mersey when all three Queens perform a meticulously planned series of manoeuvres to mark the company’s 175th anniversary and to salute Liverpool, its spiritual home, where the company began in 1840. The ships will perform a ‘river dance’ against the backdrop of Liverpool’s Three Graces, a world heritage site which includes the Cunard Building, the company’s headquarters from 1916-1967. Hundreds of thousands of spectators are expected to gather on both sides of the river to watch."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Here's the video, and congratulations to Cunard. Here's a toast from Cruising Squared for another 175 years</span>!<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-257786718643889361.post-74598259966163791092015-05-25T21:46:00.001-04:002015-05-25T21:46:43.283-04:00'CRUISE CONTROL' DETAILS SHIP RECORDS <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This week the website ProPublica debuted a new site devoted to cruise ship health and safety records, <a href="https://projects.propublica.org/cruises">Cruise Control</a>. On it, users can search a "database of over 300 ships that make port in the U.S. You'll be able to see their health and safety records going back as far as 2010, as well as their current position and deck plans." Worth checking out.</span><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-257786718643889361.post-44682468042023787442015-05-25T15:39:00.000-04:002015-05-25T15:39:05.965-04:00FOOD TRUCK NIGHT AT THE PALM BEACH ZOO<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This way to the tacos! (All Photos/Cruising Squared)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Cruising Squared made a return trip to the Palm Beach Zoo on Saturday May 24 for the Braman Motor Cars Food Trucks at the Zoo event. Not only was a chance to sample some of Palm Beach's best mobile meals (we opted for the tacos), but also an opportunity to view some animals up close and personal,including a cockatoo, a tortoise, a reptile and a python. If you haven't been, you should go. It's well done and both people and animal-friendly.And thanks to Braman for providing another memorable outing. <b><i>-- Gerry and Pam</i></b></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A lemur has his own private food truck</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQzWSiZp0AU8NlIf1MXM-WguXYDld-YcHNv_vftv1NdMXGQzgQYubmjBCUmV3k1xUYQjM_3x79xJymdfWESKcnBu5haxDir6K2BUF9OjmIc3rSGOJW3fu44o3rygc0R2uNX-hU1Lh6Kuz-/s1600/DSCN0985.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQzWSiZp0AU8NlIf1MXM-WguXYDld-YcHNv_vftv1NdMXGQzgQYubmjBCUmV3k1xUYQjM_3x79xJymdfWESKcnBu5haxDir6K2BUF9OjmIc3rSGOJW3fu44o3rygc0R2uNX-hU1Lh6Kuz-/s320/DSCN0985.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These lemurs are just waking up</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikTDxeSEywn_w84XbZT6n_CBRF_RRA7nJLVolqKURkAmSoaAeOLMxWZ8xpkqb2BwsVia0MRNshSxa1qbeVbdLJ0hevigrk6u56unUh_aqDLNwjES1TofftxsPn_Y5MN24h5JhhTUvNJ-GS/s1600/DSCN0987.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikTDxeSEywn_w84XbZT6n_CBRF_RRA7nJLVolqKURkAmSoaAeOLMxWZ8xpkqb2BwsVia0MRNshSxa1qbeVbdLJ0hevigrk6u56unUh_aqDLNwjES1TofftxsPn_Y5MN24h5JhhTUvNJ-GS/s320/DSCN0987.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This reptile says "Stop and be friendly."<br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: small;">And here's a cockatoo that knows what to do when the camera is rolling:</span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-257786718643889361.post-39222167823437088792015-05-19T13:45:00.000-04:002015-05-19T13:45:25.060-04:00'WORLD CLASS BAR' DEBUTS ON 'ECLIPSE'<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtOSpz65VcawE0oKFroRil9ld2X6KAA4YSwfTfkuXOelf-y0G8HM9-Ng-NLIpCa38Yv92VJZ-2jCe9Tqj34EwTrLZ9svAUSuuCV5_0MzIjvC0iM8f8CCYo0BYisIQxBbEhOE0Ayb-zT2ef/s1600/bar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtOSpz65VcawE0oKFroRil9ld2X6KAA4YSwfTfkuXOelf-y0G8HM9-Ng-NLIpCa38Yv92VJZ-2jCe9Tqj34EwTrLZ9svAUSuuCV5_0MzIjvC0iM8f8CCYo0BYisIQxBbEhOE0Ayb-zT2ef/s320/bar.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">World Class Bar on Eclipse (Celebnrity)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Cruising Squared is always in search of the perfect cocktail. Somebody has to do it, right?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">That search may soon lead us to the new World Class Bar aboard <i>Celebrity Eclipse </i>(where we fondly remember the French martinis from the launch party). </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Celebrity Cruises and Diageo Global Travel Americas have partnered to launch the world’s first permanent World Class Bar. It debuts on <i>Eclipse</i>, and will soon be a fixture on the four other Solstice-class ships.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Committed to delivering a high-end drink experience, it will featured exclusive drinks, such as:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">· MYSTIC KETEL ONE – a unique ritual serve, this tropical cocktail is made with Ketel One Vodka. A specially designed kettle cools the mixture of strawberries, pineapple, aloe vera, lime juice, ginger liqueur and Ketel One and releases a vapor.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">· ZACAPA OLD FASHIONED – rich Zacapa 23 Rum is mixed with angostura bitters and a dash of chocolate mole for a twist on one of the classics, as Zacapa elevates the “Old Fashioned” to the next level. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">· CELEBRITY No. TEN – a refreshing cocktail made with unique Tanqueray no. Ten gin, fresh raspberries, a dash of bitters, lemon juice and crème de violette and topped off with ginger ale. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You can stop now ... you had us at vodka. <i><b>--Gerry</b></i></span><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-257786718643889361.post-46120825174726054532015-05-19T13:19:00.000-04:002015-05-19T13:19:15.350-04:00MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THE KEY LIME FEST<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0DEDm9-JoiJp-hbvIsFYa6QrUrOf5VtbGrfdoFs8oBW2gp_TonhSmpTyOd-iaIihs_icEfqb8Fk5mUpDJ86gjeum_SbKqekNbKyFYKFk4YH9e5rsSXlYWpZ9fnOgGfBGIam01ofAh9xTZ/s1600/keylime2.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="55" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0DEDm9-JoiJp-hbvIsFYa6QrUrOf5VtbGrfdoFs8oBW2gp_TonhSmpTyOd-iaIihs_icEfqb8Fk5mUpDJ86gjeum_SbKqekNbKyFYKFk4YH9e5rsSXlYWpZ9fnOgGfBGIam01ofAh9xTZ/s320/keylime2.PNG" width="320"></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuGOd1Ve4A7HdiqDixVlJkb1ZE7IPk1bSBl7pbJIgSUjPmpFYuv9y_2mTRrrp3lfJ9rpqRf-hkkX8r3LI3oLnag_yiF3MGwGq1BjyO5kZXMPRPk03Y6ptMIDN_35iTsUgXZ-OWzy0QS-lm/s1600/keylime1.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuGOd1Ve4A7HdiqDixVlJkb1ZE7IPk1bSBl7pbJIgSUjPmpFYuv9y_2mTRrrp3lfJ9rpqRf-hkkX8r3LI3oLnag_yiF3MGwGq1BjyO5kZXMPRPk03Y6ptMIDN_35iTsUgXZ-OWzy0QS-lm/s1600/keylime1.PNG"></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We have found the best key lime pie anywhere in -- where else? -- the Florida Keys. If you too are a key lime fanatic, get ready for the annual Key Lime Festival. Here are the details from this delicious press release:</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"Fans of sweet Key lime pie can salute the Florida Keys' signature dessert and the tiny fruit that inspired it Thursday through Saturday, July 2-4, during the annual Key Lime Festival. Events include a Key lime pie-eating contest, a wacky talent show and samplings of Keys-distilled rum flavored with the tangy lime. </span><br>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"Believed to have originated in Key West in the late 1800s, Key lime pie was designated Florida's official pie in 2006 by the state legislature. Its primary ingredients are condensed milk, egg yolks and the juice of the tiny yellow Key lime, with the creamy filling typically nestled in a graham cracker crust and topped with whipped cream or meringue. </span><br>
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<a href="http://cruisingsquared.blogspot.com/2015/05/mark-your-calendars-for-key-lime-fest.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-257786718643889361.post-61643235255229089162015-05-14T12:25:00.000-04:002015-05-14T12:25:28.516-04:00PASSPORT SCANNERS MAY SPEED EMBARKATION <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGdQFEi9vkoOK0fl3hfsVh1RxZqUXqDCkSVJjBLCUWpNYU1RAeC8FiPuxlYdU5UwQHh4rFHD4Nr6kd518y-N6kUcD5eMD9b_cb99oxMitqj0M2zgjRpzV1PiJE4B51e9vOIKHPWOx3ceLi/s1600/scanners.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGdQFEi9vkoOK0fl3hfsVh1RxZqUXqDCkSVJjBLCUWpNYU1RAeC8FiPuxlYdU5UwQHh4rFHD4Nr6kd518y-N6kUcD5eMD9b_cb99oxMitqj0M2zgjRpzV1PiJE4B51e9vOIKHPWOx3ceLi/s200/scanners.PNG" width="187" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Name the three parts of cruising you like the least. For me, it's getting on the ship, getting off the ship and the dreaded safety drill. Something that may ease the process for the first two are new automated passport scanners, now deployed at the Vancouver cruise terminal. You can read more about it <a href="http://www.news1130.com/2015/05/13/first-of-its-kind-passport-machines-at-vancouver-cruise-ship-terminal/">here</a>. Let's hope they will be coming to a cruise terminal near you soon. <b><i>-- Gerry</i></b></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-257786718643889361.post-25807925031191040642015-05-12T13:34:00.002-04:002015-05-12T13:34:45.761-04:00BEHIND THE SCENES OF 'DEVINLY DECADENCE'<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The restaurant is called "Devinly Decadence," taking its name from celebrity chef Devin Alexander, known from the TV show "The Biggest Loser." You can experience her "flavor-first" cooking aboard <i>Anthem of the Seas</i>. This week's video has more. My question? Why do I watch these right before lunch? </span><br />
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<script src="http://player.ooyala.com/player.js?deepLinkEmbedCode=YxeHYwdToQctoTSUHrIgtvoAw2GuWe8a&embedCode=YxeHYwdToQctoTSUHrIgtvoAw2GuWe8a&video_pcode=g1eTQ6bWC45uOcULC3zKz5-mqFji&width=640&height=360"></script>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-257786718643889361.post-47364887507697501952015-05-08T12:41:00.002-04:002015-05-08T12:41:39.442-04:0010 SURREAL DESTINATIONS<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZDN_OkFksVzjh6lTAmZZ3iX81b0SU9qbycS4FNb4bX_4TfSttmcBDrAIOZK_79mZ7cEQ8G_F0IufBE_WOeleqa-SRkMgX9lGr9NKe3HhBkR01WxsIepXJT6Colqs_ymbN3kwlkwKAUx0g/s1600/snow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZDN_OkFksVzjh6lTAmZZ3iX81b0SU9qbycS4FNb4bX_4TfSttmcBDrAIOZK_79mZ7cEQ8G_F0IufBE_WOeleqa-SRkMgX9lGr9NKe3HhBkR01WxsIepXJT6Colqs_ymbN3kwlkwKAUx0g/s400/snow.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park in Nagano, Japan (TripAdvisor)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">TripAdvisor is out with their <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/TripNews-a_ctr.bizarreplacesEN">"10 of the most surreal places on earth"</a> list. Sorry -- nothing from Florida qualified, even if we do produce some of the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/weirdflorida">weirdest news </a>in the country. But check out the list and you may find some additions to your own bucket list, like a trip to see Japan's snow monkeys. Brrr. I bet that water is c-c-c-cold. <b><i>-- Gerry</i></b></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-257786718643889361.post-6044863190833346702015-05-05T13:40:00.001-04:002015-05-05T13:40:35.460-04:00'WE WILL ROCK YOU' FEATURED ON 'ANTHEM'<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">British rock is alive and well, thank you very much, on Royal Caribbean's <i>Anthem of the Seas</i>. The long-running show, "We Will Rock You," has taken center stage on Royal's newest cruise ship. As Lionel's father might say on the BBC show, "As Time Goes By," -- "Rock on!"</span><br />
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<script src="http://player.ooyala.com/player.js?deepLinkEmbedCode=FwcGZ2dDrDu34oraxvJOCFlfo0i_tNkC&embedCode=FwcGZ2dDrDu34oraxvJOCFlfo0i_tNkC&video_pcode=g1eTQ6bWC45uOcULC3zKz5-mqFji&width=640&height=360"></script>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-257786718643889361.post-74558779425779233052015-04-29T13:13:00.000-04:002015-04-29T13:13:40.560-04:00TAKE A VIRTUAL TOUR OF 'CARNIVAL VISTA'<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Carnival's newest ship, <i>Carnival Vista</i>, is set to begin service in just about a year: May 1, 2016. But if you want a sneak peek at what's coming your way, come aboard this virtual tour. After it's over, you won't want to leave.</span><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-257786718643889361.post-87810435658878278852015-04-29T12:49:00.003-04:002015-04-29T12:49:45.173-04:00AND THE WORLD'S BEST ISLAND IS ...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8teHClnb0hM0IqzpfCR34sTU63gF69WK-2YCNY1uLABcXYm4tV5udYcYXSKx116ZT3MBIxMDGVZlChbrYC05S_JcjTxfcwi_fLfBgTbLYK8A1oSLZbcTVvp3MXlCDDyKOUppg7wjzy4vL/s1600/islands.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8teHClnb0hM0IqzpfCR34sTU63gF69WK-2YCNY1uLABcXYm4tV5udYcYXSKx116ZT3MBIxMDGVZlChbrYC05S_JcjTxfcwi_fLfBgTbLYK8A1oSLZbcTVvp3MXlCDDyKOUppg7wjzy4vL/s1600/islands.PNG" height="123" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">TripAdvisor is out with their <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/TravelersChoice-Islands-cTop-g1-a_Mode.expanded">Top 10 Islands in the World</a>, 2015 Edition. The good news is you don't have to go that far to experience their number one rated island paradise. It's right in our Caribbean neighborhood: Providenciales, in the Turks and Caicos. It has the usual suspects: Miles of sugary white sand, turquoise waters, upscale resorts ... so what are we waiting for???</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-257786718643889361.post-62698036059752612562015-04-29T12:34:00.001-04:002015-04-29T12:35:41.822-04:00AVALON EXPANDS RIVER THEME CRUISES<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtJOfVK5CM_u7lj3tCtlrX1fkCR2WdiAKWo1lMCmzuo8J1bMn0GmbTmCKOiiVrnHYjs2F1rFoXmVgIPi8PjfzVvLF6xSjzPE99mJhTPkz_QghCaYZGA2SZAmQGmDKQS7YEXAN5ZI9nupGF/s1600/avalon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtJOfVK5CM_u7lj3tCtlrX1fkCR2WdiAKWo1lMCmzuo8J1bMn0GmbTmCKOiiVrnHYjs2F1rFoXmVgIPi8PjfzVvLF6xSjzPE99mJhTPkz_QghCaYZGA2SZAmQGmDKQS7YEXAN5ZI9nupGF/s1600/avalon.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">By popular demand, Avalon Waterways has expanded its offerings of theme river cruises. Here's the latest lineup of what's available:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Wine Appreciation Cruises:</b><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Travelers learn what to look for in a good wine with help from distinguished wine authorities, visits to wine villages and tastings galore.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">· Burgundy & Provence – March 21 and October 23 & 27, 2016 departures</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">· Grand France - March 21, October 18 & 22, 2016 departures</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">· Rhine & Rhône Revealed – October 22, 2016 departure</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">· Canals, Vineyards & Paris – October 25, 2016 departure</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">· The Blue Danube Discovery – October 30, November 2 & 5, 2016 departures</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">· Grand Danube Cruise – October 26 & 28, 2016 departures</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Beer Cruises:</b><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A visit to Europe is even better when it includes a discovery of their famous beers.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">· Danube Dreams – March 30, 2016 departure</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">· Essential Holland & Belgium – April 12, 2016 departure</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">· The Blue Danube Discovery – November 9, 2016 departure</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Culinary Cruise:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Travelers will enter a food lover’s paradise in northern France on this foodie-themed departure.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">· Paris to Normandy’s Landing Beaches (or Grand France option) – March 22, 2016 departure</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">· Grand France – March 22, 2016 departure</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-257786718643889361.post-74616203625465699262015-04-29T12:27:00.000-04:002015-04-29T12:27:20.279-04:00PETS ON TRAINS: MAKING PROGRESS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMLD7e3K3yk8IzJYwcX1uUl2rnHJDXp5VImH5dH1dny6L9Nu1JeAMlU1WIAsB4VQKQrykz6W8J0O48uiLBMrbd_fsN7TZnBIGrfgm-HDP1YgUd-Fl1bd6v4Z__IwDLHr1r0itq_jjbFP2t/s1600/reg2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMLD7e3K3yk8IzJYwcX1uUl2rnHJDXp5VImH5dH1dny6L9Nu1JeAMlU1WIAsB4VQKQrykz6W8J0O48uiLBMrbd_fsN7TZnBIGrfgm-HDP1YgUd-Fl1bd6v4Z__IwDLHr1r0itq_jjbFP2t/s1600/reg2.jpg" height="165" width="200"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reggie finds the whole idea of<br>train travel very exciting</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The idea of taking your pet on a train trip is making progress. A test program in Illinois has been made permanent. One small step for owners, and a giant step for pets. Here's the full release from Amtrak:</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">"Amtrak and the Illinois Department of Transportation (Illinois DOT) are officially continuing a service that allows travelers to bring their small pets along on trips to and from Chicago and Downstate Illinois. An extended trial was set to expire this month, but due to positive customer response, the program is instead being made permanent with no changes in the provisions that were piloted.</span><br>
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<a href="http://cruisingsquared.blogspot.com/2015/04/pets-on-trains-making-progress.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-257786718643889361.post-18846515496367542015-04-29T12:14:00.002-04:002015-04-29T12:14:57.689-04:00'ANTHEM OF THE SEAS' VIRTUAL TOUR<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Royal Caribbean's second Quantum-class ship, <i>Anthem of the Seas</i>, has hit the waves. Click on the video below and take a virtual tour of this technology and entertainment marvel:</span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-257786718643889361.post-55257324760081896512015-04-24T09:45:00.000-04:002015-04-24T09:46:13.800-04:00CRUISE3SIXTY: AVALON ADDS EXOTIC CHOICES<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Lots of cruise news coming out of Ft. Lauderdale this week, where hundreds of travel industry professionals have gathered for the industry's only official cruise conference, put on by the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). Here's an announcement from river cruising line Avalon Waterways:</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from an Avalon suite. Beds are designed to<br />
face windows, not walls. (Avalon Waterways)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Avalon Waterways’</b> 2016 cruise season is shaping up to be memorable with new ships and new exotic cruises. On the heels of announcing two new Suite Ships in Europe, the company is also expanding its exotic cruise offerings, including announcing a return to the Nile River aboard the<i> MS Mayfair</i> and a new ship partnership on the Amazon River via the <i>Amazon Discovery</i>. Further, Avalon is providing travelers two new, intimate 36-passenger Suite Ships on the Irrawaddy and Mekong Rivers – The <i>Avalon Siem Reap</i> and <i>Avalon Myanmar</i> – as well as small-group discovery (maximum of 20 guests) experiences on the Yangtze River. <b><i>-- Gerry</i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-257786718643889361.post-3963823558739417852015-04-21T08:38:00.000-04:002015-04-21T08:38:34.225-04:00'ANTHEM' NAMING CEREMONY HELD IN ENGLAND<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Royal Caribbean staged the official naming ceremony for </span><em style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Anthem of the Seas, </em><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">the second Quantum-class vessel</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><i>,</i> in Southampton, where a 27-year-old </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">British travel agent, Emma Wilby, was honored as the newest Godmother in the Royal Caribbean fleet. <i>Anthem</i> boasts the same cutting-edge technology and features of <i>Quantum</i>. Here's a video from the ceremony and more about the ship:</span></span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-257786718643889361.post-45140345567887426362015-04-20T14:36:00.001-04:002015-04-20T14:36:52.973-04:00NEW MSC MEGASHIP ON TRACK FOR 2017<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpur9otcs5ZrsAje6yaLN95rv_dY9NF-EV1eFTGIkabDuNtOt8MtEGlwbxFF7-fe3j_ihC0jRRVXfrHGak1sSerxgLuL0O8k-Cq448zBQH3Qlfq0pnGMLq_ITbGHfaw04jfjpA8QLJXuSF/s1600/d%C3%A9coupe+1%C3%A8re+t%C3%B4le+MSC+VISTA+DSC_6268.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpur9otcs5ZrsAje6yaLN95rv_dY9NF-EV1eFTGIkabDuNtOt8MtEGlwbxFF7-fe3j_ihC0jRRVXfrHGak1sSerxgLuL0O8k-Cq448zBQH3Qlfq0pnGMLq_ITbGHfaw04jfjpA8QLJXuSF/s1600/d%C3%A9coupe+1%C3%A8re+t%C3%B4le+MSC+VISTA+DSC_6268.jpg" height="203" width="320"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MSC executives at the steel cutting ceremony (MSC)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">MSC Cruises marked an important milestone when work officially started today on their new Vista-class megaship, <i>MSC Meraviglia</i>, due to launch in 2017.</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Here's the release and more details from MSC:</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"MSC Cruises, the world’s largest privately-owned cruise company, marked a key milestone in its $5.4 billion growth plan today as the first steel for its new Vista generation of megaships was cut at STX France, during a ceremony in Saint-Nazaire.</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">"At the steel-cutting ceremony, MSC Cruises Executive Chairman Pierfrancesco Vago told assembled press and dignitaries that the cutting-edge 4,500 guest (double occupancy), 167,600-GRT ship — due to be delivered in May 2017 and open for bookings from June 2015 — will be named <i>MSC Meraviglia</i>. She will spend her first summer sailing the western Mediterranean, and will be the first to have three homeports: Genoa, Marseille and Barcelona.</span><br>
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<a href="http://cruisingsquared.blogspot.com/2015/04/new-msc-megaship-on-track-for-2017.html#more">Read more »</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0