Originally a fort built by the U.S. Army in 1838 during the Second Seminole War, Fort Lauderdale welcomes visitors with broad, palm-fringed beaches and an easy pace of life. Stroll along fashionable Las Olas Boulevard with its stylish shops or enjoy a sightseeing cruise through the city''s canals, boasting more waterways than Venice. Or, venture out and explore the cosmopolitan city of Palm Beach, or the wildlife sanctuary of the Everglades.
The most notorious of the three Salvation Islands, Devil's Island functioned for generations as a French penal colony. Once known as the "Dry Guillotine" because so many prisoners died there, the island today seems haunted by the spirits of former prisoners. Henri Charriere, better known as "Papillon," claimed to be the only prisoner ever to escape the Island.
Turning out of the muddy Amazon, you will cruise into the blue Rio Tapajos, to anchor off the village of Alter do Chao. Here you can tour the Center for Preservation of Indigenous Arts, with displays on the lifestyles of local tribes. Or cross to a white sand beach for a refreshing swim in the clear river waters.
A cultural outpost in the heart of the Amazon rainforest, Manaus was famous for the extravagant lifestyle and architecture of the 19th century rubber barons who made their fortunes here. The renovated opera house stands as an opulent testament to their vast wealth.
Called the "Spice Island" for its abundance of cinnamon and nutmeg, still sold at the waterfront market, Grenada is spicy in many other ways. St. George's has historic buildings in brick and mellow stone, and one of the loveliest harbors in the Caribbean. The coastline is full of secluded coves, while the mountainous interior is rich in rainforests and frothy rivers.
The ship passes through a channel in the reef, into a broad, perfectly protected natural harbor. This is Willemstad, where Dutch gingerbread houses, superb shopping, excellent restaurants and bustling casinos abound. Nature buffs will love the exotic plants and tropical birdlife of Christoffel National Park. And don''t forget to sample the famous Cura�ao liqueur, still made here.
Spend an unforgettable day cruising the Panama Canal, a fifty-one-mile waterway through the rainforest that is one of the world's engineering masterpieces. The ship glides down the canal with inches to spare, through locks that raise and lower it like a toy. Along the way it crosses enormous Gatun Lake, and the amazing Gaillard Cut, blasted out of a solid mountainside.
Spend an unforgettable day cruising the Panama Canal, a fifty-one-mile waterway through the rainforest that is one of the world's engineering masterpieces. The ship glides down the canal with inches to spare, through locks that raise and lower it like a toy. Along the way it crosses enormous Gatun Lake, and the amazing Gaillard Cut, blasted out of a solid mountainside.
Hollywood discovered this little fishing village back in the 1960's, and since then luxury resorts and bougainvillea-covered villas have flourished in the delightful seaside climate. Yet hints of past tranquility remain: cobbled courtyards where the locals hold their markets, and superb sport-fishing just offshore.
Located on the leeward side of the Big Island and best known for its coffee, Kona was once the playground of Hawaii's royalty. You can visit both coffee and macadamia nut plantations, Kealakekua Bay where Captain Cook first landed (and was later murdered) in 1779, and The Sacred City of Refuge, a haven for ancient lawbreakers. Or Parker Ranch, the largest cattle ranch in the world, with over a quarter of a million acres.
Located on the eastern seashore of the big island of Hawaii, Hilo is an old sugar town and the second-best (after Honolulu) seaport in the islands. Also known as the flower capital of the state, Hilo boasts flower farms and Queen Liliuokalani Park, an authentic Japanese garden. You may wish to visit the black sand beaches of the Puna District. Or Kilauea, the world's largest volcano; its crater is the legendary home of Pele, goddess of fire, who keeps watch over her domain of Volcanoes National Park.
Diamond Head, Waikiki Beach, Pearl Harbor - these names evoke feeling of magic, mystery, drama and history, and they are all located in Honolulu. The capital of Hawaii, this city not only offers some of the best beaches along side big-city skyscrapers, there are also parks, fabulous shopping, the only royal palace in America, the Arizona Memorial in the harbor at Pearl City, the Polynesian Cultural Center and more.
Once you arrive on Guam you will see that the island is a harmonious place, full of great sights and wonderful eateries.The Guam Museum is a wonderful place to learn all about the Chamorro people who occupied Guam over 1500 years ago.
Huge department stores brim with shoppers, neon flashes from dusk to dawn, and the entire world pays heed to the slightest fluctuation on the Nikkei Index. From the Imperial Palace and Meiji Shrine to the fabled Ginza district, 20th-century Tokyo is an intriguing composite of East and West. Yuppies sporting Walkmen bow formally in greeting. Women in kimonos and Dior suits stroll side-by-side. Geishas play samisens while disc jockeys play the Top Forty. Japanese houses of wood and paper stand in the shadow of towering steel and mortar. Not far away, one of the world's most impressive sights soars 12,388 feet to its snow-clad peak: Mount Fuji, the majestic symbol of Japan.
Huge department stores brim with shoppers, neon flashes from dusk to dawn, and the entire world pays heed to the slightest fluctuation on the Nikkei Index. From the Imperial Palace and Meiji Shrine to the fabled Ginza district, 20th-century Tokyo is an intriguing composite of East and West. Yuppies sporting Walkmen bow formally in greeting. Women in kimonos and Dior suits stroll side-by-side. Geishas play samisens while disc jockeys play the Top Forty. Japanese houses of wood and paper stand in the shadow of towering steel and mortar. Not far away, one of the world's most impressive sights soars 12,388 feet to its snow-clad peak: Mount Fuji, the majestic symbol of Japan.
Famous for its succulent Kobe beef and cosmopolitan flair, this booming port town sits between the Rokko Mountains and Osaka Bay. It contains a remarkable cultural mix of Swiss chalets, Moslem mosques and Russian Orthodox churches tucked between traditional Japanese buildings. A cable car ascends to the summit of Mount Rokko, a national park.
Famous for its succulent Kobe beef and cosmopolitan flair, this booming port town sits between the Rokko Mountains and Osaka Bay. It contains a remarkable cultural mix of Swiss chalets, Moslem mosques and Russian Orthodox churches tucked between traditional Japanese buildings. A cable car ascends to the summit of Mount Rokko, a national park.
From the port of Tianjin, you can venture to the ancient capital of China: Beijing. It is a veritable treasure-trove of historic wonders, including the Forbidden City where you enter the world of The Last Emperor, a complex of incredible historic significance and physical grandeur. Just outside the walls of the Imperial Palace lies the largest plaza on earth, Tiananmen Square, home to Mao's Monument and his Mausoleum. At the Summer Palace, you'll step into a pastoral mist of natural and man-made beauty: 700 acres of stunning parkland, dreamy lakes, fascinating temples and halls. The Summer Palace evokes a feeling of serenity as you wander through fairy-tale landscapes and manicured gardens. Then witness the efforts of nearly a million workers who walled in an empire by hand. As you climb the Great Wall toward one of its towers, the spirit of endurance and determination takes hold, a poignant reminder of the painstaking endeavors of 2,500 years ago.
From the port of Tianjin, you can venture to the ancient capital of China: Beijing. It is a veritable treasure-trove of historic wonders, including the Forbidden City where you enter the world of The Last Emperor, a complex of incredible historic significance and physical grandeur. Just outside the walls of the Imperial Palace lies the largest plaza on earth, Tiananmen Square, home to Mao's Monument and his Mausoleum. At the Summer Palace, you'll step into a pastoral mist of natural and man-made beauty: 700 acres of stunning parkland, dreamy lakes, fascinating temples and halls. The Summer Palace evokes a feeling of serenity as you wander through fairy-tale landscapes and manicured gardens. Then witness the efforts of nearly a million workers who walled in an empire by hand. As you climb the Great Wall toward one of its towers, the spirit of endurance and determination takes hold, a poignant reminder of the painstaking endeavors of 2,500 years ago.
Dalian sits at the tip of the Liaodong peninsula... because it sits right on the sea, the city is free from the heavy pollution facing other Chinese cities... In the summer, Dalian transforms into a resort town, with Chinese families from the inland making the trek out to the beaches on the outskirts of the city. The twenty mile stretch of beach here is among the finest in all of China. Dalian is also home to an annual International Fashion Festival, along with a Spring Festival to ring in the Chinese New Year.
From opium wars to junks and barges, images of Shanghai flood the senses. The real Shanghai is a teeming metropolis of 11 million, bustling with energy, towering skyscrapers and art deco buildings, honking traffic and shopping crowds. But once you enter China's largest city, you'll find Eastern ways abound: Tai Chi along the Bund, the serenity of exquisite ponds and gardens, and an endless flotilla of sampans edging along the Huangpu River. Explore Shanghai old and new: the busy bazaars and alleyways of the Old Town, Yu Garden, the Wuxingting Tea House, Long Hua Temple and more.
From opium wars to junks and barges, images of Shanghai flood the senses. The real Shanghai is a teeming metropolis of 11 million, bustling with energy, towering skyscrapers and art deco buildings, honking traffic and shopping crowds. But once you enter China's largest city, you'll find Eastern ways abound: Tai Chi along the Bund, the serenity of exquisite ponds and gardens, and an endless flotilla of sampans edging along the Huangpu River. Explore Shanghai old and new: the busy bazaars and alleyways of the Old Town, Yu Garden, the Wuxingting Tea House, Long Hua Temple and more.
Hong Kong is the cosmopolitan hub of the Far East. This former British colony reverted to Chinese control in 1997, yet the culture-rich atmosphere remains. See the Wong Tai Sin Temple, tour local markets and the floating village of Aberdeen. Take the Tram to the top of Victoria Peak for one of the world''s most exciting views, or cross the harbor aboard one of the famous Star Ferries. After shopping and exploring, enjoy high tea at the favored retreat of many world travelers-the Peninsula Hotel.
Hong Kong is the cosmopolitan hub of the Far East. This former British colony reverted to Chinese control in 1997, yet the culture-rich atmosphere remains. See the Wong Tai Sin Temple, tour local markets and the floating village of Aberdeen. Take the Tram to the top of Victoria Peak for one of the world''s most exciting views, or cross the harbor aboard one of the famous Star Ferries. After shopping and exploring, enjoy high tea at the favored retreat of many world travelers-the Peninsula Hotel.
Today this lovely town on the South China Sea reflects the peaceful era of pre-war Indochina. And up the coast, the grand Thien Mu Pagoda and stately Tu Duc Tomb welcome you to Hue, Vietnam's ancient royal capital, on the banks of the Perfume River.
One of Asia's great success stories, this island republic has merged diverse cultures into a dynamic and thriving nation. Clean, modern and full of green gardens, its neighborhoods reflect the Chinese, Malay, Indian, Arab and European backgrounds of its past. After sampling the legendary shopping, retire to Raffles Hotel's famous bar and toast Maugham, Kipling and Noel Coward with a Singapore Sling.