Ensemble Lifestyles - Fall 2013

Fall 2013

Presented by

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Lifestyles

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Retrace Your Roots A Family's History in Hamburg

Golf Champion JUSTIN ROSE & Wife KATE Talk Golf, Giving & Travel

TUSCANY & ARIZONA

Girls & Guys Getaways

NEW YORK CITY

The Eternal Tourist

Making Art in ST. BARTH

Dear Mr. & Mrs. Smith, There are so many different things that can stir our imaginations and move us to say “I want to go there!” It could be as simple as seeing a gorgeous image of the azure waters and white-sand beaches of Tahiti.

A friend raving about the out-of-this-world meal they had at a littleknown trattoria in Italy. An exotic destination you once read about and have always dreamed of visiting. Or just a desire to escape from your day-to-day routine and discover something new.

This issue of Ensemble Lifestyles™ explores those unique, personal reasons that inspire people to travel. One family returns to Hamburg, Germany to retrace their family roots, while another family has been celebrating anniversaries, birthdays and more at the same resort in Hawaii since 1964. Pamela Maurice returns to Venice every year for the Carnevale festivities. A sculptor travels to St. Barth for inspiration. Friends get together on girls and guys getaways. Golf champion Justin Rose and his wife reveal their travel tips. And a native New Yorker shares why she loves being an “eternal tourist” in the city that never sleeps.

Whether you’re dreaming of a grand adventure through Europe or simply looking to extend your cruise vacation with a pre- or postcruise stay in New York City, we’re ready with the knowledge, insider connections, and exclusive offers to help get you “there.”

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Ensemble Travel® Group membership enables us to bring you added amenities, custom touches, unexpected experiences, and a genuinely warm welcome wherever your travels take you. When your next opportunity for travel arises, be sure to inquire about the Ensemble® Exclusives that can make your trip an absolute dream come true.

C ONT E N TS

Fall 2013

Features 12 Repeat Performances 12 A Hawaiian Paradise Worth Returning to

by CHRISTOPHER HANN

19

The Tanzman family has been

vacationing at The Kahala since 1964.

16 A Grand Obsession: The Venice Carnevale

34

by SUZANNE GANNON

Pamela Maurice returns to

Venice every year to celebrate Carnevale di Venezia.

43

19 A Passion for the Seven Seas

by ROBIN CHERRY

The Lums share why they’ve

taken nearly 50 cruises together.

26 Making Art in St. Barth

b y CHRISTOPHER HANN

Artist Dave Stevenson gets his

inspiration in sunny St. Barthélemy.

60 Divide & Conquer:

Luxurious Trips for Ladies,

Exclusive Escapes for Men

by NANCY HELLMRICH

60 Divas & Daughters

Mothers, daughters, sisters and

friends celebrate their bonds on a tour of Italy.

34 Eternal Tourist in New York

b y SUZANNE GANNON

63 A Gentlemen’s Getaway

A New Yorker reveals her insight on

A group of guys share their

43 G olf Travel International: Emerging Unique & Exotic Destinations

Departments

love of golf on an annual trip to Arizona.

the illustrious city.

b y ROXANNE BORYCZKI

Take your golf game around the world in South Africa, New Zealand, Iceland, Liverpool, Dubai & beyond.

50 Retracing our Roots: A Family’s Emotional Journey to Hamburg

b y JUDY BIRKE

Judy and her family learn more about

their heritage in Hamburg, Germany.

4 Letter from the Editor 6 Contributors 8 R SVP

Readers share their travel stories.

46 Frequent Traveler –

Golf, Giving and Travel

Golf champion Justin Rose and wife Kate share their favorite travel experiences.

66 Traveler’s Notebook

2 Ensemble Lifestyles Fall 2013

Ensemble® Exclusive deals & offers

50 D E ST I NAT I O N I N D E X

Anguilla 45 Arizona 63 Aruba 45 Barbados 45 Botswana 39 Cambodia 8 China 39 Costa Rica 25 Dominican Republic 29, 45 Dubai 45 Fiji 24 Florence 7, 61 Hamburg 50 Hawaii 12 Iceland 43 Jamaica 45 Liverpool 44

Morocco 9 Myanmar 9 Nevis 45 New York City 34 New Zealand 43 Puerto Rico 45 Roatan 45 South Africa 43 South America 30 South Pacific 5 St. Barth 26 St. Kitts 45 Tahiti 24 Tuscany 7, 25, 62 Venice 7, 25, 16 Vietnam 8 Zimbabwe 39

IT’S TIME TO

BEGIN A NEW STORY.™

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Ask about our 2-for-1 Air Add Ons. Please call the Ensemble Travel® Group consultant at the phone number on the back of this magazine.

Book Now Cruise-Only Fares are per person in U.S. dollars, double occupancy for category E on Crystal Symphony and include all promotional savings, apply to new bookings only made between 7/01/2013 - 10/31/2013 and do not include port, security and handling charges of $250 - $365. All offers may not be combinable with other promotions, apply to first two full-fare guests in stateroom or suite, are capacity-controlled, subject to availability and may be withdrawn or changed at any time without notice. Optional air add-ons are available from designated Crystal Cruises’ gateway cities in the U.S. and Canada and include all government taxes and fees. Contact your Ensemble Travel Group consultant for more details. Guests must be booked in Ensemble Group 303 or 304 to be eligible for special amenities. All fares, itineraries, programs, policies and shore excursions are subject to change. Restrictions apply. See crystalcruises.com for complete terms and conditions of all offers ©2013 Crystal Cruises, Inc., Ship’s registry: The Bahamas

ED I TOR’ S L E T T E R

I’ve always been an avid traveler: I’ve been on safari in Africa, swam with piranhas in the Amazon, explored caves in China and skied the Swiss Alps. However, I must confess that before I joined Ensemble Travel® Group, I typically only worked with a travel agent to coordinate family trips. For trips with friends, I took pride in being a do-it-yourself traveler; researching destinations by myself and scouring the web for the best deals. In reality, this meant a lot of time wasted sitting at my computer and becoming overwhelmed by too many options. I would eventually leave most of my planning for the plane ride, frantically highlighting interesting spots in the guide book and hoping everything worked out. Now that I’ve learned the ease and value of having an Ensemble Travel® Group consultant to help plan my trips, I shake my head in disbelief over the amount of energy I wasted and the opportunities missed on my previous journeys. Luckily our Ensemble LifestylesTM readers are more trip savvy and know to call their Ensemble Travel® Group advisor!

As Ensemble is the only North American travel consortia, I am working closely with both U.S. and Canadian travel agencies. I have now had the chance to experience some of Canada’s most beautiful scenery – from the breathtaking Okanagan region (the Napa Valley of Canada) to a true “bucket list” trip on the Rocky Mountaineer, riding in a glass-domed train that wound through the Canadian Rockies.

If you’re looking for a seamless vacation that’s even better than you imagined, complete with added amenities, exclusive offers, unexpected experiences and custom touches, call your Ensemble Travel® Group consultant. Listen to the reformed DIY-er.

Wishing you all the joys of travel,

Georganne Shirk

4 Ensemble Lifestyles Fall 2013

The Shelbourne Dublin

Rocky Mountaineer

s

I’ve been traveling a lot recently, and thanks to my travel consultants I have discovered amazing hotels and incredible destinations I never would have experienced had I planned these trips on my own. I never would have thought to visit Liverpool, but found it absolutely worth the trip from London. It’s so much more than The Beatles, as I learned from our on location specialist. Beautiful hotels are a passion so I loved the modern and inviting boutique Hope Street Hotel, Liverpool. The next leg of the journey was in Dublin with a stay at the beautiful historic Shelbourne Dublin. The group tour I took of Ireland with CIE Tours was as well-orchestrated and interesting as my first family tour with them many years ago.

Georganne with CIE Tours guide Pat Smith

P.S. Congratulations to our 2013 Ensemble LifestylesTM Reader Survey winner, Jennifer S., and a big thank you to all of our survey participants! We learned a lot from the survey results, and you may notice that this issue reflects some of the comments we received, such as: • Many readers are interested in traveling to Hawaii – see page 12 for our feature story on Hawaii.

• Our readers want more travel tips – our New York feature on page 34 is chock-full of things to see & do in NYC. • Many of our readers indicated that they are interested in multi-generational family travel – see page 50 for an incredible story of a family who retraced their roots in Hamburg, Germany.

If you’d like to share your travel stories or your thoughts on the magazine with me, please send an email to editor@ensembletravel.com.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Art

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Paul Gauguin on the South Seas: A Work of

Imagine exploring the luscious tropical region that has inspired artists and poets for centuries…

P

aul Gauguin Cruises offers luxury, small ship voyages to the pristine serenity of Tahiti, French Polynesia, and the South Pacific on the award-winning, 332-guest m/s Paul Gauguin. Designed specifically to navigate the islands of French Polynesia, The Gauguin’s sleek size allows it to enter lagoons that are inaccessible to larger ships; effortlessly blending into the stunning natural beauty of the South Seas. Take a seven- or 14-night voyage, sailing roundtrip from Tahiti with 5+ star service, comfort and luxury; visiting the beautiful islands of Bora Bora, Moorea, Raiatea, and Taha’a.

The Gauguin offers all-inclusive value with luxury accommodations; superior service distinguished by Polynesian hospitality; high crew-to-guest ratios; oceanview accommodations; gourmet dining in all venues; complimentary beverages including

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The Gauguin is renowned for its awardwinning service and luxury appointments.

Nearly 70% of the ship’s suites and staterooms offer balconies. Dining experiences include L’Etoile, which showcases an array of tempting specialties, expertly prepared each evening. La Veranda features delicious breakfast and lunch dishes and is transformed into a chic French bistro in the evenings, highlighting culinary creations of celebrity chef Jean-Pierre Vigato. Polynesian specialties are served poolside at Le Grill. Naturalists, lecturers, and Les Gauguines, a troupe of Tahitian entertainers, provide enriching experiences of the destinations throughout each voyage. A luxury spa, fitness center, and expansive outdoor decks with chaise lounges and pool are also available aboard The Gauguin.

For special offers on Paul Gauguin Cruises, please see page 75, or call your Ensemble Travel® Group consultant at the phone number on the back cover.

Ensemble Lifestyles Fall 2013 5

CO N T RIB UTORS

Lifestyles

TM

Editor In Chief

Creative Director

Georganne Shirk Laura Torrisi

Art Director at Large

Yin Wong

Advertorial

Coordinator

Allyn Bacher

Feature Art Director

Ann Suh

Kimberly Buerkle

Associate Editors

Alice Whitney

Copy Editors

Staff Writers

Kimberly Buerkle Alice Whitney Daniel Stein

Judith Vitale

DE S IG N

Torrisi Design Associates, Inc. P ROD U C T ION Production Manager

Wendy Russo

Assistant Coordinator

Daniel Stein

An Ensemble Travel® Group Publication Ensemble® Lifestyles is a publication of Ensemble Travel® ­Group. © September 2013 Ensemble Travel, Inc. All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reprinted or otherwise duplicated without written permission of the publisher.

Ensemble Travel Group, 29 West 36th Street, New York, NY 10018.

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Ensemble® Ensemble Travel® Ensemble® Hosted Cruises Ensemble® Hotel & Resort Collection Ensemble® On Location Ensemble® Villas & Vacation Homes Ensemble® Exclusives Ensemble® Experience Ensemble® Luxe Life and the floret design are registered and unregistered trademarks of Ensemble Travel, Inc.

6 Ensemble Lifestyles Fall 2013

freelance arts journalist and principal at Judy Birke Art Consultants, LLC, an art consulting and appraisal firm. She worked as an art critic for the New Haven Register and Gallery Director for the Munson Gallery and Norwalk Community College. Previously a freelance curator and adjunct faculty at Southern Connecticut State University, she is currently working on her memoir, Catching Up With Myself.

Retracing our Roots, A Family's Emotional Journey to Hamburg, page 50.

ROXANNE BORYCZKI

has been a writer and public speaker on travel and golf travel since 1996.

She has written for the Times of Fountain Hills, Let’s Go Magazine, and Vista Magazine. Roxanne has been on golf courses in Arizona, California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Fiji, Scotland, and South Africa. Golf Travel International: Emerging Unique and Exotic Destinations, page 43.

ROBIN CHERRY is an editorial correspondent to Art & Antiques, columnist for Women’s Runner, and has written for O the Oprah Magazine, National Geographic Traveler, Robb Report, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and others. Her stories have taken her to 115 countries on six continents. She won the 2009 American Society of Journalists & Authors Outstanding Article Award. A Passion for the Seven Seas, page 19.

SUZANNE GANNON

covers travel and leisure, food and wine, and culture and design. Her work has appeared in Town & Country, The New York Times, Art & Antiques, The Wall Street Journal, and Executive Traveler. She has been a guest on NPR’s “Talk of the Nation”.

A Grand Obsession: The Venice Carnevale, page 16; Eternal Tourist in New York, page 34.

CHRISTOPHER HANN Alyson Foldvary Wicheloe

E DI T O R I A L

Based in New York,

JUDY BIRKE is a

is an adjunct professor of journalism at Rutgers University and a freelance writer based in New Jersey. He has written about art and culture for The New York Times, Art & Antiques, and Ritz-Carlton magazine, among others. A Hawaiian Paradise Worth Returning to, page 12; Making Art in St. Barth, page 26.

NANCY HELLMRICH is a Colorado-based freelance writer and book editor who specializes in luxury travel, healthcare, and business services. A former advertising creative director, Nancy has worked, lectured, and traveled throughout North America, sailed the Mediterranean, and explored many regions of Europe, the South Pacific and Australia. Divide & Conquer: Luxurious Trips for Ladies, Exclusive Escapes for Men, page 60.

JAMES PARK is a freelance photographer based in New York City.

He graduated from Pratt Institute and started his career assisting Isabel Asha Penzlien and Matthew Hranek on various fashion and editorial shoots ranging from the GAP to editorials for Martha Stewart Living. Eternal Tourist in New York, page 34.

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Italian Mosaic Our most popular vacation is 13 days through Italy’s most beautiful and enriched cities. Spend two nights in Rome, Florence, Lake Maggiore, Venice and Sorrento, one night in Assisi, and excursions to Capri, Isola Madre, Isola Del Pescatori, Pisa, Padua, and Switzerland’s Lugano and Locarno.

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Includes full breakfast buffet daily, two special lunches in Narni and Montalcino; six three-course dinners including special dinners in Rome, Spoleto, Assisi, Deruta and Orvieto.

For more information please see page 67, or contact your Ensemble Travel® Group consultant at the phone number on the back cover.

Ensemble Lifestyles Fall 2013 7

RSVP

Southeast Asia & Morocco

Inspired by Ensemble LifestylesTM, our readers have been traveling the globe and sharing their experiences with us …

After reading “Southeast Asia: Land of Ancient Intrigue and Modern Enchantments” in our spring/summer 2013 issue, Natalie and her friend booked their own trip to Cambodia and Vietnam.

Dear Editor, We had an amazing trip to Cambodia and Vietnam. This was my first time going to Southeast Asia, and it was completely worth the travel to the other side of the world. The people were so friendly and helpful, and the food was great, too!

My favorite part of the trip was the day we spent visiting the temples near Siem Reap. We planned an all day tour of the different temples, including Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, and Ta Prohm (jungle temple). I am glad I brought good footwear, because we did a lot of climbing up the steps of the temples. The guide was fantastic at recounting the history of Cambodia and the temples. He also was sure to point out all the best photo opportunities. I am very happy we booked the tour instead of trying to do

“As the sun began to rise, the color of the sky behind the temple was breathtaking.”

the trip on our own.

The best part was watching the sunrise over Angkor Wat. We left our hotel at about 5AM to drive to the temple. As we walked into the temple, it was still dark out but you could hear the crowds that had arrived for the event. As the sun began to rise, the color of the sky behind the temple was breathtaking. It was a great way to start our day (albeit very early).

I hope to go back to Southeast Asia again sometime, and this time for a longer trip. But I am so happy we chose to travel to Cambodia and Vietnam. What a fantastic experience! ~ Natalie

Please see pages 70 & 73 for our pick of great cruises to Southeast Asia, or contact your Ensemble Travel® Group consultant at the phone number on the back cover to create your own Southeast Asia journey.

8 Ensemble Lifestyles Fall 2013

while in Myanmar ...

Shauna and her daughter enjoyed a mother/daughter Moroccan getaway.

worth the

Journey

We had a wonderful trip. Morocco is so colorful and

BALLOON OVER BAGAN

beautiful. My daughter and I loved the history and learning about the current way of life. Having guides on our first days in Marrakech and Essaouira was particularly helpful. Both M'Hamed and Rashida were well informed and we felt safe and comfortable with them. On the way from Marrakech to Essaouira our driver stopped at one of the women's cooperatives that processes Argan oil, which we enjoyed. We also had a lovely New Year's Eve meal at the Riad in Essaouira. We were very pleased with our trip, and we would definitely do it all over again. ~ Shauna H.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! We invite you to share your travel stories with us.

RSVP to:

editor@ensembletravel.com Whether it be a destination featured in Ensemble Lifestyles or another fabulous locale, we’d love to hear where your travels have taken you.

G O A unique, off-the-beaten path experience in Myanmar (Burma).

Bagan is a 1 hour 10 minute direct flight from Yangon.

S E E On par with Angkor Wat, Bagan ranks as one of the great wonders of the world with over 2,000 awe-inspiring pagodas. Situated on the plains next to the Ayeyarwady River, this ancient city is dotted with thousands of ancient stupas and temples from different eras, making it one of the most remarkable archaeological sites in Asia.

E X P E R I E N C E Take to the skies as you fly over the vast plains of Bagan in a hot air balloon. Witness thousands of temples that were built between the 11th and 13th century from a bird's eye view. Enjoy unrivalled views and a champagne breakfast from above at sunrise. The breathtaking view of the brick temples, against the backdrop of an expansive plain of dust is unforgettable.

W H E N The best time to visit is between November and February.

Avoid March through May, when temperatures often reach 104°F, and June through October, which is the rainy season.

Myanmar bookings are best made at least 6 months in advance to ensure availability of preferred hotels and activities such as the Balloon over Bagan experience – contact your Ensemble Travel® Group consultant for details.

Ensemble Lifestyles Fall 2013 9

Discover Your Personal European Boating Vacation!

You live to discover the secret little French restaurant you will remember forever; the perfect Italian

Prosecco in Venice and the lively Irish pub filled with song and dance.

You travel to discover the unique places that provide everlasting memories. With Le Boat the journey is part of the discovery as you travel the waterways of Europe on your personal self-drive cruiser, a floating villa that allows you to discover your next special memory stopping where you want and when you want.

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For more information, please contact your Ensemble Travel速 Group consultant at the phone number on the back cover.

FRANCE

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ITALY

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GERMANY

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ENGLAND

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IRELAND

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SCOTLAND

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BELGIUM

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HOLLAND

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Learning Journeys, powered by Perillo Tours, is a unique collection of travel experiences designed to ignite your passions through cultural immersions and handson education. Each trip is designed and hosted by educators in related fields of study.

Pre-planned lectures, classes, and activities can be customized to fit your learning goals. Freedom of Choice days inject a little spontaneity into the mix.

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Highlights include hanging bridges, guided meditation, yoga, spa treatments, special community projects, nocturnal wildlife, and vibrant Latin dance.

See page 67 for special offers on these Learning Journeys. Or contact your Ensemble Travel® Group consultant at the number on the back cover to learn more.

Powered by Perillo Tours

Powered by Perillo Tours

Ensemble Lifestyles Fall 2013 11

REAL PEOPLE REAL JOURNEYS

Repeat Performances Part of the allure of travel is finding that special place, far from home, that strikes a chord deep within you. And then returning there, again and again, until that special place starts to feel like a second home. In the following stories we explore the tales of travelers for whom the repeat visit is its own reward.

1

The Tanzman family

1

2

Pamela Maurice

3

Jack & Muriel Lum

A Hawaiian Paradise Worth Returning to

by CHRISTOPHER HANN

One day in 1963, Joy and Saul Tanzman were visiting the Hawaiian island of Oahu when they came upon the construction of a resort hotel that was to be called The Kahala. Built by Conrad Hilton and named for the exclusive Honolulu neighborhood in which it was located, The Kahala Hotel & Resort would occupy six and a half acres fronting the Pacific Ocean, including an 800foot stretch of shimmering white beaches and a man-made lagoon stocked with Atlantic bottlenose dolphins imported from Gulfport, Mississippi. From its lush grounds future visitors could take in stunning views of nearby Diamond Head.

Saul Tanzman, a businessman, turned to his wife Joy and said, “Next time we come, we’re going to stay there.”

Saul & Joy Tanzman

12 Ensemble Lifestyles Fall 2013

The following year, The Kahala’s first, the Tanzmans did just that. It would be the beginning of a beautiful friendship. A love affair, really, with a luxury hotel that has welcomed movie stars, musical legends and assorted royalty while serving as a second home for three generations of Tanzmans. Since 1964 members of the family have returned

Waikiki, Oahu

to The Kahala annually to celebrate birthdays, New Year’s Eves, anniversaries (and more than one renewal of wedding vows for Joy and Saul) and to soak in the exquisite hospitality afforded by The Kahala employees they have known for decades. When Joy Tanzman travels to Hawaii next year, she’ll mark a halfcentury of checking into The Kahala.

“It’s our favorite place in the world,” Joy says. “I’d rather stay at The Kahala than anywhere. Our family is so committed to that hotel in every way.”

A year after The Kahala opened, Joy and Saul brought their three teenage children, a visit that Susan Tanzman still remembers. Their room wasn’t ready when they arrived, Susan says, so the staff offered the family the use of The Kahala’s Japanese teahouse, near the lagoon, a residence from which Frank Sinatra had just checked out. These days, Susan says, she stays at The Kahala no fewer than three times a year.

“I fell in love with it from day one,” she says.

“It’s a family – that’s all I can say – from the maids, to the restaurant staff, to the front desk. It’s part of this family’s culture. The Kahala is Oahu to us.”

From top: Susan, Debbi & Joy, Ron

Ensemble Lifestyles Fall 2013 13

R E A L P E O P LE R EA L J O URNEYS

RESORT OF THE WHO’S WHO Susan brought her two sons, Michael and Darin Kaplan, to The Kahala before either one could walk. One day at the beach she looked up to see her boys playing with the sons of Sylvester Stallone. On other occasions she’s spotted Elton John and his entourage in The Kahala’s lobby and Johnny Depp in one of Joy & grandson Darin

Joy and great grandson Matthew

the dining rooms. She’s traveled to 101

countries, but for Susan no place compares to The Kahala. “There are hotels that are maybe more elegant, but that’s my home,” she says.

“I walk in and simply feel like I’m home.”

Glynis Esmail, the vice president for marketing and e-commerce at Landmark Hotels Group, The Kahala’s management company since 2006, says the Tanzman family has taught her much about the hotel. Joy Tanzman, for example, helped her understand the hotel’s appeal to multi-generational families.

“It was Susan who actually taught me a lot about the hotel and what growing up here meant in terms of dishes that were outstanding or the staff that endeared themselves to the family,” Esmail says. “You can see when she walks into a restaurant in her muumuu – she goes native on us – she walks in and there’s just so many hugs. That’s grand to see that relationship between our guests and our staff. That is what endears her to us.”

About ten years ago, when Michael found himself wanting to live in Hawaii, he got a job as a food server at The Kahala and stayed for two years. Today he’s training to become general manager of a new Las Vegas restaurant being opened by celebrity chef Tom Colicchio. Michael credits his experience at The Kahala with exposing him to a new level of hospitality.

1983, front row from left: Dena, Carrie, Michael Back: Susan, Saul, Joy, Ron, Debbi, Rick

14 Ensemble Lifestyles Fall 2013

“For me, it made me have a lot of pride in what I was doing,” he says. “I went above and beyond mainly because I had such an affinity and passion for that hotel. I understand the expectations better than most in terms of what they offer their guests. Realistically, what it meant to go the extra step for any

In the half-century since it opened its doors on January 22, 1964, The Kahala Hotel & Resort has earned a reputation as an opulent South Pacific hideaway for presidents, kings, queens, and all manner of Hollywood glitterati.

Not long after the resort’s opening, NBC booked the entire hotel for its annual affiliates meeting. The word was out.

The Kahala was Hawaii’s newest

guest at any time. That’s what makes the hotel so special in terms of their guests coming back year after year after year.”

Last April at least a dozen Tanzmans, and a dozen friends, gathered at The Kahala to celebrate the 65th birthday of Joy’s son, Ron Tanzman. Among the celebrants were Ron’s daughters, Carrie Tanzman Shapiro and Dena Tanzman Cohen, who’d first stayed at The Kahala when they were about five years old. Their father estimates he’s returned to The Kahala nearly 40 times since his parents took him and his sisters for the first time.

“Our family as a whole, as well as each of us individually, have gone there and have the most pleasant memories you could ever

destination of choice. Just a ten-minute drive from the hurly-burly of downtown Waikiki, The Kahala, with its 24-hour room service and its relative seclusion, offered pampered guests a heightened sense of Hawaiian hospitality.

The resort’s 338 rooms and suites includes the 2,200-square-foot Presidential Suite – master bedroom, living room, office space, Pacific Ocean views – which has provided temporary quarters for England’s Queen Elizabeth, India’s Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, and Monaco’s Prince Rainier and Princess Grace. Prince Charles and Princess Diana and their entourage once booked 100 rooms at The Kahala. And every U.S. president from Lyndon Johnson to George W. Bush has stayed at The Kahala.

(Barack Obama, who was born in Hawaii, stays at a private home when the First Family takes its annual vacation there.)

Akaka Falls, Big Island

Baseball great Joe DiMaggio dined at The Kahala on its opening day, and over the ensuing 50 years a thumbnail list of boldface guests would include John Wayne, Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, Dean Martin, Elizabeth Taylor, Lucille Ball, Luciano Pavarotti, Michael Jackson, Muhammad Ali, Robert Redford, Sidney Poitier, the Who, the Beach Boys, and the Rolling Stones.

Hanauma Bay, Oahu

want,” Ron says. “I tell anybody and

everybody who is going to Oahu, there’s only one place to stay, and that’s The Kahala.”

The Kahala offers five dining options, from the refined elegance of Hoku’s to the casual beachfront setting of Seaside Grill, but no dish generates praise among the Tanzmans quite like the Delicate Thin Pancakes, rolled in maple butter, served at Plumeria Beach House. Susan’s younger son, Darin, says he never leaves Hawaii without a container of Kahala pancake batter. “It’s the one thing you look for every single time you go to The Kahala,” Dena says.

When Dena and her husband, Steven Cohen, stayed at The Kahala for her father’s 65th birthday celebration, they brought their daughter, 6-year-old Sofia (it was her second visit) and their son, Matthew, who was then six months old. “It really brings back so many memories of my grandmother and grandfather,” Dena says. “That’s so important. He passed away a week after I got married. Every time we go back there it’s really reminiscent of him and his legacy. In terms of The Kahala, I think it’s just a fabulous place to continue with the next generation.”

A few months after Saul Tanzman passed away from Lou Gehrig’s disease in 2002, The Kahala staff organized a memorial service for one of their most faithful guests. About 100 people attended. The memory of the staff’s devotion to her husband still moves Joy Tanzman. In September she and Susan will return to Hawaii to take part in a fundraising walk for the ALS Association, the first such walk to take place in Honolulu. They’ll stay, of course, at The Kahala. b

Book your vacation at The Kahala Hotel & Resort and receive these Ensemble® Exclusives: Buffet breakfast for two daily • Welcome “Pineapple Ruby” • Upgraded room at time of check-in (when available) • Early check-in/late check-out (when available). Contact your Ensemble Travel® Group consultant at the phone number on the back cover for details.

Ensemble Lifestyles Fall 2013 15

R E A L P E O P LE R EA L J O URNEYS

2

A Grand Obsession: The Venice Carnevale

by SUZANNE GANNON

Maurice (right) at the Venice Carnevale

One evening in the late 1990’s, when New Yorker Pamela Maurice was doing what she did in those days – taking reservations, managing staff, keeping the books, and paying the bills at Le Jardin Bistro, the restaurant she owned with her then husband Chef Gerard Maurice – a couple walked in and requested a table for two. She obliged and they placed an order with their server – he likely chose the cassoulet and she the bouillabaisse.

The occasion would be one of many that would occur over the next year as the proprietor-patron relationship turned into friendship. Saturday-night regulars, the couple dined at the bistro where their hostess often lingered at their table to chat or sent a glass of wine. The three also ate out together at other establishments.

The couple, a pair of architects originally from Germany and Hungary respectively, owned a palazzo in Venice where they spent their summers. Venice was a place Maurice enjoyed, and eventually the conversations turned to the rarefied pomp and circumstance of Carnevale di Venezia, the annual festival of roughly two weeks in length that culminates in Shrove Tuesday (Fat Tuesday, Martedi Grasso, or Mardi Gras, depending on your native tongue), the eve of Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent, the 40-day period that precedes Easter.

Carnevale, which is famous for the masks – often gilded and embellished with feathers, gems, leather, and crystals – worn by celebrants, is believed to have begun as early as the 12th century. The splendor, evident in elaborate costumes and public and private balls hosted on Piazza San Marco and in the city’s grand “palazzi,” continued through the Renaissance until it was forbidden by the King of Austria in 1797 as he expanded his empire to the south.

16 Ensemble Lifestyles Fall 2013

The festival resumed in the late 1970’s with a vengeance, growing in complexity to include street performances, readings, cultural presentations, musical entertainment, events for children, and two of Maurice’s favorites: a parade of men and women, festooned in pantaloons, wigs, and bustles, on gondolas illuminated by candlelight, and the descent of an angel on a wire.

Over dessert in the spring of 1999, Maurice and her friends finalized plans to travel to Carnevale 2000. She has been attending ever since.

“It’s a healthy fantasy – a joy that brings great pleasure,” she says. “But it’s expensive, so you have to know it requires expendable cash.”

For the first three years, Maurice lodged in the city’s hotels, but for the last decade she has rented individual apartments where she can stock the refrigerator with fresh produce she finds at a market near the Rialto Bridge and air out her gowns over the balcony railing.

(Inside-out yields the best results, says the seasoned insider.)

ChinellatoPhoto

“After two years you learn your way,” she says.

Pecold

“There’s no time to be negative, to discuss politics. It’s polite discourse, lots of socializing.”

Radu Razvan

She is now a member of an association to which she pays dues in exchange for entrée to specific balls and events. As a regular, she looks forward to making new acquaintances and seeing old friends each year. Plus it’s easier to score an occasional invitation to one of the year’s must-attend events, such as the spectacular “Ballo del Doge,” a ball designed and orchestrated by the now famous Antonia Sautter, impresario of fantastical events.

Clockwise from top: The Angel of the Venice Carnival descends from the San Marco bell tower for the opening of the Carnival of Venice; Decorated gondola; Inaugural carnival parade

Ensemble Lifestyles Fall 2013 17

R E A L P E O P LE R EA L J O URNEYS

THIS CARNEVALE MAVEN HAS A FEW TIPS FOR FIRST-TIMERS

Never Dress Yourself

“The bustiers can be so tight you can’t breathe,” says Maurice, who learned after her first Carnevale to have a friend on hand to help her when she gets dressed.

It can take up to an hour and a half. During the day, Maurice sports a jabot like a boy from an earlier era.

It’s All About the Balls

The more you attend Carnevale, the more likely you are to acquire some of the more hard-to-get invitations. Antonia Sautter is an acclaimed creative force, and her Ballo di Doge is a fantastical production not to be missed. Another more unconventional option is the imaginative (and sometimes risqué) parties that are put on by Emanuela Giangreco of Venice Weddings.

Accessory Advisory

Maurice plans to find an expensive hair piece made by a Venetian wig-maker during Carnevale 2014. She sources her masks from flea markets, antique markets, and from Venetian artisans, and her shoes—a size bigger than your foot is handy when your feet swell—from vintage shops in New York. “Make sure you can dye them to match your dress,” she says.

That socializing extends to canines as well.

For several years Maurice has brought her pet Chihuahua, La Bella Principessa, along for the vaporetto ride, and dressed her appropriately for the occasion in a tri-corner hat and an accordion collar in pink or white lace. The princess attends a few dinners where she tablehops with a Yorkie and a few other four-legged carnival-goers. According to Maurice, the dogs make more friends than she does.

18 Ensemble Lifestyles Fall 2013

To find her costumes – and perhaps those of the princess – Maurice scours flea markets, thrift shops, fabric stores, and even sales of theater and opera costumes no longer in use both in the U.S. and Italy. She is the gleeful owner of costumes worn by members of New York’s Metropolitan Opera, in fact. She stores the garments and accessories in a variety of vaults on both sides of the Atlantic.

“I love the idea of dressing up,” she says. “It’s amazing how beautiful you look when in costume.”

Indeed, Maurice derives many benefits from a hobby she shares with roughly three million carnivalistas annually.

“There’s an excitement to living in a bustier, learning the minuet, and then dancing down in the disco until four in the morning.”

Over the decade and a half she has attended the festival, Maurice says only high water and heavy rain have dampened the merriment in the sinking city, and that such conditions have drenched the event only a few times.

As for whether her repeat performance will skip a year any time soon, Maurice says, “As soon as you leave you’re planning next year’s trip.” Translation: Non probabile.

Carnevale di Venezia 2014 will take place February 15 to March 4. b

La Bella Principessa

To experience Carnevale di Venezia for yourself, contact your Ensemble Travel® Group consultant at the phone number on the back cover.

3

A Passion for the Seven Seas

by ROBIN CHERRY

Scenic Photography by JACKSON LUM

When Jack and Muriel Lum boarded their first cruise to Alaska in the 1990’s, they didn’t realize that they were embarking on a life-long love affair with cruising. They’ve taken roughly fifty cruises since that Alaskan sojourn and their reasons are both practical and philosophical.

As Jack tells me, “We love that it’s a total vacation package that includes hotel, dining, entertainment, and sightseeing. You can just pack your luggage once and visit many destinations without going through the hassles of multiple airport security screenings.” On the philosophical side they say (and I think fellow travelers would agree): “Cruising around the world enriches our life. To appreciate what we have in the United States, you have to see the contrast between foreign countries and our country.”

Seward, Alaska

Budapest, Hungary

Bora Bora – “the most beautiful island in the world”

Ensemble Lifestyles Fall 2013 19

R EA L P E O P L E R EA L J OU RNEYS

Reykjavik, Iceland

Crystal Symphony in Flam, Norway

Sunrise over Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Muscat, Oman

“We’d never before seen so many animals so close up. The crater is small – only twelve miles in diameter and it includes all of the animals of East Africa. It was unforgettable.”

Cruising with the family on Regent Seven Seas Voyager

Formal night on Crystal Symphony

Mt. Del Paine, Patagonia, Chile

20 Ensemble Lifestyles Fall 2013

“All of these adorable young children … they were the best little ambassadors you could imagine.”

In deciding where to go, their travel agent, who has worked with them for over ten years, says they used to literally spin the globe for inspiration. Now that the Lums have visited so many destinations, they choose their cruises based on places they’d like to see again. They’re looking forward to returning to Bora Bora, “the most beautiful island in the world,” where they plan to spend a few days at the end of an upcoming cruise across the South Pacific Ocean from Valparaiso, Chile to Papeete, Tahiti in the Society Islands.

In addition to returning to Polynesia, the cruise will also give the couple their first opportunity to see the enigmatic giant stone statues on Easter Island, one of the most isolated places on earth.

The Lums have already visited some of the world’s most incredible sites, including the inside of the Ngorongoro Crater in the highlands of Tanzania where they went on safari. “We’d never before seen so many animals so close up. The crater is small – only twelve miles in diameter and it includes all of the animals of East Africa. It was unforgettable.”

They also say that their trip to the Middle East was one of the most memorable they’ve ever taken because it was not what they had imagined it to be. The couple has spent a lot of time in Europe and Asia, but as Muriel says, when visiting “Africa and the Middle East, we really see a difference.”

Speaking of Dubai they say, “We’d been there six-to-eight years ago but were amazed to see it had grown so fast and become so modern in such a short time. We found it so interesting that we almost considered buying a condo there, but ultimately decided not to.” Neighboring Muscat, Oman was also a welcome discovery. “It’s such a new city, so clean with beautiful white buildings.” Jack, an avid photographer, took many pictures of the white sandy beaches lined with colorful flowers. He loves to take pictures of the scenery on the couple’s cruises and shore excursions.

The Lums have experienced some once-in-alifetime tours while on shore. “We had dinner in front of the pyramids and the Sphinx while the mayor of Cairo gave us a lecture on the history of pyramids. Dinner was followed by a magnificent sound and light show with lasers darting off the monuments.”

Another experience that stayed with the couple was a private dinner and performance in the Hall of the People in Beijing. The lavish banquet hall, where Richard Nixon dined during his historic visit to China in 1972, is usually reserved for diplomats. As Jack says, “Locals I spoke to couldn’t believe we were there.” Both agree that the show was incredible. “There were people singing and performing acrobatics, and at the end was something that touched all of our hearts: All of these adorable young children, between four and eight years old, performed for us.

They were singing and dancing in colorful costumes, and at the end, they all came down and shook our hands. They were the best little ambassadors you could imagine.” Jack says that’s one experience they would love to relive. “We’ve been to China many times, but I would pay anything to do that again.”

The Lums also enjoy sharing their passion for cruising with others. Last year, they took their entire family of fifteen (including six grandchildren between the ages of 5 and 14) on a cruise through the Baltics. “It was a great chance for all the cousins to get together; they loved being treated like little ladies and gentlemen.” The kids’ club kept the grandkids occupied while the adults enjoyed some rare time to themselves.

Before the couple retired, they shared their love of cruising with about 60 of their employees (on three separate occasions!), including one cruise to celebrate their company’s 25th anniversary. Most of the staff had never been on a cruise before so the Lums had to provide a lot of guidance.

They’d always thought of their company as one big family, but found that everyone was

TIPS FOR FIRST-TIME AND LESS-EXPERIENCED CRUISERS

Seek out cruises with a minimum number of days at sea to increase the likelihood of calm waters and smooth sailing.

Look for cruise lines that include airfare.

To minimize any pre-cruise anxiety should a flight be delayed or cancelled, ask your Ensemble Travel® Group consultant about pre-cruise land programs where you stay in a hotel – relaxed and worry-free – the night before the ship sails.

Pre- and post-cruise land programs give you an opportunity to explore the port city rather than just taxiing from the airport to the ship.

even closer after the cruise. “We spent all this time away from the office, mingling, eating, and laughing together and it really helped to create a family atmosphere. It was a lot of fun but it was also money well-spent.”

The Lums, who take three to four cruises a year, are often recognized by the cruise line staff. They enjoy reconnecting with guests they’ve met on earlier cruises, but their main reason for setting sail? “Cruising is the most relaxing way to see the world.” b

Please see pages 68 through 76 for our hand-picked selection of great cruise vacations, featuring Ensemble® Exclusive offers and savings. Or call your Ensemble Travel® Group consultant at the phone number on the back cover to find the perfect cruise for you.

Ensemble Lifestyles Fall 2013 21

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CRYSTAL CRUISES

Voyages to Luxury and Learning

IT COULD BE SAID that after sailing aboard one of the elegant ships in the Crystal Cruises fleet that it’s hard to travel any other way. Tastefully furnished and equipped with the thoughtful amenities and recreational offerings a sophisticated clientele has come to expect, Crystal sets a standard likely to spoil many of its guests. It’s no wonder the line has been voted World’s Best for an unprecedented 19 years by the readers of Conde Nast Traveler and for 18 years by those of Travel + Leisure.

restaurants: sushi and Japanese fare by Nobu Matsuhisa, and the gastronomic delights of Italy by Pierro Selvaggio. Beyond these two choices the options expand to include the Bistro, which offers pastries, charcuterie, cheeses, and specialty coffee drinks, as well as a bar serving smoothies, ice cream, and frozen yogurt should you choose to cool off after a taxing workout.

UNRIVALED SERVICE ENRICHMENT THAT EXPANDS THE MIND The all-inclusive experience is predicated on enlightenment through onboard lecture series unparalleled in the ocean-faring world and culinary dining opportunities to fit your taste and schedule.

The Crystal Visions® Enrichment Program features talks by worldrenowned experts on a variety of subjects, and to round out the social aspect of your experience, each ship features award-winning entertainment; dance lessons and Ambassador hosts; state-of-the-art fitness facilities offering classes in yoga, Pilates, and many other exercise pursuits; bridge lounges that offer instruction as well as play; art classes with Odyssey Art at Sea; and an array of other activities both educational and physical that are sure to satiate any inclination you may have.

PLEASURE FOR THE PALATE Crystal prides itself on innovative cuisine marked by fresh ingredients and distinctive flavors. Anchoring the line are two specialty

22 Ensemble Lifestyles Fall 2013

Known for its award-winning Six-Star service that boasts one of the highest crew-to-guest ratios on the high seas, Crystal staffs its ships with European-trained crew members, each of whom is selected for his or her distinctive expertise and personality. These attributes contribute to unforgettable moments such as caviar served by a butler in tails on a private penthouse balcony; a new nuance to the fox trot learned on a ballroom dance floor; and personalized port excursions that reveal an aspect of local culture you’ve never before experienced.

SIMPLIFIED FARES, IRRESISTIBLE OFFERS Rather than overwhelm you with itemized costs and additional charges, Crystal simplifies its fares, thus enhancing the luxury of the experience. Open-bar service in all lounges plus complimentary fine wines and spirits are among the perks of the all-inclusive arrangement, as are high tea, 24-hour room service, gratuities for dining staff, wine tasting seminars, and kimonos, Frette bathrobes, and plush slippers that put the finishing touch on an active day.

On offer this season are four illuminating voyages to the Mediterranean and the exotic Far East. Book soon to take advantage of special offers – private cocktail parties, escorted Ensemble® Experiences, and discounted fares. See page 70 for more details.

Experience the ambiance of Ho Chi Minh City, former capital of the French Vietnamese colony.

Kingdoms of Jade & Gold (Singapore to Hong Kong) Ensemble® Hosted Cruise featuring a private cocktail party and Ensemble® Experience shore event in Ho Chi Minh City Save $2,000 per person when you book by October 31st.

Take in the glittering landmarks of Shanghai, which light up China’s Yangtze Delta.

Pearls of China (Hong Kong to Beijing) Ensemble® Hosted Cruise featuring a private cocktail party and Ensemble® Experience shore event in Shanghai Save $2,500 per person when you book by October 31st.

Explore the scenic roads of the Upper Corniche and the Grand Casino of Monte Carlo.

Through the Pillars of Hercules (London to Rome) Ensemble® Hosted Cruise featuring a private cocktail party and Ensemble® Experience shore event in Monte Carlo Save $1,300 per person when you book by October 31st.

Visit medieval Dubrovnik, one of several walled cities established in the 7th century.

Beyond Byzantium (Istanbul to Venice) Ensemble® Hosted Cruise featuring a private cocktail party and Ensemble® Experience shore event in Dubrovnik Save $1,000 per person when you book by October 31st.

Ensemble Lifestyles Fall 2013 23

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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Easier to travel to than you might imagine, Tahiti’s Faa’a Airport is under 8 hours by air from Los Angeles with daily nonstop flights.

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For special offers on Fiji & Tahiti vacations please see page 68, or call your Ensemble Travel® Group consultant at the phone number on the back cover.

24 Ensemble Lifestyles Fall 2013

S

The Value of

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

hared Experiences

Life’s most incredible experiences are made even more amazing when you share them.

With General Tours, you can travel in style on Private Tours and Small Group trips (with never more than 16 guests) to extraordinary destinations in Asia, Japan, China, South America, Costa Rica, India, Western and Eastern Europe, Russia, Morocco, South Africa, Turkey, and Egypt.

On each journey skilled trip directors, expedition teams, and safari guides lead the way to authentic dining, thrilling sightseeing, and cultural encounters not available to larger groups. General Tours works closely with your Ensemble Travel® Group consultant to ensure check-ins are smooth; internal flights and entry fees are covered; and luxury accommodations enable you to awaken refreshed each day.

Cities & Countryside of China: The Shangri-La Experience

On Safari in Botswana, Victoria Falls & Zimbabwe

On this 10-day Private Tour of China, you’ll gain access to the most cherished sites in Beijing and walk atop The Great Wall. Enjoy a private lesson with a Tai Chi master. Delve into China’s vanishing rural lifestyle during a visit with a family in Yangshuo. Explore Xian with a private driver. And thrill to Shanghai’s architecture, hip boutiques, and tantalizing cuisine.

On this 9-day Small Group tour, safari guides lead you on game drives in deluxe open vehicles, exhilarating nature walks, canoe expeditions, and even night safaris. You’ll track Africa’s “big five” on the legendary Okavango Delta. See huge herds of elephant and buffalo in Linyanti Reserve. Take an excursion to Victoria Falls. And unwind in the comfort of plush safari camps each night.

See page 66 for special offers on these itineraries or contact your Ensemble Travel® Group consultant at the phone number on the back cover.

Ensemble Lifestyles Fall 2013 25

Stevenson often photographs his works on the beach, at the water’s edge. “You put them in the water and they look like they’re flying out of it,” Stevenson says. “Like me, that’s where they are most at home.”

Raptor Rising, bronze

26 Ensemble Lifestyles Fall 2013

Artist Dave Stevenson first traveled to the West Indian island of St. Barthélemy in 1998, and it’s no secret what keeps him coming back to chic and sunny St. Barth year after year: He’s nuts about the out of doors. Whether he’s swimming off Flamands Beach or windsurfing off Grand Cul de Sac, while he’s in St. Barth, Stevenson is never at a loss for al fresco workout options. “There are a lot of islands in the Caribbean,” Stevenson says. “Every time I go back to St. Barth it’s always shocking how beautiful it is. I’m out there swimming and I’ll see sea rays and sea turtles.”

MAKING

Art

In his down time, Stevenson likes to lay low, and St. Barth appeals to that side of him as well. Within a week of arriving on the island for the first time fifteen years ago, he was being invited to dinner parties in private homes. “I love the casual, cool vibe,” Stevenson says. “I have made a lot of friends over the years. I grew up on the water, by the beach on Long Island. So I think I was always drawn to the water. When I go back to St. Barth, everyone says, ‘Welcome home.’”

Stevenson has always been the type to keep moving. He went to college in Virginia and lived in Montana and northern California before settling in New York City in the spring of 2001.

Today he splits his time between an apartment/ design studio in Inwood, a verdant pocket in northernmost Manhattan, and a larger living/ work space in the Catskills. For four to six weeks every winter the 46-year-old sculptor and jewelry maker leaves behind the city’s icy temperatures and howling winds and returns to the white-sand beaches and turquoise waters of St. Barth. “I feel at home there,” Stevenson says.

Columbus discovered St. Barth on his second

by CHRISTOPHER HANN

IN

ST. BARTH

voyage to the new world, in 1493, and named the island for his younger brother. Over the ensuing 500 years St. Barth would be ruled

by France, Sweden, and France again. Today, a mere 8,900 people reside year-round on St. Barth’s eight square miles of dry, rocky, sometimes rugged terrain, where they enjoy a stubbornly pleasant year-round climate (average temperatures fluctuate from 80 degrees in the winter to 86 degrees in the summer). Ever since David Rockefeller built a home on St. Barth in the 1950s, the tiny island has evolved into a sun-splashed playground for the international jet set, favored by the likes of Paul McCartney, Jay Z and Beyonce, and Paul Allen, the billionaire co-founder of Microsoft whose New Year’s Eve parties aboard his 416-foot yacht have become the stuff of island legend.

Riptide, sterling silver

Stevenson is represented in St. Barth by Les Artisans Gallery in downtown Gustavia, the capital, named for King Gustav III of Sweden.

The gallery has shown Stevenson’s sculpture and jewelry since 2001, and every winter since 2007 husband-and-wife owners Albert Yaphet and Jo-Anne Quetel have sponsored a monthEnsemble Lifestyles Fall 2013 27

DAV E ’ S ST. BA RTH

Anthony Pessus

long solo exhibition of his work. Stevenson’s 2014 show at Les Artisans is expected to open in early February.

Over the past fifteen years, Dave Stevenson has accumulated his own list of go-to beaches, bars, and restaurants on St. Barth.

Herewith, a few of his favorites …

BEACHES

Flamands Beach Stevenson’s favorite swimming beach. “The water is generally a little bit rough, and for me the rougher the better.”

Stevenson’s art ranges in size from slender silver rings to the eight-foot-tall bronze that he’s working on now, a commission from a wealthy American collector. The typical scale of his work is from two to four feet tall. “It is a comfortable working scale, because that is as far as my peripheral vision can stretch to analyze every angle at once without having to get on a ladder.” But Stevenson believes the natural scale for his work is truly eight feet high and beyond.

Stevenson’s gold jewelry sells for as much as $3,500. The typical bronze sculpture – with a few exceptions, all castings are limited editions of eight – sells for up to $30,000, with the larger outdoor works going for

$125,000 or more. Stevenson says he prefers to work in bronze in part because it allows him to hone the edges to dagger sharp. “Every curve can be articulated to a higher degree in bronze,” he says.

St. Barth’s influence on Stevenson’s artistic choices is especially evident in the abstract shapes of his jewelry and sculpture, which tend to mimic the undulating Caribbean surf and life forms evocative of the sea. It’s not surprising to learn that Stevenson often photographs his works on the beach, at the water’s edge. “You put them in the water and they look like they’re flying out of it,” Stevenson says. “Like me, that’s where they are most at home.”

To learn more about Dave Stevenson, visit www.artinjection.com. b

Saline Beach “Probably the most popular beach on the island, and the largest.”

BARS

Le Bêtes à Z’ailes (aka Baz Bar), Gustavia, 590-590-29-7409 “Where one usually ends up at some point of the evening to catch up with friends and check out the live band. A wonderful sushi bar at the head of Gustavia.”

Sayolita, 31Les Jardins De Saint Jean, 590-590-27-1330, a local tiki bar atop a hill overlooking St. Jean Beach. “It’s a place I like to go on a late night.”

La Petit Anse St. Barthélemy

RESTAURANTS

Boulangerie Choisy, Rue du Roi Oscar, Gustavia, 590-590-27-5840 “Almond Croissants are the other reason I go to St. Barth. Boulangerie Choisy is numero uno. Get there early — the good stuff is gone by 9 a.m.”

Pegasus, bronze

La Plage, on St. Jean Bay, 590-590-52-8133. “During the week I’ll go to this beachfront restaurant for lunch.

It’s got a casual beach vibe, and great food.”

L’Isola, Rue du roi Oscar II, Gustavia, 590-590-51-0005, www.lisolastbarth.com Fine Italian in the heart of Gustavia.

“Delicious, Stylish, Romantic.”

28 Ensemble Lifestyles Fall 2013

Kimbra, sterling silver choker

Chimaera, stainless steel

Please see pages 69 for a cruise vacation that visits St. Barth, or call your Ensemble Travel® Group consultant at the phone number on the back cover to design your own St. Barthélemy getaway.

Become a

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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What’s more satisfying than a luxurious vacation in an exotic locale?

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This season, we focus on two spectacular hotels in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

IBEROSTAR Grand Bavaro Hotel Located on the beautiful, white-sand beach of Bavaro, the IBEROSTAR Grand Hotel boasts unparalleled service, extraordinary amenities and exceptional cuisine. Enjoy two pools, a 2-story ocean-front spa, four á la carte restaurants, five bars and a replica Spanish galleon that serves as a cozy music bar. This adults-only hotel is a VIP dream come true.

Ensemble® Exclusives include: an upgrade to an ocean-view room, two rounds of golf and your choice of a $200 resort credit or a romantic dinner for two. Grand Star Service includes personalized in-room check-in where you'll receive a cold towel and chilled champagne, luggage unpacking and packing, private in-resort transportation, breakfast in bed and more.

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Book now and unleash your inner VIP! For special offers on IBEROSTAR Grand Bavaro Hotel and Zoëtry Agua Punta Cana please see page 66, or contact your Ensemble Travel® Group consultant at the phone number on the back cover. * All SkyMiles program rules apply. ** Restrictions may apply.

Ensemble Lifestyles Fall 2013 29

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

S

Southern Comfort Explore South America’s magnificent diversity in style when you travel on Silversea’s newest ship, Silver Spirit

outh America is a feast of natural and man-made wonders, from towering fjords and awe-inspiring glaciers, to mysterious ruins and vibrant cities. Whether you’re exploring lush tropical jungles or simply basking in the sun on a restful day at sea, Silversea promises you the trip of a lifetime.

Silver Spirit offers the same legendary service and refined decor that repeat Silversea travelers have come to expect and cherish.

30 Ensemble Lifestyles Fall 2013

It boasts the largest suites in the Silversea fleet, 85% of which have private verandas.

Silver Spirit also has two new dining venues unique to the ship. Seishin presents Asianfusion delicacies like Wagyu beef with wasabi alongside fresh sushi and sashimi while Stars Supper Club, an Art Deco venue inspired by the glamorous supper clubs of the 1930’s, serves small tapas-style plates of regional and seasonal specialties. After dinner, Stars turns into an intimate nightclub with live

music and dancing. Relax in the outdoor whirlpool or enjoy a refreshing massage and you’ll know why the ship’s spacious 8,300 square foot spa was voted “best spa at sea” by the readers of Conde Nast Traveler in 2012.

With Silversea’s all-inclusive lifestyle, you’ll enjoy complimentary beverages (including champagne) and butler service. Gratuities are always included so you can relax and enjoy yourself.

In 2014, Silversea will introduce “Circle South America,” a 66-day round-trip cruise from Fort Lauderdale that literally circles the entire continent. Consisting of five cruise segments, the full circle voyage will sail January 6 March 13, 2014, through the Caribbean visiting colonial cities and pristine beaches.

Experience the vibrant cities of Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, and Valparaiso. In Rio, take the cog railway to the top of Corcovado Mountain to see the iconic 120-foot statue of Christ the Redeemer and enjoy the panoramic view of the city before exploring the world-famous Copacabana beach below.

Enjoy Buenos Aires’ spirited and colorful La Boca neighborhood and one of the world’s most beautiful cemeteries, La Recoleta, where you can visit Eva Perón’s tomb. Of course, no visit to Argentina would be complete without taking in a sultry tango show. The lesser known port city of Valparaiso, Chile is a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to the colorful colonial buildings and funicular escalators that line the hillsides.

You’ll be one of the few people on earth to see the thriving nature reserve at Tierra del Fuego, the world’s southernmost national Park, and Lapataia Bay, the southernmost tip of the continent. Explore the 275 thundering waterfalls at Iguazu Falls and journey high into the Andes to visit Lake Titicaca, the most sacred lake of the Inca empire. Cavort with playful sea lions and blue-footed boobies in the Galapagos, watch for pink dolphins

Lake Titicaca

Rio de Janeiro Just announced – the 2015 “Circle South America” roundtrip 62-day voyage aboard Silver Shadow departing Fort Lauderdale, January 7, 2015. as you glide through the verdant forests of the Amazon and take a small Zodiac boat to the Humboldt Penguin National Reserve, a Chilean breeding ground for over 80% of the world’s Humboldt penguins.

Marvel at archaeological sites like the magnificent Incan ruins of Machu Picchu, recently declared one the new Seven Wonders of the World; the carved megalithic faces of Easter Island; and the mud-brick citadels of Chan Chan, the largest pre-Columbian city in South America. You’re sure to ponder man’s ingenuity as you take the epic journey from the Caribbean Ocean to the Pacific via the locks of the Panama Canal, and stop by the bar to enjoy some of South America’s national cocktails, including Peru’s Pisco Sour and Brazil’s Caipirinha.

As Silversea’s seven ships visit over 450 destinations on all seven continents, Silver Spirit Captain Gennaro Armo has visited many countries and extraordinary sights, but he says that “few places can compare to

the natural beauty and cultural immersion present in South America.” He looks forward to welcoming you on board and sharing his discoveries. It’s summer in South America when it’s winter up north, and the captain asks, “what could be a better way to spend the coldest months of the year than skipping them altogether?” You can opt for the entire cruise or specific legs, but why not sign up for the whole thing, and summer in South America this winter.

Please see page 74 for special offers on Silversea cruises, or contact your Ensemble Travel® Group consultant at the phone number on the back cover.

Easter Island

Galapagos

Ensemble Lifestyles Fall 2013 31

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

®

The Most Inclusive Luxury Cruise Experience

T

TM

his is cruising as it was meant to be — a luxurious world where everything is included without exception and without compromise. Personal service soars into the sublime aboard our elegant ships, liberating you to follow your heart, fulfill your desires, and explore exciting new places in complete and absolute comfort. Expect

gratifying luxuries. Anticipate the world’s most exotic destinations. Indulge in world-class cuisine. Trust that your voyage will be enlightening in ways you never imagined. Regent Seven Seas Cruises® promises an extraordinary experience.

Enjoy … It’s all included.

32 Ensemble Lifestyles Fall 2013

Personifications of elegance and grace, Seven Seas Voyager®, Seven Seas Mariner® and Seven Seas Navigator® are exotic and provocative destinations in and of themselves. The accommodations are all suites, 97% boasting private balconies, and voted the best at sea by experienced cruisers. Aboard our six-star fleet, guests enjoy impeccable personalized service and an elegant casual lifestyle. As mid-sized ships hosting only 490 or 700 pampered guests, each offers an ideal setting to access those more intimate ports of call that larger vessels cannot visit. You will be spoiled by a wealth of alluring vistas and memorable experiences in over 250 ports of call. Indeed, our luxurious ships are the ultimate way to discover the world.

Your oceanview suite is a wonderful place to refresh, relax and plan your next adventure ashore. Within these serene havens of repose, you will feel completely at home as

every imaginable amenity is included. Space abounds, both indoor and out on the private, furnished balcony that complements all suites aboard Seven Seas Voyager® and Seven Seas Mariner®, and 90% of suites on Seven Seas Navigator®. Still, there is a distinct air of intimacy, enhanced by soothing colors and rich textures. Marble appointments accent the bath, featuring a tub or walk-in shower.

A spacious sitting area provides room to stretch out and watch television, read a book, or simply enjoy ever changing vistas that stretch to the horizon’s edge.

Highly trained and profoundly committed to fulfilling guests’ wishes, Butlers are the ultimate indulgence, usually reserved for the privileged few. Aboard all our ships, Butler service is an included luxury in Penthouse Suites and higher. Our Butlers will gladly pack and unpack luggage, book shore excursions and spa services, make onboard and onshore dinner reservations or serve

dinner in your suite. They will arrange the perfect cocktail party, and of course, assist with disembarkation; all while ensuring you are well attended to around the clock.

One might expect to pay a premium for the privilege of dining nightly on gourmet cuisine this extravagant, accompanied by exceptional wines and impeccable service, but rest assured, aboard Regent Seven Seas Cruises® it’s all included. Dine whenever, wherever and with whomever you choose in any of our open-seating restaurants. Simply request a table when the mood strikes and the Maitre D’ will happily seat your party.

Using fresh local produce, dry-aged prime meats, fish and seafood sourced from international markets, delicious artisan cheeses and scrumptious baked goods crafted from the finest imported French flour, combined with all the skills and imagination of our celebrated chefs to put it all together – cruising has never tasted so good.

FREE UNLIMITED SHORE EXCURSIONS Only Regent Seven Seas Cruises® offers FREE Unlimited Shore Excursions in EVERY port-ofcall. And unlimited means you can take as many excursions in a day and during your entire voyage as time and your penchant for adventure allows. Shore excursions are the key to fully appreciating and enjoying every destination, a way for you to experience the history, culture and cuisine of the exciting ports of call visited with knowledgeable local guides and comfortable transportation. All yours to experience on our FREE Unlimited Shore Excursions.

For special offers on Regent Seven Seas Cruises® please see page 72, or contact your Ensemble Travel® Group consultant at the phone number on the back cover.

Ensemble Lifestyles Fall 2013 33

Eternal Tourist in New York

Laura Torrisi

by SUZANNE GANNON

34 Ensemble Lifestyles Fall 2013

As in many densely populated cities on earth, in New York the only constant is change itself. A continual influx of new immigrants from every sprawling metropolis or remote village in the world arrives looking to start a new life for themselves. Artists and business tycoons intent on making a mark and a profit put down roots. Long-time residents possessed of an indomitable spirit and an attitude of confidence revive their neighborhoods.

Together the groups produce an ever-shifting pastiche of vibrant culture unlike any other.

New York’s offerings never cease to amaze. The pop-up shop concept appears out of nowhere. Every other day insiders are notified of deals too sweet to miss: for three days only an opportunity to scoop up the latest Kate Spade clutch in the Meatpacking District; for just one month, a fine-dining restaurant featuring a popular new chef will offer a three-course prix-fixe with wine pairings out of a single dark room on Kenmare Square. As long as you don’t mind catching a heel in the cobblestones or setting your own place using silverware tucked into a drawer in the table, you’re golden.

Now you see it, now you don’t. A magic trick, New York style. The economic health of the city, exotic cuisines, architectural innovations, and emerging grape varietals transform skylines, enrich (or deplete) merchant coffers, update building facades, alter traffic patterns, and inspire fitness crazes.

The dynamism is perhaps most evident in the city’s many neighborhoods, where boundaries might be determined (in a way that is intuitive to residents) by an elevated train line, a verdant public park, or a triangular intersection.

Watch the chain of possession and you witness the evolution of an urban ecosystem.

A 10-block area where manufacturers of a specific product once clustered – garmentmakers, meat-packers, printers – is shuttered due to changing tastes, labor costs or inflated rents, skyrocketing taxes, or technological innovation. The whole neighborhood goes fallow. The buildings are abandoned. Then the artists begin moving in, sometimes living in their own jerry-rigged spaces where they can spray-paint the walls (as well as their canvases) or drip molten solder on the floors.

The building’s front door likely needs a new coat of paint and its elevator’s button-covers may be missing, but the scrappy artists prevail. Curious collectors and self-styled urban adventurers flock to the area. Hipsters colonize in tiny apartments. Inventive merchants and impresarios of after-hours clubs stake their claim.

The settlers affirm the luster, the artists have lent the grit and soon real estate developers take the bait, building residential skyscrapers with high-end hardware, in-house gyms with Pilates instructors on call, and lobby concierges seated at marble-topped counters.

At this point the area is ready for occupation

by deep-pocketed bankers and celebrities who send in their personal assistants to investigate what is gettable and for how much.

This hierarchical progression is embedded in New York’s DNA, starting as early (if not earlier than) the marketing effort that sold downtown New Yorkers on the idea of moving up to the boondocks and into the Dakota, which was named for its distance from the city’s heart in Lower Manhattan.

The monolith, a milestone in New York’s architectural and real estate history, towered over acres of farmland before the rest of the Upper West Side neighborhood began to take shape.

The effect of all this movement, this jostling of the social classes and the hardscapes they inhabit, is that even the locals can feel like tourists on a perpetual walkabout in their own city. Around every corner, on every rooftop, and down every staircase there waits a surprise sure to dazzle the mind and the palate. No matter the budget or the tastes of the visitor – or whether they are in search of popular entertainment open to all or an experience that only they can claim – the city rarely fails to inspire a sense of wonder.

Ensemble Lifestyles Fall 2013 35

Here is a guide to navigating the Big Apple like an insider. Flecked with activities that don’t require any special arrangements, the list is divided into five distinct categories: C U LTU R A L

•

S E N S UA L

•

DINING

•

R E C R E ATI O NA L

•

S H O P PI N G

Tucked into the elevated woodland that is Manhattan’s Fort Tryon Park is the CLOISTERS, the northern outpost of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This marvel of the Middle Ages is meticulously constructed of marble and limestone architectural components – ornate doorways, vaulted ceilings, and exuberant arcades – dating as far back as the 12th century and plucked from the monasteries and cathedrals of France and Spain.

Its altars, tapestries, friezes, and crucifixes will make you wonder why the Renaissance takes all the artistic credit.

Hire a private guide and don’t forget to peek at the garden, which showcases the plants used in the period, Cupid’s dart and absinthe among them.

Award-winning BIG ONION TOURS, begun in 1991 when founder Seth Kamil was still using pagers and pay phones, could be classified as the thinking man’s (or woman’s) amble through New York City. Offering strolling lectures on themes as diverse as “The Gangs of New York” and “Multi-Ethnic Eating,” the company’s grad-student guides enlighten clients with

sensational intrigue (the violent feuds between the Dead Rabbits and the Bowery Boys, say) and significant social history such as the rise of a five-and-dime called Woolworth’s and the Civil War draft riots. Private tours can be arranged with the expert of your choice, though for the most part guides stick to established itineraries.

Beaux-Arts architecture is gloriously evident at GRAND CENTRAL TERMINAL, a vast and elegant space adorned with gilded chandeliers and opal-faced clocks that seamlessly accommodates three quarters of a million commuters a day. Recently restored, this monument to

Laura Torrisi

James Park

C U LT U R A L

modern transportation is now celebrating its centennial, illuminating an age of civilized travel when butlers poured your tea and porters loaded your luggage into first-class cars. Private tours are led by knowledgeable docents from the Municipal Art Society.

SENSUAL But for the Moroccan-style lanterns that flank the front door, you’d be hard pressed to guess what exotic oasis lies behind the Tribeca façade of AIRE ANCIENT BATHS. An international team that got its start in Seville has showcased the existing architectural features of this 1883 textile factory – columns, ceiling beams, exposed brick – to evoke the ambiance of the bathhouses of ancient Greece

36 Ensemble Lifestyles Fall 2013

and Rome in a calming darkness with flickering candlelight.

In addition to soaking in Aire’s pools – among them the Frigidarium, the Tepidarium, and the salty Flotarium – you can open your pores inside the steam room or arrange for a private treatment, including the best 15-minute massage you may ever have. Olive oil and sparkling wine optional and bookings are limited to afford tranquility.

If you focus on new arrivals however, a few notables come to mind.

As its name suggests, CHEZ SARDINE is a diminutive spot that has taken command of

its Greenwich Village corner, serving sushi and other flavor bombs on small plates in a setting made cozy with walnut furnishings that make you think of autumn weekends and slanted light. Musts include a chopped scallop wrapped in seaweed and accessorized with a quail egg and trout roe; a velvety hamachi made crunchy with salty chicharron; and a splittable grilled cheese sandwich of duck confit and smoked cheddar. The cocktails aren’t bad either.

It’s no surprise that HARLOW, owned in part by Richie Notar of Studio 54 fame, is a shiny altar to glamor with an equally intriguing past: the building it occupies was allegedly built by newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst for his mistress. The shimmering dining room features a marble oyster bar back-dropped by a massive

Henry Hargreaves

Harlow

mirror hand-painted with a school of fish. On special nights, dishes are prepared before your eyes by Nobu-pedigreed Chef Danny Ye, who explains how to make kimchee the way his grandmother did or why he buys from a particular oyster farm. Jewels include a savory branzino à la plancha; a feast of baby octopus, chanterelles, and fava beans with basil pesto; and crispy kale sprinkled with bacon that Ye says is easier to make when one owns a flash fryer.

Part high-energy cocktail spot, part refined dining room, NOMAD warrants a try. Run

Eric Laingel

How to choose? In a town of more than 4,000 restaurants, so many of them stand-outs in cuisine, service, or atmosphere, it’s painful to pick but a few.

There’s A VOCE for its creamy stracciatella and pappardelle with boar sausage presented in a temple of modern Italian design; the intimate MAS (FARMHOUSE) for the attentive foodies who plate your short ribs and pour your Pinot; Harlem’s RED ROOSTER where Chef Marcus Samuelsson has revitalized the yardbird and made small-batch Bourbon hip again; top-10 regular LINCOLN for its tome-like wine list, authentic Italian ingredients, and magnificent architecture; the new American cooking and garrulous bar scene available in the labyrinth of FREEMANS on the Lower East Side; and the inventive brunch menu at DINER, which hunkers down in gritty Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Chez Sardine

Henry Hargreaves

Laura Torrisi

DINING by two talented defectors from the Danny Meyer empire and ensconced in a luxurious setting – a fireplace imported from France, elaborately detailed wood paneling – you can begin your meal with radishes dipped in butter with fleur de sel; move on to the poached egg with brown butter, asparagus, and quinoa; and finish with the roasted chicken for two, which derives its flavor from foie gras and black truffle. The multivenue layout affords numerous opportunities for private dining.

Though New York City’s 21st century speakeasy craze has quieted down, the cocktail lounge culture that is its legacy remains intact. Minus the gimmicks – secret passwords, mysterious phone booths – the Prohibitionesque scene is in some ways more palatable because you can focus on the other-worldly powers of mixologists.

On the list: MILK AND HONEY and its Penicillin – a blend of scotches, lemon, honey, and ginger that will kill anything that ails you. THE EXPERIMENTAL COCKTAIL CLUB and its Monsieur

Provocateur, served by Xavier Herit, a talented alumnus of New York’s Daniel. LITTLE BRANCH and its rum swizzle or rye fizz – and cheeky servers and impossible darkness.

Also, book a tour of the RED HOOK WINERY and taste some standard-setting Long Island blends made by a pair of rock-star winemakers from California.

Ensemble Lifestyles Fall 2013 37

According to the staff at TRAPEZE SCHOOL NEW YORK, all you need to discover

the acrobat within you is the ability to hang on a monkey bar for 20 seconds or more – and to weigh in under 250 pounds. They’re right. On the Hudson River at Houston Street, the circus-like set-up made famous in an episode of “Sex and the City,” complete with an oversized fish net, safety harnesses, and a “board” from which you leap when your

instructor yells “Hep!,” makes it possible to fly above the city at an altitude that seems to approach that of the downtown skyline. It’s a view otherwise garnered only by a helicopter – for a lot more money and with a lot less adrenaline. Two-hour classes are limited to 12 people each, but instructors frequently provide lessons one-on-one.

“Forget fear,” they say. “Worry about the addiction.” Indeed.

Though it’s still a work in progress, the CITI BIKE transportation system is worth a pedal through your favorite neighborhood – along the Hudson at sunset, through the

tiny streets of the Financial District, or over the Brooklyn Bridge. You won’t be alone; nearly two million trips and more than four million miles have been recorded as of this printing. A 24-hour pass can be had for a mere $10, and the prevalence of bike docks throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn – 329 locations; 6,000 bikes – makes it possible to pick up and drop off wherever you please. Plus, the shiny blue two-wheelers are equipped with baskets and bungee cords to accommodate shoppers and backpackers alike. Just remember to wear a helmet, the mayor asks.

James Park

Brandi Baker Burton

R E C R E AT I O N A L

SHOPPING

James Park

More than 100 years after Herman Bergdorf and Edwin Goodman opened the emporium that would transform New York’s shopping landscape, BERGDORF GOODMAN remains an object of adoration for everyone from Vera Wang to Rachel Zoe, as

you not only to Bergdorf’s but also beyond in search of what flatters you. In this coutureobsessed city they constitute a cottage industry.

documented in the recent film Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf ’s.

But with so dazzling an inventory and so dizzying an array of price points, it pays to enlist a personal shopper who can help you navigate your way from the sheered mink and marmot vest by Agnona to Alexander McQueen’s lacy, goldflecked platform pumps in the store’s frenzied second-floor shoe salon. Since the quick-witted maven Betty Halbreich and her staff can be elusive (if you aren’t friendly with one of her clients), consider commissioning an independent stylist who can steer

In the event your Alexander Calder collection needs some augmentation or you fancy a bauble once owned by a princess, peruse the upcoming auctions at CHRISTIE’S and arrange a private viewing before the merchandise goes on sale to the (well-heeled) masses. Upcoming sales sure to inspire rapid bidding include Fine Chinese

Ceramics and Old Master Pictures. To book a viewing, talk to your Ensemble Travel® Group consultant.

Flush with chic brasseries, afterhours night clubs, and an urban architecture attraction known as the High Line, Manhattan’s Meatpacking District has officially traded slaughterhouses and produce markets for the selling of wrap dresses, stilettos, and crocodile clutches as fashion designers and the merchants who sell their garments have popped up on both sides of 14th Street. Drop in to DIANE VON FURSTENBERG, JEFFREY, SCOOP, CARLOS MIELE, TED BAKER, TORY BURCH, and RUBIN CHAPELLE, among many

others, and when you’ve filled your tote, go to lunch or for a stroll along the river.

To plan your own New York City vacation, contact your Ensemble Travel® Group consultant at the phont number on the back cover.

38 Ensemble Lifestyles Fall 2013

®

WHAT’S A TRIP TO NEW YORK WITHOUT SEEING A

2014

QUEEN ELIZABETH

SHOW? ®

Through Leisure Connect, your Ensemble Travel Group consultant can get you the best seats at the best rates. All you need to do is pick a show!

®

MEDITERRANEAN VOYAGES

“Broadway is New York’s top visitor attraction, and all too often, people think they’ll simply buy tickets when they arrive. It’s so much better to have the widest selection of musicals and plays, the best prices and seating options, and the performance time that works best with your vacation plans. The advice of a dedicated travel professional will make the experience so much more memorable.” ~ Charles Flateman Vice President of Marketing The Shubert Organization, Inc.

14-DAy FARES FROM: Greek Isles & Turkish Splendours

$2,849*

This Year’s Big Tony Winners:

4 Jul (Q410)

Greek Isles & Italian Idyll

$2,563* 10 Oct (Q417)

Kinky Boots

Matilda the Musical

Pippin

Up and Coming on Broadway!

H Aladdin Based on Disney’s Academy Award-winning animated film.

H Coal Miner’s Daughter This new musical will star Zooey Deschanel as Loretta Lynn, the First Lady of Country Music.

H Big Fish Based on the book by Daniel Wallace, which was later made into a critically acclaimed film.

H Diner A new musical based on the critically acclaimed 1982 film.

H T he Bridges of

H Flashdance

Madison County

A new musical based on the best-selling novel by Robert James Waller.

The Musical

Based on the wildly popular and iconic film from the 1980’s.

H Houdini Hugh Jackman will return to Broadway starring as America’s greatest showman.

H Les Miserables Cameron Mackintosh’s acclaimed new production of the Tony Award-winning musical masterpiece.

H Rocky A new musical based on the famous film and commissioned by Stallone.

Ensemble® Hosted Cruise with Ensemble® Experience shore event in Bodrum.

To book, call the Ensemble Travel® Group consultant at the phone number on the back cover!

* Fares are per person, quoted in U.S. dollars, are based on a QUEEN ELIZABETH Oceanview Stateroom (category FAObstructed), do not include air travel, are voyage only, based on double occupancy, applies to the first two guests in a stateroom and does not apply to singles or third/fourth-berth guests. Fares apply on a space-available basis at time of reservation, were correct at time of printing and are subject to change. Fares for other categories not shown vary. This offer is capacity-controlled, is subject to change and may not be combinable with any other public or past guest discount. Offer is available to residents of the 50 United States, Bermuda, Canada, Puerto Rico, Mexico and the District of Columbia who are 21 years of age or older. Government fees and taxes are additional, are subject to change, range from $117-$118 per person and may be higher for Canadian residents. Offer may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Please refer to the applicable Cunard brochure for terms, conditions and definitions that apply to all bookings. Certain restrictions apply. Ship’s Registry: Bermuda. ©CUNARD 2013.

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

AZAMARA CLUB CRUISES Longer Stays, More Overnights, Night Touring The Hermitage, St. Petersburg

Bordeaux

Amalfi 40 Ensemble Lifestyles Fall 2013

Mikhailovsky Theater

Award-winning Azamara Club Cruises速 is known for authentic destination experiences and a friendly, club-like atmosphere onboard its two 694-passenger ships. With late or overnight stays on more than half of all port visits, Azamara guests enjoy richer local experiences, including the chance to explore restaurants, theater, and live entertainment after sunset.

Cabaret Lounge

Prime C

Taking Destination ImmersionSM to a new level. Azamara includes complimentary AzAmazing EveningsSM offering an onshore event highlighting the best of local culture and cuisine in stunning settings. Perhaps it will be an evening of French wines, cuisine and music at the gorgeous Le Hall de la Bourse in Bordeaux. A garden party under the stars at Villa Rufolo on the Amalfi Coast. A gala ballet performance in the Mikhailovsky Theater in St. Petersburg, one of Russia’s oldest ballet and opera houses.

These private-party events, exclusively for Azamara guests, will elevate evenings onshore from memorable to magical.

Onboard, Azamara’s welcoming staff and crew make guests feel at home on intimate, boutique-style ships. Azamara sets a high culinary standard in six onboard restaurants matched by a world-class wine cellar. Specialty restaurants include Prime C, a steakhouse, and Aqualina, with Mediterranean focused cuisine. Azamara’s full-service Spa, health and wellness classes, and well-equipped Fitness Center encourage good health and total relaxation. And throughout the ship guests enjoy attentive, thoughtful service that meets and anticipates their needs. So while many first choose Azamara for the destinations, the staff and crew keep them coming back!

Complimentary amenities that add to the Azamara value include gratuities, select standard spirits, international beers and boutique wines throughout your voyage; bottled water and soft drinks, specialty coffees and teas, butler service for suite guests, self-service laundry, shuttle service to and from ports (where available) and concierge services.

Azamara Club Cruises sails to fascinating destinations in Western Europe, Scandinavia & The Baltics, British Isles, French & Italian Rivieras, Greek Isles, The Adriatic, the Holy Land, Asia, South America, West Indies, Panama Canal, and the West Coast of the United States. With smaller ships, Azamara can navigate narrower waterways and dock in ports that are off-limits to large cruise lines. As a result, itineraries include many destinations off the beaten path – another plus for voyagers seeking new experiences!

U P C O MIN G VOYAG E S: Sea of Cortez & Copper Canyon | 12 nights from $4,099 | January 29, 2014 Los Angeles – Mazatlan – La Paz – Topolobampo – Guaymas – Loreto – Cabo San Lucas – Los Angeles Ensemble® Exclusive: Receive $200 shipboard credit per stateroom!

East China Sea, Japan’s Inland Sea & Tokyo | 14 nights from $4,599 | February 17, 2014 Hong Kong – Xiamen – Taipei – Ishigaki – Okinawa – Tokyo – Osaka – Shanghai Ensemble® Exclusive: Receive $200 shipboard credit per stateroom!

West Indies Hideaways | 11 nights from $2,999 | March 16, 2014 Miami – St. John – Iles Des Saintes – Roseau – Gustavia – Charlestown – Virgin Gorda – Miami Ensemble® Exclusive: Receive $200 shipboard credit per stateroom!

The Spice Route | 12 nights from $3,499 | April 3, 2014 Singapore – Belawan – Phuket – Colombo – Kochi – Mumbai Ensemble® Exclusive: Ensemble® Hosted Cruise with Ensemble® Experience shore event in Colombo.

For more details on these Azamara Club Cruises please see page 69, or contact your Ensemble Travel® Group consultant at the phone number on the back cover.

Ensemble Lifestyles Fall 2013 41

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Experience RIVER

CRUISING

at its finest

Whether you are a first-time explorer or a welltraveled adventurer, you have never experienced anything quite like a Uniworld Boutique River Cruise.

From lavishly appointed ships to a staff trained with the philosophy of “no request too large, no detail too small,” Uniworld is committed to providing only the highest-quality luxury river cruise experience.

True All-Inclusive European River Cruises Uniworld is combining luxury and convenience by offering true allinclusive European river cruises in 2014, where everything is included: all gratuities onboard and onshore; unlimited beverages onboard, including distinctive wines, beers, spirits, cocktails, juices, a selection of coffees and teas, and mineral water; all meals onboard, prepared with the finest and freshest ingredients; shore excursions hosted by English-speaking local experts; all scheduled airport transfers and more.

All aspects of your journey are taken care of, so you can enjoy every small detail without worrying about every little expense.

Sail Onboard The Newest Super Ship, S.S. Catherine Also in 2014, Uniworld will welcome one of their largest ships, S.S. Catherine, which will sail the popular “Burgundy & Provence” itinerary along the Rhône and Saône rivers. After walking the lands that inspired Van Gogh, Cézanne, and Gauguin, and tasting the renowned wines of the region, guests can enjoy three full decks with elegantly appointed suites, staterooms, and public areas. The S.S. Catherine is sure to delight with the whimsical Leopard Lounge, featuring unique leopard print furnishings, elephant-head bar rails and other safari-like touches; a beautiful mosaic-tiled pool and spa area; and an al fresco outdoor dining terrace, further enriching the dining experience as guests sail through the inspiring countryside.

For more information and special offers on Uniworld Boutique River Cruises please see page 75, or contact your Ensemble Travel® Group consultant at the phone number on the back cover.

42 Ensemble Lifestyles Fall 2013

GOLF TRAVEL INTERNATIONAL

As golfers expand their international travel interests and their desire for more of a challenge, new destinations are emerging as rising stars with exotic and unique appeal. Among those destinations are South Africa, New Zealand, Iceland, Liverpool and Dubai.

Em e rg i n g U n i q u e & E xo t i c D e s ti n a ti o n s

by ROXANNE BORYCZKI

SAFARIS, WINE TASTING AND GOLF, OH MY!

South Africa is home to over 500 golf courses and the PGA South African Open. Among the top courses is Leopard Creek, ranked #1 and located at the edge of Krueger National Park. Fancourt is a very popular links style course, while Blair Atholl is one of the longest courses in the world. Durban Golf Club has been host to 16 PGA South African Opens, and Arabella is a wetlands course and home to thousands of waterfowl.

This stunning continent provides a unique opportunity to customize a vacation package that includes wildlife safaris, golf, wine tasting, cultural exchanges, and even luxury rail journeys, for the trip of a lifetime. The only thing to remember when playing golf in South Africa is to keep your eye on the ball and not on the roving monkeys, impala, and other wandering wildlife that can easily add strokes to your game!

THE LAND OF HOBBITS, FAIRIES AND GOLF!

Home to over 390 golf courses, New Zealand presents a great golf opportunity. With such renowned courses as Cape Kidnappers and Kauri Cliffs (ranked 45 out of the top 100 courses worldwide), the views and the challenge don’t get much better than this.

Other popular courses include Clearwater – home to the New Zealand PGA Championship, Gulf Harbour – located in a small

peninsula community with a nearby marina, or Formosa – just 45 minutes from Auckland with an under-cover driving range and golf school. While there, try out Golf Cross, a new variation on the sport using an oval-shaped ball. For those who want a well-rounded vacation, combine North Island golf with culture, exploration and soft adventure on the South Island. Experience New Zealand’s jet boats, the Flying Fox, thermal pools, glow worm caves and the richness and mystery of the Maori Culture.

WHO NEEDS TO SLEEP? GOLF AT MIDNIGHT

For a completely different experience, head north to Iceland. Yes, Iceland! Home to over 60 golf courses, the land of the midnight sun presents a truly unique opportunity and bragging rights for teeing off at midnight! Here a week-long golf trip will encompass steep cliffs, black sand beaches, majestic ocean views, fertile salmon rivers and lush green country sides. Iceland golf offers a combination of 9 and 18

Leopard Creek, South Africa

Cape Kidnappers, New Zealand

Fancourt, South Africa

Sudurnes golf course, Keflavik, Iceland

Ensemble Lifestyles Fall 2013 43

hole courses, so this is more of a leisurely golf destination. A sample itinerary might include a day at the geothermal area of the Reykjanes Peninsula. After a round of golf at the Holmsvollur course with volcanic landscapes, indulge with a dip in the original Blue Lagoon.

Gafarholt Golf Course is recognized as Iceland’s top championship course and is home to several European and Nordic tournaments.

Fairways are aligned with lava and heather, making use of the existing rugged and varied terrain. Visit the UNESCO recognized “Youngest place on earth” by taking a ferry out to the Western Islands, where golfers can play a round on Heimaey, one of the most beautiful islands in the country, and the only inhabited island of the Vestmannaeyiar archipelago. One of the smaller courses but still a great challenge is the 9 holes at the Geysir Golf Course. The course is L-shaped with holes routed in an out-in fashion similar to St. Andrew’s.

SWING AWAY WITH THE BEATLES

An emerging area for Britain is Liverpool, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. Not only birthplace to the Beatles, but Liverpool is also establishing its reputation as a place for golf with over a dozen courses in the nearby area, including the three Open Championship venues of Royal Birkdale, Royal Lytham & St. Annes and Royal Liverpool (Hoylake), which will host The British Open Championship in 2014. Between them these Royal links have hosted the Open Championship an impressive 31 times. Include Liverpool on your next trip to the UK and walk in the footsteps of such great champions as Tom Watson, Steve Ballesteros and Tiger Woods, and take on the Royal links for yourself.

Abu Dhabi Golf Club, Abu Dhabi, UAE

PERSIAN GULF MEETS ARABIAN GOLF

An emerging golf destination is rising in the Arabian Peninsula, where according to the Emirates Golf Federation there are 21 courses and growing. Most of these reside in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, with a new course recently built in Oman. This is one of the world’s most inventive destinations and the golf courses are no different. Golfers can combine three, four or more rounds of golf into a week or two week grand Arabian Golf Adventure. Best known for high-end shopping, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Oman combine to offer visitors not only a shopping mecca, but culinary experiences, falconry, jeep tours and dreamy Arabian adventures in the desert.

Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Liverpool, England

In addition to Emirates Golf Club, home to the Dubai Desert Classic, Jumeriah Golf Club was the first course built for championship play. Al Badia has 12 holes that feature uniquely designed water features, while Saadiyat Beach was the first ocean course built in the Persian Gulf. Abu Dhabi Golf Club is a Troon managed course unique for its club house featuring a large winged falcon perched atop a golf ball. b To plan your unique golf adventure, contact your Ensemble Travel® Group consultant at the phone number on the back cover.

44 Ensemble Lifestyles Fall 2013

Royal Liverpool Golf Club 12th Green, Liverpool, England

LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TROPICAL? CONSIDER THE CARIBBEAN GOLF’S FRONT NINE

TEETH OF THE DOG | La Romana, Dominican Republic

A Pete Dye design unforgettable for its seven ocean-side holes, including a par three set in a rock cove shaped like a dog’s snapping jaws.

Where to Stay: Casa de Campo Resort Ensemble® Exclusive: $200 spa credit per booking APES HILL CLUB | St. James, Barbados One of the newest Caribbean courses opened in late 2009, this championship golf course features coral stone quarries, sparkling lakes and lush grassland.

Where to Stay: The Fairmont Royal Pavilion Ensemble® Exclusives: Breakfast for two daily and dinner for two once during stay (excludes alcohol & taxes) TUCKER’S POINT GOLF CLUB | Tucker’s Town, Bermuda This 18-hole, par-70 course is Bermuda’s premier golf experience. Guests also receive playing privileges at the renowned Mid Ocean Club.

Where to Stay: Rosewood Tucker’s Point Ensemble® Exclusives: Breakfast for two daily and one round of golf (18 holes) per stay, including green fees and cart BAHIA BEACH | Rio Grande, Puerto Rico

With impressive greens along the ocean, scenic lakes and gentle breezes, the course’s breathtaking splendor is matched only by the world-class play it offers.

Where to Stay: The St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort Ensemble® Exclusives: Breakfast for two daily and $100 resort credit per room, per stay HALF MOON GOLF CLUB | Rose Hall, Jamaica

Designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr., Half Moon is one of the Caribbean’s flagship courses, with spacious fairways that provide inviting targets off the tee.

Where to Stay: Half Moon, A Rock Resort Ensemble® Exclusives: Breakfast for two daily and roundtrip airport transfers via private air-conditioned motorcoach PRINCE GOLF AT PRINCEVILLE | Kauai, Hawaii With a multi-million renovation overseen by Robert Trent Jones Sr. and majestic mountain views, this is one of the most beautiful golf courses in the world.

Where to Stay: The St. Regis Princeville Resort Ensemble® Exclusives: Breakfast for two daily and $100 resort credit per room, per stay

Saadiyat Beach Golf Club, Abu Dhabi, UAE

PELICAN HILL | Newport Coast, California 36 holes set over 400 acres of stunning, coastal land, designed by Tom Fazio, who has more courses ranked in the top 100 than any other golf course architect.

Where to Stay: The Resort at Pelican Hill Ensemble® Exclusives: Welcome gift, $50 breakfast credit per room daily, $100 spa credit per room, per stay and free internet access & valet LINKS AT TERRANEA | Rancho Palos Verdes, California A 9-hole, par-3 oceanfront course including a short game practice area with chipping and putting greens, located on one of the most scenic peninsulas in Southern California.

Where to Stay: Terranea Resort Ensemble® Exclusives: Breakfast for two daily and $50 resort credit per room, per stay COPPERHEAD | Palm Harbor, Florida

Royal Birkdale, Liverpool, England

At the heart of the Copperhead community lays an exceptional par 72 Gordon Lewis designed, 18-hole championship golf course.

Where to Stay: Innisbrook Resort Ensemble® Exclusives: Breakfast for two daily and two rounds of golf per room, per stay Ensemble Lifestyles Fall 2013 45

PROFILE: FREQUENT TRAVELER

Golf, Giving and Travel Kate & Justin Rose The unflappable golfer and his indefatigable wife C A R E E R H I G H LI G HT

2013 U.S. Open Championship Merion Golf Club, Pennsylvania RESIDENCES Robert Meggers /Getty Images

Orlando, Florida & London, England FA M I LY FAC TS

Children: Leo, age 4 & Charlotte, age 1

After breaking into professional golf at the tender age of 17 and then weathering the ensuing years of arduous PGA Tour play, Justin Rose celebrated his first Major tournament victory in June of 2013 at the U.S. Open Tournament in Ardmore, Pennsylvania – a win that placed him high in the world golf rankings among the likes of Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Rory McIlroy, and Adam Scott.

Along the way Justin’s wife Kate, a former international gymnast and mother to Leo and Charlotte, has scored a few victories as well. Kate is an active member of the PGA TOUR Wives Association (PTWA), a nonprofit organization that has raised over $5 million to help underprivileged children and families. She served on the Board from 2006 - 2010 and is a former Vice President of the Association, which celebrated its 25th Anniversary this year with their signature TOUR Wives Golf Classic event, in which the golfers caddie, the wives compete, and proceeds go to charity.

Together, Kate and Justin balance their time between Tour travel, family, and charity work – including running the Kate & Justin Rose Foundation and serving as National Board Members to Blessings in a Backpack, a program that helps nourish impoverished elementary school children.

Recently, we caught up with Kate and

46 Ensemble Lifestyles Fall 2013

asked about their action-packed life. Here’s what she had to say...

Where did you and Justin meet?

We met in Spain, amusingly enough, at a golf tournament. I was translating for a client who had sponsored about 20 golfers.

I speak French, Italian, and Spanish so I was

traveling around Europe translating for the golfers. We actually met at the Spanish Open ... and then we got to travel together around the golf circuit.

Where did you go for your honeymoon?

We went to Antigua. We did the classic lie on a beautiful beach and veg out.

journey. In life, when you are going through really, really hard times, quite often you have to have faith that you’re going to learn something from it. Most of the time, it’s hard to see the reason right there and then; it’s only ever clear with hindsight.

When he won ... it sort of gave a reason for all of the missed cuts. It made sense that [the missed cuts] had built up his mental strength so that one day he would have that fortitude to go ahead and win a Major.

I think it was a really nice moment for a lot of people. Not just for us, but also for the people who had watched him over so many years.

What did you do to celebrate Justin’s U.S. Open victory? We actually didn’t

get out of the media tent until 11:00 p.m., so we went for dinner at midnight! We had a lovely dinner and drinks and that was really fun. Then we went back to England and had a small celebration with his friends and family. That made it a bit more real.

Nothing too wild. I think we are going to have a joint party with Adam Scott in a few weeks ... in the Bahamas.

What’s the best place you’ve traveled to for golf? We’ve been to so many lovely places. I know one of Justin’s favorites is Sun City in South Africa. He’s got lots of family out there, so he feels like that’s where his roots are ... and there’s so much to do. There are safaris around the corner so you can go and see some amazing animals after you’ve played golf.

It’s just so different.

I really enjoyed Dubai ... more than I was expecting to. It was fantastic. I really loved the architecture ... the old style as well as the huge, new, modern buildings ... they’re so creative! I got a real kick out of the contrast of the two and just the totally different culture over there. That was a really fun visit.

Do the players’ families stay in the same hotel? We all do our own thing.

Over the last few years, because we’ve had young children, I’ve been much more of a fan of getting a rental home, a villa on the golf course or a rental house in the neighboring area. And we’re very spoiled as the PGA Tour provides a daycare for a few days of the week so it’s not like I’m stuck in a hotel room by myself with the kids. That really helps.

You do a lot of charity work. What’s that like? With all that we are given

through the game of golf and Justin’s hard work ... we just feel really lucky and we try and share that. Through the PGA Tour Wives Association we set up projects in Orlando like Blessings in a Backpack where we feed more than 1,600 children every weekend. We also provide books and educational field trips.

Our children are so lucky to travel and see the world ... if you’re never exposed to some of these things you just don’t know how to dream of them. If you don’t know what’s out there, how can you even try to aspire to it? So we try and provide opportunities for children to see what’s out there. That gives us a lot of happiness. It’s a lot of fun to be a part of, it really is. It’s very fulfilling.

Can you describe your dream vacation? Right now, it would be

anywhere where there’s a bed, no alarm clock, no cell phones, and no responsibilities! Our life has been crazy for the last few years. It’s been busy, busy, busy, traveling, raising children, running charities ... running his business ... doing it all on the road.

We did actually talk about taking a vacation because we haven’t taken one in a long time. We thought we’d do something a bit more adventurous than the usual “go and relax somewhere.” So we might go and climb Machu Picchu, somewhere like that, South America ... somewhere completely different culturally.

JUSTIN’S TRAVEL JOURNAL

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

What has being on the PGA Tour been like? It’s been an interesting

What is your favorite golf destination?

Shinnecock Hills, National Golf Links in Long Island, New York. It's like links golf, but with good weather!

What is the most unique golf club you've visited? Legends Golf & Safari Resort (in South Africa). When you book a tee time, you are accompanied by a ranger as you're playing in the wild with the big 5 around! They also have a hole called “Extreme 19” where a helicopter takes you to the tee. 18 Pros designed the course and I designed hole No. 9.

Are there any courses that you haven't yet played? Cypress Point near Monterey, California and Pine Valley in south New Jersey.

Have you been recognized by fans on any flights? Yes, regularly. Especially recently when I've had the U.S. Open trophy with me! People are encouraging, supportive and wish you luck.

What are your favorite vacation spots?

The Bahamas, especially Albany Club (on the island of New Providence, near Nassau).

What vacation destination do you dream of visiting one day? A ski vacation! I'm reticent to do it while I'm playing.

What advice do you have for those traveling for golf? Fly British Airways® and arrive feeling refreshed! Also, choose a destination where you can play many different courses in good weather. Florida, Spain, Portugal, and Turkey are some my friends have visited.

Ensemble Lifestyles Fall 2013 47

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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48 Ensemble Lifestyles Fall 2013

Sunshine enters your suite each day in the form of your personal suite stewardess.

Whether she draws the warm, scented bath of your choice from our Pure PamperingSM menu or surprises you at night with a sprinkling of rose petals on your bed, she helps make your wishes come true. From the complimentary

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Onboard a Seabourn ship, enjoy…

• Unique itineraries to must-see cities and hidden gems where larger ships can’t go.

Each cruise is a hand-picked collection of fascinating places, and each day brings a new opportunity for authentic discovery – another chance to explore your world in a personal and meaningful way.

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It is supremely relaxing to be looked after by thoughtful hosts, whose knack for anticipating what you might like borders on the clairvoyant.

• Spacious, all-suite accommodations with sweeping ocean views – many with verandas.

Seabourn suites are thoughtfully appointed and inviting, designed as homes-away-fromhome with room to unwind or entertain.

Don’t miss special culinary events like Shopping with the ChefSM at local markets in select ports around the world. Learn from the masters of the Chef’s CircleSM as guest chefs from well-known restaurants share their culinary secrets. Enjoy tempting treats and rare estate teas, compliments of our popular Seabourn to a TeaSM, complete with white glove service and relaxing, live music.

• Open bars throughout the ship, and fine wines poured at lunch and dinner. Meet and mingle

• Gourmet dining experiences that rival the finest restaurants anywhere. From French fries to

foie gras, every dish served on Seabourn receives the expert attention of highly skilled and imaginative chefs. The finest ingredients are selected with care, perfectly prepared to your order, and served with pride.

• Complimentary welcome champagne and in-suite bar stocked with your preferences.

Soft drinks, beer and mineral water, complete glassware and your favorite wines or spirits are ready for your enjoyment or for entertaining.

• Tipping is neither required nor expected

– our award-winning staff is driven only by their sincere desire to please, and with a smile that comes from the heart.

For more information and special offers on Seabourn cruises please see page 73, or contact your Ensemble Travel® Group consultant at the phone number on the back cover.

with fellow guests in a carefree atmosphere, where no one has to pick up the tab.

• All dining venues are complimentary — dine when, where and with whom you wish.

From casual to elegant, indoors, al fresco or in your suite, a range of choices invites you to be spontaneous.

Ensemble Lifestyles Fall 2013 49

REAL PEOPLE REAL JOURNEYS

IT ALL BEGAN ABOUT NINE YEARS AGO when my granddaughter, Mia, was in 4th grade. Each Wednesday I’d pick her up after school and we’d hustle to the pizza place on the corner of Christopher and Hudson Streets in New York City, to chat about whatever was on our minds that day. More often than not, the crux of our conversations tended toward the topic of immigration, the subject that was the center of a class project that year, in which the students were asked to examine their family’s roots, in an effort to trace and place their origins.

Retracing our ROOTS

by JUDY BIRKE

A family’s emotional journey to Hamburg

When did you come here from Germany? Why did you leave?

Why was it just you and your mother?

What happened to your father?

Those were but some of the questions Mia asked. The more we talked, and the more information she requested, the more I realized these were important conversations that needed to be pursued.

Prior to our discussions I had never been very interested in either the details of my family’s narrative or the context of my emigration 50 Ensemble Lifestyles Fall 2013

to America. I knew I came here as a baby with my mother in 1941. I knew we left on the last train before all Jewish emigration from Germany was halted. I knew we passed through occupied France and Spain and subsequently sailed from Portugal to the United States. I knew my father died in Germany when my mother was pregnant with me, and although my mother told me bits and pieces of our family’s origins and their prior life, I always sensed, like many “survivors,” that the two of us had an unspoken agreement of “don’t ask.”

During one of our Wednesday afternoon conversations, Mia asked me if some day we could travel together to see the country where I was born, and learn more about the family into which she was born. I said “of course,” not yet quite sure, however, how I felt about returning to the place from which we fled. The years passed, and despite the good intentions, it never happened … until this year. Now ten years after that initial conversation, we were ready to make it happen.

As we walked the streets of Hamburg in the rain ...

I was touched by a whole host of things, but by and large by the strength of the human spirit, and how goodness and kindness will always prevail. ~ Dana Birke Opposite page: Judy and granddaughter Mia enjoying time together after school Top left: Dana, Elissa, Judy and Mia in Hamburg

Not just the two of us. I felt that if we were going to do it, that it was important for the entire family to share in the experience. And so my daughters, Elissa and Dana; my sonsin-law, Shawn and Brian; my friend, Dwight; and Mia and I all headed to Hamburg, eager to retrace, revisit and reconnect to our roots.

We didn’t know what to expect. As Elissa noted, “All of us knew that it wouldn’t be an uncomplicated week on the beach. It was a vacation with a special purpose which was to learn about and honor our family’s history.”

Mind you, we didn’t go blindly. We prepared as best we could. I already had some of the paperwork my mother brought with her when we emigrated, as well as some information that was given to me when I met with the city’s archivist in 1997 when I briefly returned to Hamburg as part of a group of survivors to whom the city paid tribute.

Above: Judy looking over documents with researcher Susanne

Now I scoured the internet for more information. One thing led to another … and eventually, through a confluence of serendipitous discoveries, I hit the jackpot.

Ensemble Lifestyles Fall 2013 51

I was contacted by a woman in Hamburg who was already doing research about my family, and would prove to be not only a treasure trove of information, but also a huge emotional support and guide; cheerfully trekking through the city with us on a very rainy day in order to reveal every place of historical and emotional importance for our family.

Jewish Cemetery facade

Cemetery path

Learning about my family in the city they lived in was something I’ll never forget. It made everything I had heard from my family much more tangible and real.

~ Mia Fitzgibbon

Clockwise from left: Mia, Brian, Elissa, Dana, Shawn and Judy

52 Ensemble Lifestyles Fall 2013

We visited the old neighborhood. We stepped into the doorway of the house on 115 KaiserWilhelm Strasse, where I spent the first ten months of my life. Miraculously that building survived the war. We prowled through the remnants of the old temple whose facade still stood in the neighborhood. We knelt before all the stolpersteine – small brass memorial plaques crafted by artist Gunter Demnig – that were permanently placed in front of the residences where Holocaust victims lived.

We found ours at Enckeplatz 4, the building where my family lived for many years before the war and before I was born.

“As we walked the streets of Hamburg in the rain,” Dana reflected, “indeed the sky was crying, as we experienced the places our family had lived and loved, lost and suffered.

I was touched by a whole host of things, but by and large by the strength of the human spirit, and how goodness and kindness will always prevail.”

In addition to retracing our roots, we wanted to experience the city itself and we gave ourselves time to do so. We found Hamburg to be a beautiful city of flowing lakes and rivers, where sailboats and sightseeing crafts drift along sleepy waterways, bikers and joggers navigate the lush parks and cobblestone streets, and tourists and natives come together at the meeting place of high-end boutiques and second-hand consignment shops. We dined in wonderful ethnic restaurants, enjoyed the traditional tea and pastries in the afternoon, and even took advantage of some of the nightlife at the Stage Club, where cabaret performers played to a sold-out enthusiastic audience.

What I didn’t anticipate was how fortunate and happy we’d feel to be there together, and express our love, admiration and thanks to my grandparents for the ultimate blessing – the continuation of our family. ~ Elissa Birke

On our final day we visited the Ohlsdorf Jewish Cemetery where my father was buried … four generations together at last.

Elissa noted that “the most touching part of the journey was when we visited the cemetery where my grandfather is buried.

Since none of us ever had a chance to meet him, it was as close as we’d ever come to feeling his presence. His resting place is in a miraculously well-preserved, remarkably beautiful, and historically important site.

On a visit of that nature, sadness is expected.

What I didn’t anticipate was how fortunate and happy we’d feel to be there together, and express our love, admiration and thanks to my grandparents for the ultimate blessing – the continuation of our family.”

Dana reflected, “I got to see with such clarity and punctuation the price that others paid for my existence.”

And Mia, who inspired this trip so many years ago, said “I am so grateful to have had this experience. Learning about my family in the city they lived in was something I’ll never forget. It made everything I had heard from my family much more tangible and real.”

As for me, I felt comfortable and comforted in this city, and got the sense that we had known each other forever. b

How to Retrace your Roots In this day and age, there are more resources than ever to help families learn about their genealogical roots. If you’re looking to travel to your family’s homeland, make sure you plan ahead to make the most of your trip.

USE WHAT YOU KNOW

Gather together any information you may already have: names of ancestors, important dates (births, deaths, marriages), military papers, etc. If you have older relatives, be sure to pick their brain for any facts and documents they can share.

GENEALOGICAL WEBSITES

Search the web to gain access to billions of records. Try websites like Ancestry. com, Familysearch.org and Archives. gov, which can help you find the pieces you may be missing.

USE A PROFESSIONAL

Need some help? Leave your research to an experienced genealogy researcher who can scour sources around the world. Try the professional genealogists at ProGenealogists.com, the experts

behind the hit show “Who Do You Think You Are?” and the official researchers for Ancestry.com.

TALK TO YOUR ENSEMBLE TRAVEL ® GROUP CONSULTANT

Once you have your family history together and know the specific areas you’ll want to visit, talk to your travel consultant, who will handle all of your travel arrangements and create a seamless trip, so you can spend your time worry-free learning more about your heritage.

See page 68 for a great cruise vacation that visits Hamburg, or contact your Ensemble Travel® Group consultant at the phone number on the back cover to create your own trip Hamburg or genealogical journey.

Ensemble Lifestyles Fall 2013 53

Hamburg | Germany

Speicherstadt, Hamburg warehouse district

At the end of the day we all met at Ristorante Pontonorvo, a casual Italian indoor/outdoor restaurant on the shores of the lake, and indulged ourselves after a hard day’s leisure with delicious, freshly caught fish and perfectly seasoned pasta dishes.

Alster Lake

We found Hamburg to be a sophisticated city of diverse restaurants that catered to all sorts of palettes and cuisines. On a recommendation from native Hamburgers, we ate at A Varina, a wonderful Portugeuse bistro located in a maze of narrow, noncommercial streets sprinkled with eateries of various ethnicities, each featuring typical native cuisine.

Hamburg is a beautiful city graced with all manner of waterways: from its bustling harbor to the rivers and canals that gracefully flow through it’s environs. Our favorite was Alster Lake – a big, beautiful body of water right in the heart of the city that offered something for each of us.

Those of us who wanted to take it easy boarded a sightseeing ferry and cruised across the lake and through its canals, enchanted by the stunning countryside that surrounded us. We were privy to close-up views of some of the most elegant residential areas in the city.

The active travelers took a similar route, strolling along the lake’s perimeter accompanied by a bevy of joggers and bicyclists, as well as fleets of kayakers, sailboaters and all sorts of paddlers and oarsmen who drifted in perfect rhythm across the lake beside them.

THE SECRET INGREDIENT

Butter, butter, butter … and more butter is the secret ingredient, it seems, in every slice of pie, every taste of torte, and every perfect pastry in which we indulged … all a part of our afternoon tea ritual that we enjoyed together each day in this very elegant and gracious city.

Hamburg is a great walking city. One day we took a leisurely stroll to the city center – a must-see for all visitors. Here the huge plaza is home to City Hall, a richly-decorated neo-renaissance building, that each day becomes the backdrop for all sorts of magicians and mimes, who encourage young and old to participate in their antics. Here we strolled along the canals and colonnades, through wide arcades and narrow passages, discovering fashionable shops that carried the latest in everything from haute couture to chic boutique, pausing every now and then for a bite at one of the many charming cafes that lined the plaza.

W H E R E TO S TAY

HOTEL ATLANTIC KEMPINSKI HAMBURG | Hamburg, Germany

Hotel Atlantic Kempinski Hamburg has graced the shores of Lake Alster for over 100 years. Its prime location offers discerning guests an ideal address from which to explore Hamburg. All accommodations have been recently refurbished and redesigned to provide the finest in classic amenities and modern technology. Enjoy superb dining in two world-class restaurants: regional fare in The Atlantic and Tsao Yang’s authentic Chinese cuisine. Relax at legendary Art-Déco Atlantic Bar. And rejuvenate mind and body at the spa’s new Energy Clinic, combining ancient Chinese wisdom with 21st-century techniques.

Ensemble® Exclusive: Fresh fruit in room upon arrival; breakfast for two daily; upgraded room at time of check-in (when available); early check-in and late check-out (when available).

54 Ensemble Lifestyles Fall 2013

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Ensemble Lifestyles Fall 2013 55

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The only thing that rivals the Oceania Cruises onboard experience is discovering the fascinating destinations to which the ships sail. Cruising is ultimately about exploring the world, so your first choice is selecting which region to visit. Every port of call offers a seemingly endless array of cultural delights, each expressed through the unique talent and artistry of its people.

Marvel at a masterful painting, learn a traditional dance, shop for handcrafted works by local artisans or taste the fruits of a vintner’s labors. From the culinary arts to the visual arts and from ancient songs to modern dance, the diverse cultures of the world gratify all of the senses.

Because Oceania Cruises itineraries often feature overnight stays and later evening departures, you can fully immerse yourself in the cultural arts of each new destination. In St. Petersburg, spend the afternoon exploring the renowned Hermitage Museum and the evening watching Russian ballet. Meander along the riverfront of Bordeaux, taking in the neoclassical architecture of the Place de la Bourse, and then venture into the countryside to enjoy a meal complemented by the fine wines of a historic vineyard.

Preserve each experience with not only cherished memories but also cultural treasures you can take home with you, from Indian saris to Valencian porcelain to new tango skills learned at a class in Buenos Aires.

Of course, there is plenty to marvel at onboard as well.

Heralded as the most beautiful, elegant and sophisticated ship in the modern era of cruising, Oceania Cruises’ 56 Ensemble Lifestyles Fall 2013

Marina debuted in 2011 to wide acclaim.

Her sister, Riviera, was unveiled in May 2012. Superlatives naturally surface when describing these exquisite new ships, and one needs only a few moments onboard to realize that no expense was spared in their design.

A number of firsts are among their luxurious amenities, including the first suites at sea furnished exclusively by Ralph Lauren Home.

The inimitable touches of world-renowned designers are evident throughout the ships, from the magnificent Lalique Grand Staircase to the Vista and Oceania Suites conceived by Dakota Jackson.

Marina and Riviera feature an unprecedented ten dining venues, six of which are openseating gourmet restaurants with no surcharges. Two are new concepts: Jacques, a French-style bistro conceived by Master Chef Jacques Pépin, and Red Ginger, offering Asian fusion cuisine in a strikingly contemporary setting. Also new to Marina and Riviera is La Reserve, an intimate venue for wine tasting and food pairings. For those desiring the ultimate in exclusivity, a private dinner for

Heralded as the most beautiful, elegant and sophisticated ship in the modern era of cruising, Oceania Cruises’ Marina recently debuted to wide acclaim. up to ten privileged guests can be hosted in Privée with a menu from Toscana, Polo Grill or a combination of both.

Marina and Riviera also feature the classic restaurants that have brought Oceania Cruises such acclaim. The Grand Dining Room is as sumptuous as ever, its focal point an absolutely resplendent chandelier.

Guests can enjoy perfectly grilled steaks and fresh seafood at Polo Grill, or they can visit Toscana for authentic gourmet Italian.

Some prefer to savor the international fare at Terrace Café while dining alfresco, although an equally pleasant atmosphere can be found in its rich, warm interior glowing with vibrant oranges complemented by chocolate browns.

Considering the extraordinary cuisine, it seems appropriate that Oceania Cruises

is first in the industry to offer hands-on cooking classes at sea. The Bon Appétit Culinary Center onboard Marina and Riviera features 24 fully-equipped cooking stations where guests not only observe the instruction of a Bon Appétit Chef, but also prepare each dish themselves.

This year Oceania Cruises expanded its culinary enrichment program with the introduction of Culinary Discovery Tours™ to more than 25 ports worldwide. Uniquely designed for each port, the tours provide guests with the opportunity to explore local food markets in small groups, side-by-side with an expert chef. On Riviera and Marina the tours end with a hands-on cooking class in the Bon Appétit Culinary Center highlighting regional specialties.

For special offers on Oceania Cruises please see page 71, or contact your Ensemble Travel® Group consultant at the phone number on the back cover.

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A DV E N T U ROU S

*Fuel supplement has been suspended. Holland America Line reserves the right to re-instate the fuel supplement for all guests at up to $9 per person per day should the price of light sweet crude oil according

to the NYMEX (New York Mercantile Exchange Index) increase above $70 per barrel. Please consult our website for current information. Fares are based on Promo RH. Featured fares are per person based on

Explore the world with Holland America Line.

12-Day Far East Discovery Singapore to Hong Kong ms Volendam

Oceanview from

$

12/09/2013

1,399

Amenity – Exclusive hosted event

30-Day Hawaii, Tahiti and Marquesas Islands Roundtrip San Diego

meet

ms Statendam

E XQU I SI T E

12/16/2013

Oceanview from

$

4,699

Amenity – $50 shipboard credit per person

17-Day Panama Canal Holiday San Francisco to Ft. Lauderdale ms Amsterdam Oceanview from

12/18/2013

$

2,999

Amenity – $50 shipboard credit per person

14-Day Pacific Treasures Holiday Roundtrip Sydney ms Oosterdam

12/22/2013

Oceanview from

$

2,599

Amenity – $50 shipboard credit per person

For more information, please contact your Ensemble Travel® Group consultant at the phone number on the back cover

Spacious, Elegant Ships

n

Gracious, Award-Winning Service

Extensive Activities and Enrichment Programs

double occupancy, cruise only. Fares are in U.S. dollars and include non-commissionable fares. Taxes are additional and vary according to itinerary. Subject to availability. Offers are capacity controlled, and may

n

n

Worldwide Itineraries

Sophisticated Five-Star Dining

be modified or withdrawn without prior notice. Restrictions may apply. Please refer to the appropriate Holland America brochure for full terms and conditions. Ships’ Registry: The Netherlands.

GIRLS & GUYS GETAWAYS

Divide & Conquer Luxurious trips for LADIES Exclusive escapes for MEN Often, travel is about exploring differences. Seeking out unique cultures, beautiful contrasts, and stunning diversity.

But travel can also be a great way to celebrate similarities.

On the following pages, you’ll read about a group of ladies who embraced their femininity on a fabulous tour of Italy and sporting men who shared golf and good-natured ribbing on the fairways of Arizona.

Divas Daughters

by NANCY HELLMRICH

&

“My mother always wanted to go to Paris,” began Tashion Macon, when I asked how the “Divas & Daughters” getaways got started.

“Her 60th birthday was coming up. So my sisters and I were going to take her. Then our friends asked if they could go too, so I said, ‘Bring your moms!’” And that’s how it all began. Tashion called her travel agent, Stacy, and they booked the trip to Paris.

Sharon Moore was one of the friends who joined them. “My Mom was turning 80 and she had never been out of the country; I hadn’t either. So we said, ‘Okay, let’s do it!’” One of 60 Ensemble Lifestyles Fall 2013

a million years I'd get the chance to see this beautiful city.’” Paris was so much fun, the group decided to plan another trip.

Tashion and Janeen

Sharon’s fondest memories happened while waiting for an elevator. “My mom just gave me a big hug and said, ‘Thank you, thank you for bringing me to Paris. I never thought in

This time, they chose Italy and agreed that Stacy should come along as their trip escort.

They also secured a local guide to help them get around. “Stacy put together the whole package,” explained Sharon, “and Giuseppe handled the ins and outs while we were in Italy. He was our inside man.” Teecee Wesley, another friend, was impressed. “It was seamless. Stacy sent out the itinerary early, and everything worked out really well.”

“We laughed. We talked.

We celebrated each other.”

“The trips are a great opportunity to celebrate our mothers.”

Tashion and her friends have come to see the trips as a chance to reunite and celebrate how they have helped each other become the women they are today. “We have been able to fly and soar and be successful and courageous,” she said, “because of the women our mothers encouraged us to be.” Their mothers were doing plenty of soaring as well. Sharon’s mom was 82 when they went to Italy. “She was out-walking all of us!” Tashion concurs. “Our mothers walked us into the ground! We were trying to hail taxis and they said, ‘No thanks, we’re walking.’”

Stacy, Sara and Sheri (mother and daughter)

“I told them, you all must bring money for shopping.”

“They wore the streets of Florence out!” says Tashion. “Up to the last minute they were running to buy things ... leather coats and boots.” Thanks to Stacy’s connections, they also had a private event in a shop that features the designs of Franco Fonati. Some bought off the rack, others ordered custom pieces. “Here in America,” said Tashion, “we like Dolce & Gabbana but in Italy ... it was really about their craft ... the artisan culture ... an authentic piece of clothing that wasn’t mass produced. It was very elegant.”

“I loved the detail in the ceilings, the paintings, the sculptures.”

Michelangelo’s David was a highlight of the trip. “Some women had come through challenging relationships prior to the trip,” explained Tashion. “When they told us the story of the David, how one artist said the marble was flawed but Michelangelo said ‘No, David is in the marble.

There’s nothing flawed about it. We just have to chip away until he appears.’ That story touched me because I knew the stories of some of the women who were with us and I thought, ‘There’s nothing flawed about you. The right person is going to see the art that’s in you.’ The David had such a translatable story, and we were all very moved by the experience.”

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GI RLS & G UYS G ETAWAYS

Oliveto Castle

Sharon was amazed as well. “Once you hear the history, how he worked on this for three years ... and then just to be able to see the detail of the body, how lifelike he looks ... you could see his veins and everything.” While they were there, a primary school teacher came in with her students. “They all laid out on the floor and were drawing their own pictures of David ... the whole experience was amazing.”

“In America, we live to work. In Italy, they work to live.”

En route from Venice to Florence, the group stopped in the Tuscan countryside to visit a castle that was built by the Pucci family in the 15th century. “Of course, they all know Pucci because they know clothes,” explains Tashion.

“So the women were excited about the tour. We had wine and cheese. We laughed. We talked. We celebrated each other.” In Florence, they ate dinner together almost every night. Teecee noticed a big difference in the food. “Everything was just so fresh. Even though we ate a lot of pasta it seemed like it was much lighter.” She liked the desserts too. “I fell in love with the tiramisu ... the tiramisu there was just so amazing.”

One evening, they found a nightclub with live music near the hotel. “The music was great,” said Tashion, “we danced, danced, danced.” Another club had more of an underground scene.

“It was young people as far as you could see, new breaking bands, new music ... it helped us see a different side of Florence, the hipster side where the kids were doing their own thing, representing their own flair and flavor.”

“One thing I love about Italy,” says Sharon, “... is their strong sense of family. It puts things into perspective ... what’s important, what should be important.” Teecee agrees. “In Europe, people really enjoy living life. Every time I come back I try to integrate a little more of that culture, that mentality, into my life here.” b See pages 67 and 75 for our pick of great Italian getaways, or contact your Ensemble Travel® Group consultant at the phone number on the back cover to create your own Italy vacation.

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Neked and Sheri

A Gentlemen’s

Getaway

Rancho Mañana golf course

“If you asked 100 golfers where they wanted to play, you know what 95% of them would say? Augusta National. But they could never get on,” replied Mr. Bobby Lott when I asked where he dreamed of teeing off some day. Mr. Lott was not complaining. On the contrary, his answer showed reverence for the hallowed course where the annual Masters Tournament is held. “I don’t know whether they’d let The Pope play golf there or not,” he continued and then, as though he were actually considering the possibility, he finished with “They might... .”

Tashion in Pisa

An insurance man from Arkansas, Bobby Lott likes to hit balls in his backyard with his wife and 19-year-old son, who are equally obsessed with the game. He counts himself fortunate to have traveled a great deal for both work and pleasure. He’s been to Italy, Spain, the French Riviera, Austria, the United Kingdom, and more. He’s played golf in Hawaii and remembers fondly the day he teed off on The Old Course at St. Andrews Links in Scotland. “My dream would be to go to Ireland or back to Scotland. Those people ... are just like people in the south. Very hospitable, they like to drink their ale and tell stories, that’s basically what we [gentlemen golfers] do.”

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Ready to play at Wekapa, Fountain Hills, AZ

Getting ready for a good day

“It's just a fun trip ... low key ...

Gold Canyon golf course

”

well we're like Vegas ... whatever happens in Arizona stays in Arizona.

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"No I am the Best"

“We go way back. We’ve played golf together forever.”

When it comes to more serious play, Bobby has always called upon Mr. Robert Abney, an attorney and fellow golfer who lives a short distance away. But playing golf in a town that has just one “itty-bitty little golf course” left them wanting more. After a few years of getting rained out in Mississippi, Alabama and Florida, they found a travel agent and began their annual, late-February pilgrimage to Arizona’s Valley of the Sun. That was nearly a decade ago, and the gentlemen golfers from Arkansas are still at it today. “Arkansas winters are 40ºF and rainy, so we always look forward to it,” says Mr. Abney. “We’ll get on a plane at 7:00 a.m. and go directly from the airport to the golf course. Everybody’s ready to play, ready to get out there in the sun. Sometimes, I just walk out to the first tee and stand there with my face pointed up. It’s nice.”

The three Lott brothers enjoying golf in Arizona

For the last several years they’ve stayed at the same resort and their agent has booked back-to-back tee times for their foursomes, which Mr. Lott says makes all the difference in the world. “We’re always close enough that we can see what the others are doing. We can see whether they make the shot or not.” He laughs. “You know, grown men can be like little boys on the playground ... it’s the harassment in the moment that makes it so fun.” After they finish playing, they gather in the clubhouse and, as Mr. Lott puts it, “... lie about what they did. That’s just what men do.”

“We’re a close knit group. We go out there to have a good time.”

All of the participants are men (no wives or girlfriends allowed) and most are related through family ties or work. Competition to get into the group is high. “If you drop out,” says Mr. Abney, “somebody’s going to take your place and you’ve got to wait for an opening to come back up.” Both men agree that 8-12 is the perfect size and allows for the most camaraderie. Last year, they expanded to 16 players so that a pro from Leeds, England who was visiting relatives in Arkansas could join them. “That was real fun getting to watch him play,” said Mr. Lott. “He was very good.”

When it comes to choosing from over 200 courses in the Phoenix-Scottsdale region, their travel agent is a big help. In the last eight years they’ve played 20 different courses, all with jaw-dropping views. They try to play at least one or two premium courses each time. Mr. Lott’s favorites are We-Ko-Pa Golf Club and Dinosaur Mountain at Gold Canyon. Mr. Abney’s is Rancho Mañana, a par 70 championship course with dramatic elevation changes and immaculate desert terrain.

“Now that was the most hilarious moment.”

Gold Canyon golf course

A lot of work goes into ensuring that everyone has a good time. One of the players, a computer programmer, puts all the names into his computer and it spits out a schedule that ensures everybody gets to play with everybody. “It’s just a fun trip,” says Mr. Lott, “low key, get to the airport on time, get to the airport on the way back, and what happens in between ... well, we’re like Vegas ... what happens in Arizona stays in Arizona.” Except for this one story that managed to leak out...

“We were playing a course that was backed up like a lot of those courses get at prime time,” he begins with an audible smile. “This guy was waiting for his turn to play ... and he laid down in a little green, grassy knoll there ... and he just went to sleep. They had to literally go over and wake him up when it was his turn to play.” An endless amount of ribbing ensued. “Now that was the most hilarious moment,” says Mr. Lott.

“Somebody going to sleep on the golf course? He had a very relaxing time.” b Want to plan your own golf getaway? See page 43 for our favorite golf locales around the world, or call your Ensemble Travel® Group consultant at the phone number at the back cover.

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T R AV E L E R ’ S N O T E B O O K

IBEROSTAR Grand Hotel Bavaro

Zoëtry Agua Punta Cana

• 7 nights at IBEROSTAR Grand Hotel Bavaro

• 7 nights at Zoëtry Agua Punta Cana

• Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

• Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

• January 8 – February 1, 2014

• January 8 – February 1, 2014

• From $2,033 per person, Standard Double Suite

• From $2,399 per person, Junior Suite Garden View Room

• Web ID: EL2808

• Web ID: EL2809

Located on the beautiful Bavaro beach, this adults-only, all-suite resort features exceptional amenities, five enticing restaurants and five bars, as well as an array of watersports and activities. Guests can also enjoy full use of all amenities in the IBEROSTAR complex, which is self contained along a large stretch of beach.

Located on the striking northeast coast of the Dominican Republic, Zoëtry Aqua Punta Cana welcomes you to an all-suite haven of canethatched sanctuaries. The hardwood floors and natural stone accents harmonize with the lush, secluded oceanfront setting and the spirit here is far, far removed from the hectic tempo of everyday living.

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Receive an upgrade to an ocean-view room, two rounds of golf, your choice of a $200 resort credit per room or romantic dinner for two, and Grand Star Service: chilled champagne on arrival, private in-resort transportation, breakfast in bed and more. Book October 31 – November 30, 2013.

Receive champagne at check-in, special turndown service, and one complimentary 30-minute Swedish massage or 50% off second massage (restrictions apply). Book October 31 – November 30, 2013.

Cities & Countryside of China: The Shangri-La Experience

On Safari in Botswana, Victoria Falls & Zimbabwe • 9 days touring Africa • Botswana to Zimbabwe

• 10 days touring China

• Now through May 31, 2014

• Beijing to Shanghai • Now through May 31, 2014

• From $5,299 per person, land only

• From $3,699 per person, land only

• Web ID: EL2811

• Web ID: EL2810

The ancient history, 21st-century vibrancy and rich cultural traditions of Beijing, Xian and Shanghai are enhanced by the tranquility of the Guilin countryside on this private tour through China. Highlights include a private Tai Chi lesson on the grounds of the Summer Palace, spending time with a farmer’s family in Yangshuo, and luxurious 5-star Shangri-La Hotels every night.

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Receive a one category room upgrade in every city. Book now.

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This diverse Botswana safari features Southern Africa’s best luxury camps and Africa’s most incredible wildlife. Explore the legendary Okavango Delta, experience Victoria Falls, track herds of elephant and buffalo in the Linyanti Reserve, and partake in game drives in deluxe open vehicles, nature walks, canoe expeditions, and night safaris with superb safari guides.

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Receive a complimentary helicopter sightseeing flight at Victoria Falls.

Book now.

For reservations, call us today.

Italian Mosaic

Gems of Umbria & Tuscany

• 13 days touring Italy

• 9 days touring Italy

• Roundtrip Rome

• Roundtrip Rome

• Select departures January 21 through December 16, 2014

• Select departures April 26 through October 4, 2014

• From $2,699 per person, land only

• From $2,249 per person, land only

• Web ID: EL2812

• Web ID: EL2813

This classic Italian vacation takes you sightseeing from Rome to Pisa, Florence, Lugano/Locarno, Lake Maggiore, Milan, Venice, Padua, Assisi, Sorrento/Capri, and Pompeii. Overnight stays allow for plenty of time to explore the main sights with a Local Guide, and downtime to relax with a cappuccino.

Learn about the mysterious Etruscans; roam a hilltop town that was the inspiration for the Chronicles of Narnia; and learn how to make Manfricolo pasta from a local chef on this unforgettable vacation from Rome to Narni, Spoleto, Spello, Assisi, Deruta, Perugia, Cortona, Siena, Pienza, Montalcino, San Gimignano, Volterra, and Orvieto.

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Receive a FREE night pre- or post-tour stay. Book by October 31, 2013.

Receive a FREE night pre- or post-tour stay. Book by October 31, 2013.

Italian Family Journey

Costa Rica Health and Wellness

• 13 days touring Italy

• 8 days touring Costa Rica

• Select departures now through December 31, 2014

• Select departures November 2, 2013 – July 19, 2014

• From $3,850 per person, land only

• From $1,890 per person, land only

• Web ID: 2814

• Web ID: EL2815

Don’t just travel with your family: participate in a learning experience that will last a lifetime. Learn about mask making in Venice and cheese in Parma; take a Tuscan cooking class, attend Gladiator school in Rome, and much more as your family travels from Venice to Bologna, Tuscany, and Rome; with visits to Maranello, Parma, Florence, San Gimignano, and Volterra.

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Receive a complimentary gelato-making workshop. Book now.

Powered by Perillo Tours

Powered by Perillo Tours

Join Learning Journeys for an unforgettable experience for the mind, body and soul. Explore Costa Rica from a cultural perspective; enjoy fresh local whole foods (all meals are included), daily yoga, movement and meditation, and involvement in community projects. Other highlights include exploring the Rain Forest, Cloud Forest, jungles, volcanos and the Nicoya Peninsula beaches, known as a Blue Zone.

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Receive a per person Spa credit at Tango Mar. Book now.

Powered by Perillo Tours

Powered by Perillo Tours

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T R AV E L E R ’ S N O T E B O O K

Namale Resort & Spa

Pearl of the Pacific

• 7 nights at the Namale Resort & Spa

• 8 nights: 4 nights Le Taha’a Island Resort & Spa and 4 nights The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort French Polynesia

• Savu Savu, Fiji • Now through March 31, 2014

• January 11 – March 31, 2014

•F rom $3,315 per person, All-Inclusive Garden Tropical Bure

• From $6,659 per person, Bora Bora Overwater Suite / Superior Overwater Villa

• Web ID: EL2816

• Web ID: EL2817 The Fiji Islands personify genuine warmth, embodied in their tropical climate, idyllic waters and compassionate people. Namale, Fiji’s #1 all-inclusive resort & spa, offers both relaxation and adventure – whatever your heart desires. All meals, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, non-motorized watersports, and so much more included.

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Discover the ultimate getaway at Le Taha’a Resort & Spa and The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort. Highlights include a private romantic dinner under the stars set on a private islet, a private romantic boat tour of Bora Bora, interisland flights, and so much more.

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Receive two 30-minute back, neck and scalp massages per room, 7th night FREE (reflected in price shown), and early check-in & late checkout (based on availability). Book by March 22, 2014.

Le Taha’a: receive a Beauty Basket. St. Regis: receive a room upgrade and late check-out (subject to availability), daily American breakfast for two, 50% off roundtrip airport transfers, and 20% off Miri Miri Spa services. Book by December 22, 2013.

D-Day 70th Anniversary

Baltic Adventure

• 12 days sailing Europe aboard ms Eurodam • Rome to Copenhagen

• 12 days sailing the Baltics aboard ms Eurodam

• April 29 - May 11, 2014

• Roundtrip Copenhagen

• From $1,799 per person, Interior Stateroom

• May 11 - 23, 2014 • From $1,799 per person, Interior Stateroom

• Web ID: EL2818

• Web ID: EL2819

Join Holland America on a special cruise that honors and commemorates the 70th anniversary of D-Day. The optional D-Day Landing Beaches excursion features a guided tour of the Landing Museum and a visit to the American Cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach. Sail from Rome to Cartagena, Gibraltar, Seville, Lisbon, Vigo, Portland, Cherbourg, Brussels and Copenhagen.

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Ensemble® Hosted Cruise with Ensemble® Experience shore event in Lisbon. Plus receive an Onboard Value Booklet valued at $350 in savings. Book now.

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Be transported back in time to old world cities on this cruise to Tallinn, St. Petersburg (overnight), Helsinki, Stockholm (overnight), Berlin, Hamburg, and Copenhagen (overnight). Explore the magical Tivoli Gardens, the fairy-tale like cathedrals of St. Petersburg, meander the 14 islands that comprise Stockholm, spend a delightful day in Hamburg, and much more.

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Receive $75 shipboard credit per stateroom. Plus receive an Onboard Value Booklet valued at $350 in savings. Book now.

For reservations, call us today.

The Spice Route

Sea of Cortez & Copper Canyon

• 12 nights cruising Asia aboard Azamara Journey® • Singapore to Mumbai

• 12 nights cruising Mexico aboard Azamara Quest®

• April 3 - 15, 2014

• Roundtrip Los Angeles

• From $3,499 per person, Club Oceanview Stateroom

• January 29 – February 10, 2014 • From $4,099 per person, Club Oceanview Stateroom

• Web ID: EL2820

• Web ID: EL2821

Sail the Spice Route to lush tropical islands, sacred caves and temples, colonial outposts and modern cities. Sample fine cuisine in Singapore; visit an Orangutan rehabilitation center in Sumatra; relax on Phuket’s Patong Beach; see Sri Lanka’s Buddhist monasteries; witness a Kathakali dance in Kochi; and spend an overnight in bustling Mumbai.

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From Mazatlan, visit the old towns and churches in the foothills of the Sierra Madre, and in La Paz head to the water for whale watching, kayaking and snorkeling. Topolobampo is your gateway to the Copper Canyon, and in Guaymas you can explore the desert on horseback. Be charmed by the colonial town of Loreto (overnight), then relax on Cabo’s beaches and enjoy the nightlife.

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Ensemble® Hosted Cruise with Ensemble® Experience shore event in Colombo. Book now.

Receive $200 shipboard credit per stateroom. Book now.

West Indies Hideaways

East China Sea, Japan’s Inland Sea & Tokyo

• 11 nights cruising the West Indies aboard Azamara Quest® • Roundtrip Miami

• 14 nights cruising Asia aboard Azamara Journey®

• March 16 - 27, 2014

• Hong Kong to Shanghai

• From $2,999 per person, Club Oceanview Stateroom

• February 17 – March 3, 2014 • From $4,599 per person, Club Oceanview Stateroom

• Web ID: EL2822

• Web ID: EL2823 Swim and snorkel on St. John, then explore the sleepy French village of Terre-de-Haut on Iles Des Saintes. On lush Roseau, go ziplining or join an eco-tour to tropical rainforests, then relax with upscale shopping, dining and nightlife on St. Barth. Nevis offers small-island charms of old plantation homes and botanical gardens, and at Virgin Gorda you can swim among the volcanic boulders known as “The Baths.”

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Plenty of overnights allow you to truly immerse yourself in the fascinating cultures of China, Taiwan and Japan. Begin your journey with the neon lights of Hong Kong (overnight), and continue on to Xiamen, Keelung, Ishigaki (an island paradise favored by Japanese locals), Okinawa, Tokyo (overnight), Kyoto (overnight), and Shanghai.

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T R AV E L E R ’ S N O T E B O O K

Pearls of China

Kingdoms of Jade & Gold

• 13 days (10 days cruising China aboard Crystal Symphony plus 3 days Beijing Land Program)

• 14 days cruising Southeast Asia aboard Crystal Symphony • Singapore to Hong Kong • March 26 – April 9, 2014

• Hong Kong to Beijing • April 9 - 21, 2014

• From $6,265 per person, Deluxe Stateroom

• From $4,910 per person, Deluxe Stateroom

• Web ID: EL2825

• Web ID: EL2824

From Shanghai’s dizzying architecture to Beijing’s monumental palaces and The Great Wall, China continues to fascinate. Sail from Hong Kong (overnight) to Xiamen, Shanghai (2-nights), and Dalian. Conclude your voyage with a 3-night land program in Beijing, exploring Summer Palace, Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, the Great Wall, and much more.

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Ensemble® Hosted Cruise with Ensemble® Experience shore event in Shanghai. Book now. Book by October 31, 2013 and save $2,500 per person plus receive 2-for-1 air add ons.

Begin your voyage in Singapore (overnight), the “Crossroads of the East,” before discovering the canals and ornate temples of Bangkok/ Laem Chabang (overnight). Spend three full days exploring the beauty and history of Ho Chi Minh City (2-nights), and conclude your journey in Chan May and Hong Kong.

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Ensemble® Hosted Cruise with Ensemble® Experience shore event in Ho Chi Minh City. Book now. Book by October 31, 2013 and save $2,000 per person plus receive 2-for-1 air add ons.

Through the Pillars of Hercules

Beyond Byzantium

• 12 days cruising Western Europe and the Mediterranean aboard Crystal Serenity

• 11 days cruising the Mediterranean aboard Crystal Serenity

• London to Rome

• May 7 - 18, 2014

• April 18 - 30, 2014

• From $3,760 per person, Deluxe Stateroom

• Istanbul to Venice

• From $3,970 per person, Deluxe Stateroom

• Web ID: EL2827

• Web ID: EL2826

Celebrate ancient histories and modern luxuries as you sample vintages in Bordeaux, shop boutiques in Monte Carlo and explore the treasures of Florence and Rome. Sail from London to Bordeaux (overnight), Bassens, Le Verdon, Lisbon, Gibraltar, Monte Carlo (overnight), Florence, Porto Venere, and Rome.

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Ensemble Hosted Cruise with Ensemble Experience shore event in Monte Carlo. Book now. Book by October 31, 2013 and save $1,300 per person. ®

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Discover the cosmopolitan flair of the Greek Isles and the stunning beauty of the Dalmation Coast en route to Venice, Queen of the Adriatic. Sail aboard the elegant Crystal Serenity from Istanbul (overnight) to Kusadasi, Santorini/Thira, Corfu, Dubrovnik, Korcula, Koper and Venice (overnight).

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Ensemble Hosted Cruise with Ensemble® Experience shore event in Dubrovnik. Book now. Book by October 31, 2013 and save $1,000 per person. ®

For reservations, call us today.

Mayan Mystique

Mystical Mediterranean

• 10 days cruising the Western Caribbean aboard Riviera

• 12 days cruising the Mediterranean aboard Nautica

• Roundtrip Miami

• Provence to Venice

• March 18 - 28, 2014

• May 26 – June 7, 2014

• From $3,099 per person, Oceanview Stateroom including FREE Airfare

• From $4,799 per person, Oceanview Stateroom including FREE Airfare

• Web ID: EL2828

• Web ID: EL2829

Cozumel is the star of the Yucatan Peninsula, and Costa Maya opens the door to the stunning Mayan ruins of Chacchoben. Visit the Gumbalimba Preservation Park in Roatan, and wander the cobblestone streets of Belize City and Guatemala’s Santo Tomas.

Grand Cayman offers an array of shopping options, and carefree Key West is famed for its Key lime pie and conch fritters.

Surrender to beauty and adventure on a voyage through some of the most fascinating destinations in the Mediterranean; revealing wondrous art, cuisine, culture and natural splendor. Sail from Provence to Saint-Tropez, Florence/Pisa/Tuscany, Rome, Sorrento/ Capri, Taormina, Corfu, Tirana, Kotor, Dubrovnik, Koper, and Venice (overnight).

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Receive FREE airfare, 2-for-1 cruise fares, early booking savings of $2,200 per stateroom, and pre-paid gratuities. Book by December 31, 2013.

Receive FREE airfare, 2-for-1 cruise fares, early booking savings of $3,000 per stateroom, free unlimited internet package, and pre-paid gratuities. Book by December 31, 2013.

Alaskan Glory

Greek & Turkish Classics

• 10 days cruising Alaska aboard Regatta • Roundtrip Seattle

• 10 days cruising the Mediterranean aboard Insignia

• June 17 - 27, 2014

• Athens to Istanbul

• From $3,199 per person, Oceanview Stateroom including FREE Airfare

• June 20 - 30, 2014

• Web ID: EL2830

• Web ID: EL2831

In the summer months, the Alaskan wilderness springs to life, and there is no better way to explore this magnificent untamed country than from the comfort of the luxurious Regatta. Sail from Seattle to Ketchikan, Juneau, Icy Strait Point, Sitka, Wrangell, and Victoria.

Along the way, cruise the Inside Passage, Hubbard Glacier, and the Outside Passage.

Once united under the reign of great empires, Turkey and Greece share an extraordinary link to the history of civilization. Discover thousands of years of history as you sail from the ancient wonders of Athens to Nauplion, Chania, Kos, Marmaris, Rhodes, Santorini, Ephesus, Mitilini, and Istanbul (overnight). Onboard, enjoy the elegant warmth of Insignia.

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• From $4,499 per person, Oceanview Stateroom including FREE Airfare

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Receive FREE airfare, 2-for-1 cruise fares, early booking savings of $1,500 per stateroom, and pre-paid gratuities. Book by December 31, 2013.

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Receive FREE airfare, 2-for-1 cruise fares, early booking savings of $2,000 per stateroom, free unlimited internet package, and pre-paid gratuities. Book by December 31, 2013.

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T R AV E L E R ’ S N O T E B O O K

Three Seas Adventure

Fantastic Fjords

• 20 nights cruising the Mediterranean aboard Seven Seas Voyager®

• 7 nights cruising Alaska aboard Seven Seas Navigator®

• Dubai to Rome

• Roundtrip Vancouver

• April 28 – May 18, 2014

• May 21 – 28, 2014

• From $12,999 per person, Deluxe Suite including FREE Roundtrip Air

• From $3,699 per person, Deluxe Suite including FREE Roundtrip Air

• Web ID: EL2832

• Web ID: EL2833

The all-suite, all-balcony Seven Seas Voyager is the perfect setting for this comprehensive Mediterranean cruise. Sail the Arabian, Red, and Mediterranean Seas, calling at Dubai, Muscat, Salalah, Petra, Luxor (overnight), Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Limassol, Patmos, Taormina, Sorrento/Capri, and Rome along the way.

Ancient glaciers glint majestically as snow-mantled mountains soar into the cerulean sky on this cruise to Alaska’s southeastern seas; sailing from Vancouver to Ketchikan, Juneau, Wrangell, and Prince Rupert, plus scenic cruising the Inside Passage.

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Receive $200 shipboard credit per suite, 2-for-1 fares, $6,000 bonus savings per suite, FREE unlimited shore excursions, FREE pre-paid gratuities, and FREE ground transfers between airport and ship.

Book now.

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Ensemble Hosted Cruise with Ensemble® Experience shore event in Juneau, 2-for-1 fares, $2,600 bonus savings per suite, FREE unlimited shore excursions, FREE pre-paid gratuities, and FREE transfers between airport and ship. Book now. ®

Eden in the Sun

Asian Highlights

• 10 nights cruising the Caribbean aboard Seven Seas Navigator®

• 18 nights cruising Asia aboard Seven Seas Voyager®

• Roundtrip Miami

• Beijing to Bangkok

• March 12 – 22, 2014

• March 21 – April 8, 2014

• From $4,799 per person, Deluxe Suite including FREE Roundtrip Air

• From $10,999 per person, Deluxe Suite including FREE Roundtrip Air

• Web ID: EL2834

• Web ID: EL2835

Escape to the powder-soft sand beaches, warm breezes, calypso rhythms and swaying palms of the Caribbean. Sail from Miami to Costa Maya, Roatán, Santo Tomas de Castilla, Belize City, Cozumel, George Town and Key West, plus scenic cruising Florida Straits and the Yucatan Channel.

Seven Seas Voyager’s plentiful amenities include four main dining venues where you can dine wherever and with whomever you choose.

Sail from Beijing to Seoul, Shanghai (overnight), Xiamen, Hong Kong (overnight), Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City (overnight) and Bangkok (overnight).

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Ensemble Hosted Cruise with Ensemble Experience shore event in Belize City, 2-for-1 fares, $3,000 bonus savings per suite, FREE unlimited shore excursions, FREE pre-paid gratuities, and FREE transfers between airport and ship. Book now. ®

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Ensemble Hosted Cruise with Ensemble® Experience shore event in Hanoi, 2-for-1 fares, $10,000 bonus savings per suite, FREE unlimited shore excursions, FREE pre-paid gratuities, and FREE transfers between airport and ship. Book now. ®

For reservations, call us today.

Wonders of Arabia & Egypt

Australia & New Zealand Odyssey

• 18 days cruising Arabia & Egypt aboard Seabourn Legend

• 16 days cruising Australia & New Zealand aboard Seabourn Odyssey

• Dubai to Athens

• Auckland to Sydney

• April 4 - 22, 2014

• January 10 - 26, 2014

• From $4,999 per person, Oceanview Suite

• From $6,499 per person, Oceanview Suite

• Web ID: EL2836

• Web ID: EL2837

The intimate Seabourn Legend is like a private club, featuring intuitive, gracious service and luxurious amenities, so you can truly unwind as you discover the ancient wonders of Arabia and Egypt. Sail from Dubai to Khasab, Salalah, Safaga, Aqaba, Sharm el Sheik, Cairo, transit Suez Canal, and Athens.

This voyage takes you to all of the spectacular sights in New Zealand and New South Wales. Sail aboard the all-suite Seabourn Odyssey, from Auckland to Tauranga, Wellington, Picton, cruising Queen Charlotte Sound, Akaroa, Port Chalmers, Oban, cruising Fjordland National Park, Melbourne, Geelong, Burnie, and Sydney.

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Ensemble Hosted Cruise with Ensemble Experience shore event in Salalah. Book now.

Ensemble Hosted Cruise with Ensemble® Experience shore event in Port Chalmers. Book now.

Vietnam & Thailand

Andaman Sea Adventure

• 14 days cruising Southeast Asia aboard Seabourn Legend

• 14 days cruising Southeast Asia aboard Seabourn Legend

• Hong Kong to Singapore

• Roundtrip Singapore

• J anuary 20 – February 3, 2014

• February 3 - 17, 2014

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• From $5,999 per person, Oceanview Suite

• From $5,999 per person, Oceanview Suite

• Web ID: EL2839

• Web ID: EL2838

Seeing Asia Seabourn style means sailing right up the Chao Phraya River into Bangkok and the Saigon River to the heart of Ho Chi Minh City; cruising ethereal Halong Bay; and enjoying Caviar in the Surf in Thailand. Sail from Hong Kong to Halong Bay, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City (overnight), Ko Kood, and Bangkok (overnight).

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On this spectacular voyage to Malaysia, Thailand, India, and Indonesia, all the colorful splendor of Southeast Asia appears each day at your gangway, as if by magic. Sail from Singapore to Porto Malai, Langkawi, Phuket, Port Blair, Sabang, Belawan, Pulau Pangkor, and Kuala Lumpur. Conclude your trip with 2-days in the dynamic city of Singapore.

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Ensemble® Hosted Cruise with Ensemble® Experience shore event in Ho Chi Minh City. Book now.

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Ensemble Hosted Cruise with Ensemble® Experience shore event in Phuket. Book now. ®

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T R AV E L E R ’ S N O T E B O O K

Brazil & Uruguay

Argentina & Chile

• 9 days cruising South America aboard Silver Spirit

• 16 days cruising South America aboard Silver Spirit

• Rio de Janeiro to Buenos Aires

• Buenos Aires to Valparaiso

• January 29 – February 7, 2014

• February 7 – 23, 2014 • From $7,650 per person, Vista Suite

• From $4,550 per person, Vista Suite

• Web ID: EL2841

• Web ID: EL2843

This South America cruise invites you to experience the colorful cultures and natural beauty of this vast continent. Gaze at the dramatic view from Christ the Redeemer atop Corcovado Mountain, watch gauchos at work and get into the spirit of the tango on this cruise from Rio de Janeiro (overnight) to Paraty, Santos, Punta Del Este, Montevideo, and Buenos Aires (overnight).

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Ensemble® Hosted Cruise with Ensemble® Experience shore event in Punta Del Este. Book now.

Silver Spirit provides an intimate sailing experience and the ability to slip into ports off the beaten path. This South American voyage visits Buenos Aires, Puerto Madryn, Stanley, Ushuaia (overnight), Punta Arenas (overnight), Laguna San Raphael, Puerto Chacabuco, Puerto Montt, and Valparaiso.

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Ensemble® Hosted Cruise with Ensemble® Experience shore event in Ushuaia. Book now.

South America

Australia & New Zealand

• 18 days cruising South America aboard Silver Spirit

• 10 days cruising Australia & New Zealand aboard Silver Whisper

• Valparaiso to Fort Lauderdale

• Auckland to Sydney

• February 23 – March 13, 2014

• January 27 – February 6, 2014

• From $8,050 per person, Vista Suite

• From $5,950 per person, Vista Suite

• Web ID: EL2840

• Web ID: EL2842

Silversea’s South America cruises bring the region’s dramatic diversity into dazzling focus with outstanding enrichment programs and exclusive small-group tours. Sail from Valparaiso to Coquimbo, Arica, Matarani, Pisco, Callao (overnight), Salaverry, Manta, transit the Panama Canal, Puerto Limon, Key West, and Fort Lauderdale.

This cruise is set to impress with incredible destinations, including geysers and glaciers, sub-tropical rain forest, the Great Barrier Reef, stunning Sydney Harbour, and spectacular Lord of the Rings landscapes. Sail from Auckland to Tauranga, Napier, Picton, Akaroa, Dunedin, and Sydney (overnight).

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Ensemble Hosted Cruise with Ensemble Experience shore event in Manta. Book now. ®

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Ensemble Hosted Cruise with Ensemble® Experience shore event in Dunedin. Book now. ®

For reservations, call us today.

Marquesas, Tuamotus & Society Islands

Tahiti & Society Islands

• 15 days sailing French Polynesia aboard m/s Paul Gauguin

• 8 days sailing French Polynesia aboard m/s Paul Gauguin

• Roundtrip Papeete

• Roundtrip Papeete

• J anuary 4 & April 12, 2014

• February 15; April 26 & May 10, 2014

•F rom $6,595 per person, Porthole Stateroom including Roundtrip Airfare LA/Tahiti

•F rom $4,795 per person, Porthole Stateroom including Roundtrip Airfare LA/Tahiti

• Web ID: EL2844

• Web ID: EL2845

Call at the breathtaking isle of Bora Bora, then Fakarava, an atoll known for its pristine beaches, rare wildlife, and exceptional diving.

Explore the mist-covered Marquesas, where you’ll discover waterfalls and wild stallions on the islands of Fatu Hiva, Hiva Oa, Ua Huka, and Nuku Hiva. More enjoyment awaits on Taha’a (Paul Gauguin Cruises’ own private motu), and a day at spectacular Moorea.

There’s a reason the islands of French Polynesia are world-renowned – their beauty is unmatched. This voyage is perfect for those who want a core Polynesian experience. Call on Huahine, known as “The Garden Island” for its lush rainforests and dramatic terrain, and Taha’a, where you’ll enjoy a full day of exploration. Then sail to beautiful Bora Bora and Moorea.

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Receive $100 shipboard credit per person. Book now.

Apr 26 sailing features an Ensemble® Hosted Cruise with Ensemble® Experience shore event in Bora Bora. Other sailings feature $100 shipboard credit per person. Book now.

Burgundy & Provence

Venice & the Gems of Northern Italy

• 8 days cruising the Rhône & Saône Rivers aboard the NEW S.S. Catherine

• 8 days including Venice and enchanting Northern Italian cities; River Countess

• Avignon to Lyon

• Roundtrip Venice

• June 1, 2014

• September 14, 2014

•F rom $4,399 per person, Riverview Stateroom

• From $4,299 per person, Riverview Stateroom

• Web ID: EL2846

• Web ID: EL2847

Discover fine wine, legendary history, and joie de vivre in Avignon, Arles or Tarascon, Viviers, Tournon/Tain l’Hermitage, Beaune, and Lyon. Enjoy this true all-inclusive boutique river cruise where everything is included, from prepaid gratuities, to all meals with unlimited beverages onboard, fully hosted shore excursions, and more.

Renaissance palazzi float above the lagoon in Venice, and gems of Northern Italy – Padua, Bologna, Ferrara, and Verona – amply reward the curious traveler. Enjoy this true all-inclusive boutique river cruise where everything is included, from prepaid gratuities, to all meals with unlimited beverages onboard, fully hosted shore excursions, and more.

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Ensemble Hosted Cruise with Ensemble® Experience excursion to an olive farm, plus save $100 per person off the price shown and receive a $50 per person shipboard credit. Book now. ®

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Ensemble Hosted Cruise with Ensemble® Experience Venetian Painters in the Accademia excursion, plus save $100 per person off the price shown and receive a $50 per person shipboard credit. Book now. ®

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T R AV E L E R ’ S N O T E B O O K

Rhine Getaway

Grand European Tour

• 8 days cruising the Rhine River aboard the New Viking Longships

• 15 days cruising Europe aboard the New Viking Longships

• Amsterdam to Basel

• Amsterdam to Budapest

• Select departures throughout 2014

• S elect departures throughout 2014

• From $1,756 per person, Riverview Stateroom including 2-for-1 fares and international air discounts

• From $3,762 per person, Riverview Stateroom including 2-for-1 fares and international air discounts

• Web ID: EL2848

• Web ID: EL2849

In Germany, see the many charming castles commanding the riverbanks as you sail by. Admire Cologne and experience the lush landscape of the Black Forest region. Explore Holland’s famous windmills, encounter multicultural Strasbourg in France, and take part in the inviting nightlife in Rüdesheim’s Drosselgasse.

Experience 15 magical days on Europe’s rivers as you visit Europe’s most treasured port cities and sail her legendary rivers; from Amsterdam to Kinderdijk, Cologne, Koblenz, Miltenberg, Würzburg, Rothenburg, Bamberg, Nuremberg, Regensburg, Passau, Melk, Krems, Vienna, Bratislava, and Budapest.

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Receive $50 shipboard credit per stateroom. Book by November 30, 2013.

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Receive $50 shipboard credit per stateroom. Book by November 30, 2013.

Mediterranean Treasures • 21 days cruising the Mediterranean aboard Queen Elizabeth® • Rome to Athens • July 25 – August 15, 2014 • From $4,853 per person, Oceanview Stateroom • Web ID: EL2850

Recalling the rich heritage of the first Cunarder to bear the name, Queen Elizabeth’s elegance echoes that legendary age and enhances her modern allure. Revel in her timeless refinement as you sail from Rome to Corfu, Kotor, Dubrovnik, Venice (overnight), Korcula, Heraklion, Rhodes, Kusadasi, Athens, Dardanelles, Istanbul (overnight), Dardanelles, Volos, Mykonos and Athens.

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Ensemble Hosted Cruise with Ensemble® Experience shore event in Kusadasi. Book now. ®

76 Ensemble Lifestyles Fall 2013

FOR ALL ENSEMBLE LifestylesTM OFFERINGS: Prices are per person, double occupancy unless otherwise stated. Prices and terms are displayed throughout this catalog as received from individual suppliers.

Certain offers carry restrictions and penalties to be advised at time of booking. Validity differs with each offer. Offers are subject to change without notice, subject to availability, and may be withdrawn at any time. Offers apply to new bookings only. Some blackout dates apply. Ensemble Travel® Group does not assume any responsibility for the accuracy of prices and terms. Ensemble Travel Group and its sub-agents act solely as agents for the companies providing services and facilities to travelers and have no responsibility or liability for loss of or damage to property, injury, or death due to errors, omissions, or intentional acts of the companies providing services.

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