Vacations fall 2018 by Torrisi Design Associates

Your Agency Name/Logo Here presents

FALL 2018

Discover Croatia Travel by Pursuit Find Your Next Adventure 5 New Wine Regions France

Dear Mr. & Mrs. Smith, ®

We are pleased to present Ensemble Vacations , the magazine for savvy travelers and preferred clients like you. We hope the stories inside inspire you to start dreaming up your next travel adventure. Perhaps you’ve always wanted to see the unbelievably blue waters of Tahiti, or embark on a culture-filled grand tour through Europe. Or even just escape for a quick getaway to a fabulous locale right here in the United States. Whatever sparks your wanderlust, as your travel specialists, we’re here to help you turn those daydreams into reality. No matter where your travels take you, booking with us assures you: • Unique itineraries tailored to your wants and needs; • Insider connections to the best hotels, ships, & tour guides; • Flawlessly planned and beautifully executed itineraries; plus • Ensemble® Exclusives, like free room upgrades, extra savings, private shore events, shipboard & resort credits, complimentary dining, and more. Whether you’re aiming for Africa, Europe, Alaska, or someplace new, we’re standing by with insider advice, local connections, and exclusive offers that are sure to make your next trip unforgettable.

Your Agency Name Here

Cover: Hvar, Croatia

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.

FROM THE EDITOR

EDITORIAL

Alice Stroh

Editor In Chief

Managing Editor

Kimberly Buerkle

Associate Editor

Valerie Murray

Creative Director

Laura Torrisi

Art Director at Large

Art Director

Editorial Assistant

Yin Wong Allyn Bacher Jessica Arnold

DESIGN

Torrisi Design Associates

I’VE JUST RETURNED FROM A TRIP TO THE OUTER BANKS OF NORTH CAROLINA, where my family has

P RO DUC T I O N

Production Manager

Wendy Russo

An Ensemble Travel® Group Publication Ensemble Vacations® is a publication of Ensemble Travel® Group. © September 2018 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, 256 West 38th Street, New York, NY 10018. 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.

vacationed every year since I was a little kid. Carolina’s beautiful beaches, wild horses, and breathtaking sunsets have always held a special place in my heart, but this year’s vacation was extra special because it was my daughter’s very first trip, and I got to rediscover a place I love through her curious eyes. Of course, things were a little different this vacation. Gone were the days of walking onto the beach with just a book and a beach chair; I now had a beach tent and a diaper bag overflowing with baby necessities. And while I can’t deny that I missed sleeping in late before a day at the beach, being able to watch the sunrise over the ocean every morning with my daughter – just the two of us listening to the lulling sound of the waves roll in, waiting for the sun to make its grand appearance – is something I’ll cherish forever. It’s nice to have a special vacation spot to return to year after year, but there’s nothing like traveling somewhere

Ensemble Lifestyles Winter 2015 1

completely new. In this issue we’re exploring what drives us to travel, and discovering the best new places to go depending on your travel type: culture craver, flavor chaser, action hero, luxury lover, or wellness seeker. We also visit the islands of Croatia, the Italian island of Ischia (a hidden gem you’ll want to discover before the rest of the world catches on), the lesser-known wine regions of France, and the musical city of Memphis. Whatever sparks your wanderlust, rest assured that your Ensemble Travel Group Specialist (their contact info is on the back cover) is ready with insider information and special perks to make the trip of your dreams a reality. HAPPY TRAVELS,

Alice Stroh

Editor in Chief, Ensemble Vacations® Magazine

I’d love to hear from you! Please share your travel stories with me: editor@ensembletravel.com Ensemble Vacations Fall 2018 1

FALL 2018

40 FEATURES

DEPARTMENTS

C R O AT I A

1 4 9

14 Croatia for the Win T R AV E L S T Y L E S

33 37 40 42 44

Culture Cravers Flavor Chasers Action Heroes Luxury Lovers Wellness Seekers

FRANCE

57 5 French Wine Regions You Should Discover Now

65 2 Ensemble Vacations Fall 2018

I TA LY

65 Ischia

From the Editor Contributors BriefCase: Fun Facts About Travel 23 Worth the Journey: Postojna Cave 24 U.S. City Spotlight: Memphis 69 Traveler’s Notebook: Ensemble® Exclusive Deals & Offers

110 AWARDS. 110 REASONS TO TRUST YOUR EUROPE VACATION TO US. ENSEMBLE EXCLUSIVE: Book an Aqua Class or Concierge Class cabin and receive $100 Shore Excursion Credit per stateroom For more information please contact your Ensemble-member travel agent.

Offer applies to 4-night and longer itineraries that depart Nov. 10th, 2017 through December 31st, 2019. Bookings must be made between Nov. 10th, 2017 and December 31, 2018. Offer excludes Galapagos, Transatlantic, Transpacific, repositioning Asia and South America repositioning cruises. $100 per stateroom Shore Excursion credit will be applied in the form of an onboard credit. Offer is $100 Onboard credit per stateroom for Concierge, and Aqua class cabins. Offers are applicable to new individual bookings and to staterooms in non-contracted group bookings, which must be named and deposited. Guests’ stateroom folios will be credited with an Onboard credit. Onboard credit has no cash value, is applicable to cruise only, non-transferable, not redeemable for cash, and will expire if not used by 10:00 PM on the final night of the cruise. Offer excludes interior, oceanview, standard veranda and suite staterooms. Offer is not combinable with any other offer, promotion or discounted fare other than Go Big, Better, Best offer. Single occupancy bookings are eligible for the Offer. Refer to Cruise Ticket Contract for additional terms and conditions. Celebrity reserves the right to cancel the Offer at any time, correct any errors, inaccuracies or omissions, and change or update fares, fees and surcharges at any time without prior notice. ©2018 Celebrity Cruises Inc. Ships’ registry: Malta and Ecuador. 6/2018

CONTRIBUTORS

MARY BEMIS, founder of InsidersGuidetoSpas.com, is a respected spa journalist and founder of American Spa and Organic Spa magazines. A Global Wellness Day Ambassador, Mary was recently honored with the Folio Top Women in Media Award. She is a true spa advocate who ﬁrmly believes in the healing power of spas and the beneﬁts of living a spa lifestyle. p. 44

ROBIN CHERRY lives in the Hudson Valley

and writes about travel, food, and popular culture. She’s written two books: Catalog: The Illustrated History of Mail Order Shopping and Garlic: An Edible Biography (with over 100 recipes). She’s visited over 100 countries and has a passion for Central and Eastern Europe. p. 33, 57

MARTIN HAAKE has worked as a freelance illustrator for 15 years. His clients include Barnes & Noble, The New York Times, Penguin Books, Bacardi, Yahoo, Playboy and The Hollywood Reporter. His work has garnered numerous international awards and been shown in national and international exhibitions. p. 32

4 Ensemble Vacations Fall 2018

Blue Hill at Stone Barns; photo by Ingrid Hofstra

SALLY WALKER DAVIES is an awardwinning broadcast, print, and online journalist whose work has appeared in USA Today, The Commercial Appeal and The Tennessean, and online for AOL Travel, MSNBC.com, BudgetTravel.com and 10Best.com, for which she is the Memphis local expert. Sally is the author of Tennessee: An Explorer’s Guide, and is in the plotting stages of her ﬁrst work of ﬁction. p. 24

Award-winning journalist SUZANNE GANNON covers travel and leisure, food

Based in Colorado, NANCY HELLMRICH is a recovering advertising creative director and active travel enthusiast. Her work includes brand alignment projects as well as travel stories. Her recent adventures include grappa tasting on the coast of Croatia, cycling in New Zealand, snuggling up in Sweden’s Ice Hotel, and glamping in the Sahara. p. 14, 40, 42

Based in Sonoma County, California, MICHAEL SHAPIRO writes about travel, food and entertainment. His National Geographic Traveler feature, about Jan Morris’ Wales, won the Bedford Pace grand award. His recent story about sustainable seafood in Vancouver earned the 2016 Explore Canada Award of Excellence. Shapiro’s book, A Sense of Place, is a collection of interviews with the world’s top travel authors. michaelshapiro.net p. 65

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” and published In the Garden. p. 37

LEGENDARY

LUXURY &

ALL -INCLUSIVE VALUE F R O M T H E W O R L D ' S M O S T AWA R D E D L U X U R Y C R U I S E L I N E

S AV E U P T O $ 2 0 0 P E R P E R S O N ON 2019 MEDITERRANEAN SAILINGS Worldwide destinations • Michelin star-inspired cuisine with Open-seating in up to 10 dining venues including Nobu's only sea-going restaurants• Spacious staterooms and butler-service suites •Acclaimed service • Complimentary wines, champagnes and spirits • Free, unlimited Wi-Fi • Included gratuities • Award-winning entertainment and enrichment • Complimentary fitness programs, optional spa indulgences • Crystal Adventures shore excursions, including complimentary Voluntourism

DATE

DAYS

REGION

FROM/TO

SHIP

FARES FROM

May 4

Mediterranean

Athens to Rome

Crystal Serenity

$2,345

May 11

Mediterranean

Rome Round trip

Crystal Serenity

$2,415

May 17

Mediterranean

Rome to Barcelona

Crystal Serenity

$2,415

May 23

Mediterranean

Barcelona Roundtrip

Crystal Serenity

$2,415

F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N P L E A S E C O N TA C T YO U R E N S E M B L E - M E M B E R T R AV E L A G E N T All fares and savings are per person, in U.S. dollars based on double occupancy . Cruise Fares and Your Exclusive Fares are cruise only and do not include taxes, fees, and port charges. Your Crystal Savings are subject to availability at time of booking. All offers and promotions are capacity-controlled, subject to availability and may be withdrawn or changed at any time. ©2018 Crystal Cruises, LLC. Ships’ registries: The Bahamas. AD17000-206_C

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

EGYPT BY LUXURY SMALL SHIP With their signature style, Alexander+Roberts 9-day Visions of Egypt exclusively combines a 4-night Nile cruise aboard the sleek Oberoi Philae with Nile-view rooms at the luxury Kempinski boutique hotel in Cairo. In the company of expert Egyptologists, this remarkably affordable 9-day journey includes complete sightseeing – even roundtrip flights to Abu Simbel to visit the remarkable Temples of Ramses II. Those with more time to travel might choose A+R’s newest luxury tour: The 13-day Between the Paws of the Sphinx. This uniquely in-depth foray into the ancient world combines a 6-day cruise aboard the Oberoi Zahra with luxury hotels and complete sightseeing in Cairo and Alexandria – the fabled city of Cleopatra and Alexander the Great. Highlighting the tour is a private field talk between the paws of the sphinx; in this area that’s usually off-limits to visitors, A+R guests are joined by a guest lecturer with extensive experience mapping the excavations of the Giza plateau. Abu Simbel and lesser-visited tombs in the Valley of Kings complement in-depth touring of Egypt’s most important ancient sites. On both luxury journeys, travelers may be among the first to tour the new Grand Egyptian Museum, scheduled to open in late 2018. Here in this lavish 700,000-square-foot facility overlooking the Great Pyramids, visitors will be able to peruse never-before-seen artifacts, including thousands of objects from Tutankhamun’s that have lain in storage since their discovery nearly 100 years ago!

The luxury Small Ships of Oberoi enjoy private docking facilities along the Nile, so you can step off easily and comfortably – away from the cluster of larger ships and their passengers. So whether you choose the Oberoi Philae or Zahra, you’ll enjoy a more pleasant voyage and more time to explore Egypt’s sites of antiquity. For special offers from Alexander + Roberts, please see page 69. For more information, please contact your Ensemble Travel Group Specialist.

6 Ensemble Vacations Fall 2018

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

There’s a new destination on the DANUBE…

…the extraordinary AmaMagna, debuting on her maiden river cruise in May 2019. An evolution of AmaWaterways’ already exceptional fleet of river cruise ships, AmaMagna embodies the invariable world-class service, 5-star dining, high-quality amenities and authentic experiences our past guests hold dear – but now there’s even more to love. At almost twice the width of traditional European river cruise ships, AmaMagna invites you to luxuriate within both sprawling spaces and intimate pockets that offer moments of repose so invigorating you may never want to leave! Imagine having your favorite luxury hotel follow you wherever you go with everything you need for the perfect vacation. AmaWaterways has created a match made in heaven to enable you to do just that – luxury river cruising and the Danube. From the moment you step aboard AmaMagna, you’ll be greeted by her warm and welcoming staff with a flute of champagne and a red rose from the Captain. From the Cruise Manager to the bartender to the stateroom steward, the smiling faces of our crew radiate just how genuinely they each care about your comfort and enjoyment while on board – and how much pride they take in bringing you delight. Whether it’s personalized latte art in your morning coffee, a special anniversary cake made by our talented

pastry chef or a personal invitation to the wheelhouse as the Captain maneuvers the ship, these are just a few of the gestures you can expect as part of AmaMagna’s unparalleled service. Embark on one of four magnificent journeys aboard the new AmaMagna and sail through the heart of fascinating destinations along the legendary Danube River. Experience the wonder of timeless cities such as Prague, Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest. Indulge in the flavors of Austria’s renowned Wachau Valley wine region. Take in breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage Sites and let Europe’s world-famous Christmas Markets cast their magical spell on you. No matter which itinerary you choose, you’ll surely be romanced by the storied Danube.

For special offers from AmaWaterways, please see page 72. For more information, please contact your Ensemble Travel Group Specialist.

THE HIGHEST RATED RIVER CRUISE SHIPS

Ensemble Vacations Fall 2018 7

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

From the World’s Most Awarded Luxury Cruise Line comes the new Crystal — offering a revolutionary collection of travel experiences that go far beyond all-inclusive luxury to offer elegant journeys by ocean, river and private air.

LUXURY

Today, Crystal Symphony® and Crystal Serenity® are the stewards of the line’s award-winning reputation, recipient of more World’s Best awards than any other cruise line in history. Emerging from their longest-ever makeovers, Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity will feature more innovative dining options and expanded specialty venues. Savor a quiet breakfast on your private balcony or, enjoy complimentary in-room dining any time, day or night. With Michelin star-inspired cuisine and now open-seating throughout the ship in up to ten dining venues, the choices, all of them, are exclusively yours. Their evolution included replacing existing staterooms and adding more spacious suites and penthouses. The newly

8 Ensemble Vacations Fall 2018

added accommodations will reduce guest capacity to further increase the ships’ already generous service and space ratios to be among the loftiest in luxury travel. State-of-the-art technology advancements include free, unlimited Wi-Fi available across all devices, Crystal Connect™, an exclusive Internet portal, as well as new interactive televisions in every stateroom and suite. Experience the transformation firsthand and set sail with Crystal Serenity through the Mediterranean in 2019. Revel in centuries of history and the infinite gorgeousness of crystalline waters and verdant landscapes. Discover the French Riviera and relish in the archaeological

wonders of Athens. Witness worldwide destinations and return to the welcoming luxury and state-of-the-art amenities of your Crystal home at sea. With an array of award-winning entertainment and enrichment, complimentary fitness programs and optional spa and salon indulgences, it’s clear that Crystal’s journeys are more than a collection of incredible destinations. With hundreds of ports in dozens of countries, every great journey begins and ends with Crystal. For special offers from Crystal Cruises, please see page 74. For more information, please contact your Ensemble Travel Group Specialist.

BRIEFCASE Fun facts and ﬁgures that have today’s travelers all atwitter

Fifi la cruise

4.3 million That’s how many hectares are in Colombia’s Serranía de Chiribiquete, the world’s largest protected tropical rainforest national park. Giant otters, emerald hummingbirds, and jaguars. Oh, my!

Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 is the only cruise ship to offer kennel accommodations for pets, complete with organized play times and caretakers who lavish them with treats and toys.

Coolest

Cruise Cocktails

Rebellious Fish: Miami Vice: Kiss on the Lips: Coco Loco: Strawberry Basil Bellissimo: The Big “O”: A Walk in the Tropics: Coyote Margarita: Mexican Butterfly: Silver Spirit:

Norwegian Cruise Line Princess Cruises Carnival Cruise Line Royal Caribbean International Holland America Line Oceania Cruises Paul Gauguin Azamara Club Cruises Regent Seven Seas Silversea

New Ship Frenzy Spectrum of the Seas (Royal Caribbean International) Norwegian Encore (Norwegian Cruise Line) Sky Princess (Princess Cruises) Carnival Panorama (Carnival Cruises) Crystal Endeavour (Crystal Cruises)

LOL in other words BBB in Portugal means bom, bonito, barato (good, pretty, cheap)

G in Germany means grinsen (grinning)

ASG in Sweden stands for asgarv (intense laughter)

MDR in France means mort de rire (dying of laughter) 555 in Thailand means hahaha (their number 5 is pronounced ha)

32 inches Size of the television screens in the private, double suites on Singapore Airline’s new AirBus. That’s one posh plane.

6 continents 117 56 nights UNESCO sites 30 countries Want to see it all? Check out Regent Seven Seas Cruises' World Cruise 2021.

Honeysuckle Vodka Cured Salmon One of the menu items at Southern National, Chef Duane Nutter’s new restaurant in Mobile, Alabama. Chef Nutter and restaurateur partner Reggie Washington made a name for themselves in the Atlanta airport’s upscale One Flew South.

880

The estimated number of Mountain Gorillas left in the wild. Ensemble Vacations Fall 2018 9

BRIEFCASE

Chateau Laﬁte, 1787

Cypress Inn (Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA) The Pines Lodge, A RockResort (Beaver Creek, CO) Blue Inn (Plum Island, MA) XV Beacon (Boston, MA) Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows (Santa Monica, CA) The St. Regis Aspen Resort (Aspen, CO)

READY TO BE EXCLUSIVE? BOOK NOW AND ENJOY THE BEST BEACHES IN THE CARIBBEAN!!

Bacon Scavenger Hunt

To learn more, contact your Ensemble Travel Group Specialist.

One of the activities for pets offered at Calistoga Ranch resort in Napa, California. There’s also a daily Happy Tails newspaper, canine culinary room service, and of course wine for the people.

The Peninsula (New York, NY)

The Jefferson Hotel (Washington, D.C.)

SE, DA EN

Our Royal Service is an enclave exclusively for adults, the epitome of elegance and personalized service, with direct communication with your butler, access to a private beach and a private pool with Bali beds, pillow menu and more. For an unforgettable family holiday, our Family Concierge with personalized service and Family rooms with special amenities for children are also available.

The Kimpton Everly Hotel (Los Angeles, CA)

The number of stainless steel and ﬁberglass panels on the façade of Dubai’s new Museum of the Future – an incubator for ideas and a destination for inventors, entrepreneurs (and you). Opening sometime in 2019.

Come and share the most luxurious all-inclusive resort experience in the world, which includes signature cooking by famous international chefs, spectacular YHI Spas and a unique, personalized service to make your dreams come true.

These days, hotels that welcome pet sleepovers are trending. But only a few of them really get into the spirit with posh pet yappy hours, leash-free beaches and hikes, fur baby spa massages, and specially designed walking tours. Here’s a list of our favorites:

890

“WHERE YOU WANT TO BE” Paradisus Punta Cana.

Take Me With You

INT

The most expensive wine ever sold. The Bordeaux garnered its record $26,075 (USD) per glass price because Thomas Jefferson’s initials are etched into the bottle.

B RO OD

How the newly opened Baristas’ Corner specialty coffee shop in Dubai, UAE describes their traditional Ibrik brew. Coffee seduction at its ﬁnest.

32 million The number of American women who travel solo each year, according to the Travel Industry Association. Go girls go!

For some, it’s sitting down to the first five-star dinner of the trip, and being transported by the rich, unexpected ﬂavors awaiting you. For others, it’s sailing into an exotic, remote port without another ship in sight. And for you, it’s the little things. Discover your moment.

ENJOY THE FINEST CUISINE AT SE A™ ABOARD OUR INTIM ATE AND LUXURIOUS SHIPS.

Ask your Ensemble-Member Travel Agent about special voyages with Ensemble® exclusive benefits, such as Complimentary Shore Experiences or Pre-Paid Gratuities. SEP1827

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Book your 2019 Europe cruise vacation and take advantage of Princess’ 3-For-FREE Promotion from September 6 to November 19, 2018, where all summer 2019 through spring 2020 destinations are on SALE!

Immersive Exploration in Europe Is there any such delight as roaming through Europe’s grand cities and charming villages? Seemingly around every cobblestone corner lies an epic monument, from ancient temple ruins and romantic castles to Gothic stone bridges and gargoyle covered cathedrals. A Princess® cruise to Europe’s most iconic destinations allows you to not only check off your must-see list, but invites you to discover what it means to live like a local. Over decades of sailing Europe, Princess has built relationships with the people that call these inspiring places home. And through their Local Connections program, they join with regional experts to offer you meaningful experiences through specially designed shore excursions and guest lectures onboard. Experience an Irish welcome in the heart of Dublin and tour the world-famous Guinness storehouse. Marvel at the mystery of the Giant’s Causeway, stepping stones for giants or just lava flow? Discover storybook castles and step back in time in the Scottish highlands. Immerse yourself in the natural beauty of Iceland and Norway and uncover the essential experiences that the locals recommend.

And with Princess’ award-winning Discovery™ & Animal Planet™ shore excursions you’ll see the extraordinary as you discover Europe’s treasured sites through immersive experiences that cannot be booked anywhere else. As the destination leader, Princess brings you the best that each region has to offer right on board. With their Encounters with Discovery at SEA program, you’ll encounter fresh insights into the ports of call and local culture and you’ll savor regional cuisine like a traditional British pub lunch including local favorites such as bangers and mash or shepherd’s pie. For special offers from Princess Cruises, please see page 77. For more information, please contact your Ensemble Travel Group Specialist.

12 Ensemble Vacations Fall 2018

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Sailing the iconic "Queens" ships of Cunard® – Elizabeth, Victoria and Mary 2 – is one of the most refined ways to travel and guests who check into the exclusive Grill Suites can expect a level of luxury unrivaled at sea. The Grills name dates back to 1934, when the Queen Mary’s Verandah Grill was only open to First-Class guests. The restaurant was considered as good as the best restaurants in Paris, London, and New York, so tables were booked months ahead of time by celebrities who wanted to “see and be seen.”

BEST

of the

BEST

The Grill Suites on Cunard’s Ocean Liners Bring Back a World of Timeless Glamor

Suites in the Princess and Queens Grills are large and all have private balconies. Grill Suite guests receive enhanced levels of Cunard White Star Service® including the service of the Grills Concierge who can make bookings both on board and ashore. They’re also invited into the intimate Princess and Queens Grill restaurants and a private lounge and terrace – which are reserved exclusively for them. Each afternoon, the Grills Lounge

serves afternoon tea with cucumber sandwiches and freshly-baked scones served by white-gloved waiters. The lounge is also open for pre-dinner cocktails. Grill Suite guests can dine whenever they want at the single-seating Grills restaurants or if they prefer, they can have their meal served, course by course, in the privacy of their suite. Guests in Queens Grill Suites, the most luxurious off all, will enjoy the largest suites on board as well as the

assistance of a personal butler who will ensure that their inclusive minibar is replenished daily. Cunard has hosted celebrated travelers like Elizabeth Taylor and Beyoncé so if you want to travel like a superstar, the Grill Suite Experience is for you.

For special offers from Cunard, please see page 74. For more information, please contact your Ensemble Travel Group Specialist. Ensemble Vacations Fall 2018 13

R E A L P E O P L E R E A L J O U R N E YS

It’s a hot night in late June and I am walking back to my hotel after dinner in Zagreb’s Upper Town. The air smells of candied almonds, cooked meats, and beer. The city squares are packed with locals gazing at giant screens. Our waiter was in a hurry to serve us; now I understand why. Croatia is playing Iceland in a World Cup match and tiny, independent Croatia is winning. Maybe it’s the wine but, as I walk, I feel swept up, included. I want to stay here all night.

CROATIA for the Win

The Placa in Old Town Dubrovnik

A soccer fan in old Rovinj

A park in downtown Zagreb

by NANCY HELLMRICH

The next day, my fudbal fever is replaced by a fear of missing out (FOMO). On one hand, I want to explore more of Zagreb – ride the mod blue trams, wander the museums, hang out in the nighttime Strossmartre, maybe even buy a cravat. On the other hand, I have an Insight Vacations trip to enjoy and our Trip Director, a Kiwi named Sharon, is brimming with excitement about Slovenia’s Postonja Cave. TAKE ME TO THE SEASIDE

After a full morning oohing and ahhing over stalactites and stalagmites we arrive in Opatija, on Croatia’s Istrian peninsula, and I rally myself for a walk along the lungomare promenade. In the Hapsburg era this seaside resort was popular with the Italian and Austrian elite. Today, John Malkovich calls it heaven on earth and I can see his point. From our hillside hotel I wander through a garden, down to the bathing beach – a wide platform with stairs that disappear into the cerulean sea – where locals are swimming laps and soaking up the last of the sun’s rays. On the promenade, I find a larger-than-life bronze statue of Croatia’s beloved writer Miroslav Krleža and, out on the rocks, the photogenic Girl With a Seagull. I wonder what it would be like to come back for a month to swim, see the vineyards, and hunt for truffles. Girl With A Seagull in Opatija

A narrow street in Kotor

The following day, we’re up early and off to Pula’s Roman arena, built in the 1st century when lions were good fun, gladiators were good business, and people fretted about single-use amphorae. Today, the arena draws crowds of up to 20,000 for open-air summer concerts. A stage is being set up during our tour but we can’t stay; we have an appointment with Rovinj. Rovinj is a medieval sea port and a holiday hotspot for Italians and other Europeans. I follow our guide up the steep, narrow streets to St. Euphemia’s church then back down again to a café where I sit with a plate of wild asparagus risotto and try to guess where people are from. Once again, I have the urge to stay, to strike up conversations with locals, and see Rovinj in the early morning light. But nature, or rather Plitvice (PLIT-vitz-suh) Lakes National Park, is calling. RAIN, RAIN, BEAUTIFUL RAIN

It rains the day we visit Plitvice Lakes in central Croatia near the borders of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The hotel is cozy and dry and I have the option to skip the tour, but my FOMO simply won’t have it. So I buy a clear poncho from the gift shop and trot out into the downpour. The park boasts 16 lakes of turquoise water tumbling Ensemble Vacations Fall 2018 15

R E A L P E O P L E R E A L J O U R N E YS

For me, the sound of the water and the veil of rain has an other-people-cancelling effect. I am a girl in a poncho bubble floating through a waterfall wonderland.

through the barrel-vaulted cellars, up into the emperor’s apartments, past a group of a cappella singers, and out onto an inner courtyard. Here, there is a 3,500-year-old sphinx, one of four imported from Egypt, which just goes to show you that Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus Augustus was not only a self-styled autocrat who implemented sweeping Roman Empire reforms, he was also a big cat person.

Plitvice Lakes National Park

over nature-made travertine dams. The upper and lower sections are accessed via a boardwalk that winds over the river and through the woods to the tallest waterfalls. Even before my toes hit the boards I am surrounded by beautiful cascades. For me, the sound of the water and the veil of rain has an other-people-cancelling effect. I am a girl in a poncho bubble floating through a waterfall wonderland.

to 1797, then the Hapsburgs, Napoleon, the Hapsburgs again, Yugoslavia, Italy, Yugoslavia again, and finally, Croatia. Suffice it to say, there’s a lot to see. For efficiency’s sake, I climb the tower of the 15th century Kamerlengo Fortress where I have views of the whole kingdom: 13th century churches and palaces, Brodotrogir shipyard, and a palm-lined, riverfront promenade.

THAT’S POSITIVELY MEDIEVAL

Just down the road, Split is abuzz with rooftop restaurants, gelato stands, and boutique shops built right into the massive limestone walls of Roman Emperor Diocletian’s Palace. Constructed as a retirement home for the rags-to-riches emperor in 305 AD, this not-so-humble abode is the world’s most complete Roman-era palace. It’s cool inside in more ways than one as our guide escorts us

Next, we drive through the lush Lika countryside and up over the Velebit Range toward Croatia’s central coast. This is Game of Thrones territory and our first stop is Trogir – Tragurion in Greek, Tragurium in Latin – which sounds dramatic until I learn the name means male goat. Founded by Greeks in the 3rd century BC, Trogir was ruled by the Venetians from 1420 16 Ensemble Vacations Fall 2018

Halfway through our multi-splendored trip we have a very early morning call and conversations over breakfast lack their usual vigor. Sharon senses the mood and greets us with a warm reminder, “You have free will, my darlings. You don’t have to do it all.” While this clarifies whose decision it was to get up early (mine) I feel even more resolved to take full advantage of every day. THE ISLAND LIFE FOR ME

Our early start puts us first in line for the ferry ride to Hvar, pronounced Far by locals. This island is easily accessed by yacht, which makes it a draw for mod celebs such as Prince Harry, Bono, and Beyoncé who (fun fact) named her first child after the island’s Blue Ivy tree. Down the hill from our hotel, the waterfront esplanade is hopping with upbeat music and sun-kissed revelers. A right turn takes me past the Hula Hula Bar, where ever-solightly-clad girls and boys sip from large blue cocktails. I pause for a moment to savor flashbacks from my roaring twenties, then continue around a promontory to a quiet cove where fresh-faced families are enjoying an evening dip in the sea.

Sunset on the island of Hvar

A left turn from the hotel takes me past an al fresco lounge and a steadily increasing number of yachts bobbing about off shore, which culminates when I reach Hvar Town Marina – where larger ships dare not go but smaller yachts dare in droves. Here, I find a party vibe in the cafés and bars and packs of soccer fans carousing out on St. Stephen’s Square. Croatia has won their match against Denmark. Even the Brazilian fans are celebrating the win. The next morning, I am seriously considering staying on Hvar when Sharon dons a wistful look and declares Korčula (KOR-choo-la) her favorite island. I sense she fell in love there once and decide to give the place a go. In contrast to hip Hvar, Korčula is smaller, more grown up, and seems to have a softer glow. Our morning tour takes us past a group of terrified children learning to swim, an essential skill on an island known for its water polo

Nancy, with Dubrovnik in the background

As I stand there drinking it all in, it dawns on me that my FOMO is finally sated. A seaside lounge on Hvar

Olympians. Afterward, I peruse the galleries and stop for a bite to eat in an outdoor café along the city wall. A chalkboard out front advertises “Viagra Breakfast.” Just to be safe I have a salad, then wander back to the hotel for a dip in the Adriatic Sea. PEARL OF THE ADRIATIC

On a side trip to an oyster farm, we’re told the Adriatic doesn’t grow pearls but Dubrovnik proves otherwise. Inside the city’s Old Town gate, Onofrio Fountain has clean, cold water running from its taps. The guy who sells tickets for the wall has a delightful sense of humor and the walk is truly astounding. Up there, I have a bird’s-eye view of terracotta rooftops, The Dominican monastery’s inner garden, tiny yachts zipping about on the silky blue sea, and rugged old Fort Lovrijenac,

home of Dubrovnik’s summer Shakespeare festival. As I stand there drinking it all in, it dawns on me that my FOMO is finally sated. I’m free now to say yes without fear of missing out. A day cruise to Montenegro’s Bay of Kotor? Of course! A side trip to seaside Cavtat? Don’t mind if I do! That night, I say yes to cocktails in the hotel bar and watch as Croatia squeaks past Russia in the World Cup quarter-final match. Their win is the perfect ending to a bountiful Insight Vacations tour that has shown me far more of Croatia than I ever imagined I would see. b To plan your Insight Vacations trip to Croatia, please contact your Ensemble Travel Group Specialist. Ensemble Vacations Fall 2018 17

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

To move, to breathe, to fly, to float, to gain all while you give, To roam the roads of lands remote ... to travel is to live. Hans Christian Andersen’s beloved quatrain comes to life in a new array of Premium Escorted Journeys across the USA & Canada with Insight Vacations® . The freshly minted 2019 collection includes 15 itineraries showcasing natural wonders and cultural distinctions found only in North America. From California, Alaska, and the Canadian Rockies to Charleston, Bar Harbor, and the spectacular St. Lawrence Seaway roaming never looked so good.

Perhaps the most dramatic choice in the collection is a generous journey to America’s National Parks. This wild west romp is tailor-made for those who wonder what it might be like to go off road with a Navajo guide, ride horseback on a Wyoming ranch, meet a Sedona mystic, helicopter over the Grand Canyon, see Yellowstone’s bubbling fumaroles, Lake Powell’s Antelope Canyon, and the astounding Teton range.

Those with a penchant for the fresh outdoors will revel in the collection’s Alaskan adventure. Memorable #InsightMoments include story time with a gregarious bush pilot, a domed-railcar ride into Denali National Park, a day with an Iditarod champion, and cruising amongst the icy wonders of Prince William Sound and Glacier Bay National Park. Travelers with a love of seafaring will relish the Canadian maritime tour of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. Highlights include the British colonial settlement of Lunenburg, a compelling Maritime Museum tour, dinner at Halifax’s Five Fishermen, a lobster cruise on Shediac Bay, a delicious farm-to-table lunch, whale watching on the Bay of Fundy, and more. More than 35 optional Insight Experiences allow guests to delve deeper into the flavors and eccentricities of each destination with additional activities and events. For more information about the new collection and a special offer from Insight Vacations, see page 71.

18 Ensemble Vacations Fall 2018

SPRING Spring is one of the best seasons to cruise the Mediterranean. Spring crowds are smaller than those of summer yet the sun shines brightly, temperatures are warm (but not too hot) and colorful flowers are in full-bloom. Regent Seven Seas Cruises® sails through the region aboard the newly renovated Seven Seas Voyager®. Your all-inclusive getaway starts the minute you leave the ground as all guests are invited to enjoy free business class air on their intercontinental flights. Once aboard the Seven Seas Voyager®, you will enjoy free WiFi as you relax in your spacious suite. And when you’re ready to explore, Regent Seven Seas Cruises® offers free, unlimited shore excursions.

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The Mediterranean is home to vibrant cities, beguiling islands, ancient ruins, and medieval gems. Visit well-known capitals like Athens and Rome as well as lesserknown capitals like Tirana, Albania and Valletta, Malta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Guests can stroll along waterfronts, explore splendid cathedrals and museums, enjoy local delicacies at seaside cafes, and tour archaeological ruins in Rhodes, Ephesus, Taormina, and Naples (gateway to the city of Pompeii).

When you return to the ship, meals are a delight with free premium beverages and dining in the ship’s specialty restaurants. Savor dry-aged steaks at Prime 7, casual fare at the Pool Grill, and contemporary French cuisine at the ship’s newest dining outlet, Chartreuse. For a relaxing treat, tuck into the Canyon Ranch® spa for an invigorating body scrub or a therapeutic massage. Sail the Mediterranean with Regent Seven Seas Cruises and you’ll understand why U.S. News & World Report consistently ranks it as one of the “Best Cruise Lines in the Mediterranean.” For special offers from Regent Seven Seas Cruises, please see page 78. For more information, please contact your Ensemble Ensemble Travel Group Specialist. Ensemble Vacations Fall 2018 19

FUN AWAITS IN THE

CARIBBEAN

Fun. It’s a little word, but it means so much. It’s what makes the days fly by. Lifts your spirits. Puts a big smile on your face. And on a Carnival cruise, you’ll find fun everywhere! So press pause on your daily routine. Escape to a place where you can relax and enjoy every moment – and make lots of wonderful memories to take home.

FEATURED SAILINGS 8 DAY EASTERN CARIBBEAN FROM MIAMI, FL Carnival Horizon™ Sails to: Grand Turk; San Juan; St. Kitts; St. Maarten Sailing Date: January 26 - April 20, 2019

6 DAY WESTERN CARIBBEAN FROM GALVESTON, TX Aboard: Carnival Vista® Sails to: Costa Maya; Belize; Cozumel Sailing Date: April 7, 2019; May 5, 2019

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT YOUR ENSEMBLE-MEMBER TRAVEL AGENT.

TAHITI | FRENCH POLYNESIA | FIJI | SOUTH PACIFIC

Built to navigate the lagoons of the South Pacific, the m/s Paul Gauguin offers the only moving, luxury, all-inclusive, “overwater” experience in French Polynesia.

Included Airfare from Los Angeles

For more information please contact your Ensemble-member travel agent.

W H I LE YO U ’ R E I N E A STE RN E U RO P E . . .

worth the

journey

D O N ’ T M I S S P OSTOJ NA C AV E Slovenia’s Underworld Wonderland G O In 2019, local Slovenians will celebrate 200 years since Archduke Ferdinand visited this 3 million-year-old karst cave and tourist visits began. The 15-mile system is made up of four caves connected by the underground Pivka River. Just 3.3 miles of the system are open to the public. Visitors to the cave begin with a short train ride, then disembark and walk along a pathway through the magnificent underground world. S E E Stalagmites, stalactites, folded “drapery” formations, and vast subterranean halls never fail to elicit gasps of awe. Popular features include Spaghetti Hall and Concert Hall. The oldest stalagmite on the tour route is Skyscraper (over 52 feet high and 150,000 year old). The star of the show is the alabaster-white stalagmite known as Brilliant. The tour also includes a peek at the world’s largest troglodytic amphibian, a translucent pink salamander called the olm. These baby dragons, as they were known in the 17th century, can go without food for up to 12 years and live to the ripe old age of 100.

MODERN • LUXURY

D O Be sure to wear comfortable shoes and a jacket, as there is a fair amount of walking and temperatures inside the cave are a constant 48°F. The tour takes about two hours. Afterwards, shop for jewelry and geodes in the market and enjoy lunch in the warm sunshine at one of the outdoor cafés.

To plan your trip to Slovenia, please contact your Ensemble Travel Group Specialist.

For more information please contact your Ensemble-member travel agent.

U.S. CITY SPOTLIGHT

MEMPHIS is having a moment by SALLY WALKER DAVIES

Memphis has always been a city of contrasts, but never has there been a more exciting time to explore the Yin and Yang that is Memphis. Located in the southwest corner of Tennessee, the city is bordered by Mississippi to the south and the Mississippi River to the west, with the alluvial plains of the river delta expanding in both directions. From soulful music to its cutting-edge cuisine and vibrant community spirit, Memphis offers a beguiling mix of Southern traditions, contemporary tastes, and entertainment for all.

➌

➊ M U S I C A L M U ST S

➊ Stax/Soulsville, USA

There’s no better spot to start your Memphis musical education than at Stax, the recording studio that produced soulful hits by Aretha Franklin, Isaac Hayes, Otis Redding, Dave & Sam, and Booker T and the MGs.

➋ Graceland

Nothing was more important to Elvis Presley than his family – with the city of Memphis playing a close second for the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll. A tour of his stately, beloved Graceland is a Memphis must; you’ll come away with

24 Ensemble Vacations Fall 2018

an appreciation for the man, his music, and the marvel that is Elvis’s enduring popularity.

➌ Beale Street

Once the business and social center of the African American community during the days of segregation, Beale Street’s famous blues clubs are still going strong. The pedestrian-friendly main blocks of Beale allow for easy club-hopping; pop into the Band Box, B.B. King’s, or Mr. Handy’s Blues Hall for a true taste of the blues, day or night.

➍ ➍ Levitt Shell

Levitt Shell photos: Andrea Zucker

➍

The old-school musical shell in the city’s Overton Park – once the stage for Elvis, Johnny Cash and others throughout the decades – has regained new life in recent years, featuring a heady playlist of free concerts, dance and theatrical performances from spring through the fall.

D E L E C TA B L E D I N I NG

➊

➊ Dynamic Duo: Catherine & Mary’s and The Gray Canary The powerhouse culinary team of Andrew Ticer and Michael Hudman are two of the reasons the city’s culinary scene is on fire. Their two downtown restaurants – the Gray Canary, inside the Old Dominick Distillery – and Catherine & Mary’s – offer two distinctly different experiences to tempt the palate. Whether it’s the Canary’s raw bar or C&M’s traditional Italian with a Southern twist, there’s no wrong choice at either spot. ➋ Restaurant Iris Chef Kelly English’s iconic Midtown restaurant is fresh from a makeover, both of the historic house in which he serves up his New Orleansinspired dishes, and of the menu itself. A meal at Iris is intimate, indulgent and always unforgettable. ➌ Itta Bena

Tucked away above the B.B. King’s Blues Club, Itta Bena (named after the Mississippi town where the blues legend was born) blends the feel of a speakeasy with that of an exclusive club. Dishes are modern takes on Southern classics, and libations are as smooth as the notes of the blues that wander up from the club below.

➋ L AY YOU R H E A D

➍

➍ Central BBQ For a taste of the city’s legendary pork barbecue, Central BBQ is finger-licking fabulousness, whether you order the dry rubbed ribs, a pulled pork sandwich or pulled pork nachos. (Yes, that’s a thing – and there’s nowhere better to order them). TH E M IGHTY M I SSI SSI PPI

➊ Tom Lee Park

This expansive downtown park is where you can see, up-close, why the river is called Mighty – the fast-flowing waters are mesmerizing.

➋ American River Steamboats

The elegance of another era can be experienced on the American Queen, the traditionally-furnished yet modern and luxurious river paddleboat that docks in downtown Memphis on its Mississippi River voyages.

H I ST O R I C H I G H L I G H T S

➊ National Civil Rights Museum ➊ The Peabody

Known as ‘the South’s grand hotel’, the historic Peabody Hotel is an opulent mix of grand architecture, lush décor, upscale amenities and Southern charm. Guest rooms feature a mix of traditional and contemporary furniture, huge windows and subdued hues. The hotel’s whimsical pets – ducks – march from their rooftop home to the elevator and descend to the lobby each morning at 11 a.m., where they spend their day splashing in the ornate marble fountain in the lobby bar. The process reverses promptly at 5 p.m. Hundreds of people – locals and visitors alike – gather to watch the spectacle each day.

Located at the Lorraine Motel – site of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. – the museum offers a haunting history of slavery and the fight for civil rights in America.

➋ Crosstown Concourse

The reimagined urban city inside the gigantic former Sears distribution center, Crosstown is a chic mix of living space, restaurants, public art and unique shops.

➊

➌ National Ornamental Metal Museum Beautiful creations on display

➋ and the history of ornamental metal in the United States combine for an eclectic museum experience. A must-hit if only for the excellent gift shop featuring the work of metal artisans. Ensemble Vacations Fall 2018 25

FEEL FREE TO VACATION WITHOUT BORDERS. Feel Free to let inspiration guide you on your cruise vacation. That’s the beauty of sailing with Norwegian. Where unpacking happens once and relaxing, exploring and superb dining can happen whenever you like – all for one incredible price. Where spectacular entertainment comes straight from Broadway. Where there’s more sizzling dining choices than days of your vacation. Where splashes are larger and the thrills are greater. Book today to experience a journey as exciting as the destinations you’ll explore.

6/18

Savor up to 27 delicious dining options that are as varied as the destinations.

Experience legendary nights with award-winning entertainment.

Adults can escape to Spice H2O and soak in the serenity and stunning ocean views.

For more information please contact your Ensemble-member travel agent

Stroll along The Waterfront for the best views.

discover a local perspective on europe with Princess ®

British Isles with overnight in Dublin and Ring of Kerry Cruisetour 16-night | Shannon to Southampton Crown Princess® June 2, 2019 balcony fares from

5,034

Taxes, Fees and Port Expenses of $268 are additional.

Iceland and Norway 14-night | Roundtrip Southampton Sapphire Princess® July 13, 2019 balcony fares from

4,269

Taxes, Fees and Port Expenses of $165 are additional.

Special offer for veterans, retired and active military† Up to $250 in free onboard spending money! For more information please contact your Ensemble-member travel agent.

Receive up to $85 onboard spending money^ – plus –

don’t miss Princess’ 3 for FREE Sale September 6 - November 19, 2018!

*$5,034.00 fare is based on category BD on Crown Princess® sailing 6/2/19 on cruisetour 3A, $4,269.00 fare is based on category BD on Sapphire Princess® sailing 7/13/19 on a space-available basis at time of booking. Fares for other dates may vary. Fares are per person, non-air, cruise-only or cruisetour-only, based on double occupancy and apply to the first two passengers in a stateroom. These fares do not apply to singles or third/fourth-berth passengers. This offer is capacity controlled and may not be combinable with any other public, group or past passenger discount, including onboard credits. Offer is not transferable and is available to residents of the 50 United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, Mexico and the District of Columbia who are 21 years of age or older and receive this offer. Fares quoted in U.S. dollars. Please refer to your travel agent for terms, conditions and definitions that apply to all bookings. Offer may combine with other offers such as group onboard credits, limited time offers and Military benefits.^Up to $85 Onboard Spending Money per stateroom. Offer is applicable to first/second-berth guests only. Third/fourth-berth guests are not eligible. Onboard spending money may be used on a single voyage only, is not redeemable for cash, cannot be used in the casino and expires at the end of that voyage. Offer is not transferable and may not be combinable with other select offers or other onboard credits. Onboard spending money is quoted in U.S. dollars and is based on the ship’s onboard currency. Void where prohibited by law. †Applications to receive this benefit must be made no later than 14 days prior to cruise departure date. Offer is valid for eligible military personnel in the U.S. and Canada only. Free onboard spending money is in the form of onboard credit based on cruise length. Maximum of two onboard credit offers per stateroom. This offer cannot be used for casino credits/charges and gratuities, discretionary hotel and dining charges. Other restrictions may apply. ©2018 Princess Cruise Lines, Ltd. Ships of Bermudan and British registry.

Savvy jetsetters know that building a well-curated vacation portfolio takes some introspection. Before saying yes to a getaway they consider whether the escape aligns with their personal interests and passions. Doing so ensures the next trip they take is both memorable and meaningful. Read on to find out what travel style rings true for you and find your next adventure.

32 Ensemble Vacations Fall 2018

CULTU RE CRAVERS, those voracious souls who would rather immerse

themselves in a foreign culture than peer at it from inside a bus or taxi. They don’t just want to shop for arts and crafts, they want to meet the artisans who created them and learn about their inspiration and influences. They don’t just want to sample local food, they want to learn about techniques that go into making it. Culture Cravers want to discover a place through the soul of its people and their experiences-hands on. by ROBIN CHERRY

Creative Juices Flow Artists and hotels have always had a symbiotic relationship. At La Colombe d’Or in Provence, owner Paul Roux befriended many struggling artists including Miró, Chagall, and Picasso and gave them free accommodation in exchange for artwork. Ludwig Bemelmans painted his murals at Bemelmans Bar at the Carlyle in exchange for accommodation. Here are hotels and cruise lines where you can enjoy your vacation while tuning into your artistic side with classes in the arts: Guests at the Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel in Cape Town can take a painting class from, or have their portrait painted by, the hotel’s Artist-in-Residence, Cyril Coetzee. Coetzee is best known for two commissioned portraits of Nelson Mandela. The first was used as the design for an international stamp commemorating Mandela’s 90th birthday and the second is a wedding portrait of Mandela and Graça Machel.

Owned by the Santa Ana Pueblo, the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort & Spa in New Mexico provides a wide variety of classes and activities led by members of the Pueblo. These include pottery making, jewelry making and gourd painting.

Oceania Cruises created the Artist Loft, a studio space on its ships Marina and Riviera. The loft of overseen by an artistin-residence who gives classes on creating and understanding art.

Seabourn has an Artist-in-Residence on select sailings on board its ships Quest, Sojourn, and Ovation. The art classes are part of its Arts Conversations which showcase experts from the fields of music, theater, dance, film, literature, and art.

Lindblad Expeditions offers Photo Expeditions accompanied by National Geographic photographers who help guests take great pictures. Mid-day classes with onboard instructors can turn any amatuer into a pro. Ensemble Vacations Fall 2018 33

Monte Alban

TOURING OAXACA: Cultural Gem of Mexico The state of Oaxaca, with over 70 villages, is located on the western coast of Mexico. One of the best places to experience Mexico’s indigenous culture is the beguiling Spanish colonial city of Oaxaca, which is home to the country’s most vibrant arts and crafts scene and a unique savory cuisine. Just outside the city, you’ll find the archaeological ruins of Monte Alban which date back to 500 BCE. Monte Alban is less crowded (though no less interesting) than some of Mexico’s better-known ruins, making it possible to gaze at its temples and pyramids and imagine yourself as one of the 40,000 residents who once roamed this city. Its tombs held gold, jade, and turquoise treasures that can now be seen at the Centro Cultural de Santo Domingo which is housed in a 300-year-old former convent adjacent to the ornate Santo Domingo Church. While Oaxaca’s markets offer ceramics of many colors, it’s best known for its black clay pottery which dates back to the time of Monte Alban. Several companies offer hands-on artisan workshops and cultural tours where guests work alongside potters to harvest dirt from the earth; turn it into workable material, and mold it into shape by hand. Among them is, Innovando la Tradición, a non-profit dedicated to preserving Oaxaca’s pottery traditions. After crafting vases, mezcal bottles, bowls and cups, guests hand their creations over to their hosts who fire and glaze the pieces. The finished pieces are then returned so guests can take them home and impress their friends with their own handmade creations. 34 Ensemble Vacations Fall 2018

Immersed in Tradition When it comes to cuisine, Oaxaca is famous for its “moles.” Mole, which means “sauce” in Aztec, is usually a thick, hearty sauce made from a combination of chiles, spices, and dark Mexican chocolate. Most mole recipes call for between 20 and 40 ingredients. You can learn how to make classic Mole from Nora Valencia, the Oaxacan native who shares her grandmother’s recipes at her cooking school, La Casa De Mis Recuerdos. Class starts with a market tour followed by a cooking class (and mezcal tasting) in Valencia’s talavera-tiled kitchen. Dishes include Oaxaca’s most famous mole, Mole Negro, made with dried chiles, tomatillos, spices, dried fruits, nuts, and chocolate. Valencia is also an authority on Oaxacan textiles and offers tours where you can learn about Oaxaca’s rich textile tradition. They include a presentation on traditional and new textile designs that contemporary weavers are using today.

All in the Families Centro Cultural de Santo Domingo

Descendants of innovative female ceramicists are keeping their traditions alive. While best-known for black pottery, Oaxaca has 35 different pottery styles. Oaxacan pottery was appreciated by millionaire Nelson Rockefeller, who first visited Mexico in his twenties and was immediately taken with the folk art he found in local markets. Today, visitors can purchase pottery made by the descendants of the pioneering women whose work Rockefeller prized. Teodora Blanco created her own pottery style embellishing both female figures and fantastical human figures with small decorative pieces of clay. Her work was unpainted, foregoing the traditional green glaze of Aztompa. Rockefeller said Teodora’s work had “a subtle sophistication possessed by but few of the greatest contemporary artists.” While her style has been replicated through the region, some of today’s best practitioners are her brother Avelino, her children, Luis and Irma, and their families.

Doña Rosa Real de Nieto from San Bartolo Coyotepec invented a technique to make traditional black pottery shiny. Her new technique made the pottery more fragile but also more attractive to collectors. Rockefeller bought several of her pieces to complement matte black pottery he’d purchased in the 1940s. Today, Doña Rosa’s daughter and granddaughter continue her tradition.

Isaura Alcántar Díaz was one of the first artists in the village of Ocotlán to move from utilitarian items to colorful decorative figures. She taught her four daughters and today, the Aguilar sisters, Josefina, Guillermina, Irene, and Concepcion are famous in their own right. The women’s children and grandchildren are also active; two of the best are Josefina’s son, Demetrio, whose work incorporates surreal elements and her grandson, Jose, who focuses on world crises like famine. While visiting the Aguilars, Rockefeller noticed figures mounted on poles to promote the studio; he bought them all. Ensemble Vacations Fall 2018 35

Offbeat Museums Worth a Visit From broken relationships and Zippo lighters to Bigfoot and handbags, these unusual and surprisingly specific museums will add some whimsy to your travels. They’re Weird and They’re Wonderful

Museum of Broken Relationships | Zagreb | Croatia

International Cryptozoology Museum | Portland | Maine

The Museum of Failure Helsingbor | Sweden

This museum showcases personal mementos left behind after love affairs failed. They range from amusing (a tin of “Love Incense” with a tag that says “Doesn’t work” and a torn-off car mirror that a woman took after finding her boyfriend’s car at the house of another woman) to the heartbreaking (a postcard from a young Armenian man who declared his love to a neighbor and drove off a cliff when her parents refused to let her marry him). Ironically, locals often come to the museum right after getting married as it’s up the street from City Hall.

Cryptozoology is the study of hidden animals, and this weird museum is packed with oddities including a life-size model of Bigfoot, “actual” hair samples from the Abominable Snowman, and a model of the Fiji Mermaid, a hoax that was promoted by P.T. Barnum. The mermaid was actually a baby monkey’s head attached to a fishtail. There’s even a letter from Jimmy Stewart concerning a visit to India, after which he smuggled the alleged hand of a Yeti to London in his wife’s lingerie case. (British custom agents were too proper to go through a lady’s unmentionables.)

Samuel West was tired of reading “the same boring success stories” because they “are all alike,” so he founded this museum to showcase failure, aka “the mother of innovation.” You’ll see Harley-Davidson’s ill-fated “Hot Road” cologne; Colgate’s bizarre foray into frozen food with its own beef lasagna, and Little Miss No Name, a sad shoeless doll that, in contrast to Barbie, was needy and designed to elicit empathy.

In Focus

Musée Carnavalet Paris | France

The Zippo Museum Bradford | PA

The Tassen Museum of Bags and Purses | Amsterdam

This museum documents the history of Paris through everyday objects. It has items from famous Parisians including the chair in which Volatire died; Robespierre’s shaving dish and Rousseau’s inkwell, as well as a replica of Proust’s bedroom. Two Sign Rooms showcase Parisian shop signs from the 16th to 20th century and there’s a recreation of an early 20th-century Art Deco jewelry shop.

Fourteen custom-made street lighters line the drive up to this museum which focuses on the history of the iconic Zippo lighter. Exhibits focus on Zippo’s contribution to American soldiers in WWII, Zippo lighters in Hollywood films and the “Zippo moment” in rock concerts when (before iPhones) people used to hold up their lighters as a tribute to the band. You can even see technicians at the Zippo Clinic repairing lighters as all Zippos come with a lifetime guarantee.

Set in a 17th century canal house, this homage to the handbag looks back at history (pre pocket) when both men and women carried bags and purses to hold money, personal items and Bibles. The 16th century introduction of pockets freed men from carrying bags but women held on and when they entered the workforce, they needed different bags for different occasions. The museum has a collection of over 5,000 handbags that date from the late Middle Ages to the present, and includes such icons as Chanel’s 2.55 shoulder bag and Louis Vuitton’s bucket bag.

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FLAVOR CHASER are insatiable foodies stricken with wanderlust.

There’s no destination to which they venture that haven’t already put through a gastronomic sifter, sussing out the farm-to-table spots with the drop-dead views of ice-capped mountains and the decadent meals. In other words,their taste buds start their tune-up on take-off. by SUZANNE GANNON

Worth Flying To It used to be that jetting across the continent for a three-day member-guest tournament was a boondoggle to a place called the 19th hole. Today, as chefs have been exalted to celebrity status and their food seemingly elevated to its own galaxy, crossing an ocean for peekytoe crab on a bed of micro-greens raised on air, is hardly extraordinary. Here are three spots worthy of full-body scanners and seats that don’t recline.

Maido | Lima | Peru If you’ve been paying attention, you’ll know that in the last decade Peru’s, and specifically Lima’s, culinary moment has arrived. One of the restaurants leading the charge to global legitimacy is Chef Mitsuharu “Micha” Tsumura’s Maido, where the chef has made Peruvian-Japanese fusion cuisine, also known as Nikkei, into an art form, pairing fish with citrus fruits, marinating cod in miso, and using tofu for cheesecake all in the oceanfront neighborhood of Miraf lores.

Ultraviolet | Shanghai | China If the mini-bus drop-off in the dark alley or the sliding walls don’t hook you, then the inventive food that earned this threestar Michelin winner an Art of Hospitality Award just might. The culinary answer to the pioneers of immersive theater, Chef Paul Pairet has developed a multi-sensory, high-concept experience that includes dishes like Foie Gras Can’t Quit, in which a cigarette is served in an ashtray only to be revealed as rolled fruit skin filled with fluffy foie gras mouse and sprinkled with black cabbage ash.

Noma | Copenhagen | Denmark If there were a Foraging Fan Club, Chef Rene Redzepi would be its president. For almost a decade he has scoured the plant kingdom for everything edible in it and figured out a way to put it on a plate with a vitality of flavor and a gastronomic cheekiness. Past hijinks include razor clams enshrouded in parsley jelly, flatbread molded into twigs, and a duck egg fried in a cast-iron skillet at the table.

Ensemble Vacations Fall 2018 37

On the Water Keen to lure the clientele that appreciates the subtleties of fine dining, the major cruise lines have put considerable time and substantial money into developing a first-class gastronomic experience. World-famous chefs who can develop menus, identify sources for ingredients, and instruct the ship’s kitchen staff on how to execute are becoming the norm. Here’s some of what’s noteworthy.

You may have snagged a Southern snacks recipe or a rainy-day lunch idea from an America’s Test Kitchen episode shot live in the onboard kitchens of the Holland America Line. Now, through a unique partnership, guests aboard select Holland America ships can enjoy live access to all the action in the kitchen – demos, lectures, hands-on classes – and private dining on its newest ship, Koningsdam. In addition, the line’s Culinary Council® of renowned chefs is overseeing menu development across the fleet.

Through a partnership with the James Beard House, Windstar is inviting a series of James Beard Award-winning guest chefs and sommeliers aboard designated sailings. The match-up means the cruise line is intent on offering culinary experiences that are anything but ordinary. The stand-out talents Maxime Bilet of The Cooking Lab, Evan Hanzcor of Egg, and Jose Mendin of Pubbelly Noodle Bar, Habitat, and Baja Bao, among others, will please a spectrum of foodies and wine-lovers with demonstrations, beverage pairings, and market tours. 38 Ensemble Vacations Fall 2018

Author and television star Chef Jacques Pepin takes center stage aboard Oceania Cruises, where he has worked as Executive Culinary Director since 2003. On two sailings, Lisbon/ Rome and Amsterdam/Lisbon, he’ll oversee signature menus, lectures, and culinary demonstrations, all the while deploying the method that made him famous in his groundbreaking book La Technique. About the new program, Cuisine Bourgeoisie, the Master Chef says, “It is simply happiness on a plate, and I am thrilled to share this with our guests.”

Crystal Cruises continues its long-standing partnership with marquee Chef Nobu Matsuhisa, widely regarded as a pioneer in the sushi-at-sea wave. His specialty restaurants Silk Road and Sushi Bar will be rebranded as Umi Uma, the Japanese word for Crystal’s ubiquitous seahorse detail on the luxurious Serenity and Symphony ships. Chefs personally trained by Matsuhisa will prepare dishes created by their mentor – available at sea exclusively on Crystal. Penthouse guests will receive complimentary reservations at Umi Uma.

Grow It, Show It The farm-to-table phenomenon is a grassroots movement, a global yearning for food that is healthier and more flavorful after too many years of unnatural intervention in the guise of inventive, mass-production wizardry. Now, labels like “organic,” “sustainable,” and “GMO-free,” among others, happily signify that such foods can indeed be found, just as nature intended them – crunchy, punchy, and unspoiled.

De Kas | Amsterdam | The Netherlands The morning harvest sets the menu for the day at this greenhouse of a restaurant, which also operates a farm 30 kilometers away. In fact the greenhouse doubles as a dining room that got a nod from the Michelin Guide, which was no new thing for owner and chief grower Gert-Jan Hageman’s record. He clinched one at Vermeer in 1993. Edible flowers and sustainable wines, and memorable sweets like candied fennel, are among the treats to expect – in addition to views through glass walls of gardens and wildlife tucked into a park.

Blue Hill at Stone Barns | Pocantico Hills, N.Y. | U.S.A. This year Chef Dan Barber’s powerful idea clinched the twelth spot on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants. Just 30 miles from New York City, the Blue Hill at Stone Barns draws entirely on seasonal ingredients from its own property and neighboring farms. For this reason the restaurant does not publish daily menus but instead offers a multi-taste feast that might feature cellar-cured speck, Tamworth pigs, and forced Belgian endive. Each meal inside the barn merits an informational tour of the grounds that only a food evangelist could provide.

We Are the Farm | Tokyo | Japan Though the back-to-basics approach has been slow to catch on in Japan, one spot shows the imaginative eye of someone in the kitchen through artful tableaus such as the one in which roasted vegetables depict the animals in a barnyard complete with a picket fence. Tender, crispy-skinned duck, carrots and parsnips still attached to their frills, and kale mounded into a fir tree dusted with snow – as well as kale beer and beet sangria – are among the choices in a palette that is as flavorful as it is colorful. Ensemble Vacations Fall 2018 39

ACTION H EROES revel in freestyle adventures that fall way outside

their comfort zones. These rambunctious nomads feel most alive when they’re in motion. And they’re always game for dramatic escapes that build sweat equity and bring their personal brands to life. by NANCY HELLMRICH

Another round of adrenaline shots, please By some estimates, active travel has increased six-fold in the last two years alone. Which means more of us are never saying never to hiking to the top of mesmerizing volcanoes in Hawaii, Italy, Peru, and Bali. Surfing the sand dunes of the Sahara. Rappelling into Belize’s Blue Hole Drop. Breaking in new flippers on a float through Grenada’s underwater sculpture park. Ziplining through the Amazon rainforest. Whitewater rafting in Fiji’s Navau Gorge. And ballooning in Chang Mai, Napa Valley, the Serengeti, Cappadocia, and Bagan.

40 Ensemble Vacations Fall 2018

“Buy the ticket. Take the ride.”

That was awesome! Did you see that? Let’s face it. Witnesses are an essential part of active travel, which is why many are going for lean, mean group adventures. With G Adventures, for example, adrenaline junkies are caving in Spain, rafting in Peru, and kayaking in Vietnam. They’re saddling up for cycling tours in Argentina and Iceland. Trekking Mont Blanc, Kilimanjaro, the Inca Trail, and even up to the Everest Base Camp in Nepal. Central Holidays takes trekkers along Italy’s Amalfi Coast or up to the rim of a steaming Sicilian volcanoes. Others are challenging avid cyclists with rides through Andalusia, Bangkok, Bordeaux, Camino de Santiago, and more.

— Hunter S. Thompson

Do what you love, love what you do Action Heroes are like fast-moving snowflakes, no two are alike. Their travels let them express who they are in healthy, fitness-inducing ways. Which is why water babies are dipping into the Sea of Cortez with Lindblad Expeditions and exhale (a leading lifestyle brand) for Core Fusion Boot Camp, wilderness kayaking, and Chill Yoga at Base Camp Espiritu Santo. Social butterflies are running off on whirlwind wine cruises with U by Uniworld. And posh professionals are launching flyboards, Seabreacher submersibles, and diving expeditions off the shores of Dubai.

“Everyone needs a friend who will call and say, ‘Get dressed, we’re going on an adventure.” — Anonymous

So you think you’re cool, OMG, you are totally do you? cracking me up Those who love cooler temps are packing their parkas for hiking, kayaking, and flight seeing adventures in the Artic and Antarctic realms. With Hurtigruten expeditions, action-adventurers are taking like Vikings to Greenland and filling up on fjords and friluftsliv (outdoor life) in Norway. Patagonia’s Torres del Paine National Park is under-the-radar awesome. Australis expedition cruises include hiking the moraine wall of a massive glacier, running with penguins, tango dancing, and riding with Argentine gauchos.

It’s no secret that active travelers are the opposite of shy. These fearless wonders get a charge out of talking to strangers and leaving boisterous laughter in their wake. Whether they’re wrangling besties, mustering the family, or planning a multigenerational jamboree they look forward to hugging it out in all sorts of wonderful places. It’s just like an Action Hero to make friends with the band on a salsa-infused night in Havana or roll up their sleeves with a local chef on a Royal Caribbean cruise to Cuba.

No seriously, I’m just kidding around When energetic genes run in the family, it’s up up and away to places like Club Med Sandpiper Bay for circus tricks, tennis clinics, and beach volleyball. Down in Costa Rica, guests of UnCruise Adventures are cranking their cores on paddle boards, kayaking for cardio, and getting their socks wet on jungle adventures. With zip lines, glacier hikes, and sled dogs Alaska is right of passage for junior Action Heroes. And down in the Caribbean, active travelers are like heat seeking missiles honing in on every chance they get to go jet skiing, paragliding, water sliding, and sailing the sparkling blue sea.

“Just remember, if we get caught, you’re deaf and I don’t speak English.”— Rick Riordan Ensemble Vacations Fall 2018 41

LUXU RY LOVERS can’t help but opt for premium experiences, haute

cuisine, and the nicest accommodations. As it happens, this ultra-luxe corner of the travel industry is enjoying something of a heyday. Moët and friends are crashing across the bows of several stunning new ships. Dramatic renovations of Old World hotels and bold, new resorts are being unveiled and brazen chefs are challenging established Michelin constraints. by NANCY HELLMRICH

Exclusive Experiences

The Sweetest Suites

As the world’s most compelling destinations draw eager crowds, above-the-fray showings, private dinners, and coveted tickets to world-class events make ultra-luxe land experiences worth their weight in platinum. Today, VIP insiders are leveraging Ensemble’s Luxe Life® program (available exclusively through your Ensemble Travel Group Specialist) to get in on finely tailored travel packages featuring seemingly impossible access to the world’s most desirable events.

Around the world, a growing collection of ultra-luxe hotels and resorts is wooing elite travelers with shockingly expansive suites boasting top-of-the-world views; grand pianos; oxygen enriched air; marble fireplaces; private cinemas; a chauffeur driven limousine or Phantom Rolls-Royce; private rooftop terraces, infinity pools, and butlers available 24/7/365. Who’s pulling out all the stops for the luxe-loving crowd? Here’s a short list of recent favorites:

Sports enthusiasts are designing escapes around the Super Bowl, Kentucky Derby, Olympic Games, US Open Tennis, Wimbledon, World Cup, the Tournament of Roses®, and even deep-sea fishing or military-style training camps. Those with a weakness for contemporary culture are enjoying premium seats to events that are usually unavailable to the public, such as the Fashion Weeks in New York, Milan, Paris; star-studded music concerts; the Emmys, Grammys, or Oscars.

Auberge Saint-Antoine I Quebec City | Canada

Ardent individualists are having customized travel packages fashioned around a private evening with a celebrity, a private dinner with a renowned chef, an exquisite feast aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia, drinking in the sunset in Abu Dhabi, flightseeing over the Namib Desert, and more. 42 Ensemble Vacations Fall 2018

Crystal Cruises

Silversea

International Inclinations Ah, the lure of international waters. Luxury Lovers in search of seafaring adventures have a bevy of new options from which to choose. Aboard the latest and greatest ships, privileged guests float in circles of influence catered by crews who are well versed in guests’ names, beverage preferences, where they like things, how they like things, and the topics of conversation most likely to elicit a smile.

Seabourn

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Crystal Cruises' guests are reveling in ocean, river, expedition, and even new AirCruises featuring spectacular dining and exclusive experiences. A select few are enjoying relaxing nonstop, long-haul flights from London to Sydney and New York to Tokyo aboard Crystal Skye, the luxurious result of a partnership with Boeing and Greenpoint Technologies. In the Seychelles, others are dipping beneath the waves aboard the Crystal Esprit Submersible. In-suite spa treatments and a private car at every port await those booking certain suites with Regent Seven Seas Cruises and select itineraries include access to the Monaco Grand Prix and Film Festival in Cannes. Throughout the Caribbean and Mediterranean, meals are prepared a la minute and cognacs are served in the Top of the Yacht bar aboard SEADREAM’s privately-owned superyachts. In South America and Antarctica, guests of Seabourn® sail in the esteemed company of noted explorers, chefs, scholars, artists, and experts in world aﬀairs.

SEADREAM

Elsewhere, Silversea is featuring themed voyages in partnership with Asia’s Peninsula Hotels, The Royal Geographic Society, opera’s Accademia Teatro alla Scala di Milano, and the L’Opéra de Paris ballet. Silver Muse, the line’s newest ship, is touring Australia and New Zealand. Silver Shadow is circumnavigating South America. And Silver Whisper is taking a World Cruise with inaugural calls in Fiji’s volcanic Dravuni Island, Cayman Brac, and picturesque Timaru, New Zealand. Ensemble Vacations Fall 2018 43

WELLNESS, if you stop to think about it, is the ultimate pursuit.

And now you can pursue it in grand style from the foothills of the Himalayas to the Catskill Mountains, out in the American desert – and even on a river cruise. To help you focus on your next wellness getaway, explore four unique and particularly powerful options. Not only are the wellness programs very different at each location, but the entire path toward wellness is one that will leave you nourished and renewed – ultimately a better version of you. by MARY BEMIS

Wellness on the Water The cruise industry is welcoming wellness in record numbers–and with more creative partnerships and options than ever before. Witness Seabourn’s new partnership with wellness guru Dr. Andrew Weil. Guests may partake in a fleet-wide mindful living program that addresses everything from physical wellness to spiritual well-being.

Wellness through Oneness Civana Carefree is the first sustainable wellness resort to open in Greater Phoenix (it opened just this March), and prides itself on connecting well-being with eco-consciousness at an aﬀordable price point. Grounded in the philosophy of wellness through oneness, they believe in the sustainable interconnection of the individual, community, and natural environment. At Civana, guests focus on the best healthy cuisine, movement, healing arts, and discovery and enrichment. A typical day here includes daily hikes, all forms of yoga (including aerial and wall), high-intensity classes like spin, barre, and TRX, creative art, juicing, culinary demos, and a healing art, such as sound bath meditation.

AmaWaterways, which will introduce the Zen Wellness Studio in 2019 to guests, recently debuted a serious expansion of its Wellness Program fleet-wide. The program is led by a dedicated Wellness Host on each ship who helps guests to mindfully achieve their fitness goals, or set new ones. There are lectures and much more, all related to holistic wellness while river cruising. The morning stretching, core strengthening, and resistance band training classes are all very popular in addition to the escorted hiking and biking excursions that are included. Since first pioneering bikes on board in 2006, AmaWaterways have been attracting travelers who like to keep active and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Wellness that Transforms

Wellness through Nature YO1 Luxury Nature Cure, a scenic and soothing sanctuary that’s situated among 1,300 lush acres in the Catskills, just opened in June. With an emphasis on holistic health and well-being through the ancient Indian therapies of Ayurveda, naturopathy, and yoga, guests can expect an individualized wellness program that’s designed to detox and revitalize, while addressing specific health concerns. There are six diﬀerent Pathways to Wellness programs, ranging from three to 10 days to choose from, as well as an expert staﬀ of Ayurvedic doctors, yoga teachers, healers, and fitness counselors. Healing therapies here include everything from acupuncture to hydrotherapy to mud therapy. 44 Ensemble Vacations Fall 2018

This is one of the most authentic wellness experiences you will have, should your travel plans take you to India. Vana Malsi Estate is perched on a small plateau, surrounded by the ancient Sal forest to the west, the hills of Mussorie to the north, and the vibrant small town of Dehradun to the east. It is an exquisite wellness retreat, contemporary in design, that oﬀers local and organic cuisine, a plethora of natural healing therapies, including Tibetan healing and Traditional Chinese Medicine, and so much more. Each guest meets with one of Vana’s doctors for a consultation upon arrival, and a personalized treatment plan ensues. Plan on transformation.

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Finding Clarity & Renewal

AT SEA

A broken heart. A tired body. A weary soul. Or the simple need to escape the constraints of one’s routine. So many of us book vacations with the hope that the time away will somehow free us and make us whole again, only to return home unfulfilled. Now, Seabourn has found a way to fulfill those dreams of wholeness through a special partnership with Dr. Andrew Weil. Throughout each voyage, personalized guidance in mindfulness and unique spa and wellness treatments leverage groundbreaking insights from Dr. Weil’s extensive research to promote physical, social, environmental, and spiritual well-being. On shore, guests break away from tired routines and experience each exciting destination with renewed clarity and insight. As an extension of Spa & Wellness with Dr. Andrew Weil, Mindful Living tours are designed to deliver an experience that contributes to mind and body wellness. On the ship, sensory experiences from the day are deepened and intensified as Seabourn’s certified practitioners move through complimentary sessions in meditation, yoga, and more. You are invited to visit the on-board spa to speak to the Mindful Living coach to learn more about Dr. Weil and holistic wellness program. The path to holistic well-being has never been more clear than it is aboard a renewing Seabourn cruise featuring exclusive spa and wellness enrichment practices designed by Dr. Andrew Weil. For special offers from Seabourn, please see page 79. For more information about Seabourn’s fleetwide wellness program, please contact your Ensemble Travel Group Specialist.

“When you travel, exciting things happen to your mind, your body, and your spirit. Your mind opens, your imagination and curiosity are aroused. Your body creates substances that excite and intensify alertness and sensory perception. Your spirit responds to novelty with optimistic enthusiasm. You are primed to learn new and valuable lessons for your journey here on earth.” ~ Dr. Andrew Weil

Ensemble Vacations Fall 2018 45

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

DR EA M S RE S O RTS & S PAS :

Paradise Awaits From family vacations to romantic retreats and weekend getaways with friends, there’s a Dreams Resorts & Spas property for everyone!

Located throughout Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America, Dreams Resorts & Spas feature sensational Unlimited-Luxury® amenities like limitless gourmet dining, thrilling activities, 24-hour room service, and more! Slip away to one of these beautiful beachfront properties and enjoy glistening pools, live music, theme parties, movies on the beach, and tons of entertainment for the entire family!

DREAMS DOMINICUS LA ROMANA The all-new Dreams Dominicus La Romana is set beachfront in Bayahibe - an ideal location to explore the region, or to just enjoy some rest and relaxation in the Dominican Republic. Lounge by one of the three pristine swimming pools or retreat to the expansive spa with peaceful treatment spaces, gardens, and hydrotherapy areas. The top championship golf courses in the Caribbean are just minutes away as well as the most popular excursion in the country – Saona Island. It will be a vacation to never forget for kids and teens with the adventures, games, and social activities at the supervised Explorer’s Club for kids and Core Zone Teens Club. There’s something for everyone at Dreams Dominicus La Romana, and best of all, it is all included with Unlimited-Luxury ®. Unlimited-Luxury® Sip. Savor & See! Non-stop transfers included – an Apple Exclusive! Includes $200 in resort coupons per room!

For special offers from Apple Vacations, please see page 69. For more information, please contact your Ensemble Travel Group Specialist.

48 Ensemble Vacations Fall 2018

DREAMS PALM BEACH PUNTA CANA Redefined Luxury in a Palm-Studded Paradise. With lush tropical gardens and palm-studded beaches facing the turquoise Caribbean Sea, Dreams Palm Beach Punta Cana is an idyllic haven for couples and families alike. This AAA Four Diamond resort offers a world of pampering, pleasures, and adventures. Dreams Palm Beach Punta Cana also boasts a gorgeous convention center and 500 rooms and suites with stunning views of Punta Cana’s most magnificent scenery. Go far beyond the all-inclusive experience with UnlimitedLuxury ®, where nearly everything is included.

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Under the Mexican Sun

Let Delta Vacations Introduce You to Mexico’s True Colors

Delta Airlines flies to twelve destinations in Mexico and not only can you save money by booking flights and hotels together, you can earn up to 7,500 bonus miles when you plan your trip with Delta Vacations. Delta Vacations provides trip protection plans and for assistance while abroad, a US-based Customer Engagement Center.

Mexico City, the oldest city in the Western Hemisphere,

has a wealth of architectural gems including Aztec temples, a stunning Baroque cathedral, and the magnificent Palacio de las Bellas Artes (known for its Diego Rivera murals). The city is also a foodie paradise offering everything from mouthwatering street food to elegant fine dining. The vibrant city of Guadalajara is the birthplace of mariachi music and a short drive from Tequila, home of the popular adult beverage. Tequila lovers shouldn’t miss a distillery tour (or two). Mexico has beaches on both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean. Caribbean beaches which include Cozumel and Cancun tend to be iPhone-ready with white,

deep sea fishing. With its quaint cobblestone streets, Zihuatanejo is low-key and romantic but for true romance, it’s impossible to beat Puerto Vallarta, where Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor lived and loved. sandy expanses lapped by crystal clear turquoise water while those on the Pacific tend to be wilder with surfer-ready waves and dramatic cliffs. On the Caribbean, Cancun offers lazy days and glitzy nightlife while the more relaxed Cozumel is unrivaled for diving and snorkeling. On the Pacific, Acapulco is known for shopping and nightlife while Mazatlán and Manzanillo are excellent for

Whether you’re planning a budget-friendly family getaway, a destination wedding, a romantic rendezvous or a luxurious escape, Delta Vacations will make your vacation dreams come true. For special offers from Delta Vacations, please see page 70. For more information, please contact your Ensemble Travel Group Specialist.

Ensemble Vacations Fall 2018 49

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Magnificent MEXICO with Travel Impressions

Hard Rock Hotel Cancun

Travel Impressions has been crafting extraordinary all-inclusive experiences for travelers for over 30 years, so you can count on your vacation to be worry-free and utterly unforgettable. And there are few places more unforgettable than Mexico. With palm-fringed beaches, mysterious Mayan ruins, vibrant cities, tropical rainforests and some of the best food in the world, Mexico is truly a feast for the senses.

Cancun, which has unrivaled beaches and nightlife, is one of Mexico’s rockstar destinations – Jay-Z and Beyonce first met there – so it seems fitting to check into the Hard Rock Hotel Cancun for your own rockstar vacation. The setting – crystalline turquoise waters and ivory beaches – is impeccable but it’s the rock and roll amenities including live concerts on the beach, a Fender guitar menu in the room, and music-inspired spa treatments in the Rock Spa® that make this a gig to remember. Act like Jagger and sign up for the Rock Royalty Level which gives you a personal assistant, a complimentary couples massage, VIP pool access, and late check-out. The infinity pool has swim-up bars and the six restaurants – among them Mexican, Asian, Italian, and Brazilian – all included so there’s no chance of going hungry. Hard Rock Hotel Cancun

South of Cancun on the Riviera Maya, the Iberostar Paraíso Maya is an all-inclusive seaside playground that will captivate adults, teens and children. The spa offers romantic couples massages for adults; an aromatic massage for teens and a chocolate pedicure for kids. There’s also a water park, a wave pool and a “lazy river” that guests can float peacefully along in an inner tube. There’s also a demanding golf course and seven restaurants including French and Japanese restaurants that are open exclusively to hotel guests. For special offers from Travel Impressions, please see page 72. For more information, contact your Ensemble-member travel agent. Iberostar Paraíso Maya

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OFF, OFF THE BEATEN PATH Many a cruise ship has skirted the shores of New Zealand before sailing back across the Tasman Sea, but Kiwi locals will tell you their countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s true wonders are best found inland and way, way off the beaten path. They are hidden high the legendary Southern Alps. Deep in the ethereal beauty of Fiordland. Amongst the windswept tussocks of the high plains. Between the vines of coastal vineyards. Around the impossibly soft blue lakes. And across the bountiful farmlands. SEE NEW ZEALAND YOUR WAY

Thankfully Travel2 offers customizable independent itineraries that give visitors a chance to see more of this beautiful island nation in their own unique way. Travelers can choose escorted group tours, city stopovers, self-drive itineraries, and even relaxing rail journeys.

THE OPTIONS ARE ENDLESS

With years of experience in destinations around the world, the specialists at Travel2 understand that no two travelers are alike. To design your own New Zealand adventure with Travel2â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s endless array of options, see the special offers on page 72 and contact your Ensemble-member travel agent.

From dynamic Auckland and the beaches of the north, across the mountainous and rural south to rugged Stewart Island each region is home to its own special treasures. Queenstown offers bungee jumping and high-speed jetboating. The North Island has sailing adventures and intimate Maori experiences. Travelers can choose wine country excursions, tour famous filming locations, stay in hidden fishing lodges, take off on cycling adventures, hike to glaciers, dance through fields of lavender, visit alpaca and sheep farms, and more. Ensemble Vacations Fall 2018 51

ROYA L CA R I BB EA N G O ES T H E E XTRA I SL E W I TH T H EI R PRI VATE I SL A N D

PE RF ECT DAY AT CO C O CAY • DE B U T I N G M AY 2 01 9 Royal Caribbean redefined cruising with its much-loved Oasis Class ships. Now, they’re resetting all expectations for what a beach day can be with private destination Perfect Day at CocoCay. And when Harmony of the Seas and Symphony of the Seas begin sailing there May 2019, you’ll be hard pressed to find a bolder vacation. D R E N CH ED I N F U N Get ready for gallons of adventure in the heart of the island, Thrill Waterpark — home to North America’s tallest waterslide, Daredevil’s Peak, a 135-foot plunge. And that’s just one of 13 slides across two towers. At Daredevil’s Tower, you can race a friend down the twin Dueling Demons

You’ll find another set of adventures at Thrill Waterpark’s other set of slides designed for multiple riders. On The Slingshot, four can share a raft and a zero-gravity moment before freefalling. Grab a buddy for the winding tube slide, The Twister. Or unleash your competitive side on the four-lane Splash Speedway.

with an addictively frightful drop. Plummet down

And no visit to Thrill Waterpark will be complete without a dip in the largest wave

the near-vertical Screeching Serpent. And if

pool in the Caribbean.

you dare, brave the coils of the twisting, turning Green Mamba slide.

The kids can leave their cares behind at Splashaway Bay with fountains, sprinklers, geysers and water cannons, plus five slides. All in all, no island has more ways to get soaked.

BO LD BEAC H BO UN D BLIS S Perfect Day at CocoCay will be more than slides and rides — the beach areas make the island the ultimate sun soaking escape. Chill Island

Up, Up and Away helium balloon that gives

maxes out the relaxation while South Beach is the go-to spot for those who like to get their game on. Volleyball, beachside basketball, paddle boarding, kayaking, and even zorbing amp up the excitement. Be sure to refuel over burgers, sandwiches, salads and more at the complimentary Snack Shacks throughout the island. And to quench your thirst, wade on over

“view from the top” a whole new meaning.

to the floating bar just offshore.

WAY A BOVE O RDIN ARY But you don’t have to get wet to enjoy the fun. Take things up a notch on a zip line with the only water landing in the Bahamas. Or go up to 450 feet above land and sea onboard the Cap t ain Jack’s Gal l eo n

Chi l l I s l and

Fo r more in for ma t ion p le a s e c ontact yo u r Ensemble- member travel agent.

Images and messaging for Perfect Day at CocoCay reflect current design concepts and may include artistic renderings. All destination features and experiences, and related delivery timing for these features, are currently in development and are subject to change without notice. Coco Beach Club is scheduled to open December 2019. Perfect Day and CocoCay are trademarks of Royal Caribbean. ©2018 Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Ships’ registry: The Bahamas. 18062892 • 06/25/2018.

3:04PM

The moment afternoon tea wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t about the tea. The pastries and cakes are exquisite. The tea selection is simply unrivaled. The soaring ceilings and elegant decor of The Savoyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Thames Foyer make for a truly grand setting. But at Fairmont, we know that what really makes afternoon tea a timeless tradition at our hotels is the chance to pause, unwind and connect. Contact your Ensemble Travel Group Specialist to find your Fairmont moment.

Santorini, Greece

Explore Unrivaled Voyages.

TRAVEL DEEPER WITH OUR COUNTRY-INTENSIVE VOYAGES Azamara Club Cruises® invites you to fall in love with Europe and the Mediterranean one unforgettable country at a time. Our Country-Intensive Voyages inspire exploration with fully immersive itineraries consisting of most, if not all, stops in port in one single country, making for a unique way to dive deep into some of the world’s most intriguing nations like Spain, France, Greece and Italy. It’s about experiences that reveal unfamiliar scents, melodies unheard, textures untouched, and locals who soon become friends. Our Destination Immersion® experiences invite you to immerse yourself in new cultures, discover hidden gems, and explore uncharted territories. With overnight stays and docking at smaller, less traveled ports, we welcome you to step ashore as an insider. Explore FurtherSM For more information please contact your Ensemble-member travel agent.

FRENCH WINE REGIONS you should discover now

by ROBIN CHERRY

The regions of Jura, Alsace, Savoie, and Languedoc – and the island of Corsica – are less wellknown than the juggernauts of Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, and Provence, but wine experts think it’s time for that to change. Here’s an introduction to some undiscovered gems that you should consider tasting … or visiting.

Ensemble Vacations Fall 2018 57

TO U R

JURA Jura, located in eastern France between Burgundy and Switzerland, is one of France’s smallest and most obscure wine regions, but it’s becoming the darling of young, hip sommeliers. The region is known for its eccentric wine varieties and its most wellknown, savagnin, is used to make Jura’s greatest wine: the sherry-like Vin Jaune (yellow wine). Jura’s most famous Vin Jaune comes from the ancient appellation of ChâteauChalon, and is considered the Grand Cru of Vin Jaune as it represents the peak of its elegance, complexity, and ageworthiness. Château-Chalon is not a single estate, but rather the name of the beautiful hilltop village

58 Ensemble Vacations Fall 2018

where the wine is made. The enduring success of the Vin Jaune can be credited to the high-born abbesses of the Benedictine Abbey who had to prove noble birth for four generations to be admitted to the abbey. The nuns’ royal connections ensured that the wines were distributed throughout the noble courts of Europe. Henri IV of France (1553-1610) was a fan and the wine was served at the coronations of both Tsar Nicholas II and Queen Juliana of Holland. When Napoleon was sharing a drink at Johannisberg Castle with the Austrian foreign minister Klemens von Metternich, he declared “Here, you serve the best wine in the world.” “Sire,”

von Metternich replied, ”the best wine in the world is not from Johannisberg, but it is found in a small town in your empire, at Chateau-Chalon.” In recent years, Jura’s wines have appeared on the wine lists of such revered US restaurants as The French Laundry and Eleven Madison Park, and earlier this year, a vintage bottle of Vin Jaune from 1774 sold for $121,000 – almost twice the previous price paid. While wines from Bordeaux and Burgundy have often sold for extraordinary prices, those from other regions didn’t sell as well. Until now.

ALSACE Alsace is probably the best-known of the country’s lesser-known wine regions, but has long been considered one of the world’s greatest and most under appreciated wine regions. This strip of land is tucked in northeastern France by the German border and its top wineries have been run by the same families for almost 400 years. Today, the latest generation is determined to rejuvenate the wines and their reputation so that they will no longer be known as “the best wines you’ve never tasted.” Alsace is best known for white wines, especially dry

riesling, gewürztraminer, and pinot gris, but it’s also increasingly respected for its pinot noirs. The region also produces a lovely sparkling wine, Crémant d’Alsace. Since Alsace has been passed between France and Germany for centuries, it is not entirely French or German, and its wines possess elements of each. Jean Frédéric Hugel, the 13th generation to work for Hugel & Fils, believes that the region’s biggest challenge is restoring its style. People used to know what to expect from Alsace – a dry riesling or a

food-friendly gewürztraminer – but today winemakers are churning out too many quaffable, sweet wines. He also noted that while sommeliers and the wine trade already love Alsatian wines, that passion has yet to trickle down to the consumer. Matty Colston, wine director at Chicago’s Parachute restaurant, enjoys introducing his customers to Alsatian wines because they complement the region’s hearty, rustic cuisine so beautifully. “If you’re curious about the marriage of food and wine, Alsace is mecca,”

he says. “The high acidity of riesling will slice right through fatty pork sausage, but sidle up nicely to the zing of sauerkraut.” Alsace’s capital, Strasbourg, is beloved for canals lined with half-timbered houses and window boxes overflowing with geraniums. Its historic center, built around a stunning Gothic cathedral, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. Last year, the designation was extended to include the “new” town that was designed and built under the German administration between 1871 and 1918.

Guests on Viking’s Rhine River cruises can explore the Alsatian wine regions on an excursion from Strasbourg. The trip includes a drive into wine country and a winery stop where a local winemaker will give you a cellar tour and wine tasting. Weather permitting, the winemaker will take guests through the vineyards and explain the region’s history of harvesting and wine making. Ensemble Vacations Fall 2018 59

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SAVOIE This Alpine region neighbors Jura and Switzerland and is best known for its white wines – 70% of all wine produced here is white. The three best-known grapes are Jacquère, Roussanne and Altesse. Jacquère, Savoie’s most widely planted variety, is crisp, dry, and low in alcohol. It’s also one of the predominant grape varieties in the new Crémant de Savoie appellation, a sparkling wine that was introduced in 2015. Decanter magazine’s Andrew Jefford believes that Crémant de Savoie may prove to be “the most choice and delicate of France’s Crémants.” The term “crémant” refers to French sparkling wines made outside Champagne. In contrast, Roussanne produces rich, aromatic wines backed by powerful acidity. Roussanne is known as Bergeron in Savoie, and one of the region’s best wines is 60 Ensemble Vacations Fall 2018

Chignon-Bergeron from the village of Chignin. Tranquil Chignin is surrounded by the ruins of four ancient, ivy-draped towers and its vineyards are carved into high, rocky slopes.

LANGUEDOC It’s a bit surprising that Languedoc

Altesse has existed in Savoie since 1393 and like Roussanne, is age-worthy and rich with intense minerality. Altesse tends to produce wines that become very elegant as they age. In France, Savoie is a short drive from Italy and has a strong Italian feel. Chambéry, Savoie’s capital, has narrow streets punctuated with grand Italianate architecture. The region’s hearty cuisine is dominated by cheese and potatoes and its specialty, tartiflette, is a bacon-infused potato gratin that the late, great Anthony Bourdain cited as evidence that “you can never have too much cheese, bacon, or starch.”

isn’t better known, as it’s the single largest wine-producing region in the world and is responsible for more than one third of all the grapes grown in France. During both World Wars, the region supplied French troops with their daily wine rations. Languedoc’s winemakers originally focused on quantity over quality, and the red wines produced were so pale and flavorless that they needed to mix them with hearty, dark-colored red wine imported from Algeria to render it drinkable. (After Algeria gained its independence from France, red wines from Italy and Spain were added.)

Until the 1990s, most of the wines produced in Languedoc were labeled “Vin du Table,” a term for France’s lowest quality wines. That label was retired in 2010 in favor of the less loaded term “Vin du France.” This is predominantly a red wine region, although it does produce some nice rosés and some interesting whites made from a combination of native Rhône varieties and the local varieties of Picpoul, Terret and Clairette. The bitter tannins of the gnarled, ancient vines of Carignan are still prevalent in Languedoc reds, but, according to British wine writer Jancis Robinson, “the proportion of so-called

CORSICA The Mediterranean island of Corsica,

‘improving varieties’ has increased considerably over the past twenty years. These include Grenache, Mourvèdre and, particularly, Syrah.” Languedoc’s most famous wine is La Grange des Pères, which has beaten many Bordeaux Grand Cru in blind tastings and yet costs ten to twenty times less. Robinson, who has a second home in Languedoc, refers to the region, affectionately, as “Provence without the tourists.” France-based, English journalist Anthony Peregrine calls Languedoc’s capital, Montpelier, “France’s most

seductive and underrated city.” The city center, the Place de la Comédie, is surrounded by Haussmann buildings and is one the largest pedestrian areas in Europe. The region is known for mussels and oysters which are divine with a glass or two of young, tangy Picpoul de Pinet. (Picpoul means “lip stinger,” a reference to the wine’s acidity.) It’s also home to the Camargue region, which produces beef that’s served in a traditional stew with red wine, black olives, and garlic. Gérard Bertrand, who owns eleven vineyards in the area, offers tours and tastings at his estate, Chateau l’Hospitalet.

best known as the birthplace of Napoleon, is just starting to attract attention for its excellent wines after decades of producing cheap plonk. The island’s terroir offers an array of seeming contradictions. The climate is both maritime and continental; influenced by both the mountains and the sea. It is buffeted constantly by two winds: the cold dry Mistral from the northwest and the hot Sirocco from the Sahara Desert in the south. Over the last 40 years, winemakers have worked hard to recover indigenous Corsican grapes that many feared had gone extinct. It was just around 40 years ago that Corsican native Antoine Arena shocked his parents when he quit law school in Paris to return home to the family vineyards on Corsica. Today, Arena is known for his white Vermentino wines, seven of which have scored 90 points or higher in Wine Spectator blind tastings in the last decade.

In addition to Vermentino, indigenous Corsican varieties Sciaccarello and Nielluccio (identical to Italy’s Sangiovese) are increasingly popular. While most of Corsica’s wine is sold under the cleverly named IGP (wine category) “L’Île de Beauté” (Island of Beauty), Arena also produces sweet strong wines that are labelled Muscat du Cap Corse. The island is blessed with many interesting sites including Napoleon’s birthplace, the ancient ruins at Filitosa which date back to 1500 BC, panoramic hiking trails, and almost 200 beaches. Like the island itself, Corsican cuisine varies widely, from delicate seafood to civet de sanglier, a hearty stew of wild boar, chestnuts, red wine and fennel. To plan your trip to these French wine regions, contact your Ensemble Travel Group Specialist. Ensemble Vacations Fall 2018 61

SA IL THE WOR LD’S GR E AT R I V ER S.

Only with Viking

Grand European Tour

Destination focused.

Amsterdam to Budapest • 15 Days From $4,799 per person* Rhine Getaway Amsterdam to Basel • 8 Days

Award-winning small ships. Serene Scandinavian spaces.

From $2,099 per person* Romantic Danube® Nuremberg to Budapest • 8 Days From $1,999 per person*

Cultural enrichment from ship to shore. The Thinking Person’s Cruise.®

Ask about Viking’s 2019 Early Booking Discount. 2-for-1 cruise fares plus international air discounts*. For more information, please contact your Ensemble-member travel agent.

*Note: Rhine Getaway price based on CAT E, select November 2019 Viking Longship sailings. Romantic Danube and Grand European Tour prices based on CAT F, select November 2019 Viking Longship sailings. All prices are in US dollars and for US residents only and are based on double occupancy. 2-for-1 cruise and international air discounts are considered a single offer. International air does not have to be purchased to get cruise offer. Air offers valid on all North American gateways except Alaska, Hawaii, San Juan and Mexico City. Prices are based on lowest at time of print and subject to change without notice. Must request offer at time of booking. Pay in full by current cruise and air promotions’ expiration date. Valid on new bookings only as of 9/1/18, subject to availability and may not be combinable with any other offers except Past Guest Travel Credit and Referral Rewards Credit. Viking reserves the right to correct errors and to change any and all fares, fees and surcharges at any time. Additional terms and conditions may apply; see Passenger Ticket Contract at vikingrivercruises.com. Offer expires 11/31/18. CST# 2052644-40

THE CRUISE FOR PEOPLE WHO AREN’T ESPECIALLY INTO CRUISES.

A thousand-year-old village. A river of lights. A memory time can’t extinguish. Leave the crowds behind on a small, lovely ship, and lose yourself in the wonders of an authentic culture. We can take you places other ships can’t. Contact your Ensemble Travel Professional for more information. Star Legend, Hoi An Village, Vietnam.

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ITALY’S ISLE OF

Ischia

Called “the other Capri,” Ischia is now in spotlight for its role in a new HBO series

Known for its thermal hot springs, ocean views and superb cuisine, the island of Ischia is featured in the new HBO series, My Brilliant Friend. The series, based on Italian author Elena Ferrante’s international bestseller, takes place in Naples and Ischia. by MICHAEL SHAPIRO

In one scene from Elena Ferrante’s Neopolitan novels, at the seaside Chiesa del Soccorso (Church of the Rescue) on Ischia’s west coast, the protagonist, a young woman named Lenu, is told by her friend that she’ll never forget the view. Spanning Mount Epomeo (2,589 feet above sea level), the whitewashed church built in 1837 (considered new in ancient Ischia) and the indigo waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea are a view worth remembering. And it’s emblematic of what makes the island so appealing.

While the nearby island of Capri may be better known, Italians prefer Ischia for its homespun appeal. You’ll go to restaurants where the owner will ask if you’d like him to make his special pasta, relax in private tubs filled with Ischia’s mineral-rich thermal waters, and visit wineries that date back to the ancient Greeks and Romans. After flying to Rome, then taking a 70-minute train ride to Naples and the ferry to Ischia, arrive at Ischia’s renowned 5-star Ensemble Vacations Fall 2018 65

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La Mortella, a botanical garden, is replete with birdsong and Ischia’s signature volcanic green tufa stone.

hotel, the L’Albergo della Regina Isabella, where Liz Taylor and Richard Burton stayed decades ago. Separate suites, with a connecting door, are named after them. Travelers have come to Ischia for centuries to soak in the volcanic island’s healing waters. At spas throughout the island, therapists offer circulation-stimulating massages, cleansing facials, purifying mud wraps, hydro massages and ozone treatments. You can even walk on stones for reflexology. After soothing spa treatments you'll be ready to explore this verdant island. La Mortella, a botanical garden, is replete with birdsong and Ischia’s signature volcanic green tufa stone. Some people think Ischia is called the Green Isle because it’s so lush, but the name derives from the tufa. La Mortella was the home of British composer William Walton and his family, who came to Ischia in the mid20th century and grew lemons ideal for limoncello, as well as ferns, bromeliads and lavender. Fragrant cascades of rosemary tumble over the garden’s stone walls as yellow butterflies provide streaks of color in motion. Honeysuckle perfumes the air. A guide encourages guests not to rush. 66 Ensemble Vacations Fall 2018

“We have slow time here,” she says. “Piano, piano.” (Piano is the Italian word for slow.) In Lacco Ameno, in northwestern Ischia, you'll learn that 2,800 years ago a massive Greek temple dedicated to Apollo stood here. A Greek artifact known as Nestor’s Cup, found during excavations, says that whoever drank from the vessel would be under the spell of Aphrodite. At Lacco Ameno, board a boat and motor past beaches where the thermal waters are so hot you can hard-boil eggs. You’ll pass Chitarra, a thermal hotspot that plays a role in the second book of Ferrante’s Neapolitan novels – it’s where Lila goes to get treatments because her husband believes they will help her get pregnant.

At L’Arca, the gnocchi with pumpkin, wild fennel and clams is a standout.

The boat tour ends in the Bay of Maronte at Sant’angelo, a thermal center that dates to Roman times, some 2,000 years ago. The tranquil car-free village feels like a mid20th-century relic, where restaurant tables with umbrellas spill onto the piazza.

has turned a former home into a restaurant and small vineyard. Larger than life, Ciro looks like a chef from Maurice Sendak’s In the Night Kitchen. He’ll probably ask if you want to try some wine made from his grapes and if you want your pasta the Italian way, a bit al dente, or cooked a little more. The gnocchi with pumpkin, wild fennel and clams is a standout. After a parade of local specialties, Ciro might bring out his homemade thyme liqueur, called Pipernia. It’s unusual but delicious!

For lunch head up to Ischia’s southern hills to L’Arca where proprietor Ciro Mattera

On a small island connected to Ischia by a short bridge is Castello Aragonese d’Ischia.

NAPLES: the world’s best pizza

Castello Aragonese d’Ischia From atop of this formidable castle you can see a dozen volcanoes, including one that erupted in 1301 and destroyed the old city of Ischia. Built in the late 1400s and early 1500s to help residents defend against pirates, the castle has frescoes inspired by Giotto, and from its upper floors you can see the Gulf of Naples. It’s open to visitors who wish to stay there. If you book it for the night, you’ll get the keys to the castle.

Near Ischia’s port is a wine shop called Perrazzo Vini d’Ischia established in 1880. Ischia’s wine culture dates back almost 3,000 years – the back of the store connects to caves built by Romans to keep wine cool. The temperature stays between 59 (winter) and 64 degrees Fahrenheit (summer), the proprietor says. “We call it nature’s air conditioning.” The dimly lit cave is filled with racks of dusty bottles and antique pressing and bottling equipment – it’s a window into the island’s wine-making past.

Negombo Hydrothermal Park Pool

Modern pizza came of age in the city Italians call Napoli, a hardscrabble metropolis that serves as the embarkation point for the ferry to Ischia. You can get a savory pizza for just a few euro ($7 to $10). A Margherita pizza, cooked in a wood-fired oven, is simple but perfect: thin crust topped with fresh tomatoes, basil and mozzarella — red, green and white — the colors of the Italian flag. There are dozens of great pizzerias; a reliable choice is Dal Presidente, Via Tribunale 120, Napoli. Tel. 081/296-710.

For a dinner you’ll long remember, celebrate at Indaco, the Michelin star restaurant in the Regina Isabella hotel. The name comes from the color of the sea at sunset (indigo) and the restaurant, helmed by chef Pasquale Palamara, focuses on the ocean’s bounty. A fresh local fish course is served on an edible “map” of the island. The dishes are garnished with local tomatoes, lemons and herbs – flavors, scents and tastes from all over Ischia, an evocation of place on a plate. Soon you’ll be back on the ferry, chugging toward the hustle and bustle of Naples or Rome, but for now, there’s no rush; you can savor every moment. As they say on Ischia, “piano, piano.” b

To plan your trip to Ischia, please contact your Ensemble Travel Group Specialist. Ensemble Vacations Fall 2018 67

Experience the very best of Ireland, Scotland, England & Wales in 2019 with CIE Tours!

“We have just returned from Ireland, and it was absolutely wonderful. Our

Introducing our NEW Weekender Collection

tour guide, Liam, did a marvelous

Take a city break in London, Edinburgh or Dublin – you’ll get all the freedom of independent travel with the added bonus of the expert knowledge only CIE Tours can provide. Or if you’d prefer to visit Ireland’s top scenic highlights, check out Kickin’ Killarney, a more traditional guided vacation.

job from start to finish. He was both

Private Driver Vacations

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• We create customized itineraries with curated experiences – you travel your own way

tour exceeded our expectations in almost every way. I would highly

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• Fireworks & Fun: New Year’s Eve 2019 in London • Tartan & Toasts: New Year’s Eve 2019 in Edinburgh

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• The Wearing of the Green: Saint Patrick’s Day 2019 in Dublin

Over 50 award-winning Guided Vacations Book now & save 5% up to $800 per couple on 2019 guided vacations in Ireland & Britain!*

For more information please contact your Ensemble-member travel agent

* Book by 9/30/18 and pay a $500 per person deposit to save 5% on the land portion of 2019 guided vacations. Promotion Code: EARLY2019. Not combinable with any other CIE Tours offers or discounts, and not available on Group travel. Tours with stays in Edinburgh 8/2/19-8/24/19 during The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and tours in Ireland during St. Patrick’s Day week are blacked out. Valid on new bookings only, may be withdrawn at any time, are subject to availability and other conditions may apply. Call for details.

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Between the Paws of the Sphinx

Visions of Egypt by Small Ship

• 12 nights touring Egypt, including a 5-night Nile cruise aboard Oberoi Zahra

• 8 nights touring Egypt, including a 4-night Nile cruise aboard Oberoi Philae

• Round trip Cairo

• Now through March 12, 2020

• Now through December 12, 2020

• From $7,599 per person, luxury cabin

• From $5,299 per person, luxury cabin

• Never more than 16 guests

Join our outstanding Egyptologists for this uniquely in-depth foray into the ancient world. Featuring 5 nights aboard the elegant Oberoi Zahra and luxury Four Seasons and Kempinski hotels in Alexandria and Cairo, you’ll discover the remarkable Temples of Ramses II at Abu Simbel, tour the fabled city of Cleopatra and Alexander the Great, visit all the sites along the Nile, and see all the antiquities of Cairo and Giza.

With lavish staterooms and ﬁne dining, life onboard the sleek and modern Oberoi Philae is matched only by the fabled ancient sites you’ll explore along the Nile with our top-notch Egyptologists. We exclusively combine your 4-night cruise with Nile-view rooms at the luxury Kempinski boutique hotel in Cairo and two full days of expertly guided sightseeing. We even include roundtrip ﬂights to Abu Simbel to tour the must-see Temples of Ramses II.

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Free pre-tour night in Cairo at the luxury boutique Kempinski Nile Hotel with chauffeured airport transfer and breakfast. Plus, save $1,000 per couple ($500 per person) when you pay in full at time of booking. Book by December 31, 2018.

Dreams Palm Beach Punta Cana

Dreams Dominicus La Romana

• 3 nights Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

• 6 nights in Bayahibe, Dominican Republic

• November 1 December 15, 2018

• From $396 per person, Deluxe Tropical View Room

• From $642 per person, Deluxe Tropical View Room

• Unlimited-Luxury® Sip, Savor & See! Non-stop transfers included — an Apple Exclusive! Includes $200 in resort coupons per room!

• Unlimited-Luxury® Sip, Savor & See! Non-stop transfers included– an Apple Exclusive! Includes $200 in resort coupons per room!

Redeﬁned Luxury in a Palm-Studded Paradise. With lush tropical gardens and palm-studded beaches facing the turquoise Caribbean Sea, Dreams Palm Beach Punta Cana is an idyllic haven for couples and families alike. This AAA Four Diamond resort offers a world of pampering, pleasures, and adventures. Go far beyond the all-inclusive experience with Unlimited-Luxury®, where nearly everything is included.

The all-new Dreams Dominicus La Romana is set beachfront in Bayahibe – an ideal location to explore the region, or to just enjoy some rest and relaxation. Lounge by one of three pristine swimming pools or retreat to the expansive spa with peaceful gardens and hydrotherapy areas. Top championship golf courses are just minutes away as well as the most popular excursion in the country – Saona Island. Kids and teens can enjoy adventures, games, and social activities at the supervised Explorer’s Club for kids and Core Zone Teens Club.

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Ensemble Vacations Fall 2018 69

T R AV E L E R ’ S N O T E B O O K

Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa

Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa

• 5 nights in Maui, Hawaii

• 5 nights in Kauai, Hawaii

• Now through March 31, 2019

• From $1,089 per person, Resort View Room

• From $1,809 per person, Pool View Room

Set upon 40 oceanfront acres on Maui’s Ka’anapali Beach, Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa offers a true getaway in paradise. Romance is always in the air on Maui. And why shouldn’t it be? This is the best of both worlds, offering a unique blend of sophistication with a small town feel. From friendly people to special places, there’s plenty to discover between stops on Maui. Get inspired at #LetHawaiiHappen.

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Set along the soothing white sands of Poipu, the breathtaking Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa is balanced between magniﬁcent lush mountains and the azure sea. “Rejuvenating” is a word often used on Kauai, known for iconic spots like the soaring cliffs of the Napali Coast, the panoramic views of Waimea Canyon and the peaceful currents of the Wailua River. Rediscover a special connection to nature on this beautiful, island paradise. Get inspired at #LetHawaiiHappen.

Every 5th night Free plus daily buffet breakfast for two. Book now.

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Every 5th Night Free plus daily buffet breakfast for two. Book now.

THE ROYAL Playa del Carmen

Finest Playa Mujeres by Excellence Group

• Playa del Carmen, Mexico

• Cancun, Mexico • Now through June 30, 2019

• Now through June 30, 2019

• Ask us for current rates

This AAA Four-Diamond resort boasts lavish all-suite accommodations, all with private balconies or terraces and whirlpool tubs, plus special options such as swim-up suites and beachfront walkouts. Beach butlers and romance concierges provide heartfelt Royal Service® as you enjoy the exquisite cuisine of seven gourmet restaurants or sip a cocktail at one of the lounges. Endless options and ultimate luxury are all included in this adults-only resort.

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Save up to 68% off hotel rates. Book by October 31, 2018. Offer subject to change without notice, other restrictions may apply. For complete terms and conditions please visit http://ﬁles.ensembletravel.com/marketing/DVEVSep18.pdf

70 Ensemble Vacations Fall 2018

Surrounded by an oasis of pools and fringed by a two-mile beach, Finest Playa Mujeres by Excellence Group is the perfect destination for guests of all ages. This all-inclusive hideaway features 450 well-appointed guest suites, nine international dining options, 10 swimming pools, a state-of-the-art ﬁtness center and a rejuvenating spa.

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Guaranteed upgrade from Junior Suite Spa or Pool View to Finest Club Two-Story Rooftop Terrace Suite with Plunge Pool + 20% discount on spa services. Book by October 31, 2018. Offer subject to change without notice, other restrictions may apply. For complete terms and conditions please visit http://ﬁles.ensembletravel.com/marketing/DVEVSep18.pdf

For reservations, call us today.

Jewels of Alaska

Canadian Rockies & Paciﬁc Coast

• 7 days traveling around Alaska

• 14 days exploring the Canadian Rockies & Paciﬁc Coast

• Round trip Anchorage

• Vancouver to/from Seattle

• May 20 – September 2, 2019 • From $3,150 per person, twin share

• June 29, 2019 September 14, 2019

A haven for nature lovers, this US state is home to sweeping landscapes, calving glaciers and spectacular national parks. While here you’ll have the opportunity to explore the iconic Denali National Park and to immerse yourself in its natural beauty, which is abundant in wildlife and breathtaking views. You’ll have a range of stylish transportation options to see you through your trip, with the optional second half of your journey on board your Holland America cruise ship.

Discover the majestic landscapes, towering peaks, and sparkling turquoise lakes of the Canadian Rockies, teamed with the charming and sometimes quirky Paciﬁc Northwest. For the majority of the time you will be at the mercy of Mother Nature’s eye-popping palette, with a whole day at leisure in Banff National Park and free time in Jasper National Park. From taking a walk on the wild side at the Capilano Suspension Bridge to nourishing your palate at a waterfront celebration in Seattle.

• From $5,475 per person, twin share

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Save $100 per person. Book by October 31, 2018. Early Payment Discount: Book and pay in full by January 17, 2019 to save 10% on your journey.

Hard Rock Hotel Cancun – All-Inclusive

Iberostar Paraíso Maya – All-Inclusive

• 5 nights in Cancun, Mexico

• 5 nights in Riviera Maya, Mexico

• December 6 – 11, 2018

• From $1,432 per person, Deluxe Gold King Room

• From $996 per person, Junior Suite

To live like a rock star means never being far away from the action. Lucky for you, the all-inclusive Hard Rock Hotel Cancun puts you right in the middle of it. Located in the heart of Cancun’s Hotel Zone, the hotel pays homage to a lifestyle of excess and unsurpassed services. It’s almost time to see the show in Cancun.

Overlooking sun-warmed Playa Paraiso beach, the AAA Four Diamond Iberostar Paraíso Maya blends breathtaking Mayan architecture with equally spectacular all-inclusive amenities: numerous dining venues, free wi-ﬁ, a kids’ club and waterpark, a lazy river, Riviera Maya’s only wave pool, archery lessons, parasailing, volleyball, bicycles, tennis, and tons more. Family friendly extras include babysitting, a scuba dive center, plus soothing chocolate wraps, Caribbean braids, and Maya Imperial spa massages.

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Guaranteed One Room Category Upgrade, plus $1,500 Limitless Resort Credit (per room, per stay). Book by October 31, 2018.

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Exclusive Room Upgrade, plus $400 Resort Credit (per room, per stay). Book by October 31, 2018.

Ensemble Vacations Fall 2018 71

T R AV E L E R ’ S N O T E B O O K

South Island Motorhome Self Drive

North Island Self Drive

• 13 days in New Zealand

• Now through March 31, 2019

• From $3,229 per person, including airfare & 11-day Maui Motorhome including insurance

• From $4,799 per person, King Rooms, including airfare

Explore the South Island of New Zealand at your own pace on this Self Drive Motorhome Package, where you can really experience the true essence of small town New Zealand while taking in the big heart of its culture and people. There’s no better way to explore New Zealand, than at your own pace!

Discover the North Island of New Zealand at your own pace on this Self Drive itinerary. From the iconic Auckland Sky Tower views of Viaduct Harbour to the diverse town of Taupo — distinguished by its lakefront setting and outdoor sports, the vast waters of Lake Taupo drain into the Huka Falls, dramatic, crystal-blue cascades reachable by hiking and biking trails. Taste the amazing wines in the Hawke’s Bay, discover the art deco landmarks of Napier. There is something for everyone!

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A New Destination on the Danube

Charms of the Mekong

• 7 nights cruising the Danube River aboard AmaMagna

• 7 nights cruising the Mekong River aboard AmaDara

• Budapest to/from Vilshofen

• Ho Chi Minh City to Prek Kdam

• May – December, 2019

• January – December, 2019

• From $3,208 per person, River View Room

• From $3,148 per person, River View Room

Embark on one of four magniﬁcent journeys aboard the new AmaMagna and sail through the heart of fascinating destinations along the legendary Danube River. Experience the wonder of timeless cities such as Prague, Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest. Indulge in the ﬂavors of Austria’s renowned Wachau Valley wine region. Take in breathtaking UNESCO World Heritage Sites and let Europe’s world-famous Christmas Markets cast their magical spell on you. No matter which itinerary you choose, you’ll surely be romanced by the storied Danube.

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$300 onboard credit per stateroom. Book by December 31, 2018.

THE HIGHEST RATED RIVER CRUISE SHIPS

72 Ensemble Vacations Fall 2018

Two lively cities, Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, provide the perfect start and end to your incredible journey. Cruise along the Mekong, visiting rural villages, historic pagodas, local markets and a Buddhist monastery where you’ll witness a special blessing by monks. Indulge your inner adventurer in Siem Reap, exploring the grand temples of Angkor Archeological Park. And luxuriate in an AmaWaterways’ Exclusive — an overnight sojourn on board an elegantly appointed ship in Ha Long Bay.

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$300 onboard credit per stateroom. Book by December 31, 2018.

THE HIGHEST RATED RIVER CRUISE SHIPS

For reservations, call us today.

Western Caribbean

Eastern Caribbean

• 7 days cruising the Caribbean aboard Carnival Magic®

• 7 days cruising the Caribbean aboard Carnival Glory®

• Round trip Miami

• December 9 – 16, 2018

• January 5 – 12, 2019

• From $669 per person, Balcony Stateroom

• From $829 per person, Balcony Stateroom

Cozumel is one of Carnival’s top destinations, and millions of folks cruise there every year. But now, with Cozumel Plus, these sailings spend more time in port, unlocking exclusive shore excursions that take you exploring further and adventuring more. See spots like the Tulum Ruins, Secret River, Chichen Itza Ruins, Xplor and Xcaret. This sailing also visits Belize, Mahogany Bay, and Grand Cayman.

We don’t have proof, but evidence suggests that the Caribbean was made for cruising. This evidence is all around you — you’ll ﬁnd in the Caribbean air, the sand and the water. A Carnival Caribbean cruise takes you to some of the coolest little hotspots…stretching across the world’s designated hotspot. Eastern Caribbean ports of call include Half Moon Cay, St. Thomas, San Juan and Amber Cove.

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Early Saver fares plus $50 onboard credit per stateroom. Book by October 31, 2018.

China & South Korea

French Riviera & Dalmatian Coast

• 14 days cruising Asia aboard Celebrity Millennium®

• 10 days cruising Europe aboard Celebrity Constellation®

• Hong Kong to Shanghai

• Barcelona to Venice

• March 16 – 30, 2019

• July 18 – 28, 2019

• From $2,399* per person, AquaClass Stateroom

• From $3,499* per person, AquaClass Stateroom

* Taxes, fees and port expenses of $174.55 per person are additional and subject to change.

* Taxes, fees and port expenses of $140.54 per person are additional and subject to change.

Discover a region of natural beauty that takes your breath away, ﬂavors that thrill your palate like never before, and cultural experiences that open your eyes to a whole new world. Our Asia vacations offer something for every discerning world traveler. Explore this must-see corner of the world on our gorgeously redesigned Celebrity Millennium®.

Discover a fascinating wonder in Europe daily on a European cruise vacation. Stroll the storied streets of Paris, dine in Barcelona’s famous La Rambla, and relax on a gondola ride through the waterways of Venice. Our European cruises bring you up close to the most breathtaking cities on the continent. By day, you’ll explore some of the continent’s most iconic landmarks, and by night, visit a wine bar or sample the local cuisine. Broaden your horizons as you set sail on a new adventure to a new city every day.

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Book an Aqua Class or Concierge Class cabin and receive $100 Shore Excursion Credit per stateroom. Book by December 31, 2018.

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Book an Aqua Class or Concierge Class cabin and receive $100 Shore Excursion Credit per stateroom. Book by December 31, 2018.

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T R AV E L E R ’ S N O T E B O O K

Rio Rendezvous – Wine & Food Festival Cruise • 19 days cruising South America aboard Crystal Symphony

Sizzling Samba & Tango • 10 days cruising South America aboard Crystal Symphony • Rio de Janeiro to Buenos Aires

• New Orleans to Rio de Janeiro • January 5 - 24, 2019

• January 24 – February 3, 2019

• From $3,845* per person, Deluxe Stateroom

• From $3,170* per person, Deluxe Stateroom

* Fares include gratuities, unlimited ﬁne wines, champagnes, premium spirits, and beers; unlimited WiFi, and much more.

Sail with Crystal Cruises onboard the Crystal Symphony for our Wine & Food Festival, from New Orleans to Rio de Janeiro in January, 2019. Discover the rhythmic jazz of Bourbon Street, the idyllic isles of the Caribbean, the allure of Brazil’s famous beaches, from Copacabana and Ipanema to the Costa Azul, as you voyage across warm tropical waters.

Experience the best of South America in all-inclusive luxury with Crystal Cruises. Sway to the sounds of samba on world-famous beaches and learn the secrets of tango during culturally immersive overnight stays in Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires; marvel at impressive colonies of fur seals and sea lions off the coast of Punta del Este.

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

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

Alaska, by Cunard

Iceland Crossing

• 10 days cruising Alaska aboard Queen Elizabeth®

• 14 days on a transatlantic cruise aboard Queen Mary 2®

• Round trip Vancouver

• Southampton to New York

• June 10 – 19, 2019 • From $8,499 per person, Queens Grill Stateroom

• July 14 – 28, 2019

Starting and ending in Vancouver, experience ten tantalizing days of Alaskan adventure cruising past 1,000 year old gigantic glaciers and stunning wildlife. Cruise by the Inside Passage and either Tracy Arm Fjord or Endicott Arm revealing breathtaking sights before exploring Alaska’s historic ports.

New for 2019, combine the classic crossing with discovery days in maiden port Reykjavik, Iceland. This 14 night cruise from Southampton visits Liverpool and reaches New York via Canada and Halifax, Nova Scotia where you will dock alongside another impressive Cunard Queen.

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• From $10,899 per person, Queens Grill stateroom

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

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

For reservations, call us today.

Premiere Voyage

Western Caribbean Holiday

• 14 days on a transatlantic cruise aboard Nieuw Statendam

• 7 days cruising the Caribbean aboard Nieuw Statendam • Round trip Fort Lauderdale

• Rome to Fort Lauderdale • December 5 – 19, 2018

• December 30, 2018 – January 6, 2019

• From $1,499 per person, Ocean View Stateroom

• From $1,599 per person, Ocean View Stateroom

Be among the ﬁrst on our next Pinnacle-class ship Nieuw Statendam. Her inaugural season starts with crossing the Atlantic on her Premiere Voyage from Rome. Be inspired by the sophisticated interplay between modern technology and timeless comfort. Immerse yourself in a wide array of entertainment and enrichment options from our dazzling World Stage to BLEND by Chateau Ste Michelle. All while you encounter fascinating lands and cultures and make lasting memories on a Holland America Line cruise.

The holidays are a wonderful time of the year, and we’re inviting you to make them even more magical with Holland America Line. Our newest ship, Nieuw Statendam combines classic style with contemporary appointments, engaging experiences and carefully crafted Caribbean itineraries. Stroll the palm-fringed beaches of the Caribbean and ﬁnd out what “Jingle Bells” sounds like played by a steel drum band. With Holland America Line, the world is yours to discover.

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Up to $50 onboard spending money per stateroom and a Pinnacle Grill lunch for two. Book now.

Up to $50 onboard spending money per stateroom. Book now.

Southern Caribbean Seafarer

Eastern Caribbean

• 10 days cruising the Caribbean aboard Nieuw Statendam

• 7 days cruising the Caribbean aboard Nieuw Statendam

• Round trip Fort Lauderdale

• January 20 – 30, 2019

• April 14 – 20, 2019

• From $1,599 per person, Ocean View Stateroom

• From $1,099 per person, Ocean View Stateroom

Our newest ship, Nieuw Statendam combines classic style with contemporary appointments, engaging experiences and carefully crafted Caribbean itineraries. Stroll the palm-fringed beaches and experience this sun-washed region in elegant comfort as only Holland America Line can show it to you. You’ll encounter islands like our own Half Moon Cay, ﬁlled with sparkling possibilities, while enjoying an exceptional cruise experience that is second to none.

Our newest ship, Nieuw Statendam combines classic style with contemporary appointments, engaging experiences and carefully crafted Caribbean itineraries. You’ll encounter islands like our own Half Moon Cay, ﬁlled with sparkling possibilities, while enjoying an exceptional cruise experience that is second to none. Our midsized ship serves as your luxurious hotel and home base, featuring expansive public spaces, award-winning restaurants and elegant staterooms.

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Up to $50 onboard spending money and a plate of chocolate dipped strawberries per stateroom. Book now.

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

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T R AV E L E R ’ S N O T E B O O K

Southern Caribbean

Western Caribbean

• 10 days cruising the Caribbean aboard Norwegian Dawn

• 10 days cruising the Caribbean aboard Norwegian Epic

• Round trip San Juan

• Round trip Port Canaveral

• December 6, 2018 & January 17, 2019

• December 5, 2018 & January 23, 2019

• From $1,349 per person, Balcony Stateroom

• From $899 per person, Balcony Stateroom

Set sail from San Juan for the crystal blue waters of the Southern Caribbean. With stops in Grenada, Barbados, St. Lucia, Martinique, Dominica, St. Kitts, Antigua and Tortola you will experience the best of the Southern Caribbean. Visit the Pitons, snorkel in Virgin Gorda or relax on a pristine beach. When you cruise with Norwegian you are free to vacation on your terms.

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Set sail from Port Canaveral for the best the Western Caribbean has to offer. Climb Dunn’s River Falls in Jamaica. Relax on Grand Cayman’s Seven Mile Beach. Discover The Caribbean’s newest resort-style destination Harvest Caye in Belize or learn all about the Mayans in Mexico. When you cruise with Norwegian you are free to vacation on your terms.

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Up to $200 Onboard Credit per stateroom plus Free At Sea Amenities. Book now.

Bahamas & Florida

Western Caribbean

• 7 days cruising the Bahamas & Florida aboard Norwegian Escape

• 7 days cruising the Caribbean aboard Norwegian Getaway

• Round trip New York

• February 10 & March 17, 2019

• Round trip Miami

• November 4, 2018 & March 3, 2019

• From $1,299 per person, Balcony Stateroom

• From $999 per person, Balcony Stateroom

Depart from New York aboard one of Norwegian’s newest ships, Norwegian Escape. With stops near Orlando’s famous theme parks as well as a day in our private island Great Stirrup Cay this cruise has something for everyone. Snorkel, parasail or simply relax on a white sand beach. When you cruise with Norwegian you are free to vacation on your terms.

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Up to $100 Onboard Credit per stateroom plus Free At Sea Amenities. Book now.

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Cruise the Western Caribbean on the award-winning Norwegian Getaway and enjoy all the choices and ﬂexibility that comes with Freestyle Cruising. With stops in Roatan, The Caribbean’s newest resort-style destination — Harvest Caye, and Mexico you can swim with the dolphins, snorkel, sail on a catamaran, paddleboard or simply relax on a beach. When you cruise with Norwegian you are free to vacation on your terms.

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Up to $100 Onboard Credit per stateroom plus Free At Sea Amenities. Book now.

For reservations, call us today.

Alaska Cruisetour

British Isles with Dublin Overnight

• 11 nights: 7 nights cruising Alaska aboard Royal Princess® and 4 nights land

• 12 days cruising the British Isles aboard Crown Princess®

• Vancouver to Fairbanks

• July 24 – August 5, 2019

• Round trip London

• May 11 – 22, 2019

• From $3,099 per person, Balcony Stateroom

• From $2,430 per person, Balcony Stateroom

Alaska Cruisetours are the ultimate Alaska experience — a vacation combining an unforgettable 7-day Voyage of the Glaciers cruise with 4 nights exploring Alaska by land. Every Alaska Cruisetour includes the state’s top two attractions — pristine Glacier Bay National Park and picturesque Denali National Park, home to North America’s tallest peak. On land, you’ll stay at exclusive Princess Wilderness Lodges near legendary national parks.

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Enter lands where fairy-tale castles inspired Shakespeare, where the Lads from Liverpool launched a British invasion and where the elusive Nessie calls home. Experience the heart of Scotland at Edinburgh’s famed castle, or join friendly locals for a pint at a pub in Dublin. Ports of call include Cork, Dublin, Liverpool, Belfast, Glasgow (Greenock), Invergordon, Edinburgh (South Queensferry), and Paris/Normandy (Le Havre).

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Receive $60 onboard credit per stateroom plus 3 for Free offer: Free Stateroom Location Upgrade, Free Gratuities, and Free Onboard Spending Money. Book by November 19, 2018.

Southern Islands and Northern Japan with Nebuta Festival

Mediterranean

• 16 days cruising Japan aboard Diamond Princess®

• 7 days cruising the Mediterranean aboard Emerald Princess® • Barcelona to Rome

• Round trip Tokyo

• June 29 – July 4, 2019

• July 19 – August 4, 2019

• From $1,809 per person, Balcony Stateroom

• From $4,229 per person, Balcony Stateroom

Learn the ways of samurai warriors with a visit to Nagoya’s medieval castle. Enjoy an authentic “yakiniku” lunch in Sakaiminato. Observe as skilled artisans use native Tochigi bark, iron-rich mud and their own unique vision to create delicate pieces of pongee silk in Amami Oshima. Japan is a land of festivals, and on this sailing you will get an up-close look at the exquisite parade ﬂoats used in Aomori’s annual Nebuta festival.

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$85 onboard credit per stateroom plus 3 for Free offer: Free Stateroom Location Upgrade, Free Gratuities, and Free Onboard Spending Money. Book by November 19, 2018.

Sail from Barcelona to Rome and let Princess introduce you to the next port on the horizon like no one else can. On board, hear from speakers who offer personal knowledge of the destination’s history and culture. Get an insider’s guide to essential experiences and distinctive treasures. Explore on immersive shore excursions designed to satisfy every interest. We’ve partnered with a trusted team of local experts who will help you make the most of your experience with our Local Connections program.

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$50 onboard credit per stateroom plus 3 for Free offer: Free Stateroom Location Upgrade, Free Gratuities, and Free Onboard Spending Money. Book by November 19, 2018.

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T R AV E L E R ’ S N O T E B O O K

Flamenco Flourish

Unforgettable Mediterranean

• 10 nights cruising the Mediterranean aboard Seven Seas Voyager®

• Monte Carlo to Barcelona

• Venice to Monte Carlo

• May 14 – 24, 2019

• From $10,599 per person, G-Deluxe Veranda Suite

• June 15 – 25, 2019

• From $10,299 per person, G-Deluxe Veranda Suite

Begin your journey in comfort with FREE Roundtrip Business Class Air, then board the exceedingly luxurious and spaciously intimate Seven Seas Voyager®. From Barcelona’s sacred churches and architectural marvels to the earthy richness of Italy, participate in life at its fullest among the world’s greatest landscapes. You really can have it all with Regent Seven Seas Cruises®!

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Take in the beauty of the Mediterranean when she is in full bloom with Regent Seven Seas Cruises®. Every detail is taken care of from FREE shore excursions to gourmet dining and from unlimited beverages to WiFi throughout the ship and FREE Business Class air!

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$200 shipboard credit per suite. Book now.

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

Western Caribbean

Eastern Caribbean

• 7 nights cruising the Caribbean aboard Symphony of the SeasSM

• 7 nights cruising the Caribbean aboard Harmony of the Seas®

• Round-trip Miami

• Round-trip Orlando

• May 11 - 17, 2019

• May 19 – 25, 2019

• From $1,359 per person, Balcony Stateroom

• From $1,289 per person, Balcony Stateroom

This is not a cruise. This is the ultimate up-tempo adventure. It’s adrenaline amping thrills, like the 10-story test of your vocal chords — Ultimate AbyssSM. A new cast of showstoppers, including the most daring AquaTheater show yet, HiRO. And a whole new chorus of ﬂavors. This is Symphony of the SeasSM.

Depart right from Florida on an island-hopping expedition where the journey is just as thrilling as the destination — onboard one of the world’s most incredible ships, Harmony of the Seas®. It’s excitement drenched slides and rides. Family fun by the gallon. Shows that transcend the stage. And gourmet globetrotting from Italy to Wonderland. Only on Royal Caribbean®.

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Receive up to $50 Onboard Credit per stateroom. Book by October 31, 2018.

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Receive up to $50 Onboard Credit per stateroom. Book by October 31, 2018.

For reservations, call us today.

Exotic Caribbean In-Depth

Arabian Gems & Holy Land

• 14 days cruising the Caribbean aboard Seabourn Odyssey

• 18 days cruising Arabia aboard Seabourn Encore

• Round-trip Bridgetown

• May 8 – 26, 2019

• Dubai to Athens

• Select departures January 12 – March 23, 2019

• From $6,299 per person, Veranda Suite

• From $4,999 per person, Ocean View Suite

Hidden gems await you among the islands of the Caribbean Sea, where you will always ﬁnd an easy-going greeting and a warm welcome. Enjoy a “Caviar in the Surf®” beach party and barbeque in Carambola Beach, St. Kitts. Our gracious crew wade through turquoise water to serve you chilled caviar and icecold champagne. Experience Marina Day with complimentary watersports from our unique retractable marina including water skiing, pedal boats, and windsurﬁng, in select ports.

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The sea routes between West and East ferried tantalizing prizes across the ages, attracting intrepid travelers for centuries. See fortress-topped mountains looming over deep, clear fjords. In Oman and Dubai you will ﬁnd lush desert oases and bustling modern cities alike. Sailing here with Seabourn, savor past and present in a fascinating mélange of impressions. Deepen your discovery with optional shore excursions to UNESCO World Heritage Sites with enhanced content through our exclusive partnership.

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

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

Canada & New England

Caribbean

• 16 days cruising Canada and New England aboard Silver Wind

• 13 days cruising the Caribbean aboard Silver Spirit

• Montreal to Fort Lauderdale

• Round-trip Fort Lauderdale

• October 30 – November 15, 2018

• November 28 – December 11, 2018

• From $6,300 per person, Vista Suite

• From $5,700 per person, Vista Suite

With a chill in the air, leave the coast of eastern Canada and enjoy North America as it unfolds for you with Silversea. Dine on delicious snow crabs from the cold, crystal-clear waters off the Gaspé Peninsula, hike up Cadillac Mountain in Bar Harbour, and take a fascinating look plethora of species in the Saguenay River. Arrive in Florida with the sun on your shoulders and a wealth of new memories.

Dense, rain-forest clad hillsides, sparkling white beaches, and shimmering blue seas provide a treat for the senses on this magical voyage of the Caribbean’s ﬁnest destinations with Silversea. Far, far away from everyday life, you’ll drift into a world of tropical relaxation at St. Kitts, Tortola and Samana – seeing water that shifts from deep inky blue to blindingly turquoise as you stroll beautiful beaches.

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$300 onboard credit per person. Book now. Book by November 30, 2018 and enjoy Business Class Air for just $199 each way or Free Economy Class Air Roundtrip.

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$300 onboard credit per person. Book now. Book by November 30, 2018 and enjoy Free Economy Class Air Roundtrip.

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T R AV E L E R ’ S N O T E B O O K

Rhine Getaway

Danube Waltz

• 8 days cruising Europe aboard a state-of-theart Viking Longship

• Amsterdam to Basel

• Budapest to Passau

• Select departures throughout 2019

• From $2,099 per person, River View Stateroom

Overlook the Rhine from Germany’s best-preserved medieval castle. Discover the various culinary traditions of Alsace. Explore the Black Forest and visit a local workshop to see a cuckoo clockmaking demonstration. Turreted fortresses, grand cathedrals, historic cities, medieval towns and spectacular scenery of the Middle Rhine — little wonder that the Rhine is one of Europe’s bestloved rivers. From Amsterdam and Cologne to Basel, this 8-day journey reveals a rich landscape of beauty and culture.

Soak up soothing steam at a Budapest thermal bath. Learn to waltz at a Viennese dance school. Savor Austro-Hungarian cuisine in Vienna and Budapest. Admire the Wachau Valley’s beauty from your Viking Longship. Explore lesser-known Central European cities like Bratislava. Witness daily life in an abbey on an exclusive visit to Göttweig. This 8-day itinerary reveals the highlights of Budapest, Bratislava, Vienna and Passau, while cruising leisurely through spectacular scenery.

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$100 shipboard credit per stateroom plus 2019 Early Booking Discount, special cruise fares and international air discounts. Book by November 30, 2018.

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$100 shipboard credit per stateroom plus 2019 Early Booking Discount, special cruise fares and international air discounts. Book by November 30, 2018.

FOR ALL ENSEMBLE VACATIONS® 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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