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Destination MedCruise-21 24/9/08 12:25 Page 1 QUARTERLY SEPTEMBER 2008 ISSUE 21 Via Lisbon Roaming around Lisbon Independence of the Seas arriving in Lisbon earlier this year ed Tour offers self-guided The Port of Lisbon expects 310 cruise sightseeing circuits, using calls and around 370,000 passengers in Relectric vehicles, with a talking 2008, representing an increase of 21% in GPS audio guide providing cruise traffic compared to 2007. In 2009, information ranging from orientation the port has already 260 calls booked, and local facts to the best amenities which will bring around 360,000 and historical places. passengers. The circuits are self-guided which This year Lisbon will welcome 20 new means travellers have the freedom to drive visitors including Norwegian Jade, the vehicles themselves, although Red Tour Zuiderdam, MSC Poesia, Azamara Journey, can also arrange a driver, if requested in Ventura, Royal Princess, Independence of advance. The vehicles are fun and easy to the Seas, Balmoral, Carnival Splendor, drive. Red Tour has two and four seat Minerva, AIDAbella, Alexander von electric Buggies, Segways and Bicycles. Humboldt and Costa Serena. 63 ships are Three tours are offered on buggies: the scheduled to call in the 2008/09 winter Belem Tour, which takes you back to season. Portugal’s Golden Age, when Portuguese The Port Authority has started explorers ruled the seas; the Lisbon ‘Soho- construction of a new cruise quay in Santa Style’ Circuit around Chiado, a favourite Apolónia area at the heart of the city of shopping and residential area dating back Lisbon. A new cruise terminal is due to be to the 19th century and the third tour is ready in 2010, which will improve the way around Old Lisbon, covering one of Lisbon’s passengers and cruise ships will be oldest quarters. welcomed in Lisbon in future. Segway tours - freedom to roam the city Destination MedCruise-21 24/9/08 11:09 Page 2 DESTINATION MEDCRUISE – CROATIA Via Sibenik In full bloom ibenik recently saw the first renovation project, tourist visits to the attractive following the well- Smedieval gardens of the Sveti known layout of Lovro monastery. The gardens were medieval monastery completely revamped, with the pupils gardens, is the work of Sibenik’s First Private Secondary of renowned School taking part in its renewal. The Croatian landscape architect Dragutin Kis. Primosten - site of the new arboretum The Sveti Lovro monastery project for the creation of the first gardens cover an area of Mediterranean arboretum in Croatia. It will 600sq mtr with a cruciform be located on the Primosten area islet of path and a well at its hub, a Smokvica, in the vicinity of Sibenik. field hedged with boxwood, The Primosten Arboretum will feature and cypress trees at the edges the significant traditional flora of Dalmatia of the fields, old rose – about 20 old species of grape vine, olive varieties, citrus fruits and figs trees, fields of lavender, conifers and other with spices and medicinal varied Mediterranean flora, as well as plants herbs in the fields and capers from other parts of the world that are on the surrounding rocks. adaptable to the Croatian climate. Meanwhile, the Landscaping Especially attractive for visitors will be the Primosten Institute of the Zagreb Faculty range of summer fruits, in particular citrus of Agronomics has conceived a fruits and various types of bamboo. Via Zadar City sights The World alongside Zadar city he most popular tours taken the public this year. The 1,300mtr cave end of this year. The building will be by cruise passengers arriving in system, which is considered the most operational in a couple of years. Tto the 3,000 year old Croatian beautiful in Croatia, is just an hour away The Port of Zadar received 99 cruise calls port city of Zadar are St. Donat’s from the port. in 2008 bringing about 25,000 passengers. Church, The Sea Organ and The Project designs for a new passenger The Port Authority is expecting about 100 Monument to the Sun as well as terminal in Gazenica, 2 miles from Zadar calls in 2009. There are seven calls booked five national parks. old town, are almost finished and for the coming winter mainly smaller ships, Cerovacke Caves are newly opened to construction is expected to start at the such as Elegant Cruises’ Monet. www.medcruise.com Destination MedCruise-21 24/9/08 12:31 Page 3 DESTINATION MEDCRUISE – ITALY Via Messina Madre to view its fine 16th Century volcanoes. The most violent eruptions Sicilian scenery portal surrounded by a beautifully took place in 1910, leading to 23 carved oculus and the coat of arms additional craters being formed. In 1928, scenic drive runs inland from of Savoca, bearing the elderberry branch a lava flow destroyed the village of Messina to Savoca, which is from which the name of the town is Mascali and several other eruptions Aconsidered one of the most supposed to derive. Then on to Forza followed in the 1980’s and 1990’s. The attractive places in the vicinity of d'Agrò, an attractive medieval hamlet with most recent eruption was in 2005. Taormina. Bar Vitelli, with a a splendid view of the coast. Here in The harbour of Messina is located very gorgeous terrace, has a collection of 1990, Al Pacino and Sophia Coppola shot close to the city centre and the main photographs taken when Francis some scenes of the film ‘The Godfather: places of interest and shops can be Ford Coppola shot some scenes of Part III’. reached easily by foot from the cruise ‘The Godfather: Part II’. Mount Etna is Sicily's tallest peak and quays. Also close by are the Reggio A walk can be made to the Chiesa one of Europe's most famous active Calabria and Catania international airports. Taormina and Mt. Etna Via Naples A taste of Dolce Vita tour of the Amalfi Coast Ravello, that sits high up above the beginning from Naples and Amalfi Coast, enables you to call in at Atravelling along the scenic the famous Villa Cimbrone, where, from coastal road is a great experience. its terrace nicknamed ‘Terrace of Stroll around the narrow alleys of Infinity’ you can enjoy incredible views Positano, where delightful white of the coast. and pastel-coloured houses litter Any trip to Naples must include a the hillside. visit to Pompeii to view the remarkable Along with the beautiful beaches, its ruins of the city buried under the ashes ancient fishing port, the splendid dome of of Mount Vesuvius. Enter the fabled city the church of Santa Maria Assunta and craft through the Sea Gate and walk down shops, you'll enjoy a taste of the Dolce Vita. the cobbled street to the agora, The town of Amalfi once enjoyed a surrounded by temples, porticoes and prestigious past when it was a major naval law courts. It was the religious, civic and power. Made of a labyrinth of narrow lanes business centre of the city. Because and alleyways that climb the surrounding Pompeii is so well preserved, you can hills, the town features typical Mediterranean see many fine details that reveal the style architecture with houses piled one on lifestyles of the residents, such as top of the other. Here you can sample the mosaic floors and colourful frescoes in local Lemoncella drink or perhaps visit the some of the homes. As you wander celebrated Paradise Cloister built in the through this ancient city, you can't help Arabian style and which dates back to the but notice the still-active Mount thirteenth century. A visit to the town of Vesuvius towering above. www.medcruise.com Destination MedCruise-21 23/9/08 15:18 Page 4 DESTINATION MEDCRUISE – ROMANIA/RUSSIA Via Constantza President Ceausescu for governmental use, Seven Seas Navigator’s with everything being conceived on the largest scale possible. Now it shelters the seat of the Parliament of Romania and a day in port congress centre. The Metropolitan Church was built between 1654 and 1658 by Prince egent Seven Seas Cruises’ 490- Constantin Serban Basarab and restored in passenger Seven Seas Navigator 1960. It retains many features of Byzantine Rcalled twice this summer at the architecture and is located near the Palace Port of Constantza, in July and of the Patriarch, the seat of the head of August. During the ship’s 13-hour Romania’s Orthodox Church. The Village stay in port, passengers took a Museum is an extensive collection of old, variety of tours, as well as visiting traditional Romanian houses, huts, barns the city via a shuttle bus, leaving and mills, representing every region of the every 20 minutes. country with its specific folk art. Most popular organised tours were the On their return to the terminal, a small visit to the ancient citidel of Histria (4 hours), reception was organised where guests Constantza City and Roman Ruins (3.5 were served ice-cold champagne and hours), Constantza Sights, Romanian Folk fresh towels. Show & Wine Tasting (4 hours), Multi- The master of the ship, Captain John Culture Tour (5 Hours) and a full day tour McNeill, appreciated the open collaboration of Bucharest by road (12 hours). with the port authorities and the handling of Passengers who went on the passengers. The terminal, which opened in Bucharest excursion (a three hour drive 2006, has its own access gate to ensure a fast from Constantza) were impressed by the connection between the ship and the old part magnitude of the the Palace of of the town (10 minutes away walking and Parliament, which is the second largest five minutes by shuttle bus).