1.
Funchal
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Funchal is the largest city, the municipal seat and the capital of Portugals Autonomous Region of Madeira. The city has a population of 111,892, making it the 6th largest city in Portugal, because of its high cultural and historical value, Funchal is one of Portugals main tourist attractions. It is also popular as a destination for New Years Eve, the name is from the Portuguese word funcho and the suffix -al, to denote a plantation of fennel. The name Funchal, was applied by the first settlers landed on its shores due to the abundance of wild fennel where, as tradition goes. Owing to its location, the site became an important maritime port. Its coastal position, the most productive on the island, quickly permitted Funchal to develop a core and surpass the populations of other settlements. In the early 15th century, Álvaro Fernandes was the commander of Funchal, as part of its administrative role, the settlement received its primary lighthouse between 1452 and 1454, when it was elevated to the status of vila and municipal seat. Funchal became an important transfer point for European commercial interests, many sailors, by the end of the century, fronting the Order of Christ, D. In 1508, it was elevated to the status of city by King Manuel I of Portugal, the island, and Funchal specifically, were vulnerable to privateer and pirate attacks. When the news was relayed to the settlements on Madeira and the villas of Machico, in Funchal, the governor, Francisco de Sales Gonçalves Zarco da Câmara, did not take any action that could be construed as hostile. At the bridge the privateers encountered a force from the fort, with a few small-caliber pieces. At the road near Carreira, the attackers were confronted by a group of Franciscan monks. Funchals fortifications were assaulted by land, where its defense was thin. The city suffered a violent sack that lasted fifteen days, after which little remained, the following year, the military architect Mateus Fernandes III was sent to Funchal in order to completely modify the defensive system of the city. Evidence of the produced by this architect was published in the Mapa de Mateus Fernandes. The document identifies the major defenses of the city, which included a fortification in the area around the dyke in Pena. During the 16th century, Funchal was an important stop-over for caravels travelling between the Indies and the New World, the wine culture appeared during early settlement, through the incentives from Henry the Navigator. Later, in Shakespeares Henry IV he has Poins censure Falstaff for having sold his soul to the devil for a cup of Madeira wine, in the 17th century, commercial treaties with England brought increased investments to a business that was still insular
2.
Portugal
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Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic, is a country on the Iberian Peninsula in Southwestern Europe. It is the westernmost country of mainland Europe, to the west and south it is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and to the east and north by Spain. The Portugal–Spain border is 1,214 kilometres long and considered the longest uninterrupted border within the European Union, the republic also includes the Atlantic archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira, both autonomous regions with their own regional governments. The territory of modern Portugal has been settled, invaded. The Pre-Celts, Celts, Carthaginians and the Romans were followed by the invasions of the Visigothic, in 711 the Iberian Peninsula was invaded by the Moors, making Portugal part of Muslim Al Andalus. Portugal was born as result of the Christian Reconquista, and in 1139, Afonso Henriques was proclaimed King of Portugal, in the 15th and 16th centuries, Portugal established the first global empire, becoming one of the worlds major economic, political and military powers. Portugal monopolized the trade during this time, and the Portuguese Empire expanded with military campaigns led in Asia. After the 1910 revolution deposed the monarchy, the democratic but unstable Portuguese First Republic was established, democracy was restored after the Portuguese Colonial War and the Carnation Revolution in 1974. Shortly after, independence was granted to almost all its overseas territories, Portugal has left a profound cultural and architectural influence across the globe and a legacy of over 250 million Portuguese speakers today. Portugal is a country with a high-income advanced economy and a high living standard. It is the 5th most peaceful country in the world, maintaining a unitary semi-presidential republican form of government and it has the 18th highest Social Progress in the world, putting it ahead of other Western European countries like France, Spain and Italy. Portugal is a pioneer when it comes to drug decriminalization, as the nation decriminalized the possession of all drugs for use in 2001. The early history of Portugal is shared with the rest of the Iberian Peninsula located in South Western Europe, the name of Portugal derives from the joined Romano-Celtic name Portus Cale. Other influences include some 5th-century vestiges of Alan settlements, which were found in Alenquer, Coimbra, the region of present-day Portugal was inhabited by Neanderthals and then by Homo sapiens, who roamed the border-less region of the northern Iberian peninsula. These were subsistence societies that, although they did not establish prosperous settlements, neolithic Portugal experimented with domestication of herding animals, the raising of some cereal crops and fluvial or marine fishing. Chief among these tribes were the Calaicians or Gallaeci of Northern Portugal, the Lusitanians of central Portugal, the Celtici of Alentejo, a few small, semi-permanent, commercial coastal settlements were also founded in the Algarve region by Phoenicians-Carthaginians. Romans first invaded the Iberian Peninsula in 219 BC, during the last days of Julius Caesar, almost the entire peninsula had been annexed to the Roman Republic. The Carthaginians, Romes adversary in the Punic Wars, were expelled from their coastal colonies and it suffered a severe setback in 150 BC, when a rebellion began in the north
3.
Star Cruises
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Star Cruises is the third largest cruise line in the world after Carnival Corporation and Royal Caribbean Cruises. Star Cruises dominates the Asia-Pacific market and is owned by Genting Hong Kong, the company is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and the Singapore Exchange. Star Cruises is credited with almost single handedly developing the industry in the Asia-Pacific region. Its foray into the shipping market has allowed it to tap into lucrative and more mature markets in North America. Its services cater to Asian passengers as well as to North Americans, Europeans and Australians interested in Asian destinations, the chairman of Star Cruises is Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay, the son of the late Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong, the founder of Malaysias Genting Highlands. Star Cruises was founded as an associate of the Genting Group of Malaysia, the companys first ships were two cruiseferries acquired from the bankrupted estate of Swedish Rederi AB Slite. In the following years, the company purchased several other used ships, in 1998, Star Cruises took delivery of its first new build, SuperStar Leo, followed by sister ship SuperStar Virgo in 1999. Star Cruises also acquired Sun Cruises the same year, in 2000, Star Cruises fully acquired Norwegian Cruise Line, including its subsidiaries Orient Lines and Norwegian Capricorn Line, becoming the largest global cruise line in the world. Norwegian Capricorn Line operations were merged into those of Star Cruises. Wasa Queen ceased to function and was sold to another company in 2007, since 2006, the trend has been that new ships were to be built for NCL, and the old ships in the NCL fleet would be transferred to the Star Cruises fleet in Asia. In early 2008, both NCL America and Orient Lines brands were discontinued, with the sole ship, MS Marco Polo. Also in that year, the first ship from NCL was transferred to the Star Cruises fleet as SuperStar Libra, starting from 2011, Star Cruises received a new hullart. SuperStar Virgo, SuperStar Aquarius and Star Pisces have received their new hullart and it was announced on 27 April 2012 that the Norwegian Dream will join the Star fleet, she will be named as SuperStar Gemini and will start service in 2012. The vessel will have capacity for 3,364 passengers at double occupancy, the ship will be delivered sometime in Fall 2016. Star Cruises announced on 10 February 2014, that a ship was ordered. On 9 February 2015, the first steel cutting ceremony for Genting World was held at Meyer Werft shipyard
4.
Ibero Cruises
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Ibero Cruises was a British-American and Spanish owned cruise line based in Madrid, Spain. The cruise line was aimed at the Spanish and Portuguese speaking market, iberocruceros operates voyages in Europe, the Mediterranean, and in South America. Ibero Cruises started with three ships, Grand Mistral, Grand Latino, and Grand Voyager which were provided by Orizonia, in 2008, the Grand Celebration, provided by Carnival Cruises was transferred to the fleet of Ibero. An additional ship, the Grand Holiday, was transferred into the fleet in 2009 from Carnival and it was announced in November 2014, that Costa Cruises would absorb Ibero Cruises in its entirety by the end of the year. The Grand Celebration would be transferred to the fleet of Costa Crociere as the Costa Celebration. Also the Grand Holiday would be transferred to The British Cruise & Maritime Voyages as the Magellan, iberos docking slots in Barcelona would be devoted solely to Costas newest ship, the Costa Diadema as well. Iberocuceros Official website Iberocuceros Official website
5.
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines
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Olsen Cruise Lines is a UK-based, Norwegian-owned cruise shipping line with four cruise ships. The company headquarters are in Ipswich, Suffolk, in the United Kingdom, the company is part of the Fred. Olsen group also has interests in the luxury hotel sector, estate management, property development. For most of the year, the ships are based in UK ports, with cruises departing from Southampton, Dover, Rosyth, Greenock, Liverpool, Harwich, Falmouth, London Tilbury, Newcastle and Belfast. A winter Caribbean fly-cruise programme on Braemar operates from Barbados, with connecting flights from London, the company operates smaller scale cruise ships, ranging in size from 24,000 to 43,000 GRT. The ambience on board is traditionally British, Olsen Cruise Lines announced the purchase of a new vessel, Norwegian Crown, from Norwegian Cruise Line. Following delivery of the vessel in November 2007, she was dry-docked for refurbishment and lengthening and she was renamed Balmoral and entered service early in 2008. This was followed by the extension of Braemar in summer 2008, a new centre section was added, with new cabins and public rooms, increasing the size from 19,000 GRT to 24,000 GRT. In January 2008 it was reported that the company was considering ordering a newbuild of unspecified dimensions from a Korean shipyard, if realised, the ship will be the first ever newbuild ordered for Fred. However, no new ship was ever ordered, Olsen Cruise Lines official website Fakta om Fartyg, Fred. Olsen Cruisepage. com Review Photos of Black Watch and other Fred Olsen cruise ships Photos of the current Fred
6.
Norwegian Cruise Line
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Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. is a Bermudian company operating cruise ships, headquartered in unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Florida. It began operations in 1966 under the name Norwegian Caribbean Line, the company is best known for its Freestyle Cruising concept, which means that there are no set times or seating arrangements for meals, nor is formal attire required. Norwegian is a traded company with 44% publicly listed on NASDAQ, with major shareholders including Genting Group, Apollo Global Management. Norwegian Cruise Line controls approximately 8% of the total share of the cruise market. Arison soon left to form Carnival Cruise Lines, while Kloster acquired additional ships for Caribbean service, like the original Sunward of 1966, Norwegianss second ship, the Starward had the capability to carry automobiles through a well concealed stern door. Later, this area was turned into cabins and a two movie theater, which is now a casino. Norwegian was responsible for many of the innovations that have now become standard throughout the industry. Norwegian made headlines with the acquisition of the France in 1979, rebuilding the liner as a cruise ship, the conversion cost more than $100 million USD. The Norway was at the significantly larger than any existing cruise ship. Her success paved the way for a new era of giant cruise ships, instead, she was sold for scrap and renamed the SS Blue Lady and later beached at Alang, Gujarat, India in August 2006 with claims that she had not been cleaned of toxic materials. On September 11,2007, the India Supreme Court issued an order permitting her to be broken-up at Alang, Norwegian has expanded to other parts of the world, including Alaska, Europe, Bermuda, and Hawaii. Between 1997 and 2001 the company also operated out of Australia under the name Norwegian Capricorn Line. Its subsidiary Orient Lines, founded in 1991 to run the Marco Polo, was acquired in 1998, Norwegian itself was acquired by the Star Cruises, subsidiary of Malaysia-based Genting Group, in 2000. In 2007 Star Cruises sold the Marco Polo to Transocean Tours, Orient Lines will cease trading when the ship is delivered to its new owners. In 2003 the company announced the purchase of the famed American-flagged liners SS United States, although it has promised to restore the United States to service, the future of the ship remains uncertain to this day. In their July 2007 fiscal report, Norwegian noted the sale of the Independence, on July 1,2010, the SS United States Conservancy struck a deal to buy the SS United States for $3 million. On February 1,2011, the ownership was transferred to the SS United States Conservancy. In August 2007, Star Cruises sold 50% of Norwegian for $1 billion to US-based Apollo Management in order to strengthen Norwegians financial position
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