Paragon Travel & Toronto Singles Presents:
 
March Break Cruise Group
March 8 to March 15, 2008

4 Fantastic Ports: Key West, Grand Cayman, Roatan, Cozumel

$769* USD    or    $930* USD    or    $1099* USD

                                                  Inside                         Ocean View                     Balcony

Price includes Cruise, Taxes and fees,

special MMA activities, all means and onboard activities

Call 1.866.907.4006 for flight costs and cabin availability

The Costa Mediterranea has a unique personality inspired by Italy's 17th and 18th century palazzi and castles, while the decks are dedicated to mythology in the Mediterranean Sea - a crossroads of cultures and civilizations. The spectacular Maschera d'Argento Atrium spans 10 decks high and features an incredible sculpture of dancers suspended mid-air. Reminiscent of an aristocratic Sicilian palace, the two-level Degli Argentieri Restaurant is adorned with exquisite objects d'art and frescos. The interior spaces on board this 86,000 ton ship are truly an expression of an inimitable, unique style.

Less than 100 years ago, Fort Lauderdale was nothing more than a small village in the south of Florida. Today it has a population of some one million people, symbolic of the rapid development of the United States as a whole. But there is evidence of settlement in the area that stretches back far beyond 100 years - 8,000 in fact.
     The first Europeans to make their presence felt were the Spanish in the 16th Century who landed near the village of Tequesta, at the mouth of the Miami river. They referred to the region as 'florida' after its beautiful and fertile landscape. The indigenous Seminole Indians strongly resisted the colonists and there was a period of considerable bloodshed until the natives were overcome and escaped inland. Apart from a 21-year period of English interest, Spanish dominance remained a factor until 1821, when the United States annexed the region.
     Fort Lauderdale, as its name suggests, was originally a fort built to protect the vital railway and the coastal area from pirates. The city of Fort Lauderdale, in Broward County, is a modern, wealthy metropolis, much of whose fortune rests on tourism. A massive amount of money, some 30 million dollars, has been invested in developing the city in an attractive manner. Thus there is a network of canals, ornamental waterworks, fountains and contemporary artworks.
     One of the focal points is the Riverwalk, a panoramic promenade along the bay, lined with boutiques, restaurants, shops and museums. The significance of water is further symbolised in the International Swimming Hall of Fame, dedicated to famous swimming champions such as the original 'Tarzan', Johnny Weismuller, along with the more recent Olympians Greg Louganis and Mark Spitz. Nearby is the magnificent Hall of Fame Aquatic Complex, one of the most advanced sports venues in the world. The city also has several parks with facilities for playing soccer, basketball, baseball and American football, plus a number of open-air gyms.
     The Broward Center for the Performing Arts hosts is a major entertainment venue.

Situated only 90 miles from Cuba, Key West is the most southerly point of the USA. It is one of a string of islands, the Keys, connected to Miami by a linking highway. Its subtropical climate and relaxed lifestyle, together with its links with the great American writer Ernest Hemingway, have helped Key West become one of the country's most visited tourist destinations.
     Hemingway lived on the island for nearly ten years and his former home, a Spanish colonial-style house, is now a museum dedicated to its famous former resident. Historically, Key West was a trading point during slavery and a shelter for pirates who hid their ships in the island's many bays, waiting to pounce on passing galleons and their cargoes of merchandise. The sea has always played a crucial role in the life of Key West, which has a local population of 30,000.
     Being an island also helped Key West escape the social and political traumas suffered by the rest of Florida, which often attracted the aggressive attentions of Spain, England and France. The historical centre of Key West, along Duval Street, includes many small shops and businesses. The suburbs include a Bahamian quarter, between Thomas Street and Petronia Street.
     Originally designed by Bahamian Cubans, the area includes several small museums and shops displaying traditional crafts. The Wrecker Museum is the oldest museum in town and is dedicated to the memory of all those lost at sea in the numerous shipwrecks around the island. The museum is the former home of Captain Watlington, a legendary character in Key West folklore, who lived in the building in the early 1800s and was a tireless rescuer of shipwrecked sailors.

At 45km long, Grand Cayman is the largest of the Cayman Islands, lying between Cuba and Jamaica. Its warm climate, low rainfall and tranquil waters make it an ideal destination for sun-seekers and divers. Tourism on the island developed after World War II, first as a favourite resort of Americans, followed by visitors from Europe.
     The islanders display an ever-growing respect for their beautiful environment and there are several nature reserves and maritime parks. The flora and fauna of the Cayman Islands are surprisingly diverse and include the spectacular Cayman blue iguana.
     The island capital of Grand Cayman is George Town, named after Fort George, built in 1700 and whose history is described in the Cayman Islands National Museum, housed in the city's oldest building. Much of the island's social life revolves around 'seven-mile beach' which stretches around West Bay. On the northwest of the island lies the town and beaches of Hell, whose name was originally inspired by the black rock formations found in the area. Nearby is the unique Cayman Turtle Farm where the endangered green sea turtles are the star inhabitants.
     Also worth visiting is the Queen Elizabeth II Botanical Park where iguanas, orchids, parrots and hundreds of other species of plants and animal-life can be spotted among the lush undergrowth. The smaller, but equally dramatic island of Cayman Brac is home to the National Trust Parrot Reserve. There is also a renowned dive site, a former Russian destroyer.

     The island of Roatán was discovered by Christopher Columbus during his fourth voyage in 1502, but soon became an English colony and a favourite haunt of pirates, who found safe shelter at Port Royal (as the capital Roatán City, or Coxen's Hole, was then known). At the turn of the seventeenth century the Spanish estimated that the island harboured around 5,000 English buccaneers. During the second half of the eighteenth century, the British deported the indigenous Caribs of the island of St. Vincent to Roatán, where they mixed with former black slaves.
     In 1859 the island became part of Honduras and adopted Spanish as its official language. Roatán's population is thus composed of the descendents of the early settlers and pirates, descendents of the black slave population and Honduran Amerindians. Consequently, the somatic traits of its inhabitants are surprisingly mixed and the population features various types of people.
     Situated 50 km from the northern coast of Honduras, Roatán has an area of 300 km2 and a population of approximately 7000. It is the largest of the Islas de la Bahia, an archipelago that also includes the islands of Guanaja and Utila and is the continuation of the Belize Barrier Reef. The long, narrow island of Roatán is around 50 km in length, although its maximum width is just 5 km, making it possible to see both the island's northern and southern coasts in some spots. The road network is still fairly new and indeed the island has just one surfaced road running from west to east, whilst the intersecting roads are actually just dirt tracks.
     It rains frequently and the island has an average of 20 days of rain each month. The driest months are January and February. As a consequence of the abundant rainfall, Roatán is covered with masses of luxuriant vegetation with lush woods and forests. The rain has also favoured agricultural activity, most notably the cultivation of bananas, but also sugarcane and various precious woods.
     Roatán City, located on the southeastern coast, is the island's capital and has a population of approximately 4,000. It is within easy reach of the best beaches such as Flowers Bay, French Harbour and Brick Bay, as well as the splendid and world-famous West Bay Beach. The waters around the island are simply spectacular and snorkelling and diving are among the favourite activities of visitors. The sea is teeming with tropical fish, various species of coral and sponges. Tropical groupers can be encountered by divers in the area known as Peter's Place. The wealth of marine fauna has also enabled the development of a fishing industry, which exports mainly prawns and lobster.
     The village of Oak Ridge is another very interesting spot and is surrounded by canals with mangroves, a fishing port and colourful pile-dwellings. Here one can admire the remains of the British fortifications once visited by the admiral of the Royal Navy, Lord Nelson.
     In addition to the typical, brightly coloured Caribbean garments, local crafts include pottery and various objects produced from wood, especially mahogany, which is used for sculptures, furnishings and cutlery. The local shops also sell plenty of cigars and interwoven wooden items.

The island of Cozumel is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, attracting an estimated 20 million people a year keen to enjoy its unique mix of glorious beaches, superb diving and ancient archaeological sites. The town of Cozumel is the perfect place to relax in the tropical sun and the perfect gateway to the island's ancient treasures.
     The first evidence of civilisation on Cozumel dates back to the Mayans of 300 BC. Cozumel's importance to Mayan society came from its vantage point as a port and from its apparent powers of fertility. Mayan women would travel to the island in their thousands in the hope that the special properties of the area would furnish their children with good health and good luck. It is possible today to see the excavated ruins of San Gervasio, a holy Mayan monument, originally a temple built to honour Ixchel, the Mayan god of medicine, love and fertility.
     The Mayans' fortunes suffered after the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors in 1519 and many of its culture masterpieces were plundered. This beleaguered state, during which the island remained virtually deserted, remained for several hundred years until Cozumel's importance as a trading post in the gum trade and then as an American anti-submarine base during World War II revived its importance.
     On the south of the island, Chankanaab national park offers some delightful diving in a lagoon packed with a colourful array of tropical fish and turtles. It is also on this side of the island that the village of Cedral is situated, which includes a Mayan site decorated with ancient drawings.