On July 13 during our day at sea we organized a sushi class for our children on board in the Culinary Arts Center. We had about 15 children that participated in making different kind of sushis, all with healthy food items, such as fruit, cucumber and cream cheese. The kids thoroughly enjoyed getting their hands dirty and had a great time rolling the Nori sheets. Afterwards all of the kids had a chance to eat their own creations.

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Here’s the real situation: It turns out MTV’s “Jersey Shore” isn’t killing New Jersey’s reputation after all.

A new nationwide poll finds the reality show about a group of hard-drinking, foul-mouthed 20-somethings at a beach house in Seaside Heights, N.J., may even be helping a bit by bringing attention to the real Jersey shore.

The Fairleigh Dickinson University PublicMind poll, released Monday, found no statistical difference between those who have seen the show and those who haven’t.

It also found that the series is drawing attention to the state’s 127 miles of beaches and generating positive buzz for the Garden State as a whole.

“The show isn’t hurting the nation’s view of the state,” said Peter Woolley, director of the poll.

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Virgin Atlantic has announced the launch of a new route between London and Cancun, Mexico starting next summer. The twice weekly service will begin on 12 June 2012 and will see up to 94,000 Virgin Atlantic customers travelling between London and Cancun in the first year.

Cancun becomes Virgin Atlantic’s 33rd destination worldwide.  The new route strengthens the airline’s leisure network from London Gatwick, which already includes nine leading long haul destinations in the Caribbean and USA.  Vir

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LEAVENWORTH, Chelan County What, no barn?

Indeed not.

What the Icicle Creek Chamber Music Festival has instead is a gem of a concert hall with a miracle of a view. When you take a seat in Canyon Wren Recital Hall, you find yourself looking through a Cinerama-size, multipaneled picture window at Sleeping Lady, the sloping peak that lends the nearby Leavenworth resort its name.

The musicians often occupy a raised stage between you and the glorious vista. It may initially seem foolhardy of them to compete with such a magnificent setting but once they strike their first notes, your eyes are on them as much as the mountain spectacle.

Last Sunday, violinist Blaise Magniere and pianist Christina Dahl kicked off the festival with a Mozart sonata that, from its opening notes, had just the right sparkle and swagger.

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Celebrating the official launch of Marriott International and Spanish hotel group AC Hotels’ joint venture and new co-brand – AC Hotels by Marriott, the new brand’s hotels will be offering 15% off room rates through to 8 January 2012.

This will be applicable to reservations made seven to 14 days in advance. The portfolio of 85 existing AC Hotels in Spain, Italy and Portugal, have now been re-branded AC Hotels by Marriott and are accepting reservations through all of Marriott’s distribution channels, including Marriott.com

AC Hotels by Marriott reflect the modern urban lifestyle with hotels featuring a unique blend of quality, comfort, design and technology. All A

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