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Archive for the ‘Cruises’ Category
Sunday, March 14th, 2010
 If you have already been to the Caribbean Islands and on your next visit want to seek out interesting places, people or attractions, all it takes is a little planning. The Islands you visit have experienced centuries of momentous history, they have a culture and an eductaed English speaking population and they possess extraordinary natural attractions.
Jamaica: By contacting the various offices of the Jamaica Tourist Board in the United States, you can arrange a unique and free of charge port-stop visit with Jamaican counterparts, via that Island’s “Meet the People” program. You can visit schoolteachers, doctors, visit a hospital , meet a Jamaican chef, or even be taken by a Jamaican to one of the Island’s standard sightseeing attractions.
Cozumel: Independent Companies like Shoretrips.com, portpromotions.com and portcompass.com will arrange for a smaller van with driver to pick you up at the dock and take you on a difierent sort of tour to a Mayan site or be driven overland through the jungle on an all-terraine vehicle and taken to caves, then a swim in a geological underground pool and maybe even to a bat cave. Also available is a private tour of Punta Sur Ecological Park, which is a 247 acre nature preserve. Between July and August, visitors can be a part of the turtle program to see nesting behavior of the marine turtle.
Cayman Islands: Taxi service on this Island provides good commentary on the way to a famous turtle farm, which raises turtles for preservation. An impressive scientific lecture is delivered on site. Visit Queen Elizabeth’s Gardens which preserves a segment of the Caymanian lanscape and is home to a vareity of wildlife including the endangered Blue Iguana.
You can transform your Island visits into valid cultural experiences of depth and interest with a little advance planning.
Written by C Kennedy
kennedy@atlastravelweb.com
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Tags: Caribbean Islands, Caribbean Shore Excursions, carribbean shore excursions, Cayman Islands, Interesting Places, Jamaica Tourist Board, Queen Elizabeth, Sightseeing Attractions, things to do in the caribean
Posted in Cruises | No Comments »
Wednesday, March 10th, 2010
We just toured the Regatta and it was a wonderful day. First, we were sent to the Horizon Lounge which is on Deck 10. It’s absolutely the most beautiful and comfortable Observation Lounge ever! Sofas and chairs have large colorful pillows, sheer drapes adorn the windows and there is a combo and dance floor.
The specialty restaurants, Toscana and Polo Grill are on the same deck and they both offer their own bar area and luxurious seating with fabulous menus….no extra charge of course. In between the restaurants is the largest library I’ve seen on any size ship and also the most inviting. It was like an English Manor drawing room, with bookcases and books piled upon tables, a central fireplace with sofas and love seats, again with comfy pillows propped everywhere…wanted to stay there,
The Lobby area is stunning with its double staircase in wrought iron and gold, carpeted in red and black. Surrounding the area are oversized chairs and sofas inviting you to sit and chat. When you ascend the grand staircase, feeling as if you’re in “Gone With the Wind”, you enter the Upper Hall which has boutiques, a beautiful Grand Bar and a very inviting Martini’s Bar and a very small casino. Forward is the lounge which also has a dance floor. There is a wonderful feel of casual elegance all over the ship. Aft is the Grand Dining Room which is also lovely and we enjoyed a multi course delicious lunch with white glove service. The cuisine on Oceania Cruises is considered one of the very best at sea.
I would certainly wholeheartedly recommend Oceania to all but the under 40 set as there are not a lot of different venues as offered by the larger ships.
Oceania Cruises runs wonderful promotions throughout the year including 2 for 1 rates, free airfare and more. Call us at 800-942-3301 for more details on the latest Oceania Cruise deals.
Written by: Laura Unger
laura@atlastravelweb.com
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Tags: Casual Elegance, Central Fireplace, Colorful Pillows, Delicious Lunch, Double Staircase, Fabulous Menus, Free Airfare, Glove Service, Grand Dining Room, Grand Staircase, Iron And Gold, Laura Unger, Love Seats, Luxurious Seating, Observation Lounge, Oceania, oceania cruise, oceania cruise reviews, oceania cruises, oceania cruises 2010, oceania regatta, Oceania Regatta Review, Oversized Chairs, Polo Grill
Posted in Cruise Reviews, Cruises, Oceania | No Comments »
Tuesday, March 9th, 2010
 Come aboard and sail away on a ship, barge or yacht. At sea, on a canal or river cruise, Atlas has hand picked travel partners for you to enjoy the best value & experience. Our travel specialists arrange adventures such as luxurious canal cruising sipping wine and savoring the cuisine in Burgundy, to world-class programs onboard luxury yachts and award winning cruise lines. Search for penguins in Antarctica, see majestic glaciers in Alaska, explore wildlife on a Galapagos cruise, or embrace the pleasure of sailing the Mediterranean or the Baltic. Refined & relaxing, the world of cruising offers authentic experiences onboard & ashore.
Call 800-942-3301 to begin planning a cruise vacation.
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Tags: Amp Experience, Atlas, Authentic Experiences, Barge, Burgundy, Cruise, cruise blog, Cruise Line, cruise lines, Cruise Reviews, Cruise Ship, cruise vacation, Cruises, cruising, Cuisine, galapagos cruise, Luxury Yachts, Majestic Glaciers, Mediterranean, Penguins, Penguins In Antarctica, Pleasure, river cruise, Travel Partners, Travel Specialists, Wine, Yacht
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Friday, March 5th, 2010
 Crystal Cruises is offering a wellness cruise in on September 5th onboard the Crystal Symphony. Leading experts and instructors from The Mayo Clinic, Tai Chi Cultural Center, and even the world of professional baseball are on the roster. Double occupancy promotional cruise fares for the 14-day cruise – including free air from 20 cities and the $1,000 bonus spending credit – start at $5,710 per person.
After torrential rains caused extensive damage to the train route to Machu Picchu, Perurail hopes to restart operations on April 1st.
Yellowstone National Park turns 138…March 1st, 1872, was the day that the U.S. Congress made Yellowstone America’s 1st national park.
Tauck Tours adds exclusive Ferragamo experience to select Classic Italy departures. Experience includes private wine tasting, tour of Salvatore Ferragamo Museum to be hosted by famed fashion designer’s grandson.
Celebrity Eclipse made her debut this past Sunday in Papenburg, Germany. The ship will sail in Europe until November where it will sail out of Miami on Caribbean cruises. The Eclipse is the sister to the Celebrity Solstice and Celebrity Equinox. A new feature onboard will be the iLounge. The area will have 3 areas – one are will have workstations for passengers to use, another will be a retail store selling Apple products including Mac computers and Ipods, while the 3rd area will have certified staff that will offer tips and advice on how to use Apple products.
The National Cherry Blossom Festival, DC’s and the nation’s greatest springtime celebration, is quickly approaching, running over three weekends from March 27 through April 11. National Park Service predicts Bloom dates of March 31-April 11 with flowers hitting their peak April 3-8.
SunFest, South Florida’s largest waterfront music and art festival is scheduled for April 28th-May 2, 2010. 2010 lineup to include Weezer, ZZ Top, Patti LaBell, the Charlie Daniels Band, Sister Hazel, Ben Harper and B-52’s.
Louis Cruise Line’s ship, the Majesty, was hit by waves over three stories high in the Mediterranean. Two passengers were killed and 14 injured after the incident.
Continental Airlines joins several other airlines in charging additional money for exit row seats. The cost will vary depending on flight time and date of travel.
It may soon cost more to apply for a passport. The State Department is considering a 35% rate hike to $135 (up from $100) Also, if you currently want to add more pages to your passport book, it’s currently free, but if the new rate passed, you would have to pay an additional $82. Renewals would go up from $75 to $100.
Celebrity Cruises offers 7 day Caribbean cruises for as low as $599 pp. While several cruise lines including Carnival and Azamara are rasing rates, we find these cruises to be one of the best values currently available.
President Obama signs bill to boost U.S. Tourism. It is hoped the new law will attract over 1.5 million new visitors to the U.S.
Princess Cruises ordered two new ships – the first ship will debut in the spring of 2013 and the other in 2014. The ships will be 139,000 tons – the largest ever for Princess Cruises.
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Tags: atlas travel blog, travel agency, travel agent, travel blog, Travel Deals, travel news
Posted in Celebrity, Crystal, Eclipse, Tauck, travel news | 1 Comment »
Thursday, March 4th, 2010
 Celebrity Solstice Cruise deals are here! Planning to take a Caribbean cruise? Celebrity cruises has prices too good to pass up.
Hot stone massages. Chilled towels. Poolside sorbets. No other cruise line gives you more ways to chill in the Caribbean than Celebrity. Sail the world’s finest ships to a variety of island destinations – it’s the best Caribbean vacation you can have.
Depart Miami, Ft. Lauderdale or San Juan from 4 to 14 Nights and experience the secluded coves of St. Lucia; stunning waterfalls in Grenada; and picture-perfect views in St. Kitts. Onboard, discover paradise with our thoughtful design, exceptional service, and outstanding amenities, including our most celebrated ship Celebrity SolsticeSM sailing the Caribbean year round on 7 Night Eastern and Western itineraries.
Featured Celebrity Cruise Deal:
7-Night Cruises onboard the Celebrity Solstice:
Eastern Caribbean
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, San Juan, Puerto Rico, Basseterre, St. Kitts, Philipsburg, St. Maarten, Fort Lauderdale,
April 18, May 2, 16, 30; June 13, 27; July 11, 25; Aug 8, 22; Sept 5 & 19th
Western Caribbean
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Georgetown, Grand Cayman, Cozumel Mexico, Costa Maya, Roatan, Honduras, Fort Lauderdale
April 25, May 9, 23; June 6, 20th, July 4, 18; Aug 1, 15, 29; Sept 12, 26
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from $599
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from $749
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from $749
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ON REQUEST
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Rates do not include government taxes, fees or fuel surcharges.
Book by March 7th and receive a $50 shipboard credit
Other great Celebrity Cruise deals: 5-Night Western Caribbean onboard the Celebrity Century from $349 pp Feb-April; 7 Night Southern Caribbean Feb-April 10 from $449 pp; 10-11 Night Southern Caribbean from $749 pp
*All rates are per person, double occupancy and include port charges. Government taxes and fees are additional. Limited Availability and based on minimum fares for select departure dates in April & May. Other dates may be higher. These rates are for new, individual bookings only. Not responsible for last minute changes of price or itinerary by cruise line, or any errors or omissions in the content of this ad. Some restrictions and cancellation penalties may apply. Additional discounts may be available for groups of eight or more cabins.
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Tags: celebrity, celebrity criuise solstice, celebrity cruise coupons, celebrity cruise deals, celebrity cruises 2010, celebrity cruises solstice
Posted in Celebrity, Cruise News, Cruise Specials, Cruises, Solstice, Travel Deals | 1 Comment »
Monday, March 1st, 2010
 The highly anticipated NCL Epic cruise ship will feature Nickelodeon-themed family entertainment and programming all year long including character meet and greets; interactive game shows including SlimeTime LIVE! with Nick’s signature slime (yes, someone will get slimed!) and Nick Live! Poolside entertainment; live family shows; Nick-themed dance parties; themed cruises and much more. Nickelodeon entertainment will also be featured on Norwegian Jewel beginning in April.
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Tags: ncl epic, ncl epic ship, nickelodean ncl, nickelodean ncl epic, nickelodean norwegian cruise line, nickelodeon cruise, nickelodeon ncl epic
Posted in Cruises, Epic, Family Travel, Family Travel - Cruises, Norwegian | 1 Comment »
Thursday, February 25th, 2010
 Carnival Cruises reported records sales and gives a heads up that prices are on the rise. The price increase will go into affect on March 22nd for all summer sailings in June, July and August.
Viva ELVIS by Cirque du Soleil premiered at ARIA Resort & Casino at CityCenter. Beginning February 21, 2010, Viva ELVIS will be performed Friday through Tuesday at 7:00 pm & 9:30 m. Tickets prices range from $99 to $175.
Westin hotels becomes the first hotel brand to launch an online storefront for Amazon.com. The digital storefront will retail signature Westin products including the iconic 10-layer Heavenly Bed®, Heavenly Bath amenity collection and signature line of White Tea scented candles and diffusers, as well as fitness gear, healthy snacks, home decor, wellness books and workout DVD’s. To celebrate the launch of this industry first, Westin guests who stay twice mid-week from February 22nd through May 13th, 2010 will receive a $100 Amazon.com gift card. To be eligible, guests must register at westin.com/balance prior to booking.
The world’s top-rated restaurants are often showplaces for art and design, and beginning April 26, in-the-know food followers can experience a new venue whose cuisine is an engaging combination of both. But they won’t find it through MapQuest, and their GPS will find it tough to track, too…since it’s moving. That’s because the new restaurant, “Qsine,” can be found only on Celebrity Eclipse, the third of five ships in Celebrity Cruises’ stylish, $3.7-billion Solstice Class fleet. “Our guests love new and different dining experiences, and we’ve designed Qsine to deliver that in a big way,” said Van Staden. “Qsine is designed to offer a globally-influenced blend of nostalgic and contemporary favorites, artfully presented with elements of surprise.”
Planning a proposal? Why not have a “red rose proposal” in St. Lucia like the show “The Bachelor.” Award winning Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort announced that couples can now book an all-inclusive Red Rose Proposal vacation. The “Red Rose Proposal” provides couples with a one-bedroom villa with private plunge pool – the villa affords panoramic sunset views serving as the perfect backdrop for romance and relaxation. The all-inclusive romance vacation allows couples to ignite passion by featuring champagne and a red rose surrounded with tropical flowers upon arrival; a romantic in-villa, couple’s massage; a candlelit dinner or champagne breakfast served in the privacy of their villa; plus the package includes all food and beverage (premium brand liquor), non-motorized watersports and entertainment. Prices start at couple $3,029 per couple for 4 nights (include $200 Sun Dollars); *Stay tuned for the Bachelor Season Finale March 1st. The final show is being filmed on the Celestial Terrace of the Jade Mountain Resort.
Crystal Cruises launched “Shore Excursion Finder,” a dynamic new online feature allowing travelers to search and sort more than 1,500 Crystal Adventures ashore by specific parameters they choose including activity type, culture, historical, culinary and more. the Shore Excursion Finder is currently available with Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity excursions in Africa, the Caribbean, Mexican Riviera, Middle East, South America, Asia, Hawaii/South Pacific, Transocean, Australia/New Zealand, and the Mediterranean and Northern Europe. Excursions for New England/Canada, Panama Canal and Alaska voyages will be available six months in advance.
Catch some of your favorite celebrity chefs as Atlanta gets cooking. The Metropolitan Cooking and Entertaining Show will take place May 1st and 2nd. It’s a great place to attend workshops, taste gourmet food and beverages, and shop for the latest kitchen gadgets. Paula Deen, Bobby Flay and Mario Batali will offer presentations as well as a host of local chefs.
Atlantis Resort Paradise Island announced upcoming special events. Sara Bareilles will perform on March 27th, Kris Allen on April 17th and Sheryl Crow during the Memorial Day weekend.
The U.S. State Department renewed the travel alert to Mexico, citing increase violence. For more info visit travel.state.gov
Alaska Airlines to offer Wi-Fi on all aircraft. The charge will be $4.95 and up, based on the length of the flight and the type of device you are using.
Universal Orlando introduced a new Harry Potter vacation package, giving assurance that this new area of the park will be opened by May 28th. Representatives state that this is not necessarily the Grand Opening, but rather people can be secured in booking their summer vacations and know the Wizarding World of Harry Potter will be opened. Prices start at $285 per adult for off sight properties and $645 per adult of Universal properties for a 4 night stay including early park admission, breakfast at the Three Broomsticks, hotel accommodations and 3 day ticket to the Universal theme parks.
Looking to book a cruise for next year? Celebrity is one of the first to announce when they will be opening up bookings for the 2011/2012 season:
Week of March 8th: NE – Caribbean, Bermuda, Canada & New England
Week of March 15th: Europe & Transatlantic
Week of March 22nd: Alaska
Week of March 29th: Exotics (Australia & Asia)
Week of April 5th: 7 Night Caribbean
Week of April 12th: Winter Carib, S. America, Panama Canal & Bahamas
NCL Cruise Line adds new itineraries for 2011/2012 including Israel. The NCL Jade will sail from Rome and include the ports of Alanya, Turkey; Limassol, Cyprus, Haifa Israel (with an optional excrusion to Jerusalem available,) Ashdod, Israel, Port Said Egypt (with an option for Cairo and Alexandria, Egypt, ending back in Rome.
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Tags: alaska airlines, carnival cruise, celebrity cruise, celebrity eclipse, harry potter orlando, Travel Deals, travel news, westin and amazon
Posted in Carnival, Celebrity, Eclipse | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010
Costa Cruises‘ new ship, the Costa Deliziosa makes history today by being the first cruise ship to be named in an Arabian City. It is expected to further strengthen the links between Costa Cruises and the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce. Over 3,000 are expected to attend including approimately 2,200 guests currently onboard the maiden cruise. Upon completion of the inaugural cruise, the Costa Deliziosa will be based out of Dubai along with her sister ship the Costa Luminosa. In the summers the ship will be deployed to the Norwgian Fjords and Baltic cities.
 Along with her sister ship, the Costa Luminosa, the Costa Deliziosa is the fleet’s “flagship,” offering the most exclusive and innovative elements in the fleet and designed for Costa’s most discerning clientele. These innovations include the ship’s avant-garde design and the use of premium materials, such as various type of marbles, granite, mother-of-pearl and Murano glass, and stucco applied by spatula using the technique known as “spatolato veneziano.” Other decorative interior finishes including “parchment scroll” lamé, refined Zebrano wood, Wenge timber and stylish polished and glazed steel were also used in her design. The stunning atrium features fine works of art, including “Sphere” by Arnaldo Pomodoro, and “Delizia fisica e Delizia intellettuale” (Physical Delight and Intellectual Delight), a piece by leading contemporary Italian painter Mario Donizetti. In addition, there are a variety of entertainment options onboard including a 4D cinema; roller skating track; the latest generation golf simulator with an outdoor putting green, a Grand Prix race car driving simulator with the same software and technology used by the F1 champion drivers in training; the exclusive “Samsara Spa,” “PlayStation World,” an area on board dedicated exclusively to PlayStation3, as well as the “PlayStation on demand” cabin service.
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Tags: 4d Cinema, Arnaldo Pomodoro, Baltic Cities, Car Driving Simulator, costa, Costa, costa cruise deals, costa cruise line, costa deliziosa, costa luminosa, Cruise Ship, Delizia, Discerning Clientele, Entertainment Options, Generation Golf, Golf Simulator, inaugural cruise, Interior Finishes, Italian Painter, Maiden Cruise, Mario Donizetti, Naming Ceremony, Parchment Scroll, Sister Ship, Zebrano Wood
Posted in Costa, Cruises | 2 Comments »
Friday, February 19th, 2010
 Follow in the footsteps of those before you crossing the Atlantic by sea. The classic “crossing” has been reimagined to combine relaxing, luxurious days at sea with port rich and exciting itineraries offering a vast array of European culture and cuisine. It’s the perfect way to see Europe with usually only one international flight, and this year you can find some amazing last minute deals on Trans Atlantic cruises.
Here are some of the best cruise deals I came across. Please note that rates are per person, based on double occupancy and DO include port charges and taxes. Some prices start as low as $43 per day! Subject to availbility at the time of booking.
13 Night Transatlantic cruise from San Juan Puerto Rico to Barclona sailing May 2nd through May 15th onboard the Adventure of the Seas. Inside guarantee cabins from $563.55 pp and ocean view guranteed from $913.55 pp
14 Night Eastbound Transatlantic from Sao Paulo, Brazil to Barclona sailing March 2oth through April 3rd, 2010 onboard the Splendour of the Seas Inside cabins from $606.56 pp; ocean view from $706.56 pp and balcony guarantees from $1,136.56 pp
14 Night Eastbound Transatlantic from Galveston to Bacrelona sailing April 18th-May 2nd, 2010 onboard the Voyager of the Seas. Inside cabins from $641.16 pp; ocean view from $889.16 pp and balcony guarantees from $991.16 pp
14-day Transatlantic from Fort Lauderdale to Southhampton April 11th-25th, 2010 onboard the Independence of the Seas. Inside cabins from $691.88 pp; ocean view from $885.88 pp and balcony guarantees from $1,481.76 pp
14-day Transatalantic from New York to Venice April 10th-24th onboard the Norwegian Gem. Inside cabins from $789.34 pp; ocean view from $979.34 pp and balcony guarantees from $1,249.34 pp
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Tags: Trans Atlantic Cruise, Trans Atlantic Cruise Deals, Trans Atlantic Cruises, TransAtlantic Cruise Deals, TransAtlantic Cruise. transatlantic cruises
Posted in Cruises | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, February 16th, 2010
 Virgin America announces bag fee change – the airline has changed its baggage fee to a flat $25 rate (up from $20,) for all checked items (excluding the first and second bag for First Class travelers; and the first bag for Main Cabin Select and Main Cabin Refundable Fare travelers).
Princess Cruises 3 day sale begins tomorrow. Offers includes low fares, cash back and FREE upgrades on over 75 sailings.
Norwegian cruise line to begin sailing year round out of New Orleans. The NCL Spirit will move there this November. Ports of call will include Costa Maya, Cozumel, Roatan and Belize city.
Several trips that include the 2010 Oberammergau Passion Play are now sold out.
Travel & Leisure’s list of the World’s strangest Olympic souvenirs.
NCL Epic returned from a 4 day sea trail February 14th – NCL stated that everything was a success and the ship remains on schedule. The NCL Epic will be the line’s largest and most innovative ship.
Travelers seeking a leisurely way to travel through Europe are choosing a river cruise. We have seen a surge in bookings this month. Avalon Waterways, Uniworld river cruises and Viking all have new ships for 2010.
PGA National Resort & Spa Named on of the Top 100 Resorts in America and one of Top 10 “Green” Resorts by GOLF Magazine.
Tauck Culturious program doing well with repeat passengers. Culturious is a new approach to guided travel that takes small groups of like-minded people on trips where they become completely engaged in the places they’re visiting.
Marriott’s newest brand, the “Autograph Collection,” will feature upscale and luxury properties with distinctive personalities. Marriott announced it’s first 7 hotels in the collection: El Monte Sagrado, Taos, New Mexico; the Grand Bohemian Hotel, Asheville, NC; Mansion on Forsyth Park, Savannah, GA; Bohemian Hotel Riverfront, Savannah; Casa Monica Hotel, St. Augustine, Fl; the Grand Bohemian Hotel and the Celebration Hotel, Orlando, Fl.
A woman hits the raceway in the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on February 27th! NASCAR fans following Danica Patrick can enter the Win-Ten-Ten sweepstakes. If Danica finishes in the top 10, one lucky winner will receive $10,010. Click here to enter
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Tags: atlas travel blog, Travel Advice, travel agent, travel blog, Travel Deals, Travel In the News, travel news, travel tips
Posted in Avalon Waterways, Epic, Norwegian, Princess Cruises, River Cruises, Uniworld, Viking River Cruises, travel news | 4 Comments »
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