Antarctic Cruises

Freezing wind, icebergs, penguins and a dearth of hotel rooms—these are the things you’ll find in the most expensive cruise destination in the world. Antarctica may not be the most hospitable region in the world, but it’s popular enough to guarantee that cruises destined for the southernmost continent will have passengers aplenty.

The tourist season in the Antarctic region is relatively short. The four months from November to February are the only time the temperatures are high enough to make the trip. The tourist season is also the time when the region gets the most sunlight. In December and January, days can last up to 20 hours.

The wildlife you’ll see also depends on when you go. Hatching penguins can be seen in December and November while slightly more mature young can be seen in February. February also brings more whale sightings than any other time of year.

The operational cost of an Antarctic voyage, as well as a lack of tourist infrastructure on the mainland, ensures that ticket prices won’t be going down anytime soon.

Antarctic cruises most often start in South America. The largest ships only offer sail-by tours of the continent—no disembarkation from the ship. A cruise to the world’s most expensive destination may cost as little as $5,000 and could climb as high as $26,000 or higher!

Ferrari Enzo $1,000,000

The Enzo Ferrari, sometimes referred to as the the Ferrari Enzo and also F60 is a 12-cylinder Ferrari supercar named after the company's founder, Enzo Ferrari. It was built in 2003 using Formula One technology, such as a carbon-fiber body, F1-style sequential shift transmission, and carbon-ceramic brake discs. Also used are technologies not allowed in F1 such as active aerodynamics. After a maximum downforce of 1709 pounds (775 kg) is reached at 186 mph (301 km/h) the rear spoiler is actuated by computer to maintain that downforce.

Bugatti Veyron

The Bugatti brand is one of the automotive industry’s oldest marque’s, and it has plans to make a public and very loud comeback with what could well be the fastest production car to ever hit the blacktop.
After what seems like years of teasing us with prototypes, mock sketches and the odd mention of a 1001 brake horsepower engine, the Bugatti Veyron is finally finished and will be sold to European markets late in 2003, and America and Asia Pacific territories after that.
While the Bugatti name is essentially Italian, Carlo Bugatti (father of Ettore Buggati) left Milan for France in 1904, and the marque has since built its cars in Molsheim, France.
Today, the Bugatti name is owned by Volkswagen, and the new Veyron supercar has also been styled by the Germans, yet despite this many of the die-hard Bugatti fans are still pleased with the car’s appearance.
The Bugatti Veyron was formally announced as ready-to-go by Volkswagen in Monte Carlo recently.
The new all-wheel drive Veyron has more power than the current crop of Formula One cars, and with its massive 8.0-litre, quad turbo engine, carbon fibre-reinforced chassis and aluminium body panels, there are few cars out there today that combine such technical sophistication with a look that’s quite unorthodox, yet strangely appealing.
Price: $1,300,000

La Modernista Diamonds, a jewel in your hand

Caran d’Ache created in 1999 La Modernista Diamonds fountain pen, in homage to Antoni Gaude (1852-1926), the most famous of Modernist architects. The pen, made of rhodium-coated solid silver components, has an 18-carat gold nib, also rhodium-coated. It is covered with 5072 full-cut Top Wesselton VS diamonds totalling 20 carats. 96 half-cut rubies (0.32 carats) are arranged on top of the cap, forming the monogram. Swiss company Caran d’Ache made ‘La Modernista Diamonds‘ a pen that was sold in Harrods, London, for $265,000. Created in memory of architect Antonio Gaudi, the rhodium-coated solid silver pen has an 18-karat gold pen point and is pave-set with 5,072 diamonds and 96 half-cut rubies.
In 2001 GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS certified La Modernista Diamonds fountain pen for holding the world record of The most expensive pen.

Pioneer digital sound projector

Most surround sound speaker systems have five to seven speakers scattered throughout the room. There are a few cheap single-speaker options out there, but for people willing to pay, surely there's some way to get home theater sound from a single spot without compromising on performance — or appearance? Mr. Rockefeller, Pioneer's got your number: 254, which is the number of speaker drivers in its PDSP-1 Digital Sound Projector, a 500-watt panel that can fill your entire living room with crisp, clear surround sound. The PDSP-1 is the shape and size of a flat-panel TV, so you just hang the it underneath your (presumably 71-inch) plasma screen, and the speakers will bounce sound off the walls and ceiling, creating a surround sound environment without cluttering up your Greco-Roman décor with a bunch of speakers and wires. The price of paneled convenience? $40,000 — but the satisfaction of knowing that you have 50 times the number of speakers hooked up to your TV as anyone else is totally worth it.

LG 71-inch plasma TV

Sure, you could get a 50-inch TV. That'd be nice, I guess… but any rube can waltz into Circuit City and pick one up, which makes it lose its charm. Plus, only 50 inches? You're loaded; you can do better than that. The 71-inch LG MW-71PY10 plasma TV should satisfy your big-screen desires nicely. This thing is a behemoth, so you'll need a gigantic wall and a couple of hired goons to install it, but once it's up on your wall you'll feel like you're sitting in a movie theater. Come to think of it, you'll need a room about as big as a movie theater to put it in, but if you can afford a $70,000 TV, that's likely not a problem.

World's Most Expensive Homes

Along Australia's Gold Coast and across the French Riviera, they sit above the beach offering extraordinary views of the sea. In the U.K. they are palaces that humble the Queen's Belgravia mansions.

Others range from landed estates throughout continental Europe to nature preserves in Zambia.

These are some of the world's most expensive properties, and the prices are as unique as the homes. Saudi Prince Bandar bin Sultan's Aspen ski lodge lists for $135 million, while 6,000 miles away, a 64-room Istanbul waterfront mansion asks $100 million.

Expensive Blu-ray Player

Hot on the heels of Toshiba’s concession to Sony in the high definition format war, luxury home theatre manufacturer Goldmund has released, in their words, the “first high-end Blu-ray player.” If nothing else, Goldmund’s Eidos 20 BD is certainly the most expensive Blu-ray player on the market.

The player has a number of features to justify its price, of course. The “AC-Curator” power supply circuit, for instance, supposedly improves audio and visual stability. The player is also specially constructed to eliminate vibration and thereby reduce video errors. Furthermore, the player is lovingly crafted with all the aesthetic appeal of an original model VCR (for those of you born after the Industrial Revolution, videocassette recorders are what your primitive forefathers used to pirate movies).

Goldmund is well known in the audio industry for producing high-end, expensive equipment. The Eidos is their first foray into the high-definition video market.

So how much is the world’s most expensive Blu-ray player? It can be purchased for the extremely low price of $16,900.

written by Jeremy

Expensive Cognac

Cognac, like Champagne, is named after the area of France from whence it originates. In order to be considered worthy of the name, the brandy must be produced in the area surrounding the town of Cognac and it must be made at least 90% from three varieties of grapes that grow in the region—Ugni Blanc, Folle Blanche or Colombard grapes. In fact, those are only two of the criteria required by the Bureau National Interprofessionel du Cognac (BNIC), the body that has ultimate control over whether or not a brandy may be called Cognac.

Considering the specific processes required to produce the most basic variety of the drink, the most expensive Cognac in the world must be something special indeed.

Called Henri IV Dudognon Heritage after the French king whose descendents have been producing this wine since 1776, this particular wine was aged for 100 years in barrels that were air dried for five years before use. The final product is 41% alcohol (82 proof).

That alone wasn’t enough to make it the world’s most expensive Cognac, though. The priciest aspect isn’t the wine itself, but the packaging. Dipped in 24k gold and sterling platinum, the bottle was adorned with 6,500 brilliant cut diamonds by its designer, jeweler Jose Davalos.

The final price of this costly Cognac is £1 million (around $2 million USD) and, if you’ve been paying any attention at all, it shouldn’t surprise you that Tequila Ley, the Mexican distilling company responsible for the expensive brandy, is planning to sell it in Dubai.

written by Jerremy

Most Expensive Men’s Suits

The business suit, the traditional outfit of men in the Western world, is generally worn with a dress shirt and tie. The modern suit first made its appearence in fashion during the late nineteenth century. Suits have always been a status symbol used in formal occasions and when conducting business. The fashions of suits have changed, but suit’s power to signal rank and membership maintains. So we must ask, what are the most expensive suits in the world?

Forbes recently released their Fall 2005 article of most expensive suits, which can be bought from a rack, as opposed to custom made expensive suits.

From the article:

Indeed, while the splurge appeal of custom and made-to-measure suits is still a draw for some shoppers, chances are they’d do just as well with a suit that could be fitted to their peers. “Our off-the-rack suits are the same make with the same natural shoulder as our custom suits,” says Jay Kos, a high-end New York suitmaker, whose beautifully made classic men’s suits have a wide appeal among the city’s heavier hitters. “Guys who are just coming into money want custom suits, so they can choose their own fabrics and details. But guys who already have a few custom suits are also buying off-the-rack if they see something great.”

1. Brioni $6,000
2. Kiton $5,800
3. Canali $4,200
4. Bottega Veneta $3,800
5. Giorgio Armani $3,595
6. Ralph Lauren $3,295
7. Oxxford Clothes $3,000
8. Jay Kos $2,800
9. Issey Miyake $2,800

Some people may suggest business suits are too formal for the modern work-a-day Google world of casual dress. Nevertheless, it is unlikely that the use of suits will decline, because even a the most casual slacker needs an expensive suit for weddings, funerals, court appearances, and even some job interviews. The most expensive suits in the world are modern day replacements for polished European medieval armor.

Do you know of a more expensive off-the-rack suit?

Acknowledged as The Best Hotel in The World

Designed to resemble a billowing sail, the hotel soars to a height of 321 metres, dominating the Dubai coastline. At night, it offers an unforgettable sight, surrounded by choreographed colour sculptures of water and fire. This all-suite hotel reflects the finest that the world has to offer.

With your chauffeur driven Rolls Royce, discreet in-suite check in, private reception desk on every floor and a brigade of highly trained butlers who provide around-the-clock attention, you can be assured of a highly personalised service throughout your stay.

*Institutional Investor Magazine
*World Travel Awards 2007

London most expensive dining capital in world

LONDON (AP) -- Thinking of a night out in London? Don't forget your wallet.

London is the most expensive dining capital in the world, restaurant rating company Zagat said Tuesday.

The average meal in London costs just over $79, beating out Paris, at nearly $72 and Tokyo, at just over $71, according to the company's survey of 5,300 Londoners.

That makes eating out in the British capital more than twice as expensive as New York, where the average meal costs $39.

The prices include drinks and tips.

Time Out's London food editor Guy Dimond said the Zagat survey was likely skewed toward high-end restaurants, but said the city's booming economy has pushed prices up across the board.

London is already the world's second-costliest city, according to a survey published by Mercer Human Resource in June. Moscow was rated as the world's most expensive, while New York, which served as the survey's base, ranked 15th.

Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company.

Luxury Medical Services for a Monthly Fee

Boutique Medicine a Different Approach to Health Care

Do you want your visits to your doctor to be more personal? Would you like to be able to reach your doctor, not a telephone answering service, by telephone? No, these are not ideas from the past generation of medicine. These are the new ways that some doctors and some clinics are doing business, for their patients that can afford these luxuries.

Yes, it is always about the money. But in the case of these new medical services (that is being labeled as some as 'boutique medicine') the luxury may be worth the extra cost, providing you can afford it.

First, what does boutique medicine offer a patient?

Patients can make a phone call and get medical advice.

Patients can make same day appointments

Patients can see the doctor immediately, no time wasted in the waiting room.

Patients are given more preventative care.

How can doctors manage to afford these luxuries to their patients? The simple matter is that they cut down on the number of patients they see. The average doctor sees 2,000 to 4,000 patients. That means the average doctor does not have the time or the luxury of spending much time with each patient. When a doctor provides this luxury style care he/she sees about 400 to 600 patients.

Sounds good, right? What about the cost of these services? Just how expensive are they?

The price of course will range from doctor to doctor. On average a patient will pay a fee of $90 to $200 a month or an annual fee to be classified as one of the doctor's elite patients. This is just the cost of the service (which of course no insurance will pay). The patient will still have to pay for all other medical expenses.

Despite the cost, this special 'concierge' treatment is being offered nationwide. About 200 of the estimated 295,000 primary care physicians have begun offering this service. The numbers are rising yearly.

One reason patients like the service is that they feel they have more power in their medical treatment. They have more say and they are getting more attention. When you are sick you don't want to wait days before you can see a doctor and you don't want to be kept waiting for hours in the waiting room when you finally do get an appointment.

Do people who elect to sign up for this service like it? According to MDVIP, a Florida based company that helps doctors go concierge they do. They cite that about 95% of the patients who tries this luxury service resign the following year.

If you want to find out more about these services or if you would like to see if there is any concierge medical services in your area you can check out the MDVIP site at mdvip.com

By Linda M. McCloud

Six Famous People Who Insured an Essential Body Part

Technically, it is possible to insure any part of your body. Which part would you insure?

Celebrities sometimes insure various parts of their body according to whichever is most important to them. Pianists insure their hands, dancers insure their feet, singers insure their voices . These famous people insured various body parts for millions of dollars.

Fred Astaire

Fred Astaire, world renowned dancer insured his legs for $650,000 which doesn't sound a lot compared to today's huge pay outs. Fred was an Academy Award film and stage dance, choreographer, singer and actor. (1899-1987).

Jamie Lee Curtis

Actress Jamie Lee Curtis insured her legs for £1 million. This American film actress was the star of many horror films. As an actress she clearly didn't see her face on the screen as being her most important attribute. Her legs are her most important asset according to her, or so it may seem.

Marlene Dietrich

Marlene Dietrich was a German born American actress, singer and entertainer, who died in 1992. The American Film Institute listed her as number 9 in the list of Greatest Female Stars of All Time. She constantly evolved her act and changed her image but it was her dark brown, husky voice that most people recognised. She insured it for $1 million.

Ken Dodd

English comedian and singer songwriter, Ken Dodd, know as Doddy, insured those famous buck teeth of his. He is famous for selling 100 million records (remember vinyls?) but most of all for his trade mark buck teeth, frizzy hair and feather duster, or tickling stick. Those teeth were insured for $4 million.

Dolly Parton

Dolly didn't insure her voice as might have been expected, but her breasts, which she clearly saw as her most important asset. Dolly Parton remains the most successful country music singer/songwriter of all time. Those famous breasts were insured for just $800,000 which is surprisingly little compared to the huge insurance claims and payouts we hear of today.

Bruce Springsteen

Bruce Springsteen , American songwriter/singer and guitarist, insured the obvious thing which was his voice for $6 million. Again this seems very little when you compare the huge amounts earned by successful singers and songwriters today.

If you insured a part of your body, which part would it be and how much would you insure it for? Personally I would insure my voice as I can't imagine what it would be like not to be able to talk, or sing, albeit very badly.

The world’s most romantic lagoon resorts

This luscious resort occupies a privately owned, 300-acre island three miles off the west coast of Malaysia, along the Straits of Malacca. Many of its villas are on stilts over the sea; among these are the Suria and Purnama suites, with a bedroom, lounge and bathroom with an oversize tub and windows that overlook the water. Activities include fishing; jungle-trekking; a cruise on a teakwood, Oriental junk to a sheltered cove, for a lunchtime barbecue or sunset dinner; golf; yoga; and tai chi. Batik painting is also taught daily.

Looking to get away from the winter’s cold and live out your vacation fantasy on an island paradise, complete with lagoon-side accommodations?

Your fantasy can become reality at a wide range of posh resorts in the world’s top beach destinations, such as the Maldives, Seychelles, French Polynesia, Mexico’s Riviera Maya and even the Caribbean.

Run by luxury hotel operators like St. Regis, Rosewood, Aman Resorts and Six Senses, many of these resorts offer over-water luxury accommodations, like Soneva Gili’s 1,400-square-meter Private Reserve villa in the Maldives; this has two master suites, a private spa and speedboat with crew and personal butler service. Anantara Resort Maldives’ over-water suites float in the Indian Ocean; some even have their own private, infinity-edge plunge pools.

Although these hotels might be located in remote locations, that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice creature comforts or rough it. Villas and other guest rooms at these resorts are elegantly furnished; many use local wood and thatch in their décor. Butler service is frequently available too, not only at Soneva Gili, but also at the St. Regis Bora Bora and Six Senses Hideaway Nin Vanh Bay in Vietnam, among others.

Spa services can be found everywhere, including at Miri Miri Spa at the St. Regis Bora Bora; this 13,000-square-foot facility occupies its own private island and offers both Tahitian and Pacific Rim treatments.

By Jane Levere

How Suite It Is!

By Art Sbarsky, CruiseMates Consumer Affairs Editor

The cruise industry is mostly an open society (I would have said democratic, but this is an election year and I didn't want to rile anyone): The price you pay traditionally determined the size of the room you occupy, but not much else. Yes, there are exceptions like the assignment of dining rooms on Cunard's Queens based on cabin category, and the new breed of special rooms for concierge and above levels on some lines.

But overall, other than your own private space, the rest of the ship and all of its facilities are open to everyone. So a common question among cruisers is, "Are suites worth the extra money?" I can't answer that for everyone, but if you are looking for larger spaces and balconies, suites may be the answer. If outside space is not a priority and you have no problem with regular sized rooms, suites may not be worth the extra money. If you're a family of four, such as the friends I recently traveled with, a suite may be better than a regular quad.

When my parents cruised, money was an issue. They went for the lower-priced rooms on the premise that they weren't in cabin that often, and they could then afford a somewhat better cruise line. Since the in-cabin amenities back then were nowhere near what they are today, it was a logical approach. Today, in addition to the question of paying for a better room on the same ship, luxury lines sometimes have some very affordable pricing available, especially with advance-booking discounts. With all the extras these lines include (e.g., tipping and beverages – alcoholic or not), it pays to compare prices.

The Suite Life

Many cruise lines are now enticing suite guests with amenities that make an upgrade very appealing. Here are examples of what some mainstream lines are offering (beyond just the larger size of the room):

Carnival's Suite and Penthouse Suite guests all enjoy special VIP check-in; a wet bar; refrigerator; entertainment/sitting area with sofa, armchairs and coffee table; large vanity/dressing table with sink; VCR; three large closets and whirlpool bath.

Holland America is outfitting all Penthouse and Deluxe Verandah rooms with duvets, fully stocked mini-bars, personalized stationary and a VCR or DVD player with access to a well-stocked library. This is in addition to lots of enhancements being made as part of the line's Signature of Excellence program.

Norwegian Cruise Line offers its top suite guests a starter set of liquor/soda/water, butler and concierge service, CD and DVD library, upgraded linens and bath amenities, personalized stationary, unpacking and packing service, a personal computer with printer and a whole lot more.

Princess offers its suite guests complimentary Internet access, dry cleaning and laundry. There's also priority embarkation, early disembarkation in tender ports, special toiletries, flowers, starter liquor/soft drink/water set-ups and the choice of various afternoon canapés.

Royal Caribbean offers guests in its top accommodations duvets, robes and slippers for on-board use and special bath amenities. Suite attendants have fewer rooms to handle so service for each is better. On Voyager- and Radiance-class ships, there is concierge service and a special lounge as well.

Luxury Has Its Privileges

Here are a couple of examples of what some lines are doing to satisfy those discriminating guests who like a touch of luxury:

Cunard's new Queen Mary has some special treats in store for its Grill Class guests including prebooking for Canyon Ranch treatments, a concierge lounge, Frette linens, priority reservations for specialty restaurants, and private (but not free) shore excursions. Queen's Grill guests get even more, including a private sundeck/Jacuzzi and Xbox Entertainment Systems.

Radisson Seven Seas has an all-suite, all balcony design so everyone on board really is a "suite" guest. But the top-level accommodations get even more, such as upgraded bar set-ups, complimentary cocktail parties, better robes and towels, a 4-Parts Manicure Set (that one intrigues me), automatic VIP status and personalized stationary.

To Suite or Not to Suite

It's still pretty much true that what you get is what you pay for. Everyone has different priorities. Study the different lines and categories to see what the array of increased room size and varying amenities can do to enhance your experience.