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    Awaiting Your Return From Shore |  Rio ranks as a favorite destination for visitors 
    from all over the world. The dark blue sea studded with rocky islands,  
    tumbling wooded mountains, and expanses of beaches make for a magnificent 
    setting. Rio’s history effectively began on January 1, 1502, when Portuguese 
    captain André Gonçalves steered his craft into Guanabara Bay, thinking he 
    was heading into the mouth of a great river. The city takes its name from 
    this event: Rio de Janeiro means "River of January."
 In 1763 the city replaced Salvador as Brazil’s capital. It remained 
    the capital until 1960, when the country’s political administration was 
    moved to the new federal capital of Brasilia.
 Rio’s cultural diversity has derived from its nearly 500-year 
    history. By the 18th century, the majority of the city’s inhabitants were 
    African slaves. Unlike other foreign colonies, miscegenation became the rule 
    rather than the exception in Brazil.
 Virtually nothing in Rio remained untouched by African customs, beliefs, 
    and behavior. It is this intriguing blend that creates an atmosphere 
    exclusive to Rio and most evident in the spectacular Carnival.
 For some 60 years, the beach districts of Copacabana, Ipanema and Leblon 
    have been Rio’s heart and soul, maintaining the city as the most captivating 
    spot in South America.
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    Awaiting Your Return 
    From Shore | 
  
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    Complimentary 
    Spirits Await | 
    
    Return to Your 
    Suite and Sail Away to The Next Adventure | 
    
    Entertainment 
    and Dancing Await You |