Hello from the flight deck of OnTheFly, American Way’s voice in the digital world. We won’t make you return your seatback and tray table to a locked and upright position. Just kick back and enjoy the ride …

On our final day of sailing aboard the Norwegian Cruise Line ship Epic, we docked in Nassau, Bahamas, and made our way to the Atlantis resort on Paradise Island as quickly as possible.

We then proceeded to have an absolute blast.

Atlantis may be a playground for the rich and famous (Michael Jordan, Jay-Z, Jerry Seinfeld, Miss Universe, Justin Bieber, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders and a long, long list of other A-list notables), but there's plenty of fun to be had for the not-so-rich and the not-quite-famous.

We started off in The Dig, which is the resort's seemingly never-ending aquarium. Beginning underneath the lobby of Atlantis' Royal Towers, The Dig aquarium winds and turns along a circuitous route and features some spectacular maritime eye candy: Sharks, massive manta rays, tiny sea horses, giant tropical fish, creepy-cool jellyfish and dozens more species of marine life.

When you finally exit, you find yourself in the middle of an aquatic play land: Lazy rivers, beaches, water slides and more. Collectively known as Aquaventure, this waterscape covers more than 140 acres , so it doesn't feel crowded. There are so many things to do here, that the biggest headache is simply trying to figure out how to see and do as much as possible in whatever time you have.

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By Chris Wessling 452 Days Ago

Happy Thanksgiving!

Cruising on the high seas during Thanksgiving isn't much different from the landlubber version, as we discovered today aboard the Norwegian Cruise Line ship Epic. We enjoyed a full turkey dinner at the retro-cool Manhattan Room restaurant (think Don Draper in “Mad Men” circa 1960, complete with live music and a small dance floor), all three NFL games on the wall-sized video screens in the Atrium Lounge and the outdoor Spice H20 and a smallish amount of family squabbling.

This is our last full day at sea, and we tried to cram in as much as possible: A basketball tournament at the outdoor sports court; scaling the outdoor rock-climbing wall; a few spins down the water slide in the largest aqua park at sea; a game of family Pictionary; sitting in on an art auction that featured works by Picasso and Rembrandt; more visits to the ice cream machine; and the obligatory visit to the Pulse fitness center.

Somehow, we also managed to find time to catch the Howl at the Moon show at the Headliners club. Howl at the Moon is billed as the world's greatest rock 'n' roll dueling piano show. I'm not sure what the competition is like, since this is the only rock 'n' roll dueling piano show I've ever attended. But I do know that these guys are good. The piano players had an encyclopedic musical repertoire, and accommodated song requests with ease. Of course, not all song requests are created equal – requests that were accompanied by a $5 bill or $10 bill got played a lot sooner than those that were unescorted by a president.

Shocking, I know.

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By Chris Wessling 453 Days Ago

The Ultimate Chill

The coolest place in the tropics is aboard the Norwegian Cruise Line ship Epic. Specifically, in its SVEDKA Ice Bar. And when I say ice, I mean ice. In this frozen wonderland, almost everything is made of frozen water: The walls, the bar itself, the stools, the sculptures and the the glasses, too.

It's like stepping into the North Pole (if the North Pole charged you $20 to enter, which gets you two cocktails and the use of a faux fur coat to keep warm in the 17-degree environment.)

There are only 14 ice bars in the world, and this is the only one that floats. NCL partnered with SVEDKA Vodka and Inniskillin ice wine to create this unique ice palace, and it's easily the most talked-about site on the ship. As I heard one passenger say, “You gotta go to the ice bar just so you can say you went. It's sorta like the State of Liberty.”
And really, it is cool (no pun intended). Besides the attraction of the icy interior, the bar also features rotating lighting effects in shades of purple, blue and green – to mimic the Northern Lights. This, of course, is a nod to Scandinavia, where ice bars and ice hotels are most prevalent.

And the vodka is pretty good, too!

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By Chris Wessling 454 Days Ago

Blue Man Group. In a Word, Awesome

]Never been to a Blue Man Group performance before this cruise aboard the Norwegian Cruise line ship Epic. And now I can't help but kick myself for not going when I've had opportunities in the past.

For nearly 90 minutes, the Blue Men kept a sold-out theater entranced/thrilled/stunned by their ability to turn humdrum objects into pieces of captivating performance art: Marshmallows, PVC pipe, paint, toilet paper.

(Yes, toilet paper. Lots and lots of toilet paper. You have to see a show to truly experience the wackiness of it.)

BMG does all of this wordlessly – which serves a dual purpose: It keeps all focus on the action, and it helps the Blue Men maintain an aura of otherworldly cool weirdness. And the action is constant. From the opening drumbeats to the finale, the Blue Men do it with extreme gusto … and the results are awesome.

Blue Man Group performs all around the world, but the Epic show is the first time they've done their thing at sea. NCL made an outstanding choice.

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By Chris Wessling 456 Days Ago

A Girl Named Daiquiri

]It's Day 3 (an Internet glitch prevented me from blogging yesterday) of our non-traditional Thanksgiving aboard the Norwegian Cruise Line ship Epic. I'd like to say that the highlight so far has been our stateroom (ingeniously cool), the food (belt-bustingly good) or the activities and attractions available to passengers (exceptionally diverse and high caliber).

But for me, so far, it was bumping into a girl named Daiquiri. Literally.

My oldest daughter and I were headed to the ultra-modern Pulse fitness center in an effort not to become another cruise line statistic (the typical passenger on a seven-day cruise gains between 7 and 14 pounds), when we hit a roadblock of pre-teen children getting ready to paint the ship red. It was slow maneuvering, and I was doing my best not to run over a kid. That's when a little girl bumped into me, prompting her mother to say: “Watch out, Daiquiri, you need to scooch aside so the people can get through ...”

Daiquiri. I heard it quite clearly, and I have to admit that I broke out into a grin as soon as it registered in my brain. That may be the coolest name ever. I mean, doesn't that name just come with all sorts of party/fun/happy connotations?!

If anything encapsulates the good-time spirit of life on the Epic, it's that there's a girl named Daiquiri running around on board.

(True, I don't know the exact spelling of this little girl's name. But it was close enough to Daiquiri for me.)

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By Chris Wessling 457 Days Ago

AW Recommends: Hilton Miami Airport

Miami is home to nearly all of the major cruise lines that serve the East Coast. Chances are, you're going to fly in the day before your cruise begins. So where to stay? A hotel close to both the airport and the seaport. A hotel that's comfortable and beautiful. A place where you can sit in the hot tub and watch planes take off from the airport while palm trees wave in the balmy breeze.

A place like the Hilton Miami Airport.

It's the premier full-service hotel near Miami International Airport, and a perfect choice for cruise, business and vacation travelers. Plus, the hotel offers free shuttle service to and from the airport. A shuttle to the port is available from the hotel (for a fee), or a taxi ride will set you back about $35.

Multiple dining and beverage options are available at the Hilton Miami Airport, from the Coral Cafe to the Blue Lagoon Saloon. The 3,000-square-foot pool deck (with hot tub) is available to guests to want a slice of the tropical weather.

Luxuriously appointed suites and rooms make this hotel a must-rest destination. It's close to attractions like the American Airlines Arena, South Beach, downtown Miami and much, much more.

You might even bump into the University of Miami Hurricanes football team (as we did). These guys are huge. And they have impeccable taste in hotels.

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By Chris Wessling 459 Days Ago

Thanksgiving at Sea

Image about United States'' Thanksgiving

Remember that famous Norman Rockwell painting “Freedom From Want”? It celebrates a classic all-American Thanksgiving, complete with turkey, generations of family and non-stressful holiday togetherness.

This will not be one of those Thanksgivings.

That's not to say we won't be having turkey or a non-stressful togetherness. But instead of traveling far from home and enjoying the holiday with family, we'll be enjoying this Thanksgiving on the water.

For the next seven days, my family and I will be on the Norwegian Cruise Line ship Epic. More than 1,000 feet long, and capable of taking 4,000 passengers on an truly memorable vacation.

A non-traditional Thanksgiving, in other words.

Can we survive a week of togetherness? Will we be written out of our parents' wills for not flying home for Thanksgiving this year? Will there be a midnight chocolate extravaganza on board the Epic?

All good questions. Not sure if I'll be able to answer all of them, but I'll be blogging daily to proivde a peek at life on the ocean.

(Interested in taking a cruise of tour own? NCL offers dozens of different itineraries on its fleet of gorgeous ships. And check out AA.com for great fares to your point of departure.)

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By Chris Wessling 459 Days Ago

Stuff This in Your Stocking: Looptworks

Recycling is so boring ... or is it?

Not when you're Looptworks, an American company that takes abandoned materials to repurpose them into meaningful, long-lasting and limited-edition products. Stuff like hoodies, T-shirts, skirts laptop sleeves and more. Basically, something for everyone on your holiday gift list.

Looptworks is an Oregon company that has a simple but noble goal: Ridding the world of waste while inspiring a generation to reduce their impact on the planet.

Here's your chance to do a little shopping and feel good about it.
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By Chris Wessling 461 Days Ago

Stuff This in Your Stocking: ZeroChroma Case

You have an iPod. Or an iPad. Or an iPhone. Or Kindle. Or ... well, you get the idea. You have some small portable electronic device that has a screen that can show TV, movies, video or books. Or maybe your spouse or good friend does.

So you/they need a ZeroChroma case.

As the ultimate gift for the tech junkie or Apple lover in your life, ZeroChroma protective cases turn an iPhone4, iPad, Kindle, iPod Touch or iPod Nano into a personal hands-free theater for viewing movies and videos. Its 360-degree rotating, 18-angle multiclick theater stand makes viewing and webcamming a whole lot more enjoyable. Even better: When you're doing using it to enhance your viewing and webcamming, it transforms into a sleek and sturdy rubber-bumpered case.

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By Chris Wessling 461 Days Ago

Stuff This in Your Stocking: True Womb Sleeper

Image about Un-ergonomically Correct Chair 1

Yes, the baby in the picture is very, very cute. We'll just be upfront about that right away. (And frankly, we're kind of jealous of the kid, because he looks a lot more comfortable than we are as we sit in our un-ergonomically correct chair.)

So if there's a new mother on your holiday shopping list, we suggest making her life a bit easier by gifting her with a True Womb Sleeping Swaddle. A sleeping baby = a happy mother. And when the hand that rocks the cradle is rested and relaxed, life is good for the entire family.

The True Womb is an innovative sleep system that replicates the sensation of being inside the womb by controlling the movements of an infant's arms and legs while still allowing mobility. Not too tight, not too loose. Just right for a great night's sleep.

Mmmmmmm, if only it came in adult sizes ...

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By Chris Wessling 461 Days Ago

Stuff This in Your Stocking: Dufflet Chocolates

Look at the photo to the left. Now, try not to drool ...

It's the holiday season, and you want chocolate. No, you crave it. In fact, you deserve it for enduring all the stress that comes with this time of year.

For you chocoholics and non-chocoholics alike, we recommend a sweet Dufflet treat. Hand-crafted. Top-quality natural ingredients. Nothing artificial. Just 100 percent delicious.

Hundreds of restaurants, cafes and specialty shops offer Dufflet pastries and desserts. You, too, can go into a chocolate coma, since Dufflet makes its Sweet Indulgences line available via online ordering.

Small Indulgences is a luscious line of decadent chocolate treats that bridge European tradition with modern, imaginative flare. Crackle, Tumbles and Morsels are all decadent-with-a-capital-D.

Try not to drool ...

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By Chris Wessling 461 Days Ago

Things We Love: Personalized Baby Gifts (PLUS! AW Reader Exclusive Deals!)

Maybe it's because our parents were kind enough not to saddle us with names like Petal Blossom Rainbow or Moxie Crimefighter (which we secretly love), but we go gaga over anything that's monogrammed or personalized — especially when it comes to baby gear. There's been a plethora of wee ones making their way into our world lately — our own managing editor, Casey Casteel, welcomed a little girl named Lucy last week! — and we love nothing more than to shower them with one-of-a-kind baby gifts.

Like these adorable onesies from Two by Two, which you can custom order in your choice of size, design, and fabric. Little Lucy already has an "L" pink gingham onesie and a burp cloth to match — both of which were met with much oohing and ahhing at her mama's shower. We especially love the bows that can be added to give an extra girly touch. (Click through for a photo.)

Or these to-die-for ear-flap hats (seen above and after the jump) from Twinkle Twinkle Little One, a baby boutique in Chicago. I mean, seriously: How. Cute. Are. These. Hats. Fortunately for those of you not living in the Windy City, you can order your own from their online shop at www.twinkletwinklelittleone.com. What better way to keep your precious cargo warm throughout these blustery winter months?

And we have some special promotions just for you, dear On the Fly readers. If you place an order this month with Two by Two and mention that you read about them on our blog, you’ll be entered to win a free personalized onesie. (The winner will be drawn at the end of November.) And AW readers will also get 10 percent off all ear-flap hats from TTLO through the end of the year! Just enter the discount code Earflap10 upon checkout to receive the promotion. Comment

By Jessica Jones 463 Days Ago

Private Practice DVD Giveaway

We're lucky enough to have actor/dance company owner/impossibly gorgeous human being Taye Diggs gracing the pages of the latest American Way. If you haven't already seen the story, check it out. We'll wait.

Done? Sounds like a great guy, right? [Collective sigh.] If that interview left you wanting more Diggs in your day-to-day, lucky for you, we're giving away copies of the third season of his hit show, Private Practice. You can enter to win here. And then you can invite us over to watch. Comment

By Jessica Jones 463 Days Ago

Monday Music Corner

It's a Monday. It's cold outside. You might be feeling a little down in the dumps. We understand.

But rather than get sad, get mad, like today's Monday Music Corner featured artist, Adele. You may have heard about Adele last year when she won the Grammy for Best New Artist, bolstered by her incredible debut album, 19. Now the British songstress is gearing up to release her follow-up disc, 21 (both album titles refer to her age at the time of their recording), in February. And today, she's given us a sneak peek at the first single, "Rolling in the Deep." It's a rousing revenge anthem that she told People magazine she wrote in just an hour. "You're going to wish you never had met me," the chorus warns. Ouch.

Enjoy the song here (visually accompanied by studio footage), and on this cold, dreary Monday, just take comfort in the fact that you're not the fella it's aimed at.

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By Jessica Jones 463 Days Ago

Princess Cruises Salutes America's Heroes

Happy Veterans Day! Be sure to take the time today to thank an active-duty or retired member of the U.S. military. And while you're at it, be extra grateful for the freedoms we all should cherish as Americans.

Princess Cruises is doing its part today to say thanks to America's heroes, with its Military Onboard Credit Program.

Active personnel and veterans alike are eligible for shipboard credit, ranging from $50 to $250 per stateroom, depending on the length of the cruise. The credit program is open to members of the United States and Canadian armed forces with appropriate service identification.

To take advantage of this program, call 1-800-PRINCESS.

And then be sure check out great fares to your embarkation point, at AA.com.

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By Chris Wessling 468 Days Ago

We Feel the Love

Boxer Manny Pacquiao, who has a big title fight this weekend, graces the cover of American Way's Nov. 1 issue. And at the media center for the fight (at the Gaylord Texan resort), we generated some pretty good buzz.

According to Gary Andrew Poole, who wrote the story for us, AW's Pacquiao cover was enlarged to poster size and graced the room, prompting a number of Filipino journalists to remark that they liked the article. Even better, when HBO's Mark Taffet addressed the media, he mentioned that when he flew American Airlines from New Jersey to Dallas, he was pleasantly surprised to see Pacquiao's pugilistic mug peeking out at him from the seat pocket in front on him.
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By Chris Wessling 468 Days Ago

Possibly the Coolest Job Opening Ever

We're not sure what the exact national unemployment rate is, but we figure it's somewhere near the intersection of Scary and Calamitous streets. So we're happy to offer up a sliver of good news and promote what may be the coolest job opening ever.

Ski blogger.

And if that's not enough, how about ski blogger who gets to live in a suite at the Waldorf Astoria in Park City, Utah, and gets $40,000 for four months of playing in the perfectly groomed snow?

The details: Canyons Resort in Park City is offering what it's calling "The Ultimate Mountain Gig" to one lucky person. The winner will be required to blog and post photos/videos about their activities at least four times a week, attend Canyons events and basically party and ski like a VIP.

You must apply by Nov. 25, though. To learn more and get started on your application, click here.

Good luck!

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By Chris Wessling 469 Days Ago

An Awesome Translation App

We're suckers for great gadgets and cool apps -- especially ones that provide a much-needed service (Hey, we love playing Tetris on our phone, but you know ...)

So, Road Warriors, the next time you're in a country where you're not exactly fluent, be sure your smartphone has the TransImage app on it. In a nutshell, this mobile visual translation app will allow you to take a photo of a sign or text that's in a language other than your own, and then translate the words into something you can understand.

So simple, yet very cool and useful.

It's available for the iPhone now, but the geniuses at TransPerfect promise that BlackBerry and Android versions are on the way.

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By Chris Wessling 469 Days Ago

Listen Now: Weekend

Tuesday is always the best day of the week (okay, besides Friday), because this is the day that new music albums drop. It’s like Christmas morning — ONCE A WEEK. Really, what could be better? Today, we're digging the new Weekend album, Sports (Slumberland). Coming out of San Francisco, the band’s sound is post-punk (loud guitars and pounding drums) muted with a heavy dose of reverb and layers of haunting melodies that blend seamlessly together to create an atmosphere of sound that embraces at every listen. Sonic Youth on reverb in other words. Lead singer Shaun Durkan sums it up best, "Our goal has always been to balance the abrasive qualities of punk and noise with something more introspective and vulnerable. Creating that simultaneous push and pull. Like the beauty of an oil fire." Weekend kicked off a month-long tour a few days ago, including a few shows with label-mates the Pains of Being Pure at Heart, who, incidentally, have a new album set to come out in March 2011 (preview the first single from the album below). Weekend tour date info after the jump.

Weekend - Coma Summer by annafialho (from Sports, out today)

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Heart In Your Heartbreak by forcefieldpr (from upcoming album Belong, out March 2011)
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By Anna Fialho 470 Days Ago

Get Ritzy

London started swinging in the 1960s -- and it still does at The Ritz.

The grande dame of British hospitality is always a five-star kind of experience. But now the iconic hotel has put a little extra pep in its veddy proper step on Fridays and Saturdays. That's when The Ritz Restaurant (can you say "breathtakingly beautiful"?) becomes home to “Live at The Ritz.”

A cabaret evening of dinner and dancing, "Live at The Ritz" features a decadent four-course dinner and the opportunity to dance the night away to live music by Peter O’Donnell and his four-piece band. A little blues jazz. Maybe some Cole Porter. A bit of the Rat Pack. Dance until your feet are sore, or enjoy some people-watching while you relax over cocktails and a fabulous meal.

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By Chris Wessling 470 Days Ago

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