Prince William and Kate Middleton visit Met

The future king of England and his beautiful wife were a dazzling work of art Tuesday night as they wrapped up their whirlwind trip to New York with a gala at the Met.

Flashbulbs popped as the comely couple arrived at the Fifth Ave. entrance and Prince William tenderly helped his pregnant wife up the rain-swept steps.

Kate was all smiles in a flowing, off-shoulder greenish-blue Jenny Packham dress that showed off her still-slim figure and glowing skin.

She accessorized with a dangling pair of diamond-and-emerald earrings — a private gift to the duchess, officials said.

Someone in the crowd shouted, “Turn around, Kate,” and the black-tuxedo-clad Prince William dutifully twirled, urging his wife to do the same.

After the Royals mingled with the likes of TV host Seth Meyers, opera singer Renee Fleming and Vogue editor Anna Wintour, bagpipes ushered guests into the Temple of Dendur, where a feast of Scottish salmon and Angus beef awaited.

The ritzy event was a fund-raiser for the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, where William and Kate, both 32, first fell in love.

“I don’t need to tell all of you just how much St. Andrews University means to me and Catherine,” Prince William told the rapt crowd, before joking that most undergraduates leave the school married or alcoholics.

“Fortunately for Catherine and me, we ended up married,” he quipped, to appreciative laughter.

Some royal watchers were disappointed the Duchess of Cambridge chose to recycle her $5,000 gown. She’s worn it to at least two other events since 2013.

“Breaking snooze. Another @jennypackham repeat on #KateMiddleton ... that’s three times for this dress,” tweeted disgruntled fan Laura Marshall.

But the critics were vastly outnumbered by Kate’s admirers, who felt she could do no wrong, stylistically speaking.

“Love that gown. Jewelry and updo perfect touch,” said royal enthusiast Patricia Treble.

Other well-known faces that turned up at the Met gala included French banker Olivier Sarkozy, who is dating the much-younger Mary-Kate Olsen.

Princess Eugenie, daughter of Prince Andrew and his former wife, Sarah Ferguson, also popped over to say hello to her cousin William and exchange a warm embrace with Kate.

After the night’s festivities, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge exited the Met the same way they entered: hand-in-hand.

They were expected back in England Wednesday to greet their favorite subject, 1-year-old Prince George.

summary: Prince William and Kate Middleton were a dazzling work of art as they wrapped up their trip to New York with a gala at the Met.

Tiger and president could take to the golf course to decide "most powerful man" title

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How about Tiger Woods gives the president 3-a-side and the loser has to negotiate the health care bill with Congress.

From Gayle Fee and Laura Reposa of the Boston Herald about the duo meeting at the Vineyard Golf Club:

Needless to say, no one is talking. But the buzz on the links is that Woods...will hop over to the island for a round of golf with the Duffer-In-Chief sometime next week during the prez’s summer (holiday on Martha's Vineyard).

The presidential golf outing would fit rather nicely into Tiger’s schedule, as the World’s Greatest Golfer is expected to tee off in the Deutsche Bank Championship at TPC Norton on Sept. 4. Obama leaves The Rock on Aug. 30 and Woods normally shows up for the Deutsche Bank tourney four days in advance, so it’s all quite convenient!

“The Secret Service was all over the course,” said Someone Who Knows. “They’re hard to miss in those big black Suburbans with the blacked-out windows.”

Word is, D.C. and NYC power broker Vernon Jordan , who was ex-Prez Bill Clinton’s constant links companion on The Rock, is involved in orchestrating the outing.

Photo by Kevin Dietsch, Getty Images

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summary: How about Tiger Woods gives the president 3-a-side and the loser has to negotiate the health care bill with Congress. From Gayle Fee and Laura Reposa of the Boston Herald about the duo meeting at the Vineyard Golf Club: Needless...

Titans of the cruise industry see their net worth soar

By Gene Sloan, USA TODAY

The past year has been another good one to be a titan of the cruise industry. Just ask Micky Arison.

Two year ago, as cruise stocks were plunging along with the economy, wealth watcher Forbes was pegging the Carnival mogul's net worth at just $2.9 billion -- a multi-year low. But with the industry on the rebound, Arison's fortunes once again are on the rise.

Forbes' annual ranking of the world's billionaires for 2011, out late Wednesday, puts Arison's net worth at $5.9 billion, placing him at No. 169 on the magazine's closely-watched list. A year ago he ranked at No. 189.

Arison still has a long way to go to reach his former glory. As recently as five years ago, when the cruise business was riding high, Arison's hefty stake in Carnival had landed him among the 100 richest people in the world. In 2006, Forbes estimated Arison's net worth at more than $6 billion, putting him at No. 94 on the list. He ranked at No. 129 in 2007, at No. 189 in 2008 and at No. 221 in 2009.

RELATED: A photo tour of the ships behind Arison's fortuneALSO ONLINE: Carnival to expand cruises out of Port Canaveral

Micky Arison isn't the only Arison whose fortunes are rebounding. Another Carnival heir, Shari Arison, is now worth $5.1 billion, up from $3.4 billion a year ago, according to Forbes. The rise helped her jump from No. 277 on the list in 2010 to No. 200 this year. That said, five years ago she also was within striking distance of the Top 100 at 109.

Another would-be cruise mogul, Leon Black, also is doing better. The self-made financier who controls Apollo Management -- the private equity firm that in turn holds a large interest in Oceania Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line -- almost didn't make the Forbes list two years ago as his net worth plunged to just $1.1 billion during the financial downturn. But this year Forbes pegs Black's net worth at $3.5 billion, putting him at No. 310 on the list (up from No. 647 two years ago).

Also faring better this year are the many members of the Pritzker family of Chicago who collectively own a sizable chunk of Royal Caribbean. Forbes says Thomas Pritzker is now worth $2.1 billion, up from $1.6 billion a year ago, pushing up his ranking on the list to No. 564 from No. 616 in 2010). More than a half dozen other Pritzkers dot the list with a reported $1.7 billion to $1.9 billion a piece.

Cruise Loggers, share your thoughts below.

Posted Mar 10 2011 7:34AM

summary:
Forbes annual list of the world's billionaires highlights several cruise industry moguls whose fortunes are rising.