22 - Sunday, October 15, 7296 -- North Shore News

THE waterfront here in
New York has a story at
every pier, of the immi-
grant ships from
Europe, the mafia gangs
which called the shots,
the burning of the
Normandie, the wartime
convoys and Blue
Riband winners such as
Mauretania and Queen
Mary.

Today, with trips around
the Statue of Liberty and to
Ellis Island, it’s about memo-
ries, with the exception of the
Queen Elisabeth 2.

The QE2, as it has been
known since the first voyage in
1969, is che only vessel still
making regular trans-Atlantic
crossings, 2 unique experience
that appears to draw an inter-
esting bunch as opposed to
the typical cruise-ship passen-
ger who wouldn’t know if the

may be, it has kept up with the
times and with flair. The shows
were good, there were lots of
shops including a tuxedo
rental and a Harrods, and the
1,900 passengers included Dr
Ruth Westheimer, whose Sex
for Dumunies book-signing
drew a tincup around the
deck, As the captain said, “the
days of wheelchair races are
long gone.”

Naturally there was a pub,
the Golden Lion, and a very
good pint of Tetley’s it served.
Yes, there were sing-alongs,
and @ couple of comedians,
including the cruise director,
rare turns in these days of
political correctness,

Arrival at Southampton was
an hour early, which pleased
the captain as he wanted to
get home to cut the grass, and

came with the option of going
ashore almost immediately if
you could carry your own
bags, a “self-help” feature
other lines should copy.

And so back to the Old
World, and good to know that
excellent new ideas are not just
the prerogative of the new kids
on the waves,

Getting to New York: Very
important, and now made easy
by Cathay Pacific’s new daily
non-stop from Vancouver.
Further travel options are
Eurostar under the English

Rt
aeeaaenee 5

Photo David Wishart ~

New Orleans Round Trip
“MS NEW AMSTERDAM”

January 11-18, March 30-April 6,
7 nights T nights
Ft. Lauderdale roundtrip
“MS VEENDAM"

June 28-July 10,
12 nights
Copenhagen-London
“MS MAASDAM”

Fares in Canadian dotlars Call 926-4344
106-100 Park Royal South, West Vancouver

(@ Holland America Line

A TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE®

Our First Visitors Went Throug h
Vell And High Water To Get Here

BART

THE QE2, as it has been known since the first voyage
in 1969, is the only vessel still making regular trans-
Atlantic crossings.

crew slept onboard or not. Channel to Paris and Air
Many were there because France Concorde back to New

of the tradition of the great York.

liners, some came to drop

wreaths where comrades were

torpedoed, not a few simply

can’t stand flying, and others

may have had darker motives.

As a Queens Grill waiter was

heard saying one night, “shov-

Your trip, however, will be an easy exploration of our
rich historical sites, heaches, forests, rivers, attractions and
events. For your free copy of :
our Explorer's Guide, call the
Astoria-Warrenton, Oregon

Chamber of Commerce. 503-325-6311

ing your spouse over the side
is very easy to do and hard to
prove ..

Being a Clyde-built British
ship, there was a fair bit of
humor about, such as the sec-
ond officer's noon commen-
tary which included a refer-
ence to shifting plates under
the Atlantic. “This means,” he
said, “that the continents of
North America and Europe
are drifting apart at the rate of
two centimetres a year.
However, this should nor
affect our time of arrival in
Southampton...”

We had five superb days at
sea, the 70,000-ton liner slash-
ing ; smoothly through the
calm Atlantic at 32 knots.
Unlike the typical stop-and-go
cruise with everyone ashore
each day for shopping, and
once around the rotem poles,
this was a restful experience to
be spent in the pool, relaxing
in the spa, taking tea in an cle-

- gant lounge or sitting on deck
with one’s memories.

Evenings were for fine din-
ing in the ship's tive restau-
rants, The Queens Grill, possi-
bly the best restaurant afloat,
has retained the style and
glamor that the likes of Nova
Scotian Samuel Cunard

brought to the North Atlantic,
yet the wine list had some ter-
rific bottles from Bordeaus at
a modest price.

The cabins, reflecting, the
liner heritage, are roomy and
beautifully panelled. My bath-
room, redone with new
plumbing and handsome
tiling, had an art deco accent,
while the dressing raom, com-
plete with robe and slippers,
would have done quite nicely
for a world cruise.

A classic though the QE2

OUTSTANDING VALUE

FLY /CRUISE HOLIDAYS

Non-Stop Flight —Ye-aae™ from Yououver te Son Juan

@ Fascination, a floating
resort with an informal

atmosphere @ Thrilling

Vegas style entertainment

@ Fine dining @ Much

more @ Departs every

Friday, 1-Nov-96 through 28-Mar-97,
from: San Juan @ Optional land packages

CAA |
OY

also available.

Program may not be combined with any other promotional offer and is capacity
controlted. Prices are per person. double occupancy. Prices range from CONS$1,399 to CON$3,007
depending on dutation, accommodalion, departure city and date. Air and Port Chatges $238 Ship's
tagistsy: Panama. Canadian Holidays. the operator of Fascination SunWaves. is a seg'stered trademark
of Canadian Airlines International Ltd. used under license to World of Vacations Ltd. Please note that
Warld of Vacations Ltd. was formerty Canadian Holidays Ltd

Cal! your UNIGLOE ruise Specialist today:

UNIGLOBE Seymour Travel, Inc,

490-1500 W. Georgia.......689-2421

UNIGLOBE Specialty Travel Ltd.

626 West Pender. 688-8316

UNIGLOBE Navigators Travel

519 West 10th Avenue...872-2871 & 800-710-7977

toll free 1-800-535-3637

DEPARTURES 11
FROM
= vaca

say ; j wi
from Gs y “ a

“Monday mornings, Dec 16. Dec 30/96, Jan 6 & 1397

A GREAT HOLIDAY VALUE!

COMPARE these spectacular 4 star resorts:

Warwick Melia Cabo Real .
Coral Coast, Fii Los Cahos, Mexico

15 nts
891869 ‘5 232379
{in Jan) tin’ San)

A tropical paradise at 0 great value - that's Ful
Maximum 30 day duration New bookings onty. Limited time otter. Linuted
avalatihty at these proces SIGNATURE Vs\CATIONS/ Fresta West reserves the

fight to add black-oul dates Subject to withdrawal or change without nonce Not

applicable in conunchon with any other promotion. SIGNATURE VACATIONS’
Fiasta West terms & concitions apply. Not include: Departure tax.

vacation &

UIELOBE Quayside Travel

Ste. 302-972 Marine Drive
(Above Rogers Video)

Call 980- 053!

httpe of [www nsnews. com of E-mail: trenshaw @ direct.co