WHERE IN the world do cruises go? In a word, everywhere. Dream of any. destination that you've ever wanted to goto, and there’s probably a cruise ship that will take you there. “St’s all within your reach — today’s cruise passengers have more than 5,400 cruises from which to choose," says James G. Godsman, president of Cruise Lines’ International Association (CLIA). . “And with so many exotic ports of call, even. the most seasoned travelers can cruise to places they’ve never been.’’ ; The Caribbean continues to. be : the. most popular’ cruise destina- tion (over 56% of North Ameri- can cruise ships’ sail its waters), but modern cruise passengers can opt for a cruise to almost any- where for aimost any length ‘of time. - ‘ i : For example, why not choose the - Mediterranean? . A. cruising favorite, there were over 75) sail- ings. there in 1992, Passengers ‘should consider such ports as Corfu, Istanbul and Odessa. Itineraries also sail from Citavecchia (Rome) to the Greek Islands and from.’ Copenhagen through the Corinth Canal. There are even. luxury vessels that sail the continent’s historic rivers. If travellers opt for more exotic - ports of call, cruising the Orient combines the most thrilling desti- nations’:with some: of the most Jegendary. - we From. Fiji, and’.Guadalcanal: to Indonesia, New Guinea and Hong... Kong, 77 vessels cruised there in . Cruise ship lines travel everywhere in the world 1992, and culture and history make cruising this area incompa- rable. Far East cruises with stops in Thailand and Vietnam are also an option. Or how about such fascinating ports as St. Petersburg in the former Soviet Union, and Bombay and Madras, India? Closer to home, why not con- sider a partial transit through the Panama Canal, where ships are raised and lowered 85 feet using no power other than the force of gravity? In 1992, 96 cruises with trans-canal itineraries were - of- fered. Cruises to western Mexico and the Mexican Riviera are also pop- ular, with stops at Acapulco, Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan, What about South America? The number of c.uises here has increased fivefold since the mid- 1980s, with 10-. to St-day itineraries. .Passengers can visit Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro, cruise up the Amazon to Santarem and Manaus and even see the Galapagos Islands. Another favorite cruise destina- tion is Bermuda. Over 100 cruises sail here annually with passengers bound for its beautiful pink sand beaches and quaint British towns. When taking. a cruise, places lik: Hawaii, Australia and New Zealand are not as far out‘ of reach as one may think. Ships visit the exotic ports of ° Hilo, Kona and Lahaina on the Hawai- ian islands, and -ports such as Auckland, New Zealand, Brisbane, Australia and Bora Bora of French Polynesia are part of a ‘eagle preserve or the distinctive South Pacific itinerary. Much further north, cruises through the inside passage of Alaska have become extremely popular — almost 300 were of- fered during the 1992 summer season. Ships visit the coastal towns of Ketchikan, Sitka and Skagway, and other Alaskan itineraries in- clude stich ports as Anchorage, Kodiak Island and Kenai. North America offers splendid voyages as well. During the sum- mer, itineraries through the Mari- time provinces of Atdantic Canada combine the nature of -Nova Scotia and Newfoundland with the culture of Montreal and Quebec City. Or steamboat cruises up the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers feature a slice of American histo- ry, and cruises through Northern California visit San Francisco Bay . and Sonoma/Napa Valley wine country. . In addition to the multitude of destinations available to the mod- ern cruiser, passengers can choose refreshing ways to explore each one once in port. Exotic shore excursions can bring them through the interior of the Amazon, an Alaskan. bald tropical equatorial ecosystem of South America. “For the most adventurous, there are even cruises to the icescapes of Antarctica and the tribal villages of Africa. Or how about the ultimate | around-the- world cruise?’’ asks Godsman. - Hotel has undergone a transformation recently “From page 32 will open in the spring, com- plementing. the. present course ‘which is one of the best on the islands. It has just acquired, by the way,’ the Hawaiian Golf Uni- versity. . Along the way the Royal Kaanapali courses are playing well, and the Blue and Orange do sterling work for legions of happy golfers at Wailea. ; Getting around the islands is easy, thanks to the great service from Aloha Airlines, and over on the. Big Island the Mauna Lani resort has another 18 holes, with the old and the new cleverly blended. The Ritz-Carlton also has a tennis facility that is a cut above the usual resort setup. The hotel has recovered from a slow start. When | first went there Kevin Costner almost had the place to himseif, but on this last visit it was a transformation, not just to see the hotel in top gear, but the staff was on form from genuine smiles at reception tc superb service on the club floor. The club, which offers a private room for breakfasts, afternoon tea and drinks before and after dinner, is recommended for peo- _ ple travelling alone, or anyone who enjoys a country house at- mosphere where guests are more inclined to mingle. That same sort of thing is available at the Hilton Hawaiian Village at Waikiki, which has a handsome pool and health club - exclusively for the use of guests staying at the Ali’i Tower. Guests are escorted to the oceanfront rooms by a concierge, pampered with tropical fruit, flowers, chocolates and bathrobes,’ the spacious rooms get maid ser- vice three times a day, and in the evening canapes are served by the private pool. If such an oasis is too quiet for you, dander down to the Ala Wai golf course behind Waikiki. [f you get on, you'll be one of the 220,000 rounds played there in a year. It’s just $30, and you can decide if this is cheap golf or a lot of money for a firing range. “The Channel Islands” ONE OF EUROPE'S BEST KEPT SECRETS AND VERY SECURE TAX HAVEN Unique, quaint and off-the-beaten-track tour conducted by Marion Enthoven. We will be visiting all five Channel Islands, the coast of France, Normandy and Brittany, and ending our tour in London. Let me take care of all your travel worries so you ' can have a wonderful, exciting and yet: relaxing holiday. 18 DAYS MAY 14-31 $3 99 ge ALL INCLUSIVE PRESENTATION WED., FEB. 24th — 8 P.M. at CHEERS RESTAURANT 125 East 2nd St, North Van Reserve your seat Phone TRAVEL HEADQUARTERS — te ty 327-1162 7 nights a week single/double occupancy Any 2 nights (Fri-Sun) |} single/double occupancy StisS Valid for leisure travel only + Excludes groups/tours, Taxes not included + Subject to availability *Thriu Feb, 28/93 OCEAN POINTE RESORT | 45 SONGHEES ROAD, VICTORIA, B.C. V9A 613 | TEL: (604) 360-5859 FAX: (604) 360-1041 ee] RESERVATIONS: 1-800-667-4677 “Cooking School at Sea” May 7-12th = Special interest tours for 1993 * offered by Pamela McColl Travel Consultant Marlin Travel Park Royal, West Vancouver 922-9301 Join Anne Milne, one of Canada’s leading chefs, onboard the “Crown Princess” sailing the coastal route from Los Angeles to Vancouver and experience the finest in Pacific Northwest Cuisine. The escorted tour includes two nights at Hotel Sofitel | in Beverly Hills, home of the legendary restaurant Ma Maison, °4 and three nights onboard the Crown Princess. Tour price: $879.00 per person sharing an inside cabin. $979.00 per person sharing an outside cabin Air from Vancouver, transfers, hotel, cruise, cooking school and shipboard wine presentations, and a pre-departure “‘L.A. Culinary Sights and Tastes’ reception. New Zealand, the Cook Islands, f & Tahiti or Australia. = Enjoy two extra free nights in cither New Zealand, the Cook Islands, Tahiti or Australia when you purchase a ticket between February Ist and March 15, °93, for air travel to New Zealand or Australia February through April, 1993. Certain conditions apply. For more information call Air New Zealand or your South Pacific travel experts below. 24 air new zeacano the pride of the pacific © 1-800-663-5494