TRAVEL

33 — Sunday, March 12, 1989°~"North Shore News

26% OF NM. SHORE RESIDENTS GOING ABROAD THIS YEAR

Locals catch the travel bug

I’M LOOKING at a set of statistics that are simply amazing.

It’s no secret that we on the North Shore travel, and travel a lot. I’ve suspected for years that we go more places than the average

, but a recent News telephone survey confirms that 26 per cent of us are heading to foreign destinations this year.

Those are people with firm

pians.

Ancther 13.4 per cent are think- ing about it.

As a travel writer, the choice of destinations is of particular inter- est. Where are all these people go- ing? Not much poiat in my writing a column on one destination when everyone’s going someplace else.

The largest number of us are go- ing to Europe. However, I believe that statistic to be misleading for one very basic reason: treve! be- tween Canada and the U.S.A. is so commonplace that we consider it a “foreign’’ vacation only when we're not gcing someplace more exotic.

Just so you'll know how to keep up with the ‘‘North Shore Joneses,”’ the favored destinations

Hawaii (10 per cent) and California (seven per cent) — percentages rounded off.

But the figure that J find hard to accept is the incredibly small sumber of travellers planning cruises: fess than two per cent!

WNW. Shore

SMITTEN BY the travel bug? North Shore travellers interested in networking with fellow travel-minded individuals and couples can do so at the newly-forined

Capilano Travel Club.

For a small yearly fee, club members can meet to

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The trend in the United States has been researched and it shows that cruising is the leading holiday choice. Believe me, I know why.

Most travellers are looking for a vacation free of toil. That’s what cruising is all about.

it took me years of pressure to finally convince Brian to take a cruise. Know what did it? I was offered a free pair of tickets on the

old Prince George when that group et Bee Te

travel wise

. Barbara McCreadie

of idealists (local) was trying to resurrect the old thing.

Now, this was hardly cruising in the accepted manner. The cabins were Motel 6, the facilities basic and the schedule a definite . ‘*maybe.”’ The food was excellent, the passengers terrific and dear old Brian had the time of his life.

Now I have a cruise addict on my hands.

We took our three daughters on a 14-day cruise through the Panama Canal on the Island Princess. They were 14, 15 and 18 at the time.

Now, eight years later, they still refer to it as ‘‘the best family vaca- tion we ever had.’’ These are girls who saw exotic destinations before they could spell the names and knew their way cround Lahina be- fore I'd let them take the bus to

Lonsdale.

I’ve been listening to readers for years. Here are a few of the hesita- tions that are regularly aired about cruising — and the ammunition I use to shoot them down! © It’s too expensive.

Nonsense. Compared with a

first-class tour of a foreign coun- try. cruising is a bargain. When you consider that everything is taken care of (no pack- ing/repacking/catching a train/ finding a restaurant/changing hotels) and all the expenses involv- ed, a ctuise is a dream.

© I'll get seasick.

More than likely not. Cruises are programmed to take advantage of the best weather conditions. To- day’s liners are equipped with stabilizers -- not much rock-and- roll involved. If you can handle B.C. Ferries on a nice day, head for the Med. © I don’t have the right clothes.

If you own enough to wear on the North Shore, providing you're invited to the occasional party, what’s your problem?

Certainly, you'll find the odd clothes-horse on a cruise, and they can make proper fools of themselves. The majority of the passengers dress sensibly and com- fertably, taking advantage of ex- cellent laundry facilities offered. © Everyoue will be drinking prane juice aed Geritol.

You should be so lucky! Your most likely option is a group that parties every night in the cabin next to yours — and doesn’t invite you. © There won't be anything to do.

This was one of Brian’s biggest hangups — until he tried cruising. If I try to explain just how much goes on aboard ship, someone will scream » “Groupies!’’ and be put off.

The counter word is “‘Choice.’”

You can do as much or as little as you like, but there is no pressure. If your choice is to belly-up to the bar at nine in the morning, who cares? Except your liver. For the rest of the passengers these is every alternative. Uniimi- ted!

Even if you’re hung up on soap operas, they have them. © We won't know asyore.

Unless you’ve got all the social graces of Mr. Hyde, you'll be into

travel club formed

plot new escapades with new-found friends, watch travel videos and movies and listen to guest speakers. The club, organized by Patricia Vickery, first met Jan. 24. The next meeting is slated for March 14, 7:30

p.m., &t the Capilano Library. For more information

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the social group before you've had time to unpack. Cruisers are out el a good time and they’re friend- ly.

T have one fast rule: Always ask to be seated at the biggest table in the dining room and you’re off to a head start.

The only way I'd request a table-for-two is if I were honey- mooning with Robert Redford and the ship bad been block-booked by a sorority convention.

wes

Those are the most frequent items of misinformation I hear. One concern, also frequently voic- ed, is by single women. It’s valid.

Don’t book a cruise hoping for the ‘‘Love Boat.”

Sure, there are a few single men

on every cruise. They get a lot-of attention — a whole lot more than they'd gei if they were in yionest competition with regular gu

It’s a “Buyer-Beware” ‘market for single women and a banquet for jerks and losers who button their shirts from the left.

eet

I hope I’ve convinced you that a cruise should be front-and-center in your travel plans. Now, march right to the purse or pocket and dump all your loose change into a jar. Save every cent from store coupons and apply for a part-time job.

Don’t put it off — what’s the point of a fat bank account when your bod is in LGH and your kids are fighting over your china?

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