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Book a 2009 Europe, Asia or transatlantic cruise aboard the Crystal Symphony or Crystal Serenity by March 31 and receive 20% off on one of more than 50 Crystal itineraries in 2010. The 2010 cruise must be booked by Nov. 30, 2009. Contact Crystal Cruises (888/799-4625, www.crystalcruises.com).
Featuring world-class accommodations and select meals, the 10-day “Women in Style” safari-and-spa package from South African Airways (888/722-4872, www.flysaavacations.com) includes airfare from New York or Washington, DC; internal flights; four nights’ Cape Town (Kirstenbosch, Franschhoek, cooking demonstration, chauffeured shopping, more); two nights in Stellenbosch wine region (half-day winery tour plus spa day); two nights at Thornybush Private Game Reserve in Hoedspruit (game drives), and transfers.
Book before March 31, 2009, and get a free night’s stay (subject to availability) at one of the world’s best hotels before or after an overnight train or boat journey with Orient-Express Trains & Cruises (Orient-Express Hotels, New York, NY; 212/302-5055, www.orient-express.com). Travel in Scotland, France, Myanmar or. . .
• On 6-day/5-night Venice Simplon Orient-Express, London-Venice, stay at Venice’s Hotel Cipriani. From $5,780.
After a 30-year restoration effort, a large hall in the Baths of Diocletian, or Terme di Diocleziano (Viale E. di Nicola 79; metro stop Termini; phone 06 39 96 7700, www.roma2000.it/munaro.html), has reopened to the public.
While in Antarctica’s Gerlache Strait on Dec. 4, Antarpply Expeditions’ MV Ushuaia struck a rock, which damaged the hull and grounded the cruise ship. All 122 passengers and crew were safely transferred to another ship, and a limited amount of fuel oil leaked out.
The ship was refloated in four days and made its way under its own power to Paradise Bay. A week later it entered dry dock in Punta Arenas, Chile, where it was expected to be back in operation out of Ushuaia, Argentina, on Jan. 7.
Costa Rica dropped its 3% hotel tax in November 2008, then scheduled an entry fee of $15 to be charged to tourists arriving by air. Over all, stays now will be less expensive.
[See correction in the April issue. —Editor]
CORRECTION — After reading the item “Argentina Tourist Fee” (Dec. ’08, pg. 19), a reader pointed out that he had never had to pay a visa-application fee to get into Argentina as a tourist.
A sacred ritual that takes place once every seven years will take place April 5-May 31, 2009, at the 1,400-year-old Zenkoji Temple in central Nagano: a window of the three Buddha statues will be opened. The temple is the largest wooden structure in Japan and houses the country’s oldest Buddhist statue, from the sixth century. For info, contact Japan National Tourist Office (213/623-1952, www.japantravelinfo.com) or visit (in Japanese only) www.gokaicho.com.
If you travel with several electronic devices (camera, GPS, music player, phone, laptop, etc.), the Tumi Ultra Slim Universal Power Adaptor Kit may come in handy for recharging. This single kit can replace several of those clunky AC/DC power-adaptor “bricks” (which go between the wall plug and the gadgets to be used or recharged) because it has output tips to fit many different devices.
Also, two power input cords are provided for connecting to the power source, one for using wall receptacles (North American-style plugs) and another for automobile or airline power sources.
Along the bank of the River Main, Frankfurt’s “museum embankment” will become a festival area with stage productions, live music and events, including a dragon boat race, Aug. 29-31, 2009. Ten of the museums will hold special exhibitions. Contact the German National Tourism Office (212/661-7200, www.cometogermany.com).