June 2004

Norwegian Cruise Line announced that it will keep the SuperStar Leo in its fleet, rename it “Norwegian Spirit” and operate it in the Alaska and Caribbean areas. Its sister line, Star Cruises, will operate NCL’s 15-year-old Norwegian Sea. Star Cruises’ plan is to send NCL’s mid-size, middle-age ships to Star’s fleet in Asia.

In 2004, Go Barging’s newly renovated, 12-passenger hotel-barge L’Impression­niste, sister ship to La Belle Époque, will cruise on a unique itinerary in the Provence region of France, taking in six waterways, including rivers, canals and lakes.

The cruise begins in Avignon and heads down the Rhône to Arles (with exploration of the Roman Arena and more). Moving on to the Canal de Rhône à Sete, a stop is made at the medieval walled city of Aigues Mortes.

Norwegian Coastal Voyage has reduced the rates on its air-inclusive 19-day NCV Expedition Voyages to Antarctica and the Chilean fjords, including 15 days aboard the 464-berth MS Nordnorge, between Nov. 3, 2004, and Feb. 9, 2005.

The biggest reductions apply to large outside ship cabins and suites and coincide with holiday periods. In 2004, cabins are $4,445 to $5,630 and suites $6,385 to $7,135. In 2005 the rates increase to $4,775 to $5,875 for cabins and $6,940 to $7,445 for suites.

by Jack Ogg; Houston, TX

(Part 3 of 3 on the Balkans)

Since my retirement in 1999, I have taken 10 trips to Europe every year. My frequent trips to Italy have each been to different areas, but I return often to London, Paris, Rome, Prague, Vienna and Amsterdam and have been in those cities in various months. Aside from June through August, I find them all full of delights and pleasures, the crowds notwithstanding (just get to the back streets).

In answer to the question “When is the best time to go?”, my answer has always been “Whenever you want to!”

In the article on Rio de Janeiro in the May ’04 issue, there is an error on page 110 where the author is describing the trip to Corcovado Mountain.

A reader in the March ’04 issue, page 48, correctly places Hanoi on the “Favorite Cities” list, but to state, “Hanoi, on the other hand, has changed very little in the past 30 years,” is inaccurate. The changes we noted between our trip in February ’93 (the year before the U.S. established diplomatic relations with Viet-Nam) and trips in October ’02 and March ’03 were monumental.

Migratory birds flock to Yangji-ri in Dongsong-eup, Cheorwongun, Gangwon-do, Korea, every winter, including endangered eagles and cranes, and the Cheolsae (Migratory Bird) Village people of Yangji-ri have built the Durumi Pension to house bird-watchers.

Six guest rooms are available, from rooms for two up to rooms for six. Nightly rates are 50,000 won to 100,000 won (near $42.50-$85). Visitors can feed the birds, take tours and take part in traditional games.

As I was making a reservation for a rental car in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, in January ’04, I asked the agent, “Will there be any hidden charges?”