Travel Briefs

Innovation Norway, a Norwegian government office in the embassy in Washington, D.C., has come up with packages to help travelers experience friluftsliv, which translates as “open air life.”

Designed to help visitors connect with nature in Norway, the “Passport to Friluftsliv” itineraries offered by several tour operators can be customized for hiking, fishing, bird-watching, etc. For a list of participating tour companies, e-mail usa@innovationnorway.no or visit www.visitnorway.com/friluftsliv.

Play it Forward Adventures specializes in tours which include volunteer work.

Example — a 15-day trip to Chile includes five days’ trekking through Cerro Castillo National Park and centers on teaching English to schoolchildren in Patagonian villages. The land cost of $3,195 includes in-country flights and transportation, lodging, meals, all materials for the volunteer project, outdoor activities and park fees.

Contact Play it Forward Adventures (Box 14126, St. Paul, MN 55114; 651/493-8817, www.pifadventures.com).

At Scotland’s Gleneagles Hotel (Auchterarder, Perthshire, Scotland PH3 1NF, UK; phone, from the U.S. 866/881-9525, www.gleneagles.com), children age six to 12 can drive mini Land Rovers on their own off-road course, navigating log piles, bridges, grades and water splashes.

Per room (two people sharing) per night and with an introductory driving lesson, Off-Road Break prices are as follows: £550-£660 (near $1,140-$1,370) including dinner or £455-£560 without, November-April, and £610-£765 with dinner or £530-£685 without, May-October.

In Monte Carlo through Jan. 4, 2009 (excluding Dec. 15-22), Hôtel de Paris (Place du Casino, 98000 Monaco; phone +377 98 06 30 00, fax 98 06 59 13, http://en.hoteldeparismontecarlo.com) is offering a 2-night package for two people that starts at €1,540 (near $2,429).

Augsburg is the second-oldest city in Germany and was the home of the Fugger family (a German mercantile and banking dynasty), Leopold Mozart and Bertolt Brecht.

Crown Blue Line, Connoisseur and Emerald Star, after years of working as sister companies, have come together as Le Boat (980 Awald Rd., Ste. 101, Annapolis, MD 21403; 800/734-5491, www.leboat.com).

The newly combined line offers self-drive canal boating in France and other European countries, with budget to luxury boats available. Examples — for boats out of Burgundy or Alsace, prices run $900-$2,405 per week in off-season, depending on the type of boat chosen, and $1,710-$4,555 in high season.

Visit www.cruiselinehistory.com or www.cruisingthepast.com to examine the history of cruise lines, cruise ships and steamships.

Articles, pictures and video clips provide anecdotes of some of the great liners and include “Celebrities at Sea” and “Ships in the Movies.” There also are reviews of current cruise lines and new ships, with candid recommendations by the website editors.

Norwegian Cruise Line (866/234-7350, www.ncl.com) now has a hotline for their guests to call if they are aware of a flight delay before arriving at the airport en route to their cruise.

If the guests are already at the airport, they should rebook through the airline, specifying they are meeting a cruise ship, then call the hotline to alert NCL of the changed itinerary. 

The hotline is 800/456-7179 (toll-free) within the U.S. and Canada or 305/468-2029 internationally. The hotline can assist in rebooking hotel packages.

Until March 31, 2009, Blue Lagoon Cruises (2222 Foothill Blvd., Ste. E–175, La Canada Flintridge, CA 91011; 877/252 3454, www.bluelagooncruises.com) is offering family rates on Fiji cruises.

Excluding airfare and beverages but including meals and activities, two adults and up to three children under 15 can book two cabins for F$2,170-$3,470 (US$1,450-$2,320) for a 3-day/2-night cruise or for F$6,635-$7,935 (US$4,434-$5,304) for a 7-day/6-night cruise.

Adventures by Disney’s (phone 877/728-7282 in U.S. or 714/520-5100 outside U.S. or visit www.abd.disney.go.com) 10-day/9-night “Australia Family Vacation” includes Mossman Gorge and rainforest, the Great Barrier Reef, Ayers Rock, Taronga Zoo and Sydney.

Optional activities include the rainforest canopy sky-rail, a sheep station visit, an Outback camel ride and jet-boating in Sydney Harbour. 

Land-only rates run US$4,299-$4,499 adult and $3,869-$4,049 child under 12, with discounts given for booking early.