Travel Briefs

The “Best of Barbados” program, available through June 30 and from Sept. 7 to Nov. 30, 2004, offers a true savings of approximately $600 per couple by providing the following:

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.

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.

The Coventry Transport Museum relaunched in March following a major refurbishment. It displays the world’s largest collection of British vehicles, with over 230 cars and commercial vehicles, 90 motorcycles and 250 cycles. It’s open daily 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and admission is free.

Contact Coventry Transport Museum, Hales St., Coventry, CV1 1P, U.K., phone 024 7683 2425.

Orient-Express Hotels is offering the “Orient-Express Private Jet Experience.” Flying out of the U.S. by private jet, travelers can design their own itinerary to any destination or choose from a portfolio of scheduled one-week itineraries to Europe and South America with fine hotels, ground transfers and guided tours.

The aircraft are not restricted to conventional routes or commercial airports and can fly at higher altitudes.

New Zealand offers the ultimate stress release: drive a tank over a car and crush it flat! Tanks for Everything (985 McLeans Island Rd., Christchurch, NZ; phone +64 [03] 359 1007) has a fleet of armored vehicles for people to drive and ride in: three tanks (Centurion, T-55AM2 and FV432), a Saracen armored personnel carrier, a Ferret armored “scout” car and a Jeep.

At the new Museo Casa Enzo Ferrari (Via Paolo Ferreri 85, 41121 Modena, Italy; phone +39 059 4397979), visitors can tour the home in which Italian race car driver Enzo Ferrari was born, seeing mementos, biographical displays and rare film footage.

In the huge Exhibition Gallery, half a dozen vintage Ferraris are on display, and visitors can learn the history of Ferrari design and sport racing. There’s also a bookshop, cafeteria and store.

According to a report from the Bank for International Settlements, Sweden is using less cash and relying more on electronic payments (credit cards, debit cards and bank transfers). Only 3% of its economy is tied to cash transactions, compared to 9% in the Eurozone and 7% in the United States.

Travelers to Sweden should be aware that more and more businesses are no longer accepting cash, and public buses require prepaid tickets.