THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 14, 1996 TAG: 9604120070
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E6 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Column
SOURCE: Steve Harriman
LENGTH: Medium: 60 lines
FREIGHTER CRUISES are a tiny niche of the market, so many travel agencies have little information. Freighter cruises often last longer than passenger-ship cruises, but costs per day are often considerably less.
A good source is Freighter World Cruises, a Pasadena, Calif., travel agency and publisher of the ``Freighter Space Advisory' newsletter: phone (818) 449-3106.
Other freighter travel information sources:
``Freighter Cruise Newsletter'' is published by Maris, phone (800) 996-2747.
``Freighter Travel News,'' is a monthly newsletter published by the Freighter Travel Club of America, 3524 Harts Lake Road, Roy, Wash. 98580.
TravLtips, a New York-based travel club, also books freighter cruises for members: phone (800) 872-8584.
Other companies that book passengers on freighters:
Bergen Line, (800) 323-7436.
Ivaran Lines, (800) 451-1639.
Lykes Bros. Steamship Co., (800) 535-1861.
Gdynia America Line, (800) 283-9196.
Sea the Difference, (800) 666-9333.
Cruising for ships
Cyberspace cruisers can search Cruise Critic on America Online for help in finding the perfect voyage. There are reviews of more than 100 ships worldwide plus lots of Top 10 lists, including one of best ships for those ``who wouldn't be caught dead on a cruise ship.'' AOL members can add their own opinions about a range of cruise topics, join weekly chat discussions and meet cruise-line representatives in the online Cruise Cafe. Each month a free cruise is awarded to the winner of a trivia contest. Look for Cruise Critic in the travel section on the main menu.
What's in a name
Early this year, Royal Cruise Line dissolved as a separate entity. Between now and May, three of the four Royal ships - the Crown Odyssey, the Royal Odyssey and the Star Odyssey - will be transferred into Norwegian Cruise Line, owned by Royal's parent company, Kloster.
The fourth, the luxury yachtlike Queen Odyssey, was bought by Seabourn, which will rename it the Seabourn Legend in July. If ships have personalities, will this create an identity crisis? This will be the ship's third name since she was first christened the Royal Viking Queen in 1992. MEMO: Travel-wise is compiled from wire-service reports, news releases, trade
journals, books, magazines and the deepest recesses of the writer's
mind. Send comments and questions to Travel-wise, The Virginian-Pilot,
Norfolk, Va. 23501-0449; phone (804) 446-2904.
by CNB