Two new cruise ships cater to polar opposites
Two new cruise ships launched in the past months, and it would be hard to imagine how much different they could be in look and feel.
On Cunard's Queen Victoria (www.cunard.com or (800) 728-6273), passengers revel in the line's long tradition of elegant travel.
On formal nights, almost to a man and woman, passengers dress up for dinner. Never have we seen so many tuxedos on a formal night (and guests don't sneak back to their cabins after dinner to change into track suits to watch the evening's entertainment or visit the lounges and casino).
The decor is muted and classy, with soft neutral colors and wood tones in the numerous and spacious public areas. In the Princess and Queens Grills (the "upper class" dining rooms, reserved for those in premium cabins), white-gloved attendants provide impeccable service.
However, we'd gladly pay the $30 per person supplement and dine in Todd English every night, the best restaurant we've ever encountered on the high seas.
Contrast this ship with Norwegian Cruise Line's recently introduced Gem (www.ncl.com or (866) 234-0292). No need to pack the ball gowns and tuxes here. They do ask that you not wear shorts at dinner in the main dining rooms (of course, if you choose the 24-hour buffet-style restaurant, you can pretty much come as you are, within reason).
And if you like the stimulating look and feel of a glitzy Las Vegas hotel or casino, you'll be right at home: lots of hot orange, pink and purple colors and neon in the public areas, which the cruise line's CEO insists are the result of extensive market surveys.
There's no equivalent of the exclusive Grills on the Gem. Instead, you have a choice of 12 restaurants, including Tex Mex, steakhouse and Asian (some of which have cover charges), where you can dine anytime you like and with whomever you like, a feature that appeals to those who love the casualness of NCL, which brands its approach Freestyle Cruising.
So which are you? Do you miss the good old days of the grand ocean liners (even if you've only experienced them in movies, documentaries and books)? Or are you an informal, dress-down type who wouldn't be caught dead in formal wear or cha cha-ing at a masked ball?
Whichever, these two new, very different vessels will accommodate.
Earn up to 40,000 Priority Club points
InterContinental Hotels Group, or IHG, is making it quick and easy for guests to earn up to 40,000 bonus points through Priority Club Rewards.
From now through April 30, Priority Club Rewards members will earn 4,000 bonus points, 1,000 bonus miles or 100 bonus air reward miles on every second qualifying stay at any of IHG's 3,800 hotels worldwide, including InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Indigo, Holiday Inn Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites.
Members can earn up to a total of 40,000 bonus points, 10,000 bonus miles or 1,000 bonus air miles. Members can redeem their 40,000 bonus points and stay up to four nights at Holiday Inn or Holiday Inn Express properties.
To participate in the promotion, register at www.priorityclub.com/40000 or call (888) 560-5660 prior to staying at any IHG location.
Find cheap lodging at Ayers Rock
In Australia, budget accommodations appeal to backpackers, student travelers and those taking advantage of the new Work and Holiday visa program (more information at www.immi.gov.au/visitors/working-holiday). Those planning to visit Uluru (Ayers Rock), the world's largest monolith and a sacred site for the local Anangu Aboriginal population in Australia's Outback, should look into an array of options offered at Voyages Hotels and Resorts' Ayers Rock Resort.
Among them are hostel options at the Outback Pioneer Lodge or the modern comforts of Ayers Rock Campground.
The Outback Pioneer Lodge offers either single-sex dormitories with 20 beds starting at about $30 per person, per night, or mixed-sex bunk rooms with four beds at $36 per person, per night, all with shared bathroom facilities, including communal showers. The lodge is also equipped with a communal self-catering kitchen, do-it-yourself barbecue as well as Internet connection.
For those who prefer roughing it, Ayers Rock Campground, located within the Voyages Ayers Rock Resort complex, offers tent and powered sites, as well as air-conditioned cabins. Rates at the campground begin at $13 per person, per night.
For additional information or to make a reservation, visit www.voyages.com.au.
Reach George Hobica athobica@gmail.com, Kim LiangTan at KimLiangTan@aol.comor log on to www.airfarewatchdog.com.