Travel Summer Cruises

Never would I give a thousand furlongs of sea for an acre of barren ground "—(with apologies to Shakespeare).

IT would perhaps be an. inaccurate use of speech to say that the cruise come-to stay, for that is precisely what cruises do not do. But what they do do is to offer themselves in a 'bewildering abundance that yet does not confuse the holiday maker: l'hey are too varied for that : they present such different types-Cf holidays that the prospective " cruiser " 'need haVe no fear that he or she will be carried to a climate .

that is inimical or to shores that are unsympathetic.

And they are- cheap. - Railway companies offer tours at a price of one penny per arise : the cruise is cheaper than that. What is it you Want ? Sunshine and high temperatures ? Sunshine. and moderate temperatures ? Or just sunshine.

The cruises- already arranged for this summer will give you "everything. you could" wish. And they will relieve you of all responsibilities and of all anxieties ; they will limit your expenditure and not your freedom ; they will arrange your time table and leaVe you free to do precisely what you want to do. Add to this that you can chnose a cruise which will take you where you would go anyway, and the holiday problem is solved immediately. Let us take a cruise on our own, round some of the shipping offices, and see what summer has to offer.

BLUE STAR LINE.—Norway and the Northern Capitals. For only 20 guineas you can be away for 13 days and see Oslo, Copenhagen and the fjords. In three weeks and for only 10 more guineas you may see Iceland ; or if that is too far north, there is a tour round the Baltic instead, with a visit to Danzig, Europe's loveliest and most historic port, to Stockholm, the finest of modern cities and through the once mighty Kiel Canal.

ROYAL MAIL.—The famous ' Atlantis ' also tours the northern capitals. It does four cruises and ventures as far afield as Spitzbergen, one of Europe's loveliest summer spots— if you don't mind there being no night. The fares are just as reasonable.

P. & 0. ; CANADIAN PACIFIC ; ORIENT LINE ; ELLERMAN'S WILSON LINE.—These lines also cm cruis3.4 to the northern capitals, at prices that are similar to those already mentioned.

But if there are those who do not want to cruise but merely to travel to one or other of the • cities of the north these lines will all carry you. In addition, however, there are cheap services run by the Polish-British Line; the United Baltic and the Royal Danish Mail Service. Shorter cruises, for those in a hurry, are run by the Bibby Line.

It is not possible here to enumerate all the variety of cruises which are offered, but the prospective holiday maker would do well to write to the Travel Manager of The Spectator about any cruise he would like to undertake, and full parti- culars will be sent.

But the North is not.all Europe. .The waters of the Mediter-. ranean and the Western seas equally invite attention. The Mediterranean is not too hot for the average man and woman in summer time ; and there are many indeed who prefer it at that season of the year.

P. & 0.—Until September this line is running a number Of cruises, all equally attractive, all varied. Their prices range from 23 guineas to about 43, according to length of time.' Among the places visited are Athens, Naples, Istanbul, Monte Carlo, Ragtisa (now called Dubrovnik), Algiers, Madeira and the 'Canaries to mention but a few.

YEOWARD LINE.—Spain, Portugal and the west coast. of North Africa are the happy hunting grounds of this fleet. Their book of shore excursions is particularly recommended.

ORIENT LINE.—The Mediterranean is their playground. Liners will be cruising until the end of the summer.

CUNARD LINE.—The Balearic Islands, the coasts of Spain, France and Italy will be visited during August by the liner, ` Carinthia ' at fares from 30 guineas for an 18-day tour.

WHITE STAR.—A fortnight's cruise to Mediterranean ports is available by the ' Homeric ' on four dates. between July and September at 23 guineas and upwards. ROYAL MAIL ; HARRISON LINE ; CITY AND LINES ; • MATSON LINE.—The world is the plarotaid here—and not the playground- only of the ,millionaire. It is possible, for instance, to go to India and back for about inn, to visit South America for £50 and to get to Fiji for le;; than £100.

FYFFE'S LINE ; YEOWARD LINE.—These are but two of those who go to the West Indies.

Here, then, is an incomplete list. It is meant but to give a rough guide to the holiday maker and to show him that a holiday-abroad can be cheap, pleasant and instructive.

I would mention but one more cruise—an old-established one that deseryes special mention for it is different from the others. The Hellenic Travellers' Club cruise which starts in August. It is mere serious than the others : it visits Greece and provides erudite and witty lectures for its members.

P. J.