Summer Travel Notes
THE foresight shown by shipping companies in planning short cruises this summer has been well rewarded. Not only have the novel 8-6 days' sea tours proved popular in them- selves, but the publicity given them has drawn attention to the longer and snore expensive cruises. Indeed, it is almost impossible to obtain a moderate-priced berth in a well-known British vessel during the height of the summer, whether to visit Norway or the Mediterranean_ An exception in which accommodation is still available is the -White Star liner 'Homeric,' due to sail for a 14-day cruise of the Mediter- ranean on July 14th. Only one class of passenger is to be carried on this boat and the fare is from £21. The P. & 0., Orient, R.ALS.P., Blue Star and Canadian Pacific Companies are as usual arranging cruises to the Norwegian fjords, and in some cases to the Mediterranean, though it is doubtful at this stage whether many lower-priced cabins remain.
From September onwards, cruising ships (of all these lines) will visit wanner climes, one of the -earliest autumn cruises being that of the C.P.R. ' Empress of Australia,' which leaves Southampton on September 24th for a three weeks' cruise to Western Mediterranean ports and North Africa. The minimum fare is thirty-eight guineas. A parti- cularly interesting cruise is being undertaken - by the ex- R.M.S.P. Araguaya ' under the auspices of the Hellenic '1'ravellers Club. This vessel will start from Venice on August 24th, visiting Spalato, Cettinje, Corfu, Athens, Con- stantinople, Rhodes, Crete, Delphi and Ragusa. Among those who will give lectures during the cruise are Sir Rennell Rodd, Dr. Costley White, Canon Wigram and Mr. It. M. Butler, of Trinity College, Cambridge. The inclusive cost of the cruise for accommodation on board, shore excursions, guides, and so on, is thirty guineas, though the fare to and from Venice is extra. The tour concludes on September 11th.
Another toiir under special auspices is that arranged by Intourist, Limited, the State Travel Bureau of the U.S.S.R. Under the leadership of Mr. Hubert Griffith, the author of Seeing Soviet Russia, the party will leave London on July 27th for a period of thirty-seven days, when visits will be paid to Leningrad, Moscow, Nijni-Novgorod, down the Volga to Stalingrad, Rostov and Kiev, returning to Leningrad for the voyage home. The inclusive cost of the tour is £41. Sea trips to Algiers and Genoa are possible by the Nederland Royal Mail Line. The next dates of sailing from Southampton are July 1st, July 22nd, August 12th and September 2nd. The interchangeability of tickets with those of other companies for the voyage home makes it possible to secure the benefit of the low return cost and yet lengthen one's sojourn on the French or Italian Rivieras. Return fares to Genoa by this line are : First-class £22, second-class £16.
Motorists wishing to take their cars to the Continent would be well advised to investigate the facilities offered by the " Autocheque " system. This scheme for motor-touring in Europe has been devised by the owners of the Townsend ferry service, which transports motor-cars between Dover and
Calais. Car owners are enabled to.-make complete arrange, - ments for their tour, including hotel accommodation, transport of their vehicles and themselves, &e., with the utmost sim- plicity.
Limits of space preclude the mention of other holiday facilities, but readers requiring advice are requested to write to the Travel Manager of the Spectator, who will also be glad to prepare itineraries for projected tours of Britain.
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