Evening star., 1936-12-13
BY JACQUES FuTRELI.E, Jr.

' some odd port in the Carib-
bean or Bermuda need not deter ar
rangements for vacations. Such
visions are imaginary. The widely
publici2ed maritime strike has tied up
sailings to some parts Of the world, but
the cruise program from Eastern ports
has been clicking regularly on all II
cylinders. The program ID heavy.
An unprecedented number Of Win
ter cruises to the West Indies vicinity
was planned months ago for the pres
ent Winter season, and the traveller
has been spared the embarrassment
Of signs Of sailing cancelled" - they
breeze up to the gangplanks. rarin' to
60. The only sign displayed has been
standing room only" 50 crowded are
the ships.
Late comers-the impulsive vaca-
TONERS who decide ut the last moment
to 60 somewhere-thus alone have
been disappointed, and only by full
booking
Local travel agencies report that al
ready it is too late to join the score
of short cruises scheduled over the
Christmas holiday. An occasional
bird nest" accommodation might be
picked up for New Year trips.
JANUARY l capacity bookings have
brought about an innovation for
Washingtonians who feel that they
must 20 somewhere. A short-short
trip has been arranged-a two-nights-
and-a day excursion to Virginia Beach.
The Northland Of the Norfolk and
Washington line will sail New Year
eve. Arriving in Norfolk, passengers
will be taken to Virginia Beach. where
q full days program Of entertainment
has been arranged ut the Cavalier
Hotel. The party returns the night
Of January /.
AS for the West Indies area. Amer
ica's most convenient foreign lands.
there are $50 regular cruise sailings
in the period from November Al to
April H. To this imposing List has
been added a block Of 121 special
cruises. twice as many as last year.
To answer the lure Of lands afar. five
cruises have been booked to the Medi-
terranean instead of only one, as
last year, and there are four world
cruises plus four to South America
from which to choose.
The strike has caused very little
change in plans for passengers.
Roughly, the only area affected in
sailings from Eastern ports has been
California.
ANOTHER ANNOYING barrier to for, for,
= eign travel-into America as well
as from it-has faded 80 per cent. By
q recent agreement, England and the
United States have slashed passport
visas from $40 to 50. This is signifi-
cant, according to Cooks, as indicat-
ing q further tendency to spur travel
by decreasing costs.
In 1927, Q comprehensive tour OF
Europe cost an additional $50 for visas.
The same tour now adds but $703 to
the expense. In many countries, the
fees no longer exist-Belgium, Hol-
land, Italy, Switzerland and Norway,
for instance-but in some. the cost
remains relatively high. Rumania
tops the list with $1737; Germany is
low with so cents.
Visas are vice that fingered on into
the prosperous postwar days when
travel doomed tremendously. They
were too profitable to give up. Before
the war, only the cautious traveller
thought it necessary to equip himself
with . passport. The price generally
was 81. Now visas are retained not
only - . means OF checking on the
character Of the persons arriving In the
countries, but also TO keep accurate
tabs on the number Of visitors and the
money brought in and left to swell the
income.
NOTES on Christmas abroad:
Britons prefer roast beef for hol-
iday fsasts, although ct Christmas
turkeys are imported from Hungary
Hungary's favorite meat Il ham.
which often b included IN q Christ
mas basket with few bottles Of wine
and . cake The family joins In
stirring the huge crock Of plum pud-
ding in England, and each makes .
wish while stirring After the mid
night mass Of Christmas eve, Italians
partake Of . traditional snack Of roast
chestnuts and wine: on Christmas
day, Italians Of the Southern country
have ~ their main dish fish or large
selG. fried or boiled in wine; turkey
and capon also are favorite holiday
dishes In France, children get
their holiday gifts On Christmas day,
while adults wait for New Year to
receive theirs {. In Southern France,
. great Yule log Il lighted Christmas
eve, burning brightly with occasional
doses Of wine Christmas Is over
for the children Of Belgium. where
toys are given on st. Nicholas day,
December 6 Ireland hangs wreaths
in the windows and feasts on turkey,
ham and plum pudding; Ireland's
children have their jolliest celebra-
ton on December rs. when they 90
looking for the wren" Singing and
cavorting, they troup about the town
with small tree, In which rests q
bird, and ask for . few pennies; the
returns are used for . party limited
only by the generosity Of the people
Christmas Is relatively unim.
portant in Scotland: Hogmanay, the
last day Of the year, Is the day; then
IL In that Hha aais - the national disIa