Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-09-16

their ShlpDoard vacations into
waters take on an extra allure
when snow and freezing weather
grip the North.
A survey by the Travel Courier.
a tourist trade publication de-
voted ito developments in the
Caribbean. estimates that "at
least 81, ZOO passengers will sail
TO the sunlanes of the Carib-
beam" Also, that they will spend
$37 million to cruise in that area
alone.
But the cruise choice need not
be confined solely to the West
Indies. Those who have the in
clination, the time and a larger
budget will sail for another
pleasant sea. the Mediterranean.
About eight of these special
voyages already have been an
nounced for the period between
November and the spring.
In addition, there are several
world cruises by famous luxury
liners that normally shuttle be-
tween New York and Europe
during the summer. Passengers
will need about three and half
months for these globe-circling
voyages.
Cost Cut 10 Pct.
For the first time in is years,
Caribbean passengers will not
have to pay the Federal trans
portation tax. Existence of this
tax raised the cost of a Carib-
bean cruise IS per cent until a
few years ago, when it was cut
to 10 per cent. This is being
dropped on all sailings from Oc-
tober / on. when the repeal law
becomes operative.
Two effects of the tax elimina-
ton are reflected to some ex-
tent in the winters .sailings.
chiefly in altered itineraries. In
past voyages into the Caribbean
many ships made a point of
touching the shore of South
America, which has been tax-free
virtually since the end of World
War II. That Cancelled the tax
for the rest of the voyage. How
ever pleasant it was. it meant
that cruise itinerary makers felt
compelled to include one or two
South American ports to pass
the price advantage on to its
customers.
Everything else being equal, it
means cruise liners will be able
to offer longer stops at pic
turesque island ports at a cost
no greater than before. Elimina-
ton of the leg of the trip to
South America also permits
cruises of shorter duration. The
full effect of the tax cancella-
ton on cruise schedules, how
ever, is not expected before the
next summer.
About 80 Sailings
About 80 special sailings int
the Caribbean area - which
means Bermuda, Nassau anc
Cuba as well as islands actually
Tapped by this shining sea-art
available for choices as to date:
and ships. Virtually all of thu
liners will be luxurious floating
hotels diverted from their usua
transatlantic runs - Holland
Americas flagship Nieuw Am.
sterdam, for instance; Cunard'i
new Carinthia and the Mature.
tania; French Lines lie d.
France. Canadian Pacific's EN-.
press of Scotland.
The combination of ports viii
be more varied for the coming
winter than for the 1866 sea.
son. A study of itineraries dis.
closes there will be about 47t
stopovers at 80 ports, against
382 calls at Is ports last winter
Most popular land to be Wis.
tied. judging from the number
of calls by cruise liners this com.
ing winter. will be Cuba. 1t lead
with SIS, against SO last winter
Eight will be at Varadero. tht
rest at Havana. Other ports ant
countries seeing cruise ship
more frequently this winter viii
be Curacao. Haiti La Guaira
Nassau, Jamaica, Martinique, tn
Dominican Republic and ST
Thomas in the American Virgin
Isles.
Ships new to Caribbean cruisl