With many parts of the country heading into the jaws of winter and possibly the return of the dreaded polar vortex, it’s time to think about getting away. Explore, which specializes in reasonably priced adventure travel worldwide, has 10 suggestions for winter escapes, many in places that are much less hospitable weatherwise during summer. The company’s Blue Nile and Lalibela trip explores Ethiopia, including the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, the medieval town of Harar and the 17th-century castles of Gondar. The 14-day trip is priced from $2,760 per person double occupancy. Closer to home, Highlights of Central America is a two-week journey into the natural, cultural and architectural attractions of Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala. It’s priced from $2,250 per person double occupancy. Among other destinations recommended by Explore are Myanmar, India and Colombia. Check out all 10 trips at tinyurl.com/le23h85.
Try a maiden voyage
If you’re a cruiser who likes new ships, Holland America Line will be launching the Koningsdam in February 2016. The 2,650-passenger ship will be the line’s largest and the first in its new Pinnacle Class. HAL is taking reservations now for a half-dozen itineraries in the Mediterranean, including the seven-day premiere cruise Feb. 20, 2016. Sailing round trip from Civitavecchia (Rome), it will include port calls in Dubrovnik, Croatia; Kerkira, Nisos Kerkira (Corfu) and Katakolon (Olympia) in Greece; and Naples (Pompeii), Italy. The premiere voyage can be extended to 19 days with an add-on that includes more Greek ports as well as multiple stops in Turkey. Pricing is from $999 per person double occupancy for the premiere voyage and from $2,399 for the extended voyage, with taxes and fees extra. Find info on the Koningsdam’s initial voyages at tinyurl.com/nsz26eb.
Tops among cruise fans
Cruise fans in North America continue to heavily favor the Caribbean as their top destination, according to a report from Cruise Holidays International. The report, based on bookings for 2015 by the more than 1,300 travel agents that are part of the Cruise Holidays network, shows just more than 50 percent of cruises booked are for Caribbean destinations, including the Bahamas (technically outside the Caribbean). Europe ocean cruises held on to the No. 2 spot, at 12 percent, and Alaska itineraries stayed in third at 7.8 percent. Europe river cruises are fourth in bookings, with cruises in the Netherlands for tulip time capturing more than 40 percent of the Europe river cruise market. The top river cruise destinations outside Europe are all in Asia, led by Beijing and Shanghai. You can read more of the report at tinyurl.com/q26rk7e.
