Cruising away from bruising

Press, 31 January 1986, Page 6

Cruising away from bruising

By JOHN HUTCHISON San Francisco

The 816-passenger cruise ship Royal Odyssey will start calling at New Zealand ports in October — in a shift from the Caribbean and Mediterranean.

This is the first firm evidence in San Francisco ; that terrorism against travellers is turning tour- ! ists to what they see as saferidestinations. Tti® first South Pacific cruise will leave Los

Angeles on October 24 for Auckland and Sydney, with probably some island calls en route.

A company spokeswoman, Ms Mimi Weisband, said there would be at least eight cruises among New Zealand and Australian ports, possibly including Lyttelton and Hobart The company expected most of its passengers would be Americans. “The public perception of the Mediterranean 1 (as a cruise area) is Anow quite negative,” said Ms

Weisband. “The decision to shift is not political; it is commercial. Advance bookings for the Mediter-. ranean are significantly down from previous years.” The New Zealand travel commissioner in San Francisco, Mr Jefferie Tippen, said he knew of the slump in travel interst in Europe and the Mediterranean because of terrorism, and of speculation of greater South Pacific appeal, but it was still too early to note the ef-

feet. His appraisal was echoed by Mr Don Langley, editor of the authoritive “Pacific Travel News.’” The travel trade, however, widely agrees Atlantic tourism has been hit by the Achille Lauro piracy incident and by continued Middle East tension, and that the quieter image of South Pacific destinations will appeal to travellers more.