Travels with ATS

Cruise and Tour Bookings Coming Back in 2002

According to the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), more Americans are buying cruises this year than during the same period a year ago. CLIA president Jim Godsman attributes the increased booking levels to extensive marketing campaigns, ship repositioning, and current lower price levels. Other cruise executives identify the factor of pent-up demand from Americans who delayed booking a vacation after the September 11^th tragedy.

In January, many cruise lines had record-breaking weeks. Carnival said it broke year-to-year booking records during the seven-day periods of January 7 to 13 and January 14 to 20. Royal Caribbean received a record 147,819 bookings during the week ending January 18. Luxury lines Silversea, Crystal Cruises, and Seabourn also reported increased bookings.

Major tour operators are also reporting a sharp rebound in bookings, especially for Mexico, the Caribbean, and Las Vegas. Europe is doing surprisingly well, while Orlando and the Florida market are responding somewhat more slowly.

Cruise the Hawaiian Islands

Join Antietam Travel friends for an unforgettable 11-night cruise in the Hawaiian Islands aboard Celebrity Cruises' Infinity. Visit Oahu, Kauai, Maui, and the Big Island, and then sail the Pacific Ocean to Ensenada, Mexico. Antietam Travel Service, Inc. has limited group space remaining at the special rate of $1999.00 per person, double occupancy, including airfare, port charges and departure taxes. So give us a call and book early to reserve your space on this fabulous cruise. Details can be found at http://www.antietamtravel.com/specials/2002-20-InfinityOct.htm.

Travel Destination - Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

The second largest nation in the Caribbean, the Dominican Republic occupies the eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles. Situated in the heart of the region, between North and South America, the country is bathed by the Caribbean Sea on the south coast and the Atlantic Ocean to the north. With a land area of 18,700 square miles, it is larger than the Bahamas, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, all the Virgin Islands, and the entire French West Indies put together. Jamaica lies to the west; Puerto Rico to the east. The southernmost tip of Florida is over 600 miles away.

Twenty years ago, the Punta Cana area was nothing more than a lonesome stretch of prime beachfront with swaying coconut palms, surrounded by tropical jungle. Today that dazzling diamond in the rough has been chiseled into the fastest growing destination in the Caribbean. The area from Macao to Punta Cana, including Bavaro, has 17 hotels and 10 large tourist complexes with over nine thousand rooms. With over 30 miles of white sand beach still undeveloped, the area continues to add new properties and attractions each year.

The newest attraction in the area is Manati Park at Bavaro Beach. The nature park, built at a cost of $14 million, is now one of the major visitor attractions in the Punta Cana area. The park includes exhibitions of animals, birds, fish, resident performing dolphins, sea lions, and a number of parrots. Visitors can pay an extra fee to swim with the dolphins. Manati Park also features a replica of a Taino Indian village and the "Dancing Horses," a show with performing pure-bred Spanish stallions. Free bus transportation from all major hotels is provided.

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