Former New York City Ballet principal dancer Edward Villella, now artistic director for Miami City Ballet, and members of that city`s ballet troupe will be the stars of a 10-day cruise aboard the Sitmar Fairsky next May.
The cruise, a benefit for the Miami City Ballet, will leave Ft. Lauderdale May 15 with stops in the U.S. Virgins of St. Thomas and St. Croix, St. John`s (Antigua), Bridgetown (Barbados) and Ft. de France (Martinique).
Under the direction of Villella, the ballet members will present a ballet created especially for the cruise. There also will be lectures and films.
Prices start at $1,895, a person, double occupancy. There are savings on rates, depending on when you book.
For more information, contact South Florida Cruises Inc., Suite 207, 2005 Cypress Creek Rd., Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. 33309, or call 800-327-SHIP or 305-493-6300.
2 SCOTTISH FLINGS Culloden House in Inverness, Scotland, was occupied by bonnie Prince Charlie before the Battle of Culloden in 1746. Dornoch Castle Hotel in Dornoch once was the palace of the bishops of Caithness and was a garrison and jail.
Today both places are among the castles and manor houses in the Scottish Highlands and Islands that offer luxurious accommodations and fine dining such as Scottish salmon, Angus beef and a variety of seafood.
Rates at Culloden start at $142 for two people and include breakfast. At Dornoch Castle Hotel, breakfast also is included in the price, which starts at $27.75 a person, double occupancy.
For more information about Scotland`s castle and manor house hotels, contact the British Tourist Authority, 875 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60611, or call 312-787-0490.
PARADOR STAYS More and more American travelers are discovering Puerto Rico`s paradores, according to the Puerto Rico Tourism Co. with figures reflecting an almost 50 percent increase in the last 10 months.
The 15 paradores, or country inns, are in historic or scenic locations, and are patterned after the popular parador system in Spain.
Prices range from $30 to $65 a night for two people, and all offer Puerto Rican food.
Reservations can be made by calling 800-443-0266.
For more information, contact a travel agent or the Puerto Rico Tourism Co., 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, N.Y. 10104, or call 800-223-6530 or 212-541-6630.
FREQUENT SLEEPERS Marriott Hotels and Resorts has a deal for week night guests who stay in its hotels in the Washington, D.C., New York and New England areas between now and Oct. 15.
Stay Monday through Thursday at one of 30 participating Marriott hotels in those areas and you`ll get a certificate for a free night (after paying for the first night) in Marriott`s Sam Lord`s Castle in Barbados, Marriott`s Castle Harbour in Bermuda or Marriott`s Seaview Country Club in Absecon, N.J. The New England areas include Marriott hotels in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
For more information, contact a travel agent or Marriott Hotels and Resorts, 800-228-9290.
FREE FOR THE WRITING
For a copy of Orlando`s Fall Celebration coupon book, contact the Orlando/Orange County Convention Bureau, P.O. Box 593788, Orlando, Fla. 32859. . . . For a copy of Antigua attractions, contact the Antigua and Barbuda Department of Tourism, Suite 311, 610 5th Ave., New York, N.Y. 10020, or call 212-541-4117.
A CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR THE MIDWEST
ILLINOIS
Annual Marseilles Fun Days, Marseilles, Aug. 13-16. Carnival, arts and crafts, food booths, antiques; 815-795-2323.
Old Settlers Reunion, Cissna Park, Aug. 13-15. Entertainment, tractor pulls, parade, carnival; 815-457-2245.
1987 Illinois State Fair, Springfield, Aug. 13-23. Entertainment, livestock and horse shows, car racing, carnival; 217-782-6661.
Cobden Peach Festival, Cobden, Aug. 14-15. Food, carnival; 618-893-2257.
Confederate Air Force Ghost Squadron, Moline, Aug. 14-16. Antique aircraft; 309-794-0933.
Sixth Annual Tutty Baker Days Festival, Freeport, Aug. 14-16. Parade, foods; 815-232-2306.
Bluegrass Fall Festival, Sheffield, Aug. 14-15. Bluegrass music, fiddle and banjo contests, food; 815-454-2502.
Shadfly Days, Savanna, Aug. 15-16. Carnival, arts and crafts, food, entertainment; 815-273-2722.
Sesquicentennial Celebration, Avon, Aug. 15-22. Parade, antiques, historical displays, home and farm tours; 309-465-3522.
Polish Fest, Rockford, Aug. 16. Songs, dance, games; 800-521-0849, 815-987-8105.
INDIANA
10th Pan American Games, Indianapolis, through Aug. 23. More than 6,500 athletes from 38 countries compete in 27 sports; 317-238-1987 or 317-633-5273. Monroeville Harvest Festival, Monroeville, Aug. 12-15. Rides, entertainment, food; 219-623-3635.
Tomato Festival, Pierceton, Aug. 12-16. Tomato eating contest, gospel music; 219-594-5889.
Van Buren Popcorn Festival, Van Buren, Aug. 13-15. Parade, entertainment, arts and crafts; 317-934-3491.
Antique Steam and Gas Show, New Haven, Aug. 13-16. Steam engines, wheat threshing; 219-623-3755.
Yeddo Old Settlers, Hub Park, Aug. 13-15. Fish fry, antique cars;
317-294-2653.
Potato Creek Festival, North Liberty, Aug. 14-15. Entertainment, arts and crafts, food; 219-656-4675.
Midwest Corvette and Chevy Show, Valparaiso, Aug. 15-16. Car show/swap and auction; 219-464-9918.
American Indian Council PowWow, Lebanon, Aug. 15-16. Indian dancing, crafts, food; 317-482-3315.
154th Birthday of President Benjamin Harrison, Indianapolis, Aug. 16. Civil War reenactment, military concert; 317-631-1898.
Charlestown on the Square, Charlestown, Aug. 15-16. Music, contests, historical tours, arts and crafts; 812-256-6651.
IOWA
National Sprint Car Championships, Knoxville, Aug. 12-15. 515-828-7555.
Aviation Expo `87, Ida Grove, Aug. 12-16. Gathering of giant scale modelers and aerial performances; 712-364-3165.
North Iowa Fair, Mason City, Aug. 12-17. 515-423-3811.
Czech Days, Howard, Aug. 14-16. Czech food and music; 319-569-8501.
Holzfest, Amana, Aug. 15-16. Woodcrafter`s festival; 319-622-3100.
MICHIGAN
Interlochen Arts Festival, Interlochen, through Aug. 16. Various performers; 616-276-9221.
Annual Antique Show and Sale, Grand Haven, Aug. 13-15. 616-456-8557.
Kalamazoo County Fair, Kalamazoo, Aug. 15-21. 616-456-8557.
Old Settler`s Weekend, Mecosta, Aug. 15-16. 517-967-3368.
Midwest Artillery Show, Detroit, Aug. 15-16. More than 40 original and replica cannons are among the items on display; 313-297-9360.
Native American Gathering, Munising, Aug. 15-16. Dancers, fish boil, crafts; 906-387-4728.
Eighth Annual Michigan Renaissance Festival, Holly, Aug. 15-30. Entertainment, food, crafts; 313-645-9640.
WISCONSIN
Drum Corps International Competition, Madison, Aug. 10-15. 60 drum and bugle corps entertain; 608-241-2292.
Sun Prairie Sweet Corn Festival, Sun Prairie, Aug. 14-16. Food, music, carnival rides; 608-837-4547.
25th Annual Venetian Festival, Lake Geneva, Aug. 12-16. Entertainment, food, carnival; 414-248-7786.
Wisconsin State Fair, West Allis, through Aug. 16. Entertainment on 18 stages, more than 200 food concessions, livestock judging and exhibits, carnival rides and games; 414-257-8800.
4th Annual Kettle Moraine Regional Championship Chili Cook Off, Lake Geneva, Aug. 15. 414-248-2767.
Wisconsin Valley Fair, Wausau, Aug. 11-16. Harness racing, entertainment; 715-847-5000.
Door County Fair, Sturgeon Bay, Aug. 12-16. Exhibits, livestock, games, rides, entertainment; 414-743-7972.
Circus Model Builders Exhibition, Baraboo, Aug. 14-16. Miniature circus trains, animals, wagons; 608-356-8341.
Camel GT Lowenbrau Classic, Elkhart Lake, Aug. 14-16. 500-mile race at the Road America track; 414-876-3369.
Irish Fest, Milwaukee, Aug. 14-16. Entertainment, cultural displays, children`s activities; 414-466-6640.
Days of Yesteryear Antique Show & Sale, Wisconsin Dells, Aug. 14-16. 414-787-4808.
1987 Festival of the Arts, Oconomowoc, Aug. 15-16. 100 artists from across the U.S. display jewelry, glass, sculpture, pottery, watercolors;
414-567-9310.
