On Dec. 14, the Crystal Symphony will be positioned near Costa Rica, a prime vantage point for viewing the solar eclipse. Provided with special shades and filters, passengers will observe an annulus or “ring of fire,” the circle of sunlight around the silhouetted edge of the moon. Astronomer Dennis Mammana will be your guide and also introduce you to the stars as the Geminid meteor shower, one of the best of the year, reaches its peak the night before the eclipse. The Dec. 6-21 itinerary begins in Ft. Lauderdale and ends in Los Angeles, with calls in Costa Rica, Mexico and Colombia, plus passage through the Panama Canal. Fares start at $3,635, plus $449 for round-trip air from Chicago. (800-820-6663; or at www.crystalcruises.com)
SANTA AT SEA
Holland America has enough Christmas and New Year’s itineraries to fill an entire brochure: the Holiday Cruises Guidebook. You can spend either holiday on Caribbean cruises of seven or eight nights starting at $1,029; check out the Big Ditch on the Panama Canal Holiday cruise, Dec. 23-Jan. 4, from $3,359; or work on your hula during the Circle Hawaii Holiday cruise, Dec. 23-Jan. 7, from $4,229. (877-SAIL-HAL; or at www.hollandamerica.com)
SAIL ‘N’ SHOP
Browse traditional German and Austrian Christmas markets along the Rhine or Danube on seven-night cruises aboard 140-passenger riverboats operated by Uniworld of Los Angeles. Rhine cruises sail on Nov. 30 and Dec. 7; the Danube trip gets under way Dec. 8. Fares start at $1,998, including air fare from Chicago. (800-733-7820; or at www.uniworldcruises.com)
KOSHER CRUISING
The Dawn R. Schuman Institute of Northbrook has space left on an Oct. 16-30 kosher cruise-tour of the Mediterranean aboard Orient Lines’ Crown Odyssey. Special Jewish-interest tours will be offered in the ports of Rome, Athens, Rhodes and Istanbul. Including air travel from Chicago, fares start at $3,295. (847-509-8282, ext. 14; or at www.dawnschuman.org)
THE ROYAL TREATMENT
Based in Ipswich, England, Fred Olsen Cruise Lines has just launched its newest ship, the Braemar, and a two-for-one offer for 2001 brought on an immediate sellout. Next year’s itineraries in the Caribbean, England, Europe and Canada remain available–and at discounts of 25 to 30 percent for bookings made six months in advance. (800-688-3876; or at www.eurocruises.com)
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Prices generally are per person double and are based on availability.
