A rare opportunity for West Coasters is presenting itself from Moment's Notice, that innovative last-minute firm. If you act quickly, you can get inside accommodations on the fabulous Cunard liner, the QE2, which usually sails the Atlantic or Caribbean, from just $1,334 on an 11-night sailing out of Los Angeles to Tahiti; outside cabins start from $1,844. The QE2 departs the City of Angels on Saturday, January 18, 2003, sailing via Honolulu to Papeete, the final port and capital of French Polynesia on the island of Tahiti itself. Return airfare is included in the price, but you can also add on a couple of nights for a little more money. Prices include transfer from pier to airport in Tahiti, shipboard accommodations, all meals while on board, some beverages, entertainment on board.
A different option calls for you to stay on board the QE2 for 17 nights. After calling at Tahiti, you visit Moorea (a whistle's toot away), then sail to Auckland, New Zealand, where you can choose to stay and play or fly home immediately. Inside accommodations start at $1,744, outside at $2,344. Included are 17 nights aboard, return airfare to Los Angeles from New Zealand, transfer from pier to the airport in New Zealand, shipboard accommodations, all meals on board, some beverages, entertainment aboard.
If the Amazon is more to your liking, consider the Cunard line's Caronia, which leaves Bridgetown, Barbados on Wednesday, January 22, 2003. You can get inside cabins from $1,259, outside from $1,659. You cruise the Caribbean and Atlantic for 18 nights, stopping at Willemstad in Curacao, San Blas (Panama), transit the Panama Canal, Cartagena in Colombia, Oranjestad in Aruba, Scarborough in Trinidad, Devil's Island in French Guiana, Alter do Chao in Brazil, then cruise the Amazon River, visiting Manaus, Brazil, the final port. Air travel is available from your home city at an additional charge.
You can continue on from Manaus, departing February 9, 2003, for another 18 nights, with inside cabins from $1319, outside from $1719. You go back through the Atlantic to Devil's Island, St. George's in Grenada, Road Town in Tortola (BVI), Philipsburg (St. Maarten), Basseterre (St. Kitts), St. John's (Antigua), Roseau (Dominica), Castries (St. Lucia), Porlamar (Margarita Island, Venezuela), St. Vincent (Grenadines) and return to Bridgetown.
Note that port and government fees are not included in any of the above offerings.
For more information and reservations, contact Moment's Notice at 888/241-3366 or 718/234-6295, online at www.moments-notice.com.