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Show You Can Have Fun Traveling Alone, Travel Expert- Says At least 25 per cent, or more, of the passengers on a major cruise are traveling alone. Often this is an advantage, the experts point out, because a man or woman alone is able to move from group to group and circulate circu-late freely. Ann Dickson, senior social directress, di-rectress, American Export Lines, speaking from eight years' experience ex-perience on the Independence, says, "There is no reason why a person traveling alone cannot have a completely enjoyable trip." She suggests, "After you have met a few people, give a little cocktail party at the beginning be-ginning of the trip and include a few people you have not met but would like to meet. This can make your cruise a success. Don't attach yourself to one couple or to any one small group too soon in the trip. Don't hide away all day, emerge only at night and expect to have a good time. Don't be shy about introducing yourself your-self at ship's parties that is why parties are given." "If you are alone, ask to be seated at a table with at least four or five other persons," advises ad-vises Eleanor Britton, Director of Cruise Staffs and Entertainment, Entertain-ment, Moore-McCormack Lines. "Read the daily program so you'll know what is going on and can participate in some of the activities." activi-ties." Mr. Nicholas Strange, cruise director of Canadian Pacific's new Empress of Canada, which sailed Feb. 9 on a Mediterranean cruise, suggests an unattached man or woman seated at a large table in the dining room make a point of ordering wine for the table as couples do. He believes single passengers should carry their own weight in gestures such as this. Now, what about those shore trips? On a world cruise or South Seas voyage there are some 45 days ashore and 50 at sea. On Mediterranean and North Cape cruises more days are spent ashore than at sea because of the proximity of the ports. A new trend is that passengers choose a cruise because of the places they will see rather than the ship. Pre-trip reading is a must sightseeing in foreign lands will mean more then. Bill Harris cruise lecturer, world traveler and American Express' special cruise consultant says, "Have a feeling of 'enthusiasm for thp tours ashore, be diplomatic and. above all, keep your sense of humor. Take new experiences and sights in stride not in a life or death manner." Here are some tips from tours ashore experts on preparing for an overland trio. Early to bed the night before. Don't start a long trip in a hot climate with p haneover. Be on time; don't hold up the group. There is nothing more irritating than 28 persons sitting in a coach waiting for one or two laggards. Tom Cecil, American Express manager tours ashore on the Rotterdam Rot-terdam World Cruise and the Caronia North Cape (June 28) reminds travel fans that they take shore excursions and overland over-land trips to see the cultura1 and historical attractions of different dif-ferent countries, not to mak" comparisons with what they hav at home. How do the people live? What are the main sightseeing attractions in their countries'' Keep these things in mind, Mr Cecil suggests, and overlook any small inconveniences. Mrs. Helen Frailey, Swedish American Line's social directress now circling the globe for the eighth time on the Kungsholm round-the-world cruise cautions: "Don't spend all your time shopping. shop-ping. The cruise will mean so much more in retrospect if you have a genuine interest in the people of the countries you visit, their way of life, customs and culture. If you are truly friendly, they will respond and you will come home richer in human experience." ex-perience." Never forget you're an unofficial unoffi-cial ambassador of your country, coun-try, so be kindly and considerate at all times. And when you finally final-ly reach the home gangplank, be strictly honest with Uncle Sam's Customs men. Remember that everything acquired outside the USA must be declared: that handbag bought abroad, pearls bought in Tokyo, the rubies bought in Ceylon, perfume from Paris, clothing made in Hong Kong everything. You'll retain a more shining memory of that perfect sea voyage if there's not a little matter of conscience plaguing all the time. |