10 Friday, October 14, 1983

THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

Luxury Liner Cruise, Island Stay Provide Variety for the Family

There we were — my wife
and I, our two children (ages
7 and 5) and our car. Under
the hood, so to speak, were
two 13,000 horsepower en-
gines. And no traffic lights
or stop signs either . . . just
"smooth sailing."
Perhaps you too have
seen those TV commercials
announcing you can cruise
to the Bahamas and bring
your car on board, at no
extra charge. The ship mak-
ing this novel offer is the
M/S Scandinavia, the new
$100 million luxury flag-
ship of Scandinavian World
Cruises, which sails from
New York every Saturday
afternoon, on seven-day
cruises to Nassau and
Freeport, Grand Bahama.
Full seven-day cruises on
the M/S Scandinavia range

from $795 to $1,200 per per-
son, double occupancy.
However, a new policy at
Scandinavian World
Cruises now allows third
and fourth persons to sail
free when they accompany
two full-paying passengers
in the same state room. On
this basis, a party of four
can travel for as little as
$438 each; exceptions are
two end-of-the-year holiday
cruises.
Granted, we did have
some trepidation about
embarking on this kind of
family vacation. After all,
that is a pretty big ocean
out there! Still, the Scan-
dinavia's "Florida con-
nection" -seemed a less
fatiguing way to reach
Captiva Island, our ulti-
mate destination -off

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Florida's west coast.
Actually, things all
worked out quite well, with
shipboard activities geared
to each one of us. The kids,
for example, enjoyed arts
and crafts instruction and
treasure hunts under the
supervision of two coun-
selors; also their own out-
door pool. By contrast,
grownups like us could
enter a backgammon tour-
nament, join a "dancercize"
group, watch an ice-carving
demonstration, attend a fi-
nancial seminar . . . or just
laze by the pool. Evenings,
the Scandinavia produces
some truly lavish revues,
with full-scale production
numbers, elaborate cos-
tumes, special effects — the
works!
All roads lead to the din-
ing room, or so it seems
when you're enjoying the
good life at sea. After all
that salt air, you're entitled,
right? On the Scandinavia,
the road leads straight to
the elegant Windows of the
World dining salon. This
red and pink accented room,
with its large picture win-
dows overlooking the ocean,
serves as an attractive
backdrop for continental

THE CELEBRATION CONTINUES . .

•

/

You are cordially invited
to attend

BEE KALT TRAVEL SERVICE'S
CRUISE NIGHT

Thursday, October 20, 1983, 7:00 P.M.
at the
MICHIGAN INN
Southfield, Michigan

Special bonus for those attending: a $25 per
person shipboard gift certificate for any seven day
or longer cruise booked with.

BEE KALT TRAVEL SERVICE

and sailing between
November 1, 1983, and May 31, 1984.

.

specialties like Cannelloni
con Ricotta, Scallopini a la
Marsala, Cassoulet Gas-
cogne and Baked Alaska.
Tuesday morning the
Scandinavia docked in Nas-
sau, with its bustling Straw
Market and busy Bay Street
shops. But it's really
Paradise Island which
seems to draw people here.
This lovely spot has much to
offer, including a truly
magnificent beach, sparkl-
ing water . . . even para-
sailing for the adventure-
some; come evening, you'll
probably want to take in the
spectacular Le Cabaret re-
view at Resorts Interna-
tional's Britannia Beach
Hotel.

Wednesday, we arrived
in Freeport, on the island
of Grand Bahama. This
second largest city in the
Bahamas is perhaps best
known for its Interna-
tional Bazaar, a labyrinth
of restaurants and
boutiques offering wares
from around the world.
The 12-acre Garden of the
Groves, with its lush trop-
ical and sub-tropical
plants, flowers and trees,
is also well worth a visit;
and be sure to bring your
camera!
Freeport is where we
drove our car off the Scan-
dinavia and onto the Scan-
dinavian Sun, which cruises
to Miami in just six
hours. This smaller sister
ship, also owned by Scan-
dinavian World Cruises,
provides a full array of pool
and deck sports, a cabaret
show and generous buffet
dinner. The charge for this
one-way Freeport-Miami
linkup —just $59 per adult,
$25 for each child 12 and
_under.
It's estimated there are
perhaps 15-20 Jewish
families living year-round
on Grand Bahama Island.
During the winter months,
this figure swells by
another 50 or so "snowbird"
families who come south,
primarily from the United
States and Canada.

The Freeport Hebrew 330-acre luxury complex
Congregation's Luis de Tor - with accommodations
res Synagogue, the only ac - ranging from individual
tive synagogue in the hotel rooms to four-
Bahamas today, is situated , bedroom beachfront
on East Sunrise Highway , homes. This secluded re-
the same street on which treat is set amid towering
nearly a half-dozen Christ - palms and flowering
ian churches are located • foliage ... on the site of
And although there is no an historic key lime plan-
rabbi here, religious life tation. Perhaps one
goes on. For example, Mar- - travel magazine best cap-
tin Gauci, who works for a tured the essence of
local engineering company, South Seas when they de-
devotes considerable time to scribed it as "Florida's
keeping Jewish life and in- Tahiti."
stitutions alive on the is-
Our five days here were
land. In his capacity as vice spent in a spacious,
president of the synagogue, beautifully-situated villa
Gauci officiates at every- overlooking the gulf. The
thing from baby-namings to living room, dining area,
Bar Mitzvas. During the two bedrooms, two baths,
winter season, he conducts screened-in balcony, fully-
Sabbath services, largely equipped kitchen and maid
for the benefit of visiting service all made for a most
tourists.
comfortable stay.
Among South Seas' many
A major fund-raising
drive conducted earlier amenities: two miles of pri-
this year raised more vate beach, 15 fresh water
than $50,000 to renovate swimming pools, 20 tennis
the synagogue, which courts and a challenging
was built in 1974. The nine-hole golf course. There
money has largely been are also water sports like
used to install a new roof, windsurfing, jet skiing and
ceiling and carpets; addi- sailing. But the single most
tionally, land surround- popular activity here is un-
ing the building is being doubtedly shelling. In fact,
Captiva and her sister is-
cleared and landscaped.
land, Sanibel, are consi-
After an overnight stay in dered one of the world's
Miami, we headed west via three best sites for shell col-
Rt. 41, which connects with lecting. You can easily
the Everglades Pkwy. The spend many pleasurable
trip to Captiva, which is 30
hours, as we did, in search of
miles from Ft. Myers, took the 400 or so different vari-
about four hours.
eties that are found along
This slender, sea-washed these shores. One is never
barrier island, three miles certain what the next lap of
out in the Gulf of Mexico, is waves will bring — perhaps
linked to the Florida main-
a Fighting Conch (scientific
land by elevated causeway. name: Strombus pugilis) or
It's also a nature lover's even a truly rare Junonia.
paradise, with a startling
With some of the Gulfs
assortment of birds and best fishing just minutes
marine wildlife, including away, it's not surprising
pelicans, spoonbills, that seafood reigns supreme
woodstorks 'and herons.
in this part of Florida.
According to legend, Cap- Chadwick's restaurant, at
tiva was a pirate's hideout the entrance to South Seas,
in the late 1700s and early was especially good. Their
1800s. Jose Gaspar, for one, extravagant Friday-night
reputedly built a compound seafood buffet is a must,
here to safeguard his female with gourmet delights like
captives. This outpost be- Sea Perch Amandine and
came known as Isla de las Poached Snapper. Among
Captivas — or "Captiva." the many tempting desserts
Whatever the truth of these the night we dined here was
pirate years, Captiva today a tempting Banana with
is an ideal escape from the Chocolate Sauce crepe.
pressures and pace oft the
As you can readily
20th Century.
gather, our family quickly
Our home away from adapted to this natural
home, on the northern tip wonderland, with its easy-
of Captiva, was South going way of life. In fact,
Seas Plantation Resort there's a good chance we'll
and Yacht Harbor, a soon be returning.

:KO

Admission to CRUISE NIGHT is by ticket only,
at a nominal cost of $1.00 per person.
Tickets are available at our office.

Bee
Kalt
Tiavq

Alb,

' 110111111/

For further information call the

QUALITY TRAVEL SPECIALISTS

-

.-\‘\\\•
\.\

•

at 549-6733

4628 North Woodward Ave.
Royal Oak, Michigan 48072
(313) 549-6733

Celebrating 25 years of service

•;• ,,

,

The Freeport Hebrew Congregation's Luis de Torres Synagogue following
renovations earlier this year. The synagogue, built in 1974, serves year-round
residents of Grand Bahama Island and Jewish tourists.

