Royal caribbean cruise voyager of the sea

'Voyaging the Sea of Okhotsk'

Society Expeditions offers a 19-day cruise, "Voyaging the Sea, of Okhotsk," on the World Discoverer.

The cruise, Aug. 20-Sept. 8, 2003, is priced from $7,749 to' $13,215 per person, double occupancy, depending on cabin category, and visits the Far East of Russia, several Japanese ports and some remote Russian. islands.

Here's the rundown:

* You' depart Los Angeles and arrive in Tokyo, Japan. The following. day, a group flight takes you to Kushiro, Japan's northernmost island, where you embark on the World' Discoverer.

* The first stop is Iturup, Kuril Islands, where you meet the local inhabitants and watch a Russian folk show.

* Chernyy Brat'ya/Chirpoy, Kuril, is where you may encounter sea lions, seals, orca whales and sperm whales.

* A Zodiac stop is made at Yankicha, Kuril Islands. Watch for Arctic foxes and whiskered auklets.

* On Onekotan Island you will see an ancient Ainu village site and then cruise by Atlasova Island with views of 7,674-foot-high Alaid Volcano.

* Stop at the Vorovskaya River on the Kamchatka Peninsula.

* Visit an isolated fishing village called Kovran. You will be the first people ever to call at this, village.

* Now on the Russian mainland, call at the Magandanskiy Wilderness Preserve. You land by Zodiac and explore the reserve on foot.

* Tour the historic center of Russian development at Okhotsk City, Magadan Oblast.

* The next stop is at the Nifki Wilderness. Explore the pristine forest and estuary system.

* The Shantar Islands is a renowned bird sanctuary where you should see thousands of Asiatic seabirds.

* Iony Island was previously closed to visitors, but with special permission you will travel to this seabird sanctuary by Zodiacs.

* Set foot on, Sakhalin Island and visit the village of Pil'toon where Oroks, a reindeer-herding people, gather for a cultural performance.

* At the southern, tip of Sakhalin, Tyuleniy Island is a nature preserve. Fur seals, Steller's sea lions and common and thick-billed murres call it home.

* Returning to Japan you stop at Otaru Ko on Hokkaido, which retains a legacy of Western-style buildings from the early' 1990s. The city's quaint canal is lined with these buildings.

* Finally, disembark in Hakodate and take a tour en route to the airport. Overnight in Tokyo before returning home.

For more information, contact Society Expeditions, 2001 Western Ave. #300, Seattle; WA 98121; call 800/548-8669 or visit www.societyexpeditions.com.

Amazon & Orinoco

In response to strong demand for its "Great Rivers of South America" cruise itinerary, which visits both the majestic Amazon and the mysterious Orinoco River, Royal Olympic Cruises is scheduling an additional sailing aboard the 836-passenger Olympia Voyager. Special rates start at $1,695 per person, including port charges.

Departing from Houston on March 24, 2003 **, the Olympia Voyager will take passengers on a 19-day (return to Fort Lauderdale) or 17-day (Fort Lauderdale round trip) journey visiting Virgin Gorda, Barbados, the Orinoco River, Puerto Ordaz (Venezuela), Devil's Island (French Guiana) and the Amazon River, crossing the Equator and continuing on to Boca da Valeria, Manaus, Santarem, Trinidad and St. Thomas.

For reservations or more information, contact a travel agent or call Royal Olympic Cruises at 800/872-6400 or visit www.royalolympic.cruises.com.

** The newly scheduled "Great Rivers of South America" cruise replaces both the previously scheduled March 24th 12-day "Eastern Caribbean" cruise and the April 5th 7-day "Mayaribbean" cruise.