www.crystalcruises.com; Perhaps it's because it possesses remarkable Roman ruins. Perhaps it's because it's been off-limits for many years. Whatever the reason, cruise calls to Libya have been a hot sell since the U.S. government lifted its ban on travel in February 2004.
Oceania Cruises' Nov. 5 sailing that calls at two Libya ports sold out so quickly that the line scheduled another for Nov. 17. It sold out, too.
''We were going to schedule just one voyage to Libya next year, but now have three,'' said Oceania's Tim Rubacky. Two will sail out of Barcelona, one out of Athens.
Oceania isn't the only cruise line that's found Libya a booking boon. Silversea Cruises, the first line to call at Libya this year, had four Libya cruises scheduled this year. Next year, it is planning nine.
''We thought these would appeal to the international market, but we getting a lot of Americans -- 52 percent of our Oct. 26 cruise [to Libya] are Americans,'' said Silversea's Brad Ball.
Holland America has scheduled seven cruises on two of its ships -- the Rotterdam and the Prinsenda -- to call at the North African country next year. Other lines scheduling Libya visits in 2006: Swan Hellenic's Minerva II, one in April; Crystal Cruises's Crystal Serenity, two trips; and Clipper Cruise Line, two visits.
Most of the ships call at Tripoli, the gateway to the magnificent Roman ruins of Leptis Magna and the Roman city of Sabratha, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Some call at Benghazi, close to the Greek ruins of Cyrene and blessed with views of the Jebel Akhdar, or Green Mountains.
Contact information: Oceania, 800-531-5658, www.ocean iacruises.com; Silversea, 800-722-9955, www.silver sea.com; Crystal, 800-8206663, www.crystalcruises.com; Clipper, 800-325-0010, www.clippercruise.com; Holland America, 877-724-5425, www.halcruises.com. |