TRAVEL LOG

Istanbul is still a cruise call

Several cruise lines last week were sticking with plans to call on Istanbul despite recent hotel bombings there that killed at least two people and injured at least 11, including foreign tourists. No Americans were listed among the casualties.

Seabourn Cruise Line’s Seabourn Spirit was due to call on the Turkish port today and in October.

“We don’t have any plans to change that,” said Seabourn spokesman Bruce Good. “Obviously, we’re concerned,” but he said the line maintains “very high security.”

The Radisson Diamond was due in Istanbul today, with other visits scheduled for September and October. As of the Travel Section’s deadline Tuesday the line was “evaluating the situation” but had made no decisions, said Andrew Poulton, spokesman for Radisson Seven Seas Cruises.

The bombs hit the Pars hotel and Star Holiday Hotel, a few hundred yards from the former Byzantine church St. Sophia and the Sultanahmet, also known as the Blue Mosque, Associated Press reported. At least two groups claimed responsibility.

As of Tuesday, the State Department was not advising Americans to avoid Istanbul, although it urged them to “exercise caution” in Turkey. Australia advised its citizens to “defer nonessential travel” to Turkey.

Short season

for lodge in

Yellowstone

One of America’s most popular park lodges, the Old Faithful Inn at Yellowstone National Park, will cut short its season next year and in 2006 while it undergoes a $30-million renovation.

The 327-room lodge, open May 7 to Oct. 15 this year, is expected to accept guests only from early July through Labor Day next year, said Jim McCaleb, general manager for concessionaire Xanterra Parks & Resorts at the park.

Exact dates, which depend on the contractor’s schedule, were pending as of the Travel Section’s Tuesday deadline.

McCaleb said that some of Yellowstone’s other hotels would extend their seasons so they could accommodate extra guests.

The renovation will focus on the original part of the rustic log lodge, which dates to 1904. It includes shoring up the structure to meet seismic standards. (307) 344-7311 or visit https://www.travelyellowstone.com .

Fewer miles

earn flights

American Airlines is offering a new category of frequent-flier awards for short-haul flights taken from Sept. 1 through Feb. 28 in the continental U.S. and Canada. The awards must be booked on https://www.aa.com .

For nonstop routes that are less than 750 air miles each way, 15,000 miles — instead of the usual 25,000 miles — are required for an economy-class round trip. For details, visit https://www.aa.com/shorthauls .

New airport

in China

The southern Chinese city of Guangzhou has opened a $2.3-billion airport.

Able to handle 25 million passengers a year, Baiyun International Airport is nearly four times the size of the 72-year-old airport it replaced. For information, call 011-86-20-3606-6999, which offers an English-language option.

Xinhua News Agency

— Compiled by

Jane Engle