New wave in meeting shipmatesCruise for love...

New wave in meeting shipmates

Cruise for love -- or friendship -- on high seas singles voyages that are designed to lower the cost of traveling solo.

The destinations include the Mexican Riviera, Dec. 29 to Jan. 9; a tour of the Hawaiian Islands, March 25 to April 5; and a sailing aboard the new Queen Mary 2 through Norway’s fiords, July 11 to 22.

“We bring together singles from all over the country who are looking for friends,” said Tammy Weiler of Singles Travel International. The organization tries to find roommates for travelers. “If people sign up in time, we guarantee we’ll find them a same-sex roommate. If we can’t, we pick up the single supplement cost ourselves.”

The New Year’s Eve voyage is aboard the Celebrity Mercury, sailing round trip from San Diego with stops in Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, Acapulco, Mazatlan and Manzanillo, Mexico. In Hawaii, singles will sail round trip from Honolulu on Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas, visiting Maui, Kauai, and Hilo and Kona on the Big Island. The Queen Mary 2 cruise will sail round trip from Southampton, England, including stops in Bergen, Norway; Hamburg, Germany; and Edinburgh, Scotland.

Cost: The Mexico cruise is $1,499 per person, double occupancy (single surcharge $1,230); Hawaii is $1,576 per person, double occupancy (single surcharge $1,104); Norway is $2,918 per person, double occupancy (single surcharge $2,160). Round-trip airfare to the departure port is not included.

Contact: Singles Travel International, Lockport, Ill.; (877) 765-6874, www.singlestravelintl.com.

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FRANCE

Horse around in Provence

GALLOP into 2004 a cheval on a seven-day French horseback riding tour that explores the Luberon region of Provence.

The Dec. 26 trip will feature rides through olive groves, vineyards, farms and villages. On New Year’s Eve, riders will climb coastal foothills to see the Mediterranean Sea on one side and the French Alps on the other. Participants stay at a farmhouse in rooms with bathrooms.

Cost: $1,600 per person, double occupancy (single surcharge $150), including accommodations, all meals, riding, guide and luggage transfers. Round-trip airfare to France is not included.

Contact: Cross Country International Equestrian Vacations, Millbrook, N.Y.; (800) 828- 8768, www.equestrianvacations.com.

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INDIA

The exotic subcontinent

Explore temples and palaces, spice gardens and wildlife preserves on a 17-day tour of south India.

The Feb. 15 tour begins and ends in Chennai (Madras), visiting Pondicherry, Tanjore, Madurai, Cochin, Bangalore, Hassan, Belur and Mysore.

Cost: $4,395 per person, double occupancy (single surcharge $895), including round-trip airfare on Singapore Airlines, accommodations, breakfasts and dinners, transfers, tours, India air and train fares, fees and taxes.

Contact: Ceylon Express International, Huntington Beach; (800) 423-9566, www.ceylonexpress.com.

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NEW YORK

Bright lights

of Broadway

Listen to the lullaby of Broadway on an eight-night New York City theater tour.

The April 12 trip will include tickets to three Broadway shows and lunch at Tavern on the Green in Central Park.

Cost: $1,950 per person, double occupancy (single surcharge $625), including round-trip airfare from LAX to New York, accommodations at the Edison Hotel, breakfasts and transfers.

Contact: Stan Mazin Travels, Sherman Oaks; (818) 786-6845, www.stanmazin.com.

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THE SOUTH

Springtime sightseeing

Catch the dogwood in full bloom during an eight-day springtime tour of Louisiana and Mississippi.

The March 22 tour visits New Orleans and Baton Rouge, La., before traveling to Natchez and Jackson, Miss. In Jackson, a highlight will be the “Glory of Baroque Dresden” exhibit at the Mississippi Arts Pavilion.

Cost: $1,789 per person, double occupancy (single surcharge $399), including round-trip airfare from LAX, home pickup from most areas of Southern California, many meals, transportation and sightseeing.

Contact: Gadabout Tours, Palm Springs; (800) 952-5068, www.gadabouttours.com.

The Times is not responsible for changes. Send information to Tours & Cruises, Los Angeles Times, 202 W. 1st St., Los Angeles, CA 90012; e-mail travel@ latimes.com.