Royal Cruise Line has a campaign going...

Royal Cruise Line has a campaign going to attract single males. Seems the ratio of males versus females doesn’t balance up on cruises. “The ladies want more unattached men on board for dancing and socializing,” says Richard Revnes, the company’s president. As a result, Royal Cruise is offering $5 lifetime memberships to single men in its Commanders’ Club. Entitles joiners to various benefits, including a 20% discount on selected cruises and shore excursion packages, free skeet shooting and a singles stateroom supplement of $25 in “selected categories.”

The $5 membership also entitles participants to a $100 bar credit.

In addition, Royal Cruise operates a “host” program involving complimentary trips for single males ages 50 and over. In exchange, gentlemen, your only obligation is to “dance and socialize” with the ladies. Not a bad assignment. Royal Cruise warns, however, that “romantic ties are strictly forbidden” and says that would-be Lotharios will be put ashore.

For details concerning the Commanders’ Club and the Host Program, write to Royal Cruise Line, 1 Maritime Plaza, San Francisco 94111, or telephone (415) 956-7200.

Living Like an Astor

Sir Winston Churchill slept there. So did Rudyard Kipling, George Bernard Shaw, the Astors and Lawrence of Arabia. Now you have your chance. The door’s opened only this week to the Astors’ old residence, Cliveden, which rises beside the Thames less than an hour by car from London. The estate--it dates from 1666--is considered one of the great country houses of Britain. As a hotel, it will be operated by the same people who manage the celebrated Royal Crescent Hotel in Bath. Cliveden features 27 rooms and suites, 400 acres, tennis, squash and a heated swimming pool. Rates from $218 a night. Details from Scott Calder International, 152 Madison Ave., New York 10016, or call toll-free (800) 223-5581.

Year’s Top Events

A catalogue naming the year’s major events is available free. Listings from all 50 states plus Canadian provinces. Selections were made by travel authorities in the United States and Canada. The catalogue provides dates, contacts, descriptions of events. In the lead is the upcoming celebration in New York planned for the Statue of Liberty. Listings were published by Days Inns and the American Bus Assn. For a copy write to Days Inns Top 100 Events, P.O. Box 2328, Norcross, Ga. 30091. Note: For motor-coach travel information, drop a line to the American Bus Assn., 1025 Connecticut Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036. This association represents more than 1,000 bus companies.

Student Trips

In November we mentioned a student exchange program that’s operated by Penfriend International. The idea is for U.S. students to live with a family overseas for three weeks while European students visit here. Penfriend says they have been “inundated” by offers from European families (particularly in France, Germany and Italy) who wish to host American students, but the response by U.S. families has been minimal. So if you have a child and are willing to host a foreign student, contact Penfriend International Travel Exchange, 1901 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 1774, Los Angeles 90067, or telephone (213) 551-6616. Cost for three weeks in Europe (including the flight, accommodations and meals) comes to $895/$995, depending on the destination. The program is open to students ages 12 to 22.

Village Inn

“Yesterday’s hospitality blended with today’s comforts and conveniences” is how the Village Inn of Arroyo Grande is described by hosts Fred and Margie Weiss. This is a new inn. Designed and built by the couple’s architect nephew, Rudy Veland. Six guest rooms, all with private baths. Continental or “farm” breakfasts, refreshments served in the afternoon. And no smoking permitted inside the inn. Rates start at $55 a day per couple. Arroyo Grande is only a short drive from Pismo Beach. For details write to the Village Inn, 407 El Camino Real, Arroyo Grande 93420, or telephone (805) 489-5926.

New Zealand

We keep getting inquiries about farm vacations in New Zealand. Your best bet is to write to June Hawes c/o New Zealand Travel Hosts, 279 Williams St., Kaiapoi, Christchurch, New Zealand. Represents private homes (bed and breakfast) and farms with full board. Hawes describes her hosts as “warm, friendly, hospitable people who are keen to meet and entertain overseas visitors.” The homes and farms are scattered across both islands. Sheep, cattle, deer, horses. Rates from N.Z.$30 daily (for B&Bs;) to N.Z.$48 on farms (full board).

Working Vacations

Every year about this time the American Hiking Society begins recruiting volunteers to work without pay in national and state parks and forests. The program takes in Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Hawaii, Kentucky, Michigan, Montana, New Hampshire, Vermont, Wyoming and the U.S. Virgin Islands. These are 10-day assignments. Workers tote along their own tents, sleeping bags. Most of the jobs are in remote, primitive areas. No pay but plenty of satisfaction in helping maintain the nation’s parks, forests. For details, send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to AHS Volunteer Vacations, P.O. Box 86, North Scituate, Mass. 02060.

Reader Recommendations

Bear Valley, Calif.--John C. Lewis, Rolling Hills Estates: “For cross-country skiers, try Tamarack Pines Lodge, Highway 4, Bear Valley, Calif. 95223. About 45 minutes above the little Gold Rush town of Angels Camp. Attractive accommodations, good food, challenging skiing. We are retired and have skied various Sierra resorts for several years and this one has to be our favorite. We figured that a midweek stay, sharing a bath, with three meals and wine and trail passes each day came to about $85 a night for two of us.”

Spain--Beverly and Walter Mathews, Studio City: Praise for Hotel Arosa, Calle Salud 21, Madrid, Spain (stocked refrigerators, hair dryers, bath oils and prices about 8,220 pesetas double); also Hotel Colon, Avenida Catedral 7, Barcelona (prices, 8,340 pesetas double). Both hotels can be booked through Marketing Ahead, 433 Fifth Ave., New York 10016.”

Ireland--Jackie Pickell, San Diego: “The traveler to Ireland who will venture off the beaten path to Dingle will be rewarded by a wonderful restaurant--Doyle’s Seafood Bar, John Street, Dingle, County Kerry, Ireland. The food is marvelous and prices affordable.”

England--Godfrey Marks, Beverly Hills: “A superb country hotel, the Mill End, Sandy Park, near Chagford, Devon. Telephone Chagford 2282. We paid half-board rate of about $50 per person per night, which included a beautiful twin-bedded room overlooking the rippling stream flowing through the property, a full English breakfast plus afternoon tea and biscuits at 4 p.m., the full dinner and 15% VAT. Countryside is so quiet and peaceful you can ‘hear’ the silence. The moors of Dartmoor, the village of Widecombe, Buckland Abbey and many more interesting places are within an easy drive.”

England--Rebecca Jean Poston, Venice: Enjoyed Alastair Sawday’s private tours, 17 Cornwallis Crescent, Clifton, Bristol BS8 4PJ, England. “For small groups of friends who want to enjoy a special non-package tour. The tours cover Europe and Africa as well as the British Isles.”

England--E. L. Dlugensky, San Diego: Enjoyed a B&B; operated by Audrey and Derek Robson-Smith, 22 Roffey’s Close, Copthorne, Sussex RH10 3QY. “A small, quiet English village 10 minutes from Gatwick Airport, with free transportation to and from the airfield. Price, 22 per night for two.”

England--Peter Gilliam, Indio: “A marvelous country house hotel not far from Gatwick Airport with superb meals--Cisswood House Hotel, Lower Beeding, Horsham, Sussex, England. Doubles, including breakfast, 42 per night. Best we have ever stayed in during seven years of traveling to Britain.”