Short Cruises Out of L.A. Harbor Can Help Travel Dollar Go Further

It’s no news that consumers are cutting back on spending. All of us, it seems, have less discretionary income these days, and we’re becoming more cautious about parting with our money.

What is a revelation is that vacations are one thing that people are not giving up, at least according to such statistical soothsayers as the U.S. Travel Data Center, Travel Industry Assn. of America, Travel Industry Indicators and Cruise Lines International.

Their consensus is that while vacationers might have become more frugal--going from luxury to economy, for instance--or might have cut down on the duration of their holidays, vacations remain at the top of people’s “must-do” list.

Escape has almost become a necessity. More than ever, there’s a need to get away, to reduce stress by leaving home, work and responsibility behind, even if it is for just a few days.

Weekend vacations climbed 28% between 1984 and 1989, and indications are that this year the figure will climb even higher. The trend toward quickie getaways may not only be due to cost-cutting effortsbut also to the time crunch faced by an ever-increasing number of two-income households with conflicting family schedules.

Hottest on the list of those shopping for brief reprieves are short cruises. Last year, 85% of the more than 3 million Americans who took cruises sailed for seven days or less, with an increasing number on three- and four-day sailings, according to Cruise Lines International.

For Los Angelenos, short cruises are an even better bargain than for those living inland since air fares on fly-sail packages can be eliminated. If you’re among the thousands who are focusing on value for a weekend high-seas getaway, here’s a list of what’s available locally (reservations may be made through most travel agents):

Azure Seas: Built in 1955 and completely reconstructed in 1980, the 756-passenger vessel sails every Monday and Friday through April 29 on three- and four-night cruises to Ensenada and Catalina. San Diego is added to the longer trip. The fully air-conditioned vessel has eight all-teak public decks, all cabins have at least two lower beds, and there is wall-to-wall carpeting, phones and three music channels. A dining room features continental and American cuisine. There is live entertainment, theater, four bars and lounges, a swimming pool, spa, disco, sport area, duty-free shop, video games, card room, library, beauty and barber shop. Continental breakfast is available in cabins, lunch is indoor and outdoor buffet. The ship moves to Port Everglades in May to do seven-day cruises to the Caribbean. Rates: $345 to $1,145 per person, double occupancy (higher for four-day cruises). Call Admiral Lines at (800) 327-0271.

Jubilee: Built in 1986, there are accommodations for a maximum of 1,896 passengers in 743 cabins, including 10 suites on this 48,000-ton vessel. It sails every Sunday year-round for seven days to Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas. There are 10 decks; cabins feature closed-circuit TV, stereo, telephone and 110 AC current. There are three swimming pools, golf facilities, public rooms that include two dining rooms, one of the largest casinos afloat, indoor/outdoor bar and grill, numerous lounges, a health spa, whirlpool, massage room, shopping area, children’s playroom, card room and live entertainment. Rates: $795 to $2,195 per person, double occupancy. Call Carnival Cruise Lines at (800) 327-9501.

Southward: Built in 1971, the 16,607-ton vessel sails every Monday and Friday on three- and four-day cruises to Catalina and Ensenada, with San Diego added to the longer trip. The ship carries 752 passengers in 376 staterooms, all with twin and double beds; many cabins have folding upper berths to accommodate third and fourth passengers. Fully air-conditioned throughout with individual control in each cabin. Public rooms include dining room, show lounge with new Las Vegas-style revue, beauty and barber shops, seven decks, sports deck, outdoor dancing, numerous cocktail lounges, cinema, casino, duty-free shopping arcade, swimming pool, sauna, gymnasium. Rates: $315 to $810 per person, double occupancy, for three days; $375 to $845 for four days. Call Norwegian Cruise Lines at (800) 327-7030.

Fair Princess: Built in 1956 for Cunard, rebuilt in 1971-72 and completely remodeled in 1984 and the fall of 1989, the stately, Old World, 25,000-ton vessel has retained much of its wood paneling. It sails every Saturday from Sept. 29 through Nov. 3, and Nov. 17 through Jan. 6 on seven-day trips to Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta. It has accommodations for 925 passengers in 467 cabins, and offers wall-to-wall carpeting, air conditioning, four-channel music system, phones, four spacious major suites and 26 mini-suites. Three swimming pools, including a children’s pool, nursery, playroom, teen-age club, 11 passenger decks, two dining rooms, pizzeria, numerous lounges, two-level theater, fully equipped gymnasium, cocktail lounges, casino, nightclub, duty-free shops, barber and beauty salon. Rates: $745 to $2,385 per person, double occupancy. A special standby fare of $595 is available if applied for and confirmed 21 days in advance of sailing. Call Princess Lines at (800) 421-0522.

Viking Serenade: From Sept. 29 through Dec. 29, the ship will sail every Saturday for seven nights to Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas. Rates: $745 to $2,045 per person, double occupancy. After a $75-million refurbishing that will add 260 cabins, boosting occupancy to 1,500, the ship will debut three- and four-night cruises on May 17, 1991, that will call at Catalina, Ensenada and San Diego. The remodeling will feature a new dramatic lounge surrounding the ship’s funnel stack, 10 decks above the water line and a new dining room, plus expansion of the existing dining room, expansion of the casino, new indoor/outdoor cafe and gift-shop area, a nightclub with soda fountain for teens, disco and video arcade, a kids’ center with bubbleball pool and facilities just for toddlers. Rates for the three-day cruises: $315 to $1,195 per person, double occupancy, and $345 to $1,300 for four-day sailings. Call Royal Caribbean at (800) 327-6700.