Changing Mideast outlook

RENEWED conflict in the Middle East, where Israel last week attacked the Beirut airport after guerrillas captured two soldiers and killed eight others, disrupted travel just as tourism was showing some signs of increasing.

Silversea Cruises will reroute its Silver Wind ship, scheduled to call at Beirut on Monday and Tartus, Syria, on Tuesday, to two Turkish ports, spokeswoman Gina Finocchiaro said Friday.

Other cruise lines, including Crystal and Seabourn, were still planning Mideast calls later in the year even as they monitored the situation.

“It’s too early to tell,” said Crystal spokeswoman Mimi Weisband. “Things change so quickly.”

El Al Israel Airlines still planned to begin nonstop LAX-Tel Aviv flights next week. It currently makes one stop on the route, said Bill Gale, West Coast regional manager.

The State Department Thursday updated its Lebanon travel warning, urging Americans to avoid travel there.

The developments came shortly after Egypt disclosed that more Americans than ever visited in the first half of this year.

From January through June, 118,044 Americans went to Egypt, an increase of 20% compared with the same period last year and surpassing the record 114,468 who went in the first half of 2000, said Omayma El-Husseini, deputy director of North and South America for the Egyptian Tourist Board.

Jane Engle

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How to save in London

AVOID long lines at some of London’s top attractions and save money at the same time with the new Historic Royal Palaces Annual Membership. Membership, good for a year, allows unlimited admissions to the Tower of London, Hampton Court, Kensington Palace, Kew Palace and the Banqueting House of the old Whitehall Palace.

Annual membership for two is about $92. Individual admissions for two adults to the Tower, Hampton Court and Kensington Palace would set you back about $143. Families can save even more at $128 for two adults and up to three children. Single memberships are about $65. Plus, members get a 10% discount at on-site shops and cafes.

Memberships can be ordered in advance or purchased at any of the five palaces. Visit www.hrp.org.uk.

Susan Lendroth

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Sequoia camp not yet open

CONSTRUCTION problems have pushed back the opening of Sequoia High Sierra Camp to Aug. 1, said a spokeswoman for Delaware North Cos., which runs the Sequoia National Monument camp. It is expected to stay open until Oct. 1. The camp was set to open July 3. Info: www.sequoiahighsierracamp.com