Second Offer Of Cut-price Travel

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31770, 29 August 1968, Page 1

Second Offer Of Cut-price Travel

(New Zealand Press, Association)

AUCKLAND, August 28.

Another travel group has contracted to charter a liner to run reduced-fare trips from New Zealand to Britain—after the announcement a month ago that a Russian liner had been chartered for the same purpose.

The Greek ship, Margarita, of 12,500 tons, has been chartered by the Economy Charter Travel Group to run direct cut-price voyages to Britain.

The organiser, Mr J. Perry, said today that the ship, due in New Zealand in midOctober, had accommodation for 840 passengers. Straight economy trips are planned via the Panama Canal, with calls either at Tahiti or Pitcairn Island. The idea is that the passengers will travel at cost.

Fares are expected to be from $270 to $350 depending on the type of cabin. The British-based Charter Travel Club announced last month the charter of the brand-new Russian liner, Shota Rustaveli, of 20,000 tons, for cut-price voyages to New Zealand.

Many bookings have already been made for the Russian liner’s first return voyage, from Auckland, on November 20. Travel In her costs appreciably less than fares asked by British, Italiah, or Greek shipping lines.