Cruise Central and South America

AdventureSmith Explorations is offering savings of up to $2,000 U.S. per couple if you book a cruise of eight to 12 days by Jan. 31. Trips are aboard the 60-passenger M/V Sea Voyager, and the company has cruises around both the Pacific and Caribbean sides of Costa Rica, both sides of Panama and also visits to the Panama Canal and coastal Colombia and Ecuador. There are five new itineraries this year that include a nine-day Balboa (Panama) to San José (Costa Rica) journey, and a nine-day Cartagena (Colombia) to Santa Marta (Colombia) trip.

Fares before the discount begin at $365 U.S. per day, per person. That includes all meals, accommodations on the ship, hotel stays before and after the cruise, shore tours, admission to museums and parks and taxes and port fees. I’m told that “while cruising, guests will venture with naturalists and guides into rainforests and sea in pursuit of land and marine life that is among the world’s most diverse. While on board, passengers enjoy air-conditioned comfort in 31 outside staterooms with ample storage and private bath. On board are a lounge, bar, fitness and massage rooms, library with Wi-Fi, dining room, buffet, fore and aft deck space and a platform for getting on/off Zodiacs.”

For details call 1-800-728-2875 or visit AdventureSmithExplorations.com

Alberta ski savings

Ski Banff/Lake Louise/Sunshine, a company representing Mt. Norquay, the Lake Louise Ski Area and Sunshine Village – all in the Canadian Rockies – is offering a special discount to residents of Quebec, Ontario and the Maritimes.

If you hold a current 2011-12 season pass at a ski hill Quebec, Ontario or the Maritimes, Ski Banff/Lake Louise/Sunshine is offering 25 per cent off Tri-Area lift tickets with a minimum two-day purchase of lift tickets now through Feb 10. The company boasts that Tri-Area tickets give skiers and snowboarders access to almost 3,250 hectares of “skiable terrain at three world-class resorts and, of course, plenty of dry light Canadian Rockies Powder to go around.”

If you’re looking for lodging deals, Ski Banff/Lake Louise/Sunshine has some affordable suggestions. For example, if you book two nights, you get your third night free at the Fairmont Banff Springs, a 770-room hotel in the style of a Scottish baronial castle. That deal also gets you a free daytime ski lift ticket when you buy a two-day lift ticket. You have to book by Jan. 31, however.

You can book the discounted Tri-Area lift tickets and check out lodging deals at SkiBig3.com/gotsnow or call the central reservations service at 1-877-754-7080.

Florida lodging deals

The tourism agency for the Fort Myers-Sanibel region in southwest Florida along the Gulf of Mexico promises sunshine, blue skies and clean aqua-coloured water along its 965 kilometres of shoreline, with “some of the best beach destinations in the world” and an atmosphere that is “like a thousand hometowns rolled into one.”

For example, the Angler’s Inn in Matlacha has waterfront rooms for $89 U.S. per night, based on double occupancy. Or you could book a room at The Collier Inn on Useppa Island for $140 U.S. per night, based on double occupancy. The region includes the preserved winter homes, now museums, of inventors Thomas Edison and Henry Ford, and educational exhibits on the region’s Calusa Indians’ traditional way of life. For more information visit fortmyers-sanibel.com

Gatineau/Ottawa this winter

The Four Points by Sheraton Gatineau-Ottawa, in Gatineau, has rates from $135 per room, per night for stays until Jan. 28 and from Jan. 30 to Feb. 27. There is free Wi-Fi in the hotel’s public spaces and free Internet in all guest rooms. Guests receive discount vouchers to the Rideau Centre shopping mall and the package includes free parking as well as fresh coffee every morning in the lobby. Nearby, the 361-kilometre Gatineau Park beckons with activities: cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and tobogganing. Admission to the park is free and you can rent equipment. To book, visit fourpoints.com/gatineau or call 866-716-8133 and ask for rate plan PKGWINT.

Meanwhile, Ottawa’s tourism agency is offering a third night free in participating hotels when you book two nights for stays now through March 31. See ottawatourism.ca for details. The capital city’s Winterlude Festival runs Feb. 3 to Feb. 20. You can skate on the Rideau Canal, check out ice carvings and huge snow sculptures or take the kids sliding in Snowflake Kingdom in Jacques Cartier Park. For details visit canadascapital.gc.ca/celebrate/winterlude

Seniors week at Mont Sutton

The Mont Sutton ski hill is having specials for seniors from Jan. 23 to 27. During that time, seniors 55 years and older can ski for $25 a day (a daylong ski lift pass for those 18 to 64 is normally $62) upon presentation of an ID card with date of birth. They can also get a 50-per-cent discount on private lessons. And all week long they can join others for a pre-ski breakfast “for all budgets” and crossword puzzle game in the main chalet from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. There are 10 prizes to be won during the week. Seniors week will also end with music, with the après-ski jazz at the Bar Le Tucker on Thursday, Jan. 26, from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. with musicians Willy Lemaistre and Daniel Haché. For more information visit montsutton.com

Guided summer tours

Brendan Vacations is offering its Definite Deal Days sale for those thinking ahead to summer vacations. If you book by March 10, you can save up to $870 U.S. per couple on any 2012 Guided Vacation for travel by Oct. 31.

You can also save up to five per cent per couple on the land portions of trips if you pay in full at least six months prior to departure. The Definite Deal Days apply to 2012 Summer Guided Itineraries in Europe, Ireland and Scotland, South and Central America, U.S. and Canada (including Hawaii) and Australia and New Zealand. For full terms and conditions, visit brendanvacations.com or call 800-421-8446.

mharrold@montrealgazette.com