Travelers' Intercom

The MS Deutschland, a 520-passenger ocean liner of Peter Deilmann Cruises (Alexandria, VA; 800/348/8287, www.deilmann-cruises.com), offers theme cruises, including classical music cruises. I was aboard for the Sept. 18-Oct. 1, 2008, classical music cruise from Hamburg, Germany, to Monte Carlo, Monaco.

The basic cruise cost started at $5,391 per person, double occupancy, and included airfare from New York, European airport transfers, meals, all shore excursions and all musical performances aboard the ship. Additional costs were $265 air taxes, $125 port charges and $130 fuel...

I was delighted to read of Randy Keck’s enjoyment of the Azores (April ’09, pg. 72 & May ’09, pg. 75). My husband, John, and I, traveled there March 31-April 6. Azores Express (800/762-9995, www.sata.pt) was our agency also. We paid $1,209 each for round-trip air from Boston, inter-island flights and six nights’ accommodations.

We visited the islands Terceira and São Miguel. We drove ourselves around each with a rented car but didn’t dare try navigating the central portions on our own. The signage was not always clear, and the locals drove very fast for the width of the roads....

I’m writing in response to the subscriber’s letter titled “Cruising ‘Italian Style’ on Costa Europa” (July ’09, pg. 31), which listed multiple complaints. My friend and I, both Americans, were also on the Jan. 17-31, 2009, sailing of that ship, in the Indian Ocean, for which the base price was $3,340 plus a fuel supplement of $252. (I purchased my own air.)

We and four other Americans dining with us daily did not share the above-mentioned subscriber’s opinion. We did not spend time dissecting the ship or the dinner service. In fact, one of the women developed a friendly relationship...