Travellers' checks

A British travel company is taking bookings for a 2012 cruise to mark the sinking of the Titanic. Miles Morgan Travel is offering cabins on Fred Olsen Cruise Line's MS Balmoral, which will follow the ship's voyage, crossing the Atlantic and arriving at the site of the April 14 sinking exactly 100 years after the tragedy. The ship will then sail to Halifax, Nova Scotia - where many of the dead were laid to rest - before reaching New York, the Titanic's original destination. The 12-night cruise starts from HK$32,850 per person, twin share and departs Southampton, in southern England, on April 8, 2012. For details, visit www.titanicmemorialcruise.co.uk.

Dining by the sea has been given extra edge with the recently opened Rock Bar at the Ayana Resort & Spa in Bali, Indonesia. The resort's open-top cocktail bar is perched 14 metres above the crashing waves on a finger of rock jabbing out into the sea. Designed by Japan's Yasuhiro Koichi, the bar features a rock-wreathed DJ booth, tapas served on natural stone plates and a range of innovative cocktails. For details, visit www.ayanaresort.com.

Naturewise Conservation Holidays and walking tour operator Bothfeet are offering hikers a chance to walk along Australia's Great Ocean walk, mixing the sights of the rugged Great Southern Ocean coastline and participating in conservation activities. Hikers stay in a solar-powered eco-retreat built from natural materials. The package includes two hikes: from Castle Cove to Johanna (eight kilometres) and from Princetown to the Twelve Apostles (six kilometres), with two nights in the lodge. Eco-projects include tree planting to halt erosion. Rates start from A$900 (HK$6,300) per person. Go to www.naturewise.com.au for details.