Q and A
Cruise Line Hosts
Q. I am told single middle-aged men are sometimes given free trips by cruise lines if they will act as social hosts for single female passengers. Is this true or merely a pipe dream? -- Jim Clayton, Roswell, Ga.
A. A change of attitude has overtaken the cruise industry on the question of gentlemen hosts, as they are called, in only the last few years.
As recently as 1990 the existence of such a program, where single men act primarily as dance partners for female passengers in return for free passage and air travel to the ship, was not widely broadcast.
Some cruise lines, it seemed, were concerned such a program would not be regarded as being "on the up and up," as a Royal Cruise Line spokeswoman put it.
Now, however, it is an idea that has caught on. A growing number of lines, realizing such programs have been popular with women, who make up the majority of cruise passengers, now openly seek men for the job, which calls for a gregarious personality and dancing skills. As a result, Royal Cruise Line and others find that some single women will book cruises repeatedly in order to dance in a non-threatening environment.
But with success there comes a price. Three lines, Delta, Cunard and Regency, use an agent to recruit and screen their hosts and the agency, Lauretta Blake the Working Vacation, charges successful candidates $21 for each day of the cruise.
The hosts are generally aged 45 and up; one is nearly 80. Current hosts include former teachers, entertainers and military men. Many are former passengers.
According to the Cruise Lines International Association, an industry group, six lines now openly seek male escorts. Other industry insiders say just about every line makes use of the hosts, although some are even now reluctant to announce it.
Following are the six lines that want to get the word out:
Royal Cruise Line, which began its program in 1982, seeks up to 12 men for each cruise by the Crown Odyssey, the Golden Odyssey and the Royal Odyssey. Starting next May it will also be recruiting for the Star Odyssey. The company prefers that candidates first be screened through a travel agent.
Royal Viking Line puts four hosts on each Royal Viking Sun cruise and five to six hosts on cruises longer than 50 days. Write to the manager of special programs at 95 Merrick Way, Coral Gables, Fla. 33134.
The Delta Steamboat Company use two hosts on each of the 50 annual departures of the Mississippi Queen along the river. Write to Lauretta Blake the Working Vacation, 4277 Lake Santa Clara Drive, Santa Clara, Calif. 95054; telephone (408) 727-9665.
Cunard runs the host program on the QE2, Sagafjord and Vistafjord.  Write to Lauretta Blake the Working Vacation.
Regency Cruises recruits hosts through Lauretta Blake for its cruises to New England, Canada, Alaska, Hawaii and South America, through the Panama Canal and on some Caribbean voyages.
Holland America Line goes one step better than free passage. It recruits and pays men to act as hosts on its "grand voyages" -- the Grand Orient South Pacific cruise next month, a world cruise starting next Jan. 20 and a 62-day cruise to Australia and New Zealand in the fall of 1994. Write to the entertainment department, 300 Elliott Avenue West, Seattle, Wash. 98119. Home From Home in Monaco
Q. I am interested in renting an apartment for up to six weeks in Monte Carlo. Can you help? -- Harold Zeidel, West Palm Beach, Fla.
A. There is only one agency in Monaco that rents out furnished apartments in Monte Carlo on a short-term basis, according to the Monaco Tourism Authority in Monte Carlo.
That agency, Utoring Maeva, rents apartments for a week to two months in La Residence Chateau d'Azur, about 50 yards from Monaco's only public beach, Larvotto, and 10 minutes from the casino.
Weekly rates for a studio range from $400 to $1,300, one-bedroom apartments are $550 to $1,400 and two-bedroom apartments $880 to $1,900, calculated at 5.8 francs to the dollar. Rates are highest in July and August and lowest between October and March.
For a brochure and more information contact Utoring Maeva, Residence Chateau d'Azur, 44 Boulevard d'Italie, 98000 Monaco; telephone 93.30.30.79, fax 92.16.15.89. Latin American Trains
Q. Is there is a passenger train that crosses the Andes Mountains in South America and one that goes up and down each coast. -- Mel Young, Chattanooga, Tenn.
A. The bible on such matters is the Thomas Cook Overseas Timetable, which lists all railroad, road and shipping services outside Europe (for travel in Europe it's the Thomas Cook European Timetable).
The overseas guide's 432 pages contain maps and other information about principal bus routes, scheduled railroad service and ship and ferry service in more than 150 countries.
Unfortunately, a look at the map of southern South America on page 183 of the current issue shows that your exact requirements cannot be met.
The best you could do at the moment on the Andes question is to take a train from Buenos Aires to Mendoza, Argentina, a bus from there to Los Andes, just inside Chile, and then an electrified train to Valparaiso on the Chilean coast.
There is no service that comes anywhere near making the trip up and down each coast.
The Cook timetables, which cost $28.95 each, including shipping, can be ordered from Forsyth Travel Library, 9154 West 57th Street, Post Office Box 2975, Shawnee Mission, Kan. 66201; telephone (800) 367-7984 or (913) 384-3440. The European timetable is published every month, the overseas every other month.  Cycling in New Jersey
Q. Is there any way I can get information about short cycling trips in northern New Jersey? -- Joyce Conaty, Toronto.
A. The perfect publication for you is "Short Bike Trips in New Jersey," by Robert Santelli. The book, which costs $8.95 plus $3 postage, lists 30 tours in New Jersey, each under 25 miles. Seven are in northern New Jersey. The book is available from the Globe Pequot Press, 6 Business Park Road, Post Office Box 833, Old Saybrook, Conn. 06475; (800) 243-0495 outside Connecticut, (800) 962-0973 in Connecticut.