New ups and downs in the travel industry

THE best way to stay on a travel budget is to plan, and one of the best ways to plan is to keep abreast of changes in the industry. Here’s a look at some things on the horizon:

* No sooner had rock climbing joined the list of merriments on a seagoing cruise than Royal Caribbean Cruise Line announced a new stunt for one of its vessels: bungee trampolining.

Rock climbing, which takes place on stonelike footholds cemented onto the funnels of ships, can be found on several vessels on various itineraries. Bungee trampolining will get underway next year after the 74,000-ton Enchantment of the Seas enters dry dock for a short time in May. Its top deck will be outfitted with four large trampolines under frames holding bungee harnesses and elastic ropes. Passengers can jump up and down, borne ever higher by the bungees, enjoying dizzying high-altitude views of the entire ship against a vista of the sea.

These changes in the cruise ship experience may reflect the euphoric attitudes of cruise line officials. The cruise industry, thought to be more terrorproof than other forms of travel, is booming, and numerous sailing dates are sold out long in advance.

* Meanwhile, the people operating above the sea, in aviation, are scrambling to deal with far more difficult conditions and large losses. One recent development was an announcement by Irish carrier Aer Lingus that it will become the first long-distance airline to transform itself into a low-cost carrier for transatlantic flights. (The other European cut-rate airlines operate short flights.)

A check of fares from LAX to Dublin last week found a $188 one-way fare this month, with a return fare of $208. Though it remains to be seen how low Aer Lingus’ fares will go, you will be able to reach Dublin for unprecedented low amounts -- and then fly on from there, again at extremely low fares, to other European cities. From now on, a search for the lowest airfare to any European capital should start with a look at Aer Lingus.

* Rumors abound that the new low-cost airline Song, a subsidiary of Delta Air Lines, is not doing as well as hoped. The explanation might have been inadvertently provided by a Song representative at a meeting of the Assn. of Travel Marketing Executives. According to Travel Weekly, Song disclosed that its target audience is a couple with a household income of $150,000 a year, which accounts for the airline’s emphasis on organic food, style and fashion. Someone should tell Song’s planners that according to the 2000 census, Americans in that income bracket make up less than 5% of the population. No wonder Song isn’t selling enough seats.

* The battle between Expedia, the Internet booking engine, and InterContinental Hotels Group (which includes Holiday Inns, for a total of 3,500 properties), continues. InterContinental has barred Expedia from making reservations at InterContinental properties and Holiday Inns, primarily because Expedia adds a service charge to the price that goes not to the hotel but to Expedia. The controversy is a reminder that if you wish to book a room at a hotel belonging to a national chain, it can be cheaper to go directly to the website of the hotel itself, instead of to Expedia, Travelocity or Orbitz.

* If you’re a fan of famous U.S. aircraft carriers, you can travel to San Diego, where the Midway is berthed and open to visits by tourists. That historic ship, built immediately after World War II, has joined the Intrepid in New York City; the Yorktown in Charleston, S.C.; the Hornet in Alameda, Calif.; and the Lexington in Corpus Christi, Texas, as a major sightseeing attraction. Admission is $13 for adults and $7 to $10 for students, seniors and those younger than 17.