On a cruise with your friend Harley

Would this be your idea of "Hog Heaven?" Every morning you wake up in a different exotic location. You walk outside, where your Harley-Davidson awaits you. You hop on, and you cruise off -- looking for adventure or, as the song says, whatever comes your way.

That scenario has been a real-life dream come true in recent years for a select group of Harley owners. It's been made possible by Entertainment and Travel Alternatives Inc., a tour packager, in cooperation with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. This year the opportunity is being expanded, to include more ports, more sailings, and more riders.

"We will be adding the beautiful island of Bermuda beginning in 2007," said Steve Wallach, ETA's cruise organizer. "This is the first time in the history of Bermuda that bikes bigger than 250cc are permitted to drive on their roads, as well as arrive via cruise ship."

This year will also be the first time that owners of bikes other than Harley-Davidsons will be encouraged to go along. And a total of seven cruises are scheduled this year, three from the New York City area, and the rest from Miami. Cruise itineraries are for as little as two days (Bermuda only) to as long as nine days.

Wallach started the cruises in 2005, with stops where bikers can roam freely in San Juan, St. Maarten, and St. Thomas, U S Virgin Islands. He has since expanded his offerings to include Casa de Campo in the Dominican Republic and Bermuda. (Some sailings stop in the Bahamas, where bikes can be rented ashore).