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"Carnival has fun" reads exterior banner stretching across side of Carnival's cruise ship Ecstasy. It's first week-end in December, when one would think most folks are home preparing for holidays, but this half-a-cruise down Mexican Riviera from Long Beach, California to Ensenada, Mexico, is sold out.

At Queen Mary pier in Long Beach, we board ship on a crisp, foggy Friday afternoon. Carnival handles all formalities of boarding inside huge dome previously housing Spruce Goose. On a colorful Mexican set we pause for boarding souvenir photos. Soon settled into a cabin on Riviera deck, we check out activity sheet for things to do.

For first-time cruiser, Carnival's Ecstasy provides a full-scale introduction to cruise vacation lifestyle so popular with travelers. From quizzes, game shows, bingo, casino gambling, musical dance shows, art auctions, ship tours, slot tournaments, spa services, fitness classes, disco dancing, karaoke, pub crawl and other events, there's non-stop entertainment. I decide I want a massage on Sunday, our day at sea. Good thing I checked it out before ship sailed; Sunday massage time is nearly sold out, so I book for 8 a.m. Sunday morning.

Ecstasy sails promptly at 5:30 p.m., after which all passengers gather in blocky orange life vests at our respective "muster stations" for mandatory life boat drill. This is a serious, U.S. Coast Guard-managed event, at conclusion of which Cruise Director Dana Hodson announces, "You are now officially on vacation."

Midship two glass elevators carry guests from Empress deck skyward, where this beautiful open area is capped by an enormous glass dome. (Opening photo.) Exploring deck levels, we check out spa and gymnasium, so we'll know where to go to when we're ready to work out. Meanwhile we miss shore excursion talk but not to worry—it's broadcast later in our cabin on ship TV. Our shore excursion choices are horseback riding, a visit to La Bufadora (one of three blow-holes in world), or a visit to Mexico's oldest winery, founded by Dominicans in 1888.

At our late seating in Wind Star Dining Room, we meet our tablemates, a combination of couples and singles from Southern California. After dinner we check out Casino Royale, where there is plenty of action at slot machines, video poker machines, and live table games.

Developing countries throughout world especially those in Caribbean and West Indies are paying keener and keener attention to creation of an eco-tourism and sustainable development base to satisfy a growing niche market that could pave way for socio-economic growth and development for their respective population. (Click Map.)

The work that is being undertaken at 370,000 hectares Iwokrama (International Center For Rain Forest Conservation and Development) project in Guyana's hinterland could well become prototype for eco-tourism and sustainable development goal that so many nations are seeking.

The project on which future generation of Guyanese and indeed other countries of world will depend, has its mission clearly defined: "The mission of Iwokrama International Center for Rain Forest Conservation and Development is to promote conservation of sustainable and equitable use of tropical rain forests in a manner that will lead to lasting ecological, economic and social benefits to people of Guyana and to world in general, by undertaking research, training and development and dissemination of technologies."

It was recognized by Government of Guyana that eco-tourism is a potentially valuable and sustainable use of tropical forest ecosystems, and this recognition led to a World Bank/Commonwealth Secretariat grant for study on potential for eco-tourism in Iwokrama Forest.

The study concluded that eco-tourism is a viable and appropriate endeavor for Iwokrama Center, which has several characteristics that give it a potential comparative advantage in development of eco-tourism.

The Iwokrama Forest itself is a unique resource of natural and human communities, with extra-ordinary scientific and global conservation value, and a combination of attractive elements that have tremendous appeal to potential visitors interested in natural history, social anthropology and conservation.

Tropical rain forests are currently high on list of popular destinations for nature and adventure travelers.

Work at center is continuing against background of a world demand for a substantive demonstration that conservation and sustainable management of tropical forest can provide tangible and lasting benefits to governments and communities that own these resources or depend on them for their very livelihoods.