River and small-ship cruises have become enormously popular recently. As an alternative to sailing on the big cruise ships, travel ¿off the beaten path,¿ on smaller, more personal voyages and enjoy an authentic experience. In this guide, you¿ll find: -Detailed destination information for small ship cruises worldwide.-Sample day-by-day itineraries. -Descriptions of different types of small ship cruises ¿ from riverboats to sailing ships, yachts and more. -A comprehensive listing of small ship cruise lines, that caters to the North American market. -A detailed listing of small ships. -Special-interest cruises, from gardening to Christmas Shopping.-Advice on how to plan your trip, including the best seasons to travel, how to find a good travel agent that specializes in small ship cruises, and contact information and websites. This guidebook was written by a cruise industry insider ¿ for many years BETSEY SHAPIRO has been a travel agent, worked for small cruise lines, and works at the port in San Francisco. In this book, she and her colleagues share insider¿s knowledge about the cruise lines, destinations and best way to get the most out of your small ship vacation. ¿Every cruise loving traveler will enjoy reading it and it will definitely inspire their next cruise destinations for years!¿

Set sail and dive into Europe's magnificent port cities with Rick Steves Mediterranean Cruise Ports! Inside you'll find: Rick's expert advice on making the most of your time on a cruise and fully experiencing each city, with thorough coverage of 23 ports of call Practical travel strategies including how to choose and book your cruise, adjust to life on board on the ship, and save money Self-guided walks and tours of each port city so you can hit the best sights, sample authentic cuisine, and get to know the culture, even with a short amount of time Essential logistics including step-by-step instructions for arriving at each terminal, getting into town, and finding necessary services like ATMs and pharmacies Rick's reliable tips and candid advice on how to beat the crowds, skip lines, and avoid tourist traps Helpful reference photos throughout and full-color maps of each city Useful tools like mini-phrasebooks, detailed instructions for any visa requirements, hotel and airport recommendations for cruise access cities, and what to do if you miss your ship Full list of coverage: Provence, Marseille, Toulon and the Port of La Seyne-sur-Mer, Cassis, Aix-en-Provence, Nice, Villefrance-sur-Mer, Cap Ferrat, Monaco, Cannes, Antibes, Florence, Pisa, Lucca, the Port of Livorno, Rome, the Port of Civitaveccia, Naples, Sorrento, Capri, Pompeii, Herculaneum, the Amalfi Coast, Venice, Split, Dubrovnik, Athens, the Port of Piraeus, Mykonos, Santorini, Corfu, Olympia and the Port of Katakolo, Crete and the Port of Heraklion, Rhodes, Istanbul, Ephesus, and The Port of Kusadasi Maximize your time and savor every moment in port with Rick's practical tips, thoughtful advice, and reliable expertise. Heading north? Pick up Rick Steves Scandinavian & Northern European Cruise Ports.

In this newest version of the bestselling Cruising Alaska guidebook, Larry Ludmer explores in depth everything you need to know about passenger ships plying the Alaska waterways. Unlike most cruise guidebooks, Cruising Alaska puts the emphasis on hard facts - not pretty pictures. The expanded 5th edition gives even more details on every cruise ship, large and small, the Alaska Marine Highway ferries, and Explorer boats, which can navigate the smaller inlets. Everything from stateroom size to meal times to itineraries is provided, allowing the reader to make an informed choice on what ship would best suit their needs. A candid analysis of the routes is given for every ship in Alaska this season, with details on the highlights, as well as what is missed. Maps, index.

At My Itchy Travel Feet, The Baby Boomer’s Guide to Travel, writer Donna Hull and photographer Alan Hull travel the world recording their boomer travel experiences with words, photos, and videos so that you’ll know exactly what to expect. Their goal? To get boomers off the couch and out into the world. In this Blog to Book, they’ve chosen some of their favorite journeys to share with you. Take a road trip in Northern Italy, drive the California Big Sur coast, or explore Arches, Canyonlands, Glacier, and Grand Tetons National Parks. You’ll find a chapter on small ship luxury cruising and a travel tips section with advice on road trips, cruising, travel photography, and multi-generational travel. So, pull up a chair, grab a cup of coffee, and start reading about active travel for boomers. It’s guaranteed to make your travel feet itchy!