DELTA QUEEN STATUS -- Sen. George Voinovich in September says he will introduce legislation to continue the Delta Queen's 40-year exemption from the Safety of Life at Sea Act. Congress previously had established an exemption for the Delta Queen and the exemption has been renewed nine times. Bipartisan legislation to extend the exemption, H.R. 3852, was introduced by Congressman Steve Chabot on Oct. 16, but it has remained in the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. To support keeping the Queen alive and cruising U.S. rivers, visit www.save-the-delta-queen.org

NEW GOLF CRUISE IN HAWAII -- Golf enthusiasts can link a yacht cruise with world-class golf when American Safari Cruises launches its new seven-night inter-island cruises beginning Dec. 19 and continuing to May. The 36-guest Safari Explorer will sail between the Big Island and Maui, with a visit to Lanai. Other activities include kayaking, snorkeling, hiking, mountain biking, sailing, a helicopter tour over Volcanoes National Park, and tours to learn about Hawaii's heritage.

CARIBBEAN EXPLORER -- It will have a dive cruise for single divers Sept. 20 in the Bahamas. The trip will explore Cat Cay and Bimini and search for dolphin pods. $1,295-$,1495 out of Freeport.

BIBLICAL HISTORY CRUISE -- Elegant Cruises & Tours has a new 16-night cruise tour that takes you to ancient sites where biblical history was written. Voyage departs from Amman, Jordan Feb. 16 on the 62-passenger Monet to Limasosol, Cyprus; Sharm-el-Sheikh, Egypt; Ein El Sokna, Egypt; Gulf of Suez; Ashdod, Israel and Haifa, Israel. Overland excursions include Jerusalem, Mount Carmel, the Old City of Acre that served as the maritime capital of the Crusader Kingdom, Sea of Galilee, Mount of the Beatitudes, Capernaum, Petra, the temple complex at Luxor, and other biblical and historical sites of significance to Christians, Jews, religious historians and those who love antiquities.

YACHT CONDO -- Waterfront Lifestyles of Vancouver is selling condos on Pacific Aurora. Purchasers may live aboard full-time or rent out their condos as investment income. The vessel can accommodate 65 residents in 29 cabins. Prices start at $189,000 for a cabin plus an association maintenance fee. The ship will cruise on weekends for whale-watching, visiting port cities, fishing and scuba, and will provide lodging for the winter Olympic Games scheduled for Vancouver in 2010. The ship will be docked in Vancouver. Each year there will be a two-week cruise.

SILVERSEA -- The new Prince Albert II has begun 10 to 22-day cruises. It will explore Greenland, Newfoundland, Antarctica, Baja, Central American, and the West Coast of South America, before settling in the Antarctic region, Chilean Fjords, and French Polynesia. You can get a 35% discount if you book now for departures from now through December. On other Silversea ships there are some 7 to 16-day voyages with savings of up to 50%, plus an additional 5% savings on some sailings for past guests.

ANTARCTICA -- It is not too late to book an Antarctic expedition. Our associates at Expedition Trips have reserved blocks of cabin space and often when you cannot get a cabin directly from the ship company, you can still get a cabin through us. Currently the best selections are in January and mid-February, the warmest months and longer days.

JAPAN -- The Spirit of Oceanus will have 11-night voyages to Japanese port towns in October and March. Fares start at $5,849, roundtrip from Kobe.

 NEW BOAT ON THE MEKONG -- Value World Tours will have a new 48-passenger vessel to cruise the Mekong River between Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and Siem Reap, Cambodia. To promote the new service, Value World is offering a $1,000 per couple discount on the Dec. 1-15 land/cruise package.

 WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT US – Travel & Leisure had us in their June issue and the Today Show featured  SmallShipCruises.com as the website with “one-stop shopping for small ships”. Check out a video of the show at our home page:  www.smallshipcruises.com

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