(NAPSA)—Small-ship vacations are making big waves with travelers. In fact, the Associated Press cited Europeanriver cruises, a pop- ular type of small-ship travel, as one of the hot trends in travel today. Defined as vessels with 400 or fewer passengers, small ships include river ships, barges, yachts, freighters, small oceanfaring ships and others. Accommodations and service vary from a six-star luxury yachtcruise to a no-frills vacation on a working coastal steamer. If you’re considering a smallship vacation, Grand Circle Small Ship Cruises’ “101 Tips for Small Ship Travelers Abroad” mayhelp. The free booklet introduces the concept and benefits of small-ship travel and tells you how to maximize your small-ship vacation. Here are some sampletips: Compare Itineraries—Don’t choose an itinerary just because it has the greatest numberof ports. What really matters is how much time you'll spend in places you're most interested in. Your published itinerary should indicate arrival and departure times for each port—be sure you have ample time to explore. Choose The Ship That’s Right For You—Would you prefer to experience southern France aboard a deluxe river ship with modern appointmentsor a slowermoving, classic barge? Cruise the Aegean underfull sail or aboard a sleek, motorized yacht? Be specific with your travel agent or cruise company. Photography—Protect an expensive lens with a UVfilter while traveling. Once onboard, use a polarizing filter to reduce glare and a minitripod or beanbag to steady your camera. GrandCircle SmallShip one Worldwide Discovery by Land, Sea, and the World's Great Waterways A free new guide helps travelers plan a small-ship trip. The free, 74-page booklet was compiled from the expert advice of Grand Circle’s ship captains, crew and guides aboard its award-winning fleet of 50+ small ships. It includes advice on medical and health issues, insurance, packing, shop- ping, photography and more. And the handy reference section includes cruise terminology and nautical terms, a conversion chart, tipping chart and lots more. For a free copy of the booklet, call (800) 248-3737.
