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!¿