Equipment is tested before each cruise leaves the dock, and provisions are made for medical emergencies.

Hour-and-half long cruises leave twice daily (tickets $6.50, $3.50 for children).

The three other cruises leave New Orleans on March 29 and April 8 and 18.

That figure is slightly higher than two years ago, when 239 cruises left.

Anyway, few cruises leave from New York.

We would like a three-day, weekend cruise leaving out of New York.

All cruises leave in January, but travelers can also book for smaller segments, from 11 to 80 days, according to the association.

The first cruise leaves from Nice, France; sailings end on Oct. 15.

Ninety-minute cruises leave every two hours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. until Oct. 19; $9.95 a person.

The full-day cruises leave from the Juneau waterfront.