For a European vacation with a difference, book a spacious, self-drive river cruiser like the Nicols 1000. This 33-foot-long boat (as well as smaller and larger models) is both your transportation and your accommodation, making it easy to explore the little-visited villages and countryside along the rivers and canals in France, Germany, and Holland.

You're master of your own vacation destiny, stopping where you like for dining, cycling, touring, and shopping. And you can explore an entire region without checking in and out of hotels.

Piloting is quite easy; the pace on the rivers and canals is slow, and there's very little that can go wrong. The Nicols staff gets you started with a demonstration and is available for technical help seven days a week.

River cruising is great for families; Nicols' boats all have two-bar handrails for child safety, and kids love to help with on-board duties and lock-opening chores ashore. For snacks and kid-friendly meals, there's a nicely equipped galley, with refrigerator/freezer, small stove, oven, and sink. You can rent a heated, filtered pool to attach to the stern; bikes are also available for rent.

Summer 1999