• "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" fans can study crime lab techniques from retired FBI sleuths. The 10-day Princess cruise leaves San Francisco Oct. 1 for the Mexican coast. Prices start at $1,113. Details: 925-831-8103.
• Know-it-all types can sail from London June 19 with "Jeopardy!" host Alex Trebek. The Seabourn cruise sails through the Baltics, Russia, Scandinavia and Germany for 14 days, with prices starting at $9,356. Details: 800-929-9391.
In other cruise news:
• A new online service, www.soldoutships.com, helps you find cabins on cruises that are said to be sold out. Travel agencies and aggregators often buy up blocks of cabins and ships appear sold out, when in fact cabins are available if, like SoldOutShips, you know where to look.
• Those who believe that all things German are superior will be glad to know that Hapag-Lloyd Cruises will not give the MS Bremen a new name in English. "Strong demands" from some German-speaking clientele forced the line to change plans to rename the ship "Discoverer." "By keeping the German name," the cruise line said in a press release, it hopes to assure clients that "high standards" will be maintained.
TRAVEL TICKER
Independence Air's financial future brightened last week as the airline won concessions from creditors. As part of its restructuring plan the airline is cutting some flights but doesn't expect major changes from Dulles . . . Mackinac Island's Grand Hotel in Michigan will reopen for the season March 1, two months earlier than ever in its 119-year history.
BARGAIN OF THE WEEK
Sunny Sale
Warm up with American Airline sale fares to the Caribbean. Details: What's the Deal?, Page P3.
Help feed CoGo. Send travel news, road reports and juicy tattles to: cogo@washpost.com. By fax: 202-912-3609. By mail: CoGo, Washington Post Travel Section, 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20071.
