The Freedom of the Seas, the world's largest cruise ship, sails up New York's Hudson River, near the Statue of Liberty. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

Question: I heard there was a recent launch of a cruise ship that is even bigger than the Queen Mary 2. Is that correct and can we now start booking winter packages?

Answer: The biggest cruise ship ever built is now launched. Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas eclipses Queen Mary 2's 148,000 gross registered tons by an additional 12,000 GRT. Higher than the Eiffel Tower and wider the the White House is long, it is as big as Royal Caribbean's first four ships put together.

Its introduction is part of a trend which places the ship itself as a destination, notwithstanding the ports where it may dock on its various itineraries. Perhaps it is little wonder, with a surfing simulator, the largest rock climbing wall of any ship, a nine-hole golf course and simulator, an ice rink and enormous pool-side areas.

While most dining rooms are two-deck, this one features a three-deck dining area and first reports say they have succeeded in making them amazingly quiet.

Book now to become one of the 3,634 passengers on board one of this winter's sailings.

QWill I need a passport to enter the U.S. in January of 2007?

A I guess the official answer is yes, but the U.S. Senate has passed a new immigration bill that would delay implementation until June 1, 2009. They have done some good work on this bill which exempts children under 18 and proposes a 10-year PASS card for travel over the Canadian border with a proposed price of no more than $20 US. They have also proposed a 24-hour free pass program for day trips.

QIt really bothers me breathing all that recirculated air in air craft cabins on long flights. Are there any solutions?

AA British company has introduced a product call Air-Right. It attaches to the overhead nozzle above your seat and promises to remove 99.5% of all bacteria and viruses from your air stream.

I believe this would be very helpful but I wonder if, over a long flight, you truly can avoid the effects of air moving around the cabin. At the same time any reduction of this "bad" air coming directly at your face will be a welcome relief.

Eugene Zhuravlev, center right, of Ukraine rides a small surfboard on a Flowrider wave machine aboard the Freedom of the Seas. (AP Photo/Mike Derer)