TOURS, ETC. : TOUR INCLUDES SECOND-HAND VIEW OF TITANIC SALVAGE OPERATIONS.

Byline: Daily News

RMS Titanic Inc., the firm salvaging artifacts from the legendary ocean liner Titanic that sank in the Atlantic in 1912, will open its next expedition to 1,056 travelers. The SS Royal Majesty will depart Boston Aug. 25 for a seven-day cruise, anchored for much of that time 2-1/2 miles over the sunken liner, which lies on the ocean floor.

While crews bring up more artifacts and try to raise a section of the ship's hull, passengers can watch the work live onboard via closed-circuit television and big-screen televisions. Cost of the cruise ranges from $1,800 to $5,600 per person, double occupancy, and does not include air fare to Boston. Information: [phone].

Down the river: A women-only whitewater raft trip down the east fork of the Carson River, near Markleeville and Lake Tahoe, is scheduled June 21-23 by Merlyn's Journeys. Cost is $275 per person, and includes two days of rafting, three nights of camping and seven meals, plus the services of experience women river guides. Information: (8000) 509-9330.

Back to the future: Passengers on Crystal Cruises' sailings to Alaska can enjoy two new excursions. One is a flightseeing trip designed to feel like a flight 50 years ago. The trip is aboard a chartered DC-3 aircraft over Prince William Sound and the Columbia Glacier, with original 1940s magazines, air hostesses in period uniforms and big-band music playing on board.

Also new this year is a trek along the Dalton Trail, formerly a secret Indian trade route to Alaska's interior and across the Canadian border to Chilkat Summit and a bald eagle preserve. Crystal offers seven- through 11-day cruises to Alaska, with costs starting at $3,899 per person, double occupancy. Round-trip air fare from Los Angeles adds $200. Departures are scheduled May 26, June 6 and 27, July 7, 18 and 28, and Aug. 8 and 18. For information, contact a travel agent.

Acting out: The Perry-Mansfield Performing Arts Camp in Steamboat Springs, Colo., offers summer programs of up to nine weeks, running from June 21 through Aug. 25, that include classes in ballet, modern and jazz dance, repertoire, acting, audition and presentation, stage management and production, musical theater, voice, art, English and western horseback riding and creative writing. Cost of the sessions ranges from $515 for one week to $1,300 for three weeks to $2,550 for six weeks. Information: [phone].

Playing games: Audience Services and Promotions offers a three-night cruise on Carnival's HS Holiday sailing from Los Angeles to Ensenada Sept. 27-30 that includes a bingo tournament. Cost is $299 per person, double occupancy; tournament registration is $150. Information: [phone].

Wildlife tours: Naturalist Neal Taylor leads two-hour wildlife cruises at Lake Cachuma north of Santa Barbara through October. Cruises depart at 10 a.m. Fridays, 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Saturdays and 10 a.m. Sundays. Park admission is $5 per vehicle, and cruise cost is $10 for adults, $5 for children age 12 and younger. Reservations are required. Information: [phone].

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Photo

Photo: Those who sail on the SS Royal Majesty can see salva ge operations on the bridge of the Titanic as they occur 2-1/2 miles below the surface.