To the Editor: There is an alternative many readers might find more appealing than piloting a boat through the Rideau Canal as described in "Under Sail on the Rideau" (June 7).

Last summer we cruised the Rideau Canal, from Kingston to Ottawa, aboard the Kawartha Voyageur of Ontario Waterways Cruises. It is designed to cruise the Rideau and Trent-Severn Canals with 24 passengers. The experience is suggestive of a floating country inn; very low-key, books, games, puzzles, VCR, card games, etc. The crew does the locking through, cooking. cleaning, docking, and all things that can create anxiety in the uninitiated. The passenger activities are the same as on any other cruise ship. Some options include the sun deck, strolling around the park grounds which surround every lock and visiting towns when it ties up at night. The crew gave running commentaries on places we passed. Another big plus for us was the no-smoking rule aboard.

The 123-mile trip from Kingston to Ottawa takes five days. Then the passengers board a bus and two and a half hours later are back at their cars at the pier in Kingston.

Walter Kent
Wyckoff, N.J.

*Walter and his family have been passengers since 1991 and have enjoyed 15 trips with us.