Books

Berlitz 2007 Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships (Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships)

Average customer rating:

Excellent
Cruise Bible
Excellent advice
An extensive and thoroughly recommended "must-have"
The best book in this category

Berlitz 2007 Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships (Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships)
Douglas Ward
Manufacturer: Berlitz Guides
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Cruises | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books

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Similar Items:

Frommer's Cruises & Ports of Call 2007: From U.S. & Canadian Home Ports to the Caribbean, Alaska, Hawaii & More (Frommer's Complete)
Stern's Guide to the Cruise Vacation 2007 (Stern's Guide to the Cruise Vacation)
The Essential Little Cruise Book, 3rd: Secrets from a Cruise Director for a Perfect Cruise Vacation
The Unofficial Guide to Cruises (Unofficial Guides)
Cruise Vacations For Dummies 2007 (Dummies Travel)

ASIN: 9812469842

Book Description

Now in its 22nd year, the Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships, holds fast to its reputation as the bible of the cruise industry. Relied upon by over 35,000 North American travel agents for its thorough information and recommendations, the 2007 edition is completely up-to-date with cross-referenced data for easy ship-to-ship comparisons.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent.......2007-05-17

We have long kept Berlitz Guide to Cruising and find it very useful in selecting cruises.

Cruise Bible.......2007-05-13

One should not make a cruise reservation without first reading this book. The Bible of the Industry, tells it like it is. No fluff like other cruise books.

Excellent advice.......2007-05-09

Covers all cruise ships no matter how small. Excellent analysis of pros and cons of each ship. Understands what is steak and what is sizzle.

An extensive and thoroughly recommended "must-have".......2007-05-08

Douglas Ward's has 40 years of cruise expertise and is president of the Maritime Evaluations Group, and independent international agency that rates cruise ships worldwide. In Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships 2007, Ward offers independent assessments of 276 cruise ships, advice for getting the best value for one's money, specific tips for singles, honeymooners, families, and the physically challenged, full-color maps of principal cruise destinations, a number of color photographs, and much more. From the "Big 7" cruise lines to smaller ships, to recommendations for what different cruises cater to which interests, to health and safety concerns, to at-a-glance comparisons of major cruise lines for cabin facilities, food and service, Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships 2007 is an extensive and thoroughly recommended "must-have" for anyone contemplating a business or pleasure cruise.

The best book in this category.......2007-03-20

There are a number of "unofficial" guides to cruises but this one is far and away the best. In my opinion, these types of books tend to err to one extreme or the other: some serve as little more than press releases for the various cruise lines and others act as though taking any cruise would be the worst mistake of your life. This book is critical where it is necessary. Sometimes, it is downright snarky in all the funniest ways. But the author also goes to great lengths to explain how different lines, ships, and intineraries are right for different people. I highly recommend it.

Berlitz 2006 Complete Guide To Cruising & Cruise Ships (Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships)

Average customer rating:

Know your stuff
Good reference book
Great book - unless you already own previous editions!

Berlitz 2006 Complete Guide To Cruising & Cruise Ships (Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships)
Douglas Ward
Manufacturer: Berlitz Guides
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Cruises | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books

Guidebooks | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books

General | Travel | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Travel Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Frommer's Cruises & Ports of Call 2006: From U.S. & Canadian Home Ports to the Caribbean, Alaska, Hawaii & More (Frommer's Complete)
The Unofficial Guide to Cruises (Unofficial Guides)
Berlitz 2007 Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships (Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships)
The Essential Little Cruise Book, 3rd: Secrets from a Cruise Director for a Perfect Cruise Vacation
Frommer's Cruises & Ports of Call 2007: From U.S. & Canadian Home Ports to the Caribbean, Alaska, Hawaii & More (Frommer's Complete)

ASIN: 9812467394

Book Description

With more than 330,000 sold, this recognized "bible of the cruise industry" rates more than 256 major and minor ships cruising the world's oceans and waterways. Dramatically new and improved, the 2006 edition boasts exciting new features: compelling full-photography, colorful maps depicting principal cruise destinations, feature articles on new trends in the industry, and a comprehensive assessment of the Queen Mary 2. First-time cruise-goers, experienced passengers, and travel professionals alike will all find this an invaluable guide. Author Douglas Ward is considered one of the world's foremost authorities on cruising and has logged nearly 5,000 days at sea in his 38 years of experience.

Customer Reviews:

Know your stuff.......2006-07-27

Douglas Ward certainly knows his stuff. The 2006 edition is the best yet with loads of relevant information on the ships not only for cabin size, food etc. Knowledge of what type of cruise will suit you, and who are likely to be your fellow passengers are of great interest especially as ships get bigger. He obviously prefers the smaller more intimate and classy ships rather than the floating Las Vegas type. I concur.
However, having said this, I find the reviews are unbiased. Well worth the $$$$.

Good reference book.......2006-03-15

This is a good book to have in deciding which cruise or cruise line to take or to review cruises you've done and to plan any new ones.

(Last year's had a page which showed all the cruise line logos so they can be recognized by binoculars, we live on the beach between the Ports of Miami and Fort Lauderdale. It wasn't in this year's edition.)

Great book - unless you already own previous editions!.......2006-03-09

The Berlitz Ocean Cruising and Cruise Ships guide is an authoritive guide to cruising, the cruise lines, as well as a full guide to almost every individual ship sailing today.

The book is well written, and is one of the only guides that accurately positions the ships within a sensible rating system. Wheras other cruise guides will rate some Carnival ships 4.5 stars, and give a paltry 3.5 or 4 stars to some of the Holland America and Celebrity 'Premium' line ships, this guide has a logical rationale for it's ratings, with points awarded for 5 distinct categories to give an overall 'score' and star rating.

All in all - a great guide for anyone interested in cruising, and indispensible for anyone in the travel industry selling or marketing cruises.

Two caveats however. First - the book is written from the perspective of a veteran cruiser who has a great insight into the cruise industry - but unfortunately there is a definite edge of 'snootyness' throughout the book. Cruise lines are criticised for offering 'mindless parlor and deck games', and many of the elements of mass cruising are sneered at.

Whilst there doubtless those who share this perspective and would prefer a refined, formal, upscale cruise vacation, there are also those than enjoy the 'fun ships' of Carnival or the activities of Royal Caribbean.

In short - you have to be prepared to read through a fair amount of reviews carrying a heavy dose of disdain for such 'common' activites.

My second major complaint about this book (and the reason I am returning it for refund): I already own the 2005 copy of the book, and sadly, the 2006 copy is nothing more than a copy and paste rehash.

True - there are some new additions, and a handful of reviews which have been 'tweaked'. But the vast majority of the book is just a word for word reprint of the 2005 edition. For instance, whilst the overall score for the Celebrity ship 'Zenith' has been lowered in this new edition - the review is a word for word reprint of the 2005 edition, and it still refers to 'forthcoming improvements and refurbishments due to take place in early 2005'... I find it disappointing that after a ship has a major refurbishment the reviews are hopelessly out of date and the 2006 edition refers to events 'due to take place' in early 2005!

If you don't already own a previous edition, then I'd recommend this book, but be prepared for some out of date information.

If you own a previous edition like myself, then don't waste your money on what is essentially an almost identical reprint.

Berlitz 2005 Ocean Cruising & Cruise Ships (Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships)

Average customer rating:

If you're new to cruising this book is a "must" read
Berlitz Ocean Cruising & Cruise Ships 2005
Totally Unoriginal
Inconsistent, repetitive, and inaccurate.

Berlitz 2005 Ocean Cruising & Cruise Ships (Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships)
Douglas Ward
Manufacturer: Berlitz Guides
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Foreign Languages | Reference | Subjects | Books

Directories | Catalogs & Directories | Reference | Subjects | Books

Cruises | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books

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Stern's Guide to the Cruise Vacation 2005 (Stern's Guide to the Cruise Vacation)
The Unofficial Guide to Cruises (Unofficial Guides)
Devils on the Deep Blue Sea : The Dreams, Schemes and Showdowns That Built America's Cruise-Ship Empires
Frommer's Cruises & Ports of Call 2005: From U.S. and Canadian Home Ports to the Caribbean, Alaska, Hawaii & More (Frommer's Complete)
Fodor's FYI: Plan and Enjoy Your Cruise, 1st Edition: Experts Share Their Secrets (Special-Interest Titles)

ASIN: 9812465103

Book Description

Whether this is your first cruise or your fiftieth, the Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships 2003 is the one book you'll need to find the perfect cruise. The revised and expanded eleventh edition features: what to look for in a ship and crew; authoritative reviews of over 256 major and lesser-known ships cruising the world's oceans and waterways, easy-to-use charts that help you evaluate which cruise is right for you, expert advice for all ages and interests, plus special sections for singles, families, and physically challenged passengers.

Customer Reviews:

If you're new to cruising this book is a "must" read.......2006-01-05

If there ever were a book that could vie for the title of "Bible on Cruising", I would readily put forth Ocean Cruising by Douglas Ward. It is without a doubt the most definitive guide to the subject I have ever seen. I did not use the word "read" because this is truly a reference manual to be used for research and fact-finding and not as a bedtime novel. It is a true encyclopedia of detailed information on just about every aspect of passenger ships sailing the seas today.

What is significant and unique about this book is that it not only covers the subject of traveling by ship but it outlines every last detail of some 256 cruise ships worldwide. In addition, this "bible" provides complete details of the companies that own the ships as well as every facility, activity and even menus offered for each and every ship listed.

My recommendation is for any traveler who has selected a cruise destination or cruise line or cruise ship for his or her holiday, the very next step should be to reach for a copy Ocean Cruising and then read about the specific vessel in question. By doing so, the traveler will be that much more informed, educated and acquainted with all aspects of the ship well before even boarding it for the trip.

Berlitz Ocean Cruising & Cruise Ships 2005.......2005-07-25

Comprehensive. An invaluable tool for those seeking to thoroughly research and compare cruise lines and ships.

Totally Unoriginal.......2005-04-13

Having been on 23 cruises and very familiar with many of the cruiselines and ships reviewed, I have to say that the last few editions as well as the present publication of this guide book are very disappointing..The ship descriptions are often inaccurate or carbon copies of other reviews for similar ships in the same class..There is also a lot of bias in reviews of certain ships falsly attacking aspects of certain ships from their amenties to the personality of the crew...There is a definate lack of research apparant in many of the reviews.. The book seems to be written by a man who's attitude is quite pretentious and unrealisitic for any person experienced or inexperienced to cruising.. Therefore, I would not recommend this book as a guide for anyone who wants to try cruising as the opinions and the ratings are not trustworthy, and are written from a very negative and overly critical, often exagerated point of view.

Inconsistent, repetitive, and inaccurate........2005-01-24

Perhaps this tome, or "bible" as the publisher calls it, should be laid to rest with this 20th edition! Having purchased several issues of this book over the years, I find that Mr. Ward and/or his team of reviewers are either allowed little time aboard these ships to actually witness them firsthand, or are more interested in bulk than substance.

Spliting the book in two pieces, the reader first is thoroughly exposed and taught about ALL aspects of modern cruising: Introduction to cruising; picking the right ship; ports and regions, etc. All very useful information, and while not particularly telling, probably effective enough and certainly thorough.

The second portion of the book are the actual reviews of the ships. Here is where the clumsy inaccuracies and bulky repetitive commentary are unavoidable and unfortunate. In a past version of this work the author wrote one review for identical sister ships and would refer you back to the initial review - now we have eight reviews for all of Carnival's "Fantasy" class ships. Had each review actually told us something unique about each ship that would be all well and good, but the text is a carbon copy that has been not-so-cleverly cut & pasted from one ship to the next. Most embarassingly, often times the editor has accidentally cut a portion of the review, re-inserted it for another ship (to make the text appear slightly different) but neglects to remove it from the original place in the review thereby having duplicate text! Not sure if this should be the responsibility of the author, the editor, or the renown and revered Berlitz?

Furthermore, the editorial page asks for the reader to write to Mr. Ward with corrections to outdated information. If the author knows that "Sovereign of the Seas" has had a recent refit and now has a bar/lounge called "Bolero's", how is it that he doesn't know that the dining rooms are no longer called "Kismet" & "Gigi"??? If the "Zuiderdam" has "a complete wrap-around promenade deck, which is enjoyed by many", why does the review go on to say, "....has an exterior promenade deck - something new for this traditional cruise line. Although it DOESN'T go around the whole ship...."??? Additionally, Holland America Line ships (Zuiderdam) have ALWAYS had wrap-around promenade decks.

One last gripe. Since I HAVE been reading (and buying) this book over the years, it is also apparent with this edition that the author is now borrowing word-for-word text from past ships in past texts. I guess the former Rotterdam (1959) which used to be, "like a well worn shoe" is now valid for the QE2.

For 1st time cruisers, this book is too textbook-ish and reads like a manual. For experienced cruisers, stick to brochures and online reviews from passengers like yourselves. Personally, I won't be spending another $25.00.

Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships, 2001

Average customer rating:

Thorough and Succinct
Sophisticated & Intelligent Guide - Highly Recommend
Doug Ward's Guide To Cruising & Cruise Ships
Definitely the best available
Good book, very opinionated, don't use this to pick a cruise

Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships, 2001
Douglas Ward
Manufacturer: Berlitz Guides
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Cruises | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books

Guidebooks | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books

Reference | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books

General | Travel | Subjects | Books

Directories | Catalogs & Directories | Reference | Subjects | Books

General | Reference | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 2831572061

Book Description

The Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships 2001 rates 255 cruise ships cruising the world's oceans and waterways. Providing all the advice the first-time or repeat cruiser will ever need, this is the essential guide to choosing the perfect cruise.

This revised and expanded tenth edition features more than a dozen new ships, what to look for in a ship and crew, must-know details presented in easy-to-use charts, covering everything from the number of dining facilities to cabin amenities, sample cabin diagrams, information on specialty cruises, expert advice for all ages and interest, plus a special sections for singles, families, and the physically challenged.

Customer Reviews:

Thorough and Succinct.......2001-07-19

Simply the best reference for learning about the cruise experience and comparing ships. Should be required reading for anyone contemplating a holiday on a cruise ship.

Sophisticated & Intelligent Guide - Highly Recommend.......2001-06-16

I disagree with the reviewers who say Mr. Ward is too picky. I WANT someone who is a detail freak and VERY picky when describing cruises they have been on. The issues he chooses to criticize are important to me too - but I wouldn't even know these issues existed if he gave only bland perfunctory reviews. My first cruise was a TOTAL disaster because I didn't do my homework. This book helped me do my homework and find out what was important to me on a cruise. Lots of decisions: do you want to be around kids? Then travel during a peak holiday like Easter Break, Christmas, etc. Do you want to hear blaring PA announcements all day every 15 minutes in 3 languages? Certain ships do this, certain ones don't. Do you want to travel with 3,000 other people with frantic activity all day long, or would you be more comfortable around only 500 people in quieter more elegant surroundings? Mr. Ward can help you structure the questions to ask yourself so you can make an informed decision. His reviews are the ones used on a huge website travel agency - (It starts with an E.) I just booked a cruise with them based largely on Mr. Ward's reviews. Mr. Ward helped me quickly pick out the exact kind of cruise on the exact kind of ship that I wanted. I didn't realize I had so many choices and so much control over my environment and itinerary. The only criticism I would have about the book is that the typeface is a bit small. I can read it easily without glasses, but it is smaller than I would prefer. However, if the typeface were larger, the book would probably have to be 200 pages longer. I would recommend this book to anyone cruising for the first time who knows NOTHING. Plenty of info so you can make an informed decision - or at least start you in the right direction. The other cruise guide books I read gave the same general advice without the ship reviews. The general advice was so similar in each book it felt like plagiarism. I would recommend starting with Mr. Ward FIRST.

Doug Ward's Guide To Cruising & Cruise Ships.......2001-03-24

Detailed and descriptive, this reference is "tops" in the field. Doug Ward's high standards and detailed critique of ships will enable you to select a ship and itinerary so that, upon disembarkation, you'll be thinking of your NEXT cruise vacation. Bon Voyage!

Definitely the best available.......2001-03-09

There is a *lot* of information here - 623 pages of small type covering the gamut of ships from the ultra-luxe to some ghastly-sounding Ukrainian tubs. There's even plenty of data that can't be found on the cruise lines' own web sites. If this book can't help you pick a cruise, I can't imagine what would.

Good book, very opinionated, don't use this to pick a cruise.......2001-02-14

I asked for this book as a birthday gift, because I work on a cruise ship, and wanted to be able to look up other cruise ships when I saw them to find out a little about them (how large they are, how many passengers they hold, when and where they were built, etc.) I felt that this book had a wealth of information about ships, especially for people who are ship enthusiasts or who are already familiar with cruising and cruise ships, but was a little misleading in parts to the folks who would be more likely to purchase this book...Those who have not cruised before and may be looking for some advice as to what type or which ship to choose. If you have seen a ship and you want to find a little more about it (the reason I wanted this book) you'll find it useful. It gives a black and white line drawing of the ship along with all the vital information..Who owns it, what the ship's former names were (if any) and all about the ship itself...Its dimensions, propulsion type, how many passengers and crew it holds, when it was constructed, what amenities are available, etc. However, the author seems to let his personal tastes and his thoughts about what makes a good ship and a good cruise show through instead of giving an unbiased critique of each ship...For instance, in the descriptions of many of the ships, he includes details on whether or not they have decent breads, cheeses and fruits at dinner. He also spends lots of time discussing whether certain ships have tables for 2 in their dining rooms. Though in all actuality, these are a small part of the onboard fare, and have little to do with the enjoyment of cruising for most people. Also, he tends to complain in most of the ship's reviews about too many announcements and to much background or "mood" music throughout the ship. These things that he mentions often seem to be personal pet-peeves of the author's. He has a few other complaints about most cruise ships which are thinly-veiled throughout the book. I felt that, overall, the author was a little too negative towards lots of the ships he rated when he was picking on the small things that sometimes don't matter to most people. In addition to his personal likes and dislikes which he tends to incorporate into every review, he tends to have a great deal of passion for ocean liners of old, like the QE2 and the former SS France, now the MS Norway, and he refers to them often and compares them to todays newer, more modern ships which were designed for cruising. However, those ocean liners were built in the 60's and are from another era..They were built when trans-Atlantic crossings were popular, and before "cruising" was even thought of. He also tends to favor certain lines and is biased towards them, and favors certain ships just because of who designed the interiors. The things he doesn't mention are sometimes the most important...Lots of ships I've seen (and sometimes worked on) really were in poor repair and were looking old and worn. This could disappoint passengers when they saw them and realized that they booked a cruise on a worn out beat up ship. He never mentioned this at all. Some other ships I've seen were older but really well-maintained and newer-looking, and he never spoke about this at all. Also, some of his "facts" were inaccurate, and lots of times I found that the ship had been updated or things he mentioned in his book had been changed years ago. It would do well with a little updating. Overall, this book is great if you just want facts about a certain ship...But for first time cruisers looking to find out which ships might be better than others, or looking for suggestions about which ships to sail on, don't put too much stock into this one.

Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships 2002 (Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships, 2002)

Average customer rating:

Excellent Source
Look Elsewhere for a Helpful Cruise Ship Guide!
Good book for Rating the Cruise ships.
Browse through it at a library or bookstore, but don't buy!
WHO KNOWS CRUISE SHIPS LIKE A FORMER EMPLOYEE?

Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships 2002 (Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships, 2002)
Douglas Ward
Manufacturer: Berlitz Guides
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Cruises | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books

Guidebooks | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books

General | Travel | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 283157840X

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Source.......2002-06-06

This work is detailed and provocotive in that it will have the reader comparing vessels & cruiselines thoroughly. If read prior to sailing, there'll be no surprises.

Look Elsewhere for a Helpful Cruise Ship Guide!.......2002-04-16

I have purchased this book for the past several years for the single reason that it is very informative with basic facts and figures. If you are interested in specifics of ships such as tonnage, crew and passenger size, and other factual information, it is fine. However, I have been on over 300 cruises myself and have worked for several major cruise lines for years. I find Mr. Ward to be extremely bias and a down right anti-American snob. He insults anything he can about American service and hospitality, including mentioning the cheeses from America being of poor quality (I hope he doesn't visit Wisconsin anytime soon!)ans with statements like, "Americans eat anything put in front of them on their plates", etc. I also disagree with about half of his reviews, as do most major publications, such as Conde Nast Traveler which rates large cruise ships very differently. I do agree with some of the reviews, however he places so much importance on things such as afternoon high tea(fine if you are British and 85 years old), whether the jelly and jam is in glass jars or disposable containers(gasp!), and the percentage of cotton vs poly blend in the sheets and towels. Sure, perhaps this is nice to know, however, what Mr Ward does not seem to bear in mind is that over 75% of the Cruise Passengers in the world ARE the Americans whom he is insulting and buying this book. Cruise vacationers care more about issues such as entertainment, ship safety, health inspections, and many other facts which he consistantly fails to mention in specifics. Cruise Lines vary from ship to ship with entertainment quality. Very often one cruise line will have several different producers in charge of shows which means quality can fluctuate from very good to mediocre from ship to ship within one line. Some ships have brand new, state of the art shows, while some ships, due to the high expense of new shows keep the same tired shows for years. Some get an old show from a different ship and passengers can see the same shows they saw years before. Yet he rates all ships the same throughout one single cruise line. Also, Even though a ship may be the exact same layout as another, as cruise lines often mass produce one "class" of ships, each also has it's own distinct flavor, style, and some are maintained better than others. Each ship also has it's own head chef and food does vary in quality within each line, yet he once again groups ratings exactly the same for an entire cruise line. If you have purchased this book, you know the snobbery and the annoying repetitive information I am mentioning. If you have not bought this book, look elsewhere, or you will be disappointed. If you ARE Berlitz, you will realize Dougals Ward who self claims to be the "Leading authority on cruising in the world" is not what he claims, or perhaps was back in 1950's Britain. Today however, most cruise ship passengers, whether first time cruising or a 300 cruise veteran, want young, fresh attitudes, ideas, and more important details that will actually have an impact on their vacation.

Good book for Rating the Cruise ships........2002-03-09

We purchased this book for the purpose of the ratings of the cruise ships. Sometimes the brochures from the cruise line can be a little deceiving. As we have not traveled by cruise yet, we have spoken with quite a few that have and the book mirrors their reviews rather closely the book just put it together so well. Each ship receives points on many facets of the ship from service food to amenities. This is very helpful. Though I will agree with the other reviewers that the writer tends to reuse his paragraphs for similar ships. Though the information may be true it does get a little boring re reading the exact same thing over and over again

Buy this book for the rating of the ships; however if you are looking for more detail for example food menus, on board amenities or more detailed things like that, then get Sterns Guide to the cruise vacation.

All in all this is an excellent book for learning about each cruise ship. We do like the rating system and the description again though he may reuse his words in other reviews.

Browse through it at a library or bookstore, but don't buy!.......2002-01-05

The first part of the book (on crusing) is informative, but the second part of the book (on cruise ships) is flat. Be forewarned: reviews of same-class ships on each of the cruise lines read the same! "The Unofficial Guide to Cruises 2002" far outshines this book, which capitalizes on Douglas Ward's name and forsakes quality.

WHO KNOWS CRUISE SHIPS LIKE A FORMER EMPLOYEE?.......2001-12-14

Who knows cruise ships like a former cruise ship employee? No one. That's why Douglas Ward's quarter century of experience with the "back of the house" makes fascinating reading.

Don't look here for tips on how to save money on cruises. Don't expect Mr. Ward to tell you which cruise to take. Don't even rely on him to be competely unbiased - Cunard (his ex-employer) and other British lines fare better than their U.S. based counterparts.

Instead, what you can expect is painstaking detail and some surprising insights. Want to know whether if a ship has a smoke free dining room? He'll tell you. Fussy about your towels? Discover which lines use luxury cotton, and who settles for cheaper blends. Want to stroll and take in some sea air? Find out the vessels that feature wrap-around promenade decks. Readers will learn which ships have the most space and best crew-to-passenger-ratios, as well as the others that are always so crowded you'll have to bribe someone to get a deck chair. And did you realize you have to bring your own shampoo on Carnival cruise ships?

The book does have its drawbacks. Ships are listed alphabetically, rather than by cruise line. As other Amazon readers have pointed out, many reviews have repetitive descriptions. And the aforementioned bias in favour of ships that serve a decent afternoon tea may disconcert American readers!

That said, Mr. Ward is one of the few cruise reviewers willing to criticize as well as praise. He'll warn you about annoying repetitive announcements, about waiters who can't speak English, and design flaws that exacerbate the ever present line-ups. You'll also find listed here charter cruise ships overlooked by other reviewers, and excellent ship histories that track when a vessel changed hands or was refurbished.

You'll get the most out of this book by reading a cross section of reviews for ships from different lines. If you've cruised before, check what Mr. Ward liked and hated about a ship you know. That way you'll get a feel for his priorities and preferences, and how they differ from your own. Remember that movie critic who hates every film you like (and vice versa)?

Douglas Ward's Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising is updated yearly, and for my money is a better value than any of its cruise review counterparts.

Berlitz Ocean Cruising & Cruise Ships 2004 (Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships)
Average customer rating:

Berlitz Ocean Cruising

Pretty Thorough Primer

The Bible Of Cruising Information

Berlitz Ocean Cruising & Cruise Ships 2004 (Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships)
Inc. Berlitz International , and Douglas Ward
Manufacturer: Berlitz Guides
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Cruises | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books
Guidebooks | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books
General | Travel | Subjects | Books
Directories | Catalogs & Directories | Reference | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

The Unofficial Guide to Cruises (Unofficial Guides)

ASIN: 9812463836

Customer Reviews:

Berlitz Ocean Cruising.......2007-02-02

This is a very informative book for anyone comtemplating a cruise and I can highly recommend it.

Pretty Thorough Primer.......2004-06-21

Berlitz does it right with this release - although as soon as something like this is published, it's outdated. But it's worth the $23.95. This title is good for the beginner as well as the experienced cruiser. Most of the information is relevant and accurate.

Douglas Ward does a splendid job of presenting the world of cruising to readers. He divides the book into several sections from: Who Goes Cruising? to Typical Extra-cost Items. Almost 700 pages. There's even a section for the physically challenged. The Booking and Budgeting section is excellent, although I think that the part where the services of a travel agent are questionable are overplayed. You can't ask questions to an Internet page when you're trying to book a cruise AND it's kinda unfair to call up an agent just to ask a quesion without any intention of booking...

The Bible Of Cruising Information.......2004-04-10

If you have ever taken a cruise you know how frustrating it can be just deciding which cruise to take? There are probably hundreds of books on the topic, not to mention the endless number of newspaper, magazine and Internet articles.
Now along comes a guide that probably could be called the bible of ocean cruising information, as its level of detail and rigorous research is unbelievable!

The Berlitz Ocean Cruising& Cruise Ships 2004, authored by Douglas Ward, just about answers all of your cruising queries. In other words, don't leave home without it before committing yourself to a cruise.

The guide's author is the world's top authority on cruising and cruise ships, and is the president of the Maritime Evaluations Group, an independent international agency that rates cruise ships worldwide.

In the introductory chapters Ward gives the reader interesting information as to what to keep in mind before deciding on any one cruise.

Readers learn about terrorism and its effects on cruising, quality of cruising today, destinations, history of cruising entertainment, different kinds of cruising, what brochures really mean, selecting the right ship, and how the guide evaluates the ships. There is also a section asking if in fact cruising is for you.

After reading these introductory chapters, readers are now prepared to pore over information pertaining to 256 cruise ships that are alphabetically listed.
The reviews of these ships reveal vital statistics and information pertaining to the ships' size, age, names of builders, original cost, former names, and what the ship contains insofar as cabins, swimming pools, floors etc.

Overview paragraphs indicate the ship's history and the author's comments concerning the honesty of the ship's brochures.
How often have we picked up a beautiful brochure and were subsequently very disappointed?

Succinct descriptions of the ship's interior, as well as the cabins, dining facilities; dress code, food quality, and transportation to and from the ship are also provided.

Questions as to the suitability of the cruise are clearly answered. As an example, some are more suitable for younger couples, others for families or mature individuals.

Detailed descriptions concerning accommodations are clearly presented concerning their size, what they include, bathrooms, closet and drawer space, showers, cabin voltage, spaciousness, amenities, special suites, and how they are decorated.

Cuisine and dining facilities are analyzed as to their general atmosphere, size, kind of meals served, choice, quality and quantity of the food, wine lists, quality of service and what to expect from the waiters and waitresses. Do they sing and dance during the meals?

Some ships offer alternative dining facilities. Generally, these require reservations and there is an extra cost. Here again, the guide goes into detail about ships that offer this alternative and their quality.

Always high on the priority list is the question of entertainment. The guide- book provides the reader with a description of the kind of entertainment they can expect, when and where the entertainment is held, and its quality.

Perhaps you are into spa/fitness? Consequently, you surely would want to have an assessment of these facilities, if they are in fact offered.

Each of the reviews contains sidebars that present the Berlitz rating. These ratings are explained in the preliminary chapters to the book.
In 2004 Berlitz crowned the Europa as the winner with the highest ratings.

Ward has created a splendid, in depth guide- book, which even the more experienced cruise enthusiast will discover something new.

Customer Reviews:

This book is a bigger disaster than the Titanic..........1999-07-15

Absolutely littered with factual errors, for example "ship such-and-such has no balcony cabins" when it in fact does. I have been on many, many ships and when comparing those to the books descriptions, estimate there may be in the HUNDREDS of errors in the complete book. The ratings are also very uneven, as the author fell into their own trap of trying to use a very sophisticated rating system and then fails to apply it evenly. For example, one ship with small cabins claims that they are all "suites", and he points that out, whereas with another ship and the same situation he does not. This 600+ page mess, along with the arrogant "ultra expert" tone, when in fact I don't think this guy has been on most of these ships ever, really does make Berlitz Publishing a ship of fools.

the ships are not taveled on without notice points only.......1999-06-19

being a regular cruiser from the u/k . i read all the guides avidly and compare them. the berlitz guide cannot be taken seriosly// by regular cruisers// for example the paul gauguin is rated 6star by every book and magazine except berlitz they say 4star why i do not believe they go on half these ships

an excellent reference for experienced and new cruisers.......1999-04-28

gives the information necessarty to compare cruise ships

One of Two Essential Cruise Guides.......1999-03-08

The best indicator of a Cruise Guides's value is the comparison of a cruise passenger's experience on a ship with what the Cruise Guide's author has to say about the ship. In my 20+ cruises over ten years, I've found Ward's evaluations to be the closest to mine of any of the major published Cruise Guides. So, we're either both right or we're both wrong - I prefer the former interpretation.

Ward' writing style is blunt and merciless. I like it. Prospective cruise passengers should read at least two books: This Berlitz/Ward book and Showker/Sehlinger's "Unofficial Guide to Cruises." Neither book is complete without the other. However, this Berlitz/Ward book is the one I reach for first when I want information about a cruise ship.

Laudable cruise guide........1998-10-06

"Berlitz 98 Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships is a laudable guide for all cruise travelers.

Given that the author--Douglas Ward--is one of the foremost authorities on cruising and cruise ships, this book is more opinionated than other cruising guides. But Ward's comments and evaluations ring pleasantly (not to mention wittily!) true.

In addition to accessing 210 oceangoing cruise ships, Ward offers a multitude of immensely helpful chapters on nearly every aspect of cruising, including "Why Take a Cruise?," "Choosing Your Ship and Cruise," "Cruising for Romantics," and "Life Aboard Ship."

Even smaller sections such as "20 Practical Tips for A Good Cruise Experience" and "Signs You've Taken the Wrong Ship" (e.g., "the library is located in the engine room") are, in themselves, worth the price of the book.

Regrettably, Ward barely mentions motion sickness; and the book has no index.

Still, this is a worthy purchase for cruise fans.

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