The Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships 2002 rates over 240 major and minor ships cruising the world's oceans and waterways. Providing all the advice the first-time or experienced cruiser will ever need, this is the essential guide to choosing the perfect cruise. With over 275,000 copies sold since its first publication in 1986, the Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships has been hailed as the definitive cruising guide by the cruise industry and travellers alike.
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Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Author Douglas Ward is considered to be one of the world's foremost authorities on cruising and cruise ships and is president of the Maritime evaluations Group, an independent international agency that rates cruise ships worldwide. He has been involved in cruising for over 30 years, spending more than 4,300 days at sea, aboard more than 850 cruises.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good book for Rating the Cruise ships.,
By
This review is from: Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships (2002) (Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships) (Paperback)
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 againBuy 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.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
WHO KNOWS CRUISE SHIPS LIKE A FORMER EMPLOYEE?,
By Patricia Poole (Ontario, Canada) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships (2002) (Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships) (Paperback)
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)?
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Browse through it at a library or bookstore, but don't buy!,
By A Customer
This review is from: Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships (2002) (Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships) (Paperback)
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.
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