Customer Reviews

Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships 2010 (Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

For years, in fact decades, I have found Douglas Ward's annual "Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships" indispensable in my work as a travel writer specializing in Alaska and Alaska cruising and as Editor/Publisher of the website [...]. There are lots of good cruising guides out there, but I rate this one best of all. It contains literally everything the reader wants and needs to know about cruising, whether he/she is a "newbie" or an "old salt."

In all, Douglas Ward's 692-page opus for 2010 provides 493 pages of vital information about 271 ocean-going cruise vessels. It covers size, passenger capacity, crew count, lifestyle, length, beam, age, ship builder, entertainment, foods and lots of other data. He literally covers the waterfront from small and intimate vessels to the newly commissioned "largest ever" cruiseship Oasis of the Seas (Royal Caribbean International) which can carry 5,400 passengers in lower berths or a total of 6,296 passengers in the unlikely event that all the upper berths are utilized.

One feature is particularly telling:

In a full-page critique of present-day cruising's weak points - called "What could be improved?" - the author candidly notes, "It's not all perfect. Here are some aspects of cruising in 2010 that the brochures won't mention." Then follows his list of 11 present-day negative aspects. He notes, for example, "In the standard seven-day cruise market, particularly from U.S. ports, disembarkation is mostly an untidy and hostile process..." (Right on, Brother!) The list goes on.

In the parlance of Ward's ship rating standard (1 star through 5) I would have to give this book a solid 5 - count 'em - 5 stars-plus.

We find this guidebook gives great insights into the ship, its food, passenger type ( age, etc.) and inteests ( the destinations versus the ship's pool ). It is wonderful for handicapped passengers giving the number, if any, of handicapped cabins, elevators, etc. If you use a whelchair, you can eliminate aship in seconds.

The reviews and information in this book are fairly lengthy and detailed. It gives outlines for the ships and then goes into detail about most facets of the product/cruise offered.

It certainly helps to be able to choose a cruise/ship that fits your priorities, e.g. food, entertainment, spa, fitness, accommodations and capacity. The cabins are described in detail and offer information as to whether the balconies are overlooked by other passenger areas or if they are private.

There is information on the formality or lack thereof in the dining areas.

It also discusses the differences between a la carte and banquet style dining.

Each ship is rated on several areas of service/function and therefore makes it easier to select a ship or cruise line to suit your need. I think it is a useful tool for anyone planning or already addicted to cruising.

Much of the cruise information out there is nothing more than marketing spin. It's no wonder it's difficult to make a cruise vacation decision!

I liked this guide because it contained factual information about cruise lines and ships WITHOUT the marketing spin. Mr. Ward's commentary, while at times seemed 'nitpicky', was direct, detailed and very useful. For example, as pointed out in the book - if you go on Carnival Cruise Line you should be the type of person that would enjoy a belly flop contest. If not, no problem there are many other ship experiences to suit you.

My only critique is this is great for cruise fanatics like me. But many others will not flip through a book of this size to help them find a cruise. Maybe issue a 'light' version?

Overall, good, detailed and useful book.

Faraz[...]

Bought this as a gift, got one as a gift three years ago and have used it a lot to determine cruise ships and cruises. Very valuable and helpful in making decisions about cruises.

This book is an extremely valuable resource when it comes to comparing ships, cruise lines, and the latest trends in cruising. As a travel professional, I refer to the many facts listed in this book on an almost daily basis. Douglas Ward's concise and comprehensive listings make this book a great research and planning tool.

The book is a good buy if you looking for information on each Cruise ship. I am sure there might be a few missing, but there is alot of information on most of the ships, it will be usefull to anyone that is looking to cruise or has crusied. Most of the book is Cut and Paste from the same class of ship in each cruiseline. He likes to cut sand paste.

The Author was on a says he has been on alot of ships, not all of them, and you can see buy the review he gives on the ones he has been on, and the one he has not been on. Once again same if its the same class of ship they will get the same rating vs. each ship getting it true and a real ratting. There The Ships he hasn't you will see the same review of the ship, like I said there is a lot of Cut and paste. The book has a little of everything for everyone, and the Begining is great, but once you get futher into the book you see it changes. From History, family, and fun, and info on just about everything you want to do. The book has how to choose a cruise and cruiseline, for new cruisers to veterans. Also,Its good for anyone that wants general information about almost any ship that they might want to go on, or has been on.

There are alot of ratings from the writer, that are just cut and pasted from his past books nothing new as ships, even after ships go into drydock, and get refitted. It is very Clear that the Writers favorite cruiseline is Celebrity Cruise line. He rates all the others below Celebrity, there are a few ratings higher for example,that are better in food, but not much more. All other Cruise lines don't Stacks up in his opionion. He is very much likes to do a little bashing of other cruise lines as well, Just a little FYI. His ratings are also Cut and pasted, form his past books in the same way, no diffrence from one year to the next.

If you do get this book, just understand that it his opinion, an not that of everyone. There are few things I would improve, first there should be deckplans and photos of each ship that is in this book, as well as Personal discription and more important what makes it different than the other ships. The Cut and paste needs to go, as well as Rating he has put on them that is the same from year to year. Second, I Don't know how he rates the food, every ship i have been on no matter the line, has been great, some better than others but in a 1-10 scale none have been below a 7.0. Another thing you will see a lot is that one cruiseline rated above the another on any rating he gives, than see that none of the ships that were rated, are even close to what he gave them as Cruiseline. Than you will see that the cruiseline that he rated below them, have been rated way above his average than at he gave for that cruiselines rating? You will see what I'm am talking about if you purchase the book.

To end, I have and will recommend this book to others, for its informations not the Authors Opinions and not for his Ratings, but for the history and information of the ships that he provides.

Jeremy Gray

While still probably the best overall cruise ship guide, I'm disappointed our much of the content is copied verbatim from one edition to the next. I only buy these books at 5 year intervals and the majority of the ship revives are the same as in my older editions. It's great if you're only going to buy one edition.

This reference guide is packed with useful information when planning a cruise. I would highly recommend it.

A good guide but to my disappoinyment the ships of the European (Cyprus) Louis Cruise line are not complete in this guide or difficult to find, special in case as they before belong to another cruise liner.