Happy Sails: The Carefree Cruiser's Handbook [Paperback]

Pamela Kane (Author)

Book Description

Series: Happy Sails | Publication Date: March 2004

If you’re considering a cruise—be this your first or fiftieth—then you’ll want to read Happy Sails: The Carefree Cruiser’s Handbook. Pam literally covers it all, from deciding what kind of cruise you want to go on, to how to relieve post-cruise stress; from gambling tips, to what not to try to get by Customs; from bringing infants on board, to passing away at sea.

She covers:
> The cruise diet—enjoy all that great food without gaining all those pounds
> What and how to pack
> How to travel with your whole family, without a lot of hassle
> Tips for differently-abled travelers
> Strategies for touring—and shopping!—foreign ports
> Facts you won’t find in any other book on cruising

Editorial Reviews

Review

Happy Sails is a delightfully helpful guide to taking a sea cruise in the most enjoyable manner possible. -- Heartland Reviews

Pam Kane resolves everything you ever wanted to know about cruising... but were afraid to ask. -- Lifestyles in Saskatoon (Saskatchewan)

This book is fun to read, thanks to many short sidebars with anecdotes and zippy advice. -- Chicago Daily Herald

You can't miss with this guide (4 1/2 Stars) -- About.com Caribbean for Visitors

From the Publisher

Rudy Maxa, host of PBS'"Smart Travels: Europe with Rudy Maxa," co-host of NPR’s "Savvy Traveler" and publisher of "Rudy Maxa’s Traveler newsletter, said, "There isn’t a question about taking a ship über-cruiser Pam Kane doesn’t answer in Happy Sails: The Carefree Cruiser’s Handbook. From preparation to debarkation, this is a step-by-step guide on how to... enjoy the world’s seas that is especially helpful to first-time cruisers."

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 184 pages
• Publisher: Beagle Bay Books; 1 edition (March 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0967959187
• ISBN-13: 978-0967959184
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,334,604 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cruise into a delightful read, July 3, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Happy Sails: The Carefree Cruiser's Handbook (Paperback)

Packed with great information, Happy Sails is also a hilarious read--I frequently found myself laughing out loud at some of Pam Kane's quips. This is not your super-serious-counting-coup-by-traveling-every-single-ocean-liner guide book; it's written by a woman who's been there, done that and would like to save you some of the learning curve.

She's right, no one on a cruise ship really cares what you're wearing, but any woman will obsess about it anyway--and overpack for it, too. She tells you how to pack, WHAT to pack and when to wear it (what the heck DO you wear for "informal night" anyway?).

If you're going on a cheapie cruise, a windjammer or private ship, nope, this book isn't for you. But if you're going on any of the cruise lines you see advertised on TV, get this book before you buy your tickets!

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Indispensable Guide, July 7, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Happy Sails: The Carefree Cruiser's Handbook (Paperback)

Happy Sails is a gold mine of information and ideas about how to get the most out of your next cruise vacation. Even experienced cruisers will find Pam Kane's unique perspective refreshing and helpful. Have you ever thought about a systematic way to pack for a cruise, accounting for the limited space of ship cabins and the times you won't have access to all your luggage? Pam Kane has, and she describes her system in the book. Do you want to take a disabled loved-one on a cruise, but don't know whether its possible or how to address special needs? Pam Kane tells you what to expect and how to handle the issues that arise.

For first-timers - and cruise-curious people who aren't sure if cruising is for them - this book is indispensable. Pam Kane addresses all the issues people worry about: choosing cabins, traveling with children, onboard activities, shore excursions, shopping, handling the copious food and drink offerings without over indulging, money and tipping and medical / health issues. She does it all with a sharp wit that makes this a fun read as well as a valuable reference.

5.0 out of 5 stars Lots of good advice presented with humor, June 8, 2007

By 

Richard K. Baker (Phoenixville, PA, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Happy Sails: The Carefree Cruiser's Handbook (Paperback)

I've waded through a whole bunch of books about cruises and cruising. If I had to pick just one, this would be it. Tips on what to bring, how to avoid common mistakes, and how to enhance your trip. A tremendous amount of useful information, and it's fun to read.