100 Best Cruise Vacations [ILLUSTRATED] (Paperback)

by Theodore W. Scull (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"From historic tall ships to river cruisers, Ted Scull tells you where to find the unique cruises that make lifelong memories. His research and presentation are first-rate." --Steve Blount, Caribbean Travel & Life

". . . both the perfect companion for armchair travelers dreaming of a cruise and the ideal guidebook for active cruisers planning their next voyage." --Charles Doherty, Cruise Travel magazine

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description
With hundreds of cruises available worldwide, choosing just the right one for your budget and taste can be a frustrating experience. Cruise travel expert Ted Scull leads the way to the best, but not necessarily the most expensive, cruises all over the world. Stately transatlantic crossings, clipper ships gliding among Mediterranean islands, riverboats along the Yangtze, catamarans out to the Great Barrier Reef or Caribbean mega ships - whatever on-the-water experience you are looking for, you can find it in this authoritative guide.

Each cruise profile includes details of the cruise experience from onboard atmosphere to itinerary; port information including what to see and do when ashore; full description of the ship, cabins, amenities, dining, entertainment, and activities; fare ratings and listings of what's included and what's not; information about onboard cultural learning or special-interest programs, such as music, art, natural history, and watersports as well as typical passenger age ranges and nationalities.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Globe Pequot; 1st edition (November 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0762704950
• ISBN-13: 978-0762704958
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 8.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,745,906 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Well worth the price considering the cost of cruises today., November 6, 2000

By	Allan M. Gathercoal "fdoamerica" (Norcross, GA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

If you are one of the 7 million people who will take a cruise in the coming year, then Theodore W. Scull's book, "100 Best Cruise Vacations," will be a good value. There are thousands of cruises to select from with various destinations, itineraries, ship size and cost.

So which ones are the best value for the money? Which cruises have the best food, personnel, programs, accommodations, design and layouts? In Scull's book, you are introduced to his selection of the world's best.

From small ships plying the Amazon or Yangzee Rivers to the behemoth liners of 110,000 tons and 2,600 passengers, Scull provides a comprehensive description of the 100 best cruises by explaining the ship and the itinerary in straightforward commentary. A side bar with pertinent information breakdown accompanies each cruise description. I especially like the thorough contact information provided to get additional information for each cruise, which includes website addresses.

I was disappointed that there were no maps detailing where the cruise travels geographically. Likewise, I was annoyed with the absence of any tables or lists that would break down cruises versus their cost. Thus, if you are looking for a five-day cruise for less than $1,000, you must wade through all 100 listings and their cross reference to a dollar sign icon, which designates five levels of cost ranging from $100 to $600 per day (including accommodations, per person, double occupancy, outside cabin), then guess the cruise cost.

Scull, a travel writer, has given us a useful resource with which to make a better qualitative choice when deciding on a vacation cruise. Worth the small investment when considering the financial outlay that any cruise these days will be. Recommended.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Cream of the Cruise Crop, December 28, 2003

By	Robert I. Hedges - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: 100 Best Cruise Vacations, 2nd: The Top Cruises throughout the World for All Interests and Budgets (Paperback)

This book is exactly what you would expect it to be given the title: a book dedicated exclusively to 100 cruises that are the best in the world in the author's opinion. I agree with him more often than not, but some of the cruises are a bit esoteric and definitely out of the mainstream (particularly the China information), which is fine as long as you understand that is what you are getting here. Many fine itineraries are reviewed here with information on passenger demographics, activities, and cost presented in fine fashion.

My biggest quibbles with the book's format is the lack of maps illustrating the geography of the trip to help get a better handle on where the itineraries actually go, and the lack of an easy to use cost index, which is a factor for many of us considering the astronomical costs of many of these cruises. As always, personal taste often dictates an individual's opinion of certain cruises. For instance, I prefer Celebrity's "Horizon" over their "Zenith," (which Mr. Scull prefers) for a Bermuda cruise.

This is a fine book overall, if somewhat of a 'dream book.' It is excellent for generating ideas for new destinations and ships, and fills it's niche very well. If you are looking for more comprehensive cruise information, I would recommend "Berlitz Ocean Cruising and Cruise Ships 2003" by Douglas Ward as probably the single best cruise reference available, as it is amazingly complete.

15 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Cruise Book, April 1, 2000

By A Customer

This is one of the best books on travel you can buy. Lots of information on "best buy" cruises. I you are planning to vaction buy this book. I saved over $300.00 on my cruise using this book. An essential for any traveler.