Product Description
Unlike rating systems used in other guides, our system is simple. We break down the essential elements of a cruise experience (dining, activities, children's activities, entertainment, service, overall enjoyment, and overall value), and rate them from "poor" to "outstanding." Photos of each ship combine with the text to give a better sense of the very real differences among the various lines.
Most important, this is the only cruise guide that provides the real prices people pay for cruises, not just the rack rates. Other guides tell you that a seven-night cruise aboard Royal Caribbean's Brilliance of the Seas costs $2,099. You can pay that if you want to, but only Frommer's tells you that the same cruise is selling for $649. We give both the rack rates and the discount price for every cruise we review. This feature alone makes Frommer's Cruises and Ports of Call by far the most valuable trip-planning book among cruise guides.
Our authors, noted cruise experts who've personally checked out every ship sailing in and around North America, offer candid and unbiased opinions on them all. They are completely up to date, with all the latest developments and the newest ships. You'll also get complete coverage of the major port destinations, with advice on how to spend your limited time ashore.
From the Back Cover
- Expanded coverage of the hottest trends in cruising—trips departing from all major U.S. ports to the Caribbean, Alaska, Hawaii, Bermuda, Mexico, and Canada
- Exact prices, including cruise rack rates and the average discounted rates for every ship that we review, so you can plan the perfect trip no matter what your budget
- Extensive descriptions of all the major cruise ships sailing in North America, from cabin amenities and ship facilities to shore excursions and recreational activities
- Comprehensive ship ratings that grade the essential elements of a cruise experience (dining, activities, children's programs, entertainment, service, overall enjoyment, and overall value) from "poor" to "outstanding"
- Special coverage of popular river cruise routes in the United States, including the Mississippi River, California's Wine Country, the Hudson River Valley, and the Columbia and Snake rivers
