Berlitz: Cruising & Cruise Ships 2014

If you are one of the 20 million people thinking of taking a cruise this year, this best-selling book will show you how to pick the right cruise for you.

Updated annually, the 700-page book is divided into two main parts: the first helps you define what you are looking for in a cruise holiday and advises you on how to find it. It provides a wealth of factual information as well as a real insight into life aboard ship and how to get the best from it. We cover safety, dining, entertainment, standards of service and hospitality, money-saving tips, cruising for families, singles, senior citizens and disabled travellers. Specialist cruises are discussed too, such as river cruising, Antarctic explorer vessels, and around-the-world cruises. This unrivalled detail is complemented by a vast number of tables and checklists, colour photographs and maps.

The second section contains detailed information on almost 300 ocean-going cruise vessels and evaluates them using an internationally recognised ratings system.

With more than 40 years of experience, and spending some 200 days a year aboard cruise ships, Douglas Ward evaluates their facilities, meticulously inspecting each ship. In his quest to bring you the truth about cruising, no stone is left unturned, from the fluffiness of the towels to the quality of the china, and from the welcome aboard to the disembarkation process.