With more than 300,000 copies sold, this bible of the cruise industry boasts in-depth reviews of more than 250 cruise ships. The author's insider advice helps travelers avoid expensive pitfalls. 64-page full-color insert.

With more than 300,000 copies sold, this bible of the cruise industry boasts in-depth reviews of more than 250 cruise ships. The author's insider advice helps travelers avoid expensive pitfalls. 64-page full-color insert.

After decades of solid growth, the worldwide ocean cruise sector has become a noticeable economic factor and a significant employer. In the way it combines social, technological and natural systems to form its products, cruise tourism is an increasingly attractive area of study; particularly with regards to the managerial challenges posed by the interaction of these systems. This book brings together industry know-how, managerial experience and academic rigour to cover some of the most important and interesting managerial challenges associated with ocean cruises.

This book is divided into six parts, which are organized to guide the reader step by step from the macro level of the cruise industry to the micro level of operations management on board cruise ships. Part I (chapters 1-4) sets the scene for the book by characterizing the conditions under which cruise lines operate. Part II (chapters 5-8) includes four chapters that address issues of significance for corporate managers in the cruise sector. Part III (chapters 9-11) deal with aspects of the marketing mix employed by cruise lines to attract passengers and fill their ships. Part IV (chapters 12-15) is concerned with managerial functions related directly to the cruise product. Part V (chapters 16-19) focuses on operational management functions on board cruise ships. The final Part VI (chapter 20) looks at future development possibilities for the cruise sector.

As new ships are launched and cruise lines compete ever more fiercely, passengers can find the choice bewildering. This authoritative book is designed to answer all your questions in detail, whether this is your first cruise or your fiftieth. Book jacket.

Insight Guides Cruising & Cruise Ships 2024 - formerly Berlitz Cruising and Cruise Ships - features enhanced user-friendly design, extra images, new coverage of cruise history and ultimate cruising experiences, new Author's Choice recommendations, along with the expert reviews and ratings readers have trusted for over 35 years. Insight Guides Cruising & Cruise Ships 2024 (formerly Berlitz Cruising and Cruise Ships) is the world's most authoritative and longest-running guide to cruising and cruise ships. Fully updated post-Covid, this iconic, industry-leading bible for millions of cruise-goers and crew members now features larger font for greater readability, and more images, making for a fresher, more user-friendly experience. In addition, Insight Guides Cruising & Cruise Ships 2024 boasts a new section on the history of cruising, along with the author's hugely-anticipated evaluations and scores, with 320 ships reviewed and rated. It also includes new user-oriented features on the Best of Cruising. From exploring fjords and enjoying icy expeditions, to embarking on wildlife voyages and idyllic Caribbean cruises, ten Ultimate Experiences are showcased. This is supplemented by a new Author's Choice section that sees Douglas Ward - the world's foremost authority on cruising and cruise ships - share his rundown of Top Ships and the best cruises for all kinds of travellers, from families and romantics, to solo voyagers and cruise-goers with accessibility needs. Features of Insight Guides Cruising & Cruise Ships 2024 - Douglas Ward is the world's foremost authority on cruising and cruise ships. - Over 400 pages of information, with new sections covering cruise history, ultimate cruising experiences, and Author's Choice recommendations. - Features more full-colour images than ever before, and larger font for greater readability. - 320 ships reviewed and rated. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Regarded as the world's top authority on cruising and cruise ships, Douglas Ward has completed over 6,200 days on ships and riverships on almost 1100 cruises, 158 transatlantic crossings, and countless Panama Canal transits, shipyard visits, ship-naming ceremonies and maiden voyages. Often described as a maritime Sherlock Holmes, Ward's reviews leave no stone unturned, examining everything from the fluffiness of the towels and the quality of china and silverware, to the welcome aboard and disembarkation process. PRAISE FOR BERLITZ CRUISE BOOKS 'No other annual guide charts the growth of the modern cruise industry the way Douglas Ward's authoritative annual Berlitz Cruising and Cruise Ships has done' The Business Travel News 'The author is the most feared critic in the business' The Times, London 'Read before cruising' Daily News, New York 'The serious cruise traveler's Bible' Cruisediva.com 'Legendary' USA Today 'Level of detail and rigorous research are unbelievable' BookPleasures.com 'This is the encyclopedia of cruising' The Times-Picayune, New Orleans

If you want a holiday that's hassle-free, virtually pre-paid, and that lets you see lots of places while only needing to pack and unpack once, then you should try a cruise. This best-selling book is the cruise industry bible: it gives you all the information you need to choose the right cruise for you. Meticulously updated every year by cruise expert Douglas Ward, it is divided into two main parts: the first helps you work out what you're looking for in a cruise holiday and how to find it; the lively text and colour photographs describe every aspect of life on board, including safety, the highs and lows of the cruise experience and how to save money. The second part contains unbiased reviews and fascinating detail of almost 300 ocean-going cruise vessels, and grades them on service, food, entertainment and facilities, using an internationally recognised ratings system.