01 Sep 2014
Includes the Influential Author's 30 Bucket List Cruise Experiences
Coinciding with Cruise Week (Sept. 27 – Oct. 5, 2014), Berlitz will publish in the UK the 30th anniversary edition of Douglas Ward's extraordinary annual bible of cruising, the 2015 Berlitz Cruising & Cruise Ships (pub. 1 Oct. 2014, £18.99) - the most important guide for the 22-plus million people worldwide that will book a cruise next year.
Within this special anniversary guide, widely considered the most trusted and comprehensive book on the topic, is a fascinating study of how the world of cruising has evolved in the last three decades. Ward also gives the lowdown on his own favourite cruise experiences over the last 30 years – a list that is sure to become the do-before-you-die cruise experiences.
[NOTE TO EDITORS: For those interested in an interview with the author, an exclusive extract or a review, press copies are available now from JSPR, Tel 01491 824524. However details of the ship's ratings for 2015 are embargoed until Friday 19 September, 2014.]
So thorough is Douglas Ward's painstaking investigation each year that the guide sets the internationally recognised ratings system for almost all cruise ships in the world (270 of them), making the author the most feared critic in the business.
Cruisegoers, who are often overwhelmed by the number of vessels and voyages available, would be advised not to book a holiday without first consulting the guide, the only completely independent handbook that can identify the cruise and cruise ship that is best suited to an individual. However, the annual Berlitz guide is not just for holidaymakers: cruise industry executives, travel agents and crew members also find it an invaluable resource of comparative information.
Its strength lies not only in the annually updated, independent and candid reviews of the cruise ships but the warts-and-all advice on every possible aspect of cruising, whether budgeting families, singles, older travellers or honeymooners. For example readers can check out which cruise line does what best, how the major cruise lines score on cuisine, facilities and service, or see how the expedition ships shape up against one another. Those pushing the boat out on a top dollar luxury cruise can compare the cream of cruise ships at a glance: find out whether tips are included, who has the biggest suites and which brand of toiletries are supplied. Confused by the advantages and disadvantages of the different sizes of ships? No problem, Ward cuts through the hype and makes the decision plain sailing.
The guide doesn't only point readers to the right cruise, but it helps with the cabin choice too. For example, some 'private balconies', while expensive to book, are not so private, and mattress sizes vary enormously too, depending upon whether the cruise ship is British, European or from the US/Canada.
Other highlights of the guide include:
- Tips on getting the best value for money
- A list of extra-cost items on board to look out for
- Information that the brochures just don't include
- A comparison of the strengths and weaknesses of the minor cruise lines
- All the new ships that are to debut in 2015
- What to expect from on board entertainment and spas
- This year's star performers and Top 5 ships in each of 12 'Best in Class' categories
THE WORLD'S TOP AUTHORITY ON CRUISING AND CRUISE SHIPS
The author has completed over 6,000 days at sea, participated in more than 1,000 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 leaves no stone unturned for up to 200 sea days each year, examining everything from the fluffiness of the towels to the quality of the china and silverware, and from the welcome aboard to the disembarkation process.
Fully updated and revised, Berlitz Cruising & Cruise Ships 2015 (£18.99, 704 pages, with hundreds of colour photographs) is published on October 1, 2014. Also forthcoming will be the guide in e-book format and the 2015 Berlitz Cruise Ships app. For further information visit www.insightguides.com/berlitz/berlitz-cruising.
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PRESS ENQUIRIES
In the UK:
Julia Spence, Annabel Owen or Natalie Postlethwaite
Julia Spence Public Relations
T: 01491 824524 / M: 07802 443113
In the US:
Melissa Lande or Alan Appel, Lande PR
O: 212-706-9003 / M: 646-315-3608
