If you are one of the 20 million people thinking of taking a cruise this year, this best-selling book, the cruise industry bible, will tell you everything you need to know 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. Specialist cruises are discussed, too, culminating with that ultimate travel experience: the around-the-world cruise. 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, the author Douglas Ward evaluates their facilities, inspecting each ship in exhaustive detail. Facilities count, of course but just as important are the standards of food, service, staff and hospitality. 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.