Steven B SternSteven B. Stern is the ultimate authority on luxury travel, especially cruise vacations. He is also the author of Stern's Guide to European Riverboats and Hotel Barges, Stern's Guide to the Greatest Resorts of the World, and the Indispensable Guide t Foreign Words and Phrases. Whether readers are sailing the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, the South Seas, Alaska, Southeast Asia, or the waterways of Europe, this is the most comprehensive guide available, with details on all aspects of cruise-ship travel. Updated annually, this edition lists descriptive information for all major cruise ships, including each vessel's history; vital statistics; appearance; itineraries; price range; and sport, dining, and medical facilities. Stern evaluates every detail by bestowing overall Star Awards as well as ratings in eleven specific categories. More than two hundred photographs of ships, decks, and interiors are included, along with actual shipboard menus and daily activity programs for each featured cruise line. This valuable guide assists you in selecting the ship best suited to your taste, advises you on how to prepare for your cruise, and explains what to expect once you are onboard. Stern discusses every major port of call worldwide, listing details on attractions, beaches, hotels, restaurants, shopping, sports, and other recreation. He also includes guidelines on how to make the most of an eight-hour stay in port. Read More Read Less