100 Best Cruise Vacations: The Top Cruises Throughout the World for All Interests and Budgets

Reviewed by Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson for Reader Views (1/07) Theodore W. Scull's "100 Best Cruise Vacations" is a well-researched and well-organized book on cruising, which should prove valuable to anybody looking for an idea for their next cruise. The first-time cruisers will undoubtedly find useful the detailed information on itinerary, the ship, passengers, officers, crew, dress codes, cabins, fare and contact info for the cruise line. One of the most useful pieces of information, in my opinion, is what exactly is or is not included in the fare price. This information could be particularly confusing for somebody leaving on their first cruise and the comprehensive info provided by Mr. Scull will help to avoid any unpleasant surprises. The information included in the itinerary section is pretty limited, but will provide necessary basics for somebody trying to decide whether the ports to be visited will be of interest to them. The cruise veterans will definitely be able to use all of the above mentioned information, but more importantly, some of the cruises listed are on less well-known cruise lines or to not-so-usual destination. So those who have already cruised a lot just might discover a cruise or two that they have never thought of or even never heard of. The book covers cruises on all seven continents as well as a handful of round-the-world experiences - the dream of most cruise addicts. Detailed descriptions of activities and amenities on each of the ships will definitely make the decision on which to choose considerably easier. In view of the fact that this latest edition has been published in 2006, I found it slightly disappointing that several of the new itineraries on different cruise lines have not been included. Another useful addition would have been the deck plans or cabin plans for at least a couple of vessels. Overall I found "100 Best Cruise Vacations" to be a useful resource for anybody trying to decide where to go next - or even for somebody who is still trying to decide whether cruising would be to their liking. Just be warned - most people get addicted after their first cruise - and if they chose the first one well, chances of getting addicted are probably close to 99%...