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Summary

A cruise is a complete vacation, so it's important that you choose the one that's right for you. Frommer's Cruises & Ports of Call is the most user-friendly, opinionated, and comprehensive guide you can buy before you set sail. We provide in-depth coverage on cruises departing from U.S. ports to the Caribbean, Alaska, Bermuda, Mexico and Canada.Unlike rating systems used in other guides, our system is simple. We break down the essential elements of a cruise experience (dining, activities, children's activities, entertainment, service, overall enjoyment, and overall value), and rate them from "poor" to "outstanding." Photos of each ship combine with the text to give a better sense of the very real differences among the various lines.Most important, this is the only cruise guide that provides the real prices people pay for cruises, not just the rack rates. Other guides tell you that a seven-night cruise aboard Norwegian's Norwegian Jewel costs $2,299. You can pay that if you want to, but only Frommer's tells you that the same cruise is selling for $764. We give both the rack rates and the discount price for every cruise we review. This feature alone makes Frommer's Cruises and Ports of Call by far the most valuable trip-planning book among cruise guides.Our authors, noted cruise experts who've personally checked out every ship sailing in and around North America, offer candid and unbiased opinions on them all. They are completely up to date, with all the latest developments and the newest ships. You'll also get complete coverage of the major port destinations, with advice on how to spend your limited time ashore.

Author Biography

Heidi Sarna is a freelance writer who has sailed the oceans blue for more than a decade, often with her young twin sons and lucky husband in tow. Coauthor of Frommer’s European Cruises & Ports of Call and a contributor to several other guidebooks, she also writes regular travel columns for Frommers.com. She’s written for many magazines, newspapers, and websites, including Forbes Traveler, the International Herald Tribune, Condé Nast Traveler, Gourmet, Parenting, Brides, Modern Bride, the Boston Herald, and Travel Weekly.

Matt Hannafin is a freelance writer, editor, and musician based in Portland, Oregon. Coauthor of Frommer’s European Cruises & Ports of Call, he also contributes to dozens of books, newspapers, magazines, and websites, including Frommers.com, Gourmet, Modern Bride, the Boston Herald, Travel Weekly, Porthole, and Avid Cruiser. In 2007 he was a major contributor to the book 1,000 Places to See in the U.S.A. & Canada Before You Die, writing nearly a quarter of the entries. His editing clients include U.N. agencies, book publishers, and major consultancy firms, and his musical activities range from teaching Persian classical percussion to performances of contemporary free improvisation.

List of Maps	p. viii
Cruising 2008: Big Boats, Big Business	p. 1
The Best of Cruising	p. 5
Our Favorite Mainstream Ships	p. 5
Best Luxury Cruises	p. 5
The Most Romantic Cruises	p. 6
Best Cruises for Families with Kids	p. 7
Best Cruises for Pure Relaxation	p. 8
Best Dining Experiences	p. 9
Best Cruises for the Party Set	p. 10
Best Beaches	p. 10
Best Small-Ship Adventure Cruises	p. 11
Best History & Learning Cruises	p. 11
Best Cruises for Sports Nuts & Gym Rats	p. 12
Best Ships for Spa-Goers	p. 13
Best Shopping Ports	p. 14
Planning, Booking & Preparing for Your Cruise
Choosing Your Ideal Cruise	p. 19
Homeland Cruise Regions in Brief	p. 19
Itineraries: The Long & the Short of It	p. 23
Different Boats for Different Folks	p. 24
Ship Size Comparisons	p. 26
Cruises for Families	p. 28
Family Cruising Tips	p. 29
Cruises for Honeymooners & Anniversary Couples	p. 31
Getting Married on Board or in Port	p. 32
Cruises for Gay Men & Lesbians	p. 33
Active Travel & Adventure Cruises	p. 34
Cruises for the Young & Old	p. 35
Cruises for People with Disabilities & Health Issues	p. 36
Onboard Medical Care	p. 37
Booking Your Cruise & Getting the Best Price	p. 38
The Caribbean: A Bargain Hunter's Dream	p. 38
The Prices in This Guide	p. 39
The Cost: What's Included & What's Not	p. 39
Price Comparisons: Discounted Rates vs. Brochure Rates	p. 40
Money-Saving Strategies	p. 45
Average Cost of Onboard Extras	p. 45
Agents & the Web: Finding the Best Deals	p. 47
Be Savvy & Beware of Scams	p. 48
Recommended Agencies & Websites	p. 49
Choosing Your Cabin	p. 51
Model Cabin Layouts	p. 53
Reading a Ship's Deck Plan	p. 54
Booking Your Air Travel	p. 56
Prebooking Your Dinner Table & Arranging Special Diets	p. 57
Booking Pre- & Post-Cruise Hotel Stays	p. 58
Cancellations & Insurance	p. 58
Putting Down a Deposits Reviewing Tickets	p. 60
Things to Know Before You Go	p. 62
Passports & Visas	p. 62
Money Matters	p. 63
Keeping in Touch While at Sea	p. 64
Packing for the Different Cruise Climates	p. 65
Tipping, Customs & Other End-of-Cruise Concerns	p. 70
The Cruise Experience	p. 73
Checking In, Boarding & Settling into Your Cabin	p. 73
A Brief History of Cruising	p. 74
Exploring the Ports of Call: Shore Excursions vs. Going It on Your Own	p. 77
A Typical Day at Sea: Onboard Activities	p. 78
Keeping Fit: Gyms, Spas & Sports	p. 81
Programs for Kids & Teens	p. 84
Onboard Dining Options	p. 84
Onboard Entertainment	p. 89
Shopping Opportunities on Ship & Shore	p. 91
The Cruise Lines & Their Ships
The Ratings & How to Read Them	p. 95
Cruise Line Categories	p. 95
Reading the Reviews & Ratings	p. 95
Evaluating & Comparing the Listed Cruise Prices	p. 97
Ships at a Glance	p. 98
The Mainstream Lines	p. 110
Mini-Review: Azamara Cruises	p. 111
Carnival Cruise Lines	p. 112
Celebrity Cruises	p. 136
Costa Cruises	p. 150
Disney Cruise Line	p. 158
Holland America Line	p. 157
Imperial Majesty Cruise Line	p. 187
MSC Cruises	p. 192
Norwegian Cruise Line	p. 199
Why NCL Owns Hawaii	p. 201
Oceania Cruises	p. 219
Princess Cruises	p. 225
Still the Love Boat	p. 227
Royal Caribbean International	p. 245
The Ultraluxury Lines	p. 269
Crystal Cruises	p. 270
Cunard	p. 281
Preview: Queen Victoria	p. 287
Regent Seven Seas Cruises	p. 291
Seabourn Cruise Line	p. 300
SeaDream Yacht Club	p. 307
Silversea Cruises	p. 315
Small Ships, Sailing Ships & Adventure Cruises	p. 323
Mini-Review: American Canadian Caribbean Line	p. 326
American Cruise Lines	p. 327
Mini-Review: American Safari Cruises	p. 334
Cruise West	p. 335
Lindblad Expeditions	p. 345
The Maine Windjammers	p. 349
Majestic America Line	p. 359
Mini-Review: RiverBarge Excursions	p. 369
Mini-Review: Sea Cloud Cruises	p. 370
Star Clippers	p. 372
Windjammer Barefoot Cruises	p. 379
Windstar Cruises	p. 390
The Ports
The Ports of Embarkation	p. 403
Choosing a Chain	p. 404
Anchorage, Alaska	p. 404
Baltimore, Maryland	p. 409
Boston, Massachusetts	p. 414
Cape Canaveral & Cocoa Beach, Florida	p. 420
Charleston, South Carolina	p. 427
Fort Lauderdale, Florida	p. 432
Galveston, Texas	p. 436
Los Angeles, California	p. 440
Miami, Florida	p. 448
Montreal, Quebec	p. 454
New Orleans, Louisiana	p. 459
New York City, New York	p. 465
New York's Best Pizza	p. 474
Norfolk, Virginia	p. 475
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	p. 480
San Diego, California	p. 486
San Francisco, California	p. 494
Seattle, Washington	p. 501
Tampa, Florida	p. 506
Vancouver, British Columbia	p. 511
The Caribbean, The Bahamas & the Panama Canal	p. 517
The Cruise Lines' Private Islands	p. 518
Antigua	p. 524
Aruba	p. 527
The Bahamas: Nassau & Freeport	p. 531
Barbados	p. 537
Belize	p. 539
British Virgin Islands: Tortola & Virgin Gorda	p. 542
A Slice of Paradise: Jost Van Dyke	p. 544
Cozumel & the Yucatan Peninsula	p. 546
Curacao	p. 555
Dominica	p. 558
Grand Cayman	p. 561
Grand Turk	p. 563
Grenada	p. 566
Jamaica	p. 568
Montego Bay Golf Excursions	p. 572
Key West	p. 573
Martinique	p. 577
Martinique Golf Excursions	p. 580
Nevis	p. 580
The Panama Canal	p. 582
Puerto Rico	p. 585
San Juan as a Port of Embarkation	p. 586
Walking Tour: Old San Juan	p. 587
Puerto Rico Golf Excursions	p. 592
St. Barts	p. 592
St. Kitts	p. 594
St. Lucia	p. 596
St. Martin/Sint Maarten	p. 599
U.S. Virgin Islands: St. Thomas & St. John	p. 603
Alaska & British Columbia	p. 609
Cruising Alaska's Natural Wonders	p. 610
Glaciers: An Intro to the Ice	p. 614
Cruisetours-'Cause All Alaska Ain't on Water	p. 616
Haines	p. 617
Icy Strait Point	p. 619
Juneau	p. 620
Ketchikan	p. 624
Sitka	p. 626
Skagway	p. 630
Victoria, British Columbia	p. 633
The Mexican Riviera & Baja	p. 636
Acapulco	p. 636
Cabo San Lucas	p. 639
Small-Ship Cruises in Baja's Sea of Cortez	p. 641
Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo	p. 643
Mazatlan	p. 645
Mazatlan Golf Excursions	p. 647
Puerto Vallarta	p. 648
Bermuda	p. 652
Hamilton	p. 654
St. George's	p. 656
Royal Naval Dockyard	p. 657
Hawaii	p. 658
Oahu	p. 660
If You're Embarking in Honolulu	p. 662
Kauai	p. 664
Maui	p. 666
The Big Island	p. 669
New England & Eastern Canada	p. 674
Bar Harbor, Maine	p. 676
Halifax, Nova Scotia	p. 678
The Small Ports of New England & Eastern Canada	p. 580
Newport, Rhode Island	p. 682
Quebec City, Quebec	p. 685
Saint John, New Brunswick	p. 687
U.S. River Cruise Routes	p. 690
The California Wine Country	p. 690
The Columbia & Snake Rivers, Pacific Northwest	p. 692
The Hudson River, Erie Canal & Great Lakes	p. 695
The Mississippi River System	p. 697
Index	p. 702
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

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