The Cruise Ship Phenomenon in North America

Rating:
Summary: Fascinating
Review: As you can imagine from the title, this book is for people who are fascinated with cruise ships or the industry and have a penchant for details. Not everyone needs to know that the Carnival Destiny was the largest cruise ship afloat- for less than a year. If you do though, this book is for you. There is equal parts of the history of each of the major cruise lines and the history of the ships they own and operate. The chapter near the end about the construction process is fascinating. If you are looking for tipping guidelines for the wait staff you have the wrong book. If you want to be the only person on your cruise that knows where you ship was built and its propulsion system, this book is a must.

Rating:
Summary: The Complete History of all Major Cruise Lines
Review: Mr. Cudahy's book is a historical review of the development which started in the late sixties. He covers the history of all major cruise lines (Carnival, RCI, Princess, NCL, HAL, Cunard and Seabourn, Celebrity and some others) in much detail. Even cruise lines which have left the trade are mentioned, like Admiral Cruises or Commodore Cruise Line for instance.
Other chapters deal with fleet management, the building of cruise ships or environmental regulations. The information given here is rather superficial. I wonder, whom the book is adressed to? The historian, the cruise insider, the experienced passenger, the potential passenger the travel agents or the ship buffs?
I miss some information on how the cruise lines are positioned in the market and if they succeeded in getting the image anticipated. Mr. Cudahy only mentions the facts, visible to anybody observing the cruise market. Any reasons for this PHENOMENON to happen are not given. This costs one star of the rating.
A very extensive Appendix A (almost 100 pages - out of 366) gives technical details on ALL cruise ships (past and present).
Rather strange is Appendix B in which the location of 156 vessels at high noon on July 4, 2000 is mentioned (Example: Carinval Triumph: At sea, 7-night western Caribbean cruise from Miami). Does that make sense?
The rather limited number of pictures (all b/w) and the poor quality of the paper (the pictures have almost no contrast) resulted in the loss of another star.

The book can only be recommeded to people who are interested in the facts of the historic development of the cruise industry in North America.

Rating:
Summary: The Cruise Ship Phenomenon in North America
Review: Outstanding book for cruise buffs who enjoy the history of the pleasure cruise industry.