Already considered "the bible of the cruise industry," the new Ocean Cruising & Cruise Ships 2004 rates more than 256 major and minor ships cruising the word's oceans and waterways. Providing all the advice the first-time or experienced passenger will ever need, this is the essential guide to choosing the perfect cruise. Loaded with comparative charts and in-depth analysis, Ocean Cruising & Cruise Ships is relied upon by more than 35,000 North American travel agents who use its unsurpassed data and recommendations to ensure the best possible fit for their clients. Author Douglas Ward is considered one of the world's foremost authorities on cruising and cruise ships. As President of the Maritime Evaluations Group, an independent agency that rates cruise ships worldwide, he spends 10 months of every year shipboard and has logged nearly 5,000 days at sea in his 30 years of exploring ocean liners with tape measure in hand.