"Steven Stern has an encyclopedic knowledge of the cruise world in general and riverboat-and barge- cruising in particular, with a great understanding of the different lines and their products. This guide is a must for both new and veteran riverboat and barge travelers."

-World of Cruising Magazine

"Finally someone has written a definitive travel guide covering an ever growing and popular, yet seldom covered, segment of the cruise industry. This is compulsory reading for anyone interested in a riverboat or barge cruise."

-Official Steamship Guide International

Steven B. Stern is the ultimate authority on all forms of cruising. Having written 24 annual editions of the universally acclaimed "Stern's Guide to the Cruise Vacation", he has now produced a guide devoted exclusively to the riverboat and barge experience. The popularity of riverboat explorations throughout Europe has grown expeditiously over the past few years and has become the newest "hot" segment of the cruise market. Leisurely sojourns on hotel barges on the waterways of France and other European countries also are becoming popular among seasoned cruisers seeking a more intimate and tranquil vacation.

This comprehensive guide lists descriptive information for every European riverboat and hotel barge, including vital statistics, stateroom size, descriptions of public areas, dining and shipboard facilities, and itineraries. Each vessel is evaluated as to comfort and luxury. Hundreds of photos of the vessels exterior and interiors are included, as well as sample menus and daily programs.

Several chapters are devoted to descriptions of the cities and villages visited by riverboats, and the regions and villages visited by hotel barges, along with descriptive photographs.

�This is the book with which to gain a full and thorough understanding of the wonderful world of cruising. Repeat cruisers and novices alike will gain from the volume of features--menus, daily schedules, photos, as well as details on every cruise ship and port of call throughout the world. This should be the encyclopedia for any cruise afi cionado.�

-World of Cruising

�People who�ve never cruised before-or those who have, but find themselves faced with a confusing onslaught of new ships-need to know a great deal, and this book goes a long way in providing it.�

-Chicago Tribune

�Stern�s Guide to The Cruise Vacation� is one of the most comprehensive authorities and a must have for both the novice and the seasoned cruiser.�

-Porthole Magazine

Steven B. Stern is the ultimate authority on luxury travel, especially cruise vacations. 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 specifi c 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 is the book with which to gain a full and thorough understanding of the wonderful world of cruising. Repeat cruisers and novices alike will gain from the volume of features--menus, daily schedules, photos, as well as details on every cruise ship and port of call throughout the world. This should be the encyclopedia for any cruise afi cionado.�

-World of Cruising

�People who�ve never cruised before-or those who have, but find themselves faced with a confusing onslaught of new ships-need to know a great deal, and this book goes a long way in providing it.�

-Chicago Tribune

�Stern�s Guide to The Cruise Vacation� is one of the most comprehensive authorities and a must have for both the novice and the seasoned cruiser.�

-Porthole Magazine

Steven B. Stern is the ultimate authority on luxury travel, especially cruise vacations. 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 specifi c 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.

“As much as I have traveled, I never knew so much about packing for a trip until I read this book. A fun and fast read!”

Willie L. Brown, Jr.
Mayor of San Francisco, 1996 – 2004

“As much as I have traveled, I never knew so much about packing for a trip until I read this book. A fun and fast read!”

Willie L. Brown, Jr.
Mayor of San Francisco, 1996 – 2004

“As much as I have traveled, I never knew so much about packing for a trip until I read this book. A fun and fast read!”

Willie L. Brown, Jr.
Mayor of San Francisco, 1996 – 2004

If ever there is a place on earth for a man that was as close toperfect as possible, it would have to be Thailand. This is a land thathas all the ingredients he could ever want for a life in paradise.A tropical beach lifestyle on a reasonable budget with all yourfavorite activities, incredible food, spectacular scenery, and beautifulwomen surrounding you. You might think it sounds too good to betrue, but this dream can absolutely be a reality, and this book is yourinsight to the many options you will have in Thailand. The information Ihave comprised has been test proven to guide a man to what I like tocall “the vacation of a lifetime.” Whether you just need a break or arelooking for a place to retire, this book will show you the way to get yourown piece of paradise.

If ever there is a place on earth for a man that was as close toperfect as possible, it would have to be Thailand. This is a land thathas all the ingredients he could ever want for a life in paradise.A tropical beach lifestyle on a reasonable budget with all yourfavorite activities, incredible food, spectacular scenery, and beautifulwomen surrounding you. You might think it sounds too good to betrue, but this dream can absolutely be a reality, and this book is yourinsight to the many options you will have in Thailand. The information Ihave comprised has been test proven to guide a man to what I like tocall “the vacation of a lifetime.” Whether you just need a break or arelooking for a place to retire, this book will show you the way to get yourown piece of paradise.

If ever there is a place on earth for a man that was as close toperfect as possible, it would have to be Thailand. This is a land thathas all the ingredients he could ever want for a life in paradise.A tropical beach lifestyle on a reasonable budget with all yourfavorite activities, incredible food, spectacular scenery, and beautifulwomen surrounding you. You might think it sounds too good to betrue, but this dream can absolutely be a reality, and this book is yourinsight to the many options you will have in Thailand. The information Ihave comprised has been test proven to guide a man to what I like tocall “the vacation of a lifetime.” Whether you just need a break or arelooking for a place to retire, this book will show you the way to get yourown piece of paradise.

No Description Available.

No Description Available.

How is this book different from all other Walt Disney World vacation planning books? We have condensed our first-hand knowledge of Walt Disney World down to an easy to read, easy to carry, informative guide to YOUR Walt Disney World vacation. We have included an extensive Hints, Tips & Clues section that should prove to be quite helpful both before and during your vacation. In this book you will find a lot of helpful information including various themed Walt Disney World park itineraries. These itineraries have been designed to make the best use of your time at each park.

How is this book different from all other Walt Disney World vacation planning books? We have condensed our first-hand knowledge of Walt Disney World down to an easy to read, easy to carry, informative guide to YOUR Walt Disney World vacation. We have included an extensive Hints, Tips & Clues section that should prove to be quite helpful both before and during your vacation. In this book you will find a lot of helpful information including various themed Walt Disney World park itineraries. These itineraries have been designed to make the best use of your time at each park.

Bags Out at Seven by Peg Harvey is a collection ofvignettes ofvarying lengths relating to people and places involved in traveling in tour groups. Ms. Harvey was a Tour Director for twenty seven years. She free-lanced during her entire career, working for five or more companies, in order to get a more varied travel experience.

These stories reflect many aspects of human nature as it relates to circumstances, both planned and spontaneous, which occur in the course of travel by any means, but in this book, travel in groups. They reflect on the differences in expectations oftravelers, some opting for adventure at any cost, any inconvenience, some wanting the ultimate luxury, again with no limitations. Some tours are structured for learning experiences, some for sharing cultural or hi storical background, some j ust for sheer enj oyment. And the people who book escorted tours are just as varied in personalities, interests and reactions.

The tales are not concentrated on specific countries or locations.. Although they do include interesting facets ofthe areas visited, the focus is primarily on people, and their reactions to different situations, events, occurrences and special occasions, most beyond their control.

The stories are not told in chronological order. They are not told in the order continents, countries, areas were visited. Rather, they are sectioned according to the happening involving one or more ofthe participants in the tour. They are all true stories, although some are composites ofdifferent people in the same or similar situations.

One section, entitled Pathos and Pain deals with individual physical problems brought about or exacerbated, by the rigors of travel and usually dealt with positively. Another, Flying - Eating - Sleeping includes mostly funny experiences with airline glitches, hotel shenanigans, and adventures or misadventures in dining.

Baggage Blues will bring to the reader’s mind all the problems with baggage inherent in traveling, most ofthem funny, especially as one can relate to them personally. Oops! refers to individual or group behavior which created inconvenience, fright and j ust plain careless boo-boos . Most o f these happenings are funny, some bordering on the ridiculous Enduring Friendships is relatively self-explanatory. Many people on tours, as well as the tour leader, discover common bonds or shared histories that bring a closeness that continues long after the tour has ended. There are other sections dealing with the strengths and frailties ofhuman beings, or successes and failures of products and services. Hopefully, there is enough description in each vignette of the areas visited to stimulate interest for travel to new and interesting places and new and exciting adventures.

As noted, most of the vignettes are humorous, but a few are poignant; sad, but heart warming, some evoke pride, some simply explore personalities as they relate to travel and to other people. All are entertaining.

This is the type of book that can be picked up and read at any time, and put down just as easily. There is no continuous narrative. The reader can choose the vignettes he would like to read, and finish them - one or more, in one sitting. They are stories which can be read and reread to firmly absorb the facts, and to happily reflect on the silly, serious, warmth and sometimes indifference of our fellow man.

Traveling in tour groups is very often maligned as being too regimented, leaving little room for personal interests and exploration, and very tiring. It is true that planned tours are not for everyone. However, for sheer scope of the experience with more time enjoying the attraction than spent driving around looking for it, group travel has no parallel. It goes without saying that group travel is also a money-saver, given the discounts afforded to volume business by airlines, hotels and restaurants, which are passed on to the consumer/traveler by the tour agency.

Sometimes there is concern that not all of the tour members will be pleasant, likeable or amenable to group, or any, travel. Of course, there are isolated instances of obstreperous people whose goal seems to be making everyone else unhappy. This is often the case when a disgruntled spouse is on the tour because of the pleadings, threats, promises of their partner. A seasoned Tour Director can, often with a little reverse psychology and flattery bring about a reversal in attitude.

This book, therefore, is planned, not only to entertain with a little education thrown in, but to encourage people to at least give tour travel a fair trial. In most cases people who do are sold on this method of travel, or use it as a preliminary to further travel in a leisurely and independent fashion to locations of particular interest.

The author, of course, is a proponent of group travel, and even in her personal travels, now geared primarily to seeing places she did not visit as a Tour Director, this is her method of choice.

Bags Out at Seven by Peg Harvey is a collection ofvignettes ofvarying lengths relating to people and places involved in traveling in tour groups. Ms. Harvey was a Tour Director for twenty seven years. She free-lanced during her entire career, working for five or more companies, in order to get a more varied travel experience.

These stories reflect many aspects of human nature as it relates to circumstances, both planned and spontaneous, which occur in the course of travel by any means, but in this book, travel in groups. They reflect on the differences in expectations oftravelers, some opting for adventure at any cost, any inconvenience, some wanting the ultimate luxury, again with no limitations. Some tours are structured for learning experiences, some for sharing cultural or hi storical background, some j ust for sheer enj oyment. And the people who book escorted tours are just as varied in personalities, interests and reactions.

The tales are not concentrated on specific countries or locations.. Although they do include interesting facets ofthe areas visited, the focus is primarily on people, and their reactions to different situations, events, occurrences and special occasions, most beyond their control.

The stories are not told in chronological order. They are not told in the order continents, countries, areas were visited. Rather, they are sectioned according to the happening involving one or more ofthe participants in the tour. They are all true stories, although some are composites ofdifferent people in the same or similar situations.

One section, entitled Pathos and Pain deals with individual physical problems brought about or exacerbated, by the rigors of travel and usually dealt with positively. Another, Flying - Eating - Sleeping includes mostly funny experiences with airline glitches, hotel shenanigans, and adventures or misadventures in dining.

Baggage Blues will bring to the reader’s mind all the problems with baggage inherent in traveling, most ofthem funny, especially as one can relate to them personally. Oops! refers to individual or group behavior which created inconvenience, fright and j ust plain careless boo-boos . Most o f these happenings are funny, some bordering on the ridiculous Enduring Friendships is relatively self-explanatory. Many people on tours, as well as the tour leader, discover common bonds or shared histories that bring a closeness that continues long after the tour has ended. There are other sections dealing with the strengths and frailties ofhuman beings, or successes and failures of products and services. Hopefully, there is enough description in each vignette of the areas visited to stimulate interest for travel to new and interesting places and new and exciting adventures.

As noted, most of the vignettes are humorous, but a few are poignant; sad, but heart warming, some evoke pride, some simply explore personalities as they relate to travel and to other people. All are entertaining.

This is the type of book that can be picked up and read at any time, and put down just as easily. There is no continuous narrative. The reader can choose the vignettes he would like to read, and finish them - one or more, in one sitting. They are stories which can be read and reread to firmly absorb the facts, and to happily reflect on the silly, serious, warmth and sometimes indifference of our fellow man.

Traveling in tour groups is very often maligned as being too regimented, leaving little room for personal interests and exploration, and very tiring. It is true that planned tours are not for everyone. However, for sheer scope of the experience with more time enjoying the attraction than spent driving around looking for it, group travel has no parallel. It goes without saying that group travel is also a money-saver, given the discounts afforded to volume business by airlines, hotels and restaurants, which are passed on to the consumer/traveler by the tour agency.

Sometimes there is concern that not all of the tour members will be pleasant, likeable or amenable to group, or any, travel. Of course, there are isolated instances of obstreperous people whose goal seems to be making everyone else unhappy. This is often the case when a disgruntled spouse is on the tour because of the pleadings, threats, promises of their partner. A seasoned Tour Director can, often with a little reverse psychology and flattery bring about a reversal in attitude.

This book, therefore, is planned, not only to entertain with a little education thrown in, but to encourage people to at least give tour travel a fair trial. In most cases people who do are sold on this method of travel, or use it as a preliminary to further travel in a leisurely and independent fashion to locations of particular interest.

The author, of course, is a proponent of group travel, and even in her personal travels, now geared primarily to seeing places she did not visit as a Tour Director, this is her method of choice.