The Berlitz Cruising and Cruise Ships 2019 launches Official Chinese edition in China
The Berlitz Cruising and Cruise Ships guide officially launched a Chinese version of the highly respected book during IBTM China in Beijing on 28 August in response to booming development of the cruise industry in Asia and especially the expansion of Chinese source markets.
The Berlitz Cruising and Cruise Ships is the much-acclaimed cruising bible by Douglas Ward, an eminent cruise expert and stringent critic who has worked in the cruise industry for over 50 years and averages nearly 200 days a year on cruise ships, and the translation will serve a readership of Chinese travellers and industry stakeholders
Since the launch of its first edition in 1985, the Berlitz Cruising and Cruise Guide has been meticulously updated every year.
The 34th edition of the Berlitz Cruising and Cruise Guide in 2019 contains unbiased reviews and fascinating details on almost 300 ocean-going cruise vessels and grades them on service, food, entertainment and facilities, using an internationally recognised rating system. The book has received numerous accolades in the media, including from the Daily News in New York which urged its readers to ‘Read before cruising’.
“Today, due to the astounding growth of cruise choices, it has become more difficult for people who have never taken a cruise before, to choose the right ship and cruise company, for the right reasons. As the book’s author, it has always been my intention to help people make informed decisions about all the many ships and cruise companies now available.” said Mr. Douglas Ward.
“The cruise industry in Asia has experienced extensive growth, led by China as the world’s second largest source market, and it is my goal for the Chinese edition of this book to serve as the definitive guide for the rapidly growing cruise community of cruise travellers in the region.”
The Chinese edition of the Berlitz Cruising and Cruise Guide (2019) offers a comprehensive overview on the development of the cruise industry across the world, as well as on different types of cruise holidays, themes and experiences. The book guides readers through the process of selecting the most suitable cruise holiday to cater to their needs, covering cruise fleets of all sizes and is a useful resource for first-time cruisers, as well as an indispensable training and marketing tool for industry stakeholders.
Every ship in the guide has been carefully evaluated, based on personal cruises and on board visits and are scored in six main categories including ship, accommodations, food, entertainment, service and cruise experience that are divided into 20 major areas, each with a possible 100 points. The maximum possible score for any ship is 2,000 points. “The book has no advertising support or sponsorship of any kind, and is not connected with any cruise company,” added Mr. Douglas Ward.
Among the Top 10 Large Resort Ships in the world, which have a capacity of 2,500 passengers and above, Queen Mary 2 of Cunard Cruises topped the list with 1,683 points, while the 2nd to 6th place were awarded to TUI Cruises’ Mein Schiff series of ships. Dream Cruises’ sister ships, Genting Dream and World Dream, which debuted in 2016 and 2017 respectively, and with current homeports in Guangzhou (Nansha), Hong Kong and Singapore, were jointly ranked 7th on the list with 1,659 points and a 4.5 stars rating. Genting Dream and World Dream are also the only cruise ships with Asian-based operations on the list.
