Customer Reviews
Not very insightful or helpful - By: Gary Bembridge, 14 Oct 2004 
From the title you are led to expect the most amazing & insightful tips & ideas. The ones that will be like little bits of gold nuggets for 1st time cruisers, or even the most experienced.
However, what you get are some fairly general & fairly basic common sense lists that are as applicable to personal safety & any trip. It reads more like the "lists of" things you get in magazines that are space fillers & "fluff".
I think the problem lies in the fact that he is trying to serve too wide a target audience & so ends up probably not satisfying anyone. If you are looking for some light reading that will take a few minutes then this book is for you. If you are looking for real help & guidance on how to go about getting the most about cruising, then this book is not for you.
Just general knowledge - By: Gary Bembridge, 01 Oct 2004 
I was very disapointed with this book. The concept sounded great, but the problem is that there is no real substance & no real true insight. Perhaps the problem is that he is trying to write a book that is covering so much ground & has to apply to a vast array of ships, types of cruises & different levels of travellers of varied experience & so fallls "between two stools". It takes almost no time to read & I felt somewhat let down as it was just a series of very general things about travel. I think this concept will only work if they were much more targeted e.g. A Guide to First Time Cruisers on Carnival Ships/ Guide for more expereinced cruisers to get more out of their cruise on Cunard ships etc
A cute rendition of common sense. - By: , 05 Jul 1999 Not only is this book little (literallly), it contains facts even novice cruisers are aware of (such as myself). Occasionallly, I felt as though some of the comments were condescending, don't do this, do do that..., etc. There were a few nice ideas in the book but overalll I was disappointed in the quality of the book & for paying extra to have it shipped faster to me.
A first-time cruisers cruise bible! - By: , 06 Feb 1999 
My wife & I are planning our first cruise, & what a great surprise to read The Essential Little Cruise Book. Jim West has a hit, & I am sure anyone who reads this, & is planning their first cruise, will find the information to be more helpful than anything your travel agent could ever tell you. I have recommended it to people I know, & have even callled his travel agency in Illinois to have him personallly plan my next cruise. Here's his toll free number if anyone else would like to calll him. 800-708-0880
A first-time cruisers cruise bible! - By: , 06 Feb 1999 My wife & I are planning our first cruise, & what a great surprise to read The Essential Little Cruise Book. Jim West has a hit, & I am sure anyone who reads this, & is planning their first cruise, will find the information to be more helpful than anything your travel agent could ever tell you. I have recommended it to people I know, & have even callled his travel agency in Illinois to have him personallly plan my next cruise. Here's his toll free number if anyone else would like to calll him. 800-708-0880
