New Berlitz Guide to River Cruising.

Just a little information for you this week regarding river cruises. A river cruise is widely considered to be the most civilised way to see the best of Europe, inviting passengers to relax in comfort as they glide through picturesque towns of historical Europe and soak up the scenery.

However, aficionados and connoisseurs aside it’s safe to say still a relatively unknown product to the masses who hear the word ‘cruise’ and instantly conjure up images of 5000 passenger superliners, casinos and rock climbing walls.

Nothing could be further from the truth and until now there has not been any single ‘go-to’ publication or reference guide to help us make a choice and provide us with the information we need to fully understand the product.

In fact until now there has never been an official star rating system for river cruise vessels and it has been impossible to differentiate between them. Any star rating quoted in brochures has been based purely on the opinion of the company selling the holiday.

That’s all to change with Douglas Ward’s remarkable brand new work, Berlitz: River Cruising in Europe to be published June 2014. Ward has based the system on the tried and tested structure that he uses when evaluating and rating ocean-going ships for his annual bible Berlitz: Cruising & Cruise Ships which, in September 2014, celebrates its 30th year of publication.

A must-have for those who are considering a river cruise, the guide independently rates 280 vessels, the overall experience,  whether budget or deluxe, accommodation and cuisine so that potential river cruisers can make an informed decision, avoid expensive pitfalls and feel more confident about the product in general.

Considered the world’s foremost authority of cruising, having spent more than 45 years working in the cruise industry, Douglas Ward travels up to 200 days each year aboard the world’s ocean-going cruise ships and river cruise vessels.

Commenting on the results, Douglas Ward, said, “In the past, booking a river cruise has been a bit hit and miss. This book is a culmination of many years of work, following a constant round of sailings and observation. I hope that it helps those who want to book a cruise to cut through the brochure hype, whether they are looking to enjoy fabulous food or great comfort.”

Personally I think it’s a great idea and this new publication from Douglas Ward will go a long way in removing the uncertainty and apprehension many people feel when thinking of river cruises.

I believe this can only stimulate further what is currently the fastest growing sector of the UK cruise market, so what are you waiting for, go grab yourself a copy!