The advantage with TravelPages 'Readers Reviews' is that you get read a range of different peoples opinion.

It is very interesting how two people can have totally different opinions of the same ship. For example see the two reviews of Fred.Olsen's 'Black Watch'!

I find the Star system useful when talking to travel agents or clients - it helps give them a point of reference but I don't use the guide for much else.

- ratings are very subjective

- he is rating the same ship over years with different points but his comments stayed the same

- he often mentions operators or lines which are no more actual about a ship for more than 1 year

- he mentions things which already have changed on a ship long time ago and are no more actual

- he prooved with his famous rating about the DEUTSCHLAND that somewhere there must be a mistake in his system.

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Originally posted by Jekyll:
I've decided his thing is Bread Rolls and wrap around promenade decks...

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Mr. ward also enjoys a good selection of Cheeses!

Frommer's, Unofficial Guide to Cruises... and even Fieldings are much better guides.
Though, if you are looking for ships not particularly well-known in North America.... Berlitz does have the most comprehensive listing.

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Originally posted by JulPau9:
ICan someone tell me what makes a wrap around promenade so desireable?
Paul

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No I can't, but never the less, I like them too! However, there are great ships without wrap around proms.

The problem with books like 'Berlitz' is that some people think that if its in a book, it must be fact! It's a book full of opinions - that's all.

Maybe Joe should publish 'Readers Reviews'?

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Originally posted by Patrick:
...he prooved with his famous rating about the DEUTSCHLAND that somewhere there must be a mistake in his system.

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Yes, I recall that Peter Deilmann did not agree with Wards comments/rating on the Deutschland. Of course Ward is entitled to his opinion.

What was the outcome of all this fuss?

On a positive note, I enjoy the book because even though it's one persons opinion, it does not sugar coat. I've been on many of the ships he has reviewed (over 40 cruises in all), and while I don't always agree with his remarks, I can appreciate them. I also like the drawing of each ship and the statistics. He includes many ships that other publications do not.

Interesting that some of you mentioned DEUTSCHLAND, as this beautiful ship is no where to be found in the Berlitz 2001 edition. There are several other errors as well, such as stating there is a "Dramatic three-deck-high glass enclosed health spa" on the FANTASY. To my knowledge, the race for the largest health spa has not reached three levels on any ship!

In closing, it's still an enjoyable book regardless of your agreement or disagreement with Mr. Wards opinions.

Ernest Roller
Atlanta, GA

It's probably all the free Champagne!

Interesting that some of you mentioned DEUTSCHLAND, as this beautiful ship is no where to be found in the Berlitz 2001 edition.

Ward made some mistakes when rating the Deutschland, but the 4 or 5 stars are
an opinion and subjective, not objective.

I buy Berlitz each year in English, and it is an good book, but not without some mistakes.

In the 1999 Edition in English, Deutschland is rated 4 Stars plus with 1656 points.

For the Medium Ships with 500-1000 passengers, this is Wards 8th best rating.

He misses Jogging track and private balconies.

German First Class Passengers however will never miss or expect an Jogging track on an Cruise ship.

They want good food on their taste (no burgers, pizzas), comfortable cabins with good shower and beds, good Entertainment
(No "Mickey Mouse"), Cleanliness, good service.

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He misses Jogging track and private balconies.
German First Class Passengers however will never miss or expect an Jogging track on an Cruise ship.

They want good food on their taste (no burgers, pizzas), comfortable cabins with good shower and beds, good Entertainment
(No "Mickey Mouse"), Cleanliness, good service.

They do not want round-the-clock-Entertainment, fast food,
Jogging tracks, loud and often announcements.[/B]

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BRAVO!!
I am a yank with a francophile slant in regard to cruise ships! But I would love to sail on Deutschland. I totally agree with the sentiments on what constitutes amenities on a ship!!

"Jogging tracks" Jeeze. Was anyone on the summer Rembrandt cruise Baltimore to Halifax and return?

Then you must remember "Twinkeltoes" a "fitness-at-all-costs", female with the latest in jogging gear, water bottle, all the showplace stuff, who pounded around the promnade deck all day, making life miserable for those of us sluggards who were in the lounge below.

By the sounds of her foot impacts, I expected to see someone of the dimmensions of a sumo wrestler until I ran some time trials and identified the lady who was shaking the light fixtures on the deck below with her pounding!

The prom deck is for promenading, not jogging, and I was delighted to see a "rolling blockade" of senior strollers who succeeded in containing slowing course by (innocently of course) slowing her down at strategic checkpoints!!

She was furious! I was delighted!

So if the Berlitz weenie wishes to dowgrade ships which lack jogging tracks - more power to him!!!

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Originally posted by patriciaq:
What is a wrap around promenade deck?? (Forgive me - I am new at this cruisin thing)

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No problem! It's a promenade deck that allows you to walk 360 degrees around the entire ship. So modern ships onlt have partial prom decks.

As I've said before a 'wrap-around' is nice, but its absence would not ruin my cruise!