This book deals with a subject of huge importance in the international tourist industry on which little has been published. It examines the contemporary nature of cruising, its history, types of cruises and economics of the industry. The Cruise Experience is intended not just for students and teachers of tourism, wherever the subject is studied at tertiary level, but also for industry practitioners.

The Cruise Experience takes a different approach from other books on the subject. It offers another perspective by choosing many of its examples and case studies from the Asia Pacific. It also deals in detail with a number of vital and sometimes controversial aspects of the cruise experience; these include labour relations, destination development and cruise imagery. The latter, indeed, appears to have been almost totally ignored by most writers on the subject of cruising, and yet, as with other forms of travel and tourism, it forms an inescapable part of cruising’s appeal.

The book is divided into a number of Parts, each containing related sections. Part One provides a detailed examination of the contemporary nature of cruising, including such facets as the internal structure (physical and human) of a cruise ship, gambling, and health and safety. Part Two deals with the history of cruising as a leisure activity and the development of cruise regions or destinations, concentrating on trends and on major developments.

Part Three offers a number of case studies from the Asia Pacific region illustrating varieties of cruise experience, from limited-range ocean cruising to river cruising. Parts Four and Five each deal in considerable detail with a single topic; the imagery of cruising and passenger behaviour respectively. Part Six provides a framework for, and a regional case study of, the economic impacts of cruise ship visits, while a conclusion considers the impact of international crises and makes a number of cautious predictions concerning the future of cruising.

Appendixes include a glossary of terms necessary to an understanding of cruising generally and a list of abbreviations used in the text.