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Introduction to our Choice of the Best Cruise Books
Whether you’re planning your next ultra-luxury voyage, dreaming about a world cruise, or simply want to immerse yourself in the golden age of ocean travel, the best cruise books can transport you straight to the promenade deck.
From insider crew stories to beautifully illustrated histories of legendary liners, the right cruise book doesn’t just inspire — it builds anticipation, deepens knowledge, and enhances the entire cruise experience.
In this guide, we’ve carefully curated the top cruise books to read in 2026 — perfect for seasoned cruisers, first-time luxury travellers, and maritime enthusiasts alike.
Let’s dive in.
★★ Pro Tip
Many experienced cruisers buy or download one or two of these before embarkation day — there is nothing quite like reading about ocean travel while watching the horizon from your suite balcony.
Insight Guides Cruising & Cruise Ships 2025
If you buy just one cruise book this year, make it this one.
This comprehensive guide covers modern cruise ships, itineraries, onboard experiences, and destination insights — making it ideal for travellers comparing luxury cruise lines or planning a bucket-list sailing.
The Insight Guides Cruising & Cruise Ships (formerly Berlitz Cruising and Cruise Ships) is one of the most important cruise books available. This best-seller is the cruise industry bible, and one of our favourites. It gives you all the information you need to choose the right cruise for you.
Why luxury cruisers love it:
- Helps you choose the right ship and itinerary
- Excellent for first-time luxury cruisers
- Packed with practical cruise planning advice
Meticulously updated every year by cruise expert Douglas Ward, it is divided into two main parts: the first helps you work out what you’re looking for in a cruise holiday and how to find it.
The lively text and colour photographs describe every aspect of life on board, including safety, the highs and lows of the cruise experience and how to save money.
Most importantly, it includes details of our favourite cruise lines, including Seabourn, Silversea Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, and Crystal Cruises.
The second part contains unbiased reviews and fascinating details of over 340 ocean-going cruise ships. It grades them on service, food, entertainment, and facilities using an internationally recognised rating system.
Related: Review of the Berlitz Cruise Ships and Cruising.
Check price and availability on Amazon — this is one guide you’ll refer back to repeatedly before every voyage
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- Insight Guides Cruising & Cruise Ships 2025 is written by Douglas Ward, the world's foremost authority on cruising and cruise ships
- Designed for cruise enthusiasts, it offers up-to-date information on 368 cruise ships across 408 pages
- Packed with expert advice, tailored recommendations, and ship reviews – including scores for ship quality, accommodation, food, service, and overall cruise experience – this edition provides everything travelers need to make informed decisions about cruising, all presented in a user-friendly format
- Previously known as Berlitz Cruising and Cruise Ships, this updated edition adopts a more streamlined approach
- The ship reviews are now more concise, offering key details in a nutshell, allowing readers to quickly grasp the essentials
The Cruise Handbook by Lonely Planet
Books from the Lonely Planet are always very popular – and this one is no exception. Exploring the frozen Alaskan wilderness; spotting elephants and lions on a Botswana river safari; sailing through the mighty fjords in Scandinavia and New Zealand; island-hopping the Caribbean, rich in colonial plazas and white sand beaches. Cruising has never been more diverse.
This practical and inspiring cruise guide gives you the lowdown on the world of cruising. With essential advice and expert tips on everything from the types of cruises available, where to go and how to book a great deal, to packing and travelling with the family. This ultimate trip-planning tool also features the best destinations for beaches, adventure, culture, chartering and more.
Designed for first-time cruisers and those looking for inspiration, The Cruise Handbook will help you discover the enormous range of voyages worldwide and help you find and book your perfect cruise. You’ll also discover how to get the most out of each port of call. A fun and interesting read, it’s packed with photos and top tips throughout.
- Exploring the frozen Alaskan wilderness; spotting elephants and lions on a Botswana river safari; sailing through the mighty fjords in Scandinavia and New Zealand; island-hopping the Caribbean, rich in colonial plazas and white sand beaches
- Cruising has never been more diverse
- This practical and inspiring guide gives you the lowdown on the wide world of cruises
- Get essential advice and expert tips on everything from the types of cruises available, where to go and how to book a great deal, to packing and travelling with the family
- This ultimate trip-planning tool also features the best destinations for beaches, adventure, culture, chartering and more
Cruise Confidential
This is another great cruise book. In Cruise Confidential, Brian David Bruns spills the dirt — or in this case, the dirty water — on those romantic, fun-filled vacations at sea.
His hilarious chronicle of the year he spent working for Carnival Cruise Lines takes readers into the areas where the crew work and live, leaving them gasping with laughter as they’re assaulted nonstop by events ranging from the absurd to the utterly bizarre. Stewards fighting over food, Cutlery allowances onboard and other nonsensical rules.
What the crew calls those onboard (no, it’s not “passengers”). And of course, the sex. An abundance of ready, willing, and able bodies eager for action on a vessel replete with nooks and crannies leads to love in some mighty strange, and seemingly impossible, places. Breezy, entertaining, and informative, Cruise Confidential is essential reading for those planning a cruise or for anyone who needs a good laugh.
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Cruise Confidential: A Hit Below the Waterline: Where the Crew Lives, Eats, Wars, and Parties -- One... | 754 Reviews | $10.75 | Buy on Amazon |
Frommers Easy Guide to River Cruising
Frommer’s EasyGuide to River Cruising is the first book on the market to cover this wildly popular vacation activity. The book contains opinionated, no-holds-barred reviews of all of the major, and many of the smaller, river cruise lines (including specific reviews of their varying ship classes).
These include advice on which boats offer the best value, which is best for luxury seekers, which will do the trick for foodies, which have high-tech amenities, and which don’t.
One chapter is only on booking: where can one find discounts, why one should use a travel agent, what’s the timing for reserving your cruise and more. In addition, the book will aid cruisers trying to choose the right river to sail, in chapters that span the globe.
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Frommer's EasyGuide to River Cruising | 104 Reviews |
$10.70 |
Buy on Amazon |
Rick Steves Mediterranean Cruise Ports
Rick’s expert advice on making the most of your time on a cruise and experiencing each city, with thorough coverage of 23 ports of call. Practical travel strategies include how to choose and book your cruise, adjusting to life on board, and saving money. With self-guided walks and tours of each port city so you can hit the best sights, sample local cuisine, and get to know the culture, even with a short amount of time.
Essential logistics include step-by-step instructions for arriving at each terminal, getting into town, and finding necessary services like ATMs and pharmacies.
Rick’s reliable tips and candid advice on how to beat the crowds, skip lines and avoid tourist traps
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Rick Steves Mediterranean Cruise Ports (Rick Steves Travel Guide) | 756 Reviews |
$27.99 |
Buy on Amazon |
Insight-Guides Alaskan Ports of Call
Plan your cruise, plan perfect itineraries and discover how to get around – this pocket-sized guide is a convenient, quick-reference companion to discovering what to do and see on a cruise around Alaska, from top attractions like the Misty Fjords to spotting wildlife in the Kenai Fjords National Park.
Fodor’s Caribbean Cruise Ports of Call
Whether you want to snorkel around one of the colourful coral reefs in Bonaire, explore historic Nelson’s Dockyard on Antigua, or shop ‘til you drop in St. Thomas, the local Fodor’s travel experts in Caribbean cruise ports are here to help! Fodor’s Caribbean Cruise Ports of Call guidebook is packed with maps, carefully curated recommendations, and everything else you need to simplify your trip-planning process and make the most of your time.
This new edition has been FULLY-REDESIGNED with an easy-to-read layout, fresh information, and beautiful color photos.
Covering Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Estonia, this fully updated guide is packed with expert advice on maximizing your time and budget. Rick highlights must-see icons like Tivoli Gardens, Viking museums, and dramatic fjords, while also pointing you toward lesser-known gems and authentic local experiences — from cozy hygge cafés to bustling Nordic food markets.
You’ll find practical itinerary planning tips, self-guided walking tours, honest recommendations on where to eat and stay, and detailed maps (including a handy fold-out version).
With comprehensive coverage of cities such as Copenhagen, Oslo, Bergen, Stockholm, Uppsala, and Helsinki, this guide is ideal for cruise passengers extending their trip or planning independent exploration in Scandinavia.
For cruisers who want to go beyond the port stop and truly experience the region, this book delivers exceptional value and insight.
Antarctica Cruising Guide
For anyone planning an expedition to the White Continent, this updated sixth edition Antarctica travel guide is an essential companion.
Packed with stunning full-colour photography, detailed maps, and expert wildlife descriptions, it brings the region’s dramatic landscapes and extraordinary wildlife to life — from penguins and seabirds to whales, seals, and other Antarctic mammals.
Written by experienced Antarctic scientists and expedition guides, the book offers authoritative insight into the continent’s ecosystems, conservation efforts, and political history.
Designed for travellers arriving by luxury liner, expedition cruise, or private yacht, it combines practical field-guide detail with engaging storytelling. The latest edition also explores the growing environmental challenges facing Antarctica — including climate change and microplastics — and guides how visitors can minimise their impact and help protect this fragile, awe-inspiring destination.
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Antarctica Cruising Guide: Sixth edition: Includes Antarctic Peninsula, Falkland Islands, South... | 18 Reviews |
$28.95 |
Buy on Amazon |
Best Cruise Tips: 303 Cruise Hacks
If winter has you dreaming of sunshine and turquoise seas, this practical cruise guide is your shortcut to a smoother, smarter vacation. And you will see why it appears on our Best Cruise Books list.
Packed with concise, no-nonsense cruise hacks, it reveals how to save money, avoid common mistakes, and make the most of every stage of your trip — from booking and packing to embarkation day, port visits, and disembarkation.
You’ll learn when to use a cruise-specialist travel agent, where to find the best cruise deals, how to cut onboard costs, and how to stay connected without overspending.
The guide also covers essential prep tips, smart packing strategies, and insider advice to help you maximize your time onboard and ashore. Whether you’re cruising for relaxation or diving into every activity and excursion, this book helps you create a stress-free, memorable holiday — while keeping more cash in your pocket.
If you want to plan smarter, avoid rookie errors, and enjoy more quality time with the people you’re traveling with, this cruise tips guide is a simple but powerful investment in your next adventure.
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Best Cruise Tips: 303 Cruise Hacks Saving You Time, Money & Frustration | 152 Reviews |
$9.99 |
Buy on Amazon |
Cruise Like a Pro: A Beginner’s Guide
This easy-to-follow handbook walks you through choosing the right itinerary, packing smart, and navigating the ship like a seasoned cruiser. You’ll get insider tips on maximizing shore excursions, organizing embarkation day, and making the most of your time at sea — all presented in a clear, beginner-friendly format.
Complete with helpful checklists and straightforward advice, it transforms cruising from something that feels overwhelming into an exciting, well-planned adventure. If you want your first cruise to be smooth, memorable, and genuinely enjoyable, this guide is a smart place to start.
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Cruise Like a Pro: A Beginner’s Guide to Your First Sea Voyage: Insider Tips and Tricks for a... | 35 Reviews |
$11.00 |
Buy on Amazon |
Hawaiian Islands Cruising and Adventure Guide
If you’re dreaming of island-hopping by sea, Hawaiian Islands Cruising and Adventure Guide by Diana (Ocean Breeze Adventures) is a comprehensive planning companion for both first-time and experienced cruisers.
Designed to eliminate overwhelm, this guide walks you through choosing the right cruise line and itinerary, selecting shore excursions that truly maximize limited port time, and making the most of onboard amenities.
With insider tips, interactive port maps, hidden Hawaiian gems, and a practical ultimate packing list, it helps you plan efficiently while avoiding common mistakes.
Drawing on more than 30 years of travel expertise, the author provides proven strategies to reduce stress, save time, and create meaningful island experiences. If you want to cruise Hawaii with confidence and make every shore day count, this guide is an essential addition to your planning toolkit.
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Hawaiian Islands Cruising and Adventure Guide: Smooth Sailing for New and Experienced Cruisers with... | 41 Reviews |
$16.99 |
Buy on Amazon |
Royal Caribbean Cruise Guide 2025-2026: 101+ Insider
Packed with 101+ practical tips, this up-to-date guide focuses on helping cruisers save money, avoid long lines, and unlock the very best onboard experiences. It covers everything from booking strategies — including money-saving rebooking tactics — to choosing the right ship class, selecting the best cabins (and avoiding noisy ones), and navigating dining venues like a pro.
You’ll also find step-by-step embarkation day plans, detailed advice for maximizing time on Royal Caribbean’s private destinations, and smart guidance on gratuities, onboard spending, and must-pack cruise essentials.
Ideal for first-time cruisers and seasoned Royal Caribbean fans alike, this guide aims to turn a potentially overwhelming mega-ship vacation into a smooth, stress-free, and value-packed experience.
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Royal Caribbean Cruise Guide 2025-2026: 101+ Insider Secrets to Save Money, Skip the Lines and... | 2 Reviews |
$18.99 |
Buy on Amazon |
The Essential Norwegian Cruise Line Travel Guide 2026
This comprehensive guide walks you through every stage of your cruise — from choosing the right itinerary and budgeting wisely to pre-cruise preparation, packing, and travel insurance. Onboard, it breaks down Norwegian’s Freestyle Cruising concept, cabin options, dining venues, entertainment, wellness facilities, and insider tips to help you make the most of ship life.
You’ll also find detailed destination overviews covering the Caribbean, Alaska, Europe, the Mediterranean, Asia, and beyond, along with practical shore excursion advice and sample itineraries. Bonus features include budget-saving hacks, packing lists, maps and ship layouts, travel planner pages, and even space to journal your cruise memories.
Tailored specifically for Norwegian Cruise Line guests, this guide aims to remove guesswork and help you cruise smarter, smoother, and with total confidence.
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The Essential Norwegian Cruise Line Travel Guide 2026: Complete Guidebook with Cabins, Dining,... | 6 Reviews |
$13.99 |
Buy on Amazon |
Carnival Cruise Tips for Families
If you’re planning a family sailing with Carnival Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Tips for Families: Create Hassle-Free Vacation Memories by Dale Stevens** is a practical guide to making your trip smooth, affordable, and genuinely memorable.
Focused specifically on cruising with kids and multi-generational groups — especially in the Caribbean — this book shares hard-earned lessons and proven strategies to help families avoid common mistakes and maximize value.
You’ll learn how to secure the best deals using the author’s F.A.S.T. approach, prepare properly for embarkation day, pack efficiently, and make the most of onboard programs like Camp Carnival.
Beyond logistics, the guide also covers ways to build excitement before you sail, manage expectations onboard, and create positive shared experiences that last long after the cruise ends.
For families who want less stress, fewer surprises, and more quality time together at sea, this book offers a straightforward roadmap to a fun-filled Carnival cruise vacation.
Alaska Travel Guide 2026
If Alaska is on your cruise itinerary — or topping your bucket list — Alaska Travel Guide 2026 by Sophia Glacier offers a clear, step-by-step blueprint for planning an unforgettable adventure.
Designed for both cruise passengers and independent travelers, this bestselling guide simplifies Alaska planning with practical road trip routes, smart cruise stop strategies, and essential digital maps included.
Whether you have a single port day in Juneau or Ketchikan, or two full weeks to explore Denali and beyond, the book helps you maximize your time without overspending or falling into tourist traps.
Inside, you’ll find advice on glacier hikes, whale watching, dog sledding, and northern lights viewing, plus transportation tips covering the Alaska Railroad, ferries, rental cars, and floatplanes. There are also packing lists for unpredictable weather, wildlife-spotting guidance, and recommendations for authentic local dining.
For cruisers and land explorers alike, this guide removes the overwhelm and replaces it with confidence — so you can experience Alaska’s glaciers, wildlife, and dramatic landscapes with a clear plan and zero guesswork.
Millie’s Cruise Ship Mysteries: Tiki Hut Tragedy
If you love cruising with a side of cozy mystery, Millie’s Cruise Ship Mysteries: Tiki Hut Tragedy by Hope Callaghan delivers tropical intrigue on the high seas.
In this sixth installment of the Cruise Director Millie series, the Siren of the Seas has returned to Miami after an Alaska season when a private floating tiki bar excursion turns deadly.
What appears to be a tragic accident quickly raises suspicions, and Cruise Director Millie Armati suspects foul play among a group of competitive eaters known as the “Belly Busters.”
As tensions rise and the ship approaches port, Millie must uncover the truth before a killer slips away unnoticed. Blending cruise ship life, colorful characters, and a fast-paced whodunit — plus a bonus recipe — this light, entertaining mystery is perfect for readers who enjoy their cruise fiction with a twist of suspense.
- Cruise Director Millie Mystery Series is the new spin-off series from the wildly popular Millie’s Cruise Ship Cozy Mysteries by Author Hope Callaghan
- When a passenger on a floating tiki bar excursion goes overboard, Millie suspects one of the woman’s fellow foodie contestants has an appetite for murder
- With the Siren of the Seas heading for port, can she solve the case before a killer disembarks undetected?BONUS: Recipe Included!After a busy season cruising the icy waters of Alaska, the Siren of the Seas returns to its tropical homeport in sunny Miami
- Group bookings are at an all-time high, and cruise director Millie Armati barely has time to catch her breath before the next wave of passengers board the ship
- Among them is a boisterous bunch of competitive eaters known as the Belly Busters, famous for traveling coast to coast devouring everything from chili to cheesecake in high-stakes food showdowns
Murder in the Lookout Lounge
If you enjoy lighthearted mysteries set at sea, Murder in the Lookout Lounge by Denise Jaden is a fun, fast-paced whodunit aboard a cruise ship.
In this second installment of the Olivia Ocean Cruise Ship Mysteries series, Olivia is settling into her creative role as a photographer on the Moonlit Majesty when she unexpectedly witnesses a murder during a lively family reunion sailing. Suddenly, her dream job turns into a high-stakes investigation.
With her camera as a key source of clues, help from her adorable sleuthing kitten Pickle, and assistance from the ship’s security manager, Olivia must uncover the culprit before another crime rocks the voyage. It’s an entertaining blend of cruise life, amateur sleuthing, and cozy suspense — perfect for mystery fans who love a nautical setting.
The Couple in Cabin 2124: A Patricia Fisher Mystery
When a crewmember dies after handing Patricia a cryptic note asking her to “save Anna,” she’s drawn into a dangerous investigation centered on the mysterious couple in cabin 2124. The trail leads from the luxury cruise ship to the vibrant streets and hidden corners of Tokyo, where secrets begin to unravel.
As Patricia races to uncover the truth behind the suicide and the elusive Anna, her personal life becomes equally complicated — with the ship’s charming captain showing interest and her estranged husband unexpectedly reappearing in Japan. Blending suspense, international intrigue, and emotional twists, this fast-paced cruise mystery delivers drama both onboard and ashore.
180 Years of Cunard
Published to mark the 180th anniversary of Cunard Line, the book traces the company’s evolution from pioneering transatlantic crossings to launching some of the largest and fastest ocean liners of their era. It also explores Cunard’s vital role during both world wars, when its ships carried thousands of troops in support of the Allied effort.
Updated with stories and developments from the modern fleet — including the current “Queens” — this richly illustrated volume combines archival photographs, historical insight, and contemporary updates. It’s an ideal read for cruise enthusiasts and maritime history fans who appreciate the enduring legacy of Cunard’s legendary ocean liners.
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180 Years of Cunard | 61 Reviews | $26.14 | Buy on Amazon |
Unofficial Guide to Disney Cruise Line 2026
This updated 2026 edition includes practical advice for first-time cruisers, from money-saving strategies and packing tips to choosing the right ship and itinerary. It also offers side-by-side comparisons with other cruise lines and even helps families decide between a Disney cruise and a Walt Disney World vacation.
Inside, you’ll find detailed breakdowns of stateroom categories (with updated floor plans), dining options, kids’ clubs, entertainment, and shopping onboard. The guide features in-depth coverage of Disney’s private island destinations — Castaway Cay and Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point — along with firsthand insights into the newest ships, including Disney Adventure and Disney Destiny.
With a clear planning timeline and updates on what’s ahead for Disney Cruise Line in 2027 and beyond, this guide helps families make confident choices and create a truly unforgettable cruise experience.
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The Unofficial Guide to Disney Cruise Line 2026 | 10 Reviews |
$22.99 |
Buy on Amazon |
Best Selling Cruise Books – Our Final Thoughts
Final Thoughts on the 20 Best-Selling Cruise Books Everyone Should Read
Whether you’re counting down to embarkation day or simply daydreaming about your next voyage, the right cruise book can completely elevate the experience. From practical cruise planning guides and money-saving playbooks to laugh-out-loud cozy mysteries set at sea and beautifully illustrated maritime histories, these best-selling cruise books offer something for every kind of traveler.
Planning guides help you avoid costly mistakes, choose the right stateroom, master embarkation day, and make the most of every port. Destination-focused titles unlock deeper experiences in Alaska, Hawaii, Scandinavia, the Caribbean, and beyond. And of course, cruise ship fiction lets you escape into high-seas intrigue long before you step onboard.
The truth is, cruising isn’t just a vacation; it’s a hobby, a lifestyle, and for many of us, a bit of an obsession. The more you know, the better your voyage will be.
Have you read any of these cruise books? Which ones would you add to the list? I’m always looking for new recommendations to share with fellow cruise lovers.
And if this roundup helped you plan your next sailing (or grow your cruise reading list), feel free to share it with your cruise buddies or save it for later. The best cruise experiences — and the best cruise reads — are even better when shared. 🌊📚
P.S. If you found this helpful, please don’t keep it to yourself >>>. Please share on Facebook or PIN to your favourite Pinterest board (share buttons at the top). Thanks so much!
Last update on 2026-02-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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