Book excerpt: 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. Designed for both first-time cruisers and those looking for inspiration, The Cruise Handbook will help you discover the enormous range of boat trips around the world, and 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. The handbook is split into four sections: Smooth Sailing, which includes: Why Cruise? Wide World of Cruising Where to Cruise When DIY It! Cruise Your Way Quiz Planning your Choice, which includes: Top Planning Tips Staying Healthy Top Packing Tips Cruise Etiquette Excursion Low-down Inspiration, which includes: Top Ten Affordable Cruise Destinations Top Ten Beach Cruise Destinations Top Ten Nature Cruise Destinations Best Cruises for Family Top Regions for LGBTQ, Food, and Culture Choose Your Cruise, which includes: Round the World Cruises Alaska Cruises Arctic Cruises Caribbean Cruises European River Cruises And much, much more About Lonely Planet: Lonely Planet is a leading travel media company and the world's number one travel guidebook brand, providing both inspiring and trustworthy information for every kind of traveller since 1973. Over the past four decades, we've printed over 145 million guidebooks and grown a dedicated, passionate global community of travellers. You'll also find our content online, on mobile, video and in 14 languages, 12 international magazines, armchair and lifestyle books, ebooks, and more. Important Notice: The digital edition of this book may not contain all of the images found in the physical edition.